Past Tense
Speaker: Paul Stoaks
Date: February 8, 2026
A few weeks ago, we sang a worship song about being delivered from the power and penalty of sin. It reminded me of something in the New Testament that has always fascinated me: the Bible often speaks about things as finished facts, even if we haven't fully experienced them yet. This is especially true when it comes to our identity in Christ and everything Jesus accomplished for us on the cross.
The scripture that came to mind as an example that morning was:
Ephesians 2:1-10 (NKJV)
And you He made alive , who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ ( by grace you have been saved ), and raised us up together , and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus , that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are His workmanship , created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:19-22 (NKJV)
Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God , having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
We Once Were
● Dead in trespasses and sins
● Which was our lifestyle
● Slaves of the desires of our body and mind
● Children of wrath (enemies of God)
But God
● Showed us mercy
● Loved us
● Made us alive with Christ
● Raised us up with Christ
● Seated us with Christ in heavenly places
● Saved us (from slavery and death)
● Created us in Christ for good works
One of the things that is fascinating about this instance is that Paul goes on to address issues in the Church at Ephesus that shouldn’t be happening in a community of believers. Later, in chapter 4, he encourages the Ephesians in the basics (unity, love for one another, humility, long suffering) and to avoid the ways of the world around them, to stop lying, stealing, speaking evil, and otherwise grieving the Holy Spirit! (Ephesians 4:17-32).
Clearly, there was somehow a completed work in their lives that wasn’t yet fully developed.
But this is only one example among many. Here are some more:
John 5:24 (NKJV)
“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life , and shall not come into judgment , but has passed from death into life .
Galatians 3:26-29 (NKJV)
For you are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ . There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus . And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s seed , and heirs according to the promise.
Galatians 4:6-7 (NKJV)
And because you are sons , God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, “Abba, Father!” Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son , and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ.
Romans 5:1-2 (NKJV)
Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Colossians 1:13-14 (NKJV)
He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins .
Colossians 1:21-23 (NKJV)
And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight — if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
The truth is that, just like the metamorphoses of the caterpillar into a butterfly, when we believed in Jesus and turned to Him through repentance, not only our nature changed but our entire life story took a turn. Our motivation, our path, and our destination all changed and, above all, our relationship to God changed.
But we still have to learn to fly!
Scripture creates a clear picture of the dynamics of our salvation. There are three major “phases”, all of which are spoken of with finality and assurance.
New Birth
We hear about Jesus and His good news, believe it, and respond. (Romans 10:17)
What happens?
These are all spoken of as completed.
● Redemption – We are set free from slavery to sin (1 Peter 1:17, John 8:36)
● Forgiveness of all of our past sins (Colossians 1:13-14)
● Adoption into God’s family, making us joint heirs with Jesus! This is a transfer of kingdoms! (Colossians 1:13-14) Romans 8:14-17 clarifies and says that the Holy Spirit gives us assurance of our membership in our new family!
Justification & holiness in God’s sight (made right with God, Kingdom of priests) (Colossians 1:21-23, John 15:3)
● We receive the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galatians 4:6)
● We become ambassadors of God’s grace ourselves! (2 Corinthians 5:18-19) ● We begin bearing fruit in God’s kingdom (John 15:3-5)
How?
● We believe in Jesus – Implies turning to Him and accepting His sacrifice on our behalf. Does not require fully understanding. Romans 10:9-10 points out that we bear witness to this through speaking it out (confession).
Sanctification
Having begun, we grow into fruitful maturity and the image of Jesus.
What happens?
These things occur continuously and progressively. They are accomplished by the Holy Spirit but require our active cooperation. In a sense, we are growing into the new identity that has already been given to us.
Philippians 2:12-16 (NKJV)
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling ; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure .
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NKJV)
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely ; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
● We are being transformed (Romans 12:1-2)
● We are working out our salvation (Phillipians 2:12)
● God is working in us (Phillipians 2:13)
● We are becoming lights in the world (Phillipians 2:15)
We are being guarded by God’s power (1 Peter 1:5)
How?
● We continue to trust Jesus and the Holy Spirit for our righteousness (Galatians 3:2-3, Colossians 1:23).
● We cooperate with God’s work in our lives through submission and obedience. (Colossians 1:23)
Glorification and Eternal Life
The end is to be like Jesus, not only spiritually but with Him in heaven.
What happens?
● We will be raised (1 Corinthians 15:52)
● We will be like Christ (1 John 3:2)
● God will complete His work (Philippians 1:6)
● We are glorified (Romans 8:30 - prophetic aorist!)
How?
● This is the fulfillment of God’s promise.
Conclusion
During the course of Jesus’ life and through His death and resurrection, EVERYTHING needed to reconcile mankind to God was provided and completed. The means of our continuing growth in righteousness was given to us through the Holy Spirit being given to us. As Jesus was hanging on the cross, he looked back over His life and saw that it was good, all things had been accomplished. He was able to say, with satisfaction and finality, “It is finished”.
John 19:28-30 (NKJV)
After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished , that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “ It is finished! ” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Our response is simple:
● Believe in who He is and what He has done for us, and our need of it
Begin walking it out, which is really learning to live in the new nature we have been given. We don’t do this alone, and it is always the Holy Spirit who makes it possible.
● Look forward to the day when we will be like Jesus and live with Him for eternity!
2 Corinthians 5:15-19 (NKJV) and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
