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In Reformed circles, there is much debate over how we are to view all the blessings of salvation communicated to the believer. When I say blessings, I mean our election, our effectual calling, our conversion, justification, adoption, sanctification, mortification, glorification, and other blessings that scripture tells us. Most would say that these blessings are to be viewed collectively and not individually. The Reformed tradition holds that they are to be viewed as a collection of blessings that are only found and enjoyed when we are united to Christ. The doctrine of union with Christ communicates that all of these blessings, though they may appear to be phases or steps in our salvation, are actually realized simultaneously when we are joined together to Him, or “mystically united” to Him.
And yet, there appears to be an order of sorts, or at least we logically deduce that there should be an order of all these blessings. An example is that we are not glorified right now, but we have indeed been positionally glorified in Christ (Rom. 8:30). He ascended and now sits at the right hand of God the Father and somehow we are seated with Him (Eph. 2:6). It appears to be an already but not yet reality, doesn’t it. In other words, we may say that we have received all of these blessings in Christ, however, there is a logical order that will flow to us in real-time. We are bound in time after all, while God is not.
On the other hand, we do not suggest that we should then take these blessings found in Christ and “calculate” them or “add” them together to equal the result of our salvation. This could be problematic. For instance, you can have no assurance of your salvation because you technically have not been saved, for you have not been glorified. Therefore, you have no real right to enjoy salvation because salvation has not yet come, for there is still a process to continue. This is, of course, absurd. However, once you begin to ponder this idea things can begin to unravel.
But most Christians do in fact believe there should be an order to all these blessings that are included in salvation. To be completely vulnerable with the reader I have struggled with these two ideas for some time in my Christian life. But over the years, I have been privileged to read through some of William Perkins’s writings and found him to be extremely helpful in this matter. The matter at hand is Union with Christ and ‘Ordo Salutis‘. Can we only have one of these or can we have both? Is there only the reality of union with Christ or is there also an order to salvation?
I am going to try to answer some of these questions and even attempt to unite the two ideas together with the help of William Perkins. Throughout this essay, I will be quoting from The Works of William Perkins 10 Volumes published by Reformation Heritage Books. If you ever find yourself in the position to purchase this set, I highly recommend ordering Faith Working Through Love: The Theology of William Perkins by Joel Beeke, Matthew Payne, and Stephen Yuille, along with it. Their book is written as an introduction to the 10-volume set.
Table of Contents
- The Father of Puritanism
- A Golden Chain
- John Calvin and Union with Christ
- The “Christ-Spine”
- So, What is The Order?
- Conclusion