USING BIBLE TENSES BIBLE WAY (PART 4)

The word “salvation”, though arguably the most common term in Christianity, is sadly one of the most misunderstood [For a better understanding of this subject, listen to the teaching, Salvation in Christ Jesus (2021)].

Now, the focus of this post is to help us understand something salient about the Bible’s usage of this term. This is important so we do not misconstrue the Bible's presentation.

The word “salvation” (sōtēria), with its verb form (sōzō), is used in 3 different contexts in the Bible:

1. Salvation from sin predicated on the sacrifice of Jesus (in his first coming)

2. Salvation from wrath (the destruction of the world) upon the second coming of Jesus

3. Salvation from danger and physical harm which could include death.

• CONCERNING SALVATION FROM SIN, the Bible teaches that this has been made available as a result of the sacrifice of Jesus (Titus 2:11) and is received by faith in the finished works of Jesus (Romans 1:16). Hence, everyone who has done this is saved already. For such, it is a past tense reality with a continuous significance in the present. Every believer has been saved. He is not seeking to be saved from sin in the future, neither is he being saved from it. He HAS BEEN SAVED already (past perfect tense).

Ephesians 1:13(NKJV)

In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise.

This is a fulfilled reality already in every Christian. They are not seeking to be saved; they are saved already.

Ephesians 2:5,8(NKJV)

5. Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),

8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.

Titus 3:5(NKJV)

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit.

• CONCERNING SALVATION FROM THE WRATH TO COME (THE DESTRUCTION OF THE WORLD), the Bible teaches this as a future tense reality upon the second coming of Jesus. This corrupted world will be destroyed in the end, giving way for a new heaven and a new earth. In the destruction of the world, the unsaved will be destroyed alongside.

2 Peter 3:1–13(NKJV)

1. Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder),

2. that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior,

3. knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,

4. and saying, "Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation."

5. For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water,

6. by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water.

7. But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

8. But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.

9. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

10. But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.

11. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,

12. looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?

13. Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

So, only those that have received by faith the first type of salvation (salvation from sin), which Peter called the salvation of the soul (1 Peter 1:9), are qualified for the second type of salvation at the second coming of Jesus.

Unlike salvation from sin, salvation from wrath in the end of the world is futuristic.

Romans 5:9–10(NKJV)

9. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him.

10. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.

Romans 13:11(NKJV)

And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.

1 Thessalonians 5:9(NKJV)

For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Hebrews 9:28(NKJV)

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.

1 Peter 1:4–5(NKJV)

4. To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,

5. who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.

This is the blessed hope of every child of God—that when the world and they that are of the world (unbelievers) are destroyed in the end, we will be saved into eternal glory.

• CONCERNING SALVATION FROM DANGER AND PHYSICAL HARM, the Bible teaches this to be an actively ongoing process. This is a present tense reality. Unlike the others, this is not a once-and-for-all thing; it happens actively and it can happen anytime throughout life.

Paul expected it when he was in prison and it happened.

Philippians 1:15–19(NKJV)

15. Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:

16. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

17. but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

18. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

19. For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

That word “deliverance” here is same word sōtēria; it is translated as “salvation” in the KJV. So Paul, though saved from sin already and worthy of the salvation from wrath at the end of the world, talked here about an active salvation from danger, which can be influenced by prayer. [For a good understanding of Matthew 10:22/24:13, listen to The Eternal Salvation Lawsuit (2020): Commentary on “He that endureth to the end, the same shall be saved.”]

This active salvation, unlike the others, can happen over and over again.

Matthew 8:23–25(NKJV)

23. Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him.

24. And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep.

25. Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!"

Salvation of the soul? No. Salvation from physical threat to life, just like when Peter walked on water to meet Jesus.

Matthew 14:28–30(NKJV)

28. And Peter answered Him and said, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

29. So He said, "Come." And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus.

30. But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, "Lord, save me!"

Jesus said on a few occasions after healing the sick, that, “Your faith has saved you.” This is not salvation from sin but salvation from the hold of sickness—physical hurt.

A similar expression was also used in the book of Acts during Paul's voyage to Rome in the midst of a really serious tempest.

Acts 27:20,30–31,42–43(NKJV)

20. Now when neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest beat on us, all hope that we would be saved was finally given up.

30. And as the sailors were seeking to escape from the ship, when they had let down the skiff into the sea, under pretense of putting out anchors from the prow,

31. Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, "Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved."

42. And the soldiers' plan was to kill the prisoners, lest any of them should swim away and escape.

43. But the centurion, wanting to save Paul, kept them from their purpose, and commanded that those who could swim should jump overboard first and get to land.

This has to do with salvation from physical hurt. The centurion did not allow the soldiers to kill the prisoners because he wanted to save Paul, not from sin but from death.

So, clearly, we have seen in biblical parlance, the word “salvation” used in 3 different contexts: salvation from sin/salvation of the soul, salvation from wrath at the end of the world, and salvation from danger and physical hurt.

Salvation from sin has happened to every child of God once-and-for-all. You are saved already (past tense). Any biblical reference that appears otherwise on the surface is either an admonition to unbelievers or one of the other two types of salvation.

Salvation from wrath is in the future (future tense). For us, believers, though postponed, it has been purchased already.

Salvation from danger is active (present tense). We all need it sometime and it can happen time and again.

There is a very big need for us in our biblical exegesis to be able to discern between the three cuz they are not the same.

Blessings.

Confession: I believe in the finished works of Jesus for me. Therefore, I have been saved from sin. Because of the resurrection life of Jesus, I will be saved from wrath at the end of the world. And by God's mercies, I am saved from all forms of evil; my life and my health are preserved. This is my lot. This is my portion. Hallelujah!

Victor Ibosiola © 2022