, if lapasarianism was about what God did, instead of an attempt to order God's decree/decrees. And that is because he had in mind the whole business from the beginning.
https://christcentered.community.forum/threads/the-seed-of-the-woman.2855/
My below post is answering
@makesends in this thread using my posted concern from Carbons thread to anchor with practicality.
Like you.@makesends I was Supra before hearing or understanding the word. Something you said when I was first a member here was along the lines of, "we know things we don't have words for and can't express". This is true, (you know) and this subject is one of them. The problem is when we don't have the words we don't have ordered thinking either.
These, supra and infra lapsarian orders are some of the words, below used in practical application. The individual knows the right instinctually, but might know other verses also which give pause because they don't know the direction to take. We need the order which helps give a more confident direction. Supra is the confidence that comes from Him, ordered so all our thinking is correct at every turn.
Scenario: A believer is passionate about sharing the gospel with unbelievers in a sinful, hostile world. However, they struggle with the fear that their own past sins—or the sins of those they witness to—might dishonor God’s holy Name, especially since they’re associating with Christ’s “seed” (Gen. 3:15; Gal. 3:29). And this person wonders, “How can I, a former sinner, be linked to Christ without profaning His holiness?”
How a Supralapsarian View Helps Think More Rightly About God:
A supralapsarian perspective reassures this believer that God’s eternal decree prioritizes His glory through the election and redemption of sinners in Christ, with sin and the fall serving that purpose. This view transforms their approach to evangelism and holiness, helping them think rightly about God in the following ways:
1.)
God’s Glory Shines Through Redeemed Sinners:
Scriptural Anchor: “He chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him” (Eph. 1:4).
Application: In evangelism, the believer can confidently share that God’s plan from eternity was to redeem sinners for His glory, not to be profaned by their sin. Supralapsarianism emphasizes that God decreed election first, knowing sin would enter the world, to display His grace through Christ’s redemptive work (Rev. 13:8). The believer’s past sin, or the sin of those they witness to, doesn’t diminish God’s holiness but magnifies His mercy when sinners are saved. For example, sharing the gospel with a struggling addict, the believer can say, “God chose you in Christ before the world began to show His glory through your redemption, not to be dishonored by your sin.”
Theological Insight: Spurgeon and Baucham stress that God’s grace shines brightest against the backdrop of sin. Supralapsarianism assures us that sin was ordained as a means to manifest Christ’s glory, not to profane God.
2.) Christ’s Victory Over Sin Secures God’s Holiness:
Scriptural Anchor: “He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen. 3:15).
Application: The Protoevangelium promises Christ’s triumph over Satan, which includes victory over the sin that once defined the elect (1 John 3:8). In evangelism, the believer can rest in the truth that Christ’s redemptive work ensures that our association with Him as
His “seed” doesn’t profane God but glorifies Him through our transformation. A believer might encourage a skeptic, saying, “Your sins don’t disqualify you; Christ’s victory was planned before the world to make you holy in Him.” This view counters the concern by affirming that Christ’s holiness covers our sinfulness, ensuring God’s name is honored (1 Pet. 1:15–16).
Theological Insight: Washer and Sproul emphasize that Christ’s atonement secures the holiness of the elect, aligning with the supralapsarian view that redemption was God’s primary aim.
3.) God’s Eternal Purpose Transcends Our Sin:
Scriptural Anchor: “What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory?” (Rom. 9:22–23).
Application: A supralapsarian view reminds the evangelist that God’s decree includes both the reprobate (“seed of the serpent”) and the elect (“seed of the woman”), with sin serving to highlight His glory in mercy and justice. When sharing the gospel, the believer can boldly proclaim that God’s holiness is not threatened by human sin because His eternal plan accounts for it. For instance, witnessing to someone hostile to the faith, the believer can trust that God’s glory will prevail, whether through their salvation or judgment, without being profaned. This frees them from fear of dishonoring God
Theological Insight: Calvin and Berkhof note that God’s glory is the end of His decree, and supralapsarianism ensures that even sin serves this purpose, as seen in
@Carbon thread"s corporate view of the “seed.”
4.) Holiness Reflects God’s Redemptive Plan:
Scriptural Anchor: “But as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy’” (1 Pet. 1:15–16).
Application: The practical concern about profaning God’s name through sinful association is addressed by supralapsarianism’s focus on God’s purpose to make the elect holy in Christ (Eph. 1:4). In evangelism, the believer is motivated to live a holy life, reflecting God’s character, knowing their transformation is part of God’s eternal decree. When others see their changed life, it glorifies God rather than profanes Him. Using ones own experiences/failings juxtaposed with Christ's victory nvites others to the gospel without fear of dishonoring God.
Theological Insight: Grudem and Sproul highlight that sanctification is part of God’s eternal purpose, ensuring that the elect’s association with Christ honors His name.
Practical Outcome:
In this evangelism scenario, a supralapsarian view helps the believer think more rightly about God by affirming:
- God’s glory is magnified through the redemption of sinners, not profaned by their sin (Eph. 1:4–5).
- Christ’s victory over Satan and sin ensures that our association with Him honors God (Gen. 3:15; 1 John 3:8).
- Sin and the fall were ordained to serve God’s purpose, not to threaten His holiness (Rom. 9:22–23).
- Our call to holiness reflects God’s eternal plan to make us like Christ, glorifying His name (1 Pet. 1:15–16).
This perspective emboldens the believer to share the gospel confidently, knowing that God’s eternal decree ensures His holiness is upheld, even as sinners are called to become part of Christ’s “seed.” It addresses the concern by showing that our pre-salvation sin, while real, is subsumed under Christ’s redemptive victory, preventing any profanation of God’s Name.
@Carbon thread discussion of Genesis 3:15 highlights the covenant of grace, where God distinguishes the elect (Christ and His people) from the reprobate (Satan’s “seed”). Any concern about profaning God’s name through association with Christ reflects a deep reverence for His holiness (1 Pet. 1:15–16). A supralapsarian view integrates this by emphasizing that God decreed election to ensure His people’s holiness, with the fall (and our sin) serving to magnify Christ’s glory (Rev. 13:8). The thread’s corporate view of the “seed” (Christ and the elect) aligns all history as centered on Christ’s redemptive triumph, which protects God’s honor.
Amillennial eschatology (Riddlebarger’s emphasis) further connects, as it views the church’s warfare against Satan’s “seed” as part of Christ’s present reign, culminating in His final victory. Supralapsarianism reinforces this by assuring the concerned that association with Christ, even as a former sinner, glorifies God because it was His eternal purpose to redeem and sanctify.
Conclusion
A supralapsarian view helps us think more rightly about God in evangelism by affirming that His glory and holiness are upheld through the redemption of sinners, as planned before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8).Any concern about profaning God’s name is alleviated by recognizing that Christ’s victory (Gen. 3:15) and our sanctification (1 Pet. 1:15–16) ensure that our association with Him glorifies, not dishonors, God. This emboldens us to share the gospel, trusting in God’s sovereign, Christ-centered decree.
May we continue to honor Christ in all we do (1 Cor. 10:31) because God promised not to put us to open shame (Romans 5:5) May His power be perfected in our weakness.... Let the war begin.
Or something like that anyway. I like the thinking.