THE MULTIDIMENSIONAL REALITY OF SALVATION

Salvation’s Three Tenses: Salvation is far more than a single moment of spiritual transaction. It’s a rich, complex journey that spans past, present, and future, weaving together God’s sovereign plan with human experience. Scripture reveals this multidimensional reality through three distinct yet interconnected tenses: believers are saved, are being saved, and will be saved—a theological paradox that speaks to the comprehensive nature of our redemption.

The Bible narrative demonstrates this profound truth in multiple passages. In Ephesians, for instance, Paul declares believers have been saved by grace through faith, indicating a completed work. Simultaneously, in 1 Corinthians, he speaks of believers as “being saved,” suggesting an ongoing process of transformation. Romans looks forward to a future salvation, anticipating complete restoration. These scriptural references are not contradictory but complementary, painting a holistic picture of God’s redemptive work. Let’s see how:

 

THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATION: SALVATION’S THREE TENSES

• Justification: The Completed Work Justification represents the instant a believer is declared righteous before God. Through Christ’s sacrificial atonement, the believer’s sin is completely covered, and Christ’s perfect righteousness is imputed—or credited—to the believer’s account. This is a legal declaration—much like a judge pronouncing a defendant “not guilty.” Except, in this divine courtroom, the believer isn’t merely acquitted but is positively declared righteous through Christ’s merit.
• Sanctification: The Ongoing Journey While justification is immediate, sanctification is a lifelong process of spiritual transformation. Believers progressively become more Christ-like, cooperating with the Holy Spirit’s work of internal renovation. This journey involves continual repentance, growth, and restoration—a sometimes painful but ultimately joyful journey of becoming who God has already declared us to be in Christ. It’s a path marked by both divine empowerment and human responsibility: believers are both simultaneously transformed and actively participating in their transformation.
• Glorification: The Future Promise: Glorification represents the ultimate fulfillment of salvation, where believers will be completely restored to their intended state of perfect communion with God. This future hope includes the resurrection of the body, the complete eradication of sin, and eternal life in perfect relationship with the Creator. It is the culmination of God’s redemptive plan, where what was begun in justification and developed through sanctification reaches its ultimate expression.

 

SALVATION’S THREE TENSES—REFORMED PERSPECTIVE ON CONTINUITY

From a Reformed perspective, the three tenses of salvation are unified by God’s sovereign, unchanging purpose. The doctrine of election suggests salvation originates entirely in God’s gracious choice, not human merit. Covenant theology understands this process as part of God’s overarching redemptive plan, where each believer’s journey is secure not because of personal performance, but because of God’s faithful commitment.

 

COMMON MISUNDERSTANDINGS AND CLARIFICATIONS

• Potential Misconceptions: The doctrine of salvation is often misunderstood, reduced to overly simplistic interpretations that fail to capture its biblical complexity. Some believers mistakenly view salvation as a one-time event, a spiritual “fire insurance” that requires no further engagement or transformation. This misconception strips salvation of its dynamic nature, overlooking the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life and the profound ongoing relationship between the believer and God.
• Other Protestant Perspectives: Protestant traditions offer varying perspectives on salvation, which can create confusion and theological tension. Arminian theology, for instance, emphasises human free will and the possibility of losing salvation, contrasting sharply with the Reformed view of God’s sovereign preservation of the saints. Where Arminians see salvation as potentially reversible, Reformed theology understands it as a secure covenant relationship initiated and maintained by God. These distinctions aren’t mere academic debates but touch on fundamental understanding of grace, human responsibility, and God’s character.
• Refuting Other Interpretations: Scripture provides robust refutation of reductive or works-based interpretations of salvation. Passages such as Ephesians 2:8-9 explicitly state salvation isn’t by works: this prevents any notion of self-earned righteousness. Similarly, Romans 8:38-39 affirms the believer’s security in Christ, ruling out interpretations that suggest salvation can be lost through human weakness or sin. These biblical texts underscore the comprehensive nature of salvation—a gift entirely dependent on God’s grace, yet requiring genuine faith that produces transformative works

 

PRACTICAL THEOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Understanding salvation in the three tenses has profound pastoral and personal implications. It offers believers both deep assurance and motivation for ongoing spiritual growth. The completed work of justification provides security, the process of sanctification offers purpose, and the promise of glorification instils hope. Believers can simultaneously rest in Christ’s finished work and actively pursue spiritual transformation.

 

CONCLUSION: A WORSHIP-INDUCING MYSTERY

Salvation, then, isn’t a mechanical transaction, but a dynamic, intimate relationship. Believers are simultaneously declared righteous, are being transformed, and awaiting final redemption. This multifaceted reality transcends human understanding, inviting not just theological reflection, but profound worship and wonder at God’s remarkable redemptive design.

So, let’s embrace our complete salvation—celebrating what Christ has done, cooperating with what He is doing, and anticipating what He will ultimately complete.

 

SALVATION’S THREE TENSES—RELATED FAQs

Can we know for certain we’re saved? Reformed theology offers profound assurance through the doctrine of perseverance of the saints. True believers can have confidence in their salvation based on God’s unchanging promises, not their personal performance. This assurance doesn’t breed complacency but generates gratitude and deeper commitment. Evidence of salvation includes a transformed heart, ongoing repentance, and a growing love for God and others.

• How does predestination relate to human free will? The relationship between divine sovereignty and human responsibility remains a beautiful mystery in Reformed theology. God’s election doesn’t negate human choice but works through it in ways that transcend human understanding. Believers are genuinely responsible for their responses while simultaneously upheld by God’s sovereign grace. This paradox invites humility rather than demanding complete rational resolution.
• What about people who’ve never heard the gospel? God’s justice and mercy extend beyond human limitations, a truth that invites both theological reflection and missional compassion. Reformed theology affirms God’s right to extend mercy as He chooses, while simultaneously calling believers to share the gospel globally. The ultimate judgement rests with a perfectly just and merciful God who sees hearts and circumstances beyond human comprehension.

Does sanctification mean I must be perfectly holy? Sanctification is a progressive journey, not an immediate achievement of perfection. Believers are called to pursue holiness while understanding that complete transformation occurs only in glorification. The Christian life involves continual dependence on Christ’s righteousness, not a performance-based approach to spiritual growth. God’s grace covers both the believer’s ongoing struggle and ultimate transformation.

• How do baptism and salvation relate? Different Christian traditions interpret baptism’s role in salvation variously. Reformed theology sees baptism as a sign and seal of God’s covenant, not the mechanistic cause of salvation. Baptism symbolizes the believer’s identification with Christ’s death and resurrection, serving as a public declaration of an internal spiritual reality. The heart’s transformation, not the water ritual, signifies true salvation.
• Can we lose our salvation? Reformed theology emphatically affirms the security of genuine salvation, grounded in God’s unchanging character. If salvation depends on human performance, it would be perpetually uncertain; instead, it relies on Christ’s finished work. True believers may experience seasons of spiritual struggle, but God’s preserving grace ensures ultimate preservation.

How does personal sin impact salvation? Sin does not nullify a believer’s salvation but reveals ongoing need for grace. Genuine salvation produces conviction, repentance, and gradual transformation, not spiritual stagnation. Believers are simultaneously declared righteous and progressively being made holy, a tension resolved through Christ’s continuous mediation. Persistent, unrepentant rejection of God might indicate a lack of genuine conversion.

 

SALVATION’S THREE TENSES—OUR RELATED POSTS

• Assurance of Salvation: Can I Really Know I’m Saved?
• The Ordo Salutis: What are the Seven Steps in Our Salvation?
• Challenges to Calvinism and the Calvinist Responses
• Calvinism vs Molinism: A Deep Dive into the Debate