Doctrine of God Lecture 9: The Divine Decree and Related Theological Concepts

The flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the divine decree and theological discussions within Reformed theology, as presented in the lecture.

Divine Decree

The internal work of the Triune God that moves and directs the external works of the Triune God.

Infralapsarianism

The theological view that God decreed election after planning the Fall, focusing on divine mercy.

Supralapsarianism

The theological view that God decreed election before planning the Fall, emphasizing sovereignty.

Foreknowledge

God’s knowledge of all things that will happen before they come to pass, without changing His eternal plan.

Predestination

God’s decree concerning the eternal salvation or destruction of men; it constitutes God's plan for human beings.

Compatibilism

The belief that free will and determinism coexist, where freedom is acting on desires that may be predetermined.

Libertarian Free Will

The belief that individuals have ultimate control over their choices and could have acted differently under identical circumstances.

Providence

The belief that God is actively involved in governing and sustaining the universe according to His plan.

First Cause

The primary cause of all things, which is God; He initiates all actions and events in the universe.

Second Causes

The means by which God’s decrees come to pass, including human choices and natural processes.

Eternal Decree

God’s unchangeable plan or decision established from eternity regarding all that comes to pass.

Immutability

The attribute of God meaning that He never changes; His plans and purposes are steadfast and eternal.

Election

God's act of choosing certain people for salvation, which is part of His divine decree.

Reprobation

God’s decision to pass over some individuals and leave them to their own sinful choices, resulting in their destruction.

Mechanistic Determinism

The belief that events and actions in the universe are predetermined by prior states and can be predicted like a machine.

Theology of the Will

The study of how divine sovereignty and human freedom coexist and interact in the choices of creatures.

Divine Sovereignty

The concept that God has absolute power and authority over all aspects of creation.

Ultimate Plan

God's overarching plan for creation that encompasses all actions and events, ultimately showcasing His glory.

Human Free Agency

The ability of human beings to make choices independently, without being merely instruments of God's will.

Fortuitous Events

Occurrences that appear to happen by chance, yet are under God's divine sovereignty according to Calvin.

Causal Chain

The sequence of causes and effects through which God's decree and providence interact with secondary causes.