Grace Fellowship Church

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchPastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

www.GraceDoctrine.orgwww.GraceDoctrine.org

Tuesday,Tuesday,April 26, 2012April 26, 2012

DoxologyDoxology

Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise God, from whom all blessings flow;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him, all creatures here below;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.—Amen.Amen.

John 17John 17

The Great High Priestly The Great High Priestly Prayer of our Lord!Prayer of our Lord!

John 17:20-26John 17:20-26

Jesus Prays for the Jesus Prays for the Church!Church!

John 17:21,John 17:21,“That they all may keep on being “That they all may keep on being

one (one (the Churchthe Church) just as You ) just as You ((God the FatherGod the Father) ) areare in Me ( in Me (Jesus Jesus

ChristChrist), and I in You, that they ), and I in You, that they also may keep on being in Us, so also may keep on being in Us, so

that the world (that the world (unbelieversunbelievers) ) would believe that You sent Me.” would believe that You sent Me.”

Divine DecreeDivine DecreeThere is one comprehensive There is one comprehensive plan in which all things have plan in which all things have their place and by which they their place and by which they

proceed.proceed.

Westminster Catechism:Westminster Catechism:“His eternal purpose, “His eternal purpose,

according to the counsel of according to the counsel of His will, whereby, for His His will, whereby, for His

own glory, He has own glory, He has foreordained whatsoever foreordained whatsoever

comes to pass.”comes to pass.”

It includesIt includes::The divine purpose, The divine purpose,

Eph 1:11, Eph 1:11, Determinate counsel, Determinate counsel,

Acts 2:23, Acts 2:23, Foreknowledge, Foreknowledge,

1 Peter 1:2; cf. 1:20, 1 Peter 1:2; cf. 1:20,

Election, 1 Thes 1:4, Election, 1 Thes 1:4, Predestination, Rom 8:30, Predestination, Rom 8:30, The Divine will, Eph 1:11,The Divine will, Eph 1:11,The Divine good pleasure, The Divine good pleasure,

Eph 1:9.Eph 1:9.

Acts 15:18, Acts 15:18, “Known unto God are all His “Known unto God are all His works from the beginning of works from the beginning of

the world.”the world.”

1 Peter 1:20,1 Peter 1:20,“He (“He (Jesus ChristJesus Christ) was ) was foreordained before the foreordained before the

foundation of the world, but foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last was manifest in these last

times.”times.”

The Decree of God is His The Decree of God is His eternal and immutable will, eternal and immutable will,

regarding the future existence regarding the future existence of all events which will of all events which will

happen in time and the precise happen in time and the precise manner and order of their manner and order of their

occurrence.occurrence.

The Decree of God is broken The Decree of God is broken down to two aspects; down to two aspects;

1) His Efficacious work, and 1) His Efficacious work, and 2) His permissive will, which 2) His permissive will, which allows for secondary actions, allows for secondary actions,

i.e., human volition.i.e., human volition.

Lapsarianism is the study and Lapsarianism is the study and debate of the five points of debate of the five points of

God’s Divine Decrees related God’s Divine Decrees related to man.to man.

Lapsarian means,Lapsarian means, “One who believes in the “One who believes in the

doctrine that man is a fallen doctrine that man is a fallen being.”being.”

These five points are also These five points are also known as the “Five Points of known as the “Five Points of Calvinism”, credited to John Calvinism”, credited to John

Calvin, (1509-1564). Yet, Calvin, (1509-1564). Yet, developed by his student developed by his student

Theodore Beza, (1519-1605).Theodore Beza, (1519-1605).

They include the Decree toThey include the Decree to::1) Provide salvation for men.1) Provide salvation for men.2) Create all men.2) Create all men.3) Permit the fall of men.3) Permit the fall of men.4) Elect some to salvation and leave 4) Elect some to salvation and leave others to their just condemnation. others to their just condemnation.5) Apply salvation to men.5) Apply salvation to men.

The five points areThe five points are::


a) All-Comprehensive; They a) All-Comprehensive; They all go together and are held all go together and are held

together perfectly. together perfectly.


b) Eternal; The decrees b) Eternal; The decrees always existed; God knew all always existed; God knew all

the decrees at all times. the decrees at all times.


c) Perfect; God is perfect c) Perfect; God is perfect therefore His decrees are therefore His decrees are

perfect. perfect.


d) Unchangeable and Certain; d) Unchangeable and Certain; Nothing can possibly occur to Nothing can possibly occur to

necessitate a change. necessitate a change.


e) The free choice of God; e) The free choice of God; God determined all future God determined all future events from His sovereign events from His sovereign

will in eternity past.will in eternity past.

They have been refined into 4 They have been refined into 4 various interpretations; tvarious interpretations; the he first three being classed as first three being classed as

CalvinisticCalvinistic::

1. Supralapsarianism 1. Supralapsarianism 2. Infralapsarianism 2. Infralapsarianism 3. Sublapsarianism3. Sublapsarianism4. Arminian4. Arminian

SupralapsarianismSupralapsarianism: : Ultra Calvinist, begins the Ultra Calvinist, begins the decrees with election for decrees with election for

some to be saved and some to be saved and reprobate for all others.reprobate for all others.

1. Elect some to be saved and to 1. Elect some to be saved and to reprobate all others. reprobate all others.2. Create men both elect and non-2. Create men both elect and non- elect. elect.3. Permit man to fall.3. Permit man to fall.4. Provide salvation for the elect, 4. Provide salvation for the elect, limited atonement. limited atonement.5. Apply salvation to the elect.5. Apply salvation to the elect.

This says God declared to This says God declared to have elected men to their have elected men to their destiny before they were destiny before they were

created, before the fall and created, before the fall and before having free will before having free will

to choose or reject God’s to choose or reject God’s provision for salvation.provision for salvation.

InfralapsarianismInfralapsarianism: : Moderate Calvinism. TModerate Calvinism. The he

decree to elect some and to decree to elect some and to leave others in retribution leave others in retribution

follows the fall. This follows the fall. This glorifies glorifies God revealing His infinite, God revealing His infinite,

wise, holy and righteous will.wise, holy and righteous will.

1. Create all Men.1. Create all Men.2. Permit man to fall.2. Permit man to fall.3. Provide salvation for men, 3. Provide salvation for men, unlimited atonement. unlimited atonement.4. Elect those who believe and 4. Elect those who believe and leave in just condemnation all leave in just condemnation all who do not. who do not. 5. Apply salvation to those who 5. Apply salvation to those who believe. believe.

Compare to:Compare to:John 15:19; Rom 11:5-7; John 15:19; Rom 11:5-7;

Eph 1:1-15; 2:8-9; Eph 1:1-15; 2:8-9; 1 Peter 1:1-21 Peter 1:1-2

John 15:19, John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but world would love its own; but

because you are not of the because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the the world, because of this the

world hates you.”world hates you.”

Eph 2:8-9, Eph 2:8-9, “For by grace you have been “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that saved through faith; and that

not of yourselves, not of yourselves, it isit is the gift the gift of God; not as a result of of God; not as a result of

works, so that no one may works, so that no one may boast.”boast.”

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchThursday, April 26, 2012Thursday, April 26, 2012

Tape # 12-047Tape # 12-047

Doctrine of Divine Decree Doctrine of Divine DecreeLapsarianismLapsarianism

Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 95Great High Priestly Prayer, Part 95

John 17:21; 15:19; Eph 1:1-14; 2:8-9John 17:21; 15:19; Eph 1:1-14; 2:8-9

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2012

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