Salvation and the Mission of God: Derek Thomas Part 1

Helpful thoughts from Derek Thomas on the order of salvation

The Order of Salvation 
A good starting point in considering the order of salvation, or the application of redemption, is the following definition by Louis Berkhof in his Systematic Theology: “The ordo salutis describes the process by which the work of salvation, wrought in Christ, is subjectively realized in the hearts and lives of sinners. It aims at describing in their logical order, and also in their interrelations, the various movements of the Holy Spirit in the application of the work of redemption.”

As Calvin says at the start of Book 3 of his Institutes, all that Christ has done for us is “useless and of no value” unless it is applied to us. This the Spirit does by his personal representative agent, the Holy Spirit, who, by turns, enlightens us (Eph. 1:17-18), regenerates us (Jn. 3:5-8), leads us into holiness (Rom. 8:14; Gal. 5:16-18), transforms us (2 Cor. 3:18; Gal. 5:22-23), gives assurance (Rom. 8:16) and brings us home (Phil. 1:6). In addition, something of an order is seen in Romans 8:29-30 – what William Perkins famously called “The Golden Chain” – when Paul alludes to the (seemingly) logical order or foreknowledge, predestination, calling, justification, and glorification (despite no mention of sanctification). Read more