When Do We Get Saved?

[MadParrotWoman]

In Romans we are saved when we declare with our mouths "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead . It's also commonly understood that we have to ask Jesus into our lives and ask His forgiveness for our sins - yes?
While this may be the case I truly believe that I was saved before I spoke the afore mentioned words. Jesus came into my life following weeks of searching and culminating in a prayer. It was a heartfelt prayer, a prayer for someone who was in a dangerous situation. I did address God as "Lord"- I don't know if I was saved because of this or because I prayed or because of the weeks leading up to it, weeks I spent asking questions someone else was kind enough to answer in detail. I didn't actually do the "Romans bit" until weeks later but I knew I was already saved.

I was wondering what others might make of this, if they disagree with my timing?

 

[oldhermit]

If you do not know when or how you were saved, how do you know you are saved?

 

[dcontroversal]

The very micro-second we believe and acknowledge Jesus by faith....We are then sealed with/by the Holy Spirit of promise which is the pre-payment of our inheritance.......!

 

[MadParrotWoman]

If you do not know when or how you were saved, how do you know you are saved?

I do know, my point is the timing wasn't at the time I made the declaration. I was just wondering what others thought about this and if they had a similar experience.

 

[notuptome]

I do know, my point is the timing wasn't at the time I made the declaration. I was just wondering what others thought about this and if they had a similar experience.

Its a declaration we make to the Lord. Public declarations are later.

For the cause of Christ
Roger

 

[crossnote]

In Romans we are saved when we declare with our mouths "Jesus is Lord" and believe in our hearts that God raised Him from the dead . It's also commonly understood that we have to ask Jesus into our lives and ask His forgiveness for our sins - yes?
While this may be the case I truly believe that I was saved before I spoke the afore mentioned words. Jesus came into my life following weeks of searching and culminating in a prayer. It was a heartfelt prayer, a prayer for someone who was in a dangerous situation. I did address God as "Lord"- I don't know if I was saved because of this or because I prayed or because of the weeks leading up to it, weeks I spent asking questions someone else was kind enough to answer in detail. I didn't actually do the "Romans bit" until weeks later but I knew I was already saved.

I was wondering what others might make of this, if they disagree with my timing?

The outward declaration is fruit of the faith in your heart. What if you were mute and couldn't speak?

 

[psychomom]

idk...could it be first comes God's grace,
then faith is given?

 

[TrainforGodliness]

If you want a very technical answer, then a thorough study of the word "save" or "salvation" and all the variants used in the Greek New Testament will show that we will be saved at a future point in time- that is, at the final judgement. While it is now common to say I "am" saved, or I "got saved" when I was XX years old, the moment to which we are referring by these statements is the moment that we repented and received the God's forgiveness and His Spirit. This isn't "technically" the same as being "saved". Salvation in the New Testament, contrary to today's common usage, refers to being saved from final and irrevocable condemnation for sin. Once we repent and place our trust in God we are secure in Him because His promises are sure; we have faith and hope that He will save us. In fact, it is a confidence in God that is so sure that even though the event is yet future, we can refer to it now as though it has already occurred, hence the modern usage.

To answer the question you are really asking: it is we sinful humans who are God's enemies, not vice versa. Our God has always been gracious and ready to forgive. This being true, confessing with one's mouth and believing in your heart are not conditions we need to meet to somehow trigger God's grace- His grace has been ready for you since before you were born- they are moments that mark the change in YOUR attitude toward God. The key point is not that your new attitude toward God is manifested by very specific outward signs, rather the key is that you have a new attitude! Once your attitude toward God changes from enmity to repentance and reconciliation you are secure in God's promises and the outward signs will follow as you continue to live with the new attitude.

 

[Atwood]

If you want a very technical answer, then a thorough study of the word "save" or "salvation" and all the variants used in the Greek New Testament will show that we will be saved at a future point in time- that is, at the final judgement.

I have read from Gen to Rev marking all the passages on salvation. I testify that salvation is in 3 tenses: past, present, & future.
[/QUOTE]

Now it must be observed, train, that there is nothing technical about your post, neither analytical nor synthetic -- in fact it is just you!

While you refer to the Greek NT, you don't quote it or even a version.
So your entire post can be ignored. It is just you saying things.

Now I am going to make a separate posting with scriptural proof. I just quote Eph 2, where salvation is expressed in the perfect tense, something which occured in the past with present consequences:

2:1 And you did he make alive, when ye were dead through your trespasses and sins, 2 wherein ye once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the powers of the air, of the spirit that now worketh in the sons of disobedience; 3 among whom we also all once lived in the lusts of our flesh, doing the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest:— 4 but God, being rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 even when we were dead through our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace have ye been saved), 6 and raised us up with him, and made us to sit with him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus: 7 that in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: 8 for by grace have ye been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, that no man should glory. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God afore prepared that we should walk in them.

χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι.
τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσῳσμένοι

Twice the periphrastic perfect is used. You are having been saved.

 

[Powemm]

I can only answer from my own personal experience.... to answer the original question?
It happened before I was aware of it.... god already did what needed to be done...
it became my reality when I started believing god instead of everyone and everything else ")

 

[Atwood]

Some posted about getting technical & the Greek NT (but not doing either, just up & saying things).
One should study to show self approved, both analytically (carefully studying a verse), and synthetically, putting them all together. Now below I post BDAG Greek Lexicon on Sozo, the Greek verb for save. It is valuable for classifying usage & giving Bible verses with which one may agree or disagree. I abbridge, cutting out non-Bible references & expanding abbreviations for those unfamiliar with the. Here 'tis:

σῴζω

1. to preserve or rescue fr. natural dangers and afflictions, save, keep from harm, preserve, rescue

a. save from death

τινά someone
Mt 14:30; 27:40, 42, 49; Mk 15:30f; Lk 23:35ab, 37, 39.

Passive
Mt 24:22; Mk 13:20; J 11:12 (ἐγερθήσεται P75); Ac 27:20, 31.

Abs[olute], w. accusative easily supplied Mt 8:25.
ψυχὴν σῶσαι save a life

Mk 3:4; Lk 6:9; 21:19 v.l. τὴν ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ σῶσαι save one’s own life

Mt 16:25; Mk 8:35a=Lk 9:24a (on Mk 8:35b=Lk 9:24b); 17:33 v.l.

b. w. ἔκ τινος bring out safely fr. a situation fraught w. mortal danger

ἐκ γῆς Αἰγύπτου Jd 5.

ἐκ τῆς ὥρας ταύτης J 12:27.
ἐκ θανάτου from (the threat of) death Hb 5:7.

—Of the evil days of the last tribulation ἐν αἷς ἡμεῖς σωθησόμεθα B[arnabas] 8:6.

c. save/free from disease
or from possession by hostile spirits τινά someone ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε Mt 9:22a; Mk 5:34; 10:52; Lk 8:48; 17:19; 18:42. Cp. Js 5:15.

Pass. be restored to health, get well

Mt 9:21, 22b; Mk 5:23, 28; 6:56; Lk 8:36; Ac 4:9; 14:9.
Also of the restoration that comes about when death has already occurred Lk 8:50.

d. keep, preserve in good condition
τὶ someth.
pass. τὴν κλῆσιν σῴζεσθαι Hermas 8, 11, 1.

e. pass. thrive, prosper, get on well
σῴζεσθαι ὅλον τὸ σῶμα 1 Clement 37:5.
As a form of address used in parting σῴζεσθε farewell, remain in good health Barnabas 21:9.

2. to save or preserve from transcendent danger or destruction, save/preserve from eternal death fr. judgment, and fr. all that might lead to such death, e.g. sin, also in a positive sense bring Messianic salvation, bring to salvation
(LXX; Hermetic Writings 13, 19 σῴζειν=‘endow w. everlasting life’.
—Of passing over into a state of salvation and a higher life,
Opp. κολάζειν Orig., C. Cels. 2, 38, 16).

a. act. τινά someone or τὶ someth.
α. of God and Christ: God
1 Cor 1:21; 2 Ti 1:9; Tit 3:5;
the accusative is easily supplied Js 4:12.
ὁ θεὸς ὁ σῴζων Mt 16:16 D.

—Christ:

Mt 18:11; Lk 19:10; J 12:47; 1 Ti 1:15; 2 Ti 4:18 (εἰς);
Hb 7:25;
σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ τῶν ἁμαρτιῶν αὐτῶν Mt 1:21 (σ. ἀπό).

β. of persons who are mediators of divine salvation: apostles Ro 11:14; 1 Cor 9:22; 1 Ti 4:16b.
The believing partner in a mixed marriage 1 Cor 7:16ab.

One Christian of another σώσει ψυχὴν αὐτοῦ ἐκ θανάτου Js 5:20. Cp. Jd 23.
Of ultimate personal security 1 Ti 4:16a;
Mk 8:35b=Lk 9:24b

γ. of a . . . [quality = faith] that leads to salvation
ἡ πίστις σου σέσωκέν σε Lk 7:50. Cp. Js 1:21; 2:14; 1 Pt 3:21.

b. pass. be saved, attain salvation
Mt 10:22; 19:25; 24:13; Mk 10:26; 13:13; 16:16; Lk 8:12; 18:26; J 5:34; 10:9; Ac 2:21 (Jo 3:5); 15:1; 16:30f; Ro 10:9, 13 (Jo 3:5); 11:26; 1 Cor 5:5; 10:33; 1 Th 2:16; 2 Th 2:10; 1 Ti 2:4; 1 Pt 4:18 (Pr 11:31);

—σωθῆναι διά τινος through someone

J 3:17; through someth. Ac 15:11; 1 Cor 15:2; 1 Ti 2:15 (διά A 3c); in or through someth. Ac 4:12; 11:14; Ro 5:10.

ἀπό τινος save oneself by turning away from Ac 2:40

διά τινος ἀπό τινος through someone from someth. Ro 5:9.

—χάριτι by grace Eph 2:5. τῇ χάριτι διὰ πίστεως Eph 2:8.

τῇ ἐλπίδι ἐσώθημεν (only) in hope have we (thus far) been saved or it is in the context of this hope that we have been saved (i.e., what is to come climaxes what is reality now) Ro 8:24.

—οἱ σῳζόμενοι those who are to be or are being saved Lk 13:23; Ac 2:47 (cp. Is 37:32); 1 Cor 1:18; 2 Cor 2:15
(opp. οἱ ἀπολλύμενοι in the last two passages)

3. Certain passages belong under 1 and 2 at the same time.
They include Mk 8:35=Lk 9:24 and Lk 9:[56] v.l.,
where σῴζειν is used in contrast to destruction by fire fr. heaven, but also denotes the bestowing of transcendent salvation.

In Ro 9:27 τὸ ὑπόλειμμα σωθήσεται (Is 10:22) the remnant that is to escape death is interpreted to mean the minority who are to receive the Messianic salvation.

In 1 Cor 3:15 escape fr. a burning house is a symbol for the attainment of eternal salvation (πῦρ).

 

[Atwood]

Salvation Comes in 3 Tenses, past, present, future. When a man trusts Christ as Savior, immediately old things pass away, all becomes new; a new birth happens, a man is begotten of God. Thus the saved person looks back in time at when He was regenerated and says, "I was saved on Feb 14, 1972, or whenever. Then in current situations, we depend upon Christ and experience His salvation from current problems. Also in the present He keeps us saved; we are kept children of God. Then we look to the future for final glorification. He who has suffered in the flesh (death) has ceased from sin.



Instant Salvation in Past Tense

“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” (Luke 7:50)

th Zacchaeus.
Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.” (Luke 19:9)

Evidence of Zacc's instant salvation is found in his instant statement:


But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.” (Luke 19:8)

Cornelius was instantly saved when he trusted the Lord Jesus, and no water baptism was needed nor joining any Eastern or Western organization. (see Acts 10:43-48). Compare this to what Peter said in Acts 15:11: We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are. (Acts 15:11)

Consider Eph 2:5 [God] made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved.

Is there any hint of an extended process between dead & alive? Salvation is a change from death to life, with no intermediate zombie state. 2 Cor 5: Old things are passed away, behold all has become new. It is all or nothing here.


In addressing Tim on common salvation, prophet Paul remarks to Tim how the Christian's salvation is past. There is no future to transpire before Paul and Tim should call themselves saved.


[the Lord God] who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, - 2 Tim 1:9

Again, prophet Paul wrote in Titus the truth that we presently regard ourselves as saved in the past.

he [God] saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, (Titus 3:5)


The future continued salvation state after belief is guaranteed by the past justification by the blood of the Lord Jesus.

Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! (Rom 5:9) Now how is anyone going to be half-way justified? You either are or you are not. The transition must be instante.

Instant Salvation Is Realized in Present Time

John 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes [present tense] him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:12,13)

There is a clear dichotomy: You either have or have not the Son of God with eternal life. The change must be instantaneous. Eternal life is a present possession for the believer, not just a future reward.

Salvation is clearly presented as a present reality:
Men are divided clearly into two groups, believers and non-believers, the saved & the perishing.


he who believes has everlasting life. (John 6:47)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1 Cor 1:18)

For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. (2 Cor 2:15)

It is clear the whosoever believes in Him has everlasting life and does not come into condemnation. This salvation must be instantaneous in that it is a new birth, a recreation and only depends upon trusting the SAvior (not the chance-giver). One either is a saint or an ain't. The moment a non-believer becomes a believer, he must be saved, for scripture guarantees salvation to the believer. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved. It is clear that the Philippian jailer was at once saved, for he believed.

Complete Salvation Is Realized in the Future

11 But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in like manner as they." Acts 15

1 Cor
If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as through fire.


8 The Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will save me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

3 Tenses of Salvation

8 But God commendeth his own love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, being now justified by his blood, shall we be saved from the wrath of God through him. 10 For if, while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, shall we be saved by his life; 11 and not only so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

The Certainly of the Believer's Salvation

Thou shalt call His name Jesus, for
He shall save His people from their sins.

 

[crossnote]

When? Perhaps a GPS unit would zero in on a bloody cross outside Jerusalem some 2000 years ago.

 

[Kaycie]

We are saved at the moment of baptism. 1 Peter 3:21, Acts 2:38, Romans 6:3,4

 

[kennethcadwell]

James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Matthew 24:10-13
And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:22
And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.


Hebrews 12:1-3
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 10:36
For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.


Hebrews 3:12-14
Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end.


1 Timothy 4:16
Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it. Every athlete exercises self-control in all things. They do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable.

Romans 11:19-22
Then you will say, “Branches were broken off so that I might be grafted in.” That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither will he spare you. Note then the kindness and the severity of God: severity toward those who have fallen, but God's kindness to you, provided you continue in his kindness. Otherwise you too will be cut off.

Mark 13:9-13
“But be on your guard. For they will deliver you over to councils, and you will be beaten in synagogues, and you will stand before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. And the gospel must first be proclaimed to all nations. And when they bring you to trial and deliver you over, do not be anxious beforehand what you are to say, but say whatever is given you in that hour, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit. And brother will deliver brother over to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death. And you will be hated by all for my name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.