Consider this quotation from William B. Evans, Imputation and Impartation: Union with Christ in American Reformed Theology. Studies in Christian Thought (Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2008), 264-65:
ordo salutis
Union with Christ In Caspar Olevianus’ Exposition of the Apostles’ Creed
Since, then, in the Articles of the Faith, which contain a summary of the gospel, Christ the King Himself offers to us that kingdom of His; and since He effectually confederates us to Himself through faith by the power of His Spirit . . . Continue reading →
It’s Here: Muller on Calvin and the Reformed Tradition
This is going to be fun. Anyone who is interested in the history of Reformed theology, in finding out what the classical Reformed authors (of which Calvin was one) actually said, must get to grips with the work of Richard Muller. By . . . Continue reading →
The Underlying Problem In The Study Of Calvin’s Doctrine Of Union
The underlying problem of much of the literature on [union with Christ and ordo salutis] (one might even call it a cottage industry) is the rather massive, highly theologistic, a ahistorical attention given to Calvin’s understanding of the unio in isolation from . . . Continue reading →
Muller on Calvin’s Doctrine of Union with Christ Through Faith
“Calvin’s understanding of union with Christ, as accomplished by the work of the Spirit through faith, was foundational to his soteriological expression from the time of the second edition of his Institutes and the initial publication of his Romans commentary. Given, moreover, . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 21: What is the Order of Regeneration and Faith?
Today’s Heidelcast answers mail on the question of whether it is to the living or to the dead that God gives faith. Dan writes to ask “I believe, at least inferentially, that the Canons of Dort teach that regeneration logically precedes faith. . . . Continue reading →
Muller: Utterly Unwarranted To Conclude Against Ordo Salutis
It is utterly unwarranted, moreover, to conclude from the pedagogical arrangement of the Institutes that Calvin “deliberately subverts any chronological” or other ordering of salvation “by not only putting sanctification first, followed by justification, but by placing predestination last” on the ground . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast 32: D. G. Hart On Union With Christ
The doctrine of union with Christ has been a controversial issue in Reformed circles for several years. On the surface, judging by the older Reformed writers and by the Reformed confessions, it is difficult to see exactly why the doctrine of union . . . Continue reading →
Grace And Election In The Late 90s AD
Let us then draw near to Him with holiness of spirit, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him, loving our gracious and merciful Father, who has made us partakers in the blessings of His elect. For thus it is written, “When . . . Continue reading →
Heidelberg 33: God’s Eternally And Only Begotten Son And His Adopted Sons (4)
In some quarters of the patristic church and widely in the medieval church the line between God as the Creator and humans as the created became blurred. One of the more important but often overlooked accomplishments of the Reformation was to recover . . . Continue reading →
Vermigli On The Causal Relations Among Predestination, Vocation, Justification, And Good Works
It is possible if the effects of predestination are considered together with one another, that one may be the cause of another. But they cannot be the causes of the divine purpose. For calling, which is the effect of predestination, is the . . . Continue reading →
Office Hours: Mike Horton On The Spirit’s Work In The Application Of Redemption
We know that Jesus came to save us. We know that he obeyed for us. We know that he died for us. We know that he was raised for us who believe by grace alone but how do we come into possession . . . Continue reading →
John Murray: Justification Is Still The Article Of The Standing Or Falling Of The Church
This is what is meant when we insist that justification is forensic. It has to do with a judgment given, declared, pronounced; it is judicial or juridical or forensic. The main point of such terms is to distinguish between the kind of . . . Continue reading →
Canons Of Dort (22): The Application Of Redemption Is A Mystery Wrought Through Means
Christians have long struggled to affirm the truth that God saves freely, sovereignly, unconditionally and the truth that he uses means to bring his elect to new life and true faith. During the Middle Ages particularly, the church came to think that . . . Continue reading →
Resources On Union With Christ
The doctrine of union with Christ is an essential part of the Reformed doctrine of the application of salvation to the elect by the Holy Spirit (ordo salutis). In the Westminster Shorter Catechism, Presbyterian Churches say: Q. 30. How doth the Spirit . . . Continue reading →
A Tension That Does Not Exist
There were a number of issues that I might have taken up in my response to Crawford Gribben and Chris Caughey’s essay, “History, Identity Politics, and the ‘Recovery’ of the Reformed Confession” in the volume On Being Reformed which space did not permit. . . . Continue reading →
Marshall: The Moralists Try To Put Us Back Under The Covenant Of Works Because They Do Not Understand The Gospel Mystery Of Sanctification
“[T]hat we must be reconciled to God, and justified by the remission of our sins, and imputation of righteousness, before any sincere obedience to the law; that we may be enabled for the practice of it. They account, that this doctrine tends . . . Continue reading →
Gouge: In The Order Of The Application Of Redemption Justification Precedes Sanctification
Justification in order goeth before sanctification…Sanctification presupposeth justification: they who are sanctified may rest upon it, that they are cleansed and justified. For sanctification is a fruit of justification…Admirable is the comfort, which the Saints in this world reap hereby. For their . . . Continue reading →
Repentance Comes From Faith
Believers Repent, Unbelievers Do Not
The Westminster Shorter Catechism has a helpful, biblically-based definition of repentance: Q. 87. What is repentance unto life? A. Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy . . . Continue reading →
Heidelcast For September 4, 2022: Every Tribe, Tongue, And Nation (15): Third/Fourth Heads Of Doctrine (1)
In this episode Dr Clark continues his series on the the Canons of Dort where we turn to the Third and Fourth Heads of Doctrine on the Application of Redemption by the Spirit to the elect. Synod intentionally repeated themselves in their . . . Continue reading →