1. God's Law Reflects God's Character (Who He Is):

   • The ultimate source of all truth is God Himself. He is perfectly holy, just, righteous, good, and loving.

   • His law, therefore, is not arbitrary rules, but an expression of His very nature. It reveals what is inherently true, good, and right because it stems from the perfectly true, good, and righteous God.

   • Psalm 119:142 says, "Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, And Your law is truth." This verse directly links God's righteousness (His character) with His law being truth.

2. The Law as Divine Instruction and Revelation:

   • In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word "Torah" (often translated as "Law") literally means "instruction," "teaching," or "guidance." It's not just a list of prohibitions, but a comprehensive revelation of God's will and wisdom for how humanity should live and how they can have a relationship with Him.

   • Since God is truth, His instructions are true. They accurately describe reality, the nature of good and evil, and the path to genuine life and flourishing.

   • Psalm 19:7-9 beautifully describes the law: "The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul; The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple; The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes; The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether." Notice the consistent emphasis on truth, purity, and righteousness.

3. The Law Exposes Sin and Points to Reality:

   • The law serves as a mirror, showing humanity its imperfection and sinfulness in contrast to God's perfect standard. In this sense, it is "true" because it accurately diagnoses the human condition.

   • Romans 3:20 states, "for through the law comes knowledge of sin." The law truthfully reveals what is wrong, what deviates from God's intended design for creation and humanity.

4. Jesus Christ Embodies and Fulfills the Law/Truth:

   • Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life" (John 14:6). He is the ultimate revelation of God's truth.

   • He also stated that He came not to abolish the Law, but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). He perfectly lived out the Law and, through His sacrifice, perfectly satisfied its righteous demands on behalf of humanity.

   • Therefore, the truth found in the Law ultimately points to and is embodied by Jesus Christ.

5. The Law Guides Towards a True and Abundant Life:

   • Living in accordance with God's law, empowered by the Holy Spirit, leads to a life that is truly abundant, meaningful, and aligned with God's design. This is not about earning salvation, but about living out the reality of being a new creation in Christ.

   • The moral principles embedded in the law are timeless and beneficial for human flourishing, regardless of one's belief system. For example, honesty, faithfulness, and respect for life are universally recognized as good.

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In summary, when we say "the law is truth," we mean that God's law is a direct reflection of His unchanging, perfect, and truthful character. It is a divine revelation that accurately defines reality, distinguishes right from wrong, exposes sin, and ultimately points to Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of all truth and the source of true righteousness. It provides guidance for a life that is genuinely good and pleasing to God.

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Key Differences and Implications

​The Reformed (Calvinist) Order of Salvation     The Armenian/Wesleyan Order of Salvation​

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What is the Order of Salvation?
The ordo salutis (Latin for "order of salvation") is a theological construct in Christian soteriology that describes the logical (not always strictly chronological) sequence of God's saving acts applied to the believer. It originates from Reformed theology but has been adapted across traditions, highlighting the interplay between divine sovereignty and human response

Rooted in passages like Romans 8:29–30 (the "golden chain" of salvation), it underscores salvation as God's initiative from eternity to consummation.
While all orthodox Christians affirm the core elements—such as Christ's atonement, faith, justification, and glorification—the order varies significantly between Reformed (Calvinist) and Arminian/Wesleyan views. Reformed theology prioritizes monergism (God's sole work), placing regeneration before faith, while Arminianism emphasizes synergism (cooperation via free will enabled by grace), placing faith before regeneration.

The Reformed (Calvinist) Order of Salvation
In this view, salvation begins with God's eternal decree and proceeds irresistibly, with human faith as a result of divine regeneration rather than its precondition. A typical sequence includes:
Election/Predestination: God's sovereign choice of individuals before creation, based on His will alone (Ephesians 1:4–5).
Calling: An outward gospel proclamation and inner, effectual call by the Spirit (Romans 8:30).

Regeneration: The Holy Spirit imparts new spiritual life to the elect, enabling faith (Titus 3:5; Ezekiel 36:26).
Conversion (Faith and Repentance): The regenerated sinner trusts Christ and turns from sin, as gifts from God (Ephesians 2:8–9).
Justification: God declares the believer righteous, imputing Christ's merit (Romans 5:1).
Adoption: Believers enter God's family as heirs (Galatians 4:4–7).
Sanctification: Progressive growth in holiness, empowered by the Spirit (1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Perseverance: God's preservation of the saints unto the end (Philippians 1:6).
Glorification: Final perfection at Christ's return (Romans 8:30).
This order emphasizes that no one can contribute to their salvation, avoiding any implication of merit.

The Arminian/Wesleyan Order of Salvation
Arminians stress prevenient (preceding) grace that restores free will to all sinners, making faith the condition for receiving salvation's benefits. Regeneration follows faith, and perseverance is conditional on continued belief. Roger Olson's classical Arminian sequence is:

Electing Grace in Christ: God's election of all who will believe (foreseen faith).
Atonement: Christ's universal provision for sinners.
Prevenient Grace: God's enabling grace through the gospel, convicting and illuminating (Titus 2:11).
Conversion (Repentance and Faith): The sinner's free response to believe and repent.
Regeneration, Justification, Adoption, Union with Christ, Indwelling Spirit: Initial saving acts upon faith (John 3:3–5; Romans 5:1).
Sanctification: Progressive (and potentially entire) holiness.
Glorification: For those who persevere through faith.

A broader Arminian outline includes universal/resistible calling before faith, with sanctification open to full freedom from sin's power in Wesleyan thought.

Key Differences and Implications
Faith vs. Regeneration: Reformed: Regeneration causes faith (monergistic). Arminian:

Faith precedes and conditions regeneration (synergistic).
Election: Reformed: Unconditional (individual selection). Arminian: Conditional (based on foreseen faith or corporate election in Christ).
Calling and Perseverance: Reformed: Irresistible and guaranteed. Arminian: Resistible and dependent on human cooperation.

Practical Ramifications: Reformed views foster assurance in God's sovereignty; Arminian emphasizes responsibility and warning against apostasy (Hebrews 6:4–6).

These frameworks unite in affirming salvation by grace through Christ alone, differing mainly in emphasis to guard biblical truths like sovereignty (Reformed) and love for all (Arminian). For deeper reading, explore primary sources like the Westminster Confession (Reformed) or Arminius's writings. If you'd like focus on a specific tradition, biblical exegesis, or modern debates, let me know!

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