Soteriology (Doctrine of Salvation): Ordo Salutis (Order of Salvation)
The Ordo Salutis, Latin for “order of salvation,” refers to the theological framework that describes how the saving work of Christ is applied to believers. Rather than a rigid timeline, it represents a logical sequence of God’s saving acts. By tracing the steps of salvation, theologians seek to clarify the relationship between divine initiative and human response, while underscoring that salvation is wholly of God’s grace.
The order of salvation has been particularly emphasized in Reformed theology, which includes stages such as calling, regeneration, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification. Other Christian traditions outline different emphases, but all agree that salvation flows from God’s eternal purpose and is fulfilled in Christ.
The Ordo Salutis does not provide a speculative chart but a pastoral framework. It helps believers understand how God brings them from death in sin to eternal glory.
1. Biblical Foundations of the Ordo Salutis
While the Bible does not provide an explicit list or map of salvation’s order, it contains key passages that outline its stages. Romans 8:29–30 is often called the “golden chain” of salvation:
Foreknowledge
Predestination
Calling
Justification
Glorification
Other passages highlight additional dimensions. John 3 emphasizes regeneration, or new birth, as the work of the Spirit. Ephesians 1 speaks of election and adoption. Philippians 2 and 1 Thessalonians 4 focus on sanctification and perseverance.
Together, these passages show that salvation is both an accomplished reality in Christ and an applied process in the believer’s life. The Ordo Salutis is thus a biblical synthesis that brings coherence to the many dimensions of salvation.
2. Stages of Salvation
The traditional Reformed order includes several interconnected stages. While listed logically, many occur simultaneously in experience:
Election – God’s eternal choice in Christ before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4).
Calling – God’s summons through the Gospel, both external (preaching) and internal (Spirit’s work) (Romans 8:30).
Regeneration – The new birth by the Spirit (John 3:3–8).
Conversion – Faith and repentance as the human response enabled by grace (Acts 20:21).
Justification – God’s declaration of righteousness through faith in Christ (Romans 5:1).
Adoption – Becoming children of God and heirs with Christ (Romans 8:15–17).
Sanctification – Ongoing transformation into holiness (1 Thessalonians 4:3).
Perseverance – The Spirit’s preservation of believers in faith (Philippians 1:6).
Glorification – Final resurrection and eternal life with God (Romans 8:30).
This framework highlights the comprehensive scope of salvation, from God’s eternal decree to the consummation of all things.
3. Theological Perspectives on Ordo Salutis
Different traditions frame the order of salvation differently.
Reformed theology emphasizes God’s sovereignty, with regeneration preceding faith as the Spirit’s decisive act.
Lutheran theology stresses justification by faith but resists a rigid sequence.
Roman Catholic theology views salvation as a sacramental process, integrating justification and sanctification more closely.
Wesleyan-Arminian theology places greater emphasis on prevenient grace and human cooperation in response to God’s call.
Despite these differences, all traditions affirm that salvation is grounded in Christ’s work and applied by the Spirit. The Ordo Salutis thus serves as a framework for articulating how salvation is experienced and understood in the life of the church.
4. Debates on Order and Emphasis
The Ordo Salutis has prompted both helpful insights and cautions.
Some theologians warn against overemphasis on sequence, since salvation is a unified work of God.
Others debate the relation between regeneration and faith: Does the Spirit regenerate before faith, or does faith lead to regeneration?
Still others stress the corporate dimension of salvation, cautioning against reducing the Ordo Salutis to individual experience alone.
Ultimately, the Ordo Salutis should be understood as a theological tool, not a rigid formula. It highlights God’s initiative in salvation while acknowledging human response as enabled by grace.
5. Gospel and Last Days Significance
The Ordo Salutis is more than a theological diagram; it is a proclamation of the Gospel. It reveals that salvation begins with God’s eternal purpose and ends in eternal glory. It assures believers that the God who began the work will bring it to completion (Philippians 1:6).
In the last days, glorification brings the order of salvation to its climax. The resurrection of the body, the renewal of creation, and the final vision of God are the fulfillment of the Spirit’s work begun in regeneration and sustained through sanctification. The Ordo Salutis points forward, assuring believers that salvation is secure because it rests in God’s sovereign purpose.
Thus, the order of salvation is both pastoral and eschatological. It provides assurance in the present and hope for the future.
Conclusion
The Ordo Salutis, the order of salvation, is a theological framework that helps Christians understand how the work of Christ is applied to believers by the Spirit. Rooted in Scripture, it outlines stages such as election, calling, regeneration, conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification.
While different traditions emphasize different aspects, the central truth remains: salvation is the sovereign work of God, accomplished through Christ and applied by the Spirit. The Ordo Salutis points believers to the Gospel and anchors their hope in the promise that what God began he will complete in the day of Christ.
Bible Verses on the Order of Salvation
Romans 8:29–30 – “Those whom he foreknew he also predestined…he also justified, he also glorified.”
John 3:3 – “Unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Acts 20:21 – “Repentance toward God and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Romans 5:1 – “Since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Ephesians 1:4–5 – “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world…he predestined us for adoption.”
Romans 8:15 – “You have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, ‘Abba! Father!’”
1 Thessalonians 4:3 – “This is the will of God, your sanctification.”
Philippians 1:6 – “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion.”
1 Peter 1:5 – “By God’s power [you] are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed.”
Revelation 21:4 – “He will wipe away every tear…and death shall be no more.”
