Chapter 6: Assurance and Maintenance of Salvation
At this point, I believe you now clearly understand why every human being must be born again. If you have followed along and responded in faith, it means you have prayed the prayer of repentance and are now BORN AGAIN.
For those who are not yet fully convinced, let me offer a word of encouragement. If you still have questions, doubts, or inner arguments, do not give up. Continue reading. By the end of this book, we trust that most, if not all, of your concerns will be addressed.
It is important to understand that people do not miss God’s gift of eternal life primarily because of what they do, such as drinking, smoking, or immoral living, but because of what they fail to do. They fail to accept God’s only solution to the problem of sin. It is not sin itself that condemns a person, but the rejection of the cure for sin.
Now, let us return to our dear reader who has just been BORN AGAIN. I want to explain what has happened to you and what will follow as a result.
As we have stated earlier, human beings consist of three components: spirit, soul, and body, and God designed us to function in that order. The spirit is the real person, the inner man, who expresses himself through the soul (the mind, emotions, and will) and lives in a physical body. It was this spirit, the real you, that was spiritually dead because of sin and Adam’s fallen nature.
Now that Christ has come into your spirit through the Holy Spirit, the resurrection life of Jesus has recreated your inner man. Where there was once spiritual death, there is now life. Where the nature of sin once ruled, the nature of God now resides. The seed of God has been planted in your spirit, giving you the potential to grow into the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
In Christ, you are restored to the original purpose God intended for humanity. You now possess the capacity to live above the dominion of sin. You are empowered to resist it. Fellowship with God, which was once broken, has now been restored, and you can freely commune with the Father. Your will, once enslaved to sin, is now liberated to choose obedience. This is why the gospel is called good news. These are the privileges and blessings of being born again.
However, you must remember that in the born-again experience, God first deals with your inner man, your spirit, rather than your physical body or intellect. It was not the body or the mind that was spiritually dead, but the spirit. This inner man receives spiritual truth, is recreated, and becomes a new creation. The Holy Spirit now dwells within you and expresses the life of Christ through your recreated spirit.
Although you are born again, you still possess the same mind and body you had before conversion. These were shaped over time by worldly influences. Therefore, the first responsibility of the believer after salvation is the renewal of the mind. The senses, once dominant, must now come under the direction of the recreated spirit through the Word of God (Romans 12:1–2).
Because you lived in the world for so long, your thinking, speech, and habits were shaped by its values. Now that you possess God’s life within you, those patterns must change. God has made provision for this transformation through His Word. You should read it regularly and intentionally. Begin with the Gospel of John. As you read, you will encounter new truths and promises. God’s promises are trustworthy and purposeful, and as you respond to them in faith, your mind will be renewed (Ephesians 4:23).
This process is what we call spiritual growth. Over time, your character, reactions, speech, and desires will gradually reflect Christ more clearly. You will also develop a natural desire to share the message of salvation with others.
As you continue in the Word, your assurance of salvation will grow stronger. Remember that salvation is based on faith, not feelings. Feelings fluctuate, but salvation rests on the finished work of Jesus Christ. Once you have believed in your heart, received Christ, and confessed Him as Lord, you are saved. God’s Word is true: “Your word is truth”(John 17:17).
You do not need to feel saved, you need to know that you are saved. Therefore, depend on the unchanging Word of God rather than your emotions. Read and meditate on the following scriptures until every doubt about your salvation is removed:
“I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life.” (1 John 5:13, NIV)
“We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love our brothers.” (1 John 3:14, NIV)
“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” (John 5:24, NIV)
“Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” (John 1:12, NIV)
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” (Romans 10:9, NIV)
“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” (Romans 8:16, NIV)
Maintaining Your Salvation
This is a crucial subject. Many people come forward to receive Christ and sincerely pray the prayer of repentance, yet over time they drift back into a life dominated by sin. This should not be your experience. After receiving Christ—after salvation and the new birth—you are expected to continue in that life faithfully to the end.
Hindrance to Spiritual Growth: The Soul Factor
Child of God, it is important to understand how God has made man. The Bible teaches that man is made up of spirit, soul, and body. This does not mean that the number three is a magic number. It simply helps us understand the different parts of man and how God works in each part.
God Himself is revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The King James Version says:
“For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”
1 John 5:7, KJV
When God made man, He formed the body from the dust of the ground, breathed into man the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
“And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.”
Genesis 2:7, KJV
The Apostle Paul also refers to the spirit, soul, and body when he writes:
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Thessalonians 5:23, KJV
From these Scriptures, we can see that man is not only a body. He has a spirit, a soul, and a body. The spirit is the part of man that is made alive when he is born again. The body is the outward part of man. The soul is the inner life of man, where the mind, emotions, and will operate.
This is why the soul is very important in spiritual growth. A person may be born again in the spirit, but the mind still needs to be renewed, the emotions still need to be disciplined, and the will still needs to be surrendered to God. If the soul is not brought under the Word of God, it can become a hindrance to spiritual growth.
The Bible also speaks of three witnesses on earth:
“And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.”
1 John 5:8, KJV
In the same way, God gave man special abilities that set him apart from the rest of creation. Man was given the ability to communicate, the ability to make moral choices, and the authority to have dominion over the earth.
This means that man is not an ordinary creature. He was made in the image of God and given responsibility over God’s creation. He can speak, choose between right and wrong, and exercise authority under God.
The Bible also shows us that salvation can be understood in three stages. There is the salvation we have received, the salvation that is being worked out in us, and the salvation that will be fully revealed when Christ returns.
The salvation we have already received speaks of the new birth. This is the work God has done in the spirit of the believer. The salvation that is being worked out speaks of the renewing and transformation of the soul. The salvation that will be fully revealed speaks of the redemption of the body.
This is why spiritual growth is so important. A believer may truly be saved, but the soul still needs to be renewed by the Word of God. The mind must be changed, the emotions must be disciplined, and the will must be submitted to God.
We can now look at some Scriptures under these three areas: the salvation of the spirit, the salvation of the soul, and the salvation of the body.
Salvation of the Spirit: Saved Now
The first stage of salvation is the salvation of the spirit. This is what happens when a person is born again. God gives new life to the spirit of man. The believer is saved by grace through faith, not by personal effort or good works.
The following Scriptures speak of this salvation that the believer has already received in Christ:
“For in this hope we were saved.”
Romans 8:24, NIV
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9, NIV
“He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace.”
2 Timothy 1:9, NIV
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.”
Titus 3:5, NIV
“By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.”
1 Corinthians 15:2, NIV
These Scriptures show that salvation begins with the work of God in the believer. A person is not saved because of his own righteousness, strength, or good works. He is saved by the mercy and grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ.
This is why the believer can say, “I am saved.” The spirit has been made alive in Christ. The old life has passed away, and a new life has begun.
2 Corinthians 5:17 and 1 Peter 1:23 also speak about this same truth. They show that the believer has become a new creation and has been born again by the Word of God.
Salvation of the Soul: Being Saved
The second stage of salvation is the salvation of the soul. This speaks of the ongoing work of God in the believer after he has been born again. The spirit has received new life, but the soul must still be renewed by the Word of God.
The soul includes the mind, the emotions, and the will. This is why a believer must continue to grow spiritually. The mind must be renewed, the emotions must be brought under control, and the will must be surrendered to the will of God.
James writes:
“Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21, KJV
This verse shows that the Word of God has a saving work in the soul. The believer must lay aside sin, receive the Word with meekness, and allow the Word to change him from within.
Paul also writes:
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Philippians 2:12, KJV
This does not mean that the believer saves himself by works. It means that the salvation God has already begun in him must now be lived out in obedience, reverence, and submission to God.
Paul also shows how Christ cleanses His Church through the Word:
“Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it;
That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word,
That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing;
but that it should be holy and without blemish.”
Ephesians 5:25–27, KJV
The Word of God washes, cleanses, and sanctifies the believer. This is part of the continuing work of salvation in the soul.
Jesus also said:
“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
Luke 21:19, KJV
This shows that the believer must learn endurance, patience, and self-control. Spiritual growth is not automatic. The soul must be trained by the Word of God and brought under the government of the Holy Spirit.
Salvation of the Body: Shall Be Saved
The third stage of salvation is the salvation of the body. This speaks of the future work of God, when the believer’s body will be fully redeemed and changed. Today, we still live in mortal bodies that can become weak, sick, tired, and subject to death. But the Bible promises that a day is coming when our bodies will be transformed.
Paul writes:
“Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!
For if, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!”
Romans 5:9–10, NIV
This shows that salvation is not only about what God has done in the past. It also points to what God will complete in the future. The believer has been justified by the blood of Jesus and will be saved from the wrath to come through Him.
Paul also writes:
“And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.”
1 Corinthians 15:49, NIV
And again:
“For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
1 Corinthians 15:53, NIV
The Living Bible explains it this way:
“Just as each of us now has a body like Adam’s, so we shall someday have a body like Christ’s. Our earthly bodies, the ones we have now that can die, must be transformed into heavenly bodies that cannot perish, but will live forever.”
1 Corinthians 15:49, 53, TLB
This is the hope of the believer. One day, the body that is weak and perishable will be changed into a glorified body. The mortal body will put on immortality.
Paul also writes:
“And even we Christians, although we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of future glory, also groan to be released from pain and suffering. We, too, wait anxiously for that day when God will give us our full rights as his children, including the new bodies he has promised us — bodies that will never be sick again and will never die.”
Romans 8:23, TLB
This is why we can say that the body “shall be saved.” The full redemption of the body will take place when Christ returns. Until then, we live in hope, knowing that God will complete the salvation He has begun in us.
The Spirit, Soul, and Body in Spiritual Growth
As we have already seen, man is made up of spirit, soul, and body. It is with his spirit that man contacts God. His ability to communicate with God is through his spirit. It is also by the spirit that a believer is led by God. Therefore, the soul must come under the control of the spirit.
However, in the unregenerate man, this order is reversed because of the sinful nature inherited from Adam. Instead of the spirit leading, the soul and the flesh often take control. The mind, emotions, desires, and will begin to rule the person instead of being submitted to God.
When a person is born again, the spirit is made alive and is restored to its proper place. The spirit begins to learn how to function as God intended. The more the spirit comes into proper control, the more the believer grows spiritually. This is what it means to become more spiritual and more Christlike.
The life of Christ planted in the believer is like a seed. That seed is meant to grow and show the nature and character of Christ. Every good seed has the potential to grow, mature, and reproduce after its kind. In the same way, the life of Christ in the believer has the power to grow and produce the character of Christ.
However, even a good seed needs the right environment to grow well. A seed may be healthy, but if the soil is poor, if there is no water, or if the environment is not right, that seed may not produce its full potential.
The same is true in the Christian life. The seed of Christ in every believer is good. It has the power to grow and mature. But spiritual growth depends on the environment the believer gives to that seed.
Two people may be born again on the same day. Ten years later, one may have grown into a strong and mature believer, while the other may still be spiritually weak. The problem is not with the seed. The same life of Christ was planted in both of them. Both had the opportunity to grow. The difference is the environment they gave to that seed.
The better the spiritual environment, the stronger and faster the spiritual growth. A believer who feeds on the Word of God, walks in obedience, prays, fellowships with other believers, and submits to the Holy Spirit creates the right environment for spiritual growth. But a believer who neglects these things may remain weak, even though the seed of Christ is in him.
The Soul as the Environment for Spiritual Growth
Child of God, understand this clearly. When we speak of the environment for spiritual growth, we are not mainly referring to your physical, material, economic, or social environment. These things may affect a person to some degree, but they are not the main factors that determine spiritual growth.
The environment that either hinders or helps your spiritual growth is the condition of your soul.
The state of your soul, and your ability to possess your soul, plays a major role in your spiritual development. Spiritual growth is seen in the degree to which your soul comes under the control of your spirit. When the soul is brought under control, the spirit is liberated to take its proper place and perform its proper function in your life.
This means that the mind, emotions, and will must be submitted to God. If the soul is not disciplined, renewed, and ruled by the Word of God, it can resist the growth of the life of Christ within the believer.
Jesus illustrated this truth in the parable of the sower. In this parable, the seed was the same, but the soil was different. The difference in fruitfulness was not because the seed had no power. The difference was in the condition of the ground that received the seed.
Matthew records:
“Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. Then he told them many things in parables, saying: ‘A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop — a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.’”
Matthew 13:2–8, NIV
This parable shows that the condition of the soil determines the growth of the seed. In the same way, the condition of the soul determines how the Word of God grows in a believer. A hard, shallow, crowded, or distracted soul will hinder spiritual growth. But a receptive and obedient soul will allow the Word of God to take root and produce fruit.
As we have already said, every viable seed has the potential to reproduce after its kind. Jesus teaches this principle clearly in the parable of the sower. Every seed the sower scattered had the potential to grow and produce fruit. But the difference was in the environment where each seed fell.
The seed that fell in a hostile environment did not grow to maturity. Some were eaten by birds. Some sprang up quickly but withered because they had no root. Some were choked by thorns. But the seed that fell on good ground grew and multiplied.
Even among the seeds that fell on good ground, there were different levels of fruitfulness. Some produced a hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. This shows us that even when the seed is good, the condition of the soil affects the level of growth and fruitfulness.
I once had a backyard garden where I nursed pawpaw seeds. They germinated and were doing very well. Later, I transplanted them. A few weeks after transplanting, I noticed that one pawpaw tree was growing faster than the other. I knew the problem was not with the seed, but with the environment of the slower-growing plant. So I transplanted it a second time.
Four months later, both pawpaw trees stood at almost the same height and were nearly the same size. The seed was never the problem. The environment was the problem.
Child of God, put this truth in your heart. The problem of slow spiritual growth is not with the seed of Christ planted in you when you became born again. That seed has the potential to grow into the full stature of Christ. The problem is often with the soul, which is the environment where that seed must grow.
If the soul is not possessed, disciplined, and submitted to God, it can become a hindrance to spiritual growth. Learn to possess your soul so that the life of Christ in you can grow, mature, and produce fruit.
Why the Soul Must Be Possessed
As we have already seen, salvation can be understood in three stages. When a person becomes born again, he is saved. This means that his spirit is made alive and delivered from the bondage of the sinful nature inherited from Adam.
The stony heart is removed, and a heart of flesh takes its place. Death, darkness, and the nature of sin are removed, and life, light, and the nature of God are brought in. The believer becomes a new creation. Old things pass away, and all things become new.
In other words, the seed of Christ is planted in the spirit. The believer is sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is now heaven-bound and no longer hell-bound. This salvation is not by works of self-righteousness, but by grace, which is the unmerited favour of God.
The believer also receives an inner witness in his spirit that he is a child of God. But all this happens in the innermost part of man, which is the spirit.
While this is true of the spirit, it is not immediately true of the soul. After the spirit is saved, the soul begins its process of being saved. This is the ongoing work of spiritual growth, renewal, discipline, and transformation.
Jesus said:
“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
Luke 21:19, KJV
This shows that the possessing of the soul is progressive. It happens step by step and requires patience. The soul must be brought under the government of the Spirit and the Word of God.
This is why people do not become Christlike overnight when they are born again. It takes time for old habits, old desires, old thoughts, and old characteristics to give way to the nature of Christ. The reason is the soul. The spirit has received new life, but the soul must now be renewed and trained to submit to that new life.
To understand why the soul is progressively saved, we must first understand what the soul is and how it functions.
The Lifelong Work of Spiritual Growth
Even though old things have passed away and the seed of Christ has been planted within the believer, that seed must still grow and come forth through the soul for others to see. The life of Christ within must be expressed through the mind, emotions, will, character, conduct, and daily choices of the believer.
Failure to understand this process is one reason why many Christians remain spiritually immature even after many years. They are truly born again, but the soul has not been properly renewed, disciplined, and brought under the control of the Spirit.
Possessing the soul is a lifelong process. As long as we remain in this mortal body, we must continue to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. We must also allow our souls to be cleansed and purified daily by the washing of the Word of God.
The soul will continue to go through this process of being saved until the day we receive glorified bodies. Then the work of salvation will be fully completed.
Every balanced Christian understands that salvation has three phases. We are saved now, and we know this because the Holy Spirit bears witness with our spirits that we are children of God. We then continue in that salvation. We do not abandon it. We grow in grace, obedience, holiness, and spiritual maturity.
Finally, our salvation will be completed when we receive glorified bodies. Until that day, this present earthly body remains mortal and subject to weakness, sickness, decay, and physical death. That is why born again believers still die physically. The body has not yet been glorified, but the promise of God is that it shall be changed when Christ returns. (Romans 8:16, Philippians 2:12, Ephesians 5:26, Romans 8:23, and 1 Corinthians 15:51–53).
Many believers, including martyrs, have entered heaven through physical death. If a believer is involved in an accident, he may die physically unless God intervenes by a miracle. This does not mean he is not saved. It simply shows that the physical body has not yet been glorified.
The believer’s spirit has been made alive in Christ, and his soul is being renewed and transformed. But the body is still waiting for its full redemption. This will happen at the resurrection, when the mortal body is changed into a glorified body.
Paul spoke about this when he wrote to the Philippians:
“I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection becoming like him in his death ... to attain to the resurrection from the dead, not that I have already obtained all this or have already been made perfect (mature) but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it (why, because he was still in this earthly body) ... I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things?”
Philippians 3:10–14, NIV
For further understanding of the salvation of the body, read 1Corinthians 15:35–54. In that passage, Paul explains the resurrection body and shows that the believer’s present mortal body will one day be changed.
Paul also tells us in Romans that the true children of God are waiting eagerly for the redemption of their bodies. This is a future event, and it will bring the fullness of our sonship into manifestation.
He writes:
“Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies.”
Romans 8:23, NIV
He continues:
“For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
Romans 8:24–25, NIV
In other words, even though our spirits have been saved and we know that we belong to God, we are still waiting for the full redemption of our bodies. Until that day, we continue in the process of spiritual growth as our souls are renewed, purified, and brought under the control of the Spirit.
Jesus also said:
“But he that endureth to the end shall be saved.”
Matthew 10:22, KJV
The book of Revelation reads:
“To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations”
Revelation 2:26, NIV
This means that the believer must continue faithfully until the end. We do not abandon the salvation we have received. We keep walking with God, allowing His Word to work in our souls, while we wait for the day when our bodies will also be fully redeemed.
What more shall we say? A word is enough for the wise.
Child of God, understand that the new birth is only the beginning of your spiritual journey. Do not become complacent, and do not relax as though there is nothing more to pursue. Press on. Keep growing. Keep yielding your soul to the Word of God and the Holy Spirit until you grow into spiritual maturity.
The Soul and the Process of Being Saved
The soul of man is made up of the mind, the emotions, and the will. These three areas play an important role in spiritual growth.
As already stated, the salvation of the soul is progressive and continuous. The soul is being saved. This means that after the spirit is made alive in Christ, the soul must now be renewed, disciplined, and brought under the authority of God.
Jesus said:
“In your patience possess ye your souls.”
Luke 21:19, KJV
There are three key words that help us understand how to possess the soul: renewal, control, and surrender.
Renewal has to do with the mind. Control has to do with the emotions. Surrender has to do with the will.
These three things are very important in spiritual growth. If a believer is going to grow spiritually, he must be willing to renew his mind, control his emotions, and surrender his will to God daily.
Any child of God who fails to possess his soul will soon discover that his spiritual growth becomes stagnant. The reason is simple. The spirit cannot take its proper place of leadership if the soul remains in control.
Before a person is born again, the soul often occupies the first place. The mind, emotions, and will rule the person. In some cases, the flesh also dictates the direction of the person’s life.
But when a person becomes born again, the seed of Christ is planted in his spirit. The Holy Spirit then seeks to live out the life of Christ through him. For that life to break forth and be seen by the world, the soul must be brought into its proper place.
The mind must be renewed by the Word of God. The emotions must be brought under control. The will must be surrendered to the will of God. This is how the soul is possessed, and this is how the believer grows into spiritual maturity.
To come into this place of spiritual growth, you must renew your mind, control your emotions, and surrender your will daily throughout your earthly life.
This daily and progressive submission of the soul to the spirit is what we mean by being saved. It is not a once-and-for-all event like the salvation of the spirit. It is an ongoing process.
The spirit is saved when a person is born again, but the soul must continue to be renewed, disciplined, and submitted to God. This is why spiritual growth requires daily obedience, patience, and surrender.
The Mind: Renewal
The first key to possessing the soul is the renewal of the mind.
The Bible teaches that the mind of the believer must be renewed by the Word of God. This means that we must continually feed our minds with God’s Word, meditate on it, and allow it to change the way we think.
If we are going to grow spiritually, the Word of God must not only be heard occasionally. It must become our daily food. As the mind is renewed by the Word, the soul begins to come under the government of the Spirit.
We shall consider three Scripture passages that show the importance of renewing the mind.
“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
Ephesians 4:23, KJV
“And be not conformed to this world but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Romans 12:2, KJV
“Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth, meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.”
Joshua 1:8, NIV
If we are going to grow and move from one degree of glory to another, then we must begin to renew our minds with the Word of God.
Many believers carry thoughts, ideas, and beliefs that do not agree with the Word of God. These wrong ideas may come from tradition, religion, culture, denomination, or personal experience. This is why the mind must be renewed. The Word of God must wash our thinking and bring it into agreement with the truth of God.
Jesus warned about the danger of allowing human tradition to take the place of God’s Word. He said:
“Thus you nullify the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like that.”
Mark 7:13, NIV
If the mind is filled with man-made traditions, the Word of God may not take proper root. Tradition can become a stronghold when it is placed above Scripture. This is why every believer must learn to test what he has been taught by the Word of God.
Some people have been taught that they do not need the new birth, as long as their names are in the church register, they pay their dues, attend church regularly, and take Holy Communion. Others have been taught that they need to be born again, but do not need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Some have been told that pouring libation is simply an African way of praying to God. Others have been taught that the time of miracles is over, that God no longer heals, or that they must simply wait for death to take them to heaven.
Some have also been taught that the blood of Jesus is not enough to cleanse sin, and that they must add other rituals to pay for their sins. Others have been taught to think only of heaven in a way that makes them useless in their assignment on earth.
All these teachings must be checked carefully against the Word of God. Some may contain partial truth, while others may be false. But no tradition, denomination, culture, or opinion should be allowed to stand above the authority of Scripture.
Now that you are born again and desire to grow spiritually, you must go back to the Word of God and allow it to renew your mind. A believer who does not renew his mind continually will find it difficult to know the will of God, and even more difficult to surrender to it.
Paul writes:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is — his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2, NIV
This means that knowing and doing the will of God begins with the renewal of the mind.
The Emotions: Control
The second area of the soul that must be possessed is the emotions. To control the emotions means to bring our temper, our cares, and our affections under the authority of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit.
Temper, care, and love are not evil in themselves. They can be good when they are under God’s control. However, when the soul is not controlled, these emotions can easily become corrupted.
Temper, when uncontrolled, can become anger. Anger, when not dealt with, can grow into bitterness, hatred, malice, and destructive behaviour. This is why the Bible warns us to deal with anger quickly and not allow it to rule our hearts.
Paul writes:
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
Ephesians 4:26, KJV
He also says:
“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.”
Ephesians 4:31, KJV
How can the character of Christ be seen in us if our temper is not brought under control? The ability to bring temper under the authority of the Spirit is part of the ongoing salvation of the soul. It is part of the daily work of spiritual growth.
Controlling the emotions also means controlling our cares. Care is good. We care for our families, provide for our children, plan for the future, and take responsibility for the things God has placed in our hands. But when care is not submitted to God, it can become anxiety, fear, worry, and emotional distress. Over time, these burdens can also affect a person physically and mentally. This is why the believer must learn to cast his cares upon the Lord and allow the peace of God to guard his heart and mind.
This is why Paul writes:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6–7, NIV
This is also the lesson of First Thessalonians 5:16–18:
“Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18, NIV
A child of God who is growing spiritually learns to face circumstances with trust in God. He is not ruled by fear or overwhelmed by anxiety. He knows that every situation can become an opportunity for God to show His power, faithfulness, and goodness. Do not be overwhelmed by circumstances. Rise above them by faith, prayer, thanksgiving, and obedience to the Word of God.
Controlling the emotions also means controlling love or tender affection. Love is good, but love must remain pure and sincere. If love is not brought under control, it can be corrupted into lust, selfish desire, and sinful affection.
Paul writes:
“Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honour one another above yourselves.”
Romans 12:9–10, NIV
He also instructs Timothy:
“Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.”
1 Timothy 5:1–2, NIV
Love must not be allowed to degenerate into lust. The believer must not be ruled by lust for money, position, recognition, pleasure, or anything else. When the emotions are uncontrolled, the soul becomes a poor environment for spiritual growth.
Therefore, we must learn to control our emotions continually. Our temper must be submitted to God. Our cares must be turned into prayer. Our love must remain pure. This is part of possessing the soul, and it is necessary for meaningful spiritual growth.
The Will: Surrender
The third key to possessing the soul is the surrender of the will.
A believer cannot say he has fully possessed his soul if his will is not surrendered to the will of the Father. This surrender is not a one-time event. It is a daily and continuous part of the Christian life.
This is one of the most difficult areas of soul possession. To deliberately surrender one’s will in every matter to the will of God is not easy. Even Jesus, in His earthly life, showed us the cost of surrender. Yet He surrendered His will completely to the will of the Father. Jesus therefore became our perfect example.
Adam failed to obey the will of God, but Jesus obeyed the Father fully. Now He calls every child of God to walk in the same spirit of obedience and surrender.
Jesus said:
“My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work.”
John 4:34, NIV
Again, when Jesus faced the agony of the cross, He prayed:
“My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Matthew 26:39, NIV
First John also tells us:
“Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.”
1 John 2:6, NIV
Jesus Himself said:
“To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”
Revelation 3:21, KJV
How did Jesus overcome? He overcame by surrendering His will to the will of the Father. He did not live to please Himself. He lived to do the will of God. In the same way, He expects us to grow into His likeness and into His full stature.
This brings us to an important question: are we doing the Father’s will in every area of our lives?
This is what soul possession is all about. The more we do the will of God, the more we possess our souls. The more we possess our souls, the more spiritually mature we become, because the life and character of Christ are formed in us.
Child of God, your new birth is not the end of your Christian walk. It is only the beginning. You must grow. To grow, you must possess your soul.
A person who is truly learning to do the will of God will no longer allow tradition, culture, human opinion, or personal desire to rule his thinking and behaviour. He will choose the will of God above the will of man whenever the will of man stands against the Word of God.
The rightly divided Word of God reveals the will of God. Therefore, the believer must continue to submit his mind, emotions, and will to the Word of God.
It is now clear that the soul must continually be washed and renewed by the Word. It is by the Word of God that the soul is being saved. The soul is constantly being renewed, disciplined, and brought under the control of the Spirit.
This process continues until the end, when the body also shall be saved. Then spirit, soul, and body will experience the fullness of salvation.
This does not mean that we are not already saved. We are saved. Our spirits are already made alive in Christ. But it does mean that we must not neglect the process of spiritual growth.
It also means that we must learn to hold Scripture in balance. The believer is saved, is being saved, and shall be saved. Understanding this balance is a sign of spiritual maturity.
Keep growing, child of God. Do not stagnate. Keep yielding your mind to renewal, your emotions to control, and your will to surrender, until you grow into the full stature of Christ.
The Importance of Perseverance
Jesus Himself emphasized the importance of perseverance:
“But he who stands firm to the end will be saved.”
Matthew 24:13, NIV
“If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned.”
John 15:6, NIV
“For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.”
Romans 8:13, NIV
To maintain your salvation to the end, you must learn how to possess your soul as discussed above and engage in spiritual discipline. Just as physical health requires regular exercise, spiritual life requires consistent spiritual practice. The following exercises should be done daily or regularly.
1. Read and Meditate on the Word of God
Make the Word of God a daily part of your life. Better still, meditate on it day and night.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.”
1 Peter 2:2, KJV
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night… for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Joshua 1:8, KJV
The Word nourishes spiritual growth, renews the mind, and strengthens your walk with God.
2. Develop a Consistent Prayer Life
Prayer is essential to spiritual endurance. Pray for yourself, fellow believers, and those who are not yet saved.
“Pray without ceasing.”
1 Thessalonians 5:17, KJV
Prayer keeps your heart sensitive to God and your spirit responsive to His guidance.
3. Witness Through Your Life and Your Words
Preach the good news not only with your mouth but through the testimony of your daily life.
“Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine.”
2 Timothy 4:2, KJV
Your conduct should confirm the message you proclaim.
4. Obey the Word and Follow the Spirit
Do not merely read the Word—act on it. Obedience strengthens spiritual stability. Develop sensitivity to the indwelling Holy Spirit and respond promptly to His guidance.
The Holy Spirit speaks to warn, correct, and direct. He alerts you when you are going off course, when danger lies ahead, or when you are torn between two choices. Listen to Him and obey. His voice will always agree with the Word of God.
John 16:13, NIV; John 14:16 & 26, NIV.
5. Maintain Fellowship with Other Believers
Regular fellowship with other believers is vital. Join a Bible-teaching, spiritually active church.
“Let us not forsake the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another.”
Hebrews 10:25, KJV
Christian fellowship provides accountability, encouragement, and spiritual strength.
6. Walk Daily in the Fullness of the Holy Spirit
Live continually under the influence and control of the Holy Spirit. To be filled with the Spirit means allowing Him full control over your life.
“Do not get drunk on wine… Instead, be filled with the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:18, NIV
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses…”
Acts 1:8, NIV
A Spirit-filled life produces power, boldness, and consistency in your walk with God.
Summary
This chapter explains what happens after a person is born again. Salvation begins when the spirit of man is made alive in Christ. The believer is no longer under the dominion of sin, but has received the life and nature of God through Jesus Christ. However, assurance of salvation must not be based on feelings, because feelings can change. The believer must rest on the unchanging Word of God, which confirms that those who believe in Christ have eternal life.
The chapter also teaches that salvation can be understood in three stages. The spirit is saved when a person is born again. The soul is being saved as the mind is renewed, the emotions are controlled, and the will is surrendered to God. The body shall be saved when Christ returns and the believer receives a glorified body. This helps the believer understand why spiritual growth is necessary after salvation. The new birth is the beginning of the Christian walk, not the end.
The soul is presented as the main environment for spiritual growth. Just as good a seed needs good soil to grow, the life of Christ in the believer needs a renewed and surrendered soul to produce fruit. If the mind, emotions, and will are not brought under the Word of God and the Holy Spirit, spiritual growth will be hindered. The believer must therefore possess the soul through renewal, control, and surrender.
Finally, the chapter shows that maintaining salvation requires perseverance and spiritual discipline. The believer must continue in the Word, pray consistently, witness through life and speech, obey the Word, follow the Holy Spirit, fellowship with other believers, and walk daily in the fullness of the Spirit. In this way, the child of God grows steadily into spiritual maturity and continues faithfully until the end.
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