The Three Tenses of Salvation
If you’re a Christian, then the minute you came to know Christ as your Savior and Lord, the Bible says that God “began a good work in you” (Philippians 1:6a). What work did God begin when you trusted in him? The work of salvation. In the New Testament salvation is actually something that is described in three ways. Every true Christian has been saved, is being saved, and will be saved:
1. Every true Christian has been saved
Ephesians 2:8-9 – “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9not by works, so that no one can boast.”
This verse teaches that salvation is a free gift from God. It’s not as a result of works. Most people think that if they have enough good works that it will cancel out the bad works and that they go to heaven. But the Bible teaches just the opposite. Salvation is received like a gift. It is a gift of grace. That means we don’t deserve it. We can’t earn it. It is unmerited. And God gives this gift to repentant sinners who look only to Christ as their Savior. Jesus died and rose again so that we could be saved from the penalty of sin. Sin’s penalty is death. And therefore God demands that blood be shed in order for the penalty to be paid. That’s why Jesus died. His blood was shed for us. And when we put our faith where God has put our sin—upon Jesus at the cross—then we are saved from the penalty of sin. God clears our past record.
2. Every true Christian is being saved
Salvation is not only a historical event in the life of every believer, but it is also a present ongoing reality.
1 Corinthians 1:18 – “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
We have been saved from the penalty of sin. But the presence of sin remains. And one of the things that God is doing in the life of every believer is to sanctify them, to make them more like Christ.
2 Corinthians 3:18 – “And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness.”
God’s present work of salvation means that with each passing month and year we are becoming more like Jesus Christ. The Bible calls this part of the salvation process sanctification.
3. Every true Christian will be saved
In what sense is salvation a future event? First, salvation is a future event in the sense that we will be saved from the wrath of God when he judges all people.
Romans 5:9 – “Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him!”
God’s wrath or anger against sin was taken out on Jesus. So, all who are in Christ, are saved from God’s future wrath at the judgment.
But, second, salvation is a future even in the sense that we will be saved from the indwelling presence of sin. This will happen when we receive a resurrection body at the second coming of Christ. This new body will be immortal. It will be free from the indwelling presence of sin
1 Corinthians 15:50-53 – “Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.”
This verse reminds us that the generation that’s alive when Christ returns “will not sleep.” In other words they won’t die; they will just suddenly be given a resurrection body along with all those who have already died in Christ. This body will be immortal. It won’t be tainted by the effects of indwelling presence of sin. In that day there will be no more tears, no more pain, no more funerals and death. What a day that will be.
