Reading the Classics with Challies - Redemption Accomplished and Applied

PART II - REDEMPTION APPLIED

Chapter 1 - The Order of Application

This chapter concerns itself with proving, defending and supporting the concept or doctrine that there is an order of salvation. That is, that redemption is applied as a "series of acts and processes" (Murray, John. Redemption Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans. 1955. p80) and not as one "simple and indivisible act." (80) He suggests that "we have calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, glorification. These are all distinct, and not one of these can be defined in terms of the other. Each has its own meaning, function, and purpose in the action and grace of God." (80)

He beautifully describes this idea early in the chapter:

The provision which God has made for the salvation of men is even more strikingly manifold. For this provision has in view the manifoldness of man's need and exhibits the overflowing abundance of God's goodness, wisdom, grace, and love. The superabundance appears in the eternal counsel of God respecting salvation; it appears in the historic accomplishment of redemption by the work of Christ once for all; and it appears in the application of redemption continuously and progressively till it reaches its consummation in the liberty of the glory of the children of God. (79, emphasis mine)

Murray goes on to explain the ordo salutis by opening up Scriptures that deal with the subject. He says,

These few texts have been appealed to simply for the purpose of showing there is order which must be maintained and cannot be reversed without violating the plain import of these texts. These texts prove the fact of order and show that it is not empty logic to affirm divine order in the application of redemption. There is a divine logic in this matter and the order which we insit upon should be nothing more or less than what the Scriptures disclose to be the divine arrangement. (82)

In essence he suggests that in calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification we have "a chain of unbreakable links beginning with foreknowledge and ending with glorification." (83)

In summation he writes,

With all these considerations in view, the order in the application of redemption is found to be, calling, regeneration, faith and repentance, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, glorification. When this order is carefully weighed we find that there is a logic which evinces and brings into clear focus the governing principle of salvation in all of its aspects, the grace of God in its sovereignty and efficacy. Salvation is of the Lord in its application as well as in its conception and accomplishment. (87)