“Saved”—Past, Present, Future
“Saved”—Past, Present, Future
Some understanding is important in explaining exactly when a Christian IS saved. This is a subject of great confusion. Comprehending it is critical to everything about the subject of salvation.
The Bible teaches that you are saved in three distinct ways. All of them represent what is correctly described as the process of salvation.
Romans 6:23 explained that the wages of sin is death. At repentance, baptism and conversion, a Christian is forgiven by the blood of Christ and is immediately saved from the penalty of PAST sins. So, in one sense, it can be said that the person has been “saved,” at that moment, from death.
But by now you recognize that this is not the whole story. There are two more applications of when and how a person is saved.
The word salvation is derived from the word saved. So, the second way is the most obvious, and it is the actual receiving of eternal life, the pinnacle of salvation. This happens at the resurrection of the dead in Christ (I Cor. 15:50-55; I Thes. 4:13-18), upon His Return. This is future!
So then, the third way one is saved is that he is “being saved”—an ongoing process—throughout his lifetime. Many verses reveal that nothing is automatic simply because conversion—spiritual begettal—has taken place. To believe that salvation is complete upon conversion is to mock God by ignoring all of the scriptures we have read about obeying Him.
Besides, if you are automatically saved at conversion, then what would be the point of living out the remainder of your natural life? Why would God not simply take you directly to whatever is the afterlife after you “accept the blood of Jesus,” if salvation is finished at the moment of conversion?
You Must Endure
In the Olivet Prophecy, Christ was asked about the sequence of events just prior to His Return. He described very difficult times. (We have a number of booklets describing the events foretold to occur at the end of the age.)
In answering, Christ said, “But he that endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13; 10:22).
Christianity is an endurance test. There is nothing automatic about it. Christians can fail in this lifetime if they do not continue on the right path. Ephesians 4:23 states, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Copying Christ is a daily, lifelong process that completely renews the mind.
No one is permanently saved at conversion, (unless they die right after baptism). Christ said (twice) that His servants must “endure to the end” of their lives. What is the point of this statement if salvation is automatic upon accepting Christ?
The book of Hebrews contains several admonitions—warnings!—to those who would live the Christian way in a negligent manner: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip [Greek: to run out of a leaking vessel]. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…” (2:1-3).
Be careful! This is a caution to all. Salvation is not easy—not automatic. It can slip away if we let important knowledge and need for action “leak” from our understanding.
Paul continued by describing the grave danger of willful sin: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together [members of the true Church of God meet together each Sabbath]…For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (Heb. 10:23-26).
This is serious!
The ministers of this world teach that their followers are “under grace”—that they are already saved in this life—that they cannot fall away or fail due to misconduct or practicing sin. Do not be confused by soothing words of deceit from those who claim to represent Christ. God has standards, and they must be met. (Also read James 4:17.)
Hebrews 6 describes what happens to those who “fall away.” It paints a sobering picture: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (vs. 4-6). For these, “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (10:26).
These verses leave no doubt that it is possible to be a true Christian and later fall away from the path to salvation. I have known many who have “tasted the good word of God,” and been “partakers of the Holy Spirit,” who have ceased to be “enlightened”—and have fallen away from God and salvation. Paul states that it is IMPOSSIBLE for these people to recover!
Determine you will never allow this to be your fate. (Read our free booklet Just What Is “The Unpardonable Sin”?)
These are the plain words of the Bible. Each scripture referenced here is critical and must be carefully read to recognize the obligations that God places on His servants. Do not be like so many who easily dismiss them, falsely trusting that they have “Jesus in their heart” and cannot fail.
This world’s professing “Christian” ministers teach an unscriptural, false, pagan “salvation” about immortal souls going to heaven, instead of the wonderful truth—that this life is to prepare you for rulership. They ignore the verses that we have just examined, because they do not want to be responsible for having to do anything.
How does “already saved” fit with living a life of learning, growing, obedience to God, sometimes suffering—and intense persecution? (Also see John 15:20; II Tim. 3:12; Psa. 34:19; etc.)
The apostle Jude warned of those who would creep among God’s people and teach a false Christianity involving little or no effort: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 3-4).
Christianity means battling, obeying, “contending” to remain in the full truth of the faith. It is not a toboggan ride down a smooth hill toward a soft landing. God’s Word does not teach a “grace” that is merely a license (“lasciviousness”) to sin. “Ungodly men” teach such ideas.
Paul wrote, “…from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:15-16).
Study your Bible regularly. It contains all the necessary knowledge “to make you wise unto salvation.”
Do not fall for the siren song of “just believe", and "your eternal salvation is secure” It is the greatest single deception that spiritually blind “Christian” theologians (II Cor. 11:13-15) have foisted upon an unsuspecting world!
Our Messiah and His brother taught that we must endure to the end to be saved.
Matt.10
[22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matt.24
[13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark.13
[13] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Jas.1
[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Some understanding is important in explaining exactly when a Christian IS saved. This is a subject of great confusion. Comprehending it is critical to everything about the subject of salvation.
The Bible teaches that you are saved in three distinct ways. All of them represent what is correctly described as the process of salvation.
Romans 6:23 explained that the wages of sin is death. At repentance, baptism and conversion, a Christian is forgiven by the blood of Christ and is immediately saved from the penalty of PAST sins. So, in one sense, it can be said that the person has been “saved,” at that moment, from death.
But by now you recognize that this is not the whole story. There are two more applications of when and how a person is saved.
The word salvation is derived from the word saved. So, the second way is the most obvious, and it is the actual receiving of eternal life, the pinnacle of salvation. This happens at the resurrection of the dead in Christ (I Cor. 15:50-55; I Thes. 4:13-18), upon His Return. This is future!
So then, the third way one is saved is that he is “being saved”—an ongoing process—throughout his lifetime. Many verses reveal that nothing is automatic simply because conversion—spiritual begettal—has taken place. To believe that salvation is complete upon conversion is to mock God by ignoring all of the scriptures we have read about obeying Him.
Besides, if you are automatically saved at conversion, then what would be the point of living out the remainder of your natural life? Why would God not simply take you directly to whatever is the afterlife after you “accept the blood of Jesus,” if salvation is finished at the moment of conversion?
You Must Endure
In the Olivet Prophecy, Christ was asked about the sequence of events just prior to His Return. He described very difficult times. (We have a number of booklets describing the events foretold to occur at the end of the age.)
In answering, Christ said, “But he that endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24:13; 10:22).
Christianity is an endurance test. There is nothing automatic about it. Christians can fail in this lifetime if they do not continue on the right path. Ephesians 4:23 states, “And be renewed in the spirit of your mind.” Copying Christ is a daily, lifelong process that completely renews the mind.
No one is permanently saved at conversion, (unless they die right after baptism). Christ said (twice) that His servants must “endure to the end” of their lives. What is the point of this statement if salvation is automatic upon accepting Christ?
The book of Hebrews contains several admonitions—warnings!—to those who would live the Christian way in a negligent manner: “Therefore we ought to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip [Greek: to run out of a leaking vessel]. For if the word spoken by angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward; How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation…” (2:1-3).
Be careful! This is a caution to all. Salvation is not easy—not automatic. It can slip away if we let important knowledge and need for action “leak” from our understanding.
Paul continued by describing the grave danger of willful sin: “Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for He is faithful that promised;) and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together [members of the true Church of God meet together each Sabbath]…For if we sin willfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (Heb. 10:23-26).
This is serious!
The ministers of this world teach that their followers are “under grace”—that they are already saved in this life—that they cannot fall away or fail due to misconduct or practicing sin. Do not be confused by soothing words of deceit from those who claim to represent Christ. God has standards, and they must be met. (Also read James 4:17.)
Hebrews 6 describes what happens to those who “fall away.” It paints a sobering picture: “For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Spirit, and have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, if they shall FALL AWAY, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put Him to an open shame” (vs. 4-6). For these, “there remains no more sacrifice for sins” (10:26).
These verses leave no doubt that it is possible to be a true Christian and later fall away from the path to salvation. I have known many who have “tasted the good word of God,” and been “partakers of the Holy Spirit,” who have ceased to be “enlightened”—and have fallen away from God and salvation. Paul states that it is IMPOSSIBLE for these people to recover!
Determine you will never allow this to be your fate. (Read our free booklet Just What Is “The Unpardonable Sin”?)
These are the plain words of the Bible. Each scripture referenced here is critical and must be carefully read to recognize the obligations that God places on His servants. Do not be like so many who easily dismiss them, falsely trusting that they have “Jesus in their heart” and cannot fail.
This world’s professing “Christian” ministers teach an unscriptural, false, pagan “salvation” about immortal souls going to heaven, instead of the wonderful truth—that this life is to prepare you for rulership. They ignore the verses that we have just examined, because they do not want to be responsible for having to do anything.
How does “already saved” fit with living a life of learning, growing, obedience to God, sometimes suffering—and intense persecution? (Also see John 15:20; II Tim. 3:12; Psa. 34:19; etc.)
The apostle Jude warned of those who would creep among God’s people and teach a false Christianity involving little or no effort: “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that you should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 3-4).
Christianity means battling, obeying, “contending” to remain in the full truth of the faith. It is not a toboggan ride down a smooth hill toward a soft landing. God’s Word does not teach a “grace” that is merely a license (“lasciviousness”) to sin. “Ungodly men” teach such ideas.
Paul wrote, “…from a child you have known the holy scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness” (II Tim. 3:15-16).
Study your Bible regularly. It contains all the necessary knowledge “to make you wise unto salvation.”
Do not fall for the siren song of “just believe", and "your eternal salvation is secure” It is the greatest single deception that spiritually blind “Christian” theologians (II Cor. 11:13-15) have foisted upon an unsuspecting world!
Our Messiah and His brother taught that we must endure to the end to be saved.
Matt.10
[22] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved.
Matt.24
[13] But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Mark.13
[13] And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.
Jas.1
[12] Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.
Comment
© 2024 Created by Raliegh Jones Jr..
Powered by
You need to be a member of Black Preaching Network to add comments!
Join Black Preaching Network