The order of events in one's salvation.("ordo salutis")

[Cygnus]

What is the order ("ordo salutis") of events in one's salvation?

Does it go faith, repentance, regeneration, belief, justification, sanctification...

Or does it go regeneration, justification, faith, repentance, sanctification...

Or does it go repentance, faith, Justification, sanctification...

How does it fit with Romans 8:29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified

Do any of the events pertaining to salvation happen simultaneously?

Thoughts?

 

[Jim Parker]

I think it goes belief, repentance and then God does the rest any way he pleases.

 

[Hospes]

One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul. (Acts 16:14 ESV)
​

Given this verse, what heading does "The Lord opened her heart..." fall? If there were a step called "illumination", I'd pick it as step #1.

 

[for_his_glory]

There are five requirements to Salvation

1. Confession - Acts 2:21; Romans 10:9, 10 - I am a sinner

2. Repentance - Mark 1:14, 15 - I am sorry for my sins

3. Faith - John 3:14-18 - I believe in whom Jesus said he was

4. Regeneration - John 3:3-8 - a renewal/rebirth of the inner man

5. Holy Scripture - 2 Timothy 3:15

 

[Cygnus]

I think God regenerates you.....and at the same time you believe and repent.

Basically, God saves us....and the rest happens.

 

[for_his_glory]

In a sense everything pretty much happens at the timing of our confession

 

[Christ_empowered]

I think there's (understandably) some disagreement here. I just got through skimming some RC Sproul, and he's pretty adamant that regeneration precedes faith. I don't know what happens after that, lol.

 

[Cygnus]

I think there's (understandably) some disagreement here. I just got through skimming some RC Sproul, and he's pretty adamant that regeneration precedes faith. I don't know what happens after that, lol.

The bottom line is this...it really doesn't matter how we are saved....the order.
I think many get it wrong when they think they have a part in their salvation. I agree with RC Sproul.

 

[smaller]

1 Corinthians 12:3
Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost.

I believed before I confessed my faith to others. I knew that Jesus had entered my heart, the instant I believed. I refuse to credit myself for His entry because it would not be truthful. I really was "blind" and then I saw. I did not cure my own spiritual blindness. That much is certain.

 

[Hospes]

In a sense everything pretty much happens at the timing of our confession

Do you think anything leads you to confession, i.e precedes confession?

 

[Habak]

Before Regeneration
1Co 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
then
Regeneration

1Co 12:3 Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says "Jesus is accursed!" and no one can say "Jesus is Lord" except in the Holy Spirit.

 

[for_his_glory]

Do you think anything leads you to confession, i.e precedes confession?

Yes, what leads us is the Holy Spirit that works through Gods servants proclaiming Gods plan of Salvation, John 3:3-6; Romans 10:9,10, to all who have ears to hear what the Spirit of God is speaking. John 5:24; 6:44; 1Corinthians 2:9,10.

 

[for_his_glory]

I think there's (understandably) some disagreement here. I just got through skimming some RC Sproul, and he's pretty adamant that regeneration precedes faith. I don't know what happens after that, lol.

Faith even though it is weak at first at the time of repentance comes before regeneration as it takes faith the size of a mustard seed to believe and when we start to believe and confess we are sinners needing Gods grace then regeneration takes place and we are given the indwelling Holy Spirit that teaches us all things. Hebrews 11:1; John 14:26. Just because someone is adamant about something does not make it true as one has to rightly divide the word of God as we discern those spirits that speak, 1John 4:1-6.

 

[Habak]

Faith even though it is weak at first at the time of repentance comes before regeneration ...

May we take it that this is without scriptural support and does not take precedence over the spiritual ability of the natural man as declared in 1Cor. 2:14 quoted above.

 

[Malachi]

I think there's (understandably) some disagreement here. I just got through skimming some RC Sproul, and he's pretty adamant that regeneration precedes faith. I don't know what happens after that, lol.

If regeneration precedes faith, and if faith is a condition for salvation, and if God wants ALL men to be saved, then that means that the whole world must be regenerated, which means that the whole world will be saved. Since that is Universalism, the first premise is false. Honesty about this issue is critical.

Regeneration cannot possibly precede faith. Only those who repent and believe, receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, and it is only upon receiving Him that a sinner is born again (a supernatural birth). It is the Holy Spirit who regenerates and renews.

But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared, Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Titus 3:4-7).

The moment a sinner believes he is justified.
The moment he is justified he receives the Holy Spirit.
The moment he receives the Spirit he is born again.
The moment he is born again he receives eternal life.

 

[Malachi]

May we take it that this is without scriptural support and does not take precedence over the spiritual ability of the natural man as declared in 1Cor. 2:14 quoted above.

This passage must not be taken out of context and applied to the Gospel. The natural man does not understand the deeper truths of God, but the natural man can respond to the fact that Christ died for His sins and that he must repent and be converted and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.

 

[eddif]

Job 14:17
My transgression is sealed up in a bag, and thou sewest up mine iniquity.

Said another way.

I Peter 2:24
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

Then we might look at the new birth.
Job 17:14
I have said to corruption, Thou art my father: to the worm, Thou art my mother, and my sister.

We use the great commission to see:
repentance in agony of sin
belief in Christ to glory
empowerment of Holy Spirit to witness
final resurrection to eternity forever

I leave this a little mystical for now.

eddif

 

[Christ_empowered]

OK...when The Bible says "all men," does it mean "all" in the same way we modern people do when we say all men/all people? This isn't a trick question or anything, I'm genuinely curious.

 

[for_his_glory]

May we take it that this is without scriptural support and does not take precedence over the spiritual ability of the natural man as declared in 1Cor. 2:14 quoted above.

I gave scripture for this in post #4 and will also say if regeneration proceeds faith than we would be born again independent of faith, which makes this a false teaching. Grace is through faith, not of our self as it would make Gods free gift of grace void in our life, Ephesians 2:8

If regeneration comes before faith that would mean you would become a new creation in Christ and have not yet come to the place where you have put your trust in Christ, 1 Corinthians 1:28-31; Galatians 2:20. How can we be justified by faith at the beginning if faith is not there first to believe and then be justified by grace, Romans 5:8-21. If there was no repentance or surrender at first then there was no acknowledging we were even a sinner needed saved by grace.

 

[Christ_empowered]

I think regeneration precedes faith fits the Calvinist theme of being "dead in our trespasses" (can be used to line up w/ total depravity) and then regenerated by The Holy Spirit and made able and willing to respond to God's call to faith. Or...that's my take on it.