The Golden Chain of Salvation – Arminian, Calvinist & Catholic Views

[LaGrange]

Opening

Hi Everyone,

I did these 3 flowcharts or word pictures so you could more easily compare all three views. Please save this information. I tried very hard going to the original sources to develop these views. I could not find any kind of flowchart on the internet on any of them. It was probably a good thing because it made me research and learn them better. My goal was to try to understand the Arminian and Calvinist views “correctly” and then critique them or ask questions where necessary. I didn’t want to critique something you didn’t believe. Having said that, I don’t know any of these 3 views perfectly and I don’t think I ever will. I did the best I could.

Here’s the main reason why you should save this information

To make an analogy: Soteriology is like trying to put together a 5,000-piece puzzle with no picture on the box. THE FLOWCHART IS THE PICTURE ON THE BOX! The flowcharts help organize your thoughts and make it possible for you to see better where you and your friendly opponent are in your discussions. I refer to the flowcharts as the “Big Picture”.

Bullet Points

* This is a work in progress
* Not perfect - let me know where I’m wrong on your own view (please don’t critique each others views on this thread - just save it)
* notes - emphasis was on notes before full regeneration
* Catholic view - flowchart - this is the very basic “structure” on how all men are saved
(with two possible exceptions that I know of)
* I did not complete putting in all the verses - you know the verses on the Arminian and calvinist views anyway

Main Part

Arminian, Calvinist and Catholic Flowcharts

The dark “Gap” (below) indicates the dividing line between not being a Christian and being a Christian. Everything before the gap, you are not a Christian. Everything after the gap, you are a Christian.

Order of Calling, Justification, Glorification
(L-R):

Arminian (Simultaneous and Gradual)*

I have two flowcharts on the Arminian View: the simple and the detailed. It’s the same flowchart but I thought it might be easier to understand starting out with a simple one.

Simple:
(1) Audibly Hearing Scripture Preached - (2) Prevenient Grace - (3) Act of Faith* - (4) Instrument of Faith* - (5) Conversion - Effect: Partial Regeneration - (6) repeat until full Regeneration* - (7) Gap - (8) Justification (declared) - (9) Sanctification - (10) Gap - (11) Glorification

Detailed:
(1) Audibly Hearing Scripture Preached - (2) Prevenient Grace - (3) Act of Faith [internally hearing scripture (Rom 10:17) - consents (believes - Rom 4:3) through free Will (with the aid of divine assistance) by reasoning and apprehending Knowledge] - (4) Instrument of Faith (receives created Knowledge - this Knowledge and Trust cause conversion)] - (5) Conversion [Renewal of mind (created knowledge) and will (Trust)(Eph 4:23) - effects: beginning of holiness & repentance(Eph 4:22,24; Rom 6:6)] = Partial Regeneration - (6) repeat until full Regeneration - (7) Gap - (8)Justification (declared) - (9) Sanctification - (10) Gap - (11) Glorification

Notes

Steps 1-5 are Simultaneous and Regeneration is Gradual - the Causes and some Effects (conversion) are simultaneous and instantaneous but, overall, most of the effects, cumulatively, are gradual up to the point of becoming a Christian.

(1) audibly hearing scripture - election to grace (external)
(2) Prevenient grace - election to grace (internal)
(3) Act of Faith = Believing (consent - apprehension)
(4) Instrument of Faith = Saving Faith (received - Faith is created in us)
(5) 1-4 are simultaneous = Conversion
(6) full regeneration - notice there is no decision that causes full regeneration at the end. If there is a decision, it’s the consent at the act of Faith (above) multiple times along the way. Instead, maybe there could be an acknowledgement at the end or the “decision” could be considered as an ordinance like baptism, as an outward profession of faith. My interpretation of Arminius is that there is no decision but, rather, an acknowledgement that full regeneration already happened.
(7) Gap
(8) Justification (declared)
(9) Sanctification
(10) Gap? (light Gap) - the gap means you can lose your salvation - some believe there is a gap and some do not:
Free Grace Movement - no Gap
Lordship Salvation - Gap
(11) Glorification

Calvinist (Turretin) (Simultaneous)

(1) External Call - (2) Gap - (3) Effectual Call (Active Justification) = (4) Regeneration (Irresistible Grace) - (5) 3 Acts of Faith (Assent to Knowledge) - (6) 4 Acts of Faith (knowledge received and Trust - Conversion] (7) - Passive Justification (declared) - (8) Sanctification (Perseverance, Faith and necessary works) - (9) no Gap - (10) Glorification

Notes

(Order of Salvation and verses above taken from Turretin, Institutes of Elenctic Theology, 15.8.4)

 

[LaGrange]

(1) External Call - Common Grace (external grace)
(2) Gap

(3)-(7) below are simultaneous - Causes and Effects are simultaneous and instantaneous
(Institutes of Elenctic Theology 16.9.8)

(3) effectual call (active Justification) - election to grace (internal grace)
(4) Full Regeneration (irresistible grace)
(5) 3 Acts of Faith:
Knowledge - first three acts of Faith are received as created knowledge
(6) 4 Acts of Faith - Conversion - the last four acts of Faith are effects of that created knowledge received - the Knowledge received is Faith created in us.
(7) Justification (passive)(declared)
(8) Sanctification - Faith and necessary works - must persevere
(9) No Gap (light Gap) - If you are truly one of the elect, there is no gap here. You cannot lose your salvation. It can be questionable if Faith and necessary works are lacking evidence
(10) Glorification (all sin removed at death - Grudem)

7 Acts of Faith:
(1) receiving the Knowledge (gospel) - (2) receiving the Gospel as true (a judgement) - (3) being fully persuaded (irresistible - draw - full conviction) that the Gospel is good (a judgement) - (4) Seeking Christ and salvation - (5) Union with Christ - (6) Reflective (aware) that he believes and is saved - (7) Confidence in the Lord and consolation (Intellect & Will)

Scripture (numbered as in flowchart above):

(1) External Call - Matt 13:48 - bad fish = common call
(3) Effectual Call - Rom 8:28, John 6:45
(4) Regeneration (irresistible grace) - Rom 8:30
(5) 3 Acts of Faith - Rom 4:21, Col 2:2, Heb 10:22
(7) Justification (passive) - Rom 5:2


Catholic [Calling period is usually gradual and Justification (Initial) is Instantaneous and Simultaneous]

(1) Calling (Preparation) - (2) Gap - (3) Justification (Initial) - (4) Justification Process (Calling/ Preparation) - (5) Gap - (6) Glorification

Notes

(1) Calling (Preparation) - Two parts (this is my interpretation and not necessarily the church’s):
1. Before going to Church - With our Natural conscience, virtues and prevenient grace, we begin to seek God - this is to say that God always calls us; He calls us before we hear or read scripture or go to church: He calls us before the age of reason: it is a universal call (Eph 1:4, Rom 11:5 - election to grace)
2. At Church - In adults, during the initial calling period (preparation), both assenting and resisting God’s Grace takes place in the same individuals (unbelievers). Preparation is usually gradual but can be sudden. The Council of Trent lists 11 dispositions that are present during this period of preparation (Council of Trent, Session VI, on Justification, Ch VI)

(2) Gap - This gap is to say that Preparation DOES NOT CAUSE Justification. (Baptism instrumentally causes Justification) - Preparation leads to Justification - Nothing that comes before justification can cause justification - Why? Because you are not a Christian yet. God causes justification when He elects to justification from those that are prepared.

(3) Justification (Initial) = Baptism = Full Regeneration - God elects to justification from those that are prepared - the order of justification takes place here (see below). God calls us at baptism through the priest just like He does through the priest/preacher when he is preaching before and after justification. Then we interiorly call (believe) on the Lord (Rom 10:9-17, Acts 22:16 - Invoking or calling).

Order of Justification
(Aquinas, STh., I-II q.113 a.6)

Short Version:
Infusion of sanctifying grace - receive theological virtues - receive the Gifts of the Holy Ghost - receive operative grace - receive cooperative grace - Act of Faith (voluntarily turn towards God and away from sin) - effects: remission of sin (and merit the reward of eternal life)

Long Version (order 1-4):
(1) Infusion of Grace (Sanctifying Grace - inheres) - receive Theological Virtues of Faith, Hope and Charity which come out of Sanctifying Grace (received = they are gifts; used = they are virtues* - virtues are what they really are - powers in the soul meant to be used)
then
Receive two actual graces in tandem, back-to -back:
Final Preparation: (a) Operative Grace (aka sufficient grace) - Faith, Hope & Charity present and working - Charity completes preparation and perfects the will (the Will is free)
then
Conversion: (b) Cooperative Grace* (aka efficacious grace) the will chooses & consents (the will voluntarily* moves itself) and (2) turns or assents to God (believing) and (3) turns away from sin (believing/penance*) - (4) effects - remission of sin and merit the reward of eternal life

 

[LaGrange]

Notes:
(1) Sanctifying Grace - inheres = resides or stays in the soul at all times - 2 Pet 1:4, Rom 5:17,19, 1 John 3:9, Eph 4:23
(If a mortal sin is committed - this grace is lost and must be restored through the sacrament of Penance (aka Confession)
This grace can be seen by its relation to justification - John 3:5, Titus 3:5, James 1:18, 1 Pet 1:23
This grace is our inheritance (Eph 1:14, 2 Cor 1:22)
This grace removes original sin and actual sin (Rom 3:25, Acts 2:38) remissionem =
release; relief; forgiveness [removes sin as a disease (taint) = ex: Luke 4:39 Aquinas, STh., III q.86 a.5, Bellarmine, Comm on Ps 146:3 (KJV Ps 147:3)]
This grace makes our souls pleasing to God (Eph 1:4)
This Grace is distinct from the virtue of Charity but they come from the same Greek word in scripture - agape (G26)
This grace is Infused = pouring (Rom 5:5)
* Virtues - powers in the soul (John 1:12, Mark 5:30) (ex: partial list - 2 Pet 1:5-7, Wis 8:7)
* (b) Cooperative Actual Grace (efficacious grace) - It moves the will infallibly to consent because of its own divine nature, without forcing it. This is how God moves the Will at the beginning of cooperative grace rather than defining efficacious grace by the completion of the act. (Phil 2:13, Apoc 3:20, James 2:22, etc)
Faith, Hope and Charity are working here during the cooperative actual grace stage too.
* voluntary = free will (is a choice in the intellect but also willing or moving in the Will (STh., I q.83 a.4)(John 8:36, John 1:12, Sir 15:14) - Will moves with the virtues of Faith (Heb 11, Rom 4:3), Hope (trust) [Rom 8:24, 1 Pet 1:3, Ps 61:9 (KJV Ps 62:8)] and Charity (Rom 5:5, Eph 3:17, 1 Cor 13:2) to work.
Charity - out of the theological virtue of Charity flow the Gifts of the Holy Ghost (Rom 5:5 - STh., I-II q.68 a.5 - list - Is 11:2-3) and the other virtues (partial list - 2 Pet 1:5-7, Wis 8:7)
(2) Believing - “Believing” is what you call Faith when it’s in the Act of Faith - Faith (Believing) is a work when it is in an act (John 6:29, Heb 11) - Believing is totally supernatural; believing has no basis in intellectual knowledge (Rom 4:3)
(3) Penance - turns away from sin or fights sin (Acts 2:38, Mark 1:15)
(4) Effects - remission of sin (Rom 3:23-25, Acts 2:38); merit eternal life (Heb 11:6 - rewarder, Rom 2:7, Rom 6:23 - eternal life is a grace (gift) received - We receive eternal life NOW (inheritance) and then the fullness later after death)

(4)Justification process (preparation) - calling and justification continue by perseverance which includes growing in Faith, doing Penance for sin and growing in sanctification; this is all preparation for glorification; the term “justification” is used in scripture in the past, present and future tenses: Baptism - justification process = past (Rom 5:1, Rom 8:30, Titus 3:7, 1 Cor 6:11); justification process = present (Rom 3:24) ; justification process = future (Rom 2:13, Rom 6:16).

(5) Gap - the second gap (light) means you are not automatically going to heaven. You can lose your salvation so you have to continue to prepare. You prepare primarily through the sacraments but also by good works (living the faith). Once you are born again and become a member of the family (baptism), you are always a member of the family but you can lose your inheritance (eternal life) through mortal sin.

(6) Glorification - God elects to glorification from those that are justified and prepared.
The “effect” of justification, sanctification and perseverance = Glorifying God on earth and being Glorified in heaven


Golden Chain of Salvation (Rom 8:29-30)
(aka Order of Salvation - Ordo Salutis):

Arminian

Armimius’ version:

Elect:
Foreknowledge - Predestination* - Calling (individual*) - Justification - Sanctification - Glorification

Reprobate:
Foreknowledge - Calling (universal) - resist calling (individual) - Reprobation

* God predestines only believers and not the reprobate. God universally calls all men. Only individuals are shown here and not all men because this calling is after predestination.

Calvinist

Foreknowledge - Predestination* - Calling (External) - Calling (Effectual)* - Justification - Sanctification (Perseverance) - Glorification

* Predestination - Election and Reprobation (individual)
* Calling (Effectual) - Election (individual)

Catholic*

Foreknowledge - Predestination* - Called - Justification – Glorification

* Catholic order of salvation - STh., I q.23 a.4

Predestination presupposes Love and Election:
(1) Love - God causes the good in others (Eph 1:4)
(2 Election - includes Election to Grace, Justification & Glory separately (1 Cor 4:7, Eph 1:4)

So it could be written like this:
Foreknowledge - Love - Election - Predestination - Called - Justification – Glorification

Predestination - God predestines only the elect and not the reprobate [STh., I q.23 a.3 reply 2; Council of Orange, Denz #200 (397)]. Predestination is the preparation of grace in the present and of glory in the future (STh., I q.23 a.2)

 

[Mike B]

The super-short version:

The Holy Spirit had me buried in conviction and terrified for a week. When I finally received
and understood the Gospel, I went to my knees, alone and afraid, confessed my sins to the Lord
and asked that Jesus forgive me, and save me from an eternity in Hell.

And praise Him forever, He did. When I finally stood up I knew, without question, that
I was bound for Heaven and would spend eternity with my Savior. I was baptised into
a church about two weeks later.

See if that fits into your charts.

 

[Van]

There is no doubt that many of the posters of this forum hold to very different understandings concerning the sequence of actions or interactions involved in salvation in Christ.

The first major difference seems to whether the lost actually make an autonomous choice to fully embrace the gospel's requirements, or whether they are driven by predestination.

What are the commonly held views of predestination?

​

1) Everything has been predestined. Thus we actually have no choice in the matter, we were saved or damned from eternity for eternity and there is absolutely nothing we can do to alter the outcome of our lives for ourselves or our loved ones.​

​

2) God has declared and thus predestined some but not all things, thus allowing the lost to choose life or death, provided they are exposed to the gospel and their heart's have not been hardened by the practice of sin or by God for His purpose. ​

The second major difference seems to be just when are we individually chosen for salvation?

​

1) We were chosen "individually" in Him before the foundation of the world, meaning before we were created.​

​

2) We were chosen "corporately" when Christ was chosen as the Lamb of God, the Redeemer, as the target group (with the shared characteristic of credited faith) of God's Redemption plan before the foundation of the world. Additionally, we were "individually chosen" during our lifetime after we had lived as "not a people" chosen for God's own possession. ​

​

Unless the body of Christ reaches a consensus concerning these two sticking points, no shared understanding of the gospel seems possible.

 

[Ascetic X]

Opening

Hi Everyone,

I did these 3 flowcharts or word pictures so you could more easily compare all three views. Please save this information. I tried very hard going to the original sources to develop these views. I could not find any kind of flowchart on the internet on any of them. It was probably a good thing because it made me research and learn them better. My goal was to try to understand the Arminian and Calvinist views “correctly” and then critique them or ask questions where necessary. I didn’t want to critique something you didn’t believe. Having said that, I don’t know any of these 3 views perfectly and I don’t think I ever will. I did the best I could.

Here’s the main reason why you should save this information

To make an analogy: Soteriology is like trying to put together a 5,000-piece puzzle with no picture on the box. THE FLOWCHART IS THE PICTURE ON THE BOX! The flowcharts help organize your thoughts and make it possible for you to see better where you and your friendly opponent are in your discussions. I refer to the flowcharts as the “Big Picture”.

You may perceive salvation as a 5,000 piece puzzle with no picture on the box, but it is actually so simple, a child can understand it.

Elenctic Theology has apparently convoluted everything for you.

Your flow charts are a jumbled mess that provide no clarity, with undefined terms like “created knowledge” and “passive justification”.

Perhaps you should calm down and rest in God, reading the Bible and praying for enlightenment. Your intellectual complexities are not going to help anyone.