I was, I am, I will be

I was married on December 18, 1987. Today, I am married. I plan on and look forward to being married on December 18, 2037. Three different marriages? No, one marriage to the same woman, hopefully, for many years.

My future wife and I were students at the same university for several months before I knew she existed. I met her in the spring semester and she became a person I was aware of, but had no relationship with. We began traveling together on a singing team, where we became friends. We became interested in each other romantically months later. We began dating, and discussing our future together. We became engaged.

But we didn’t begin our marriage covenant until December 18, 1987, when we pronounced our vows to each other.

And every day since then we have lived out those vows, refining our marriage, growing and changing. We will continue in this pursuit for the rest of our lives.

I was saved, I am being saved, I will be saved. Different salvation experiences? No, one salvation process, resulting from my relationship with one God.

God was working around me and towards me before I was ever aware of Him. I became aware of His existence. I began enjoying Him and appreciating His presence in my family. But we didn’t begin our covenant relationship until the day I asked Him for the gift of His salvation and friendship.

And every day since then He has faithfully lived out His vows to me. I have also committed myself to faithfulness, though I often fail. But He works with me to refine our marriage, helping me to grow and change. And we will continue in this pursuit for the rest of our lives.

Our salvation must begin at some point. In the Original Testament, we see people journeying with God, expressing faith in Him through ritual. So, it is trickier to nail down a “salvation event” for people like David, Moses, Esther, Ruth. Nonetheless, God is clear that they entered into His family by faith in Him, the same action we take.

In the Covenant of Jesus, He becomes the touchstone, the line that we cross to be “safe”. Jesus in the flesh offers salvation in different ways to people, but its a special season, a time when God is walking around, seeing in to the hearts of people, speaking to the point of their need.

But we are living in the extended book of Acts, in the age of His church. People ask “what do I do to be saved?” and they are answered “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ”. Repentance. Belief. The accounts we see show salvation coming at a point in time, like a baby being born.

And babies grow. We Christ-followers, also, must grow. We have salvation, so we must “work out our salvation” - not work FOR our salvation.

So, we see salvation through the framework of Romans. As Dr. Harry Ironside, famed Bible teacher and pastor of Moody Memorial Church, commented: “I was saved, I’m being saved, I will be saved.”

I was saved from the penalty of sin in justification [romans 1-5]

I am being saved from the power of sin in sanctification [romans 6-7]

I will be saved from the presence of sin in glorification [romans 8]

Does it matter? Yes. I must understand and appreciate all three phases of salvation.

If I focus only on my wedding day and my retirement years with my wife, then I neglect my daily relationship now. I have freedom to be in love with my wife, or not. I may even choose unfaithfulness, because I know I have a covenant, and that she won’t eject me.

If I’m unsure about whether I ever truly had a covenant day that began the marriage, and only focus on my relation with her today, I might have some enjoyable times. But I may eventually wander, because if I am not in covenant with her, its not really being unfaithful, right?

If I focus on a salvation event, salvation prayer, and eternity in heaven, I may neglect my daily relationship now. I have freedom to love God, or not. I may even choose unfaithfulness, because I know I have a covenant, and that He won’t eject me.

If I’m unsure about whether I ever truly had a covenant day that started my salvation, and only focus on my walk with God today, I might enjoy some good times. But I may eventually wander, because if I am not in covenant with Him, its not really being unfaithful, right?

I want, I need ALL of salvation.