Salvation - Three tenses of salvation

Three Tenses of Salvation

Next, let’s consider a fundamental doctrine in the word of God, which has as its foundation the grace of God.  We’ve already seen that God’s plan of salvation is offered to mankind on the basis of grace.  Let’s rightly divide the word of truth by considering three different aspects of this salvation found in the Bible.

First, let’s understand that the term “salvation” means to rescue or to deliver and the context determines what the nature of the salvation is. In the Old Testament, “salvation” almost always refers to some sort of physical salvation from various enemies, circumstances, and even death.  In the New Testament, “salvation” sometimes is referring to physical deliverance but normally it is used in a spiritual sense.

Second, you need to realize that spiritual salvation is spoken of in three tenses or phases in the Bible.  We have a tendency as believers to think only of salvation which occurred at a point in time in our past, to save us from the penalty of our sin.  This is truly salvation, but it is not the entirety of God’s plan of salvation for us.

Consider this passage:

            Rom. 13:11  And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

If salvation is always a reference to the point in time in the past when we were saved from sin’s penalty, how could our salvation be “nearer” now than when we believed?

Certainly, Romans 13:11 must be speaking of a salvation that is yet future. Consider another passage: 

Philippians 2:12  Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

If we have already been saved completely at a point in time in the past, why would we as believers be encouraged to “work out” our own salvation?  This is clearly a reference to something that is ongoing in the life of every believer.  This is a present tense kind of salvation.

Therefore, God’s salvation, when viewed in total, consists of three phases, stages, or tenses.  They are:  PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE. 

PAST TENSE SALVATION

If you are a believer in Christ, you can look to the past and say “at a point of time in the past, I know that I was saved from sin’s penalty by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ.” 

     

      Titus 3:5

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit,

      Ephesians 2:8–9

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.

      1 Corinthians 1:21

For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.

      John 3:17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Theological description of this is justification. Justification is salvation from the penalty of sin and this happens at a point in time when a person trusts Jesus Christ.

The result of this is that a believer is placed in Christ. The Holy Spirit baptises you into the body of Christ when you get saved. Meaning, you have been identified with Christ. You are now "in Christ".

1 Corinthians 12:12-13

This first tense salvation is entirely based on God’s grace.  We do not deserve it, we can’t work for it, it is provided entirely by God.  The only response accepted by God is faith alone in what He has done for us through Jesus Christ.

PRESENT TENSE SALVATION

If you are a believer in Christ you have been born again but you still possess a sinful nature, which desires to put yourself first. You are not capable in your own abilities to overcome this sinful nature.  It is only by God’s grace provision that you can have victory in your everyday walk over the power of this sinful nature. 

      1 Timothy 4:16

Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

      James 1:21

Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

      Philippians 2:12

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling;

      James 5:20

Let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and cover a multitude of sins.

Salvation when spoken of as a continual process taking place in the life of a believer, is salvation from the sinful nature in our lives.

 The theological term for this salvation sanctification. Salvation from the power of sin. This second tense salvation takes place daily when the believer in Christ chooses to yield and depend upon the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to fill and empower him.

The result: Christ Place in you. Jesus personally forever indwells every believer Through this intimate union with Christ, we always have within us the power and ability needed for our daily sanctification.

This second tense of salvation (called here our “walk”) is also based entirely upon the grace of God, like the first tense, when we received Christ Jesus The Lord.  We are incapable of living a life that pleases the Lord apart from His grace provision, just as we were incapable of saving ourselves from sin’s penalty.

FUTURE TENSE SALVATION

As we saw in Romans 13:11, there is a salvation spoken of in the Bible which is yet future for the believer.  It speaks of the ultimate fulfilment of God’s work of salvation in the believer’s life.  This will take place when we go to be with the Lord by death or rapture, to spend eternity in His presence. 

The believer will spend eternity in heaven with the Lord, separated from sin and enjoying perfect fellowship with Him.

In the third “SCRIPTURE:” column, write the following verses:

      Romans 5:9

Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

      Romans 13:11

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

      Thessalonians 5:9

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

This salvation third tense takes place one time when a believer goes to be with the Lord and it lasts forever and ever.

The result: YOU WITH CHRIST Forever! and is guaranteed to the believer in Jesus Christ.

Conclusion:

All three tenses of salvation are entirely based on the grace of God.  None of this is deserved.  None of it is based on our works.  We can only rest and rejoice in the amazing Grace that God has bestowed on a desperately lost and dying world.  In God’s plan of salvation, GRACE is on display.

Grace Billboard

            Titus 2:11–13

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,

teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

 2 Corinthians 1:9–10. . .we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us,

Can you confidently say today “I know I’ve been saved in the past by God’s grace through faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work?”  If so, do you understand how to appropriate God’s grace in your everyday life so you can live a life of victory over the sin nature that still is a part of your being? And do you eagerly anticipate the ultimate salvation in Heaven that God has promised to every believer in Jesus Christ? We will further consider all of these aspects of God’s incredible grace plan of salvation as we study the book of Romans in the coming teachings.

Here is the summary in an image.

Gospel lesson 2. The first part of the lesson was on the importance of grace.