The Order of Salvation

Transcription

1 The Order of Salvation Various theologians have given specific terms to a number of these events, and have often listed them in a specific order in which they believe that they occur in our lives. Such a list of the events in which God applies salvation to us is called the order of salvation and is sometimes referred to by a Latin phrase, ordo salutis which simply means order of salvation. The Order of Salvation 1. Election (God s choice of people to be saved) 2. The gospel call (proclaiming the message of the gospel) 3. Regeneration (being born again) 4. Conversion (faith and repentance) 5. Justification (right legal standing) 6. Adoption (membership in God s family) 7. Sanctification (right conduct of life) 8. Perseverance (remaining a Christian) 9. Death (going to be with the Lord) 10. Glorification (receiving a resurrection body) We should note here that items 2 6 and part of 7 are all involved in becoming a Christian. Numbers 7 and 8 work themselves out in this life, number 9 occurs at the end of this life, and number 10 occurs when Christ returns. 1 Ordo Salutis is the Latin for the order of salvation, which deals with the steps or stages in the salvation of a believer (e.g., election, foreknowledge, predestination, redemption, regeneration, justification, sanctification, glorification see especially Romans 8:29 30). There is disagreement within the church concerning this order and about the causal connections among them. Before discussion, it might be helpful to provide some basic definitions of many of the terms involved: Foreknowledge: God s knowing (in this sense) prior to salvation those who would be saved. Predestination: God s choosing before time all who would be saved. Election: God s choosing of all who would be saved. Regeneration: God s renewing of one s life (not physically, but as opposed to the spiritual death caused by sin) (Titus 3:5). Evangelism: The communication of the gospel by which one can be saved (Matthew 28:19). Faith: Belief and trust in the message of the gospel (Ephesians 2:8 9). 1 Grudem, W. A. (2004). Systematic theology: an introduction to biblical doctrine (pp ). Leicester, England; Grand Rapids, MI: Inter-Varsity Press; Zondervan Pub. House.

2 Conversion: One s turning to God based on the gospel (Acts 26:18). Perseverance: One s continued true belief remaining in the state of salvation (Jude 1:24). Repentance: Changing one s mind from rejection of Christ to faith in Christ (Acts 26:20). Justification: God s freeing of one from the penalty of sin the pronouncement of not guilty on a sinner (Romans 5:9). Sanctification: God s separation of one from the lure of sin (2 Timothy 2:21). Glorification: God s final removal of all sin from the life and presence of one (in the eternal state) (Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17). The debate over ordo salutis is most keenly developed between the Reformed and Arminian systems. In the Reformed tradition, the ordo salutis is: election / predestination, followed by evangelism, regeneration, conversion, justification, sanctification, and glorification.

3 In the Arminian camp, the ordo salutis is: evangelism, followed by faith / election, repentance, regeneration, justification, perseverance, and glorification. These stages may have various distinctions that are not represented here but serve to show the basic differences between the two systems. It should be noted that these need not be conceived as chronological steps many of these stages are seen as distinctions within a single process that all (in one way or another) depend upon the work of God. It is important to realize that the differences are much more than mere labels. One s ordo salutis has as much to do with the cause(s) of salvation itself as it does with salvation stages. For example, the Reformed position has faith as an effect of election rather than a cause of it (as the Arminians have it). Thus, there is a sense in which a person is saved in order to have faith. Where, then, should blame be laid if a person does not believe? The Arminian position has the believer responsible for whether or not God saves him, and thus a person must persevere to the end before he can be assured of salvation. What does this say about a believer s security? These and many other questions are dependent upon the ordo salutis for their answers, and it is thus important that a believer understands from which perspective those answers are given. 2 2 Got Questions Ministries. (2010). Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

4 Calvinism vs. Arminianism Which View Is Correct? Calvinism and Arminianism are two systems of theology that attempt to explain the relationship between God s sovereignty and man s responsibility in the matter of salvation. Calvinism is named for John Calvin, a French theologian who lived from Arminianism is named for Jacobus Arminius, a Dutch theologian who lived from Both systems can be summarized with five points. 1. Calvinism holds to the total depravity of man: Total depravity states that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin; therefore, human beings are unable to come to God on their own accord. Arminianism holds to partial depravity: Partial depravity states that every aspect of humanity is tainted by sin, but not to the extent that human beings are unable to place faith in God of their own accord. Note: classical Arminianism rejects partial depravity and holds a view very close to Calvinistic total depravity. 2. Calvinism includes the belief that election is unconditional: Unconditional election is the view that God elects individuals to salvation based entirely on His will, not on anything inherently worthy in the individual. Arminianism believes in conditional election: Conditional election states that God elects individuals to salvation based on His foreknowledge of who will believe in Christ unto salvation, thereby on the condition that the individual chooses God. 3. Calvinism sees the atonement as limited: Limited atonement is the belief that Jesus only died for the elect. Arminianism sees it as unlimited: Unlimited atonement is the belief that Jesus died for all, but that His death is not effectual until a person receives Him by faith. Note - This is the most controversial of the five points. 4. Calvinism includes the belief that God s grace is irresistible: Irresistible grace argues that when God calls a person to salvation, that person will inevitably come to salvation. Arminianism says that an individual can resist the grace of God: Resistible grace states that God calls all to salvation, but that many people resist and reject this call. 5. Calvinism holds to perseverance of the saints: Perseverance of the saints refers to the concept that a person who is elected by God will persevere in faith and will not permanently deny Christ or turn away from Him.

5 Arminianism holds to conditional salvation: Conditional salvation is the view that a believer in Christ can, of his/her own free will, turn away from Christ and thereby lose salvation. Note many Arminians deny conditional salvation and instead hold to eternal security. So, in the Calvinism vs. Arminianism debate, who is correct? It is interesting to note that in the diversity of the body of Christ, there are all sorts of mixtures of Calvinism and Arminianism. There are five-point Calvinists and five-point Arminians, and at the same time three-point Calvinists and two-point Arminians. Many believers arrive at some sort of mixture of the two views. Ultimately, it is my view that both systems fail in that they attempt to explain the unexplainable. Human beings are incapable of fully grasping a concept such as this. Yes, God is absolutely sovereign and knows all. Yes, human beings are called to make a genuine decision to place faith in Christ unto salvation. These two facts seem contradictory to us, but in the mind of God they make perfect sense. 3 3 Got Questions Ministries. (2010). Got Questions? Bible Questions Answered. Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.