Traditional treatments of the ordo salutis often assume a firm distinction between accomplishment and application of redemption. Terminology, for instance, is strictly distinguished: Sacrifice, redemption, cross, resurrection are on the “accomplished” side, while regeneration, justification, adoption are on the “applied” side.
One of the implications of the work of Richard Gaffin and others si that Paul’s terminology is much more fluid than this. On the one side, Paul uses the language of “accomplishment” to describe the Christian experience of the “application” of redemption. Think of Paul’s various “with Christ” phrases: We died (Romans 6:8; Colossians 2:20), were crucified (Romans 6:6; Galatians 2:20), and raised (Colossians 3:3) with Christ.
On the other hand, the terminology of “application” is sometimes used of the “accomplishment.” “Regeneration” in Matthew 19 doesn’t refer to the experience of new life in a believer but (apparently) to en epoch or order of things – ” in the regeneration.” The terminology of “justification” is used in Isaiah 54:17 to describe Israel’s return from exile, and the verb dikaioo is used in 1 Timothy 3:16 to describe the resurrection. “Adoption” does happen to individuals, but it is also a future event in the history of the world, the “redemption of the body” (Romans 8:23).
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