Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries
The doctrine of the divine decrees. Part 13.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
A. God decreed to create all mankind with free will in the status of perfection for two reasons:
To resolve the prehistoric angelic conflict
To bring many sons into glory
B. God decreed to permit mankind’s fall through the function of his own determination, his own volition as the extension of the angelic conflict into human history.
C. God decreed to provide eternal salvation for all mankind under the doctrine of unlimited atonement.
D. God decreed to leave the reprobate (those who reject Christ as Savior) to their just condemnation.
E. God decreed simultaneously in eternity past both Election/Predestination for believers only.
The plan of God has to do with God gathering into one all-inclusive plan, all the objects of salvation, whether in heaven or earth, in Christ.
It is also called the mysterious purpose or plan which had been hidden for ages in God, which it now made known to His saints, EPH 3:4-11.
A Plan:
The selection of some definite end or object to be accomplished.
The choice of appropriate means.
At least in the case of God, the effectual application and control of those means to the accomplishment of the contemplated end.
Quote from Charles Hodge, Volume 2, “Systematic Theology”
As God works on a definite plan in the external world, it is fair to infer that the same is true in reference to the moral and spiritual world. To the eye of an uneducated man, the heavens are a chaos of stars.
However, the astronomer sees "order and system" in this confusion; all those bright and distant luminaries have their appointed places and fixed orbits; all are so arranged that no one interferes with any other, but each is directed according to one comprehensive and magnificent conception.
If there be such a plan concerning the redemption of man, it is obviously of the greatest importance that it should be known and correctly apprehended.
If the end of redemption as well as of creation and of providence, is the production of the greatest amount of happiness, then Christianity is one thing; if the end be the glory of God, then Christianity is another thing. The whole character of our theology and religion depends on the answer to that question.
The order of the divine decrees, or in other words, the relation in which the several parts of the divine plan stand to each other, is therefore very far from being a matter of idle speculation. It must determine our theology, and our theology determines our faith.
The decrees of God are His eternal purpose according to the counsels of His own will whereby for His own glory He has foreordained whatever comes to pass.
EXO 33:17-19 The LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing of which you have spoken; for you have found favor in My sight and I have known you by name." Then Moses said, "I pray You, show me Your glory!" And He said, "I Myself will make all My goodness pass before you, and will proclaim the name of the LORD before you; and I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show compassion on whom I will show compassion."
GLORY = GRACE
If you want to see God’s glory, just look at God’s grace.
Supralapsarianism: says that God is unfair because He selected some people to be saved and the rest are lost, no matter what they do or think.
Sublapsarianism: teaches the limited atonement and is blasphemous for many reasons especially inherited sin!
Arminian lapsarianism: makes election synonymous with experiential sanctification and depending on foreseen human virtue, faith, and obedience.
ROM 11:6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace.
Infralapsarianism: makes election before the application of salvation.
Biblical lapsarianism: election last as the crown jewel of God’s grace and love by capstoning the decrees with unfathomable escrow blessings.
ROM 8:28 we "are called according to His purpose"
ROM 9:11 for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His election might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls
EPH 3:11 This was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord
2TI 1:9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity
JER 29:11 “For I know the plans that I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans for prosperity and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
The purpose and the plan of God have to do with God glorifying Himself, not glorifying us!
EPH 1:10 that God did all this “with a view to an administration suitable to the fulness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things upon the earth.”
EPH 3:11 This [mystery] was in accordance with the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord,