Salvation, 5

~ I Have Been Saved…  I’m Being Saved…  I will Be Saved! ~

Salvation is not a Reward for the Righteous.

It is an available Gift for those who understand their Guilt!

There is salvation from any other than Jesus Christ—The Messiah.  In the last three ALN posts in this series we looked individually at the three tenses of Salvation.  In this post we look at the three tenses collectively. 

Justification (past salvation)  ~  The germ of salvation.

My position is in Christ.

Saved from the penalty of sin.  

Salvation already in possession...  a free gift as a result of trusting Christ.

Event:  From natural birth/life to born again/new life.

Transition:  From sinner to being viewed as a saint in God’s eyes.

Key Characteristic:  Physical life.

The offer is for whoever.

The basis is by faith alone in Christ.

The description is a free gift.

The timeline is a onetime event.

References:  John 3:16; Romans 3:24; 1 Corinthians 15:2; 2 Timothy 2:10; Revelation 22:17.

Sanctification (present/progressive salvation)  ~  The growth of salvation.

My condition is becoming like Christ.

Saved from the power of sin.

Salvation in progress… a process of abundant growth and maturing.

Event:  Spiritual life on earth. 

Transition:  From natural living to spiritual living.

Key Characteristic:  God’s love.

The offer is for Christ’s disciples.

The basis is faith resulting in obedience.

The description includes works, deeds, degrees.

The timeline is a lifetime of progress.

References:  John 10:10; Romans 5:10; 1 Corinthians 1:2; Philippians 2:12; 2 Peter 1:5-9.

Glorification (future salvation)  ~  The completion of salvation.

My expectation is to be like Christ.

Saved from the presence of sin. 

Salvation in prospect…  initially a time of evaluation to determine rewards.

Event:  The rapture—from spiritual life on earth to eternity with Christ. 

Transition:  From life on earth to life in heaven.

Key Characteristic:  Christ’s light (dwelling in His light in heaven).

The offer is for all believers.

The basis is faithful obedience.

The description varies.

The timeline is a onetime event (the Judgment Seat of Christ).

References:  Matthew 16:24-27; Romans 13:11; 1 Corinthians 4:5; 2 Corinthians 5:10; Colossians 3:23-25; 2 Thessalonians 1:12; Revelation 3:21; 22:12.

Closing Thoughts  ~  The first (salvation past—justification) is immediate secured by Christ’s death!  The second (salvation-present) is continuous through Christ’s life in me.  The third (salvation—future) is prospective and will be realized at Christ’s Second Coming.

“Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.  For if the Word spoken through angels proved steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just reward, how shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him, God also bearing witness both with signs and wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to His own will?” (Hebrews 2:1-4). 

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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