Salvation has a three-fold nature in regards to its timing. It has a past, present, and future aspect to the believer in Christ. - From the devotionals of F.E. Marsh
Past salvation
Those who are Christ’s are saved from what they deserve as sinners, because Christ has died for them and borne in His body the curse that sin merits
Galatians 3:13 (NLT2)13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT2)21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NLT2)10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Ephesians 2:8 (NLT2)8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT2)9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Present salvation
Believers are being saved from the despotism of sin as they abide in Christ and look to Him who lives in the power of an endless life (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 7:25), and who, by the Holy Spirit, is able to work in us mightily, so that we can work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12 (NLT2)12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
Future Salvation
The Lord’s children will be saved from the disgrace of sin when Christ returns; hence we wait for Him as a Savior
Philippians 3:20 (NLT2)20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
For this we are kept
1 Peter 1:5 (NLT2)5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
And for this Christ will return
Hebrews 9:28 (NLT2)28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
It is this aspect of salvation of which the Lord says, “It is nearer”
Romans 13:11 (NLT2)11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
Past salvation
Those who are Christ’s are saved from what they deserve as sinners, because Christ has died for them and borne in His body the curse that sin merits
Galatians 3:13 (NLT2)13 But Christ has rescued us from the curse pronounced by the law. When he was hung on the cross, he took upon himself the curse for our wrongdoing. For it is written in the Scriptures, “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT2)21 For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.
1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NLT2)10 And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven—Jesus, whom God raised from the dead. He is the one who has rescued us from the terrors of the coming judgment.
Ephesians 2:8 (NLT2)8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT2)9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
Present salvation
Believers are being saved from the despotism of sin as they abide in Christ and look to Him who lives in the power of an endless life (Romans 5:9; Hebrews 7:25), and who, by the Holy Spirit, is able to work in us mightily, so that we can work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.
Philippians 2:12 (NLT2)12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
Future Salvation
The Lord’s children will be saved from the disgrace of sin when Christ returns; hence we wait for Him as a Savior
Philippians 3:20 (NLT2)20 But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior.
For this we are kept
1 Peter 1:5 (NLT2)5 And through your faith, God is protecting you by his power until you receive this salvation, which is ready to be revealed on the last day for all to see.
And for this Christ will return
Hebrews 9:28 (NLT2)28 so also Christ died once for all time as a sacrifice to take away the sins of many people. He will come again, not to deal with our sins, but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him.
It is this aspect of salvation of which the Lord says, “It is nearer”
Romans 13:11 (NLT2)11 This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
What is Salvation? (Also: Why It's Needed and How to Get It)
Mike Leake
Borrowed Light
When thinking about salvation it’s helpful to think about what we are saved from, what we are saved to, who we are saved by. It’s also helpful to think about our salvation as a past, present, and future happening.
What Are We Saved From?
In the Old Testament (OT), the primary Hebrew word which is translated as “save” or “salvation” often refers to deliverance in concrete real-life situations. In 2 Kings 19:19 Hezekiah prays for the Lord to save them from the Assyrians. Though there are massive spiritual implications to this, the deliverance he longs for is primarily in the present. Likewise in Psalm 54:1 when David asks for God to save him he is thinking foremost about being delivered from the hand of Saul who is tracking him down. The Old Testament establishes God as the Deliverer and Savior.
While the primary New Testament (NT) word for salvation on occasion points to deliverance from a physical threat the dominant meaning is deliverance from the consequences of sin and the clutches of death and Satan. The major theme of deliverance in the NT is deliverance from God’s wrath. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and Romans 5:9 speak of our being delivered from the wrath to come. John MacArthur summarizes well:
"The real problem is sin and guilt. That's the issue. God sent Jesus Christ to rescue us from the consequence of our sin, and everybody falls into the category of sinner. It doesn't matter whether you're among the haves or the have-nots, whether you have great expectations or none at all, whether you're consumed by your passions or exhibit a degree of self-control and discipline-you are still a sinner. You have broken the law of God and He's angry about it. Unless something happens to change your condition, you're on your way to eternal hell. You need to be rescued from the consequences of your sin. Those are the principal issues the gospel solves."
We see, then, that salvation speaks of receiving deliverance from our greatest problem; namely, the many consequences of our sin against a holy God. So how does this salvation come about?
By Whom Are We Saved?
In Acts 16:30 a Philippian jailer asks a very important question. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The apostles did not hesitate in pointing to Jesus Christ as the only means by which men will be saved.
Acts 16:29-31 (NLT2)29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
Those in the Old Testament looked to God alone as their Savior. This is picked up in the NT when Jesus Christ is referred to as our Lord and Savior.
God is the one who enacts salvation. The Scriptures are clear that the way of unbelief is to trust in self or in other things for salvation. Psalm 20 shows that the way of belief is to not trust in chariots or horses but to trust in the name of the Lord.
Psalm 20:7-8 (NLT2)7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.8 Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.
We are the ones who have gotten ourselves into the mess; therefore God alone is able to save.
1 Timothy 1:15 (NLT2)15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
This means every sinner, if he/she is to be saved will be saved through Christ.
What Are We Saved To?
This is where the image of a salvage yard is somewhat helpful. When a salvage yard reclaims a wrecked car, they take possession of it, change it substantially, and repurpose it. Though far less utilitarian, this is true of believers. Some people think of salvation as God cleaning our slates, offering forgiveness, and giving us a second chance. It is so much more than this. Salvation is not only being saved from something it is also being saved to someone. We are saved from sin and brought to God.
The Scriptures speak of the many benefits of salvation.
We are rescued from bondage and brought into freedom.
John 8:34-36 (NLT2)34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
We were saved from wrath and brought into peace with God.
Romans 5:1 (NLT2)1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
These are only a few examples. The Bible consistently shows that where sin once brought havoc and wreckage, the gospel brings life. But of all the benefits of the gospel, the greatest one is that it brings us to God Himself. I appreciate these words of John Piper:
"Indeed there are ten thousand gifts that flow from the love of God. The gospel of Christ proclaims the news that he has purchased by his death ten thousand blessings for his bride. But none of these gifts will lead to final joy if they have not first led to God. And not one gospel blessing will be enjoyed by anyone for whom the gospel’s greatest gift was not the Lord himself." (Piper, God is the Gospel, 12)
We are saved for a relationship. God has overcome our greatest problems so that we could be brought into a relationship with Him. This is our greatest good. But how does this become ours? Is everyone saved because the work Christ has accomplished?
How Do We Receive Salvation?
When I bought an engagement ring for my wife, it did not make us engaged. I still had to pop the question and she still had to receive my gift. In the same way Christ has done what is necessary for us to be saved, but that gift is not appropriated apart from faith. This is what the Bible teaches in Ephesians 2. We are dead in our trespasses and sin, and God makes us alive. When our eyes are opened to the beauty of the gospel and the accomplishment of Christ our only fitting response is to respond in repentance and belief.
Repentance and belief are really two sides of the same coin. Repentance means that we are changing our mind about God and about ourselves. We are laying down our own foolish efforts to save ourselves. We are turning away from self-sufficiency. At the same time we are turning towards Christ. We trust that He alone is the one who can save us. We are entrusting ourselves to him.
This is why the Bible says it is by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8 (NLT2)8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Faith is simply that which links us to Christ. It’s that which reaches out and grabs ahold of the work of Christ. And, as it has often been said, a weak faith is able to lay ahold of a strong Christ. The most important aspect of our repentance and faith is not its own veracity. The most important aspect of our repentance and faith is its object. When we place our faith and trust in Christ the Bible says we are saved. “
Joel 2:32 (NLT2)32 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.
Acts 2:21 (NLT2)21 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’
Romans 10:13 (NLT2)13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
Past, Present, Future
The last thing to note about salvation is that the Bible speaks of it in past, present, and future terms. Christ has died in history on our behalf. So there is a sense in which we can say with Paul, “He has saved us,”
2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT2)9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
There is another sense in which we are being saved. Salvation has an impact on the present. We are still in the process of being saved.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT2)18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
We also see a future component to our salvation.
Romans 5:9 (NLT2)9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. (emphasis mine)
This is not to say that there is no security in salvation. The common thread in all of these tenses of salvation is union with Christ. It is here that our hope for salvation rests. Either we are in union with Christ or we are not. Whenever I think about standing before the Lord of the Universe I’m reminded of these poignant words by Mark Dever:
"A Christian, therefore, knows that if he were to die tonight and stand before God, and if God were to say, 'Why should I let you into my presence?' the Christian would say, 'You shouldn't let me in. I have sinned and owe you a debt that I cannot pay back.' But he wouldn't stop there. He would continue, 'Yet, because of your great promises and mercy, I depend on the blood of Jesus Christ shed as a substitute for me, paying my moral debt, satisfying your holy and righteous requirements, and removing your wrath against sin!'"
Mike Leake
Borrowed Light
When thinking about salvation it’s helpful to think about what we are saved from, what we are saved to, who we are saved by. It’s also helpful to think about our salvation as a past, present, and future happening.
What Are We Saved From?
In the Old Testament (OT), the primary Hebrew word which is translated as “save” or “salvation” often refers to deliverance in concrete real-life situations. In 2 Kings 19:19 Hezekiah prays for the Lord to save them from the Assyrians. Though there are massive spiritual implications to this, the deliverance he longs for is primarily in the present. Likewise in Psalm 54:1 when David asks for God to save him he is thinking foremost about being delivered from the hand of Saul who is tracking him down. The Old Testament establishes God as the Deliverer and Savior.
While the primary New Testament (NT) word for salvation on occasion points to deliverance from a physical threat the dominant meaning is deliverance from the consequences of sin and the clutches of death and Satan. The major theme of deliverance in the NT is deliverance from God’s wrath. In 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and Romans 5:9 speak of our being delivered from the wrath to come. John MacArthur summarizes well:
"The real problem is sin and guilt. That's the issue. God sent Jesus Christ to rescue us from the consequence of our sin, and everybody falls into the category of sinner. It doesn't matter whether you're among the haves or the have-nots, whether you have great expectations or none at all, whether you're consumed by your passions or exhibit a degree of self-control and discipline-you are still a sinner. You have broken the law of God and He's angry about it. Unless something happens to change your condition, you're on your way to eternal hell. You need to be rescued from the consequences of your sin. Those are the principal issues the gospel solves."
We see, then, that salvation speaks of receiving deliverance from our greatest problem; namely, the many consequences of our sin against a holy God. So how does this salvation come about?
By Whom Are We Saved?
In Acts 16:30 a Philippian jailer asks a very important question. “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” The apostles did not hesitate in pointing to Jesus Christ as the only means by which men will be saved.
Acts 16:29-31 (NLT2)29 The jailer called for lights and ran to the dungeon and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas.30 Then he brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved, along with everyone in your household.”
Those in the Old Testament looked to God alone as their Savior. This is picked up in the NT when Jesus Christ is referred to as our Lord and Savior.
God is the one who enacts salvation. The Scriptures are clear that the way of unbelief is to trust in self or in other things for salvation. Psalm 20 shows that the way of belief is to not trust in chariots or horses but to trust in the name of the Lord.
Psalm 20:7-8 (NLT2)7 Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God.8 Those nations will fall down and collapse, but we will rise up and stand firm.
We are the ones who have gotten ourselves into the mess; therefore God alone is able to save.
1 Timothy 1:15 (NLT2)15 This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all.
This means every sinner, if he/she is to be saved will be saved through Christ.
What Are We Saved To?
This is where the image of a salvage yard is somewhat helpful. When a salvage yard reclaims a wrecked car, they take possession of it, change it substantially, and repurpose it. Though far less utilitarian, this is true of believers. Some people think of salvation as God cleaning our slates, offering forgiveness, and giving us a second chance. It is so much more than this. Salvation is not only being saved from something it is also being saved to someone. We are saved from sin and brought to God.
The Scriptures speak of the many benefits of salvation.
We are rescued from bondage and brought into freedom.
John 8:34-36 (NLT2)34 Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, everyone who sins is a slave of sin.35 A slave is not a permanent member of the family, but a son is part of the family forever.36 So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.
We were saved from wrath and brought into peace with God.
Romans 5:1 (NLT2)1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us.
These are only a few examples. The Bible consistently shows that where sin once brought havoc and wreckage, the gospel brings life. But of all the benefits of the gospel, the greatest one is that it brings us to God Himself. I appreciate these words of John Piper:
"Indeed there are ten thousand gifts that flow from the love of God. The gospel of Christ proclaims the news that he has purchased by his death ten thousand blessings for his bride. But none of these gifts will lead to final joy if they have not first led to God. And not one gospel blessing will be enjoyed by anyone for whom the gospel’s greatest gift was not the Lord himself." (Piper, God is the Gospel, 12)
We are saved for a relationship. God has overcome our greatest problems so that we could be brought into a relationship with Him. This is our greatest good. But how does this become ours? Is everyone saved because the work Christ has accomplished?
How Do We Receive Salvation?
When I bought an engagement ring for my wife, it did not make us engaged. I still had to pop the question and she still had to receive my gift. In the same way Christ has done what is necessary for us to be saved, but that gift is not appropriated apart from faith. This is what the Bible teaches in Ephesians 2. We are dead in our trespasses and sin, and God makes us alive. When our eyes are opened to the beauty of the gospel and the accomplishment of Christ our only fitting response is to respond in repentance and belief.
Repentance and belief are really two sides of the same coin. Repentance means that we are changing our mind about God and about ourselves. We are laying down our own foolish efforts to save ourselves. We are turning away from self-sufficiency. At the same time we are turning towards Christ. We trust that He alone is the one who can save us. We are entrusting ourselves to him.
This is why the Bible says it is by grace through faith.
Ephesians 2:8 (NLT2)8 God saved you by his grace when you believed. And you can’t take credit for this; it is a gift from God.
Faith is simply that which links us to Christ. It’s that which reaches out and grabs ahold of the work of Christ. And, as it has often been said, a weak faith is able to lay ahold of a strong Christ. The most important aspect of our repentance and faith is not its own veracity. The most important aspect of our repentance and faith is its object. When we place our faith and trust in Christ the Bible says we are saved. “
Joel 2:32 (NLT2)32 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved, for some on Mount Zion in Jerusalem will escape, just as the LORD has said. These will be among the survivors whom the LORD has called.
Acts 2:21 (NLT2)21 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.’
Romans 10:13 (NLT2)13 For “Everyone who calls on the name of the LORD will be saved.”
Past, Present, Future
The last thing to note about salvation is that the Bible speaks of it in past, present, and future terms. Christ has died in history on our behalf. So there is a sense in which we can say with Paul, “He has saved us,”
2 Timothy 1:9 (NLT2)9 For God saved us and called us to live a holy life. He did this, not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus.
There is another sense in which we are being saved. Salvation has an impact on the present. We are still in the process of being saved.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (NLT2)18 The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.
We also see a future component to our salvation.
Romans 5:9 (NLT2)9 And since we have been made right in God’s sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God’s condemnation. (emphasis mine)
This is not to say that there is no security in salvation. The common thread in all of these tenses of salvation is union with Christ. It is here that our hope for salvation rests. Either we are in union with Christ or we are not. Whenever I think about standing before the Lord of the Universe I’m reminded of these poignant words by Mark Dever:
"A Christian, therefore, knows that if he were to die tonight and stand before God, and if God were to say, 'Why should I let you into my presence?' the Christian would say, 'You shouldn't let me in. I have sinned and owe you a debt that I cannot pay back.' But he wouldn't stop there. He would continue, 'Yet, because of your great promises and mercy, I depend on the blood of Jesus Christ shed as a substitute for me, paying my moral debt, satisfying your holy and righteous requirements, and removing your wrath against sin!'"
Mike Leake is the Lead Pastor at FBC Marionville in Marionville, Missouri. He is currently pursuing his M.Div. at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mike is married to Nikki, and they have two children, Isaiah and Hannah. You can follow him on Twitter @MikeLeake.
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