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This article—Full Salvation: 3 Critical Truths About Your Past, Present, and Future in Christ—is the fourth in the series: Soteria: Salvation, the Savior, and the Saved. The three previous articles are: From Eden To Eternity: How Salvation Shapes The Bible’s Message, Understanding God’s Motivation in Man’s Salvation, and How God Saves: 10 Powerful Truths About Salvation by Grace Through Faith.
Salvation is the greatest gift that God ever offered to humanity. It is a divine work that reveals the depth of the loving nature of God and the vastness of His mercy and kindness. Apostle Paul, through the Holy Spirit, captures this truth in Ephesians 2:4–6:
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
Yet, many Christians often think of salvation as a single, one time, past event. We say, “I got saved when I believed in Jesus.” Now, that statement is very true. But it only captures a part of a much larger reality. The salvation that God does by Jesus’s finished cross work is a full salvation— a comprehensive work that touches the past, transforms the present, and secures the eternal future of believers. In other words, salvation is both complete in Christ and progressive in experience.
In this article, I want to explore three critical phases that make the full salvation of believers. These truths will help you appreciate the fullness of salvation, and help you find rest in Christ.
Full Salvation: Started in the Past, Continues in the Present, and is Consummated in the Future
When people speak of losing salvation, it is a clear indication that their view of salvation is faulty. Such people view salvation as a single, one time work of God, which must be carefully kept, lest it gets lost. But salvation is not a single, one time event. It is a chain of God’s works, starting from when a person comes to faith in Christ, continues throughout his or her lifetime, and is completed at the return of Christ. God’s salvation is a full salvation.
The New Testament identifies three phases of the believers’ salvation, using the past, present, and future tenses to describe each and to distinguish them apart. Grasping this will allay our fears and relieve the pressure around the Christian’s security, and help us to rest in the efficaciousness of the grace of God, while at the same time pressing toward perfection.
Now, let’s look into these three phases that make up full salvation.
Accomplished Salvation: You Have Been Saved
This is the first phase of salvation. It indicates what has already been done—that is, the work of salvation that God did to you when you first believed. This phase of salvation uses the past tense.
Ephesians 2:5:
“Even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)”
2 Timothy 1:9:
“Who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
This phase of salvation dealt with saving believers from the penalties of their sins, both presently and eternally. The Bible describes this as justification. At the very moment you believed in Christ, a mind-blowing thing happened—you were justified before God.
What It Mean to Be Justified
The Bible teaches that all of humanity is guilty before the holy God, and are separated from His life, because of sins.
Romans 3:23:
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
But God, because He loves us, wanted to restore us into His life. But He can’t ignore our sins or arbitrarily pardon us, since His justice demands that a penalty be paid for sin—which is death (Genesis 2:17; Romans 6:23). Then, how can God forgive sinful humanity and free us from the punishments we rightly deserve without trampling upon His own justice?
God solved that “dilemma” by giving Jesus as a sacrifice for us (Romans 3:23–25). At the cross, all of our sins were laid on Him. He was punished with death in our place. In His death, the demand of God’s justice was satisfied.
Thus, when you put faith in Jesus’s sacrifice, God declared you not guilty. Jesus’s perfect righteousness was imputed to you, so that God now sees you as perfectly righteous before Him (Colossians 1:19–22).
Justification is a divine declaration that your sins are forgiven and your record is cleared. You have been put in a state of peace with God. Thus, you can relate with God without a sense of guilt, or shame, or fear of His judgement. Romans 5:1 says:
“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ…” [NIV]
This act of justification happened once for all. It is not a process. You have been justified, not being justified.
Justification Is by Grace through Faith
Salvation is not earned through human efforts, which the Bible describes as works. Ephesians 2:8–9 says:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; 9 it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
This means that from the very beginning, salvation is entirely an act of God’s grace, received through faith. Your good deeds cannot save you, and your failures cannot disqualify you. What matters is that you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ, who bore your penalty and gave you His righteousness in exchange.
The Assurance of Salvation
Many believers struggle with assurance of salvation— wondering if they are truly saved. But Scripture is clear: if you have believed in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, your salvation is secure.
John 3:36:
“He who believes in the Son has everlasting life.”
Notice the present tense, “has everlasting life”. God didn’t wait for you to die and get to know heaven before giving you eternal life; He gave it to you the very moment you believed.
This is the first phase of salvation: justification—God’s gracious action which saved you from sin’s penalty and brought you into right standing with God.
Ongoing Salvation: You Are Being Saved
This is the second phase of salvation. It describes the saving work of God that is happening presently in our relationship with God. So, salvation has an accomplished, past reality, but it also has an ongoing present reality. The focus of this phase is the believer’s salvation from the power of sin through the sanctification work of God. And, the New Testament used the present continuous tense for this phase of God’s saving work.
1 Corinthians 1:18:
“For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”
2 Corinthians 2.15:
“For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”
In the ongoing salvation, God is sanctifying believers. Every believer who has been saved—justified, is now also being saved—being sanctified.
What Is Sanctification?
Sanctification is the work of God, through the Holy Spirit who indwells believes, to purge us of our sinful tendency. You see, believers still have sins to contend with. Our spirit was renewed at new birth, but the soul—seat of mind, will, and emotion—was not. It is this that satan tries to exploit now to lead us back under sin’s dominion.
So, in the ongoing salvation, God is saving our souls— reconfiguring our mind, will, and emotions to Christ’s likeness, so that our thinking, speeches, and behavior can align with Christ’s ways (Romans 8:29). This is a daily work of the Spirit within us.
So, salvation is not a destination—it’s a lifelong journey of transformation.
How Sanctification Works
Sanctification involves two distinct aspects:
- Positional Sanctification: This describes what God has done already. We have been made holy in Christ the very moment we were saved (1 Corinthians 6:11; Hebrews 10:10, 14).
- Progressive Sanctification— where we are daily being conformed to Christ’s image as we yield to the Spirit (Romans 15:16; Ephesians 5:25–26; 1 John 1:7,9).
Apostle Paul urges us to work out own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12–13). This doesn’t mean we work for our salvation, but we work it out—that is, live out the transformation that God is working within us.
How Sanctification Happens
The Holy Spirit plays the central role in sanctification. He is the sanctifier (1 Corinthians 6:11; 1 Peter 1:2). He works within our hearts, teaching, convicting, correcting, and empowering us, to mold us to Christ’s image and to produce Christlike characters in us (Galatians 5:22–24).
But sanctification requires the active cooperation of believers with the Holy Spirit. We must yield to His teachings, rebukes, corrections, and commands. It is the only way that His works can be effective. As we yield to the Spirit’s work, we experience freedom from sin’s power. Sin increasingly loses its grip on us, and righteousness grows stronger in us. Though we still battle temptations, yet we are no longer slaves to them.
Spiritual Growth: The Evidence of Ongoing Salvation
The evidence of our ongoing salvation is increase in holy and righteous living. Sin increasingly loses its appeal to us. And, we increasingly grow mature in thought, speech, and behavior.
Sanctification is progressive, and sometimes painful. One of the metaphors used to describe God’s sanctification work is pruning—the cutting off of unwanted parts (John 15:1–2). But its fruits are certain. Oh, as we yield to the Spirit’s control, feed on God’s Word, pray, and fellowship with other believers, we are increasingly changed into Christ:s likeness.
This is the second phase of salvation—sanctification, where believers are saved from sin’s power and progressively molded into the image of our Savior.
Salvation Consummated: You Will Be Saved
The final phase of salvation revealed lies in the future. This looks forward to what God will do in believers in the future—the glorification of every believer. It is described in the future tense in the New Testament texts.
Romans 13:11:
“And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed.”
1 Peter 1:5:
“We are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”
1 John 3:2:
“Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.”
Our future salvation describes what we will have in the resurrection, when our Savior, Lord, and King returns. We have been saved from the penalties of our sins. And, we are being saved from the governing power of sin. But at Christ’s return, we will be saved from the presence of sin. At that time, sin and all that cause sin will cease to exist.
It is at this time that we will experience the fullness of salvation. We will not reach perfection in this present life. We keep pressing toward the mark of the perfection of Christ. But we will only attain to full perfection in resurrection (Philippians 3:12–14). This is the blessed hope we are living for.
The Hope of Glorification
Glorification is the fullness of God’s saving work. It will happen when Christ returns and believers are transformed into His glorious likeness. Paul writes in Philippians 3:20–21:
20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.
At that moment, salvation will reach its full expression. Every trace of sin will be removed— not only from our hearts but from our bodies and the entire creation. Apostle Peter spoke of this salvation which is going to be revealed in the last days.
1 Peter 1:3–5:
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you, 5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.
We already have eternal life, but we will only understand and experience its fullness when we stand before God in perfection —clothed in immortality, free from sin, pain, weakness, and death. Apostle Paul echoes this hope in. Romans 8:23:
“And not only they, but we also who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, eagerly waiting for the adoption, the redemption of our body.”
Actually, God gave us the Holy Spirit as the guarantee of our future, full salvation.
Ephesians 1:13–14:
13 In Him you also trusted, after you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.
Eternal Security and the Glory Ahead
The believer’s assurance of salvation is that the same God who began our salvation will also finish it.
Philippians 1:6:
“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
No power on earth or in hell can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38–39). Our glorification is guaranteed by the faithfulness of God.
This is the third stage of salvation—glorification, when believers will be saved from the presence of sin and share forever in the glory of Christ.
The Harmony of the Three Phases of Salvation
These three stages— justification, sanctification, and glorification—are not separate salvations but distinct stages of the same saving work of God. Full salvation is like a threefold cord that stretches from eternity past to eternity future, anchored in the finished work of Christ.
Understanding this fullness of salvation helps believers live with assurance and purpose. You were saved from guilt, you are being saved from bondage, and you will be saved from corruption.
Living in the Reality of Full Salvation
Understanding the fullness of salvation should not remain theological knowledge alone. But it should transform how you live each day. Here are a few ways to apply the reality of full salvation:
- Be Thankful for the Accomplished Salvation
Remember the price Jesus paid to save you. Live in constant thankfulness for His mercy. Let gratitude fuel your worship and obedience.
- Cooperate with God in Present Transformation
For the sanctification work of the Holy Spirit to have its full effect, you must surrender to Him. You must yield your heart to the Holy Spirit daily. The Holy Spirit will not strive with you. It is you who must develop a yielding heart. Accept His rebukes and correction, repent from sin quickly, and obey the Spirit’s leading promptly.
- Live with Hope for Future Glory
Never let the present trials and suffering of this world discourage you. Your best days are ahead—when Christ returns in His glory. At that time, our sufferings will give way to an incomparably great glory (Romans 8:18).
- Encourage Others with the Truth of Salvation
Share the gospel confidently, knowing salvation is God’s complete work, from beginning to end. Point others to Jesus, who alone can save to the uttermost (Hebrews 7:25).
The Centrality of Christ to Full Salvation
At the heart of every stage of salvation is Christ Himself. His finished cross work is the basis for the three phases of the believer’s salvation.
- We are justified by His sacrifice.
- We are continually sanctified by His blood.
- We will be glorified by His coming.
Salvation is begins and ends with Jesus. He is not just the doorway to salvation—He is the salvation. There is no salvation outside of Him. But in Him, there is full salvation— complete, secure, and eternal.
Conclusion
Salvation is not merely a past event you recall; it’s an ongoing, everyday experience you are living, and a future experience of glory you will one day see completed in Christ.
You have been saved—from the penalty of sin (justification).
You are being saved—from the power of sin (sanctification).
You will be saved—from the presence of sin (glorification).
These three truths form the foundation of a believer’s faith and hope. When you understand them, your confidence in Christ deepens, your worship grows richer, and your daily walk becomes more joyful and victorious.
Therefore, walk in gratitude for what Christ has done, yield to what He is doing, and look forward eagerly to what He will yet do. That is full salvation— God’s gracious work from start to finish.
If you are reading this but you have never trusted in Jesus Christ as your Savior, today is the day of salvation. He offers you forgiveness, peace, and eternal life—not as a reward, but as a gift of grace.
And if you are already a believer, live in the fullness of your salvation. Let your life testify that Jesus saves— completely, continually, and eternally.
Jude 1:24–25:
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 25 to God our Savior, Who alone is wise, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and forever. Amen.
Further Resources
- GotQuestion – The Three Tenses of Salvation
- Desiring God – The Past, Present, and Future of Salvation
- Ligonier.Org – Past, Present, and Future Salvation
- Bible.Org – The Three Tenses of Salvation
- Answers in Genesis – Understanding Salvation: Past, Present, and Future
- Crosswalk.com – Salvation Is Past, Present, and Future
- Christianity.com – The Three Stages of Salvation: What They Mean
