Ordo Salutis is defined as “Latin, meaning “order of salvation,” that is, the succession of events in God’s salvific program. Although the Catholic and Reformed traditions believe that salvation comes only through Christ, they diverge dramatically regarding the ordo salutis.” (Pocket Dictionary, 1999, P. 87). The purpose of this paper is to defend the Ordo Salutis from a Classical Wesleyan-Arminian standpoint while comparing and contrasting the Ordo Salutis from a Reformed-Calvinist perspective.
The Ordo Salutis has a variety of components that form it. This paper is going to discuss the following steps in relation to the Ordo Salutis from a Wesleyan-Arminian Perspective: (1) Divine grace and human response, (2) conversion, repentance, confession,
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(Predestination/Soteriology Handout, 2017) The topic of election can be found in the teachings of Paul found in Romans, Paul writes that those that God foreknew he also predestined to be formed in the image of Jesus Christ. The next verse continues with prompting those he called to know they are also justified and glorified. (Romans 8:29-30). Paul alludes to the ordo salutis in this passage, and thus reiterates the idea of predestination as a Biblical concept. Election is alluded to once again in Ephesians chapter one, Paul writes that predestination is something God designed for us in order to fulfill his will. (Ephesians 1:5) Human response mainly deals with the idea of prevenient grace which is something Wesley was a firm believer in. Scripture teaches us in 1 John that “we love because he first loved us” (1 John 4:19). This really captivates the idea of preventing grace that Wesley affirms. In Wesleyan Theology, it states “the gracious ability to respond to the call of the gospel; but- and this distinguishes Wesley from Calvin- man is also capable of rejecting this call in the abuse of his freedom” (Wesleyan Theology, 1989, P.72). The human response …show more content…
It should be noted that in Calvinism, God’s goodness is qualified by his greatness while in Arminianism God’s greatness is qualified by his goodness (A Primer of Arminian Theology, 2017). The Calvinist order of salvation emphasizes the priority of grace over human decision in contrast to the Arminian order. (Arminian Ordo Salutis Handout, 2017). As for predestination, calvinists hold the view of unconditional predestination which means that God has already chosen who is saved and who is condemned to damnation. While the other side of this view is the idea of conditional predestination which is the act of God predestining an individual based on his “foreknowledge of their free response to, or rejection of the gospel (Predestination/Soteriology Handout, 2017). This means that God predetermines if people will go to hell or heaven based on his previous knowledge that they are saved in the name of Jesus or not. Arminians believe in conditional election while Calvinists believe in unconditional election. The Arminians and Calvinists also differentiate on the idea of justification. Olson writes that Arminius HIMSELF denied justification by faith alone as imputed by Christ’s righteousness. (Arminian Theology, 2006, P. 201). Calvin and Arminius expressed agreement on the subject of justification. (Arminian Theology, 2006, P.203). The
Calvinism taught the doctrine of determinism — that God holds absolute sovereignty over passive men; in contrast, Arminianism rejected this and presented a doctrine of free will that gave the individual personal responsibility for his or her salvation. People believed that sin was voluntary and could be rooted out of society, once acknowledged; as a result, people began to take personal responsibility for their actions and recognize their responsibility to improve society. Desire for personal redemption from sin arose from Arminianism, which taught that moral depravity was the choice of
I do not believe that my theology has changed very much on the contrary it has fortified even more. It is interesting about the Wesleyan’s position of theology among the other queries.. Wesleyan’s position of the inquiries of theology, nature or essence of God, sin, Jesus Christ, Salvation and Grace. In this paper, I will try to organize Wesleyan’s position of inquiries and my panorama theology.
In I.17.1 of John Calvin’s work, Calvin argues that people do not need to worry about anything they do not understand because God takes care of everything. It is important to understand that this is not the beginning of Calvin’s Institutes of Christian Religion, because his points in chapter sixteen set the basis for his argument in this next section. Chapter sixteen on providence gives the foundation of
On the issue of predestination Wesley held that “God has decreed that those who believe will be saved; those who do not believe will not be saved” (p. 174, Abraham). Wesley went ever farther in the “God makes the decree, but the decree does not exclude genuine human agency and freedom; indeed, it builds the exercise of such freedom into the very content of the decree” (p. 174, Abraham). He held that if one would come to God that they should have no doubts about their salvation. God has a drive for our salvation but it is an active choice that we must make, even those God knows what the decision will be from the very beginning.
Theme in “Defender of the Faith” can be interpreted in many varying ways, some of which are life-long lessons and others to the relation between faith and the individual.
In John Calvin's Institutes of the Christian Religion he spends a great deal of time expounding his doctrine of God's Divine providence in all of creation. He explains not only how God continually governs the laws of nature, but also how God governs man's actions and intentions to bring about His own Divine Will. Calvin believes that God's providence is so encompassing in creation that even a man's own actions, in many ways, are decreed by God. Because of this belief there arises the question, "Does Calvin leave room for the free will of man?"
...s distributed in Theology 101 at the University of Notre Dame, Fremantle on 22 April 2008.
This ideology greatly differs from Luther, Carlstadt, and Zwingli, as their beliefs were that by faith alone salvation could be obtained, where no mention of predestination is referred. However, though Calvin’s predestination theory was widely dissimilar than Luther, Carlstadt, and Zwingli, his view of people not being able gain salvation by deeds done in the temporal world are reaffirmed in his writings are reform doctrine (The European Sourcebook, 165-167). Calvin’s goal was in efforts to control the morals normed by scripture and to condemn anything remotely considered blasphemy or Catholic in their origin. Calvinism has been considered closely related to Puritanism given that Calvin ideology was to repress lewd or indecent human behavior inevitably calling for proper less freeing behavior. Despite Calvin’s strict regulations of social and behavioral norm accepted Calvin appealed to helping people socially that later would equate to a Godly
Wallace, A. J., and R. D. Rusk. Moral Transformation: The Original Christian Paradigm of Salvation. New Zealand: Bridgehead Publishing, 2010. Print.
A common thread of faith and reason runs through the two different theological visions of St. Augustine in his Confessions. This can be seen by comparing the ascent, the vision, the descent, and language in the two visions. Although other parts of the text will be referred to, the central part of these visions are as follows:Vision 1: "...
To attempt to address these questions, Gundry compiles a collection of responses from the views of five scholars representing the Weslyan (Melvin E. Dieter), Reformed (Anthony A. Hoekema), Pentecostal (Stanley M. Horton), Keswick (J. Robertson McQuilkin), and Augustinian-Dispensational (John F. Walvoord). Each contributor provides an overview and introduction to their specific evangelical position and at the same time compare and critique as they response to the other views presented. This is an excellent study as it helps to clarify the essentials as well as the distinctiveness of each position.
... would be saved and who would reject him, he knew the answer to that before time even began. So God predestined believers to be more like Christ. The most compelling evidence that there is no double predestination is John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." For if God loved the whole world that means he loved everyone, not everyone but you, but everyone. God continues to try to help us accept the word, even though his foresight tells him that it is a lost cause, because of his great love and grace that he shows for us.
The central assertion of Calvinism canons is that God is able to save from the tyranny of sin, from guilt and the fear of death, every one of those upon whom he is willing to have mercy. God is not frustrated by the unrighteousness or the inability of men because it is the unrighteous and the helpless that he intends to save. In Calvinism man, in his state of innocency, had freedom and power to will and to do that, which is good and well pleasing to God; but yet mutably, so that he might fall from it. This concept of free choice makes Calvinism to stand supreme among all the religious systems of the world. The great men of our country often were members of Calvinist Church. We had the number of Presbyterian presidents, legislators, jurists, authors, editors, teachers and businessmen. The revolutionary principles of republican liberty and self-government, taught and embodied in ...
Salvation is a common topic in all religions and known as the end goal for many religions too. Religions view salvation highly and associate salvation as a stepping stone to what they believe liberation and freedom are. Especially in Hinduism and Christianity which are two of the most widespread and largest religions in the world. Although Hinduism and Christianity are on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to salvation they both met in the middle quite a few times when discussing how to achieve salvation, who has achieved salvation and reincarnation. Throughout this essay, one can see the similarities and differences both religions face when it comes to the path of salvation.
The doctrine of salvation contains various aspects. The intent of this research paper is to provide a general overview of salvation from the angle of justification, propitiation, grace, redemption, and sanctification.