TheosGuy

Following are the generally recognized systems that define the decretive work of God. The first two are generally considered to be Reformed.

Supralapsarian (Before the Fall)

1. God’s decree to glorify Himself through the election of some to salvation and some to reprobation.
2. God’s decision to create the universe.
3. God decrees the fall into sin.
4. God’s decision to provide a savior for the elect in the mediatorial work of Christ.

Note: in the supralapsarian system:

• The elective work is before the decree of the fall into sin.
• God’s decretive will begins with predestination.
• Election and reprobation are God’s primary work prior to creation.
• The 2nd-4th decrees are means toward realization of the 1st. Creation is for the sake of election and damnation. The fall serves God’s elective purpose.
• This decretive order seems to suggest that God is responsible for the fall since some humans are created expressly for damnation.

Much of the Reformed Church do not hold to this system of decrees developed by Theodore Beza. Generally, they hold to infralapsarianism.

Infralapsarian (After the Fall)

1. God’s decision to create the world.
2. God’s decision to allow man to fall into sin through his own self-determination.
3. God decrees to elect some to salvation in Jesus Christ.
4. God determines to pass by and leave the non-elect to their just fate and condemnation.

Note: in the inralapsarian system:

• The elective work is after the decision to allow the fall into sin.
• Follows the Scriptural order: creation, fall and salvation.

Sublapsarian

1. Creation of human beings
2. Permit the Fall
3. Provide salvation sufficient for all
4. Election to salvation and reprobation

Arminian Decretive Order

1. God’s decision to be gracious toward sinful human beings by providing a Savior in Jesus Christ.
2. God decrees to accept those who repent and believe in Christ, but to leave the unrepentant and unbelieving in their sin and to hold them responsible for the wrath of damnation.
3. Appointment of the proclamation of the Gospel as the means necessary to call people to salvation.
4. God decreed to save and damn particular persons based upon His prescience of their decision to repent and believe.

Tags: Election, God

I was reading the book Saved and Kept by F.B. Meyer. One of the chapters caught my interest. I thought it would be a good devotional/teaching possibility. The outline below isn’t directly from the chapter, but what inspired me to think about it. However, I think I took the title directly from the chapter, if I remember right. I don’t have it in front of me. When I get time, I’ll go get the Scripture references pertaining to the outline items.

Title: Saved and Kept by the Trinity

Outline:

• God the Father
• He draws
• He chooses
• He gives
• God the Son
• He draws
• He died
• He rose
• He intercedes (High Priest)
• He loves
• God the Holy Spirit
• He draws
• He convicts
• He quickens / enlightens
• He seals
• He presents the Bride

looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 NKJV)

Tags: Election, Salvation, Teaching Ideas, Trinity

God chose Israel not because they were a mighty people, nor because there was anything inherently good. Go chose Israel to glorify Himself and to display His love.

(Deu 7:6-9 NKJV) For you [are] a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth. The LORD did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; but because the LORD loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Therefore know that the LORD your God, He [is] God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

Also see Romans 9:10-12.

God chose Abraham and Sarah to be the parents of a nation. But Sarah was barren. God did this to show His power (Gen 18:9-19).

God chose Gideon to lead an army. But reduced the army to such a small number (the least) so that God would get the glory (Judges 7).

God chose David, to be King of Israel, even though he was the youngest of the “Jesse boys,” Jesse did not even present David to Samuel at first (1 Sam 16:1-13).

God chose a Pharisee named Saul (later renamed Paul, to be the Apostle to the Gentiles. Remember that before Damascus, Paul was not a friend to Gentile or to Christian. By the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul called himself “the least of the apostles” (1 Cor 15:9) and “the least of all the saints” (Eph 3:8).

Tags: Election, Humility, Israel