Salvation Is Now. Eternity Has Already Begun

Salvation isn't a future event. Eternity and our life with Christ doesn't begin at our physical death. Salvation is now. It isn't gradual, by degrees or in a series of events. Salvation is instant when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. It is now, not later and certainly not at our physical death.

"But this deliverance is expected at death." Where is the promise that it shall then be given? There is not one such in the whole Bible!...Do not expect redemption in death: it can do nothing for thee even under the best consideration: it is thy last enemy….Multitudes of such persons are continually deploring their want of faith, even where they have the clearest and most explicit promises; and yet, strange to tell, risk their salvation at the hour of death on a deliverance that is nowhere promised in the sacred oracles! "But who has got this blessing?" Every one who has come to God in the right way for it.” (Adam Clarke)

Did not Jesus teach and exhort us to pray to God, “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” (Matthew 6:10). God’s will, which is His will for our salvation, is done here on earth! We are saved now! Not later, upon physical death, when we, “shuffle off this mortal coil” (Shakespeare) and go to heaven.

“Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.” (2 Corinthians 6:2)

When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, we are adopted by God. Not “will be” adopted, we “are” presently adopted! And as children of God, we are heirs to the Kingdom of God!

“For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.” (8:15-17)

We obtain salvation now! For if we have put away the old man with his sins and have died for Christ, then we shall live with Him now!

“Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him” (2 Timothy 2:10-11)

If we be dead with Christ, then we are also alive in Christ right now! We are currently freed from the bondage of sin!

“Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him” (Romans 6:6-8)

Right now, for those who have accepted Jesus Christ as their Savior, we are alive and living with Jesus Christ. Eternity started the day you received Him into your heart.

Bill Hitchcock