Condensed Theology Lecture 29

8/6/2019 Condensed Theology Lecture 29

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Condensed Theology

A Primer in Systematic Theology


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Soteriology:

The Doctrine of Salvation

What does the Bible teach about

salvation?


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The Ordo Salutis

The Order of Salvation


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The Ordo Salutis

That there is such nomenclature impliesthat we can (or believe we can) discernfrom Scripture an order to the application

of redemption.

Rom 8:30: and these whom Hepredestined, He also called; and these whom

He called, He also justified; and these whomHe justified, He also glorified.


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The Ordo Salutis

Romans 8:30 appears to be preserving for us asequence in the application of redemption First, we are predestined. Second, we are called.

Third, we are justified. Fourth, we are glorified.

We discern that there is a sequence not onlyfrom the ordering of the four elements of

salvation, but also according to how eachelement is understood by Paul. For example, by definition predestination precedes

calling, justification, and glorification.


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The Ordo Salutis

From the rest of the New Testament we see thefollowing aspects of the application of redemption inorder: Election

Predestination Effectual Calling

Regeneration

Faith

Repentance

Justification Adoption

Sanctification

Glorification


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The Ordo Salutis

The order should not be understoodstrictly chronologically;

Instead, it should be understood as thelogical ordering of the different aspects ofsalvation.


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The Ordo Salutis

There are some elements that are bothlogically and chronologically priorto/following others (e.g. election and

predestination precede faith andrepentance).


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The Ordo Salutis

There are other elements that cannot be relatedto one another in terms of chronology; yet theyrelate to one another in a logical sequence (e.g.

regeneration and faith). Gods act of causing us to be born again involves

applying the gift of faith to the individual such that heor she inevitably and invariably believes. Thus they

are inseparable. At the same time, since a new heart (being born

again) is required to exercise faith we can say thatregeneration logically precedes faith.


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Union with Christ

The Central and Organizing Motif

of the Ordo Salutis


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Review

Primordial Union with Christ

Election &

Predestination


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Temporal Union with Christ

The Outworking in Timeof Gods

Predestinating Purposes


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Rom 16:7: Greet Andronicus and Junias,my kinsmen and my fellow prisoners, whoare outstanding among the apostles, who

also were in Christ before me. The in Christ relationship has a

primordial, or pre-temporal aspect (as welearned in our last lesson),

But it also has a temporal, in time aspect,which explains Rom 16:7.


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What this means is that although you wereunited with Christ (in Christ) before time

began,

It is also true that you entered into unionwith Christ after time began, at a pointduring your lifetime.


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The Initiating Acts of God


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Initiating Acts of God

Calling

Regeneration

These are the acts of God and God alone bywhich his predestinating purposes begin totake effect in the lives of his elect.


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Calling

Also called, Effective Calling,

Effectual Calling, Inward Call,and/or Irresistible Grace


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Calling

Rom 8:30: and these whom He predestined, Healso called; and these whom He called, He also

justified; and these whom He justified, He alsoglorified.

This verse is the reason why Gods call tosalvation is referred to as his Effectual Call.

All those he has called are certainly justified.

Therefore calling is an act of God thatguarantees a response on the part of the onebeing called.


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Calling

Gods Effectual Call

Rom 1:6: among whom you also are the called ofJesus Christ.

1 Cor 1:9: God is faithful, through whom you werecalled into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ ourLord.

1 Thess 2:12: so that you would walk in a manner

worthy of the God who calls you into His ownkingdom and glory.

1 Pet 2:9: [He] has called you out of darkness intoHis marvelous light.


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Calling

Examples of Gods Effectual Call

Acts 16:14: A woman named Lydia, from thecity of Thyatira, a seller of purple fabrics, a

worshiper of God, was listening; and the Lordopened her heart to respond to the thingsspoken by Paul.

John 11:1-44


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Calling

Matt 22:14: For many are called, but feware chosen.

This verse is the reason why we use the

words effectual or effective with respect

to the calling that Paul treats in Rom 8:30.

This call of God (through the preaching ofthe gospel) is often referred to as thegeneral or outward call.


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Calling

Gods General Call

Acts 17:30-31: Therefore having overlookedthe times of ignorance, God is now declaring

to men that all people everywhere shouldrepent, because He has fixed a day in whichHe will judge the world in righteousnessthrough a Man whom He has appointed,having furnished proof to all men by raisingHim from the dead.


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Calling

Gods General Call

2 Cor 5:20: Therefore, we are ambassadorsfor Christ, God making his appeal through us.

We implore you on behalf of Christ, bereconciled to God.

Rev 22:17: The Spirit and the bride say,"Come." And let the one who hears say,

"Come." And let the one who is thirsty come;let the one who wishes take the water of lifewithout cost.


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Calling

The outward call of the gospel is theinstrument by which the Lord makes hisinward summons.

In the preaching of the gospel, the electhear the Shepherds voice and respondappropriately. John 10:27-28: My sheep hear My voice, and

I know them, and they follow Me; and I giveeternal life to them, and they will never perish;and no one will snatch them out of My hand.


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Calling

1 Pet 1:23: for you have been born again notof seed which is perishable but imperishable,that is, through the living and enduring word ofGod.

Jas 1:18: In the exercise of His will He broughtus forth by the word of truth, so that we would bea kind of first fruits among His creatures.

2 Thess 2:14: It was for this He called youthrough our gospel, that you may gain the gloryof our Lord Jesus Christ.


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Calling

Since it is in the preaching of the gospelthat the elect hear their Shepherds voiceand respond appropriately,

We can say that where there is effectivecalling there is also necessarily outwardcalling.

But the opposite does not obtain; forwhere there is outward calling there is notnecessarily effective calling.


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Calling

Outward Call

Many are called, but few arechosen.

The preaching of the gospel:Repent and believe.

Can be resisted by the hearer.

Not necessarily simultaneouswith salvation (i.e. you canhear the outward call and fail

to be saved).

Effectual Call

Those whom he called hejustified.

Heard inthe preaching of thegospel: Repent and believe.

Cannot be resisted by thehearer.

Simultaneous with salvation(i.e. you cannot hear theoutward call and fail to be

saved).


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Regeneration


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Regeneration

Titus 3:5: He saved us, not on the basisof deeds which we have done inrighteousness, but according to His mercy,

by the washing of regeneration andrenewing by the Holy Spirit.


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Regeneration

John 3:3: Jesus answered and said tohim, Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one

is born again he cannot see the kingdom

of God.

John 3:7: Do not be amazed that I said toyou, You must be born again.


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Regeneration

Being born again is totally and solely anact of God with no cooperation on our part.

This is true logically (by virtue of the metaphor

itself)

And more importantly, it is true biblically.


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Regeneration

Biblically, regeneration is set forth as a divineand unilateral act.

John 3:8: The wind blows where it wishes and you

hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comesfrom and where it is going; so is everyone who is bornof the Spirit.

John 1:12-13: But as many as received Him, to themHe gave the right to become children of God, even tothose who believe in His name, who were born, not ofblood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man,but of God.


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Regeneration

Regeneration is Gods act of causing a person tocome to life that he or she will certainly respondto the gospel with saving faith.

1 Pet 1:3-5: Blessed be the God and Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to Hisgreat mercy has caused us to be born again to aliving hope through the resurrection of JesusChrist from the dead, to obtain an inheritancewhich is imperishable and undefiled and will notfade away, reserved in heaven for you, who areprotected by the power of God through faith for asalvation ready to be revealed in the last time.


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Regeneration

Regeneration is Gods act of causing a person to come to lifethat he or she will certainly respond to the gospel with savingfaith.

John 3:3, 5: Jesus answered and said to him, Truly, truly, Isay to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the

kingdom of God.5

Jesus answered, Truly, truly, I say to you,unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter intothe kingdom of God.

Ezek 36:25-27: Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, andyou will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness andfrom all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and

put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart ofstone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will putMy Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, andyou will be careful to observe My ordinances.


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Regeneration

Regeneration is Gods act of causing a person tocome to life that he or she will certainly respondto the gospel with saving faith.

Eph 2:5: even when we were dead in ourtransgressions, [God] made us alive togetherwith Christ.

Col 2:13: When you were dead in your

transgressions and the uncircumcision of yourflesh, He made you alive together with Him,having forgiven us all our transgressions.


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Regeneration

Regeneration is Gods act of causing a

person to come to life that he or she willcertainly respond to the gospel with saving

faith.

1 John 5:1: Whoever believes that Jesusis the Christ is born of God, and whoever

loves the Father loves the child born ofHim.


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Regeneration

Regeneration is Gods act of causing a person to cometo life that he or she will certainly respond to the gospelwith saving faith.

2 Cor 4:3-6: And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled

to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of thisworld has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so thatthey might not see the light of the gospel of the glory ofChrist, who is the image of God. For we do not preachourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as

your bond-servants for Jesus' sake. For God, who said,"Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who hasshone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge ofthe glory of God in the face of Christ.


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Regeneration

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and natures night;

Thine eye diffused a quickning ray,I woke, the dungeon flamed with light;

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Condensed Theology Lecture 29

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