The following chart summarizes the THREE TENSES OF SALVATION however the 3 divisions of this chart are not meant to imply that the Christian life is a dull, mechanical matter composed of steps we must go through, but in fact is a joyful, dynamic, supernatural relationship with the Living God enabled by His Living Spirit Who uses His Living Word to change us daily into the image of Jesus!
2 Co 3:18 (NASB) But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.
2 Co 3:18 (AMPC) And all of us, as with unveiled face, [because we] continued to behold [in the Word of God] as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are constantly being transfigured into His very own image in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another; [for this comes] from the Lord [Who is] the Spirit.
| JUSTIFICATION | SANCTIFICATION | GLORIFICATION |
| Past Tense "I have been saved" (Eph 2:8; 2:9) |
Present Tense "I am being saved" (1 Cor 1:18) |
Future Tense "I will be saved" (1Th 1:10, cf 1Th 5:9) |
| Past Point Spiritual Birth |
Present Process Spiritual Growth |
Future Point Spiritual Perfection |
| Positional Sanctification |
Progressive Sanctification |
Prospective Sanctification |
| Redemption of the Soul Commenced |
Redemption of the Soul Continued |
Redemption of the Soul Completed |
| How God sees us in Christ |
How saints are in conduct |
What saints shall be in glory |
| Perfect standing in holiness |
Daily growth in holiness |
Ultimate likeness to the Holy One |
| Through faith in Christ's finished work on the Cross and His resurrection (Jn 19:30, Ro 3:22,23, 24,25,26) |
Through Christ's present work of intercession for us and His power in and through us (Heb 7:25, Ro 8:34, Eph 3:17, Php 4:13) | Through Christ's future return and our transformation (Php 3:20,21,1 Jn 3:2) |
| Of and by the Spirit (John 3:5, Titus 3:5) |
From the Spirit (2Cor 3:18) |
Through the Spirit (Ro 8:11,30, Eph 4:30b) |
| Adoption as Sons of God |
Maturation as Sons of God |
Manifestation as Sons of God |
| Result of our union with Christ |
Result of the Spirit’s work in us using God's Word |
Result of total transformation by God |
| Saved from the penalty of sin |
Saved from the power of sin |
Saved from the presence & pleasure of sin |
| Consecration of the body (1Cor 6:19,20) |
Deterioration of the body (2Cor 4:16) |
Redemption of the body (Ro 8:23) |
| True of all believers At moment of salvation |
Begins in all believers at the point of salvation |
Finished in all believers when we enter the Lord’s presence (1Jn 3:2) |
| Positional and "automatic" |
Progressive and changeable |
Eternal and final |
| By the Father's Will (Jas 1:18) |
Through the Father's Word (Jn 17:17) |
In the Father's Time (1Co 15:52, cf Mt 24:36, Acts 1:6, 7) |
| Accomplished by the death of Christ |
Accomplished by the Spirit, the Word, faith, prayer, divine discipline, etc. |
Accomplished by the resurrection of Christ (1Co 15:23) |
| Entirely God's Work |
Believer's "cooperate" With the Spirit (Php 2:12, Php 2:13NLT) 100% Dependent/100% Responsible |
Entirely God's Work |
| Perfect in This Life |
Not Perfect In this Life |
Perfect in The Life to Come |
| The Same in All Believers |
Greater in Some Believers Than Others |
The Same in All Believers |