The Ordo Salutis - Predestination
Predestination
All Baptists believe in predestination because the word appears in the Bible several times. But one man said that 90% of Southern Baptists don’t believe in predestination as interpreted by the “Reformed” churches. The Southern Baptist Convention has not taken and official position have an official stance on on either Calvinism or Arminianism. But if you surveyed Southern Baptists across the nation you would likely find adherents at both ends of the spectrum with plenty at each point in between.
An SBC pastor in Texas says: Any baptist that calls themselves "reformed" in their theology is not a true baptist, because reformed theology involves a lot more than the 5 Points of Calvinism, and it directly opposes some Baptist distinctives. Another retired Southern Baptist said that claiming to be a Calvinist Baptist “is like claiming to be a Christian atheist—the two words are incompatible.”
However, there are 2 major camps in the SBC on this topic. One is the Founders Ministries on the Calvinistic side, and a new group led by Dr. Eric Hankins that have put forward an anti-Calvinistic statement in May 2012 to get churches on board with an opposition movement.
You can find the Founders Ministries and where their churches are located at https://founders.org. There are 59 Founders churches in Florida. Two are in Sanford:
Of all the SBC seminaries, Southern in Louisville is probably the most sympathetic to Founders Ministries.
Though you usually think of Presbyterians when you think of predestination, there are and have been lots of Baptist who are Reformed. The Primitive Baptists and the Reformed Baptists are two I can think of.
2. The Reformed Baptists hold to the1689 Baptist Confession of Faith which you can read online. Some well-known Baptists in the Reformed camp are John MacArthur, John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, and Alistair Begg.
Definition of Predestination or Election
The doctrine of election is the 2nd of the 5 Points of Calvinism or the Doctrines of Grace. Thus far, these are the first 2 points of the Doctrines of Grace.
Total Depravity - This does not mean a person is as bad as he can possibly be. It means we are totally corrupted by sin to the point that we are spiritually dead and have neither the desire, will , or ability to believe in God.
Unconditional Election - if Total Depravity is true, then Unconditional Election by default, or necessity, has to be true, or no one will ever be saved.
Here is a formal definition of unconditional election found in the Canons of Dordt (written in 1618-19 in the Netherlands). It is one of the 3 confessions of the Dutch Reformed churches, the other two being The Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession. The Canons of Dordt were written as a response to Arminianism.
“Before the foundation of the world, by sheer grace, according to the free good pleasure of his will, God chose in Christ to salvation a definite number of particular people out of the entire human race, which had fallen by its own fault from its original innocence into sin and ruin. Those chosen were neither better nor more deserving than the others, but lay with them in the common misery.”
Here is another formal definition of election from the Westminster Confession of Faith (written in 1646 at Westminster Abby that became the doctrinal statement of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and the Presbyterian churches worldwide. The Westminster Confession of Faith has been greatly modified in the US Presbyterian churches.
To put it simply: Before the world began, God in His love and grace chose out of all humanity some to be saved (the elect) and some to be lost (the reprobate) without regard to anything they had done or would do. This would include angels as well as humanity.
Some do not go as far as to say that God also predestined some to eternal damnation. They will just say that He chose some and passed over others. But the effect would be the same. In either case, the non-elect are reprobate.
Common Objections To Predestination
Before we get into this, let’s list what are the most common objections to the Reformed doctrine or predestination.
1. If it is true, then God does not love the world and everybody in it, as we have been taught.
2. If it is true, then that would mean that man does not have a free will, as we have been taught.
3. If it is true, then there is no need for evangelism, missionaries, preachers, churches, or prayer, as we have been taught.
4. If it is true, then God is not fair.
5. If it is true, then nothing matters. We can live anyway we want, and it will make no difference.
The Biblical Evidence For Predestination
There is more information about this in the Bible than most people know.
Rev 13:8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Acts 4:27-28 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
John 6:65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
2. But the most information about election and predestination comes from 2 central passages. Though they are the lengthiest most thorough in presentation, they will also leave you with more questions, more dilemma, more mystery, more confusion, more questions about the God you believe in, more elevated thoughts about God Himself, and more gratitude, praise, glory and worship of and for God than just about any other part of the Bible.
a. Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 1 is a major text on the Trinity. It emphasizes primarily the Father and the Son and relegates the Holy Spirit to the role that He primarily plays - a silent one.The Holy Spirit takes a background position because the spotlight is on the Son. The HS primarily supports and emphasizes the Son and applies the redemption the Son accomplished.
But the passage also teaches election. It pronounces the motivation for God electing His own and focuses attention on the One who accomplished God’s elective purpose. The passage puts election into a different light. Rather than a cold, arbitrary decision, election magnifies God’s grace. It is not an easy passage to navigate because there are lots of tricky pronouns, and in the Greek language v. 3-14 is just ONE long sentence.
Highlights of Ephesians 1
Verse 1 The entire passage is summarized right here in this first verse. It’s a microcosm of all the verses up through v. 14.
a. The Father and Son are separate beings in the Godhead.
b. The Father’s willed that the gospel be about His Son, Christ Jesus (not about Himself or even the Holy Spirit.
c. The will of the Father supersedes the Son’s will. Hence, there is submission in the Godhead. Each member plays a different role.
Verses 3-10 Of the three members of the Trinity, all of the praise and glory redounds to the Father. Why?
1. The Father is the one to be blessed because He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, namely . . .
• elected us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him - 4
• loved us - 4 (It is God the Father who initiated love for us, not the Son or HS)
Jn 3:16 For God (the Father) so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
I Jn 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God
• predestined us for adoption as sons - 5
2. The Father brings all these blessings to us through the Son. The Father puts the spotlight on the Son in the redemptive plan. There is no gospel if the Son is not out front and displayed prominently because we are saved through the Son’s blood. Note below how much the Son is emphasized and wherein the blessings the Father brings to us lie.
• in Christ - 3
• in him - 4
• through Jesus Christ - 5
• blessed us in the Beloved - 6
• redemption through His blood
• the forgiveness of our trespasses
• in Him - 7
• set forth in Christ - 9
• in Him - 10
• in Hm - 11
3. The Father did this according to His plan and purpose
a. His plan
•According to the purpose of His will - 5
• According to His purpose - 9
• As a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in Christ - 9
• According to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will - 11
b. His purpose
To the praise of the glory (and the riches) of His grace which He lavished upon us - 6,7, 8
• In particular, this grace is redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses
• Note well - this is the motive behind God’s predestination of the elect. The question is often asked why would God elect anybody and not others? Better, why did God elect me before the foundation of the world? For God the Father to send His own dear Son to this mortal coil in our likeness to live here without committing a single sin and then to die an ignominious death at the hands of sinners on a cross in order to cover and forgive the depravity of those who deserve nothing but condemnation is for one reason only - to let a sinner know this originates purely from one source - the storehouse of the riches of God’s unmerited favor that were undeservedly poured out freely, profusely,
lavishly, extravagantly, and without abatement or reserve upon him. It is incomprehensible that God would not do the opposite - condemn and damn those who broke His law. But God did the opposite. That is why He deserves praise for His glorious grace. Likewise, the highest motivation we have for others to come to Christ is because God the Father also deserves their praise and glory for the riches of His grace that He will spend upon them too. We reconcile people to God not for their sake but for God’s.
• to the praise of His glory - 12
• to the praise of His glory -14
Summary: For His own plan and purpose the Father elected us before the foundation of the world for blessings focused in and obtained by Christ that emphasize praise for the glorious riches of God’s grace. God the Father receives all the glory and honor for choosing us in His plan, but the centerpiece of that redemption we receive is in the Son who carried out and accomplished the Father’s plan to make us holy, blameless, and the adopted sons of God. The Holy Spirit behind the scenes seals (mark for authentic ownership) and applies the Son’s accomplishment of that plan to us by becoming the guarantee (earnest, downpayment, engagement ring) by uniting with us. (V14).
Here in short form is another way to say it and think of it.
The Father chooses the elect.
The Son accomplishes the elect’s redemption.
The Holy Spirit applies the redemption to the elect.
All of the above is confirmed in 3 other passages that focus attention on the Son.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[a] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Philippians 2:6-11 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 4 and 5
4 - The Father sits on the holy throne of heaven surrounded by 24 elders and angels who are giving glory and honor to Him, worshiping. Him as the Creator.
5 - In the Father’s hand is a scroll. An angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?” No one in heaven or earth or under the earth was worthy. Suddenly the Lion of the tribe of Judah, a Lamb as though he had been slain, comes forth, taking center stage by taking the scroll from Him who sits on the throne. When He does, heavenly beings fall down before Him singing a new song claiming that He was worthy because He was slain and ransomed God’s people from every nation and made them priests to God. Joining the chorus were the voices of myriads and thousands and thousands of angels who proclaimed the slain Lamb was worthy of honor, glory, and blessing. Then every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, give blessing, glory, and honor to both Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
We now come to the second major passage about predestination. It is found in the Sovereignty section of Romans, which is where we would expect to find it according to the outline of Romans. Our salvation and sanctification from sin are because of God’s sovereignty in electing grace.
Outline of Romans
1-3 Sin
4-5 Salvation
6-8 Sanctification
9-11 Sovereignty
12-16 Service
b, Romans 9:1-29 This is the most difficult central passage about election for people because it seems like it teaches DOUBLE PREDESTINATION.
1) Ro 9:1-5 The Jews had every advantage for believing that Jesus was their Messiah, even X Himself.
2) Ro 9:6-13 But since they did not accept Him, it appeared that all those advantages failed them. But that is not true because those promises were only for a certain part of Israel - the real, spiritual Israel within Israel. The real Israel flows through The Promise to Adam and Abraham and through his son Isaac on into Christ eventually. The Israel in Christ is who those promises were for. Since Isaac had 2 sons - Jacob and Esau - only one of those sons carried the Promise - Jacob. The Lord loved Jacob and hated Esau (Heb 12:16).
3) Ro 9:14-24 2 objections
a) God is unjust, v. 14-18
• God sovereignly does as He pleases
• Pharaoh
There are fifteen references to the hardening of Pharaoh' s heart. Seven of those references say that the LORD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART. Three references say the Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and five references say the Pharaoh's heart became hard or was hard (or unyielding) with no indication that he or the Lord caused this.
4) Because no one can resist God’s will, why does He still find fault with us, v. 19-24
a) Who are you to answer back to God? Clay does not tell the Potter what to make
b) God can made one vessel of wrath (prepared for destruction) and one vessel of mercy (to make known the riches of His glory)
• One group of those vessels of mercy is the Jews, v. 24-29
• The other group of those vessels is the Gentiles. v. 30-33
Infralapsarianism and Supralapsarianism
Let’s think about these 2 passages above in light of two theological terms discussed among Calvinist thinkers since the 1500s. These terms will help you think preceptively about the difference between these 2 passages and about how God perceived his creatures when they were predestined to either salvation or reprobation. Those terms are Infralapsarianism and Supralapsarianism.
The term lapsarian is related to the English word lapse; mankind’s fall into sin was a “lapse” in that it was a “slip” or a “falling” from their original state of innocence. The focus of infralapsarianism is that God viewed the elect as sinners. INFRA = within or below. So in this view, God saw those He elected as sinners.
Supralapsarianism says God viewed the elect as individuals without viewing them as sinners first. SUPRA = above or transcending. They were above or transcendent (lying beyond) of sin.
Would you say Eph 1 is infrapsarian or supralapsarian?
Would you say Romans 9 is infrapsarian or supralapsarian?
I would say Ephesians 1 is infralapsarian and Romans 9 is supralapsarian.
Ultimately, these are issues that we are incapable of fully grasping. It does not truly matter how God perceived the elect in either of those passages. What truly matters is that God foreknew you in a plan that included sin, and you were graciously elected by God the Father to be saved from that sin by His Son who obtained salvation for you to the praise of the Father’s glorious grace. Now, before we move on, lets mediate on one more thing that I think speaks directly to predestination and is just more evidence for the Reformed doctrine of predestination.
The passage below is also found in the Sovereignty section of Romans and will answer thoughts that all people have about evangelism and how it relates to election and predestination. It will show you how you were able to cross that impossible divide that hopelessly separates you from the mind of the flesh that is dead because of sin and has no ability to change that status to life and the mind of the Spirit.
All Baptists believe in predestination because the word appears in the Bible several times. But one man said that 90% of Southern Baptists don’t believe in predestination as interpreted by the “Reformed” churches. The Southern Baptist Convention has not taken and official position have an official stance on on either Calvinism or Arminianism. But if you surveyed Southern Baptists across the nation you would likely find adherents at both ends of the spectrum with plenty at each point in between.
An SBC pastor in Texas says: Any baptist that calls themselves "reformed" in their theology is not a true baptist, because reformed theology involves a lot more than the 5 Points of Calvinism, and it directly opposes some Baptist distinctives. Another retired Southern Baptist said that claiming to be a Calvinist Baptist “is like claiming to be a Christian atheist—the two words are incompatible.”
However, there are 2 major camps in the SBC on this topic. One is the Founders Ministries on the Calvinistic side, and a new group led by Dr. Eric Hankins that have put forward an anti-Calvinistic statement in May 2012 to get churches on board with an opposition movement.
You can find the Founders Ministries and where their churches are located at https://founders.org. There are 59 Founders churches in Florida. Two are in Sanford:
- Grace Chapel
- Grace Fellowship
Of all the SBC seminaries, Southern in Louisville is probably the most sympathetic to Founders Ministries.
Though you usually think of Presbyterians when you think of predestination, there are and have been lots of Baptist who are Reformed. The Primitive Baptists and the Reformed Baptists are two I can think of.
2. The Reformed Baptists hold to the1689 Baptist Confession of Faith which you can read online. Some well-known Baptists in the Reformed camp are John MacArthur, John Piper, Charles Spurgeon, and Alistair Begg.
Definition of Predestination or Election
The doctrine of election is the 2nd of the 5 Points of Calvinism or the Doctrines of Grace. Thus far, these are the first 2 points of the Doctrines of Grace.
Total Depravity - This does not mean a person is as bad as he can possibly be. It means we are totally corrupted by sin to the point that we are spiritually dead and have neither the desire, will , or ability to believe in God.
Unconditional Election - if Total Depravity is true, then Unconditional Election by default, or necessity, has to be true, or no one will ever be saved.
Here is a formal definition of unconditional election found in the Canons of Dordt (written in 1618-19 in the Netherlands). It is one of the 3 confessions of the Dutch Reformed churches, the other two being The Heidelberg Catechism and the Belgic Confession. The Canons of Dordt were written as a response to Arminianism.
“Before the foundation of the world, by sheer grace, according to the free good pleasure of his will, God chose in Christ to salvation a definite number of particular people out of the entire human race, which had fallen by its own fault from its original innocence into sin and ruin. Those chosen were neither better nor more deserving than the others, but lay with them in the common misery.”
Here is another formal definition of election from the Westminster Confession of Faith (written in 1646 at Westminster Abby that became the doctrinal statement of the Church of England, the Church of Scotland, and the Presbyterian churches worldwide. The Westminster Confession of Faith has been greatly modified in the US Presbyterian churches.
- God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of His own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established.
- Although God knows whatsoever may or can come to pass upon all supposed conditions, yet hath He not decreed any thing because He foresaw it as future, or as that which would come to pass upon such conditions.
- By the decree of God, for the manifestation of His glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death.
- These angels and men, thus predestinated, and foreordained, are particularly and unchangeably designed, and their number so certain and definite, that it cannot be either increased or diminished.
- Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to His eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of His will, hath chosen, in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of His mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith, or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving Him thereunto: and all to the praise of His glorious grace.
To put it simply: Before the world began, God in His love and grace chose out of all humanity some to be saved (the elect) and some to be lost (the reprobate) without regard to anything they had done or would do. This would include angels as well as humanity.
Some do not go as far as to say that God also predestined some to eternal damnation. They will just say that He chose some and passed over others. But the effect would be the same. In either case, the non-elect are reprobate.
Common Objections To Predestination
Before we get into this, let’s list what are the most common objections to the Reformed doctrine or predestination.
1. If it is true, then God does not love the world and everybody in it, as we have been taught.
2. If it is true, then that would mean that man does not have a free will, as we have been taught.
3. If it is true, then there is no need for evangelism, missionaries, preachers, churches, or prayer, as we have been taught.
4. If it is true, then God is not fair.
5. If it is true, then nothing matters. We can live anyway we want, and it will make no difference.
The Biblical Evidence For Predestination
There is more information about this in the Bible than most people know.
- First, there are Scriptures that, although they do not use the word election or predestination, certainly state what sounds like the same thing.
Rev 13:8 and all who dwell on earth will worship it, everyone whose name has not been written before the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who was slain.
Acts 4:27-28 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
John 6:65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
2. But the most information about election and predestination comes from 2 central passages. Though they are the lengthiest most thorough in presentation, they will also leave you with more questions, more dilemma, more mystery, more confusion, more questions about the God you believe in, more elevated thoughts about God Himself, and more gratitude, praise, glory and worship of and for God than just about any other part of the Bible.
a. Ephesians 1:3-14
Ephesians 1 is a major text on the Trinity. It emphasizes primarily the Father and the Son and relegates the Holy Spirit to the role that He primarily plays - a silent one.The Holy Spirit takes a background position because the spotlight is on the Son. The HS primarily supports and emphasizes the Son and applies the redemption the Son accomplished.
But the passage also teaches election. It pronounces the motivation for God electing His own and focuses attention on the One who accomplished God’s elective purpose. The passage puts election into a different light. Rather than a cold, arbitrary decision, election magnifies God’s grace. It is not an easy passage to navigate because there are lots of tricky pronouns, and in the Greek language v. 3-14 is just ONE long sentence.
Highlights of Ephesians 1
Verse 1 The entire passage is summarized right here in this first verse. It’s a microcosm of all the verses up through v. 14.
a. The Father and Son are separate beings in the Godhead.
b. The Father’s willed that the gospel be about His Son, Christ Jesus (not about Himself or even the Holy Spirit.
c. The will of the Father supersedes the Son’s will. Hence, there is submission in the Godhead. Each member plays a different role.
Verses 3-10 Of the three members of the Trinity, all of the praise and glory redounds to the Father. Why?
1. The Father is the one to be blessed because He blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, namely . . .
• elected us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him - 4
• loved us - 4 (It is God the Father who initiated love for us, not the Son or HS)
Jn 3:16 For God (the Father) so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
I Jn 3:1 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God
• predestined us for adoption as sons - 5
2. The Father brings all these blessings to us through the Son. The Father puts the spotlight on the Son in the redemptive plan. There is no gospel if the Son is not out front and displayed prominently because we are saved through the Son’s blood. Note below how much the Son is emphasized and wherein the blessings the Father brings to us lie.
• in Christ - 3
• in him - 4
• through Jesus Christ - 5
• blessed us in the Beloved - 6
• redemption through His blood
• the forgiveness of our trespasses
• in Him - 7
• set forth in Christ - 9
• in Him - 10
• in Hm - 11
3. The Father did this according to His plan and purpose
a. His plan
•According to the purpose of His will - 5
• According to His purpose - 9
• As a plan for the fullness of time to unite all things in Christ - 9
• According to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of his will - 11
b. His purpose
To the praise of the glory (and the riches) of His grace which He lavished upon us - 6,7, 8
• In particular, this grace is redemption through His blood and the forgiveness of our trespasses
• Note well - this is the motive behind God’s predestination of the elect. The question is often asked why would God elect anybody and not others? Better, why did God elect me before the foundation of the world? For God the Father to send His own dear Son to this mortal coil in our likeness to live here without committing a single sin and then to die an ignominious death at the hands of sinners on a cross in order to cover and forgive the depravity of those who deserve nothing but condemnation is for one reason only - to let a sinner know this originates purely from one source - the storehouse of the riches of God’s unmerited favor that were undeservedly poured out freely, profusely,
lavishly, extravagantly, and without abatement or reserve upon him. It is incomprehensible that God would not do the opposite - condemn and damn those who broke His law. But God did the opposite. That is why He deserves praise for His glorious grace. Likewise, the highest motivation we have for others to come to Christ is because God the Father also deserves their praise and glory for the riches of His grace that He will spend upon them too. We reconcile people to God not for their sake but for God’s.
• to the praise of His glory - 12
• to the praise of His glory -14
Summary: For His own plan and purpose the Father elected us before the foundation of the world for blessings focused in and obtained by Christ that emphasize praise for the glorious riches of God’s grace. God the Father receives all the glory and honor for choosing us in His plan, but the centerpiece of that redemption we receive is in the Son who carried out and accomplished the Father’s plan to make us holy, blameless, and the adopted sons of God. The Holy Spirit behind the scenes seals (mark for authentic ownership) and applies the Son’s accomplishment of that plan to us by becoming the guarantee (earnest, downpayment, engagement ring) by uniting with us. (V14).
Here in short form is another way to say it and think of it.
The Father chooses the elect.
The Son accomplishes the elect’s redemption.
The Holy Spirit applies the redemption to the elect.
All of the above is confirmed in 3 other passages that focus attention on the Son.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. 16 For by[a] him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
Philippians 2:6-11 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Revelation 4 and 5
4 - The Father sits on the holy throne of heaven surrounded by 24 elders and angels who are giving glory and honor to Him, worshiping. Him as the Creator.
5 - In the Father’s hand is a scroll. An angel asks, “Who is worthy to open the scroll and break the seals?” No one in heaven or earth or under the earth was worthy. Suddenly the Lion of the tribe of Judah, a Lamb as though he had been slain, comes forth, taking center stage by taking the scroll from Him who sits on the throne. When He does, heavenly beings fall down before Him singing a new song claiming that He was worthy because He was slain and ransomed God’s people from every nation and made them priests to God. Joining the chorus were the voices of myriads and thousands and thousands of angels who proclaimed the slain Lamb was worthy of honor, glory, and blessing. Then every creature in heaven, on earth, under the earth, give blessing, glory, and honor to both Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.
We now come to the second major passage about predestination. It is found in the Sovereignty section of Romans, which is where we would expect to find it according to the outline of Romans. Our salvation and sanctification from sin are because of God’s sovereignty in electing grace.
Outline of Romans
1-3 Sin
4-5 Salvation
6-8 Sanctification
9-11 Sovereignty
12-16 Service
b, Romans 9:1-29 This is the most difficult central passage about election for people because it seems like it teaches DOUBLE PREDESTINATION.
1) Ro 9:1-5 The Jews had every advantage for believing that Jesus was their Messiah, even X Himself.
2) Ro 9:6-13 But since they did not accept Him, it appeared that all those advantages failed them. But that is not true because those promises were only for a certain part of Israel - the real, spiritual Israel within Israel. The real Israel flows through The Promise to Adam and Abraham and through his son Isaac on into Christ eventually. The Israel in Christ is who those promises were for. Since Isaac had 2 sons - Jacob and Esau - only one of those sons carried the Promise - Jacob. The Lord loved Jacob and hated Esau (Heb 12:16).
3) Ro 9:14-24 2 objections
a) God is unjust, v. 14-18
• God sovereignly does as He pleases
• Pharaoh
There are fifteen references to the hardening of Pharaoh' s heart. Seven of those references say that the LORD HARDENED PHARAOH'S HEART. Three references say the Pharaoh hardened his own heart, and five references say the Pharaoh's heart became hard or was hard (or unyielding) with no indication that he or the Lord caused this.
4) Because no one can resist God’s will, why does He still find fault with us, v. 19-24
a) Who are you to answer back to God? Clay does not tell the Potter what to make
b) God can made one vessel of wrath (prepared for destruction) and one vessel of mercy (to make known the riches of His glory)
• One group of those vessels of mercy is the Jews, v. 24-29
• The other group of those vessels is the Gentiles. v. 30-33
Infralapsarianism and Supralapsarianism
Let’s think about these 2 passages above in light of two theological terms discussed among Calvinist thinkers since the 1500s. These terms will help you think preceptively about the difference between these 2 passages and about how God perceived his creatures when they were predestined to either salvation or reprobation. Those terms are Infralapsarianism and Supralapsarianism.
The term lapsarian is related to the English word lapse; mankind’s fall into sin was a “lapse” in that it was a “slip” or a “falling” from their original state of innocence. The focus of infralapsarianism is that God viewed the elect as sinners. INFRA = within or below. So in this view, God saw those He elected as sinners.
Supralapsarianism says God viewed the elect as individuals without viewing them as sinners first. SUPRA = above or transcending. They were above or transcendent (lying beyond) of sin.
Would you say Eph 1 is infrapsarian or supralapsarian?
Would you say Romans 9 is infrapsarian or supralapsarian?
I would say Ephesians 1 is infralapsarian and Romans 9 is supralapsarian.
Ultimately, these are issues that we are incapable of fully grasping. It does not truly matter how God perceived the elect in either of those passages. What truly matters is that God foreknew you in a plan that included sin, and you were graciously elected by God the Father to be saved from that sin by His Son who obtained salvation for you to the praise of the Father’s glorious grace. Now, before we move on, lets mediate on one more thing that I think speaks directly to predestination and is just more evidence for the Reformed doctrine of predestination.
The passage below is also found in the Sovereignty section of Romans and will answer thoughts that all people have about evangelism and how it relates to election and predestination. It will show you how you were able to cross that impossible divide that hopelessly separates you from the mind of the flesh that is dead because of sin and has no ability to change that status to life and the mind of the Spirit.