[size=150]Is Salvation Instantaneous or a Process?[/size]
This depends on how one defines the term, “salvation.” A lot of confusion arises from the fact the in the Bible the concept of salvation is described and alluded to in many different ways. After all, Christ “saves” us from many different things, and we are saved from these things at different times. Some of the things Christ saves us from have not even occurred yet. In the mind of God, who is able to view the past, present and future as a single event, salvation may be viewed as occurring instantaneously. But from our human perspective, we view and experience our salvation as various stages of a process which plays out over time. The descriptions of salvation vary, depending on which part of the salvation “process” is is being described. In the broadest sense, the term “salvation” refers to many different experiences and events, culmating in the final event at the end of the ages when all are completely redeemed and glorified in heaven. Therefore, in order to determine whether salvation occurs instantaneously, or over a period of time, one must “define” the word more narrowly and examine each individual aspect of the broader experience.
If to you “salvation” means being saved from the future death penalty of sin, then all are already technically saved, at least from God’s eternal perspective, both Christians and non-Christians alike. Jesus already paid the penalty on the cross of Calvary for the sins of all mankind, and the penalty only had to be paid once (Heb. 9:26-28; 1 Pet. 3:18). According to 1 Cor. 15:20-28, all will be made alive in Christ. Because of Calvary, God’s judgments are not retaliatory, or punitive in nature, but instead have the purpose of guidance and correction (Job 5:17-18; Isa 48:10; Lam. 3:31-33).
If to you “salvation” means having all your sins forgiven, then none of us is completely saved yet, because believers are admonished in 1 John 1:9 to confess their sins and seek God’s cleansing on a regular basis.
If to you “salvation” means being saved from the “power” that sin has over us, then none of us is completely saved yet, because we still struggle with sin in our lives (See Romans 6,7,8). If we say we have no sin, the truth is not in us (1 Jn 1:8).
If to you “salvation” means to have eternal life, meaning unending conscious existence, then all are saved, because both Christians and non-Christians will suffer physical death, but all will continue to consciously exist and then face judgment (Heb. 9:27).
If to you “salvation” means to have eternal life, meaning age-abiding (aionian) fellowship with Christ (spiritual life), then no one is completely saved, because our fellowship with Christ in this life is incomplete. He who has Christ has life (Jn 5:11-12; 5:24), but until Christ has all of you, you are not yet completey united with Christ and conformed to his image . Right now we see Christ only through the eyes of faith, as in a mirror darkly, but some day we will meet Him face to face and will know Him fully (1 Cor. 13:12).
If to you “salvation” means to experience the ultimate redemption and glorification of both our bodies and souls in Heaven, then we may consider ourselves to be saved, but not fully saved, because there is still much that we have not yet experienced. According to Titus 3-7, God saved us (past tense) and we were justified by grace and became heirs of the promise. We now have the “hope” of eternal (aionian) life. According to Rom. 8:18-25, we have already received the “first-fruits” of our salvation, the Holy Spirit. We wait eagerly for our ultimate redemption. We don’t have it yet. We hope for it and wait for it patiently. Hebrews 9:28 states that Christ will come again to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.