Christianity/Ordo Salutis

Subject classification: this is a Christianity resource.

Type classification: this is a lesson resource.

The Ordo Salutis (aka 'Order of Salvation') is a theological organisation of the 'Doctrines of Grace'. It is an organisation that is particularly emphasised within the Reformed theological tradition. This subject provides an overview of the doctrines of Grace and how they related to each other, Soteriology (the doctrine of salvation), and Hamartiology (the doctrine of sin).

Study

Work through the topics at your own pace using the table below to guide your learning.

Concept	Scriptural Reading	Historical Reading
concept	Which Scriptural verse most accurately represent the doctrine?	Which historical reading best summarises the doctrine?

Consider the order of the doctrines, their biblical shape and the various alternatives. What would be the best way to communicate how they unfold logically and experientially?

Outline and Readings

Topic	Concept	Primary Prooftext	Secondary Reading	Hamartiological Question
1.	History	Genesis 3:15	Pilgrim's Progress
2.	The Accomplished and Applied paradigm	Romans 8:29-30	'Order of Application' John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied pages 79-87
3.	Predestination	Romans 8:30		Is there a plan to rescue you from the destiny of sin?
4.	Election	2 Thessalonians 2:13		Does God choose people to be saved from the destruction of sin?
5.	Regeneration	John 3:3		How can a dead man have faith in the living God?
6.	Effectual Calling	1 Peter 2:9	WCF Chapter 10	Can sinners respond to the gospel?
7.	Union with Christ	2 Corinthians 5:17	Westminister Larger Catechism Q56	How does faith save us from sin?
8.	Justification	Zechariah 3:1-10	WCF Chapter 11	If sin makes us bad, how can we become good?
9.	Adoption	John 1:12	Westminister Shorter Catechism Q34	What are the consequences of being rescued from sin?
10.	Sanctification	John 15:1-4	WCF Chapter 13	Are is the destruction of sin undone?
11.	Mortification	Romans 8:12-13	Institutes of Religion 2.3.8	What do we do with residual sin?
12.	Vivification	Philippians 1:21	Institutes of Religion 2.3.8	Is Jesus better than sin?
13.	Persevering	1 Thessalonians 5:23	WCF Chapter 17	How do I know I am saved from sin?
14.	Glorification	1 Corinthians 15:15-53	Westminister Larger Catechism Q87	If sin is no longer my final destination, what is my final destination?
15.	Alternative Orderings		Compare Reformed, Lutheran and Roman Catholic orders
16.	Diagraming	Romans 8:1-17	Tim Challies: Visual Theology Series 'Ordo Salutis'

History

Map from Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan

During the Reformation there was a renewed interest in the 'Doctrines of Grace' especially Justificaiton. As Protestant scholarship matured, other Soteriological doctrines received attention, and the 'Doctrines of Grace' began to coalesce. For example the Westminster Confession of Faith, published in 1647 included explanations of Effectual Calling, Justification, Sanctification and Perservance. Then the Puritan author John Bunyan published in 1678 the Christian allegory Pilgrim's Progress which popularised the concept that salvation was a journey. Later the Latin term Ordo Salutis was coined in the 1700s by Lutheran theologians to "designate the consecutive steps in the work of the Holy Spirit in the appropriation of salvation." The modern Reformed conception of the 'Order of Salvation' was established in 1955 with the publication of Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray.

The Accomplished and Applied paradigm

The various Doctrines of Grace receive varying amounts of Scriptural 'airtime' and theological attention. Furthermore, sometimes Biblical Theology will focus on the work of God and at other times focus on the human response. In order to present the Doctrines of Grace coherently it's necessary to think about them both logically and experientially. Additionally, the doctrines of Grace move towards, flow from and are centred around the Atonement of Jesus. The death and resurrection of Jesus are the central events of Christianity and therefore there should be a clear connection between the Atonement and the Doctrines of Grace. John Murray's accomplished and applied paradigm does that. It will be useful to keep this paradigm in mind as you think about each of the doctrines of Grace individually and then plot their logical and experiential order.

Accomplished	Applied
Atonement	Doctrines of Grace

Applied

The Doctrines of Grace are the application to us of Jesus' Atonement. The Ordo Salutis is focused on the logical and Scriptural sequence of the Doctrines of Grace and John Murray explains why we need a particular Order of Salvation:

When we think of the application of redemption we must not think of it as one simple and indivisible act. It comprises of a series of acts and processes. To mention some, we have calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification. These are all distinct, and not one of these can be definied in terms of the other. Each has its own distinct meaning, function and purpose in the action and grace of God. ... There are good and conclusive reasons for thinking of the various actions of the applications of redemption, some of which have been mentioned, take place in a certain order, and that order has been established by divine appointment, wisdom and grace.

While there is a logical order of consideration there is also a logical order of application. The logical order of consideration is simply the sequence at which each doctrine should be considered. Murray suggests the following logical sequence of consideration. (This is technically what is meant by the Ordo Salutis.)

1. Effectual Calling
2. Regeneration
3. Justification
4. Adoption
5. Sanctification
6. Persverance
7. Union with Christ
8. Glorificaiton

However, as Murry noted above, the Order of Salvation is "a series of acts and processes." This is the logical order of application. Some of the doctrines describe discrete and distinct events while other doctrines describe on-going 'through-themes'. The Diagraming section is an attempt to capture this more dynamic ordering of the Ordo Salutis. (The order of application shouldn't be confused with an individual's personal experience of the Doctrines of Grace, but they will be related.)

Doctrines of Grace

Predestination

Instead of obeying God and eating from the tree life, Adam chose to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and become like God. This act invited destruction into the world because Adam and Eve became like God knowing good and evil. They replaced God with themselves. This action changed history and as a result, Adam and the human race were condemned to destruction. Predestination is the doctrine of a changed destiny. It signals the start of God's plan to rescue a chosen (Doctrine of Election) people. It could be illustrated with a rocket trajectory or red thread because it signals that despite the horror of sin, God has a plan of salvation.

Election

When Adam sinned against God, he choose sin instead of God (Phil). So God gave him and the human-race over (Rom) to destruction. However, the Doctrine of Election describes God's unwarranted mercy in choosing some to save. God's reasoning for choosing some and not all to save, is a mystery. (Rom . 9) This pattern of choosing, begins with Abraham and is demonstrated through the history of Israel. During the ministry of Jesus, a new covenant is made and gentiles are added as equal participants.

Regeneration

Regrowth after forest fire

Regeneration is the progressive work of the Holy Spirit in a person's life, prompting them to respond to the gospel, helping them repent of sin and seek Jesus. This reflects the Spirit's part in the Humiliation of Christ when the Holy Spirit falls upon Jesus during baptism and sends him into the wilderness to be tempted by Satan. Just the Holy Spirit sends Jesus into the desert, the Holy Spirit sends the sinner towards God and works behind the scenes to enable to the application of the other Doctrines of Grace.

Effectual Calling

Effectual Calling is the doctrine of invitation. God does not create automatons but responds to beings who were created with the power to choose, a power highlighted by Adam and Eve's fateful choice in the Garden of Eden. This is where the discussion of human responsibility takes place. God extends an invitation through the proclamation of the gospel and people choose to respond.

Union with Christ

4th century mural of Christ

Belonging to God is a major theme of Scripture. The nation of Israel lives around the temple, in proximity to God's presence and is called to live a distinctive life. However, since Adam, the world has belonged to the "Prince of this world", the Satanic Strongman, aka the ancient serpent. A frequent phrase in the New Testament is "in-Christ" signalling the type of relationship that faith in Jesus creates. Union with Christ is the vehicle through which many of the doctrines of grace take place. Righteousness is imputed to believers because they belong to Christ, their regeneration helps them improve their experience of belonging to Christ through Mortification and Vivification.

Justification

At the centre of the doctrines of Grace is a believer's changed moral status. Adam was expelled from the garden and through his rejection of God became to morally repugnant to enter God's presence. Everyone else is also cloaked in this unrighteousness, until Jesus. The Doctrine of Justification describes how the condemnation of sin is removed from a believer and placed on Jesus and then the believer is given Jesus' righteous status.

Adoption

The doctrine that describes a Christian's new status in relation to God.

Sanctification

The doctrine of Sanctification is a broad concept, that describes both the holy state of a believer, their progressive change over time and is over-arching category for both the doctrines of mortification and vivification.

Mortification

The doctrine that describes the activity of putting sin to death.

Vivification

Seeking the 'Beatific Vision', new knowledge about God and things that strength your faith in Jesus.

Persevering

The doctrine that describes how a believer continues to trust Jesus from their first response to the moment of death.

Glorification

The Doctrine of Glorification is the final triumphant completion of salvation.

Related Topics

Atonement:

Expiation:

Imputation:

Propitiation:

Monogenism:

Repentance:

Redemption:

Synergism:

See Also

• Wikipedia: Ordo salutis