Quick Summary
- Salvation is deliverance from sin's penalty, power, and presence
- It includes justification, sanctification, and glorification
- Salvation is entirely God's work, received by faith
- It results in forgiveness, adoption, and eternal life
- Once saved, always saved—eternally secure in Christ
Three Tenses of Salvation
Past: Justification
I Have Been Saved
The moment you believe, God declares you righteous. Your sins are forgiven—past, present, future.
"Having been justified by faith" (Romans 5:1)Present: Sanctification
I Am Being Saved
Daily transformation into Christ's likeness. The Holy Spirit works in you to overcome sin and grow in holiness.
"Being transformed" (2 Cor 3:18)Future: Glorification
I Will Be Saved
When Christ returns or you die, you receive a perfect resurrection body, completely free from sin forever.
"We will be like him" (1 John 3:2)What Salvation Includes
✅ Forgiveness of Sins
All your sins—past, present, and future—are forgiven and forgotten by God.
✅ Eternal Life
You receive everlasting life with God, beginning now and continuing forever.
✅ Adoption as God's Child
You become a child of God, part of His family, with full inheritance rights.
✅ New Identity
You are a new creation. Old things pass away; all things become new.
✅ Holy Spirit Indwelling
The Holy Spirit lives in you, empowering, guiding, and transforming you.
✅ Peace with God
No more enmity or separation. You have reconciliation and relationship with God.
Eternal Security: Once Saved, Always Saved?
Yes! True salvation cannot be lost. Here's why:
- God's Promise: "I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish" (John 10:28)
- Sealed by the Spirit: You are sealed for redemption (Ephesians 1:13-14)
- God's Power: He keeps you saved; it doesn't depend on you (1 Peter 1:5)
- Nothing Separates: Nothing can separate you from God's love (Romans 8:38-39)
Important: True faith produces fruit. If there's no life change, question whether salvation occurred.
Remember:
- Salvation is God's work from start to finish
- You're saved by grace, not by works
- Assurance comes from God's promises, not feelings
- Salvation transforms everything—your identity, destiny, and daily life