Today I had the joy of telling our church the rich blessings of God’s work in our salvation. It may appear at first to some that salvation is a small thing – oh, so I get to go to heaven, simple. But it is no small thing.
We may think of salvation as being only one act by God – simple. Actually God works in MANY ways to bring the sinner to salvation. “Ordo salutis” or the order of salvation explains the logical order of the many things God does in saving the sinner. Look at this and rejoice. Also, please leave a comment if you have a question about these things. (Go to challies.com to see this graphic and more like it.)
Election God chooses sinners He will save, Ephesians 1:3-4.
Calling God calls the sinner by the Holy Spirit to come to Christ, 2 Timothy 1:9.
Regeneration God makes the spiritually dead sinner alive, Ephesians 2:4-5.
Conversion God converts the sinner into a new creation, 2 Corinthians 5:17.
Justification God gives the sinner the perfect righteousness of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Adoption God makes foul sinners his very own children, Romans 8:15.
Sanctification God changes the believer to be more like Jesus, Romans 8:29.
Perseverance God causes the believer to continue following, Philippians 1:6.
Glorification God, in heaven, makes the believer completely perfect, Romans 8:17.