FOUR KINDS OF
SALVATION
Salvation, as
proposed to man in the Scriptures, if of four kinds, viz..—
First, Salvation from
original sin and its effects.
Secondly, Salvation
from actual sin, or individual transgression.
Thirdly, Temporal Salvation.
Fourthly, Eternal
Salvation.
We shall now proceed
to set forth the nature of each of these salvations, and the conditions on
which they are enjoyed by man.
Original sin and its
effects came by the transgression of Adam and Eve, in the Garden of Eden. So “sin
entered into the world, and death by sin.”
This sin and death
affected the whole family of man in a twofold point of view, viz., babishment
from the presence of the Lord, and the death of the body. And unless some means
of salvation had been provided, the bodies of men must have slept in eternal
silence, and their spirits dwelt in eternal banishment.
But says the Apostle,
“As in Adam ALL DIE, even So in Christ shall ALL be made ALIVE.”
Jesus Christ, then,
has paid the debt which Adam contracted, and through his death and resurrection
has redeemed ALL men from the fall, and from death, and from every thing which
Adam’s transgression entailed upon them.
This salvation is
UNIVERSAL; that is, it applies to all the race of Adam, without any regard to
the deeds done in the body. The death and condemnation came by one, (Adam,) and
so passed upon all men without any act or agency of their own.
So the redemption
comes by one man (Jesus Christ,) and will be effectually applied to all men,
without any conditions whatever on their part.
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It is free grace
alone, without works, which redeems man from the fall, and from the death which
came by reason of the fall. The most hardened sinner, who sinks to endless woe,
will go there as free from Adam’s fall as if it had never been.
Hence Christ said, “Suffer
little children to come unto me, and forbid them not, for of such is the
kingdom of heaven.”
All little children (being
redeemed by Jesus Christ) are saved and counted holy, without any faith,
repentance, baptism, or anything else. Hence the doctrine of little children
being “desperately wicked, deceitful, depraved, &c., and that they must be
born again, changed, be converted, experience religion, be regenerated,
&c., is a doctrine of devils, or a foolish and inconsiderate man.
We come now to speak
of the second salvation, viz., salvation from personal transgression. This
salvation is the gospel which was to be preached to sinners, “It is not to call
the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
This salvation is
promised on the conditions made known in the gospel, “He that believeth
and is baptised shall be SAVED.” “Repent and be baptised every one of
you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for remission of sins, and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
“SAVE yourselves from
this untoward generation.” “Arise and be baptised, and wash away your sins.” “The
like figure whereunto even baptism doth now SAVE US.”
“Ye have obeyed from
the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you; being then made
free from sin, ye became servants of righteousness.” The foregoing
texts all go to show that sinners experienced a present salvation from sin on
condition of faith in Jesus Christ, repentance towards God, and baptism for remission
of sins. They were saved then and there,—they were saved that
very hour, that is, justified, forgiven, made free from sin.
This gospel salvation
pertains to sinners only. Little children could have no part of it.
We next proceed to
notice the third salvation, viz., temporal salvation.
This varies in
different ages and under different circumstances. In the days of Noah it was
salvation from the flood, and the ark was the means. In the days of Lot it was salvation
from fire, and fleeing from Sodom to Zoah was the means. IN the days of Jacob
it was salvation from famine, and a revelation to lay up corn was the means. IN
the days of Moses, it was salvation from Egyptian bondage. In the days of Esther
it was salvation from the decree of Hama. In the days of Ezra it was salvation
from seventy years captivity in Babylon, by a restoration to Jerusalem. In the
case of Paul’s shipwreck it was salvation from a watery grave, by the soldiers
and sailors abiding in the ship according to Paul’s directions. But in the days
of Josephus it was salvation from the sword, famine, and pestilence which befell
the Jews. This salvation was accomplished by fleeing to the mountains,
according as the Saviour forewarned his disciples. “When ye see Jerusalem
compassed with armies, then let him who is in Judea flee to the mountains.”
So in these last
days, salvation is needed from famine, earthquake, war, pestilence, and flame
of devouring fire, which must overtake the wicked world, and all that remain
among them. “But in Mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, shall be deliverance and in
the remnant whom the Lord our God shall call.” So in fulfilment of this,
the Lord has provided the western wilds of America and the land of Palestine,
for places of deliverance for his own peculiar people. And he will gather his
sheep out of all countries where the false shepherds have preyed upon them, and
will “cause them to dwell safely in the wilderness, and sleep in the woods.”—(see
Ezekiel 34.) This temporal salvation comes by revelation in these last days, as
in days of old, and therefore can only come to those who are governed and led
by revelation, viz., the Latter Day Saints.
We must now speak of
the fourth state of salvation, viz., eternal salvation. This can only be enjoyed
in the immortal state, after the resurrection of the body and its reunion with
the soul.
All those who are
redeemed from Adam’s fall will enjoy this eternal salvation, if they die before
they come to years of accountability, so as to be capable of committing sin.
All sinners will
enjoy eternal life and salvation, on conditions of faith, repentance, and
baptism, and endurance to the end.
Hence, a man may be
saved from Adam’s fall by free grace, and from his own sins by belief and
baptism, and also partake of temporal salvation, by obeying the warnings which
God sends by revelation; and after being saved is this threefold sense, he may
neglect to endure to the end in keeping the requirements of Jesus Christ; and
so at least be damned.
Here then is a condition
to be fulfilled by the creature, in order to the enjoyment of eternal salvation,
which is not absolutely necessary to either of the other salvations, viz.,
endurance to the end. That is, a person must continue in well-doing and in
keeping the commandments of Jesus, from the time he is baptised into Christ
till the end of this life of probation.
Having now shown clearly
and distinctively the nature of salvation as revealed and proposed by the
heavenly Father to his children in different ages, we leave the subject, with a
sincere hope that all those who love the truth may be led to work out their own
salvation with fear and trembling. (Parley P. Pratt, “Four
Kinds of Salvation,” in The Latter-day Saints' Millennial Star 2,
no. 2 [June, 1841]:21-22 )
