Saved: Past. Present. Future.

2 Corinthians 1:3-10

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again.

There is a saying among many evangelicals that says, "Once saved. Always saved." This is a true statement, but I wonder how many people really understand this simple, yet powerful statement?

There is another saying that goes: "Have been saved, are being saved, shall be saved"

First of all, if you think you can lose your salvation, I kindly suggest you check yourself to know whether or not you are indeed saved.

If you truly have submitted yourself in faith in Christ Jesus, repented of your sins, and asked Him to forgive you and accepted Him as Lord and Savior of your life, then you have been given the free gift of grace by way of salvation. Your eternal destiny is secured. God will never reneg or take back what He has freely given - especially the gift of salvation.

"You were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified..." (1Corinthians 6:11)

Secondly, we who have accepted His gift, are expected to live our lives accordingly, as an expression of our love and devotion to Him. We may come up short a lot, but if our hearts are bent towards God, and our love for Him is through our act of faith and obedience, we will, as Paul says, be working out our salvation.

"work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who is at work in you..." (Philippians 2:12-13)

Thirdly, we who walk in the Spirit and by faith, will not only be working out our salvation, but in the end, when it is all said and done, and we stand in the presence of Almighty God, we will have finished the race and be saved forever.

"We shall be saved..." (Romans 5:9-10)

While we are still breathing the air that God supplies, and go through life's journey, working out our salvation, let us be of one mind and one heart, even if we have to share in the sufferings of Christ in this life. Jesus went the extra mile for you and I, so we can live a life of abundance and blessings - and live with that eternal security waiting for us.

In Christ,

Pastor Tom