ARE WE ALREADY SAVED?
The mainstream Christian teaching on the subject of salvation is that it is a present experience of those who respond positively to the gospel message. A person is said to be “saved” once he accepts Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour, repents of his past sins and asks for forgiveness from God in “the sinners prayer.” At this point of believing in the Gospel of Jesus Christ, a believer is regarded as “born again” and “saved”. Some churches take it a step further by saying that salvation is obtained when one believes in the gospel and gets baptized, as recorded in Mark 16:16 which says, “Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved but whoever does not believe will be condemned (NIV, emphases added throughout).
A cursory study of the English Bible shows some passages, for example,1 Cor. 1:18, 1 Cor. 15:2, and 2 Cor. 6 :2 which tend to portray salvation as a present experience or attainment. And there are others like Eph.2:5,8, in the KJV, which is written in the present tense but in many other versions like ESV, NASB, NKJV, NIV etc., the present perfect tense “have been saved” is used. These few verses notwithstanding, the subject of salvation has been written in many Bible passages as something yet to be determined at a future date, at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The question readily comes to mind as to which of these ideas is correct. Are we, born again Christians, already saved as generally believed? Or is it something which is yet to be experienced by born again Christians?
The way the translators of the different versions of the English Bible have translated the various tenses in which the Greek words for “saved” or “salvation” were originally written have misled many Christians into seeing “being saved” as a present reality while many others say it has two aspects to it – the present or initial salvation and the future or ultimate salvation. But the truth is that the salvation of God which He gives through His Son, Jesus Christ is a one-off thing and it will be availed to true believers at the second coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.
A few of the many passages on this subject will be used to show the truth that none of us is already saved. We will be saved at the second coming of Jesus Christ if we keep the faith from the point of conversion to the end. We will also examine the passages that portrays the salvation of God as a gift to Christians once they have believed in the gospel of Jesus Christ and committed themselves to Him by faith.
We Will Be Saved When Christ Returns
“He [Jesus Christ] said, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.’” (Mark 16: 15,16, NIV).
The preaching, believing and baptizing are all mentioned by Christ with the use in present tense. But He used future tenses when He said “will be saved” for those who now believe and “will be condemned” for those who refuse to believe. Therefore, to be saved, according to Christ, is something to be determined in the future.
“And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved” (Matt.10:22, NKJV).
“Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved” (Matt. 24: 11-13, NKJV).
The Lord Jesus Christ made the emphasized statement on two different occasions. Clearly He emphasized the need for Christians to endure trials, persecutions, and resist allurements of the world and all forms of temptations because it is only those who stand firm in the faith to the end, despite the hatred and hardships, that will be saved. And the saving will take place at the end of the age when Christ returns.
“And do this [that is, carry out all my instructions in this epistle to you Christians in Rome] because you know the time, that it is already the hour for us to awake from sleep, for our salvation is now nearer than when we became believers” (Rom. 13:11, NET)
The Good News Bible (GNB) renders the closing part of the verse thus: “for the moment when we will be saved is closer now than it was when we first believed.”
Apostle Paul’s statement in this verse is plain enough. But for the purpose of clarification, the apostle said that we were not saved when we became believers. Now, as you are reading my epistle, wake up from any form of spiritual slumber because the time or the moment when we will be saved is nearer now than then. Evidently, when we became believers in Jesus Christ, we were not saved because the salvation of any believer will be determined only at the second coming of Jesus Christ. See the next passage.
“And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgement, so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (Heb.9:27-28, ESV).
The New Century Version (NCV) renders the closing part of verse 28 as, “And he will come a second time, not to offer himself for sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.” Clearly, this passage is saying that until Christ’s second coming, no believer can make a claim that he or she is saved.
The Lord is bringing salvation at His second coming to all believers who are eagerly waiting for Him.
“But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet” (1 Thess. 5:8, NIV).
The Contemporary English Version (CEV), Second Edition, renders the verse this way:
“But we belong to the day. So, we must stay sober and let our faith and love be like a suit of armour. Our firm hope that we will be saved is, [as it were], our helmet. (Words in square brackets, wherever found in this article, are my addition).
As at the time Apostles Paul, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy wrote to the Thessalonian believers, they made it clear to them that all of them, including the apostles, were having the hope that they will be saved in the future. So then, the apostles made it clear that none of them was yet saved. Please bear in mind that nobody hopes for what he has already got. We do hope for what we have not got. This point is clarified in the passage below:
“For all creation is waiting eagerly for that future day when God will reveal who his children really are. Against its will, all creation was subjected to God’s curse. But with eager hope, the creation looks forward to the day when it will join God’s children in glorious freedom from death and decay. For we know that all creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. And we believers also groan, even though we have the Holy Spirit within us as a foretaste of the future glory, for we long for our bodies to be released from sin and suffering. We too, wail with eager hope for the day when God will deliver our full rights as his adopted children, including the new bodies he has promised us.” (Rom. 8:19-23, NLT).
“For in this hope we were saved [or kept, preserved or sustained in our trials]. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience” (Rom. 8:24-25, ESV).
Even though believers have God’s Holy Spirit in them, they still have to strive against sin and constantly face the threat of pain and suffering and physical death and decay. As long as we are exposed to these threats, we have not been saved in the true sense of the word “saved.” At the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, these woes will cease to be threats to all those who are God’s real children. That is the time they will attain to the promised salvation.
The following are some other passages which show that our salvation is something which will take place in the future, at the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Romans 5:9-10 (NASB)
“Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His [Christ’s] life”
We have been reconciled to God and justified by the blood of Jesus Christ. But the phrase “we shall be saved” connotes a future event, when God’s true children will have a glorious freedom from death and decay, when our bodies are set free from sin, suffering and death (Rom. 8:19-23). The fear of death which has put mankind in bondage all their lives (Heb. 2:14-15) will be put to an end when Satan and death are thrown into the lake of fire (Rev. 20:10,14). That is the time of the promised salvation of God’s children. It is also the time when God’s wrath will be meted out to the unbelieving and the disobedient who refused the free forgiveness of God through the blood of Christ (Rev. 20:12,13,15)
2Timothy 2:10 (NKJV)
“Therefore, I endure all things for the sake of the elect [justified believers] that they also [like myself, Paul] may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory”.
This means that the elect and Paul have not obtained the salvation which is in Christ Jesus. Here Paul had the assurance that he will obtain that salvation. So, he wants the elect to also endure all things so that they too can obtain it.
Hebrews 1:14 (ERV)
“All the angels are spirits who serve God and are sent to help those who will receive [or inherit] salvation”
The same future tense is used here. The heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ will enjoy the promised salvation as part of the package which God’s true children will inherit in the kingdom of Christ and of God. This inheritance is reserved in heaven for those who are protected by the power of God through faith, so that they will obtain [or inherit] a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time [or on the last day]. So says Apostle Peter in 1 Pet. 1:5.
1 Peter 1:9 (NIV)
“For you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
The salvation of our souls is the end result of our faith in God and His Christ. It is therefore not something we get at the beginning of our life of faith. The new birth marks the beginning of our lifetime journey on the way that leads to salvation.
Revelation 12:10 (NASB)
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, ‘Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night… ‘”
This event recorded here by John is part of the last day events which God revealed to him. We see here that it is at the close of the age that it will be right to say, “the salvation of our God and of His Christ has now come”. This is another affirmation to the fact that salvation will be attained by all true and faithful people of God at the end when Christ returns to establish the eternal kingdom of God (Heb. 9:28; 1 John 3:3).
Acts 2:47 (KJV)
“And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.”
The phrase “should be saved” used by the translators of the KJV and a very few others like the Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) and the Webster’s Bible Translation (WBT) is proof that Luke did not consider any of the believers as already saved. By believing in the gospel of Jesus Christ and turning their lives over to God through Christ, they have put themselves on the way that leads to salvation. And they will be saved if they continue to follow this way (Acts 9:2; 22:4) faithfully and consistently, enduring all pains and persecutions as they follow it.
According to the Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, “the literal rendering of the most authoritative text is, ‘And the Lord added day by day together such as were in the way of salvation’…the work of whose salvation was begun but needed perseverance; who had set foot on the way and were heirs through hope of the ultimate salvation.”
Until death and the one who has the power of death are thrown into the lake of fire no true Christian, biblically speaking, is saved.
Present Tense Scriptures Explained
Now let us look at some of the passages which mislead Christians into thinking that “being saved” is something we get when we become believers in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ.
“Then one said to Him, Lord are there few who are saved?” (Luke 13:23, NKJV).
The Greek verb for “are saved” is sozomenoi which is a present participle verb. The better rendering should therefore be “that are being saved” or “that are in the way of salvation”.
It is important to take note of the answer given to the question. Our Lord said, “strive to enter,” because it is God’s will that as many as possible should be saved. Jesus also said that there is a time when the door will be shut (verse 25). That is the time when the number of those who are saved or lost will be determined. Until the door is shut, grace is still available. As long as the door of grace remains open, no one can confidently say “I am saved” or “we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20). We must continue to strive and persevere as we walk the narrow way that leads to salvation. The blood of Jesus Christ has washed away the sins of believers. We have been given the Holy Spirit as a foretaste of the promises of God. Our names have been written in the Book of Life which is in heaven. We are now adopted children of God through Jesus Christ. But we are not yet in the kingdom of God. We are on the way to that future kingdom– awaiting the Lord to come one day to usher us into that glorious kingdom (Matt. 24:31; 2 Thes. 2:1-5).
Until we make it to the kingdom, we are not saved. That is why we must continue to strive against sin (Heb. 12:4) and we must strive lawfully (2 Tim. 2:5) with fear and trembling (2 Cor. 7:15). This must be done because anyone who turns back from the way can have his or her name erased from the Book of Life (Heb. 10:38; Rev. 3:5). But this becomes an impossibility the moment one enters into that holy city and becomes a citizen of the eternal kingdom. No Satan or sin or death will cause anyone to be thrown out of the kingdom (Rev. 3:12).
The first time the Lord came into the world, He dealt with sin. His blood washed away the sins of all true believers in Him. His death broke the power of sin. He took sin out of us. But we are still surrounded with temptations, sin and all kinds of evil which we must contend with. At His second coming, sin, Satan and death will be destroyed in the lake of fire. That is the time when they will no longer pose any threat to the redeemed ones. That is the time when we can truly say we are saved. But now, we are still on the way to “salvation”. The hope of our salvation causes us to persevere in our pains and persecutions.
“And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.” (Acts 2:47, NKJV)
“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” (1 Cor. 1:18, NKJV)
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Cor. 2:15, NKJV).
In all the three passages, the Greek verbs used are sozomenous (Acts 2:47; 1 Cor. 1:18) and sozomenois (2 Cor. 2:15). Strong’s Greek Lexicon #4982 says the verbs are used in the present passive participle sense and they mean “to save, heal, preserve, rescue, deliver, protect”. Therefore, in all of them, the correct rendering should be who “are being saved” or “are on the way of salvation”. In none of them do the original manuscripts say that they are already saved.
If anyone who reads the KJV concludes that the phrases “be saved,” “should be saved,” and “are saved” seen in Luke 13:23 and the three passages cited above are in the present tense, that conclusion is wrong. The newer versions of the English Bible such as NASB, NIV, NLT, ESV, NCV, et alia, have given better translations of the Greek verbs than the KJV in these texts.
“For God says, “At just the right time, I heard you. On the day of salvation, I helped you”. Indeed, the “right time” is now. Today Is the day of salvation.” (2 Cor. 6:2, NLT).
The word “salvation” used in this verse is a Greek noun soterias which means rescue or safety.
Apostle Paul quoted the verse from the Greek Version of the Hebrew Bible also known as Septuagint (or LXX). The scripture he quoted is Isaiah 49:8. God had spoken to the Jewish people that He came to their rescue in Egypt when they called on Him for help. The Apostle used it to stress the point that the time of the gospel is an opportunity for people to key into the mercy, compassion and favour of God. Apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers that the time mentioned by Isaiah has come when God is ready to show compassion, hear prayers and have mercy on mankind.
The gospel of our lord Jesus Christ opens the door through which any believing and repentant sinner can enter the way which leads to salvation. The words ‘salvation” (Greek: soterias) used in 2 Cor. 6:2 is not specifically related to the subject of ultimately gaining entrance into God’s Kingdom. Paul was simply saying that everyone has the opportunity of getting pardoned of their sins as long as the door of the mercy and grace of God is still open- for those who accept it by faith – that is, by believing in the free forgiveness of sin through Jesus Christ’s blood and repenting of all sins as well as getting baptized into Christ. On the part of everyone, there is the need to respond promptly and positively to every available opportunity given us by God.
The Perfect Participle Tense
Let us examine Ephesians 2:5,8 where the word “saved” is translated from the Greek verb sesosmenoi which is used in the perfect passive participle tense. Here, I quote verses 4 to 9 of the passage:
“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved) and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming age he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing, it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:4-9, ESV).
The apostle used the verb twice, first in a parenthesis (verse 5) and then in the intended context (verse8).
The KJV translated the verb as “are saved” but many other versions including the ESV (above) use the present perfect tense “have been saved”. However, the Interlinear Bible published in 2005 by Hendrickson Publishers translated it as “you are being saved”. It therefore differs from all the other versions by their use of the present passive participle tense. This tense used by the Hendrickson Interlinear Bible harmonizes the word “saved” in Eph. 2:5,8 with the other places. Therefore, it does not offend the interpretation of born-again Christians now being on the way that leads to the salvation which is yet to be brought by the Lord Jesus Christ (Heb. 9:28).
One fact we must not fail to note is that all the times Jesus Christ talked about salvation or entry into God’s kingdom He always used the future tense (Matt. 10:22; 24:13; Mark 13:13; 16:16; Luke 13:23-30; John 3:17; 5:34; 10:9). A few other places where the present perfect tense is used for the word “saved” (Greek: sesoken), the Lord used it in relation to physical healing or deliverance (Matt 9:22; Mark 5:34;10:52; Luke 8:48; 17:19; 18:42).
From the numerous utterances of the Lord Jesus Christ, we have come to know that the words “saved” or “salvation” are synonymous with entry into the kingdom of God. This will take place when Christ returns to establish the kingdom here on earth.
The first time He came, He died to deliver us from the power of sin. Because of His shed blood, forgiveness was made available to all who place their faith in Him. The power of sin was broken by Him on the cross. Sin no longer rules the lives of true believers in Christ – we are born again. By the new birth we are placed on the way to God’s kingdom. Until we enter into that glorious kingdom, we cannot say we are saved. The Lord is yet to bring that salvation. Right now, all faithful, humble, God-fearing, sober and sanctified believers are still walking along the way, wearing as helmet, as it were, the hope of being saved at the end (1 Thes. 5:8).
Another point we must bear in mind is what Apostle Peter said about Paul’s letters: there are some things in them that are hard to understand and this has caused ignorant people and those who are not sure of what they believe to distort the true meaning of Paul’s letters. Peter went on to say that it is not only Paul’s letters that were twisted, the same thing has been done to many other scriptures (2 Pet. 3:15,16). If this was true in the first century when the apostles were still alive, it is truer after they have all died.
Paul and the other apostles have not been known to contradict the words of the Lord Jesus Christ as well as theirs. So, if the Lord had spoken of salvation as a future experience, Paul and the other apostles could not have talked about it as a present experience. Notice that Paul used the future tense in places such as Rom. 5:9-10; 10:9,13; 1 Cor. 3:15. Peter did the same in Acts 2:21 and in 1 Pet.1:5,9. Therefore, if Paul turned around and used the present perfect tense in Eph. 2:5,8 that would be a contradiction of both the Lord Jesus Christ and himself. Since Paul and his fellow apostles were not known for such contradictions, it is logical to say that the present perfect tense used for “saved” in Eph. 2:5,8 is a mistranslation.
Noteworthy Comment
The following is a comment made by Frank W. Nelte in his online article captioned “Are You Already Saved?”:
“We must always keep the right priorities in mind. Jesus Christ is the Son of God. Paul was, by comparison, only “an apostle” of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we should always explain Paul’s words in terms of what Jesus Christ said. It should never be a case of having to understand what Christ said in terms of the words of Apostle Paul! What Paul said must “fit into” what Jesus Christ said. It should never be a case of “fitting Christ’s statements” into what Paul said.”
“Now, as we have seen, it is not a matter of Paul ever really contradicting Christ’s teachings, not at all. But the point is this: When we have a clear statement in the future tense by Jesus Christ on the one hand and a statement in the aorist tense by apostle Paul on the other hand, then the statement by Paul in the aorist tense must be understood in terms of the clear statement by Jesus Christ. Anything else would make Jesus Christ out to be a liar, by questioning His credibility! This is a basic premise to correctly understand any of the things Jesus Christ Himself taught.”
I doubt if there’ll be any true Christian teacher who will fault these statements of Frank Nelte. And I must add that where the teachings of anyone seem to contradict the clear and unequivocal statements of Jesus Christ, the words of the Lord should be held as preeminent to the supposed contradictory teaching. He is the one that came form God in heaven and He is the truth personified (John 3:31; 8:23; 14:6). Therefore, His words, correctly and honesty interpreted, should prevail over whatever teaching that seems to contradict His words (1 Tim. 6:3-4).
Once Saved, Forever Saved?
As has been seen in this article, salvation will be brought by Jesus Christ at His second coming (Heb. 9: 28; 1:14; 1 Pet. 1:5,9; Acts 15:11). All the believers in Jesus Christ are on the way of salvation. To be a partaker of the salvation is subject to the condition of enduring all trials, hardships, persecutions, et alia, to the end (Matt.10:22; 24:13; John 6:27; 2 Tim. 4:5), keeping oneself holy and undefiled with sin and worldliness (1 John 3:3; Jam.1:27) and remaining faithful to the call of God to the end (Rev.2:10). To partake of the salvation of God requires persistent self-denial and doing all things possible, with God’s available grace, to enter into God’s Kingdom (Luke 13:23-25; Phil. 2:12). The starting point is repentance from all sins and placing faith in the blood of Jesus Christ as having been shed for the forgiveness of all our past sins, which is the loftiest height of God’s love and mercy on mankind.
Since salvation is what we hope to inherit at the second coming of Jesus Christ, it is wrong to say that we have been saved. The conditions given by the Lord and the warnings given by His apostles are clear and convincing enough to let every believer know that only those who finish their race well will inherit eternal life. See, for example, Heb. 6:4-6; 1Tim. 6:9,10; Mark 4:18,19; Heb. 10:26,27,36-39. It is therefore equally erroneous for anyone to say that since our names have entered the book of life, we have now been saved forever. Those who get defeated on the way by greed, love of money, worldliness, idolatry, sexual immorality, lying, et alia, will have their names erased from the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5) if they fail to repent before the door of grace is shut on the last day (Luke 13:25). Such people will not inherit the promised salvation of God through Jesus Christ. In a nutshell, they will not be saved.
They are the ones who, according to Jeremiah will cry, “The harvest [into God’s Kingdom, called “my barn” by the Lord, Matt. 13:30,37-43] is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved” (Jer. 8:20).
Conclusion
We have seen the apostles say, “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they” (Acts 15:11). We have also seen Paul say, “But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should be disqualified” (1 Cor. 9:27). The Bible has also made it known that there are people whose names will be blotted out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5). There are also those who will fall away from the faith after they have seen the light, experienced the good things of heaven, and have partaken of the Holy Spirit and the power of the age to come (Heb. 6:4-6). This is why the Lord Jesus Christ and His apostles have given several warnings on the believer’s need of spiritual alertness at all times. Words such as “beware” or “take heed” are seen all over the New Testament. These statements and warnings were made because Christ and His apostles knew that no believer is saved until the time of the end. Only those who remain faithful and persevering to the end will be saved. Only those who, through God’s grace, overcome trials and temptations to the end of the “journey” will inherit salvation which our Lord Jesus Christ will bring at His second coming. The ones who eventually become the citizens of the New Jerusalem (Rev. 3:12) are the ones who’ll rightly be called “saved”. It is only then that the doctrine of eternal security – once saved, forever saved – will be true. Before then, there is no eternal security promised anyone.
As far as the subject of “being saved” is concerned, the words from the lips of the Lord Jesus Christ have shown clearly that it is something that will be inherited by true and victorious believers at the end of this age. Conclusively, none of us is saved although our sins have been dealt with by the Lord Jesus Christ the first time He came into the world. Salvation will be brought at His second coming.
Hear this. “People die once, and after that they are judged. Likewise, Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of humanity, and after that he will appear a second time. This time he will not deal with sin, but he will save those who eagerly wait for him” (Heb. 9:27, 28, GWT). Some other versions render the second part of verse 28 thus:
“He will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him” (NIV).
“He will come again, not to deal with our sins [for that has been done at His first advent] but to bring salvation to all who are eagerly waiting for him” (NLT).
“So, Christ . . . will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him” (ESV).
“But when he cones again, it will not be to take away sin. He will come to save everyone who is waiting for him” (CEV).
Salvation, in the sense in which it is used in the New Testament, will be attained by faithful and true believers when Christ comes the second time. Before He returns, all living saints are on the way of that salvation so long as they live daily in faith and holiness.
