Note 9 at Gal. 1:4: Notice that Paul did not say Jesus gave Himself for our sins to deliver us from the evil world to come. He said this present evil world. That means that our salvation is effectual in this life too, not just the one to come. Some people have relegated all the benefits of salvation to, "When we all get to Heaven." But that's not so. Through the atonement of Jesus, we have been delivered from sickness (see note 2 at Mt. 8:17, p. 119), poverty (see note 5 at 2 Cor. 8:9, p. 1020), and demonic control (Lk. 10:19), as well as sin, in this present life. To the degree we believe that, we will begin to experience the physical benefits of our salvation in the "rough now and now," not just in the "Sweet by and by."

The same Greek word for "deliver" (EXAIREO-ex-ahee-reh-o) is used in Acts 12:11 for Peter's deliverance out of the hand of Herod (Acts 12:1-11) and also in Acts 23:27 of Paul's rescue and narrow escape from death by the hands of the Jews (Acts 21:20-36). The point is that the gospel of grace is a "rescue" and "deliverance" out of the hand of sin (Rom. 6:6; 8:2). The gospel has been given to set us free so that we do not have to live like unsaved people do in this present "evil age." This is God's will for all His children (see note 10 at this verse).

Note 10 at Gal. 1:4: It is God's will to deliver us from this present evil world (see note 9 at this verse). The Lord didn't save us from our sins so we could be "saved and stuck" until we go to heaven. He made provision for our success in this life as well as the one to come. This verse makes it very clear that is God's will for us to prosper, in spirit, soul, and body (Ps. 35:27).