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About Jesus - Steve (Stephen) Sweetman The
Process Of Salvation When I think of Biblical
salvation I think of what I call "cosmic salvation."
This is the salvation of creation that is hinted at throughout the
Bible and is realized in the Revelation 21 New Earth.
It's when "creation itself will be liberated from its bondage
to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of
God" (Romans 8:21). Included
in cosmic salvation is what I also call "personal salvation"
where the individual gets saved, is born again as a brand new person (2
Corinthians 5:17). The Greek word
"sozo" is translated as "save" while the Greek word
"soteria" is translated as "salvation" in the New
Testament. Like many Greek
words, both of these words have a variety of similar, but varying meanings
that need to be considered in the process of translation into English.
In my words, personal salvation is the process of being delivered,
healed, or saved from any number of negative things that provide a safe
and secure existence. With
considering personal salvation as a process, the New Testament understands
it in three verb tenses. I was
saved (past tense) is seen in Romans 8:24. "Now in this hope
we were saved, but hope that is
seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees?" I was initially saved
when I went through the process of hearing the gospel, being convinced of
it, repenting of my sinful nature and trusting Jesus with my life that led
to God's Spirit entering my very being.
Without God's Spirit within me, I am not saved (Romans 8:9).
I am
being saved (present tense) is seen in 2 Corinthians 2:15. "For to God we are
the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing." I am being saved as I
allow the Holy Spirit within me to implement God's will in my life (2
Peter 1:3). I will
be saved (future tense) is seen in Romans 5:10. "For if, while we
were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, then
how much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life."
I will eventually be
completely saved when my very essence will be exactly like Jesus' essence
(1 John 3:2). Whether it's cosmic
salvation or personal salvation, both are a process that take time. Yes,
we must be saved. That being
said, we must be in the process of being saved into mature Christians,
something sadly lacking in so many claiming to be Christians.
Some day, when it is all said and done, we will be completely
saved.
Scripture
References 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore, if
anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new
is here!" Romans 8:9 "You, however, are
not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if
indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the
Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ." 2 Peter 1:3 "His divine power
has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of
him who called us by his own glory and goodness." 1 John 3:2 "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."
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