In Romans 13:11, when Paul says “for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed,” he is referring to the future aspect of salvation—specifically, the completion of our redemption at Christ’s return.
Three Phases of Salvation in Scripture
To understand this verse, it helps to see salvation as having three tenses:
- Past – We were saved from the penalty of sin when we believed (Ephesians 2:8).
- Present – We are being saved from the power of sin as we walk in the Spirit (Philippians 2:12).
- Future – We shall be saved from the presence of sin when Christ returns, and we receive glorified bodies (Romans 8:23; Philippians 3:20-21).
Romans 13:11 points to this future salvation—the final deliverance of the believer at the rapture and the judgment seat of Christ, when our earthly walk ends and our heavenly inheritance begins.
In light of contextual clarity, Paul is urging believers to wake up spiritually and live in light of the approaching day. The “night” of this present evil age is far spent, and the “day” of Christ’s appearing is at hand. The salvation he speaks of is not justification (which happened when we believed), but the culmination of our salvation—our glorification.
This aligns with Romans 8:23, which speaks of “waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.” That’s the salvation Paul says is “nearer than when we believed.”
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