Gradual Salvation

[General Mung Beans]

Gradual salvation is basically when salvation is a process rather than an instantenous event. I have a few problems with gradual salvation especially since than one would have trouble telling exactly when in the process he was saved. But on the other hand if you look at my profile my process was a long road to salvation and my memory is rather fuzzy on all this.

 

[Faith.Man]

Gradual salvation is basically when salvation is a process rather than an instantenous event. I have a few problems with gradual salvation especially since than one would have trouble telling exactly when in the process he was saved. But on the other hand if you look at my profile my process was a long road to salvation and my memory is rather fuzzy on all this.

I know exactly what you mean. Although I can point to life-changing events, I cannot identify the exact moment I was "born-again" or "saved". Sometime before I was water baptized, and sometime before I started going to a non-denominational church. But when exactly, I don't know.

 

[cubanito]

God knows, and it is in Him we trust, n.ot ourselves

JR

 

[desmalia]

I am saved (justified), I am being saved(sanctified), and I will be saved(glorified).

 

[Hupomone10]

Gradual salvation is probably like gradually getting married. Ask your wife (or husband) how she (he) would feel about that process... I think the Lord's thought would be similar. But then... what do I know. About 6 months ago I adopted a Romanian child as my son. It wasn't gradual; when the judge tapped his gavel, it was done.

Please, for those who consider gradual salvation a possibility or what might be happening to you, make it sure. Confess your sinful state, and cast yourself at Christ's feet. You will be saved in a moment, just as Cornelius, and regardless of a feeling or not. We do not live by feeling, but by faith.

 

[General Mung Beans]

Gradual salvation is probably like gradually getting married. Ask your wife (or husband) how she (he) would feel about that process... I think the Lord's thought would be similar. But then... what do I know. About 6 months ago I adopted a Romanian child as my son. It wasn't gradual; when the judge tapped his gavel, it was done.

Of course before you married or adopted your kid you first had to a whole lot of things. You do get saved in an instant but often there are numerous steps before and after it.

 

[childofGod31]

this suggests gradual

1Pe 2:2 Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation,



Col 1:22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—Col 1:23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel

I don't think it's about one point, but it's about the life as a process.

There is a point when you surrender to God (invite Jesus into your heart), but if you don't continue to surrender your heart to Him with your life, then...

2Co 13:5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test?
We have to keep testing: are we still in the faith? are we continuing?

Heb 10:36 You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

Gal 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

2Pe 1:10 Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never fall,
2Pe 1:11 and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The principle is this one I think:

Eze 18:21 "But if a wicked man turns away from all the sins he has committed and keeps all my decrees and does what is just and right, he will surely live; he will not die.
Eze 18:22 None of the offenses he has committed will be remembered against him. Because of the righteous things he has done, he will live.

Eze 18:24 "But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and commits sin and does the same detestable things the wicked man does, will he live? None of the righteous things he has done will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness he is guilty of and because of the sins he has committed, he will die.

Being saved = walking with God. Salvation is a journey. Some people get saved the minute before they die like a thief on the cross. Some get a longer journey. And it's the end that matters. If the end is not with God, then "none of the righteous things will be remembered"
If the end is with God, then "none of the wicked things he has done will be remembered"

 

[Stan53]

Just to put it into context.
You have been saved. This is pass tense. It talks of what happened at that precious moment of rebirth.
You are are being saved. This is present tense. It talks of the saving work that Christ is doing in your life right this very minute.
You will be saved. This is future tense.

 

[God's Salvation]

Consider Noah and his family on the ark. They were saved the moment God shut them in, and they were constantly being saved as the world drowned.