30. Salvation (as a consummation)

.... Traditionally, both Calvinism and Arminianism have understood salvation to occur at the moment a person believes the gospel, and have left the matter at that. Because this position is overly simplistic, it causes another argument to rise: now that the Christian is saved, can he lose his salvation? Or is it impossible for a Christian to lose his salvation?

. .... Nowhere in Scripture does the Bible address salvation itself and directly say, in a doctrinal, creedal statement, ‘you can lose your salvation’, or, ‘you can’t lose your salvation.’ The scriptures that are used to justify either argument are actually addressing subjects that are peripheral to salvation, such as faith, grace, redemption, and eternal life, and are not addressing salvation itself. The reason why the Bible doesn’t speak in either way about salvation is because neither argument is really proper in relation to what salvation truly is.

. .... As we discussed earlier, a person is saved as soon as he believes the gospel; yet in another sense, he is saved on the day that Jesus returns to the earth: marking an initiation, a progression and a ‘consummation’ of his salvation (see Eph 5:23, 31-32). In the present sense he is working out his own salvation with fear and trembling (a progression); in the final sense he hasn’t finally attained to his salvation, so he doesn’t yet have it to keep or to lose — making them both improper premises. That is why the Bible does not address such a question.

. .... Apparently then, on the Day of Judgment, the question will be, "Did you work out your own salvation with fear and trembling? Did you endure to the end? Did you continue steadfast in the faith, or did you neglect so great a salvation?" (See Heb 2:3; 10:35-39). Those who endured will receive salvation in the final sense. (And certainly they cannot lose that salvation.)

. .... If the Biblical concept of progression in our salvation, resulting in an ultimate consummation, seems troubling, remember that we are "kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:5). True and sincere Christians should have no problem with this, because they trust in God; but it puts insincerity in its proper perspective: "How shall we escape if we neglect so great a salvation?" (Heb 2:3).

.... For an extended series on this question click here.

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.... Conclusions, summaries and addendums to follow in future entries (stay tuned).

To continue the present discussion with Part 31, The Nature of this Doctrine, click here.