Benefits Of Salvation Beyond Eternal Life
While eternal life is a central promise of salvation, the biblical understanding of salvation encompasses numerous benefits that extend into the present earthly existence [2, 4]. These benefits include sanctification, reconciliation with God, freedom from sin, and a renewed purpose for living.
One significant present benefit of salvation is sanctification, a process by which believers are set apart for God's service and progressively conformed to His will [1]. Romans 6:22 states that having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, believers "derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life" [1]. This verse highlights sanctification as a direct and immediate benefit, preceding the ultimate outcome of eternal life. John Calvin emphasizes that the kingdom of Christ, though fully realized in a future life, offers benefits that are perceived even amidst the "bitter and wretched" conditions of present life [5]. He also notes that the Gospel "does not confine the hearts of men to the enjoyment of the present life, but raises them to the hope of immortality" [10].
Salvation also brings reconciliation with God, restoring a relationship that was broken by sin [6]. Charles Hodge explains that justification, a component of salvation, "does secure a restoration to the favour and fellowship of God. We become the sons of God by faith" [6]. This goes beyond mere pardon; a pardoned criminal might have their civil rights restored but is not necessarily reconciled to society. Similarly, justification restores believers to God's favor and fellowship [6].
Freedom from the dominion of sin is another immediate benefit. I Peter 3:21 describes baptism as a means of salvation, not by cleansing the flesh, but "by making you free from the sense of sin before God" [3]. This freedom allows believers to live a new life, as described in Romans 6:4, where the "newness of life which the believer derives from Christ" is linked to eternal life [4]. Adam Clarke elaborates that salvation redeems humanity from the death forfeited to divine justice, quickens souls "dead in trespasses and sins," and enables believers to "answer all the Divine purposes" [8].
The love of God, experienced through salvation, is considered by some to be "better than life" itself [12]. John Gill, commenting on Psalm 63:3, argues that "life without the love of God is nothing else than death," and that the love of God "lasts longer than life, and therefore must be better than that; death cannot separate from it; it continues to all eternity" [12]. This profound sense of divine love and favor transforms the believer's present experience.
Furthermore, salvation provides a renewed purpose and dignity in life. Calvin notes that God "adorns us with such dignity, that he subjects to our authority whatever is in the world" [7]. This perspective suggests that believers are given a significant role and purpose in the present world as a result of their salvation. The benefits of salvation are not merely future-oriented but actively shape and improve the believer's current existence, even amidst suffering [5, 11]. Augustine, in City of God, contrasts the "most blessed" future life with the "most wretched" present life, yet acknowledges that using this life "with a reference to that other" makes it meaningful [11].
Faith, a key aspect of salvation, also brings tangible benefits in this life. Hodge points to examples from Hebrews 11, where through faith, individuals "subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire," and endured various trials [9]. This demonstrates that faith, a component of salvation, empowers believers to navigate and overcome challenges in their earthly lives [9].
Sources
- Romans “Romans 6:22 (NASB) — But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life.”
- Romans “Romans 6:23 (LEB) — For the compensation due sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
- I Peter “I Peter 3:21 (BBE) — And baptism, of which this is an image, now gives you salvation, not by washing clean the flesh, but by making you free from the sense of sin before God, through the coming again of Jesus Christ from the dead;”
- Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Eternal life — This expression occurs in the Old Testament only in Dan. 12:2 (R.V., "everlasting life"). It occurs frequently in the New Testament (Matt. 7:14; 18:8, 9; Luke 10:28; comp. 18:18). It comprises the whole future of the redeemed (Luke 16:9), and is opposed to "eternal punishment" (Matt. 19:29; 25:46). It is the final reward and glory into which the children of God enter (1 Tim. 6:12, 19; Rom. 6:22; Gal. 6:8; 1 Tim. 1:16; Rom. 5:21); their Sabbath of rest (Heb. 4:9; comp. 12:22). The newness of life which the believer derives from Christ (Rom. 6:4) is the ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 51: hand of Christ, so it will be fully realised in a future life. 4. That the strength and utility of the kingdom of Christ cannot, as we have said, be fully perceived without recognising it as spiritual, is sufficiently apparent, even from this, that having during the whole course of our lives to war under the cross, our condition here is bitter and wretched. What then would it avail us to be ranged under the government of a heavenly King, if its benefits were not realised beyond the present earthly life? We must, therefore, know tha”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 19: of God; until he apprehends that his sins have been punished, as the Apostle says ( Rom. viii. 3 ), in Christ. Again, we are said to be reconciled to God by the death of his Son. ( Rom. v. 10 .) But pardon does not produce reconciliation. A pardoned criminal may be restored to his civil rights, so far as the penalty remitted involved their forfeiture, but he is not reconciled to society. He is not restored to its favour. Justification, however, does secure a restoration to the favour and fellowship of God. We become the sons of God by fai”
- CCEL (Reformed) “Calvin, Commentary on Genesis, Vol. 2 (Gen 24-50), section 15.7: dealt with by the Lord. Even amidst the many miseries with which life is filled, this divine goodness still shines forth, that God invites us to himself, and exercises us in the knowledge of himself; while at the same time he adorns us with such dignity, that he subjects to our authority whatever is in the world. Wherefore it is no wonder that God, as an act of kindness, prolongs the life of man. Whence it follows, that when the wicked are taken away by a premature death, a punishment for their wickedness is inflicted upon them: ”
- John (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on John 17:3: This is life eternal - The salvation purchased by Christ, and given to them who believe, is called life: 1. Because the life of man was forfeited to Divine justice; and the sacrifice of Christ redeemed him from that death to which he was exposed. 2. Because the souls of men were dead in trespasses and sins; and Christ quickens them by his word and Spirit. 3. Because men who are not saved by the grace of Christ do not live, they only exist, no good purpose of life being answered by them. But when they receive this salvation they live - answer all the Divine purposes, a”
- CCEL (Reformed (Old Princeton)) “Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, section 16: faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire; that others were by faith made strong out of weakness, waxed valiant in fight; that others submitted to the trial of cruel mockings and scourgings that others by faith endured to be stoned, sawn asunder, or slain with the sword; and that yet others through faith consented to wander about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and tormented. All these, we are told, through faith obtained a good report. 5. Faith sanctifies ”
- CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 46: ( Rom. 1:2 ). And again, that “the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets,” ( Rom. 3:21 ). For the Gospel does not confine the hearts of men to the enjoyment of the present life, but raises them to the hope of immortality; does not fix them down to earthly delights, but announcing that there is a treasure laid up in heaven, carries the heart thither also. For in another place he thus explains, “After that ye believed [the Gospel,] ye were sealed with that Holy Spirit of promi”
- Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 2: Augustine — City of God, Christian Doctrine — CHAP. 20.--THAT THE SAINTS ARE IN THIS LIFE BLESSED IN HOPE.: Since, then, the supreme good of the city of God is perfect and eternal peace, not such as mortals pass into and out of by birth and death, but the peace of freedom from all evil, in which the immortals ever abide; who can deny that that future life is most blessed, or that, in comparison with it, this life which now we live is most wretched, be it filled with all blessings of body and soul and external things? And yet, if any man uses this life with a reference to that othe”
- Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 63:3: Because thy lovingkindness is better than life,.... For life without the love of God is nothing else than death: a man that has no share in the love of God is dead while he lives; all the enjoyments of life, health, riches, honour, friends, &c. are nothing without the love of God; the meanest temporal blessings with it are preferable to the greatest without it, Pro 15:17; it lasts longer than life, and therefore must be better than that; death cannot separate from it; it continues to all eternity. And that the saints prefer it to this natural life appears by their rea”