Things New and Old: Some comments on the Calvinist's Order of Salvation

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, March 8, 2023

Some comments on the Calvinist's Order of Salvation

March 8, 2018

Mr Joel, a Calvinist stated this:

Progressive Sanctification is not conversion. It is true that Definite sanctification takes place during Regeneration but they are not one and the same. Conversion is the direct effect of Regeneration. In the Ordo Salutis, Conversion logically takes place right after Regeneration but that is [a] logical priority and should not be understood chronologically. Whenever there is regeneration then conversion takes place.

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Few OBVIOUS errors here:

1. Progressive sanctification is conversion.
- Since conversion is a lifelong process beginning with the initial conversion to Christ through the gospel ministry and goes on till the last breath of a child of God. No conversion, no ongoing sanctification!

2. Definitive sanctification does not take place during regeneration.
- Regeneration takes place at definitive sanctification. Regeneration is ONE PART of the definitive sanctification by God's free grace at effectual calling, i.e. God's act of calling an elect who is in his native state of condemnation, death, and alienation to that state of grace and salvation in Jesus Christ. Calling one that is condemned, dead and alienated to grace and salvation in Jesus Christ necessarily requires JUSTIFICATION, REGENERATION, and ADOPTION. Without these necessary divine activities, one is not in the state of grace and salvation.

3. "Conversion logically takes place right after Regeneration".
- Wrong. Conversion takes place after regeneration - that is the correct chronological order. BUT it is PLAIN WRONG to say that conversion takes place RIGHT AFTER regeneration. Look at Cornelius. His conversion took place after the gospel ministered by Peter. But Cornelius was obviously regenerated long before Peter came to the scene. His devout life of prayers and works of righteousness, and acceptance with God, are indisputable evidence that Cornelius was regenerated long before, not just right before his conversion!

4. "Whenever there is regeneration then conversion takes place."
- Plain wrong too. Some regeneration is never accompanied by conversion through the gospel ministry. Some of God's children are incapable of being reached by the gospel ministry.

SO ALSO there are God's justified people who are incapable of being reached with the gospel and therefore not justified by their faith. But everyone is justified by the free grace of God in effectual calling. This alone ensures that the promised salvation is SURE to every elect.

FOUR popular errors in one short paragraph...

PHEW! And you are a Calvinistic teacher in Israel! I tremble!