Session 13: WCF Chapter III Of God’s Eternal Decree, Sections 5&7

“The Westminster divines labored many hours in committees as they prepared Chapter III for the Assembly. Following its presentation, more than a month of public work was required, we are told, before it was accepted unanimously in its finished form.” Patterson, Studies in the Confession of Faith – A Woman’s Approach, p. 40

Ephesians 1:4,9,11 Romans 8:30 2 Timothy 1:9 1 Thessalonians 5:9 Romans 9:11,13,16 Ephesians 1:6,12

CHAPTER III - Of God’s Eternal Decree 5. 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.

Election Is by the Individual Acts 13:48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.

Matthew 11:25,26 Romans 9:17,18,21,22 2 Timothy 2:19,20 Jude 4 1 Pet. 2:8

CHAPTER III - Of God’s Eternal Decree 7. The rest of mankind God was pleased, according to the unsearchable counsel of His own will, whereby He extendeth or witholdeth mercy, as He pleaseth, for the glory of His sovereign power over His creatures, to pass by; and to ordain them to dishonour and wrath for their sin, to the praise of His glorious justice.

Creation, Election and Redemption God’s Decrees: Creation, Election and Redemption Three different decrees: Creation – to create mankind Election – to predestine only some to eternal life Redemption – to provide salvation from a permitted fall Eternal, therefore timeless. Related to one another logically, not temporally.

Creation, Election and Redemption God’s Decrees: Creation, Election and Redemption Different viewpoints arise from different relationships among the decrees: Pelagianism Semi-Pelagianism Arminianism Amyraldism Infralapsarianism Supralapsarianism

Pelagianism Emphasizes salvation by works Create mankind (creation) Permit the fall Predestine to eternal life those whom He foresaw would believe of their own free will (“election”) Provide salvation for all (redemption) Save all who believe

Semi-Pelagianism Create mankind (creation) Permit the fall Elect some of mankind to receive the moral ability to respond to God’s call and the necessary grace to believe (“election”) Predestine to eternal life those whom He foresaw would respond to His call Provide salvation for all (redemption) Save all who freely cooperate with the grace He gave them

Arminianism Emphasizes Man’s free will Create mankind Permit the fall Provide salvation for all Call all to salvation Elect those who respond to the call by believing (“Once saved, not always saved”)

Amyraldism Create mankind (creation) Permit the fall Provide salvation sufficient for all (redemption) Elect some of mankind, pass over the rest (election) Call only the elect to salvation

Infralapsarianism Emphasizes God’s love Create mankind (creation) Permit the fall Elect some of mankind, pass over the rest (election) Provide salvation for only the elect (redemption) Call only the elect to salvation

Supralapsarianism Emphasizes God’s glory Elect some of mankind, reprobate the rest (election) Create mankind (creation) Permit the fall Provide salvation for only the elect (redemption) Call only the elect to salvation Adapted from C. Hodge, Systematic Theology, 2.316-21; F. Klooster, s.v., "Supralapsarianism," in The Evangelical Dictionary of Theology; A. A. Hodge, Outlines of Theology, 231-4.