So I have to ask: How do you know you are already saved. Can you find scripture saying you ARE saved?
Consider these verses:
Acts 15:11 - No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that
we are saved, just as they are.”
Rom 10:10 - For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and
are saved.
Do you believe that salvation and eternal life are synonymous? I can show that those who believe in Christ as Savior HAVE eternal life.
So, how would one argue that a person can POSSESS eternal life yet still be unsaved?
I don't see how. John 3:36, 5:24, 6:47 and 1 John 5:13 ALL say that possession of eternal life is based on faith in Christ.
Or does scripture say," will be saved?"
It says both. But when the future tense is used, it refers to being saved as a result of believing in Christ. iow, salvation comes after believing, not before.
Why do so many prematurely claim salvation before being judged? Could it be from false teaching of a man?
No, it's that you misunderstand the Judgment Seat of Christ that Paul mentioned in 2 Cor 5:10 - "For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad."
This judgment is not to determine where the believer will spend eternity. That was absolutely decided when one believes in Christ.
This is what Jesus said about those who believe in Him, in John 10:28 - "
I give them eternal life,
and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand."
In this verse, Jesus taught the
CAUSE and
EFFECT of having eternal life.
The red words speak to the cause of possession of eternal life; Jesus Christ Himself.
The blue words speak to the effect of possession of eternal life; they shall never perish.
So, what is the purpose of the Judgment Seat of Christ? To determine whether rewards will be earned, which is based on one's lifestyle.
The Arminian problem is viewing lifestyle as the determinant of whether one ends up in heaven or hell. But they fail to understand that such a view reduces salvation to one of works.
I say, I am being saved, not that I am already perfect. Saying you are already perfect (saved) is new age belief. Not Christianity.
I believe you misunderstand the 3 tenses of "salvation".
Remember what the word really means; to rescue, to deliver, to protect from. When used in reference to faith in Christ, it means an eternal rescue from hell, or to deliver from hell, and to protect from hell.
John 3:18 - Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.
This is seen in John 3:36 - Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.
However, Paul used "salvation" in a present tense 'being saved' in Phil 2:12 - Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—
continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,
So, salvation can be thought of as in the past, present and future tense.
Past tense: we have been saved from the penalty of sin. This is justification.
Present tense: we are being saved from the power of sin. This is sanctification.
Future tense: we will be saved from the presence of sin. This is glorification.
So when you say "I am being saved", that doesn't refer to how to get to heaven. If you have placed your trust in Jesus Christ as your Savior who died for your sins and gives you eternal life, you ARE saved. Period.
It does refer to the sanctification process, whereby the believer is growing in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ as long as they are in fellowship with Christ and not out of fellowship.