here's something about the "final stage of our salvation"
Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
(Romans 8:23-25)
hmm, says here we were saved - saved in hope of the redemption of our bodies, and that is what we patiently wait for.
doesn't say that we are not saved until our bodies are redeemed and free of all sin & unholy lust.
says salvation is a past-tense thing we passively received, the Spirit a present-tense thing we also received, and the "perfection" of our bodies a future hope we passively await.
so what do we all think that means about this idea of present-time sinless perfectionism, or redemption of our flesh as pre-requisite to our hope?
who hopes for what they already have?
actually Paul talks about salvation mostly in the past tense - a thing already given to us. he talks about us as those who "have been saved" - not as those who "might be saved if they perfect themselves"
the Perfector - it is Christ, not me. the completion of His work in me is what i hope for - with assurance, because it has begun - and when that work is finished, i will no longer need His mercy, because of His mercy. on that day, we will be with Him, and fully made like Him.
as for now, i stand continually in a time of need, always requiring His mercy, and always standing only because of it.
the weightier matters - justice, faith, mercy -- the Father has justified me, it is His faithfulness towards me that my faith is in, and it is His mercy i look toward and try to emulate.
these three things, that i love, none of them are found in me except He put them there and does them in and through me.
that salvation that we hope for in the future is the completion and culmination of the thing God is doing in us presently -- see my post above
i have no doubt He is able to finish what He started. i don't care to be fooled into thinking it is already accomplished though - isn't my existence here on this earth right now proof that He's still working on me?
but to think this Master Carpenter will put His tools down and leave me on the workbench unfinished, or toss me into a scrap pile like a failed project - that is no faith at all.
we have assurance, because we know He is able, and faithful, and we know He has begun this thing in us.
No Apostle Paul does not speak as salvation as a past-tense receiving, and the confusion comes from placing saved and salvation as one and the same. Here is Apostle Paul and each time shows we hope to receive and seek for salvation/eternal life, and even your scripture above from
Romans 8:23-25 shows that we wait patiently to receive it;
All of these from Paul show salvation/eternal life is a future possession:
1 Thessalonians 5:8
But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an
helmet, the hope of salvation.
Romans 13:11
And that, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is
our salvation nearer than when we believed.
Romans 2:7
To them who by patient continuance in well doing
seek for glory and honour and immortality,
eternal life:
1 Timothy 4:8
For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the
life that now is (physical life), and of that which is to come.(eternal life)
1 Timothy 6:12
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
1 Timothy 6:19
Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they
may lay hold on eternal life.
2 Timothy 2:10
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.
Titus 1:2
In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;
Titus 3:7
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Colossians 1:22-23
In the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight— if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and
are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.