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

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Salvation, 2

~ Salvation Is Past Tense ~

Salvation is not a Reward for the Righteous.

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

Important Note  ~  Salvation is not only a past reality but an ongoing experience and a future consummation—as we will see in the next posts. 

Salvation (past tense)  ~  “So they said, ‘Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved (not “might be”), you and your household.’  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.  And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes.  And immediately he and all his family were baptized.  Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household” (Acts 16:31-34). 

“Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you” (1 Corinthians 15:1-2a)

Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began” (2 Timothy 1:8-10).

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-10).

Summary  ~  The past tense aspect of salvation is in regard to sin’s penalty.  I have been justified in God’s eyes because of the blood of His Son.  I now have a new position or standing.  I currently possess salvation

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Justification, 2of2

~ Key Aspects of Biblical Justification ~

The Source of Justification (God)  ~  “What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God's elect?  It is God who justifies.  Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?  Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” (Romans 8:31-35).

The Principle of Justification (grace)  ~  “But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God set forth as a propitiation by His blood, through faith, to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance God had passed over the sins that were previously committed, to demonstrate at the present time His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus” (Romans 3:21-26).

The Cause of Justification (love)  ~  “For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.  For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.  But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.  For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.  And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation” (Romans 5:6-11).

The Way of Justification (faith)  ~  “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.  Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).

The Proof of Justification (works)  ~  “But someone will say, ‘You have faith, and I have works.’  Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.  You believe that there is one God.  You do well.  Even the demons believe—and tremble!  But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?  Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?  Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?  And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, ‘Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.’  And he was called the friend of God.  You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only” (James 2:18-24).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .