Theology of Predestination, Part Four

MUSINGS ON THEOLOGY AND PREDESTINATION, PART FOUR

Continued from Part Three

This mystery of our salvation pertains to the so-called “order of salvation.”

Those in the Reformed camp believe that the steps leading to our salvation proceed in this order:
1) election, 2) predestination, 3) gospel call, 4) effectual (or inner) call, 5) regeneration, 6) conversion (including both faith and repentance), 7) justification, 8) sanctification, 9) glorification.

Those in the Arminian camp have a different order: 1) outward call, 2) faith, 3) election based on God’s foreknowledge that a sinner would believe the outward call of the gospel, 4) repentance, 5) regeneration, 6) justification, 7) perseverance, 8) glorification.

The only place in the Bible that I know of where there is an “order of salvation” explicitly enunciated is in Romans 8:28-30. The biblical order is this: 1) divine foreknowledge, 2) predestined, 3) called, 4) justified, 5) glorified. “Foreknowledge” is the key. Clearly, this is not a foreknowledge that a person would believe. Nowhere does the text teach this. Election is not based on God’s foreknowledge about anything in the person. God foreknows a person, and he does this in the sense that he sets his preferential love upon him (Rom. 11:2). Election proceeds from God’s foreknowledge of the person – his preferential love and choice of the person.

Having come to this personal conclusion, you might say this puts me into the Reformed camp. True, but not fully. I prefer to leave mystery where the Bible has mystery. The Bible teaches, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved” (Acts 16:31). From this text I gather that in order to be saved you must believe. That is what Scripture says. Can a person be saved without being regenerated or born again? Can a person be saved without believing? Faith in Christ is required before salvation is granted according to the text.

We are told, “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?” (Rom. 10:14,15). Clearly, man is not a puppet. Man has a responsibility.

I am well aware of the arguments made in defense of the Reformed position of the order of salvation but they depend on logical deduction not explicit biblical teaching.

I would prefer to emphasize what Scripture clearly teaches and joyfully embrace the mysteries which the Word of God reveals. As someone has said, on this side of the Pearly Gates we see a welcoming sign into heaven, “Whosoever will to the Lord may come.” That is biblical (Rev. 22:17). But on the inside of the Pearly Gates is this inscription, “You did not choose me but I chose you.” This is also biblical (Jh. 15:16).

Continued in Part Five