God's Order in Salvation: John Murray on Effectual Calling, Regeneration, and Sanctification

My fifth reflection on John Murray's book, Redemption: Accomplished and Applied. I now reached the second part where the author talks about the order of salvation emphasizing the distinct roles of effectual calling, regeneration, and sanctification while affirming that God's grace orchestrates the process from start to finish.

As Murray introduces the section, he describes God's common grace or His providence made evident in the world through eating, drinking, enjoying, etc., citing Psalms 104:24, which states:

The earth is full of thy riches.

Part of this process involves demonstrating God's good grace in His specific salvation offered through His Son, which completely meets man's needs.

Murray adds, however, that even if it was previously completed by Christ, it should not be mistaken for a "simple and indivisible act" because it continues to have an impact on the believer until it achieves its completeness. I take this to mean that he is talking about progressive sanctification. Since “God is a God of order, not of confusion,” this principle also applies to salvation.

Therefore, the process of salvation must also be regarded as having its order—not mixing one over the other or reversing one ahead of the other. So then, the order is: calling, regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification (ibid.).

Murray systematically presents the elements of salvation by consulting scripture. He notes some misconceptions regarding the order of these elements, addressing questions such as:

Is calling ahead of justification?

and

Is faith ahead of justification?

He adds that regeneration occurs immediately after calling and is the work of the Holy Spirit, bringing a person to spiritual life. It is a crucial step that precedes justification. Sanctification, according to Murray, is a process that begins in regeneration, finds its basis in justification, and is effected through effectual calling.

The logical sequence of salvation then is: calling, regeneration, faith and repentance, justification, adoption, sanctification, perseverance, and glorification. Concluding this section, Murray argues that this logical order is essential and cannot be dismantled without undermining God's attribute of creating such a wonderful design.

In the chapter on Effectual Calling, Murray states that calling is the foundation of salvation as applied to a believer. However, there is also non-effectual calling, also known as the universal call, which is "addressed to all men without distinction."

In the New Testament, most instances of the word "call" are associated with salvation, indicating an effectual calling as opposed to the universal calling. Important considerations for calling include:

• God as the author, and

• the necessity of recognizing that God is actively involved in the call, for it is God who calls.

In discussing regeneration, Murray emphasizes that humanity is plagued by an inherent inability; no one can come to Jesus unless God draws them (Jn. 6:44). Therefore, if it is God who calls, the person to whom the call is addressed will ultimately respond, and that no hindrance is so great to disqualify both the call and its cumulative effect, namely justification. Effectual calling will result in a change of heart, mind, and will.

Reference:

Murray, John. Redemption: Accomplished and Applied. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1955. Reprinted April 1980.

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