Robert McLaughlin Bible Ministries |
Doctrine of divine decrees part 5: lapsarianism.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tactical principles: objective, mass, maneuver, unity of command, security, simplicity, and economy of force.
Luke 12:7
Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are of more value than many sparrows.
Point 2 Definition:
1. The term decree of God appears first in the singular, since God has but one all-inclusive plan. He sees all things at a glance.
2. God formed His decree in eternity, though its execution is in time.
3. God is Holy: Holy means perfect integrity, which is righteousness and justice in the same breath. Nothing God does is wrong or unfair.
4. The divine decree is eternal in character. It cannot be altered or added to. It must play out as God has designed from start to finish.
5. The divine decree is wise, being the product of infinite wisdom. There is a worthy reason for all that God has ever done or will do.
6. The decree of God is Sovereign. God freely designed the decree alone without any influence from any other being.
7. Lastly the divine decree is unconditional. God’s decree does not depend upon any condition of the creature or the conditions surrounding any creature - creature relations and interactions.
GEN 6:17 And behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish.
GEN 6:18 But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you.
1 Tim 2:4
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We must conclude that God made every circumstance around every creature the best possible environment for salvation and subsequent spiritual maturity.
EPH 1:11
also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,
The decree of God is His eternal (always existed), holy (perfect integrity), wise (the application of omniscience to creation), and sovereign purpose, comprehending simultaneously all things that ever were or will be in their causes, conditions (status), successions (interaction with others that leads to certain decisions), relations, and determining their certain futurition.
Point 3: The order of the divine decrees (lapsarianism).
Of all the decrees, five of them are related to the purpose of God in election - the five elective decrees.
Biblical lapsarianism:
a. The decree to create.
b. The decree to permit the fall.
c. Unlimited atonement.
d. The decree to motivate through the deposit of escrow blessings.
e. The simultaneous decrees of election and predestination, and to apply salvation to those who believe in Christ.
Ps 76:10 For the wrath of man shall praise Thee;
1. Supralapsarianism. This is hyper-Calvinism.
a. The decree to elect some to be saved (a false position) and to reprobate all others. This is double predestination and heresy.
b. The decree to provide salvation for the elect, which is the basis for limited atonement.
c. The decree to create man, both elect and non-elect.
d. The decree to permit the fall.
e. The decree to save the elect.
This view elects a non-entity (elect who?)
This view states that election as well as a “limited” atonement was provided before the fall.
1 Ti 4:10
For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
1 JOH 2:2
and He Himself is the propitiation for our sins; and not for ours only, but also for those of the whole world.
This view makes God unfair by electing some creatures to the Lake of Fire, which attacks the character of God.
This view provides man with a “sit on your hands” attitude. Either God elected you or not, there’s nothing you can do about it. Therefore God is not gracious and you have no free will.
The decree is not conditional, but the fulfilment of certain aspects, like election and receiving escrow blessings depended on what God foreknew in EP - your decisions.
This idea fits with a fallacy that’s been around since the ancient Greeks, the Hegelian fallacy that every thesis must have an antithesis. If the antithesis is not stated in the Bible then it doesn’t exist.
The universe sprang from Chaos. Then came Uranus, or Heaven, who was supposed to have been the first supreme god. But he was driven from power by his son Cronos or Saturn, who afterwards received the same treatment at the hands of his son Zeus or Jupiter.
Supralapsarianism is nothing new. It’s just the Hegelian fallacy of dualism with a new paint job.