What does the Bible say about the tenses of salvation?
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The Bible teaches that salvation encompasses past, present, and future deliverances entirely by God's work.
In 2 Corinthians 1:10, Paul highlights that God has delivered us, currently delivers us, and will yet deliver us. This encompasses three distinct 'tenses' of salvation: past, where God delivered His people in election; present, where we are constantly kept by His grace; and future, where we trust in His ultimate deliverance. The past deliverance refers to God's choosing of the elect before the foundation of the world, as noted in 2 Timothy 1:9. The present deliverance assures believers that God holds their lives in His hands and continuously protects them from unseen dangers. Lastly, the future deliverance promises that God will secure His people's eternal state, as illustrated in Isaiah 41:10, where God declares He will uphold us and offer help in times of need.
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