Now we have received spiritual salvation based on the first advent, as verse 11 implies.

We are not yet ultimately saved; we must wait for the blessed hope mentioned in verse 13, which comes at the second advent. The blessed hope is Christ’s “appearing,” which is his physical return stated in the future tense.

Christ’s appearing will let us see him with our eyes; this is the parousia, the moment when physical salvation comes.

The main point to consider in this Titus passage is that God has brought salvation to us today while we wait for ultimate salvation: the future physical appearing of Christ (see Romans 8:11, 23 for the redemption of our body).

“Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what wewillbehasnot yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

—1 John 3:2

Salvation came at Christ’s first appearing and will come again in its ultimate form at the second. We are now God’s children because of the first advent, but we won’t mature until we experience transformation at the second advent—when we shall receive a glorified body.

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,so that in the coming ages^[4] he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”‘

—Ephesians 2:4–7

Notice the Ephesians 2 passage speaks to being “raised” in the past tense, referring to a spiritual resurrection. Later in the passage, there is a switch to the future tense of the “coming ages.” Future timing is based on Ephesians 1:7–14, which refers to the merger of heaven and earth taking place in “the fullness of time.” This is the event at which God will grant us our share in the inheritance of the kingdom of heaven.

The word “raised” in Colossians 3:1–4 (see below) and Ephesians 2:4–7 comes in both instances from a root literally translated as “lifted.” As noted earlier, bodily resurrection is based on a different Greek root, anastasis (to stand up).

It is not hard to differentiate between literal and figurative language when it comes to the resurrection. We receive the gifts of spiritual and physical salvation at different times—now and not yet—but here in the same earthly realm  until the merger of heaven and earth. Passages that speak of being raised or lifted to heaven in a spiritual sense are written in the past or present tense. These state that the Holy Spirit is a seal or guarantee until the second coming; your spirit is kept with Christ in heaven until he comes back to earth at the merger.^[5]

In passages that describe Christ’s physical, visible return to earth (Matthew 24:30), we often find references to our own bodily resurrection (for example, see Job 19:25–27). “Appearing” is used in the future tense in second advent passages mentioned in 2 Thessalonians 2:8, 2 Timothy 4:8, Titus 2:13, Hebrews 9:28, 1 Peter 5:4, and 1 John 3:2. See also Colossians 3 for a description of what will happen when Christ appears.

“If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then youalsowill appear with him in glory.”^[6]