Future Salvation

Our future salvation will be our ultimate deliverance from sin and the consequences of sin. Although we are currently saved we still live in a body and in a world that is suffering from the consequences of the original sin of Adam. In the future this will all be rectified.

2 Peter 3:10-13 and Revelation 21:1-4 gives a sneak preview of some of the changes that will be experienced by those who are saved.

But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.
The heavens will disappear with a roar;
the elements will be destroyed by fire,
and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare.
Since everything will be destroyed in this way,
what kind of people ought you to be?
You ought to live holy and godly lives
as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire,
and the elements will melt in the heat.
But in keeping with his promise
we are looking forward to a new heaven
and a new earth,
the home of righteousness.
(2 Peter 3:10-13)

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Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth,
for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away,
and there was no longer any sea.
I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,
"Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.
They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
He will wipe every tear from their eyes.
There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away."
(Revelation 21:1-4)

There are scriptures that tell of us getting a new body; it is written in Philippians 3:21 that that our lowly bodies will be transformed so that they will be like Jesus’ glorious body. It is also written that the perishable will be clothed with the imperishable and the mortal with immortality (1 Corinthians 51:5)

Our salvation is guaranteed by God. Although no one knows for sure what exactly is going to happen or when it is going to happen, there is enough scripture to let us know that in the future, by God’s hand, something good is going to happen.

However, as it is written:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love him
(1 Corinthians 2:9)

God has given us way more instructions on how we should conduct ourselves in this life than what to expect in the next life. And 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 is strongly indicates that our future will include rewards that will be dependent on how we live and serve in this life.

… but his work will be shown for what it is,
because the Day will bring it to light.
It will be revealed with fire,
and the fire will test the quality of each man's work.
If what he has built survives,
he will receive his reward.
If it is burned up,
he will suffer loss;
he himself will be saved,
but only as one escaping through the flames.
(1 Corinthians 3:13-15).

God has promised us a future salvation which will be accomplished by him alone… there is no effort on our part to ensure our salvation. However, we do have the ability to influence our future rewards. Our resting in God’s promise of salvation does not mean that all work on our part should cease. Not only were we saved from God’s wrath, we were saved to be used by God (Ephesians 2:10). There is work (service) that we should do for God on this side of heaven. Ideally, we should serve him as a reflection of our love and appreciation for what he has done and will do… not just for the promise of rewards, but out of obedience, reverence for who he is.