The Doctrine of Lapsarianism - Wenstrom

[Pages:3]The Doctrine of Lapsarianism

Definition and Description

Lapsarianism means lapse. It refers to the doctrine that mankind is a fallen being.

Lapsarianism refers to the 5 elective decrees of eternity past. It deals with the logical order of

these 5 decrees, which were all simultaneous in the mind of God in eternity past. Lapsarianism is a technical theological term that deals with logical order of the decrees in eternity past but

doesn't deal with any chronological order in time.

Importance of Lapsarianism

Lapsarianism provides the logical environment as well as the logical order of the Elective Decrees: (1) Decree to create mankind. (2) Decree to permit the Fall as the extension of the Angelic Conflict. The whole order of the 5 elective decrees is sorted out through the understanding of the true as over against the false lapsarian principles. Only Infra-Lapsarianism is correct biblically.

Four Interpretations of Lapsarianism

Lapsarianism has 4 schools of interpretation: (1) Supra-Lapsarianism

(2)

Sub-

Lapsarianism (3) Infra-Lapsarianism (4) Arminian-Lapsarianism.

Supra-Lapsarianism

Supra-Lapsarianism is ultra or hyper Calvinism. The order of the 5 elective decrees according to supra-lapsarianism is as follows: (1) Decree to elect some to be saved (false), and to reprobate all others (Double Predestination (wrong). (2) Decree to create both elect and nonelect. (3) Decree to permit the Fall. (4) Decree to provide salvation for the elect (limited atonement; also wrong). (5) The decree to apply salvation to the elect.

Election is a term that applies to believers only (you cannot elect until you have believers). For believers to exist there must be the creation of mankind and the Fall of mankind, plus salvation offered to all mankind. Supra-Lapsarianism places election and limited atonement before the Fall instead of after the Fall. It places them before creation. The decree of election would have reference to a non-entity. Mankind is contemplated as creatable but not created. Logically, you cannot elect what does not exist. Here, the decree of election and limited atonement have no real logic so that under Hyper-Calvinism man is an abstract concept and therefore any divine determination concerning mankind is a determination regarding a nonentity. By putting election and limited atonement first the decrees would assume that non-entities exist from before and they simply don't under that principle.

The problem with the order of decrees in supra-lapsarianism is that the Bible indicates the fact that elect and non-elect are taken for an existing category of creation called man or mankind or homosapiens. John 15:19, "I've chosen you out of the world" They had to be created in order to be chosen. They had to fall before they could be elected. Here, man must be created and permitted to fall before he can be saved, elected or chosen. Election is for believers

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only. For believers to exist there must be salvation and for salvation to exist there must be a fall and for a fall to exist there must be creation.

Hyper-Calvinism is the work of a Bergundian noble and theologian who lived in 1519, Theodore Beza who became the rector of the theological school at the Academy of Geneva (University of Geneva). Hegelian Fallacy: For every thesis there must be an antithesis when you put them together you have synthesis. But if the Bible does not state the antithesis, the antithesis does not exist. The believer is said to be predestined and the unbeliever is not. Negative volition towards the Gospel sends an individual to the Lake of Fire. The volition of man determines whether or not an individual will go to the Lake of Fire and not the sovereign will of God.

Infra-Lapsarianism

Infra-Lapsarianism is moderate Calvinism. It is the biblical Calvinism. The order of the 5 elective decrees according to infra-lapsarianism is as follows: (1) Decree to create all mankind. (2) Decree to permit the Fall. (3) Decree to provide salvation for all mankind (unlimited atonement; correct). (4) Decree to elect some from among fallen mankind and to leave others in their sin. (Also called the decree to elect those who believe and to leave in just condemnation all who do not believe in our Lord Jesus Christ.) (5) Decree to save the elect through faith in Christ or as some theologians put it, the decree to apply salvation to those who believe. InfraLapsarianism is the correct view because it is Biblical.

Sub-Lapsarianism

Sub-Lapsarianism is a form of moderate Calvinism but entirely different. The order of the 5 elective decrees according to sub-lapsarianism is as follows: (1) Decree to create all mankind. (2) Decree to permit the Fall. (3) Decree to elect those who believe and to leave in just condemnation those who do not believe. This is also the decree to elect some out of the fallen multitude of mankind and to leave others in their misery. (4) Decree to provide salvation for the elect (limited atonement; wrong). (5) Decree to save the elect through faith in Christ. To apply salvation to those who believe in Christ.

Arminian Lapsarianism

Arminian lapsarianism was taught by Richard Watson. Arminian view of lapsarianism approximates infra-lapsarianism with one great exception; the Arminian view of election follows the decree to provide salvation. The Arminiests have election following rather than preceding. Furthermore, the Arminian view depends not on faith in Christ for salvation but human works called foreseen human virtue, or faith and obedience. They have a system of works for salvation, which is heresy. The order of the 5 elective decrees according to the Armeniest view is as follows: (1) Decree to create mankind. (2) Decree to permit the Fall. (3) Unlimited atonement but not understanding it correctly. (4) Salvation by foreseen human virtue (faith and obedience) otherwise salvation by works. (5) Election is an act of God in time. (Nothing to do with eternity past). Election is a synonym for experiential sanctification they say.

Infra and Sub Lapsarianism recognize the doctrine that election is the sovereign choice of God in eternity past. The Arminian's think election took place in time, which is way off. Calvinists recognize that election took place in eternity past. Men are the objects of grace after,

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not before, the Fall (John 15:9; Rom. 11:5-7; 1 Pet. 1:2). Condemnation is an act of divine justice because sin has been committed (2 Thess. 1:6-9; Rom. 2:6-9).

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