One of the biggest problems with evangelical (Reformation-based) theology is that no one considers whether “saved” or “salvation” can mean more than one thing. This despite the fact that the apostle Paul wrote:

Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we will be saved from God’s wrath through him. For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we will be saved by his life. (Rom. 5:9-10)

“We were reconciled,” but “we will be saved from God’s wrath.” Being reconciled to God is what we evangelicals generally call “being saved.” Yet Paul says “much more then,” if we are justified and reconciled, we will be saved from wrath through Jesus and “his life.”

What is this second salvation?

The people I meet in churches and Bible studies diligently guard themselves against assigning too much importance to the judgment by works mentioned in 2 Corinthians 5:10. It’s not central to their thoughts because, obviously, works have nothing to do with salvation … and by salvation they mean both the reconciliation to God we have already received and the salvation from wrath that Paul says is in the future. The past-tense, future-tense distinction in Romans 5:9-10 is not important to them because “works have nothing to do with any salvation.”

The problem is that someone forgot to train Jesus, Paul, and–of course–James in evangelical theology concerning the future salvation Paul mentioned in Romans 5:9-10, salvation from wrath:

Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man (who is an idolater), has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes on the children of disobedience. Therefore don’t be partakers with them. (Eph. 5:5-7)

I highlighted the words that express the importance of what Paul is saying here. If you did not process the actual important message, though, go back and read the words in normal type. Doesn’t it sound like works may have something to do with that future salvation?

In case it helps, I am going to point out that many of the pastors I listen to, and even some of my friends, like to say, “We will only be judged by the good works we have done, and only for rewards.” Paul said though,”… according to what he has done, whether good or bad” in 2 Corinthians 5:10.

I’m going to leave you with two last things here: 1. Peter’s response to the judgment; and 2. the caveat on God’s mercy I now put in all my posts like this.

Peter’s Response to the Coming Salvation from Wrath

1 Peter 1:17 says:

If you call on him as Father, who without respect of persons judges according to each man’s work, pass the time of your living as foreigners here in reverent fear.

Let’s talk about the phrase “reverent fear” in the translation I use, the World English Bible. The Greek word there just means “fear.” “Reverent” is added by the translator. It is true that fear can be crippling, and there is no good to be had in cowering from God. All true fear should drive you toward God, not away from him. John Bevere has an excellent video on the true fear of God. All of us who have experienced it the way Bevere describes know this is the true fear of God.

Nonetheless, I would be doing what so many others do, leaving truth out they don’t think you can handle, if I did not tell you that “fear” in the New Testament involves not only being scared enough to do something, but even trembling. Paul says we are to work out our salvation with “fear and trembling” in Philippians 2:12. I am certain he means the same thing Peter does in 1 Peter 1:17.

More generally, the Holy Spirit says through Isaiah, “I will look to this man, even to him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at my word” (Isa. 66:2). 

Caveat: God’s Mercy

To put it simply God is merciful deep down in his very nature. He announces to Moses that he is …

a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger, and abundant in loving kindness and truth, ⁷ keeping loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and disobedience and sin … (Ex. 34:6-7)

It is true that the next line says that he will by no means clear the guilty, but by “guilty” he means those who do not fear him, do not hate evil, and who just continue in their wickedness. Even then he is always hoping the wicked will repent and become righteous (Ez. 18:20-24; 2 Pet. 3:9). He does not want the wicked to die (same verses).

Psalm 136 tells us 26 times that God’s lovingkindness endures forever. When Jehoshaphat put singers in front of his army on the way to battle, they sang, “God’s lovingkindness endures forever.” In the middle of Jeremiah’s great lament over the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jews’ captivity in Babylon, he wrote:

This I recall to my mind; therefore I have hope. It is because of Yahweh’s loving kindnesses that we are not consumed, because his mercies don’t fail. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness. “Yahweh is my portion,” says my soul. “Therefore I will hope in him.” Yahweh is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that a man should hope and quietly wait for the salvation of Yahweh. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. (Lam. 3:21-27)