Over the years I've come to believe that the reason God has allowed us to remain in the thick of things is that He desires that we be schooled in the fundamentals of co-reigning with Christ. Instead we're left to live on in a world where struggle and strife are the norm. Well, I've come to conclude that He wants us to experience a pruning of sorts so as to produce in us a fruitful life that radiates the fullness of Christ and prepares us for the future when we shall reign with Christ.
Salvation has three components.
When we place faith in Jesus and obey the Gospel, we experience justification . We are instantly regarded as clean and free of the stain of sin and death, having no need to justify ourselves before God for our lives. Our position is as one saved, yet, practically we still may have much to deal with in regard to our old way of life, the residue of which still seeks to cling to us. We're justified before the Lord but often fail in living up to that position. The second component of salvation addresses this dilemma.