Are There Two Salvations?

Q.  I have heard it said that there are two different salvations. This is based on Hebrews 2:3 and Jude 3. Is this right?

A.  Let us look at the Scriptures you mentioned from the KJV:

“How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him?” – Hebrews 2:3 KJV

“Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.” – Jude 3 KJV

Some interpret these texts to refer to two different groups of people. The “so great salvation” they say refers to the overcoming church, the body of Christ. Whereas, the “common salvation” they believe refers to the world of mankind, as they will experience it in the coming Kingdom. However, is this a valid viewpoint when we consider these Scriptures from more accurate translations?

Let’s look at Jude 3 say from some other translations:  “Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints” (NIV).

The New Revised Standard Version also states it as “the salvation we share.”  The Westcott and Hort as well as Marshall’s Greek Interlinear states it as “the common of us salvation.”  Rotherham Translation states it as “concerning our common salvation.”

Of course, there is no salvation that is “common” in the sense of being “ordinary!”   Jesus paid for our salvation with His own precious blood!  Thus, combining the thoughts from these two Scriptures, it would be better to say that this great salvation is one we all have in common  in the sense that we all share the only salvation provided, through Jesus death on the cross by which He paid the “ransom for all to be testified in due time (1 Timothy 2:6).”

This one great salvation common to all will take place in two phases. The followers of Jesus are saved now to a heavenly inheritance, while the world of mankind will experience salvation in Christ’s Kingdom when they accept Jesus as their Savior to that which was lost by Adam, an earthly inheritance.                                                                                  

E. Weeks  © CDMI