Salvation: One Plan, Three Phases

Christian Theology, Counseling, Discipleship, Ministry, Salvation 4 Minutes

Scripture presents salvation as a complete divine program with distinct phases accomplished by God. The New Testament distinguishes justification (Rom. 3:28; 5:1), sanctification (Rom. 12:1–2; Jam. 1:21), and glorification (Rom. 13:11; Phil. 3:20–21). Our justification and glorification are accomplished entirely by God, apart from any human effort or works. Sanctification, however, though fully provided and empowered by God (Eph. 1:3), requires doctrinal knowledge (John 17:17; 1 Pet. 2:2) and positive volition to make it effective (John 7:17), as believers are commanded to “work out” their salvation in time (Phil. 2:12–13).

Phase One is salvation from the penalty of sin, commonly termed justification. This is a judicial act of God accomplished at a point in time when a person believes in Jesus Christ. The sinner is declared righteous on the basis of Christ’s finished work (John 19:30), not human merit or moral reform (Rom 4:5; 6:23). Scripture states, “we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law” (Rom. 3:28), and “having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:1). Righteousness is imputed, not earned (2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9). Eternal life comes by God’s grace, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph. 2:8–9). Eternal life is a free gift, paid in full by Jesus, and received by grace alone through faith alone. This phase is permanent (John 10:28), irreversible, and secure (Eph 1:13-14), because it rests entirely on Christ’s work and God’s verdict, not on human performance. According to Dean, “Because God’s justice sees the righteousness of Christ, not our own lack of righteousness, He judicially declares us to be righteous. This act is known as justification; the believer is declared before the supreme court of heaven to be just because of who Jesus Christ is, not because of who the believer is.”[1]

Phase Two is salvation from the power of sin (Rom. 6:6–14), often referred to as sanctification (1 Th. 4:3). This phase begins immediately after justification and continues throughout the believer’s earthly life. It is experiential and volitional (Rom. 12:1–2), involving daily choices to walk by faith (2 Cor. 5:7), depend on the Holy Spirit (Gal. 5:16), and renew the mind through doctrine. Paul wrote, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind” (Rom. 12:2). Growth is not automatic. Carnality is possible (1 Cor. 3:1–3), and discipline is real (Heb. 12:6). Yet God has provided everything necessary for spiritual advance: the indwelling Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19), the Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17), and grace resources sufficient for every circumstance (Eph. 1:3). Dean adds, “During this phase, we learn to walk by the Spirit, have victory over the present power of sin in our life, and renovate our thinking based on the principles and precepts of the Word of God (John 17:17).”[2]

Phase Three is salvation from the presence of sin (Rom. 8:30), commonly called glorification (1 John 3:2). This phase occurs at the rapture and resurrection of the Church (1 Th. 4:16–17), when believers receive resurrection bodies and are conformed perfectly to Christ. Paul wrote, “We eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory” (Phil. 3:20–21). Sin, death, and suffering are removed forever (Rev. 21:4). Rewards are evaluated at the judgment seat of Christ, determining loss or gain of eternal reward, not eternal destiny (1 Cor. 3:12–15; 2 Cor. 5:10). Glorification completes what justification began and sanctification developed. Barnhouse notes, “Thank God, the death of the believer is but his entrance into glory. And the hope of all who have come into the salvation of the past tense is that it shall find its full fruition in the salvation which is yet to be ours.”[3]

If you have never believed in Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, eternal life is offered to you right now as a free gift, for “the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom. 6:23). Jesus died for everyone (1 Tim. 2:6; Heb. 2:9), which means everyone is savable (1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Pet. 3:9). The one condition to receive eternal life is faith alone in Christ alone, for “whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16), and “He who believes in the Son has eternal life” (John 3:36). Jesus is the eternal Son of God (John 1:1; Col. 2:9), He lived a sinless life (1 John 3:5), willingly died for your sins (Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3–4), satisfying God’s justice (1 John 2:2), and rose again from the dead (1 Cor. 15:4), conquering sin and death (1 Cor. 15:54–57; Heb. 2:14). Salvation is not a promise to reform, repent of sins, or persevere in works. It is a free gift offered to those who simply believe in Jesus as their Savior (Eph. 2:8–9). It is faith alone in Christ alone. “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

Steven R. Cook, D.Min., M.Div.

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[1] Robert Dean Jr. and Thomas Ice, What the Bible Teaches about Spiritual Warfare (Grand Rapids, MI: Kregel Publications, 2000), 87.

[2] Ibid., 87.

[3] Donald Grey Barnhouse, Man’s Ruin: Romans 1:1–32 (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1952), 174.

Published by Dr. Steven R. Cook

Dr. Steven R. Cook is a Christian educator. He is protestant, conservative, and dispensational. Studies in the original languages of Scripture, ancient history, and systematic theology have been the foundation for Steven’s teaching and writing ministry. He has written several Christian books, dozens of articles on Christian theology, and recorded more than seven hundred hours of audio and video sermons. Steven currently serves as professor of Bible and Theology at Tyndale Theological Seminary, and hosts weekly Bible studies at his home in Texas. Steven’s ministry activity is entirely voluntary (articles, blogs, podcasts, and video lessons), as he works a full time job as a Case Manager for a local nonprofit agency that helps the elderly and disabled in the community.

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