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NASB | Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:5 even when we were [spiritually] dead and separated from Him because of our sins, He made us [spiritually] alive together with Christ (for by His grace--His undeserved favor and mercy--you have been saved from God's judgment). [Rom 6:1-10] |
Subject: Thanks, but what about....? |
Bible Note: Please excuse me for butting in here Concerning the question: is salvation a process or one time event, the answer is yes. The new birth is a one time past tense event for each born-again believer. Salvation is a broad term which I like to say is like an umbrella. Underneath the umbrella of salvation is, justification, sanctification, and glorification, which understood in their proper forms indicate that salvation is also a process or ongoing work in each and every believer. We are growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior. I would like to add a few points to this "ship and shore" illustration also. First: In Scripture we read of two who made shipwreck of their faith. 1 Tim. 1:19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: 20 Of whom is Hymenaeus and Alexander; whom I have delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Their ship of faith crashed against the rocks and was busted up and sunk. Maybe their faith was too shallow. I use that pun because the rocks were in shallow and troubled waters Secondly if you like illustrations on this, I will provide this one: Bill Jones is fishing several miles out in the ocean. His boat capsizes and sinks to the bottom. He is unable to swim to safety. Just then another fishing boat comes along, but it is so heavily loaded that it is impossible to take on another passenger. Because they want to rescue the doomed man, however the crew throws him a rope. "Here take this rope," they say. "We will tow you to shore." As he takes the rope, Bill Jones says, "Thank God, I am saved!" And he is saved, as long as he holds on to the rope. Salvation is his, but he has to play a part in it. If he should at any time release his grasp on the rope and refuse to take it again, he would be lost. So it is with a person who has been rescued from sin. He remains saved as long as he holds on to the hand of Christ. If he should decide to release that hand, he would be lost. Actually one can properly speak of salvation in three tenses - past, present, and future. He can say, "I have been saved" when he takes the rope, "I am being saved" as he is being towed to shore; and "I shall be saved" when he plants his feet firmly on shore. Does the fact that the man must cling to the rope to be saved, mean that we can earn our salvation by our works? Absolutely not. Remember he was being towed by a power other than his own. He was merely co-operating with that power. He was holding onto the rope. He had to do that in order to be pulled to safety. Grace and peace zach† |