Every rational human being recognizes that he has a “Threefold Need.”
(1). In regard to YESTERDAY.
Why? Because “yesterday” was the day of SIN. What are we to do with the past years? We cannot live them over again, nor balance them by works of “Supererogation” (“payment beyond what is needed or asked”, is the performance of more than is asked for; the action of doing more than duty requires.)
(2). In regard to TO-DAY.
If I have managed to provide for the sin of yesterday, what am I to do for today? For today if there is no change in my nature I will sin as yesterday.
(3). In regard to TOMORROW.
Suppose that I have been able to make provision for the past and the present, for yesterday and today, what am I to do for tomorrow? for tomorow will come with the same old forms of temptation, the same old suggestions to evil, the same helplessness to overcome sin as in the past.
From this we see that we need PARDON for the Past, PURITY for the Present, and POWER for the Future. Where are we to get them?
If, as we have seen, SIN is the World’s “BLOOD POISON,” and every human being born into the world has inherited the disease, then as there is a remedy somewhere for every disease, there must be a remedy for the “Disease of Sin,” and this remedy is found in the Gospel. “For I am not ashamed of the ‘Gospel of Christ;’ for it is the POWER OF GOD UNTO SALVATION to every one that believeth” (Romans 1:16). “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief” (1 Tim. 1:15).
The word salvation is used in the Bible to indicate a work of God in behalf of man. In the present dispensation its use is limited to His work for individuals only, and is guaranteed to them upon one definite condition (Faith). Too much emphasis cannot be placed on the work of the individual for God, for the fact that now, according to the Bible, salvation is the result of the work of God for the individual, rather than the work of the individual for God, or even the work of the individual for himself.
Eventually the one who is saved by the power of God may, after that divine work is accomplished, do “good works” for God; for salvation is said to be “unto good works” (Ephesians 2:10) and those who “believed” are to be “careful to maintain good works” (Titus 3:8). Good works are evidently made possible by salvation; but these good works, which follow salvation, do not add anything to the all-sufficient and perfect saving work of God.
As used in the New Testament, the word salvation may indicate all or a part of the Divine undertaking. When the reference is to all of the work of God, the whole transformation is in view from the estate wherein one is lost and condemned to the final appearance of that one in the image of Christ in glory. This larger use of the word, therefore, combines in it many separate works of God for the individual, such as Atonement, Grace, Propitiation, Forgiveness, Justification, Imputation, Regeneration, Adoption, Sanctification, Redemption and Glorification. The two following passages describe the estate from which and the estate into which the individual is saved:
“Wherefore remember, that ye being in times past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; that at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world” (Ephesians 2:11, 12).
“Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:1-2).
There could be no greater contrast of possible estates for man than those described in these passages.
This transformation, rather than representing the greatest thing impotent man can do for God, represents the greatest thing the infinite God can do for man; for there is nothing to be conceived of beyond the estate to which this salvation brings one, namely, “like Christ” and “conformed to the image of his Son.”
Much of the whole God’s undertaking in salvation is accomplished in the saved one at the moment he exercises saving faith. So, also, some portions of this work are in the form of a process of transformation after the first work is wholly accomplished. And, again, there is a phase of the divine undertaking which is revealed as consumating the whole work of God at the moment of its completion. This last aspect of salvation is wholly future.
Salvation, then, in the present dispensation, may be considered in three tenses as it is revealed in the Scriptures:
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The past, or that part of the work which already is wholly accomplished in and for the one who has believed;
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The present, or that which is now being accomplished in and for the one who has believed;
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The future, or that which will be accomplished to complete the work of God in and for the one who has believed.
Salvation is a “threefold process.” It begins in “Justification,” proceeds through “Sanctification,” and ends in “Glorification.” Titus 2:11-13. So we can say that we are saved, that we are being saved, and that we will be saved.
The following passages are clear statements of these various aspects of the one divine undertaking:
1. The child of God was saved from the guilt and penalty of sin when he believed:
“ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. 5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:4-5);
“And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved and thy house” (Acts 16:30, 31);
“For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” (I Corinthians 1:21);
“ For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16);
“For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Romans 10:4);
“Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe:” (Romans 3:22)
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8);
“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (II Timothy 1:9).
We are saved from the PENALTY of Sin.
This we get by “Faith.” Faith leads to our JUSTIFICATION. “Therefore, being JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5:1. The word “Justification” is a legal term and means to declare not guilty. The moment a sinner received by faith what the Lord Jesus Christ has done for him he is JUSTIFIED instantly.
The result of Justification is that we have peace WITH God. Romans 5:1. So the very moment we trust the Lord Jesus Christ as our sufficient Saviour we have “peace WITH God.”
2. The child of God is being saved from the power and domination of sin:
– “Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth” (John 17:17);
– “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace”(Romans 6:14);
– “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:12, 13);
– “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2);
– “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh” (Galatians 5:16).
We are saved from the POWER of Sin.
What we need to do then is to co-operate with God in His work of Sanctification, to let Him will and do in us what is necessary to save us from the “Power” of Sin.
The revelation of sin is progressive. It is not until after conversion that we really begin to realize what sin is. When we came to Christ we were conscious of a few sinful habits. We gave them up. But as we grew in grace other things in our lives were seen as wrong and laid aside. And so it has gone on. Paul never professed complete sanctification. He said that he was not “already perfect” or had “attained” unto that for which he had been “apprehended by Christ,” but he was “reaching forth” and “pressing toward” the mark (Philippians 3:12-14).
From this we see that Sanctification is a progressive Acts, and that our complete deliverance from the “Power” of Sin will not be until the death of the body, though we may have to a large extent “Victory over Sin” if we surrender absolutely to the “will of God,” and permit Him to will and to do of His good pleasure in us.
3. The child of God is yet to be saved from the presence of sin into the presence of God:
– “And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed” (Romans 13:11);
– “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. Beloved now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:1-2);
– “And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” (Romans 8:23);
– “Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.” (Phil. 3:21);
– For more references please see the following :1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor. 15:51-58; Titus 2:13; Col. 3:4
We are to be saved from the PRESENCE of Sin.
Jesus died on the Cross to save our soul from death, He is coming back to complete our salvation by redeeming our body from the grave, or to change it into an immortal body at the Rapture. Not until then shall we be saved from the “Presence” of Sin.
So we see that Salvation is a “threefold process.” That it begins in “Justification” and ends in “Glorification.” Justification being instant and complete deliverance from the “Penalty” of Sin; “Sanctification” being a progressive deliverance from the “Power” of Sin, and “Glorification” our final deliverance from the “Presence” of Sin.
So, again, there are passages in which these various time aspects in salvation are all combined:
– “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6);
– “But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption” (I Corinthians 1:30);
–“Even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word. That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5; 25-27).
Evangelist Rodgie Quirante
The Workman’s Treasure Study Series