"...who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time...Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving (present tense with ongoing action) the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Concerning this salvation, the prophets, who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently and with the greatest care." (I Peter 1: 5, 8-10 NIV)
Salvation is what is first received when one becomes a believer in Jesus, but it is also what is received continuously, for the believer must be kept and preserved, and delivered from many perils. And, of course, full salvation is yet to come, when believers are all "glorified" (Rom. 8: 29).
"For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (I Corinthians 1: 18)
"He has delivered us (past tense) from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, as you help us by your prayers." (II Corinthians 1: 10, 11)
Thus, a believer is one who HAS BEEN saved, in the past, and one who is continuously BEING saved NOW, in the present, and one who also WILL BE surely saved in the future.
No comments:
Post a Comment