Salvation
As we read through this compilation of essays and an attached article, I will explain what the Bible says about the three tenses of salvation:
- Past Event (I have been saved)
- Present Process (I am being saved)
- Future Event (I will be saved)
The biblical tenses of salvation have been constructed as such so that we can understand the dichotomy of God’s works. The past tense shows that Christ had come, what He has done, and what He is offering to us. The present tense shows what we must do – attaining our goal by working out our salvation with fear and trembling – to maintain salvation. The future tense is the completion of God’s work in salvation.
Present Event
St. Paul wrote in his letter to the the Romans 8:24, “for in hope we were saved.” Remember, salvation isn’t a one time deal; I will explain when we get to the Bible verses that have to do with the present process of salvation. St. Paul recognizes that in hope he has been saved; his emphasis is that Christ had torn the veil, that was His flesh, so that we might be saved. Again, St. Paul annunciates the past tense of salvation in his letters to the Ephesians 2:5, 8 that by God’s grace we endure until salvation by being faithful. Endure until salvation. That means our salvation isn’t complete just yet. Christ has instated grace in which He wills that we come to His calling and receive salvation (2 Timothy 1:9). We know this salvation has been made available to us by the bath of rebirth which is the renewal of the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5). Christ’s works have been lain before us as a path unto our feet that leads to the narrow gates of heaven.
Present Process
Now that Christ has initiated the means for us to acquire salvation – which Jesus gave through love, mercy, and grace – we are to utilize the tools and commandments given to us in working out our salvation. Philippians 2:12 tells us that salvation is a continual and present work in our life; “work out your salvation with fear and trembling”. If salvation means once saved always saved, what becomes the necessity for working out salvation? As anyone knows, working is a process, not an instantaneous event. We know that if people work out salvation, it isn’t just instantly available at every whim. We know this because 1 Peter 1:9 tells us, “for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” This lets us know that as we go along working we are receiving salvation, not received in entirety. If Christ had given salvation in all its abundance, then what is left for us to work out in fear and trembling? More so, why would we have to fear and tremble? To understand this, please read articles Faith & Works, Good Works, Judged According To Works.
Future Event
We talked a little about endurance, which permeates life into salvation, in the epistles of Ephesians. This tells us that our salvation is not complete. If our salvation were complete, there would be nothing left to endure, work out, or engage with fear and danger. What endurance is this? Let’s look at Matthew 10:22, “he who endures to the end will be saved.” Will be saved? This means that when our time comes to stand before God in all His splendor and judgment, we will be reviewed and every work of our life will be taken into account. God will ask, did we endure in work, hope, love, and faith? Some may believe once saved always saved, but that negates the necessity for us in preserving ourselves for our Lord. To preserve yourself means to keep yourself from corrupting. Why would God say preserve yourself lest we can fall from grace and salvation? Some may not believe this, but Matthew 24:13 tells us that we are to preserve ourselves to be saved, though many believe they already have salvation. This may be true, as Paul says, as well as Jesus, but we are to hope for salvation and stay preserved in Christ to receive salvation. If we already have salvation and are saved, what then is there to preserve a man if he is saved?
God doesn’t want impetuous acts nor ephemeral convictions, but a true and enduring love of sanctity, holiness, and righteousness. Remember, whoever shall lose their life for Christ’s sake shall keep their life [in heaven for eternity](Mark 8 35). ‘Lose their life’ doesn’t always mean martyrdom. Lose their life could mean self sacrifice. Sacrificing time, wealth, and a whole plethora of other things. God wants us to give in our entirety, which is everything in our life, and sometimes including our life itself. In this, we may have salvation in its fullness in the end of time. But again, when salvation is complete, it is by the grace of Jesus Christ (Acts 15:11). Though we are justified now, we will be saved. It isn’t that we are currently saved because we are still receptive of transgressions and iniquities; this doesn’t sound like complete salvation. Complete salvation comes at the end for those who endured and are justified (Romans 5:8-9). Remember, the Bible says “shall be saved”.
What is most invigorating is that salvation is obtainable. We will be saved, not “are saved” in the present sense. How do I figure? 1 Corinthians 3:15 – in addition to all the previously mentioned verses – reads, “But if someone’s work is burned up, that one will suffer loss; the person will be saved, but only as through fire.” If we are saved, then why does the Bible make a point over and over again to say ‘will be saved’? Because we are to work out our salvation with endurance and hope.
If you believe that we are most secured by salvation from Satan, then please read the article Assurance of Salvation? But also give 1 Corinthians 5:5 some mental mastication, “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved on the day of the Lord.” Allow Satan to destroy the flesh of the man so that the same man’s soul may be saved? This again tells us that the souls will be saved, but aren’t presently saved.
Hebrews 9:28 tells us that Jesus will appear a second time to bring salvation. If we already have salvation, then how or why would Jesus bring it? It is because salvation is incomplete in us until we are with the Father, the Son, and the Paraclete in heaven. We know that we are not in full salvation, because it isn’t present in us, but only nearer to us according to Romans 13:11, “salvation is nearer now than first believed”.
It is at the end we obtain the fullness of salvation that we cannot currently possess now. This is called Beatific Vision.
Your’s,
Drew Castel
