I'm Saved!

The exhortations in the letters of Paul sometimes take on the form of not only teaching, but also serve to reveal his written message in the form of a "pep-talk."  There is one section in the letter to the Romans where Paul wanted to send the message about final times.  In Romans 13, the closing part of that chapter, Paul says,  "And do this, understanding the present time: The hour has already come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. ¹² The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light. ¹³ Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy. ¹⁴ Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

Do you see Paul's "pep-talk?" Like a coach speaking to his team, Paul is saying, "It's time to come to life! The hour is already here and you should wake up!"   Why?  "Because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."  "Put aside the darkness in your life and put on the armor of light."

Look at the point of emphasis (mine) one more time.  "Our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed."   How does that thought seem to you?  Is there a motivation for us to "wake up" and be the genuine people of God?  Do you feel your salvation is nearer now than when you first believed?

Paul wanted the Roman Christians to know, because salvation is near, "clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh."

Let's consider another verse, Ephesians 2:8, "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this  is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” 

And a third scripture, this one from 1 Corinthians 1:18, "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."

All three of the scripture references are written by the same New Testament author, Paul.  Yet in one place he refers to salvation being "near," another place he says "you have been saved," and in the third place he says we "are being saved."

So what about your salvation?  Is it past tense, present tense or future tense?  Before you pick one, let me give you a hint.......Our salvation has its basis in all three!  While each of the three references might describe a phase of our salvation, the basis of all three, past, present and future, is the cross of Jesus. 

However you may look at these verses, their truth continues to point us to the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and his promise to return.  Yes, there is a day of judgment coming.  Yes, Christians are washed in his blood.  Yes, we continue to worship and praise his name.  Yes, we shall be loving to God's people and to others in the world.  Yes we live in anticipation of the return of Jesus. 

Because he has paid our sin-debt and because we have his word he is preparing a place for us, our hearts should always be inclined to pray, "Come quickly, Lord Jesus."

<ronbwriting@gmail.com>

Note: This is a weekend blog that will run through Sunday evening.  I received a note from my younger brother in response to Friday's blog, and wanted to share it with you. 

I enjoyed your post today. I've come to see our salvation process through the lens of this verse in 1 Thessalonians 5:23

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

* My spirit is sanctified (saved or made whole) at conversion.

* My soul (mind and will) is being saved (a life long process that begins at conversion.)

* My body will be saved at the resurrection when I put on incorruptible flesh.