We can learn much from the theologians that lived during the Reformation. The doctrinal documents that they created were a result of the dedication to the study of scripture. Actually study doesn’t even begin to describe the level of effort that these people put into what is now fundamental to the reformed church of today. As it was in the beginning of the church, false teaching has existed in all periods of the church. We can use these doctrinal documents in our study of scripture and prayer to help us discern the will of God. There is nothing wrong with leaning on the work of those that have gone before us.

Some of these are the Westminster Confession of Faith, and the Larger and Shorter Catechism which were developed over a 5 year period in the mid 1600’s.

In the mid-1720’s the concept of Ordo Salutis was developed by reformed theologians, again based upon critical study of scripture, most particularly Romans Chapter 8.

Ordo Salutis means order of salvation, so this was an attempt to define the consecutive steps in the work of the Holy Spirit along with our responses to the Spirit.

The beauty of Ordo Salutis is that it highlights that many of the steps of salvation is purely the work of God, with only a couple of steps that require our response or willingness to work with the Holy Spirit.

The order does not imply equal time periods of salvation. Some occur over time, while others are instantaneous.

Here are seven steps:

1. Calling – Initiation of salvation by the Holy Spirit. This is a special “effectual” calling by God.
2. Regeneration – The Holy Spirit renews our hearts, i.e. we are able to hear and understand the Gospel.
3. Conversion – sometimes called the AHA moment. Conversion is a combination of faith, which is a gift from God, leading us to repentance and declaring Jesus as our Lord and Savior. This is the step that is often the beginning point of discussion regarding salvation, yet it is not.
4. Justification – This is a legal act by God declaring us righteous based upon the perfect work of Christ.
5. Adoption – This step gives us the rights and privileges as children of God, i.e. we are now able to call upon Him as “Abba” Father.
6. Sanctification – process that occurs over time where we are willing to be molded by the Holy Spirit. This has been describes as God adding small amounts of glory to us, glory added to glory as we become more Christ-like.
7. Glorification – this is the final step where we become perfect when we join Christ in heaven.

What does this have to do with prayer? Ordo Salutis emphasizes the importance of prayer particularly in those steps that require our participation, i.e. in the step of Conversion and the process of Sanctification. Our initial acceptance of what God has given us the ability to see is critical. The long process of sanctification cannot proceed as God has planned for us without study of scripture and prayer.

As we study God’s word our prayer life changes. As we learn to understand that it isn’t about our wants and needs, but rather His will, our prayers transition from things about us to Him. What I have found is that if I don’t read His word every day, I can slip back into thinking about what I want and my prayer life suffers.

Ordo Salutis shows us God’s plan for salvation, the beauty of His plan, that it is about Him and not about us, which leads us to praise Him even more.