Jesus Saves (But Wait—There’s More!) // Already, But Not Yet

Followers of Jesus live in a constant tension—it’s an ”Already, But Not Yet” state of being. We’re already saved in Christ (Ephesians 2:8), but not yet saved in Christ (Romans 5:9). We’re already sanctified in Christ (1 Corinthians 1:2), but not yet sanctified in Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24). Confusing? Join the club! There is no doubt that this can be a tricky and difficult concept to understand, but we need to understand it. If we don’t embrace the truth of the “Already, But Not Yet” state of tension in the Christian life, we will inescapably misread Scripture—and misread Scripture results in a misled life.

One of the most common statements in the Christian faith? “I’m saved!” But did you know that we aren’t just “saved” in a past tense, but we are also saved in the present and in the future to come? Salvation is a concept—that, while beautifully simple, also offers us deep complexity into what exactly Jesus did, is doing, and will do through His work of salvation.