This week, we've been reading about the signs of the end times (Mat 24), how to remain watchful and ready for Christ's return (Mat 25:1-30), and the separation of the sheep from the goats at the final judgment (Mat 25:31-46)

These passages started me thinking about my own understanding of what salvation really is, how it is achieved, and how it is realized.

One view of salvation is the "once saved/always saved" concept. It is based upon the idea that a believer's sin debt is paid in full, at the time of conversion. It asserts that ALL sin... including past, present, and future sins, are paid for at the cross, based upon the faith of the believer at one specific point in time in his or her life.

I held and even taught this view for several years, until further Bible study caused me to look at salvation in a different way.

It is true that our salvation is not based upon worthiness, in the sense that none of us "deserve" our salvation. And as such it is true that our (careful now) "promise" of salvation is a gift from God and not something that we earn... at least not in the sense that we can accomplish it on our own through "works".

However, we are called to run the good race, and to stay the course, and resist sin and temptation, and be wary of false teachers. Why? Isn't our salvation guaranteed at baptism.? Well, is it baptism that does the saving? Or is it our faith and acceptance of what happened on the cross?

Evangelical Christians frequently speak of being "saved", in a way that denotes having received salvation at some point in the past, perhaps when they committed themselves to Jesus as Lord. In 1 Peter, we find this concept being addressed in chapters 1 (1 Pet:1-25) and three (1 Pet 3:1-22) , and then again in 2 Peter chapter 1 (2 Pet 1:1-21) .

Peter speaks of salvation in one sense as an on-going process, but far more frequently, he is relatively consistent in viewing salvation as a goal, an end result, not as something already possessed. Does this mean that salvation is uncertain? Perhaps at this point we need to clearly define "salvation".

When the term is used theologically, it means the danger of condemnation in the final judgment (Rom 5:8-9) . Since that is the nature of the danger, then the salvation cannot become actual until the final judgment happens. Until that point the Christian has the "hope" of salvation (1 Pet 1:3) , a "promise", but not the salvation itself.

By "hope" or "promise" of course, Peter does not mean an "I hope so" type of hope, ...or a "He better make good on his promise" type of promise. Rather there is a real assurance of salvation ...because it comes from the Holy One... the author of truth. There is a confident expectation that it will occur. It is the type of hope one has for graduation when the registrar of the school has already indicated that the requirements have been met and one's place in the graduating party has been reserved. Although schools have been known to let students down, the promise of salvation was made by Christ himself. We can count on the fact that the goal really does exist. This is what Christians are moving toward.

According to 1 Peter it begins with baptism (1 Pet 3:21) , but it is finally revealed only in "the last time" (1 Pet 1:5) . The mark of those who are "being" saved is evidenced by their remaining firm in the faith under pressure.

An interesting point to consider is that Satan was an angel. He was already in heaven. It seems that free will and choice are part of our make up whether in this life or the next. The difference is, God does not allow sin in heaven... which of course is what makes it heaven. So Satan was "thrown out" of heaven and now reigns on earth with an army of spiritual beings.

Some of these spiritual beings are referred to as the "Sons of God" in Genesis (Gen 6:1-4) . These are spiritual beings who "took human wives" for themselves and contributed to the "days of Noah" when the earth was full of violence and wickedness. The New Testament refers to them as angels who "abandoned their own home" (Jude 1:6) or who "sinned" (2 Pet 2:4) .

Here then, we have truly rebellious, disobedient spirits and there is a long tradition, both in the New Testament and other Jewish writings, that these particular fallen angels were kept in a prison. These appear to be the "spirits in prison" that Jesus visited and preached to after his death or during his ascension (1 Pet 3:19) . Some Jewish writings refer to this prison as the "second heaven" and thus may exist between earth and the heaven where God dwells. Paul refers to the heaven where God dwells as the "third heaven" (2 Cor 12:1-4) . Does the fact that Jesus "preached" to the "spirits in prison" mean that he was giving them a second chance? It seems more likely that he was making a declaration or pronouncement of victory over evil and the spiritual underworld... reiterating if you will... "It is finished".

"So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Doing this, you will never stumble or fall away." (2 Pet 1:10).

Peter makes it clear that to confirm one's calling is not to "stumble". But how is this possible if we continue to sin?

"And now, all glory to God, who is able to keep you from stumbling, and who will bring you into his glorious presence innocent of sin and with great joy." (Jude 1:24).

God is able to keep us from "stumbling", if our focus remains on Him. But the alternative to that is the possibility of missing the mark... not finishing the race, swerving off course, of falling from grace. If it can happen to angels in heaven, it can happen to us.

While the whole New Testament witnesses to forgiveness of sin for all who repent, and acknowledges that Christians do sin from time to time, NO author in the New Testament, whether Paul or James or Peter or John, believed that a person could be living in disregard of Christian standards and still be "saved" (or still inherit the kingdom).

As Jesus said, "A good tree bears good fruit" (Mat 7:17) . You do not consistently get "unsaved" fruit from a "saved" tree.

The call then for Christians is to move forward. There is no attempt by Peter to solve the question as to whether one can be "lost" after being "saved". Peter's concerns are much more practical. "Make sure that you are in fact saved!"

When we "know" that God is part of our inner being, there is no longer any doubt about our salvation, nor of our eventual welcome into our eternal home and final resting place... the kingdom of heaven.