Dr. Bob Utley on Greek Verb Tenses Used for Salvation

SPECIAL TOPIC: GREEK VERB TENSES USED FOR SALVATION
Salvation is not a product, but a relationship. It is not finished when one trusts Christ; it has only begun!
It is not a fire insurance policy, nor a ticket to heaven, but a life of growing Christlikeness.

SALVATION AS A COMPLETED ACTION (AORIST)

•  Acts 15:11
•  Romans 8:24
•  II Timothy 1:9
•  Titus 3:5
•  Romans 13:11 (combines the AORIST with a FUTURE orientation)

SALVATION AS A STATE OF BEING (PERFECT)

•  Ephesians 2:5,8

SALVATION AS A CONTINUING PROCESS (PRESENT)

•  I Corinthians 1:18; 15:2
•  II Corinthians 2:15

SALVATION AS A FUTURE CONSUMMATION (FUTURE in VERB TENSE or context)

•  Romans 5:9,10; 10:9,13 (implied in Matt. 10:22, 24:13; Mark 13:13)
•  I Corinthians 3:15; 5:5
•  Philippians 1:28; I Thessalonians 5:8-9
•  Hebrews 1:14; 9:28
•  I Peter 1:5,9

Therefore, salvation begins with an initial faith decision (cf. John 1:12; 3:16; Rom. 10:9-13), but this must
issue in a process of lifestyle faith (cf. Rom. 8:29; Gal. 4:19; Eph. 1:4; 2:10), which will one day be
consummated in sight (cf. I John 3:2). This final state is called glorification. This can be illustrated as
1. Initial salvation–justification (saved from the penalty of sin)
2. Progressive salvation–sanctification (saved from the power of sin)
3. Final salvation–glorification (saved from the presence of sin).

The Superiority of the New Covenant: Hebrews by Bob Utley