On Sunday, after a message on the Passover wherein I drew a distinction between justification and sanctification, I was stopped and asked this question in the Fellowship Hall. “Pastor, doesn’t the Bible say we have to work out our salvation with fear and trembling?” Great question; the answer is found in the tree tenses of salvation: past, present & future; A.K.A: Justification, Sanctification & Glorification!
What saved us in the past, when we were still in our sins—fallen sons of Adam by nature—was the grace of God in the gospel. Nowhere is that put more succinctly than in Ephesians: “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. 2:8–9).
But the New Testament can also speak about our salvation in the present tense—we are “being saved” (1 Cor. 1:18; 2 Cor. 2:15)—as well as in the future tense—we “shall . . . be saved” (Rom. 5:9).
There is only one salvation and one way of salvation. What occurred in our past, works itself out in the present, and comes to consummation in the future is all of a piece. Justification now leads to glorification then (Rom. 8:29–30).
Why, then, does the New Testament speak of salvation in three tenses? The answer lies in considering what happens in salvation. Initially, at the point of regeneration, our sins are forgiven — entirely and completely. We have been delivered from sin’s penalty. Through faith, we are reckoned to be righteous—as righteous as Christ is. Then, there is sanctification—a process whereby we are being delivered from sin’s power. Ultimately, in heaven, we will be delivered from sin’s presence. John Stott has argued that when Paul reasoned with Governor Felix about “righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment” (Acts 24:25), he was pointing out the three tenses of salvation.
At every stage—justification, sanctification, glorification—we come with empty hands, seeking mercy from our heavenly Father. Even at the point of our obedience as Christians—we are to “work out [our] salvation with fear and trembling” (Phil. 2:12)—we do so only because God works “in [us], both to will and to work for his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13). And when we enter the pearly gates of heaven, wisdom will dictate that we show our empty hands and say with Edward Mote: “On Christ the solid Rock I stand; All other ground is sinking sand.”
As I mentioned on Sunday. Some will be saved “yet as through fire” (1 Cor 3:15). A good example of those may well be Hymenaeus and Alexander who Paul turned over to Satan for the destruction of their flesh so that they might be taught not to blaspheme. I imagine we’ll meet them in heaven, and I also imagine they will be crownless. ☹️
Keep in mind the three tenses – it’s amazing to me how often verses like Philippians 2:12 are thrown around as if they are speaking of earning Justification.
“….and the blood of Jesus his Son purifies us from all sin.”
Pastor Scott
P.S. I do believe these concepts and have for a long time, but some of this verbiage is not mine. I seem to have lost the attribution, but I don’t want to pass it off as my own.
Grace Notes 