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33 Cards in this Set
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WSC #4 - What is God?
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WSC #4 God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, his wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
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Briefly Explain And Defend (Including Scripture Proofs) The Doctrine Of The Trinity.
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One God - Three Persons
Deut. 6:4 (ESV) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. (WSC #5 There is but one God only, the living and true God) Matthew 28:19 (ESV) Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 2 Cor. 13:14 (ESV) The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (WSC #6 There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory.) John 1:1 (ESV) 1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. Acts 5:3–4 (ESV) 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself part of the proceeds of the land? 4 While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not at your disposal? Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to man but to God.” |
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What Are The Attributes Of God? (Be Prepared To Offer Scripture Proofs.)
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WSC #5 God is a Spirit infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness and truth
spirit - John 4:24 - God is spirit, worship him in spirit & truth infinite - Rom 11:22-24 depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God, judgements are unsearchable... eternal - Rev 1:8 Alpha, Omega, beginning and the end unchangeable - James 1:7 no variableness nor shadow of turning wisdom - Rom 11:22-24 depth of the wisdom and knowledge of God, judgements are unsearchable... power - Matt 19:26 Jesus said... with God all things are possible holiness - 1 Pet 1:16 Be holy for I am holy justice - Rom 3:26 God is both just and the justifier... goodness - Rom 2:4 Goodness of God leads to repentance truth - Rom. 3:4 Let God be true though everyone were a liar... |
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Which attributes of God are communicable?
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Knowledge: Ps. 147:5 Lord, abundant in power, understanding beyond measure
Wisdom: James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God... Holiness: Leviticus 11:44 & 1 Peter 1:16 be holy, for I am holy. Justice (mercy, graciousness, patience, goodness, truth): Exodus 34:6–7 (ESV) 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” Micah 6.8 but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God |
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Which attributes of God are Incommunicable?
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Infinite: Job 11:7-9 "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty?... higher than heaven... deeper than Sheol... longer than the earth & broader than the sea.
Eternal: Psalm 90:2 (ESV) Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God. Unchangeable: James 1:17 (ESV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. All Present: Psalm 139 whither shall go from your Spirit.... ascend to heaven... make my bed in Sheol... |
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WSC #7 What are the decrees of God?
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The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, God has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass- WSC #7
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What is an Amyraldian view of God's decrees?
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A system of Reformed theology based on the premise that God wills all to be saved if they believe. – Moise Amyraut of the Saumer Academy- Unlimited Atonement or 4 point Calvinist
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How does God execute his decrees?
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God executes his decrees through the works of creation and providence- WSC #8
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What is God's work of creation?
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The work of creation is, God’s making of all things out of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good- WSC #9
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Briefly discuss the length of the days of creation.
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This must be an exegetical issue - not a scientific one. Say what scripture says. Let God be true and every many a liar.
I don’t think the original language of Genesis mandates / intends to communicate precise length of the days. This in no way questions that God created all things supernaturally by the word of his power - in his own wisdom and time. I see the days of Genesis as analogical days. They are God’s work days. |
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What is God's work of providence?
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God’s work of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful, preserving and governing of all his creatures and all their actions- WSC #11
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What is a miracle?
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When God works without, above or against the normal means of his providence.
“God in His ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure - WCF 5.3 Collins' definition of a miracle: A "qualitatively special divine action." In using this term to define a miracle, Collins aims to: "1) recognize that any traditionally theistic worldview sees everything that happens as in some way expressive of God's action and purpose, including what we call 'natural' events; 2) avoid any terms such as 'intervention' that suggest to some, rightly or wrongly, that somehow God's special action is an intruder in his own world; and 3) emphasize that what seems to be 'special' is not the apparent specific intention to individuals and their needs (though that may be there), but the mode by which the event is carried off, i.e., it goes beyond the natural causal powers of the parties involved. Hence the adjective "supernatural," understood in this way, may also be useful." C. John Collins, The God of Miracles: An Exegetical Examination of God's Actions in the World (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2000), 87. |
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Do miracles occur today? Explain.
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If by miracle one means that God is working without second causes for the sake of the affirmation of revelation (Warfield's def) - then no - due to the closed nature of the canon.
However, I affirm what Warfield called “extra-ordinary” acts of providence. In other words, I do think God still answers prayer in quite extraordinary ways (for example prayers for healing). |
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Is God responsible for sin?
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NO. The responsibility for sins introduction is our first parents who in the exercise of their free will sinned (rebelled) against God.
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Did he decree sin?
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God from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered the will of the creatures; nor is liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established -WCF 3.1
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Did he permit sin?
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In that nothing takes place in all the universe without God’s permission.
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Who is the ultimate cause of all things?
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God is!
God from all eternity, did by the most holy and wise counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass… WCF 3.1 The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own Glory, God has ordained whatsoever comes to pass. - WSC #7 |
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What is theodicy?
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A philosophical attempt to vindicate the justice and goodness of God, especially in view of the fact of evil, which is normally felt or judged to constitute a challenge to such attributes of God.
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If God is good and all-powerful, explain AIDS, deformed babies, natural disasters.
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1) The affirmation that God is good and all-powerful does not deny the reality that we live in a fallen world.
2) God created the world good & man in his rebellion brought sin... sickness, destruction & death. 3) God’s goodness is seen in his common grace, holding his creation together, performing sovereign acts of providence, incarnation unto redemption, 4) In his using that which is otherwise evil to work good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose. |
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Discuss the biblical teaching regarding predestination, election, and reprobation.
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I believe that the Bible teaches unconditional election, that is, that the basis for election is God's sovereign grace and that election is not based on forseen faith. Ephesians 1:5 (NKJV) 5 having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of his will," Furthermore, this election is bound up with God's effectual call and secures the glorification of the believer: Romans 8:30 (ESV) 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
"By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to everlasting death." - WCF 3.3 Although I believe in double-predestination, I believe that this predestination is assymetrical with respect to the elect and the reprobate: In the election of believers, God acts monergistically, while in the reprobation of the non-elect, God does not. Romans 9:14–23 (ESV) 14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use? 22 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, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory— |
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Distinguish the Reformed and Arminian understandings of election and predestination
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Arminians do not accept the Reformed doctrine of absolute predestination. Rather they support the doctrine of conditional predestination, that is, that God predestined his Elect based on the condition of his foreknowledge that they would believe.
Reformed - assurance rests on God's power and promise Arminian - assurance rests on man's ability |
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Is the doctrine of sovereignty compatible with belief in real human choice and responsibility?
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“nor is violence offered the will of creatures; nor is liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established- WCF 3.1. It seems to me that the Bible affirms both sovereignty of God and responsibility of man. (He will not leave the guilty unpunished)
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What should be some of the practical results of believing the doctrine of election?
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Humility, gratitude, comfort, security, assurance, grace/mercy towards others, obedience out of thankfulness. Colossians 3:12 (NKJV) Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
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Is there a real, personal devil? Explain from Scripture.
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Yes,
Job 1 Devil presenting himself in heaven Matthew 4 Jesus tempted by a real devil |
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infralapsarian view of God's decrees
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views God’s decrees historically
God decreed to CREATE man in holiness God decreed to permit the FALL God decreed to ELECT some God decreed to PASS over others |
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supralapsarian view of God's decrees
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views God’s decrees logically (elect before the fall)
Decree to ELECT some and pass over others Decree to CREATE Decree to PERMIT the fall Decree to JUSTIFY the elect and condemn the reprobate |
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Evaluate biblically the theory of Naturalistic Evolution
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Everything, including matter and man developed by natural random processes and are purely a result of natural forces functioning over a period of time.
Naturalistic evolution denies God’s work of creation and providence. This system denies that God created the world out of nothing, by the power of his word, in the space of six days. |
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Evaluate biblically the theory of Theistic Evolution
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God as the worker/ mover behind the process set the evolutionary process in motion.
Theistic evolution , though acknowledging God as creator, gives him little more credit than first cause. This theory tends to view the creation account as mythical and denies God the sovereign capacity to create as he claims in Genesis 1-2 (essentially a form of Deism) |
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I could be said that the Westminster Confession itself, and the PCA Creation study report are consensus documents. In this consensus, what must you confess when talking about creation days?
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Genesis 1-3 is:
1. the inerrant word of God, and coherent account from Moses’ hand. 2. History, not myth. 3. teaching that YHWH created the heavens and the earth ex nihilo. 4. teaching that Adam &Eve were actual human beings, parents of all humanity 5. an account of a historical fall brought ALL humanity into an estate of sin and misery. 6. (along with all of scripture) the Creator’s word that speaks authoritatively to matters of history and science. |
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Berkhof on Election
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“That eternal act of God whereby He, in His sovereign good pleasure, and on account of no foreseen merit in them, chooses a certain number of men to be the recipients of special grace and of eternal salvation.” Or “God’s eternal purpose to save some of the human race in and by Jesus Christ.” (Berkhof, pg.114 Summary of Christian Doctrine or Systematic Theology)
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Berkhof on Reprobation
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Reprobation – “That eternal decree of God whereby He has determined to pass some men by with the operations of His special grace, and to punish them for their sins, to the manifestation of His justice." (Berkhof, 116 Summary of Christian Doctrine or Systematic Theology)
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According to the PCA Creation Study Committee, what was the intention of the Westminster Assembly's use of "in the space of six days"?
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Three way tie:
1) the assembly intended to advocate a Calendar day view; 2) the assembly did not intend to exclude any view other than Augustine’s instantaneous view – a view which Calvin also excluded; 3) the assembly wished to express no more and no less than what Scripture expresses in the phrase “in six days” (Ex 20:11 & 31:17). |
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Where does Westminster address God & His World?
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WCF 2-5
WLC 7-19 WSC 4-11 |
