I grew up entrenched in American evangelicalism. I was weaned on Biblical tales, bedecked as Moses or David at fall festivals, earned my Awana badges, and, by age 15, was preaching in fiery fundamental fashion. I claimed a depth of Scriptural knowledge, having memorized multiple chapters from the book and crafted an ability to talk my friends in religious circles. As I reached the cusp of my college years, however, my theological knowledge proved to be anemic and thin. On multiple points of doctrine this ignorance was exposed, but perhaps none more so than in relation to the “Order of Salvation.” The systematic itself had been captured in a Latin phrase – Ordo Salutis – born of Lutheran theologians in the 1720’s. The concept explains from Scripture the sequential ordering of salvific realities. These realities and the progression of them are often neglected or misunderstood in modern Christianity, but are actually, in reality, critical to our view of God and our worship of Him.
Another systematic study, especially from someone as under-qualified as myself, will hardly be beneficial to the typical 21st century evangelical thinker; but I believe that the miraculous process of a sovereign God bestowing remarkable grace upon undeserving criminals must be declared here and now to the biblically-starved masses. Therefore, like Bunyan and Lewis before me – though hardly in their class – I am embarking on an allegorical journey that will – God-willing – through story-form, inspire believers to adoration and obedience.
A Hunger to Explore and be Transformed by Scripture
I won’t spoil the story, but I will invite you to journey alongside of me as I chart a course, through the power of narrative, from despair to deliverance, from loss to life.