There is a theological reality that I’ve made brief reference to at the men’s Bible study and Ken has recently referenced in the ongoing theological debate going on his ‘blog. It is the notion that our salvation is expressed in the Scriptures in three ways as it relates to time.
- We have been saved.
- We are being saved.
- We look forward to salvation.
Most of us naturally think in turns of the first aspect. We ‘got saved’ at a particular point in time. Or as good Calvinists, we know that we were essentially saved from the foundation of the world. (Rev 13:8)
In support of this aspect of salvation, we have passages like Ephesians 2:8: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” Along with passages like Rom. 8:24.
Then we have passages that refer to salvation as an ongoing process…
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you-unless you believed in vain. (1 Co 15:1-2)
For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. (2 Co 2:15).
But there are actually many more passages that refer to our salvation in future terms. Here are a few of them…
Acts 15:11
11 But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.
Romans 5:9-10
9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
1 Corinthians 3:15
15 If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
1 Corinthians 5:5
5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
We need to keep in mind three aspects of our salvation… It’s a done deal. We are actively being saved by our Lord, and yet we await deliverance in the glorious day of His return.
Good reminder. “Fits the already, but not yet” scheme you see in so many Biblical doctrines.
Excellent distinctions! Also, we must remember there are two views toward our salvation – God’s view and our view. Since we live in time the expression of progression that you have mentioned is something we realize, but cannot then force it onto God as if He also grows to realize this. This is the fundamental problem with many who are involved in the discussion regarding limited/unlimited atonement. Depending on the vantage point a person begins with (God’s or man’s), the terms and dimension of the discussion will be dictated. For example, from God’s point of view the atonement is limited. However, from our view the atonement is not limited. It would seem that this would also help refine the dimensions of “saved, being saved, and will be saved.”
Thanks for doing the legwork on this. I knew there was a good list of the three tenses of the word but I was too lazy to dig them up!
I have a new thread started up on justification…
Dan-
Can you elaborate more on the statement that from God’s perspective the atonement is limited but from our perspective it is unlimited. Thanks.
The atonement that Christ can be viewed in two ways. Due to our complete spiritual inability (we are “dead in sins” and, therefore, unable to make any God-centered spiritual decisions apart from His empowering) God enables some who will,then, choose to follow His Son – limited atonement(there are many Scriptures to back this up).
However, the offer of atonement is a call to everyone on earth to repent and believe in Jesus – unlimited (there are many Scriptures to back this up). Therefore, depending on your starting point, a person can legitimately indicate both positions since the Bible does this in how it offers hope through the atonement of Christ.
The issue of limited and unlimited must allow the tension of Scripture to exist in its expression. From God’s point of view the atonement has a limit, but from our point of view the atonement is unlimited and the power of the blood of Christ is sufficient for everyone who would believe.
Dan, I think that’s a great distinction. Maybe it explains why some days a feel like a 4.5 point Calvinist. When looked as from our perspective, the “L” can look biblically problematic. From God’s perspective, it’s a slam-dunk.
Dan,
In one post you said: “For example, from God’s point of view the atonement is limited. However, from our view the atonement is not limited. ”
You also said in another post: “The issue of limited and unlimited must allow the tension of Scripture to exist in its expression. ”
The scripture is what it is, independent of our understanding or agreement. I agree with you that God is outside of time and that the right perspective on time helps refine the dimensions of our understanding of “saved, being saved, and will be saved.” However, I do not think we can ever fully know or understand Gods point of view and we need to be very careful about formulating doctrines based on our view of things that are not clear. I doubt God believes in limited atonement. That is human interpretation about God. If you mean by tension that there are some things in scripture that are not going to be entirely clear to us, I agree. The Bible clearly teaches this. But I do not think you intend to imply that the scripture is by any means in conflict with itself or that we should teach as doctrine anything that is unclear?
I know that you and the folks at GF are great advocates of obedience in the modern church and I am thankful for it. Please keep up the good work. My point is that when the scripture says you better persevere in faith in order to be saved, and there are many scriptures that say this; I think you better do that, regardless of what you think the perspective from outside the progress of time may be for God.
That said, I keep praying that I am one of the elect 🙂
Jose