Historia Salutis

Because I can’t find much online on this theological term, I’m redone an old post from my old blog so I can link to it when I do this week’s theological term post.

The historia salutis refers to the history of salvation — what God did to work redemption in history. The ordo salutis explains the order of the application of the benefits of redemption to an individual person, but the historia salutis explains the events God worked in history to bring salvation to the world. Or it might be better to start with the historia salutis—God’s work in the history of the world to accomplish redemption of his creatures and his creation—and then move to the ordo salutis, which tells us how the redemption accomplished historically by God becomes effective in the life of one who is being saved. 

Christ’s work—his coming in the incarnation, dying, rising, and sending the Spirit, etc.—is at the center of the historia salutis, but God’s creation, mankind’s fall, God’s covenant with Abraham, and God’s establishment of the nation of Israel, etc. would also be included. It is with the historia salutis that we see the big change that occurred with the death of Christ and the new age ushered in at the time of his death/resurrection/ascension. Pentecost, the growth of the church, and spread of the gospel throughout the world are all part of the history salutis because in them God is working out in history the results of Christ’s accomplishments.

When someone speaks of the “history of redemption”, they are refering to the historia salutis. The concept of “already/not yet“—the acknowledgement that the kingdom of God was inaugurated with Jesus’ life and ministry, but will not be consummated until his second coming—is also closely associated with the historia salutis.

A Catechism for Girls and Boys

Questions about Prayer

114. Q. What is the second petition [in the Lord’s Prayer]?
          A. “Thy kingdom come.”

115. Q. What do we pray for in the second petition?
          A. That the gospel may be preached in all the world, and believed and obeyed by us and all men.

(Click through to read scriptural proofs.)

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Sunday's Hymn: In Tenderness He Sought Me

In tenderness He sought me,
Weary and sick with sin;
And on His shoulders brought me
Back to His fold again.
While angels in His presence sang
Until the courts of Heaven rang.

Refrain

Oh, the love that sought me!
Oh, the blood that bought me!
Oh, the grace that brought me to the fold,
Wondrous grace that brought me to the fold.

He washed the bleeding sin wounds,
And poured in oil and wine;
He whispered to assure me,
I’ve found thee, thou art Mine;
I never heard a sweeter voice;
It made my aching heart rejoice!

He pointed to the nail prints,
For me His blood was shed,
A mocking crown so thorny
Was placed upon His head;
I wondered what He saw in me,
To suffer such deep agony.

I’m sitting in His presence,
The sunshine of His face,
While with adoring wonder
His blessings I retrace.
It seems as if eternal days
Are far too short to sound His praise.

So while the hours are passing,
All now is perfect rest,
I’m waiting for the morning,
The brightest and the best,
When He will call us to His side,
To be with Him, His spotless bride.

—W. Spen­cer Wal­ton

Other hymns, worship songs, sermons etc. posted today:

• Take the Name of Jesus with You at Conjubilant With Song
• O Sacred Head at Gospel Grace
• One Way God Said at The Happy Wonderer
• Voices From the Past #5 at Tried With Fire 
• Lord’s Day 5, 2013 at The Thirsty Theologian
• Your Weekly Dose of Spurgeon at Pyromaniacs: Are You Prepared?
• Praying the Sermon on the Mount - On Giving at Daily On My Way to Heaven

Have you posted a hymn (or sermon, sermon notes, prayer, etc.) today and I missed it? Let me know by leaving a link in the comments or by contacting me using the contact form linked above, and I’ll add your post to the list.