Greetings atpollard. My apologies, for any long delay. It appears I only have time for hit and runs at the moment. Again, my apologies. My hope is that you have been doing well, my brother.
Perhaps true of "the Supra", but as Ligonier pointed out, not true of the theology of "Christological Supralapsarianism".
"the Puritan Thomas Goodwin, who held to what has been called Christological Supralapsarianism. The end [desired reason for] of all God’s decrees [including the fall, lapsarianism] is the union of the elect with Christ."
I have two points about your quote, above.
1. The notion of the
"end of all God's decrees" is the
"union of the elect with Christ" is simply traditional Supralapsarianism built from the Greek dictum
"last in execution is first in intention". It is basically the answer of "the elect" to the question "for whom did God create?"
It seems to me that all Thomas Goodwin did, based on the quote, was add
a preface in the form of a question to the Traditional Supra, i.e.,
"what will bring the greatest glory to CHRIST?". That is, it simply
assumed the foundation in which the logic of the Traditional Supra was based without holding to, although some still do, the Greek logic in which it was founded... imo. The problems that arise from this ignoring the foundation of logic by which the Trad-Supra was founded by the Christo-Supra is the subsequent ignoring of any logic that might show its flaws (which is ironic, imo)... and there are many, imo.
2. My second point is that the Christo-Supra's #1, the question,
is speculative. Or at least it generates speculative conclusions. It is simply asks a question and leaves the intent open to what one might think is the most important. It seems to me that this is the very reason some theologians today won't even engage in the debate because its very foundation seems to be speculative, at least in both the Trad-Supra and the Christo-Supra (again, imo).
I presented to you in another post what I believe God has shown us through the Holy Scriptures is His first intention. No speculation, no Greek dictums, no presuppositions of what is most important from my human perspective. That first intent of creation according to Scripture is ....
#1. God the Father’s decree to create for God the Son and that God the Son be the purposeful end of creation, that which all creation culminates toward and in.
Scripture tells us that God the Son is the Alpha (Rev 22:13, 1:8, 1:11, 21:6), the beginning. But Scripture also tells us that God the Son is the Omega (Rev 22:13,1:8, 1:11, 21:6), the purposeful end of this world that is to ‘unite all things’ (Eph 1:10) to Him, for Him (Col 1:16, Rom 11:36, Heb 2:10). Therefore, the purposeful end, that is the object of final end that was decreed from the precipice of creation, is that all creation culminates toward its intended end, and that is God the Son (Eph 1:10, Rom 11:36, Rev 22:13, 1:8, 1:11, 21:6).
That, right there, is God's intention and first decree according to the Bible.
So let's look at my assertion logically. First, God has told us through scripture that God the Son is the first intention of creation. He, God the Son, is for whom this world was created (He is the Alpha). Further, and second, God tells us through scripture that the Son of God is for whom the end of this world is designed. He is the Omega.
All creation is to culminate
to and
in Him.
Creation is therefore "by", "through", and "for" the Son of God. So God creates a world that is (a) for the Son of God
and this world is so designed to (b) culminate toward and (c) in Him (for His glory).
God then creates.
I will leave below what I think is the first four decrees based on this beginning intention of God that is found in the Bible...
#1. God the Father’s decree to create for God the Son and that God the Son be the purposeful end of creation, that which all creation culminates toward and in; thereby being the purpose of creation’s beginning and end, all for God the Son (I1)
#2. God the Father’s decree to create a world that nurtures its inhabitants, who begin in glory (small ‘g’) and end in Glory (big ‘G’), toward the first intention so the full presence of God can be realized by mankind; by reaching the purposeful end in God the Son, all for God the Son (I1).
#3. God the Father's decree to conquer sin and death everywhere, to put all things under His foot so the full presence of God can be realized by mankind, (I2); by reaching the purposeful end in God the Son, all for God the Son (I1).
#4. God the Father’s decree to permit a fall through the sin of Adam; who begins in glory and ends in Glory, so as to put all things under His foot (I3); so the full presence of God can be realized by mankind (I2); by reaching the purposeful end in God the Son, all for God the Son (I1).
All honor and glory to God our Father!
Keep seeking God's truth as if it were hidden treasure (Prov 2)
