SAVED BY GRACE( WITHOUT WORKS) FOR GOOD WORKS Pt.9

SALVATION: PAST, PRESENT&FUTURE

Reading through the bible, the word "save/saved" was used in three senses:
( a) We have been saved( Justification)
(b) We are being saved(Sanctification)
(c) We shall be saved( Glorification)

When you came to Christ, you were saved: "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved",
Romans 10:13 KJV. That very day you confessed Jesus as your Lord and personal saviour, you received the priceless gift of salvation. You became a new creation and your record of wrongs were wiped clean. You were justified of all your wrongs and declared righteous, 2Cor 5:17, 21.For those that are already in Christ,this happened in the past. You have it already. You didn't do anything to merit this, no work, simply grace. However, salvation doesn't stop at this phase.

1 Corinthians1:18 open to us another dimension or phase of salvation: “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".The capitalized phrase refers to an ongoing process. More like a present continuous event. The salvation of the believer has a present dimension to it and this is where work begins. At this phase, by the help of the Holy Spirit, you're expected to produce fruit of righteousness and guard your salvation jealously: “Therefore, my brothers and sisters, MAKE EVERY EFFORT to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble", 2Pet1:10. You don't go to sleep at this phase, by the help of the Holy Spirit, you work out salvation with fear and trembling by abstaining from the works of the flesh and living a Spirit controlled life: "Wherefore, my beloved, as ye 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. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure", Philippians 2:12-13 KJV. If salvation is on auto drive after we prayed the sinners prayer, Paul wouldn't have enjoined that we "work out" our salvation. What has been worked into us ( justification, Sanctification) in Christ when we came to Christ must be worked out (expressed through daily Christian living) by us through the help of the Holy Spirit. It is our decision to do this not God's. Failure to do this, we risk losing the next phase of salvation which is futuristic.

The last phase in salvation as seen in the bible is the salvation we are waiting for: “And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed", Romans13:11. The salvation that is nearer than when we first believed speaks of the future salvation of believers when we shall meet with Christ in glory( heaven). It is referred to as the "blessed hope": "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ", Titus2:13. Because of this future salvation, James said:, “Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you", James1:21. Paul also expressed the same thought about the salvation to come when he said,"Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers”,James1:21. Dearest, the salvation ahead of us( glorification of the saints) should not be missed by anyone who truly loves the Lord and want to see him just as he is. This should drive us into a life of purity: "Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that WHEN CHRIST APPEARS, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope( of his appearing) in him purify themselves, just as he is pure", 1John3:2-3,NIV. Emphasis mine.