Page 58 - Ephesians

Let me give you a simple way to get the thrill of this section before
your hearts. Glance down at 2:1-3. Notice how it deals with the
past. Now see how verses 4-6 deal with the present. Look at
verses 7-10. This covers the future. I like to word it this way.
The second summary of our riches in Christ, is in terms of three
fold salvation. Salvation past, is justification. Salvation
present, is sanctification. Salvation future, is glorification.
Those are the theological words.

Sometimes we miss an awful lot by not using words as God uses
them in the Bible. When we use the word “salvation”, we limit it
to something that happened in the past. Usually when we say
“salvation”, we mean getting saved. “Did someone get saved?” I
heard a person say, “Well, he’s saved, but that’s it! Just saved”.
That’s like saying, “Poor guy. All he has is salvation”. That’s like
saying salvation is not enough. “All he has is salvation – he needs
something else.” What else could you need?

If you use the word the way God intended, you won’t need
anything else. When you’ve said, “Salvation”. You’ve said
everything. There’s no room for a second work of grace. It’s
utter foolishness to think that a Christian needs something beyond
salvation.
There’s a story told about a Salvation Army girl who was handing
out gospel literature. To her dismay she approached the famous
Greek scholar, Bishop Wescott. Handing him a gospel tract she
said, “Sir, do you have salvation?” Well, he answered, “Do you
mean ‘sotheis’, I have been saved, or ‘sezosmenos’, I am being
saved, or do you mean sozomenos, I will be saved?” Now, he
might have been a little rude, but he was 100% Biblical.

Salvation is more than getting saved. It includes that, but it also
pictures us seated with Christ, right now, in heavenly places. It
also reaches far into the future, taking us into eternity. That’s why
God writes, “We’re closer to our salvation, than when we first
believed.”
It’s true I have salvation. But it’s also true………. I’m not saved
yet!