When Romans 5:9 states that we "shall be saved" from the wrath of God, it is referring to future tense salvation. There is coming wrath for all who rebel against God, and who refuse to repent (Romans 1:18). Believers will be saved from this coming wrath because, at the cross, Jesus received the full wrath of God on our behalf. For this reason, we can say, "I will be saved."
These are three tenses of salvation: we have been saved (past tense) from the penalty of sin, we are being saved (present tense) from the power of sin, and we will be saved (future tense) from the presence of sin. Today we will focus on the first one, the past tense of salvation. Let's examine some passages:
“For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.” Romans 8:20-25
Question 4. Please write out the verse that refers to "past tense" salvation in this passage.
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Romans 8:20-25 sets forth the reality that every human being and all of creation is born into slavery and bondage because we were born in sin. Sin and slavery (bondage) are always connected. "Everyone who sins is a slave of sin" (John 8:34).
For many years we longed and yearned for freedom from this slavery. When we heard the gospel, we found hope! The hope that Jesus would set us free from sinful bondage, from slavery to our flesh, from hearts that were deceptive by nature. We had hope that our sins were forgiven through the cross and that through Jesus' death, we could find new life. And in this hope, as we embraced Christ as Lord and Savior, we "were saved" (verse 24).
In our present condition, we are now saved. We are saved from the penalty of sin, which is a broken relationship with God, His condemnation of us as sinners, and an eternity in hell separated from God. But we notice that our bodies are not yet redeemed. We are outwardly wasting away, but we do have the assured promise that our bodies will be redeemed one day.
Let's examine another passage that further expands the meaning of past tense salvation:
“...even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ- by grace you have been saved- 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,” Ephesians 2:5-8
Question 5. How does Ephesians 2:5-8 show the "past tense" of salvation?
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Question 6. According to Ephesians 2:5-8, how is salvation described? In other words, how is life different for those who "have been saved" from what it was before?
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