Salvation and End Times

By Terry George

For many Christians today, I suspect, salvation is a matter of their past decision to believe in Christ as their Lord and Saviour. From then on probably many are having the idea that their salvation needs to be “maintained” or to be lived by. In other words, the matter of salvation for many is in past tense. However, for more matured believers, they would come to understand that they need to “work out their salvation with trembling and fear….” For this group, salvation is not only in past tense but also very much in present tense.
Nevertheless, it is very interesting to realize that the NT also speaks of salvation in future tense. 1 Pet 1:4-5 tells us, “… into an inheritance imperishable, undefiled, and unfading. It is reserved in heaven for you, who by God‘s power are protected through faith for A SALVATION READY TO BE REVEALED IN THE LAST TIME. In its context, Apostle Peter is telling the suffering 1st century Christians that their salvation will be “completed” as such at the 2nd coming of Christ. For the most part, the early Christians were looking forward to the last days/end times for their great salvation. In what seems quite contrary to contemporary Christian expectations that focus so much in the here and now, the NT actually teaches that our spiritual life and relationship with God is threefold: it is simultaneously in PAST TENSE, PRESENT TENSE and FUTURE TENSE. In fact, much of what the Apostles wrote (Paul, Peter and John) is regarding the future eschatological expectation. Paul can speak of the outpouring of the Holy Spirit in believers’ life as “…a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance UNTIL the redemption of those who are God’s possession…” (Eph 1:14). Obviously for him, our redemption is also still in future tense. We were saved (by the sacrificial work of Christ), we are being saved (transformed into Christ-likeness by the Spirit/having the foretaste of the new creation) and we will be saved (resurrected into new bodies/perfectly restored into the image of God). Using a more theological term, this is called justification, sanctification and glorification.

c. 1437-1446 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Therefore, salvation/spiritual life/faith in Christ is a process (if I may use such term). It relies on the past work of Christ to set us free from the penalty of sin and reconciled us to God. It is also a life-long relationship with God and faith-fulness to follow Christ, to fight off the desires of our sinful nature since though we are freed from the power of sin, yet we are not free from the presence of sin. That’s why believers still need to look forward for perfection, in the new heavens and the new earth – the home of righteousness, when Christ returns. It is this future expectation that motivates Christians to live in holiness and conformity to Christ (cf. 1 Pet 1:14-16). In light of this, it means that holiness is as important as the forgiveness of sin. Hence, it is simply absurd that a person can live carelessly if him/her has experienced God’s forgiveness. In biblical Christianity, there is no such category as “carnal Christians” because “All who have this hope in him [of Christ’s return] purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 Jn 3:3). Not that we can be perfect in this life but rather we must seriously increase in conformity to Christ – and even to do that we are totally relying in God’s grace empower by the Holy Spirit.

This inevitably brings us into the question is once saved always saved? Well, the phrase will only be true on that day, at the judgment seat of Christ. Once we have entered into his glory in the new heavens and the new earth then we can shout at the top of our voice that “once saved is forever saved.” But until then, let’s “make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Pet 1:10-11).
Genuine faith in Christ not only perseveres but keeps looking forward to his return.