Saturday, August 22, 2009

Ordo Salutis and Past-Present-Future Salvation

The Ordo Salutis (order of salvation) also helps explain why the Bible, in various places, speaks of the believer's salvation as past, present, or future.

Examples of salvation being spoken of as something the believer has already experienced:

"Today salvation has come to this house..." Lk 19:9
"He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy." Tit 3:5


Examples of salvation being spoken of as something the believer is currently experiencing:

"...continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling" Php 2:12
"...but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." 1 Cor 1:18


Examples of salvation being spoken of as something the believer is yet to experience:

"...our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." Rom 13:11
"...how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him!" Rom 5:9


How can salvation be past, present, and future?

For a Christian currently alive on earth, several steps in the Ordo Salutis are past tense: Foreknowledge, Predestination, Redemptive Work of Christ, Effectual Calling, Regeneration, Faith and Repentance, Union with Christ, Justification, and Adoption. All nine of these steps have already happened. So in this sense, the believer has already been saved.

But for a believer in this life, two steps in the Ordo Salutis are present tense: Sanctification and Perseverance. The believer is being sanctified, and he is persevering in faith, repentance, and good works. In this sense, then, the believer is being saved.

Yet no Christian's salvation will be complete until Christ returns from heaven. On that Day God will raise the believer up with a new resurrection body, that he might then share in Christ's glory forever. And so in this sense, the believer (whether on earth or in heaven) still waits to be saved.

If you are a Christian, some of your salvation has already happened, some of your salvation is currently taking place, and some of your salvation will not be given to you until Judgment Day. Praise God for so great a salvation!

When you say, "Jesus saved me," be sure you know what you mean!

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