Ordo Sanctification In The Arminian Doctrine

Confusion has arisen in the church over the process of one's salvation, thus splitting the church into two different views: the Armenians and the Calvinists. Arminians believe that salvation follows faith. While they do accept that God is still the one who does the action of saving, they believe that man has a role to play in choosing whether or not to believe. The Calvinists on the other hand believe that faith is a result of salvation; meaning a person is saved prior to their action of belief.
The steps leading to salvation in the Arminian doctrine begins with the hearing of the gospel, then prevenient grace (which enables a person to believe), faith, repentance, regeneration, justification, sanctification, then lastly glorification. First,
The Calvinists use much of the same terminology, however, in a different order. Election can be defined as God's choice of people to save before time began. This chosing act of God can be found in Ephesians 1:4-5, "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:4-5, NIV). This passage in Ephesians is perfectly in tandem with our previous definition for election. Furthermore, passages like Romans 9:11 actually use the word election to describe the process explained above. The only other topic of controversy between Arminians and Calvinists is the doctrine of predestination. Predestination is the work of God to save those who have been elected. Predestination and election are very closely related, however, predestination is the act that follows election and in a way completes the act of salvation before time. The verse above in Ephesians 1:4-5 neatly sums up the two and explains predestination as well. Just as the definition for predestination states, we are chosen before time for "adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ". The rest of the ordo is still required for salvation, however, the
The Calvinist ordo salutis places regeneration first, faith, then repentance. The Arminian ordo salutis on the other hand places faith first, then repentance, then regeneration. The problem with the Arminian ordo here is that trusting in Christ's work on the cross and turning away from sin cannot possibly come before man has been changed out of his sinful nature by God. The Arminians claim that something good (faith and the desire to repent) can come out of our sinful nature. In Romans 7:18-19 Paul states, "For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep doing" (Romans 7:18-19, NIV). Paul clearly describes the struggle, no matter what man cannot do anything but sin even if he desires to. Therefore, faith and repentance cannot come before regeneration. Man first must be changed by God before he can have the desire to come to Christ or repent of his