The Ordo Salutis, also known as the Order of Salvation, refers to the logical order of events in the application of salvation to the life of a believer. It seeks to explain how God’s grace flows to the elect in a logical and systematic progression. The doctrine emerged during the Protestant Reformation as theologians like John Calvin sought to explain the order and relationship between the various aspects of salvation.
While there is general agreement among Protestants on the major events in the Ordo Salutis, the exact order has been debated throughout church history. There are essentially two main Protestant views – the Logical Order view primarily promoted by Calvinists, and the Chronological Order view held by some Arminians and Wesleyans. Below is an overview of the key events in the Ordo Salutis and the two major perspectives on their logical progression:
Key Events in the Ordo Salutis
Election – God’s choice in eternity past to save certain individuals based solely on His sovereign will and grace, not human merit (Ephesians 1:4-5).
Gospel Call – The outward general call of the gospel inviting all to repent and believe (Matthew 22:14).
Regeneration – Being “born again” by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8).
Conversion – The turning of the whole person from sin toward God in repentance and faith in response to the gospel (Acts 3:19).
Justification – A legal declaration of righteousness before God on the basis of Christ’s righteousness imputed to the believer (Romans 3:21-26).
Adoption – Being made a child of God and an heir with Christ (Romans 8:15-17).
Sanctification – The life-long process of being set apart for God and conformed to the image of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:3-7).
Perseverance – God preserves the believer in grace until the end (John 10:27-30).
Glorification – The final perfection of believers when they see Christ and become like Him (1 John 3:2).
Logical Order View (Calvinist)
The Logical Order view argues that the Ordo Salutis describes a logical progression of salvation from God’s perspective, reflecting the eternal plan and purpose of God. The order is therefore:
1. Election – God’s sovereign choice
2. Gospel Call – Proclamation of the gospel
3. Regeneration – God imparts spiritual life
4. Conversion – Sinner responds in repentance and faith
5. Justification – Declared righteous in Christ
6. Adoption – Become a child of God
7. Sanctification – Lifelong growth in grace
8. Perseverance – Kept by God’s power
9. Glorification – Final perfection in glory
In this view, regeneration precedes faith because fallen humans are dead in sin and inability apart from God’s intervening grace (Ephesians 2:1-5). God must first impart spiritual life through rebirth before someone can exercise faith and repent. Salvation originates in God’s sovereign election, flows down through the application of redemption, and culminates in the glorification of the elect.
Chronological Order View (Arminian and Wesleyan)
The Chronological Order view maintains that the Ordo Salutis describes the actual experience of salvation from the human perspective. The order is therefore:
1. Gospel Call – Hear and understand the gospel
2. Repentance and Faith – Turn from sin and believe in Christ
3. Justification – Declared righteous in Christ
4. Regeneration – Receive new spiritual life
5. Adoption – Become a child of God
6. Sanctification – Process of being made holy
7. Perseverance – Remain in Christ by His grace
8. Glorification – Receive resurrection body
In this view,faith precedes regeneration because humans must freely choose to repent and believe to then be born again by the Spirit. The gospel call enables a free response of the will. Justification and the forgiveness of sins then paves the way for the new birth and transformation by grace. Salvation responds to God’s offer, receives His benefits, and grows into His likeness.
So in summary, the Ordo Salutis refers to the order of salvation – the logical or chronological progression of how grace is applied from election to glorification. Christians agree on the major events but differ on the exact order based on theological systems. The doctrine helps explain the mysterious working of God’s sovereign grace and human responsibility in redemption.
Election in the Ordo Salutis
Election refers to God’s sovereign choice, before the foundation of the world, of those individuals whom He would save and grant eternal life through faith in Christ (Ephesians 1:4-5). This pretemporal election is a gracious act of God alone, not based on any foreseen faith or merit in those chosen. Election is therefore unconditional and certain.
Election features prominently in the Ordo Salutis because it underscores that salvation originates entirely in God’s sovereign will. The doctrine affirms that God is absolutely free and unconstrained in choosing the recipients of His grace. Election also guarantees the success of God’s redemptive plan by ensuring that the elect will ultimately persevere to final salvation.
Those who hold to the logical order view of the Ordo Salutis insist that election must be first. This is because regeneration, faith, and every subsequent aspect of salvation flows from election. God’s eternal choice of certain individuals in Christ is the fountainhead of the application of redemption.
However, those who hold to the chronological view dispute election’s placement at the beginning. They argue that from the human perspective, the conscious experience of salvation begins with hearing the gospel call. Election is therefore a logical rather than temporal priority.
So election’s role in the Ordo Salutis underscores the priority of divine grace, sovereignty, and initiative in redemption. The doctrine provides deep comfort and assurance to believers. Election also promotes humility, worship, and gratitude towards God as the author and perfecter of our salvation.
The Gospel Call in the Ordo Salutis
The gospel call refers to the outward general invitation to all people to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ for salvation. This gospel proclamation offers Christ as the only way of salvation and commands all people everywhere to embrace Him in faith (Acts 17:30).
The gospel call features prominently near the beginning of the Ordo Salutis because it makes salvation possible by presenting the content that must be believed. The call goes out generally to all people as God’s means of bringing the elect to saving faith. The gospel message convicts of sin, presents Christ, and freely invites all to come.
Those holding to the logical order view place the gospel call after election since the decree of election eternally guarantees the effectual call of the elect unto salvation. The general call in time flows from God’s eternal election.
But those holding the chronological view insist that the gospel call logistically must precede regeneration, conversion, and election from a human perspective. The content of the gospel must be understood and responded to for the application of salvation.
The gospel call underscores human responsibility in the Ordo Salutis. Though God is absolutely sovereign in election, salvation is not applied apart from a conscious response to the proclamation of the gospel. The call demonstrates God’s love and sincerity to save all who believe in His Son.
Regeneration in the Ordo Salutis
Regeneration refers to being “born again” by a unilateral act of God in which the Holy Spirit imparts new spiritual life to the elect sinner, enabling repentance and faith (John 3:3-8). This new birth results in a new nature that desires to love and obey God.
The placement of regeneration is one of the most disputed aspects of the Ordo Salutis. In the logical order view, regeneration precedes and enables saving faith since fallen humans are dead in sin and unable to believe apart from divine intervention. But in the chronological view, faith precedes and is the condition for regeneration.
Those who place regeneration after faith argue that the New Testament evidence suggests faith logically precedes new birth (John 1:12-13, Acts 16:14). But those who place it first appeal to the Johannine and Pauline corpus which depicts unbelievers as spiritually dead and in need of resurrection power to believe.
Ultimately, the timing of regeneration underscores the renewal of heart and affections necessary to respond rightly to the gospel. The new birth imparts the spiritual life and repentant faith that allows justification to follow. Regeneration evidences that salvation is a sovereign work of God from start to finish.
Conversion in the Ordo Salutis
Conversion refers to the actual turning of the whole person from sin toward God in repentance and faith in response to the gospel call. This willing turn involves conviction, contrition, trust in Christ, and commitment to follow Him as Lord.
In the Ordo Salutis, conversion marks the conscious human response to the sovereign work of grace. The Spirit grants repentance and faith in regeneration so that conversion follows as the exercise of new spiritual life. Conversion also precedes justification as the instrumental means of being declared righteous.
Some traditions historically equate regeneration and conversion. But modern theological trends distinguish them so that regeneration is solely God’s work in imparting life while conversion is the immediate human response. But almost all traditions agree that conversion pivots on repentance and faith in Christ.
The role of conversion in the ordo salutis highlights the importance of personal decision and voluntary trust in Christ for salvation. Though God elects and imparts life, salvation is not applied without the sinner turning to Christ. Conversion further evidences that saving faith is more than mental assent but a complete reorientation to God.
Justification in the Ordo Salutis
Justification refers to the legal declaration by God in which He pronounces the believing sinner righteous in His sight on account of the righteousness of Christ imputed to them. This vertical act of declaration occurs on the basis of faith alone.
The logically central role of justification in the ordo salutis emphasizes that salvation is fundamentally a judicial act of God. On the ground of Christ’s alien righteousness, God pronounces the ungodly to be righteous in His legal courtroom. Justification is therefore the central blessing that flows from God’s grace through faith.
Most Protestant traditions place justification after conversion since the instrumental cause of justification is repentant faith. But the imputed righteousness received is completely external – the merit of Christ. Justification is the essential transition from being under God’s wrath to accepted as righteous in Christ.
The timing of justification reminds believers that pardon from sin and peace with God all comes through faith in Christ’s redeeming work, not our own goodness. We contribute only the empty hands of faith. Justification further guarantees the security of adoption, sanctification, and final glorification yet to come.
Adoption in the Ordo Salutis
Adoption refers to an act of God’s grace whereby those justified are made partakers of the divine nature as children of God with a legal claim to the full inheritance of the Father. Adoption follows justification in the Ordo Salutis logic.
Through their new union with Christ, the Redeemer, believers are granted the full privileges of sonship by the Father. Adoption underscores that salvation involves not only a verdict but also a change in status and identity. Justification confers righteousness while adoption confers adoption.
Adoption reminds believers of the surpassing privileges now afforded them in Christ – intimacy with God, an inheritance undeserved, the discipline of a loving Father, and the comfort of belonging to His family. Adoption therefore inspires greater assurance of salvation.
The placement of adoption after justification highlights that while justification deals narrowly with the forgiveness of sins, adoption considers the wider implications of being united to Christ. Adoption considers the believer’s changed relationship with the triune God.
Sanctification in the Ordo Salutis
Sanctification refers to God’s gracious work of making the justified believer holy and renewing them after the image of Christ. This inner transformation progresses as the believer utilizes the means of grace God provides to grow.
Sanctification’s logical place later in the Ordo Salutis underscores that inward transformation follows justification. Justification grasps Christ’s righteousness for us while sanctification imparts practical righteousness to us as God renews the believer’s desires.
In the application of redemption, sanctification is the necessary consequence of election (God’s choice to make holy), justification (right legal standing), and adoption (now children called to reflect the Father). Sanctification fulfills God’s purpose in redemption to create a holy people.
Sanctification’s timing also reminds believers that practical holiness and obedience are built on the foundation of our acceptance in Christ through faith. Progress in godliness can only properly motivate out of gratitude for justification, not to earn justification.
Perseverance in the Ordo Salutis
Perseverance of the saints refers to God’s preservation of the justified, adopted, and sanctified believer through all trials until the end. Through sustaining grace, the Spirit keeps the elect from totally or finally falling away from saving faith.
Perseverance is placed late in the Ordo Salutis to underscore that God completes the salvation He begins. Having called, regenerated, justified, and adopted the elect, God also empowers them to endure to the end. This persevering grace flows from election.
Perseverance highlights that the believer’s confidence rests not in personal ability but God’s faithfulness. Our assurance of heaven comes not from our grip on Christ but His sovereign grip on us. Therefore we can have certainty that no true child of God will be lost.
The logical flow of the Ordo Salutis terminates with this glorification of the elect – God’s purpose in choosing them completely fulfilled. They now behold Christ face-to-face and are perfectly conformed to His image. God’s sanctifying work consummated.
So in summary, the various facets of the Ordo Salutis work together to reveal the comprehensive scope of God’s saving work from eternity past to eternity future. The logical order highlights the primacy of divine grace. The chronological order emphasizes the importance of human response. God’s sovereignty and human responsibility interwoven.
