Trusting in Christ

Ephesians 1:12,13  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, 

God works all things after the purpose that He has determine in His will. This is what predestination means. Now the reason God does that is so that we should be to the praise of his glory.  God does everything for His glory!  His glory is praised by having an inheritance for His children. He alone deserves all the glory for what salvation brings. We believe, but God does the saving, the sanctifying, the adopting, the conforming, and the reserving of an inheritance. It's ALL for His glory! Now as we look at these two verses we must notice the order upon which someone comes to trust in Christ for salvation. The phrase who first trusted in Christ makes it clear that all the benefits of salvation: blessings, sanctification, adoption, inheritance only come after a person has trusted Christ. Now Paul begins to explain how it came about that they, (the Ephesians believers) received salvation. Here we have the simple order in which someone is saved. First a person hears the word of truth, the gospel of Christ.  Second, that person then accepts it and believes it to be true.  Finally that person then puts their trust (faith) in Christ.  Hearing the gospel, believing it, and trusting in it, is the order and way a person obtains salvation. Contrary to the inaccurate teachings of Calvinists, someone who is dead in their sins can still hear the gospel being preached. Calvinistic false teaching says a person has to be made alive, quicken, regenerated first in order to be able to hear the gospel and believe it. These verses clearly reveal that salvation and the new birth are a result of a person hearing, believing and trusting first.  Can you really believe that these false teachers put regeneration; being born again before faith?  The Bible is clear, being born again is a result of an individual putting their faith in Christ!  Calvinists truly have an upside down and backwards gospel that they preach. A person who is dead in sin (separated from God) has the ability to hear the preaching of the gospel and in conjunction with the conviction of the Holy Spirit, then choose to believe it and trust in Christ for salvation. The moment that happens the believer is then sealed with the Holy Spirit and secure in salvation.  Salvation is ALL the work of God but believing is OUR responsibility!  God does not regenerate us in order for us to believe, rather our believing initiates regeneration.  We must reject Calvinism and just believe the Bible!  Romans 10:14-17  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.  The order is clear they can't call on him (trust Christ) if they have not believed. And they can't believe if they have not heard.  And they cannot hear unless we preach the gospel. If we are faithful to preach the gospel those that hear it, believe it, and trust it, have saving faith.