May 6, 2008

More Ordo Salutis Problems

MURRAY’S ORDO

1. Effectual Calling (Work of Spirit Drawing the Elect)
2. Regeneration (New Birth)
3. Faith (Turning to God, trust in Christ)
4. Repentance (Turning from sin to God)
5. Justification (Right legally before God)
6. Adoption (Brought into the family of God)
7. Sanctification (Ongoing Renewal into the likeness of Christ)
8. Perseverance (Remaining, steadfast in the faith)
9. Glorification (Transformed into the image of Christ)

What is wrong with this chronology? Is this a strict chronology? One that is universal in all the saved?

If we take it as a step by step, stage by stage, process, then we would have to say after #1, yet before #2, that a man can be "effectually called" and still not be "regenerated," or "born again"!

Also, we would have to say after #2, yet before #3, that a man is "regenerated" and "born again" and yet still faithless, impenitent, and not yet justified, adopted, nor sanctified!

BERKHOF’S ORDO

1. Calling
2. Regeneration
3. Conversion (Repentance/Faith)
4. Justification
5. Sanctification
6. Perseverance
7. Glorification

What is wrong with this chronology? Is this a strict chronology? One that is universal in all the saved?

First, as previously said, if we take it as a step by step, stage by stage, strict chronological process, as given above by Berkhof, then a person could be said to be "called" who is not yet regenerated, converted, justified, sanctified, nor yet a believer and a penitent! Again, if we take this as a strict step by step process, then we would have, per Berhof's model, a person who is "converted" but not yet "justified" nor "sanctified"!

The truth is, a man who is born again, is also a man who is regenerated, converted, sanctified, justified, called to life, re-created and renewed, believing, and penitent and obedient.

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