Ordo Salutis
Election & Reprobation
Covenant of Redemption
Atonement
Outward Call
Effectual Call
Regeneration
Conversion
. Repentance
. Faith
Spiritual Union to Christ
Covenant of Grace
Justification
Adoption
Sanctification
. Definitive
. Progressive
Perseverance
Glorification
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On the Order of Salvation Generally
Articles
1600’s
Perkins, William – A Golden Chain (Cambridge: Legat, 1600)
51. Concerning the Order of the Causes of Salvation according to the doctrine of the Church of Rome
Errors of the Papists in their distributing of the Causes of Salvation
1. Predestination is only of the Elect, the Reprobate they are only foreknown
2. Predestination is mutable: men are contingently predestinated, on God’s part and man’s: hence those appointed to salvation may be condemned, and those appointed to damnation may be saved
3. All men are predestinated, i.e. disposed and ordained of God so they might attain eternal life
4. Predestination’s last effects has this cause in man: in man’s freewill and works: whom God had foreseen that they would receive grace offered in Christ and lead their life according to the law, them He predestinated, not of works, but of his mercy, yet so, as that He had respect unto works
5. By Baptism rightly administered, not only the guiltiness, but also the corruption of original sin, is so washed away that it is not afterward properly accounted sin
6. Baptism is absolutely necessary to salvation, especially for children
7. Man after Adam’s fall has freewill to do good and evil, though in a diverse manner: he has freewill to do evil simply, without any external aid: but to do well, none at all, but by God’s grace preventing or guiding: which grace every man has and it is in our freewill either to consent and together work with or not. Freewill’s power to do what is good and acceptable to God is only attenuated and weakened before conversion; hence man can of himself work a preparation to justification
8. The Holy Ghost does not give grace to will, but only does unloose the will which before was chained, and also does excite the same: so that the will by its own power, does dispose itself to justification
9. That preparation to grace, which is caused by the power of free-will, may by the merit of congruity deserve justification
10. The faith of the godly, or that which justifies, is that whereby a man does in general believe the promised blessedness of God, and by which also he gives his assent to other mysteries revealed of God concerning the same
11. Man’s love of God does in order and time go before his justification and reconciliation with God
12. Infused or inherent justice is the formal cause of justification, whereby men are justified in the sight of God
13. There is also a second justification obtained by works
14. Grace is quite extinguished, or rather utterly lost by any mortal sin
15. It is possible to fulfill the Law in this life
16. Works done in grace do condignly merit eternal life
17. Man knows not but by special revelation whether he be predestinated or not
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1800’s
Vos, Geerhardus – ch. 1, ‘The Ordo Salutis’ in Reformed Dogmatics tr: Richard Gaffin 1 vol. ed. Buy (1896; Lexham Press, 2020), vol. 4, ‘Soteriology’, pp. 611-39
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1900’s
Berkhof, Louis – ‘The Order of Salvation’ (1950) 15 paragraphs in Systematic Theology
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2000’s
McGraw, Ryan – ‘Shifting Paradigms in Reformed Systematic Theology: A Review Article of Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on The Way‘ in Puritan Reformed Journal, 2013, no. 2, pp. 245-62
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Books
1600’s
Perkins, William – A Golden Chain (Cambridge: Legat, 1600)
Rutherford, Samuel – A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Opening the Secrets of Familism and Antinomianism IA (1648) Part 1 gives the history of Antinomianism, part 2 refutes its distinctive tenets.
Williams, Daniel – Gospel-Truth Stated & Vindicated: wherein some of Dr. Crisp’s Opinions are Considered & the Opposite Truths are Plainly Stated & Confirmed (1692) 250 pp.
Williams (c.1643–1716) was an English presbyterian and influential dissenter from the Church of England.
Daniel Williams below was lumped in this controversy with the Neonomians (though how far that label is correct is not entirely clear). While the Antinomian side clearly had some Antinomian principles in it, yet, Robert Trail got lumped with the Antinomian side for holding to orthodoxy.
“Richard Baxter [who had previously opposed antinomianism, but was a neonomian] died in 1691. His successor as unofficial leader of those who taught a moderated Calvinism was a Welshman, Daniel Williams…” – Peter Toon
Witsius, Herman – Conciliatory or Irenical Animadversions on the Controversies Agitated in Britain: under the Unhappy Names of Antinomians & Neonomians (1696; Glasgow, 1807)
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1800’s
Girardeau, John L. –
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On Election & Reprobation
Webpages
Supralapsarianism & Infralapsarianism
On the Distinction Between God’s Revealed Will & his Will of Decree
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The Covenant of Redemption
Webpages & Sections
The Covenant of Redemption
Covenant of Redemption: Distinct from the Covenant of Grace
How the Covenant of Redemption is Different from a Decree
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Article
Rutherford, Samuel – pt. 2, ch. 7, pp. 302-7 of The Covenant of Life Opened (Edinburgh, 1655)
“The Covenant of Redemption is two ways considered: 1. As transacted in time between Jehovah and Christ, in his actual discharge of his office of King, Priest and Prophet; 2. As it is an eternal transaction and compact between Jehovah and the second Person the Son of God, who gave personal consent that He should be the Undertaker, and no other.
And these three acts are considerable in the Persons in this latter consideration: 1. designation of one; 2. decree and destination; 3. delectation in the work.”
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That Election & Reprobation Precede the Covenant
van Mastricht, Petrus – bk. 8, ch. 1, section 35 in Theoretical Practical Theology
Mastricht argues against the Cocceians who held the opposite.
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The Atonement
Webpages & Sections of
Active Obedience of Christ
Necessity of the Atonement
The Atonement
Sufficiency of the Atonement
Limited Atonement
Atonement Provides Common Grace Benefits to the Reprobate
On Amyrauldianism & Hypothetical Universalism
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The Outward Call & Offer of the Gospel
Webpages & Sections of
The Common Operations of the Holy Spirit
The Sincere Free Offer of the Gospel
Is God’s Revealed Will God’s Will?
John Howe on God’s Revealed Will is Actually His Will
God’s Revealed Will & Gospel Call as God’s Will, Desire, Pleasure & Wish
God’s Revealed Will Contains Purpose
Thomas Ridgley on the Terms ‘Offer’ & ‘Invitation’
The Gospel Call for Hearers to Come to Him is Sincere
You Must Choose Christ to be Saved
The Gospel Offer is Conditional
Does God offer us Eternal Salvation in the Gospel?
The Three-Fold Love of God
The Offer of Salvation is an Expression of God’s Grace to the Hearer
Is an Aspect of God’s Will Ineffectual?
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Articles
Rutherford, Samuel
ed. Johnson & Fentiman, Rutherford’s Examination of Arminianism: The Tables of Contents with Excerpts from Every Chapter (1639-1643; RBO, 2019), ch. 9
section 6, ‘Whether all are directly obligated in the same way and by the same principle [jure] to believe in Christ announced by the gospel? We deny with a distinction against the Remonstrants.’, pp. 89-90
section 17, ‘Whether each and every truly reprobate person must believe Christ to have died for them? We deny against the Remonstrants.’, pp. 92-93
section 18, ‘Whether it may be required from reprobates by [divine] law that they believe in Christ? We affirm against [what] the Remonstrants [say of our position].’, pp. 94-95
A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Pt. 1
Ch. 5, ‘The Internal & External Word Differenced’, pp. 20-23
Ball, John – pt. 2, ch.4, pp. 326-32 & 347 (top) of A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (London, 1645)
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Westminster
Larger Catechism
“Q. 63. What are the special privileges of the visible church?
A. The visible church hath the privilege of being under God’s special care and government;[y] of being protected and preserved in all ages, notwithstanding the opposition of all enemies;[x] and of enjoying the communion of saints, the ordinary means of salvation,[a] and offers of grace by Christ to all the members of it in the ministry of the gospel, testifying, that whosoever believes in him shall be saved,[b] and excluding none that will come unto him.[c]”
[y] Isa. 4:5,6. 1 Tim. 4:10.
[z] Ps. 115. Isa. 31:4,5. Zech. 12:2-4,8,9.
[a] Acts 2:39,42.
[b] Ps. 147:19,20. Rom. 9:4. Eph. 4:11,12. Mark 16:15,16.
[c] John 6:37“
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The Effectual Call
Webpages
On Calling
On the Compatibility of Irresistible & Resistible Grace
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Articles
Rutherford, Samuel
A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, pt. 1
ch. 6, ‘How the Word Converts’
Ball, John – Pt. 2, ch.4, ‘How Christ doth Bring his People into Covenant’ of A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (London, 1645) See especially pp. 332-347
Witsius, Herman – Ch. 5, Sections 5-7, pp. 63-64 of Conciliatory or Irenical Animadversions on the Controversies Agitated in Britain: under the Unhappy names of Antinomians and Neonomians (Glasgow, 1807)
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Westminster
Note that the Effectual Call, according to WCF 10.1, includes:
The outward call by the Word
The inward call by the Spirit
. A spiritual enlightening of the mind
. The giving of a new heart & renewing of the will
. Determining them to that which is good
. Effectually Drawing them to Jesus (Spiritual Union to Christ)
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That before Effectual Calling the Elect are under Legal Wrath in their Sins, though there is a special way of Providence with them
Witsius, Herman – ch. 5, sections 1-4, pp. 59-63 & 66 of Conciliatory or Irenical Animadversions on the Controversies Agitated in Britain: under the Unhappy names of Antinomians and Neonomians (Glasgow, 1807)
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Regeneration
Webpage sections
Only the Initial Aspect of Regeneration is Monergistic
Certain Inherent Graces are Prerequisite to Justification
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Articles
Halyburton, Thomas – ‘A Modest Inquiry whether Regeneration or Justification has the Precedency in Order of Nature’ in The Works of the Rev. Thomas Halyburton… (London : Thomas Tegg, 1835), pp. 547-58
Amongst other helpful things, Halyburton argues the traditional reformed paradigm that regeneration is antecedent to justification, and not the other way around.
Phillips, Rick – ‘Thank God that Christians are not Totally Depraved’ (2012) 11 paragraphs
Fentiman, Travis – II. The Doctrine of Adoption: A. Adoption is distinct from Regeneration & B. Adoption is Distinct from Justification, pp. 4-10 of John L. Girardeau’s Doctrine of Adoption: a Systematic & Biblical Defense (2014)
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Regeneration was Often Defined as a Part of the Effectual Call in the Older Theology
WCF, ch. 10.1
“I. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call,[a] by his word and Spirit,[b] out of that state of sin and death in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation by Jesus Christ;[c] enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God;[d] taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them an heart of flesh;[e] renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power determining them to that which is good;[f] and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ;[g] yet so as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace.[h]
[a] Rom. 8:30. Rom. 11:7. Eph. 1:10,11.
[b] 2 Thess. 2:13,14. 2 Cor. 3:3,6.
[c] Rom. 8:2. Eph. 2:1-5. 2 Tim. 1:9,10.
[d] Acts 26:18. 1 Cor. 2:10,12. Eph. 1:17,18.
[e] Ezek. 36:26.
[f] Ezek. 11:19. Phil. 2:13. Deut. 30:6. Ezek. 36:27.
[g] Eph. 1:19. John 6:44,45.
[h] Cant. 1:4. Ps. 110:3. John 6:37. Rom. 6:16-18.”
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Conversion: Faith & Repentance
Rutherford, Samuel – ch. 67, ‘Of Legal & Evangelical Conversion’ in A Survey of Spiritual Antichrist, pt. 2
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Repentance
Webpage sections
Relation of Repentance to Faith & Justification
Certain Inherent Graces are Prerequisite to Justification
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Faith
Webpage sections
Faith
Can Infants have Faith?
Faith is Grounded in Evidence, Contra Fideism & Implicit Faith
Contra Sandemanianism
Saving Faith is Never Alone
A Faith without Works does Not Justify
Faith as an Instrument
Faith Does Not Include Repentance or Obedience
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Faith is the Instrumental Condition in the Covenant & for Justification
Bible Verses
Rom. 5:1 “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
Gal. 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ…”
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Articles
Rutherford, Samuel
Ch. 3, section 12, ‘Whether or not faith may at once be a required condition in a formal way and the thing which is promised and indeclinably brought about in us by God? We affirm against the Remonstrants.’ in ed. Johnson & Fentiman, Rutherford’s Examination of Arminianism: The Tables of Contents with Excerpts from Every Chapter (1639-1643; RBO, 2019), pp. 72-73
A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist (1648), Pt. 2
ch. 4, ‘How we Teach a Desire of Grace to be Grace’
ch. 38, ‘The Gospel is Conditional’, pp. 39-40
ch. 61, ‘How Faith Justifies, & the Antinomian Error discovered in this Point’
Ball, John – Pt. 2, ch. 5, ‘How Christians Answer to the Call of Christ, & so Come to Have Fellowship with Him’, pp. 347-49 of A Treatise of the Covenant of Grace (London, 1645)
Flavel, John – ‘III. Of the Conditionality of the New Covenant’ being pp. 348-356 of Vindiciae Legis et Foederis, or a Reply to Mr. Philip Carey’s Solemn Call in Works, vol. 6
Witsius, Herman – ch. 14, ‘Concerning the Covenant of Grace’, Second Part in Conciliatory or Irenical Animadversions on the Controversies Agitated in Britain: under the Unhappy names of Antinomians and Neonomians (Glasgow, 1807), pp. 145-151
McGraw, Ryan – ‘Shifting Paradigms in Reformed Systematic Theology: A Review Article of Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on The Way‘ in Puritan Reformed Journal, 2013, no. 2, pp. 245-62
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Distinguishes
van Mastricht, Peter – bk. 6, ch. 6, sections 14 & 28 in Theoretical Practical Theology (RHB)
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Westminster
Larger Catechism
“Q. 32. How is the grace of God manifested in the second covenant?
A. The grace of God is manifested in the second covenant, in that he freely provideth and offereth to sinners a Mediator,[t] and life and salvation by him;[v] and requiring faith as the condition to interest them in him,[w] promiseth and giveth his Holy Spirit[x] to all his elect, to work in them that faith,[y] with all other saving graces;[z] and to enable them unto all holy obedience,[a] as the evidence of the truth of their faith[b] and thankfulness to God,[c] and as the way which he hath appointed them to salvation.[d]
[t] Gen. 3:15. Isa. 42:6. John 6:27.
[v] 1 John 5:11,12.
[w] John 3:16. John 1:12.
[x] Prov. 1:23.
[y] 2 Cor. 4:13.
[z] Gal. 5:22,23.
[a] Ezek. 36:27.
[b] James 2:18,22.
[c] 2 Cor. 5:14,15.
[d] Eph. 2:18“
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That Faith in Justification does not Include Repentance or Works, from Justification Page
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Spiritual Union to Christ
Webpages & Sections of
On Union with Christ & the Fruits of the Fellowship Ensuing Therefrom
What Way Union to Christ is Before & After Faith
Spiritual Union to Christ is the Fount of Justification, Adoption, Sanctification & Glorification
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Covenant of Grace
Webpages & Sections of
The Covenant of Grace
Covenant of Redemption: Distinct from the Covenant of Grace
Visible Church: Outwardly in the Covenant of Grace
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Articles
Rutherford, Samuel
A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, pt. 2
ch. 65, ‘The Gospel is a rare Covenant of Grace’
That the Covenant has more bonds than simply procuring the rewards of the Gospel-promise.
ch. 66, ‘Antinomian Errors Touching the Covenant of Grace’
The Antinomian view was that only the eternal Covenant between the Father and the Son, with us represented in it, was a covenant, and that we are not parties to a Covenant of Grace in time.
This section argues that entrance into the Covenant of Grace in time involves not simply believing Christ, but becoming God’s people, and that God’s Gospel-administration in time is in fact a Covenant, and that we are parties to it.
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On the Consequent Conditions of the Covenant
Fentiman, Travis – ‘Introduction’ to the webpage, ‘The Necessity of Good Works’
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Justification
Webpages & Sections of
Contra Eternal Justificaiton
Cross & Justification
Justification
Right to vs. Possession of Life
Infant Baptism & Justification? Contra Davenant
Justification without Any Meritorious Works
Certain Inherent Graces are Prerequisite to Justification
Tie Between Justification & Sanctification
Good Works: Necessary to Justification Consequently
Continuation of Justification
Daily Forgiveness
Justification at Judgment Day
Unity of Justification
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Articles
Halyburton, Thomas – ‘An Inquiry into the Nature of God’s Act of Justification’ in The works of the Rev. Thomas Halyburton… (London : Thomas Tegg, 1835), pp. 559-67
Amongst other helpful things, Halyburton argues the traditional reformed paradigm that regeneration is antecedent to justification, and not the other way around.
Fentiman, Travis – II. The Doctrine of Adoption: A. Adoption is distinct from Regeneration & B. Adoption is Distinct from Justification, pp. 4-10 of John L. Girardeau’s Doctrine of Adoption: a Systematic & Biblical Defense (2014)
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Faith is Antecedent to, and an Instrumental Condition of, Justification
Articles
Rutherford, Samuel – ch. 62, ‘The Antinomians’ Way & Method of a Sinner’s Coming to Christ, Confuted’ in A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, Pt. 2
Get Flavel and his friend on Faith a condition
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Westminster Larger Catechism
See also Questions 70-72 and note carefully the precise language of Justification being dependent upon the presence of faith.
“Q. 73. How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?
A. Faith justifies a sinner in the sight of God, not because of those other graces which do always accompany it, or of good works that are the fruits of it,[q] nor as if the grace of faith, or any act thereof; were imputed to him for his justification;[r] but only as it is an instrument by which he receiveth and applieth Christ and his righteousness.[s]
[q] Gal. 3:11. Rom. 3:28.
[r] Rom. 4:5 compared with Rom. 10:10.
[s] John 1:12. Phil. 3:9. Gal. 2:16“
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By Faith we Spiritually Receive Christ, & hence his Righteousness, & upon this are Justified
Witsius, Herman – Conciliatory or Irenical Animadversions on the Controversies Agitated in Britain: under the Unhappy names of Antinomians and Neonomians (Glasgow, 1807)
ch. 5, sections 8-9, pp. 64-66
ch. 10, sections 4-13, pp. 111-18
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Adoption
Adoption Derives from Spiritual Union to Christ, which comes by Faith
Bible Verse
John 1:12 “But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name;”
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Articles
Rutherford, Samuel – ch. 62, ‘The Antinomians’ Way & Method of a Sinner’s Coming to Christ, Confuted’ in A Survey of the Spiritual Antichrist, pt. 2
McGraw, Ryan – ‘Shifting Paradigms in Reformed Systematic Theology: A Review Article of Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on The Way‘ in Puritan Reformed Journal, 2013, no. 2, pp. 245-62
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Adoption is Distinct from Regeneration & Justification
Fentiman, Travis – II. The Doctrine of Adoption: A. Adoption is distinct from Regeneration & B. Adoption is Distinct from Justification, pp. 4-10 of John L. Girardeau’s Doctrine of Adoption: a Systematic and Biblical Defense (2014)
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Adoption is distinct from Sanctification
GPTS volume on Sanctification
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Sanctification
How Sanctification is Distinguished from Justification
How Sanctification & Justification Differ
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Sanctification often Included Regeneration in the Older Theology
Sanctification as Including Regeneration
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On Definitive Sanctification
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Sanctification is Not Wholly Passive
How Sanctification is Passive & Active
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Webpage
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Perseverance to the End
Webpage
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Glorification
Glorification is Dependent on Spiritual Union to Christ
Bible Verse
Rom. 8:11 “But if the Spirit of Him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.”
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Article
McGraw, Ryan – ‘Shifting Paradigms in Reformed Systematic Theology: A Review Article of Michael Horton’s The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims on The Way‘ in Puritan Reformed Journal, 2013, no. 2, pp. 245-62
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“The offering of the sacrifice is perfected, but the application is not completed.”
John ‘Rabbi’ Duncan
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Related Pages