~ 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/
.
