Have you ever thought about salvation? I mean, really thought about it. If you are a Christian, you are saved. What does it mean to be saved? It means that you believe the gospel message; therefore, when you die, you’re going to heaven. At least, that’s a “simplified” version. It’s only more “complex” when we get into the gospel and break down what it means to be saved.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16 (NIV)

This verse from John is a popular verse that describes what salvation has to offer. What is that? Salvation offers us eternal life. Still, if you are a Christian, have you ever really thought about salvation?

For example, when were you saved? Paul gives us insight into salvation from Romans 10.

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Romans 10:9 (NIV)

Then, in the next verse, Paul explains “how” you are saved.

For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Romans 10:10 (NIV)

We are saved by faith in Jesus Christ when we believe the gospel message. Therefore, you were saved when you confessed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior after believing the gospel message that confirms this truth.

When you were saved, what happened? I don’t mean how your specific life changed, although we should always remember where we came from; I mean, what fundamental change occurred that changed the course of your life from one on the way to damnation to one on the way to salvation?

Paul gives us this insight into what happened when we confessed Jesus as Lord.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NIV)

That’s right! You became a new creature in Christ when you proclaimed Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.

For some of us, everything I’ve discussed is a “refresher” of things we already know. Still, it’s good to think about your salvation.

As I was reading Romans 8 today, these verses got my attention.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently (emphasis added).

Romans 8:22-25 (NIV)

“Who hopes for what they already have?” Paul asked in verse 24. When I read that, I said, “Yeah, who hopes for what they already have? That’s kind of silly.” Then I got to thinking. What is Paul talking about here? What is this thing we hope for that we don’t already have? Is it salvation? How can the “hope” be salvation if we were saved when we confessed Jesus as Lord?

Therefore, I started thinking about salvation. I mean, really thinking salvation. Hence, this devotional.

In Romans 8:18, Paul gives us this encouraging word.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.

Romans 8:18 (NIV)

Although Paul was talking about being persecuted for being a Christian, we can apply this verse to the things we go through in life. Still, what most of us go through doesn’t compare very well to being persecuted for our faith. However, I know that some of you don’t live in places where Christians are welcomed, so you can relate to Paul’s suffering for his faith. Yet, we all bear our crosses daily, so we still suffer—some more than others.

Paul’s point is that whatever we go through on earth doesn’t compare to our salvation in Christ. In the next verse, Paul points out that we (Christians) aren’t the only ones waiting for salvation.

For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.

Romans 8:19-21 (NIV)

What Paul tells us in these verses is that all creation is waiting. Waiting for what? For God’s divine plan to be completed for creation. I could say the Second Coming, but that’s not when everything ends. Still, if you were thinking that, that’s okay because you’ve grabbed a hold of a concept I’ve been hinting at.

You see, I don’t know if you noticed it yet, but several times, I have indicated that we are waiting on salvation. If you noticed that, then good on you. If you didn’t, that’s okay too. But wait, you might say. You said we were saved when we confessed that Jesus is our Lord and Savior. If you said that, you’re right. I did.

That’s why I started this devotional by asking if you’ve ever really thought about salvation. There’s more to it than what we might realize.

You were saved when you confessed Jesus as your Lord and Savior (Whew!). However, your salvation wasn’t complete. Yes, you’ve accepted that Jesus died for your sins and recognize that Jesus is the only way to heaven, but there’s more to come. I don’t know about you, but I think that’s pretty exciting.

Jesus sent back the Holy Spirit as our comforter and advocate when he died. However, the Holy Spirit is also a guarantee. Consider what Paul said to the Ephesians.

And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)

When you first confessed Jesus as Lord, you were saved. When you were saved, you were given the Holy Spirit as a promise that you were saved. That what God said he would do, he would do. What will God do?

“For my Father’s will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

John 6:40 (NIV)

Each of us will be raised to life again after we die, and we will be given a new form: An immortal form that will be perfected in Christ. However, until that time comes when there will be no more sickness, sorrow, or death, we must wait.

Therefore, in Romans 8:24, Paul talks about our hope that we will one day be perfected in Jesus Christ because we aren’t there yet. Sure, if you are a Christian, you are saved, and one day, you will be perfected in Christ. Thus, this hope is something you cannot see yet, but in faith, you believe. Subsequently, as Paul says, we patiently wait to be perfected in Christ.