Equipping University

The Bible is not always as simplistic as we want it to be or perhaps think that it is. That is surely the case regarding the doctrine of salvation. To display the full understanding of all that is our salvation, the Bible uses a wide variety of metaphors or word pictures. We can understand the basis of these metaphors easily enough. However, we often miss a subtle difference in them ��� a temporal difference. For instance, salvation is depicted as a reality that is the actual possession of true believers right now by divine right as joint-heirs with Christ. At the same time, salvation is also depicted as a future reality that has not yet been inherited by those same true believers. This tension between past and future is usually termed the "already-but-not-yet" by theologians. Some passages describe the "already" and others the "not yet." However, a majority of the metaphors for salvation surprisingly fall into both categories. To emphasize one over the other is to fall into theological error. This type

The issue of eternal security is one of the most hotly debated topics in the history of Christian theology. Many believe that those who suffer from a lack of assurance promotes anxiety and a chronic uncertainty that leads to a preoccupation with oneself, one's fears, and one's failings. This lack of assurance leads to a paralyzed and feeble faith. At the other end of the spectrum, many believe that those who "know that they know that they know" they are saved with no threat of losing that salvation tend to live a life of moral laxity leading to a fatal spiritual apathy. Is it possible to avoid both extremes? There are two types of passages that the student of the Bible must strive to understand in order to come to an accurate position on this subject. First, there are passages that seem to clearly indicate a simple understanding of the absolute eternal security of the believer. However, the same individuals who spoke and recorded the divinely inspired promises also spoke and wrote divinely inspired statement