Deliverance! Both Now, and for the Age to Come

7/3/2025

“But it is no shame to suffer for being a Christian. Praise God for the privilege of being called by His name! For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. And if judgment begins with us, what terrible fate awaits those who have never obeyed God’s Good News? And also, ‘If the righteous are barely saved, what will happen to godless sinners?’ So if you are suffering in a manner that pleases God, keep on doing what is right, and trust your lives to the God who created you, for He will never fail you.” (1 Peter 4:16-19 NLT)

The point of even the Saved “barely escaping” compared to the unGodly is this: it’s a Miracle that ANYONE in this weak, Darwinian mammal world can be transfigured into the DNA of God Himself, judge Angels, and Rule and Reign beside Jesus for the next Chapter of Eternity. “Barely” is an accurate word to use—for how the children of Abraham escaped Egypt with Moses into and through the Red Sea, OR equally or more for the new Israel children of Abraham by the FAITH of Abraham escaping Egypt... by hiding our lives in Jesus.

This IS “salvation,” “deliverance,” “transformation” for this life, this age, and for the Age to come, both!

It is kind of fun to think of deliverance as something that has already happened, is currently happening, and shall still yet happen :)

HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAVED: τῇ γὰρ χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι διὰ πίστεως (For by grace you have been saved through faith). Sesōsmenoi is “perfect passive,” a completed action with ongoing results. Ephesians 2:5 χάριτί ἐστε σεσωσμένοι (by grace you have been saved), the perfect passive form.

ARE BEING SAVED: 1 Corinthians 1:18, τοῖς δὲ σωζομένοις ἡμῖν (to us who are being saved). “σωζομένοις” (sōzomenois) is a present participle, ongoing action. 1 Corinthians 15:2, δι’ οὗ καὶ σώζεσθε (by which also you are being saved). Sōzesthe is present tense, a current, ongoing process.

SHALL BE SAVED: Shall Be Saved, Future Tense, Romans 5:9-10, σωθησόμεθα (we shall be saved, sōthēsometha), future passive, Romans 10:9, σωθήσῃ (you will be saved), Sōthēsē is future passive, a promise of future salvation. Mark 16:16, σωθήσεται (will be saved), sōthēsetai, future passive.