I didn’t hear language until recently both in preaching and in reading of the existence of only two religions, one “do” and the other “done.”  This nice turn of phrase might help someone who thinks salvation is by works.  A popular leader in “new revivalism,” comparable to the label “new Calvinism,” wrote a book titled, “Done.”

In a sense, depending upon the explanation, the “done” versus “do” aphorism is true.  With a different explanation, it can also be false though, and dangerous.  What I read, very often it is.  Many who emphasize “done” and not “do” are wrong, mainly in their watery, pliable definition of “done.”  The ambiguity provides for doctrinal perversion.

It makes good preaching to turn to the words of Jesus, “It is finished” (tetelestai, perfect passive), the work of salvation done by Christ on the cross.  With the popularity of a new and false view of sanctification, many Christian leaders now say that since salvation is done, when you sin, just preach the gospel to yourself, so you won’t feel burdened down by the guilt.  Tetelestai is perfect passive (not to get super Greeky with you), not the aorist tense, completed action.  With the perfect, the work is done, but the results are ongoing.  Jesus works, but His work doesn’t stop working.

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:13, “it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”  He’s not done working in you.  “It is finished,” but the results are ongoing.  How do you know your salvation is done?  Jesus said, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven” (Matthew7:21).  “He that doeth.”  That’s not “done;” that’s “do,” “doeth.”  For the one who is really “done,” he will “do.”  When someone isn’t doing, then his salvation isn’t done.

The work that Jesus does transforms the actual life, not some kind of fanciful, chimerical life, not actually lived.   Some of the “done” people say, Jesus lives it, and you just claim what He did as if it was you.  Some reading this may say that you’re not believing that.  You are when you lump sanctification with justification.  How you know you’re saved is that He keeps saving you.  Evidence.  It shows up.  God provides measurables.

Partly why Jesus’ righteousness doesn’t show up in the the “done ones” is that they did not repent, unless a deconstructed, dumbed down repentance.  They changed their mind about their not trusting in what Jesus did.  They repented of depending on self.  This is the so-called repentance of the Pharisees that diminishes righteousness, what Paul called, ‘establishing your own righteousness and not submitting unto the righteousness of God’ (Romans 10:1-4).

Salvation is “done,” don’t get me wrong.  What does “done” mean?  When God saves someone, He changes him, makes him a new creature (2 Cor 5:17).  Sin doesn’t dominate him any more (Roman 6:14).  The eternal life he possesses is more than a quantity of life, but a quality of life.  The epistle of 1 John says the life of God indwells the done one (1 John 1:1,2, 5:11), what Peter described as partaking of the Divine nature (2 Peter 1:4).

Very often, modern purveyors of “done” mean, even if for only practical purposes, their salvation is all set regardless if they practice sin as a lifestyle.  Any hint that a life is going to change and salvation means “do” and not “done.”  As a consequence of this false view, he becomes cemented in sinning, because he sin with no repercussions.

The apparent, albeit wrong, alternative to “done” says receive salvation through Christ’s death after trying to be a good person and living a righteous life.  A biblical alternative is that salvation isn’t done until the believer is glorified, and when his salvation is truly done, Christ indwells Him and continues saving him.  When God doesn’t indwell someone and transform him, he can only still “do,” except in a dangerous way, fooled in thinking the Lord saved him, when He hasn’t.