Quote:
Originally Posted by Red Beetle  "In plain English, salvation is a broad term that includes regeneration, justification, adoption, sanctification, and glorification. The present study concerns sanctification" (Sanctification, Introduction, page 1).
Anthony, I don't know if were both reading Clark the same way.
Clark is simply enumerating different members classed together under the term 'salvation.'
By doing so, Clark is in complete agreement with the Westminster Standards and historical Reformed theology.
Clark's plain English understanding of the term here is denotative, even though he leaves out election in the above quote from page 1 of Sanctification. But no Calvinist, especially Gordon H. Clark, would argue that election is not part of the "Golden Chain of Salvation" (consider his book "Predestination"). The soteric doctrines listed by Clark are logically connected, they are each essential to the plain English understanding of the term "salvation," but each member classed under the term 'salvation' is different, and not to be confused. |
Exactly. I agree completely.
My point is to show that salvation can not mean both justification and sanctification at the same time. In fact, there is not instance in Scripture where the term refers to both at the same time.
While the term salvation can refer to any of election, sanctification, justification, glorification, etc., in Scripture it never refers to all at the same time and in the same sense.
Justification is not sanctification.
Sanctification is not justification.
The salvation of justification is not the same salvation of sanctification.
They both are a kind of salvation, but in categorically different senses. The salvation of justification refers specifically to the being saved from spiritual death and separation from the Father, to eternal life, and comes from the
external righteousness of Christ
imputed to us forensically. It refers to an
event when we are declared righteous when we are saved through faith
alone.
The salvation of sanctification refers to being freed from the bondage of sin through the
process of sanctification by an
internal change over time to our nature, and
infused rightousness by the Spirit. It begins when we are regenerate, but adds nothing at all to our justification.
Our salvation by justification is
perfect and complete. And
no part of our sanctification adds anything to our salvation by justification. No part of our righteousness by sanctification earns us eternal life with the Father or saves us from damnation.
While these ideas are logically interrelated, they are distinct and not to be confused. That is both confessional and biblical.