So Great Salvation: Past, Present and Future Salvation

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"Who Hath Saved Us"
How wonderful it is that when we receive the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior we can know, now in this world, that we are saved. We have peace with God and are eternally secure, and we can speak of this as a matter that has been settled once for all. We can say we are forgiven (1 John 2:1212I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name's sake. (1 John 2:12)), "justified from all things" (Acts 13:38,3938Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. (Acts 13:38‑39)), and our sins all washed away in the precious blood of Christ (1 John 1:77But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (1 John 1:7)). We know that we have eternal life, for we read in 1 John 5:1313These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. (1 John 5:13), "These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life." We know that we are eternally secure, for John 10:2828And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. (John 10:28) says, "I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand."
We also learn from God's Word that this eternal life which is given to us is the very life of Christ, as we read in Col. 3:44When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. (Colossians 3:4), "Christ Who is our life." God also gives to the believer "the Holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession unto the praise of His glory." Eph. 1:13,1413In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 14Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory. (Ephesians 1:13‑14). The Lord also adds us to His church the moment we are saved, as we read in Acts 2:4747Praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. (Acts 2:47), "The Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved." We need to search the Scriptures to find out God's plan as to how Christians should gather. This is not joining a man made church, for we are already part of "the church of God, which He hath purchased with His own blood." Acts 20:2828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. (Acts 20:28). It is our privilege to gather to the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Matt. 18:2020For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:20)) in His appointed way, at His table to remember Him in His death till He comes. (1 Cor. 10:11,15-17:23-26).
"Saved by His Life"
This brings us to what is spoken of in Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10), "For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His life." Even though we are saved and have the very life of Christ, the Bible shows us that the old fallen nature which is in us by our natural birth into this world, is still in us, and we are not to allow it to control our lives. The Lord Jesus, who died for us, now lives for us at the right hand of God as our Great High Priest (Heb. 4:14-1614Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:14‑16)) to supply grace and strength day by day and to keep us from committing sin. In this way we are saved by His life. If we do not ask His help to keep us, but trust our own hearts, we may fall into sin, as Peter did when he denied his Lord. Even though we possess this new life, the life of Christ, the "old man" (our old nature) is still there in our bodies, and we are told to reckon it dead, and let the "new man" (the life of Christ) control our lives. (Rom. 6:11-1411Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. 13Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God. 14For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. (Romans 6:11‑14)).
If we fail to ask help from the Lord (our Great High Priest) we will, as believers, commit sin, and then we need Christ as our Advocate. (1 John 2:11My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: (1 John 2:1)). He leads us to the confession of that sin, and our restoration into communion or fellowship with the Lord again. (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)). This is what is referred to in Rom. 5:1010For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. (Romans 5:10), "We are saved by His life." This is His present work for us now in the glory above.
"Nearer Than When We Believed"
There is also an aspect of salvation that is future. "Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Rom. 13:1111And 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). As believers we are looking for the Lord to come, and then our salvation will be complete. We already have the salvation of our souls. We are receiving from the Lord Jesus (our Great High Priest) the daily help that we need, and as our Advocate, restoration when we have failed, but we still have mortal bodies with the old nature in them. When the Lord comes our bodies will be changed and fashioned like His glorious body, and then there will be no "old man," no fallen nature, in those bodies of glory, then, but not till then, will our salvation be complete. The moment of the Lord's coming is "nearer than when we believed " the gospel, and we wait that glorious moment (Phil. 3:2121Who 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. (Philippians 3:21), Rev. 22:2020He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus. (Revelation 22:20)).
May the knowledge of all this precious truth which is revealed to us in God's Word, the Bible, fill our hearts with praise and thanksgiving, and give us the desire to live day by day in the full assurance of faith, and in loving obedience to the One who loved us and gave Himself for us.
If the one who reads these lines is unsaved, we beseech you to come to Christ in true repentance and faith, for He is ready to save and able to keep. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His Name" John 1:1212But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: (John 1:12).
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