Things New and Old

Ancient truths revealed in the Scriptures are often forgotten, disbelieved or distorted, and therefore lost in the passage of time. Such ancient truths when rediscovered and relearned are 'new' additions to the treasury of ancient truths.

Christ showed many new things to the disciples, things prophesied by the prophets of old but hijacked and perverted by the elders and their traditions, but which Christ reclaimed and returned to His people.

Many things taught by the Apostles of Christ have been perverted or substituted over the centuries. Such fundamental doctrines like salvation by grace and justification have been hijacked and perverted and repudiated by sincere Christians. These doctrines need to be reclaimed and restored to God's people.

There are things both new and old here. "Consider what I say; and the Lord give thee understanding in all things"
2Ti 2:7.

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

The Order of Salvation



The Order of Salvation

https://www.facebook.com/notes/10217725639988230
Mar 25, 2011

1. It is helpful to separate the various elements in the order into DISTINCT and LOGICAL categories:
- Redemption purposed...
- Redemption accomplished...
- Redemption applied...
- Redemption experienced...
- Redemption glorified...

2. In the redemption purposed, there are:
- Election by the Father...
- Foreknowledge...
- Predestination by the Father...
- Christ appointed as their Mediator...
- etc etc.

3. In the redemption accomplished:
- Incarnation, the eternal Word made flesh, perfect sinless life, substitutionary death, resurrection, etc
- LEGAL justification: all the sins of all that God the Father has given to Christ, were imputed to Christ, and Christ suffered for them fully; Christ righteousness was imputed to each and every one of them - whose names had been written in the Book of Life before the foundation of the world. (I know you will jump and rave at this... let me just remind you that the condemnation of sin in Adam's sin was EVEN SO / SIMILARLY imputed to all he represented at the fall.)
- JUSTIFICATION BY BLOOD is different from JUSTIFICATION BY GRACE and is different from JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH... See the dazzling multifaceted jewel called 'justification' unfolds...

4. In the redemption applied:
- It is HERE that sinners become PERSONALLY affected. What was LEGAL for the whole elect is now APPLIED personally to each individual.
- When redemption is applied upon an individual, he is dead in trespasses and sins. He is in enmity against God. He is ungodly. He is a child of wrath. He is a rebel, etc. In such state, the sinners ACTED UPON by God's act of applying eternal salvation is ABSOLUTELY PASSIVE. They are utterly unable to aid or cooperate or assist in the application of accomplished redemption to them PERSONALLY.
- When redemption is applied, God FREELY and EFFECTUALLY calls a sinner who is by nature in the state of SIN and DEATH to that which is GRACE and SALVATION. It must be FREELY - if there is any condition imposed, it would be disastrous, none could ever be met.
- In effectually calling a sinner out of the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation, God by His free and sovereign grace and power must execute these gracious acts - in these exact number and LOGICAL ORDER.
- Justification to remove the condemnation... by APPLYING the righteousness of Christ to the individual elect personally. This JUSTIFICATION BY GOD'S GRACE gives divine warrant for the Holy Spirit to regenerate an elect dead in trespasses and sins.
- Regeneration to remove the deadness, and bring the justified to eternal life.
- Adoption of the regenerated to remove the alienation, and bring him into the family of God...
- Giving of the Spirit of adoption to dwell in the child of God, who works all the saving graces in them.
- All these, i.e. justification by grace, regeneration, adoption, and the bestowal of the Holy Spirit to dwell in the child of God happen in that LOGICAL ORDER, but chronologically, they are simultaneous.
- Effectual calling out of the state of sin and death to that of grace and salvation is an instantaneous and gracious and FREE act of God, and involves all the able distinct divine acts.
- One who is effectually called by God is fully and perfectly FITTED for eternal glory... Nothing more is needed for eternal glory.
- God sovereignly applies redemption to each and every one whom He gave to His Son, and for whom Christ died to redeem.
- This is ETERNAL SALVATION... by God's free grace PLUS nothing.

5. In redemption experienced and evidenced:
- One who is effectually called is enabled by the Holy Spirit working in him the manifold graces of salvation, including the grace of faith and repentance, works of righteousness, fear of God. Behold Cornelius, the Ethiopian eunuch, the devout Jews on the day of Pentecost, etc, etc...who were converted.
- When such a one is reached with the gospel ministry, he is able to respond to the gospel ministry. The gospel truth is ALREADY true of him... God has freely applied redemption to him. When he believes, his faith EVIDENCES the redemption that has been applied to him by God's free and sovereign grace. When he believes, his EXPERIENCES in a most personal way the love of God in Jesus Christ for him...
- The gospel ministry is absolutely important for his WELL-BEING as a child of God. The gospel ministry plays ABSOLUTELY no role in his BEING as a child of God.
- The gospel ministry INSTRUCTS and INFORMS and EDIFIES and NOURISHES a child of God.
- The gospel ministry does not play any role in giving eternal life to a sinner... But it is absolutely needful for their well-being, for their TEMPORAL SALVATION here and now in this life on earth.
- Each of God's children by His free and sovereign grace, experiences and evidences a VASTLY different degree of benefits from the gospel ministry. Some have none... others have little... still others have husk feed to them... some are well nourished under faithful gospel ministry...
- Whether more or less or none, each and every one of them is perfectly fitted for eternal glory by God's free and sovereign grace because of the effectual call.

6. In redemption glorified/consummated
- You fill in the blank... if you can... it is too wonderful for me too express it in words.

This is the only order of salvation I have learned from the Scriptures. This is not to deny that men have come up with many DIS-orders <grin>.

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Some comments

Michael Gowens
I sing the praises of Sing's Ordo Salutis! 🙂

Khai S. Ng
Praise God for his wondrous truths summarized by our beloved Pastor Sing F Lau as they are revealed to us in this truthless generation. A believer who is convicted of such truths and experiences the peace of God's redemption yet lives a puffed-up, stiff-necked life of pride is clearly an oxymoron. May God grant us mercy to act upon his truths...

Mark Thomas
Wonderful statement! Amen and Amen!

Gene Thomas
By all means, make a copy of Sing's article and share it with as many as you can. It is worth reading and re-reading.

Michael Lim
Thank you, Lord, for being merciful in showing us the truth we are not privileged to have in the first place. May we continue to live godly lives as we continue to seek You in spirit and truth l.

Bill Taylor
Powerful! Truth! Consolation! Thank you Brother Sing. Please continue to set the Gospel table with such rich food!

Sing F Lau
Truth is stranger than fables!

What is treasured as truth is despised by many 'reformed' people as rank heresy on the Monergism group.

< 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth and shall be turned unto fables.>

Fables are mistaken and embraced and defended as truth!

4:1 ¶ I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom; 
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;
4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Mark Thomas
The time has come and long since come for "itching ears". God spare us from the "fables".

Michael Lim
I once asked my younger brother about the word "sound doctrine" but he is not aware and it doesn't strike him there... I understand charismatic churches are loving...i appreciate the love there, but there is not much truth together also...fables are indeed scary! It brings u away from the truth, no use loving if not accompanied by the truth...

Mark Thomas
Just lovingly instruct your Brother. Perhaps he will come to understand Bro. Lim.

Mark Thomas
I do agree that if not accompanied by truth by Divine means first, such efforts will fail.

Dallas Eaton II
Amen Brother Sing. Amen.

Dallas Eaton II
Sharing this on my FB and other places as well.