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121 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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" What Are Its Divisions?
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The study that attempts to arrange the teaching of Scripture in a coherent fashion, expressing it in a contemporary form, and relating it to issues of practical Christian concern. - Divisions include:
God Humanity The Person and Work of Christ The Person and Work of the Holy Spirit Salvation Church The Last Things (Eschatology) |
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What Is The "Reformed Faith?" (Explain As To A New Christian.)
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The Reformed faith is an approach to understanding (a system of belief and practice) God and the Bible through stressing what the Bible stresses: the need of man, the grace of God; the absolute sovereignty of God, the centrality of the Bible to all of life, Covenantal doctrine of Scripture, Sufficiency of the work of Christ, Effectual work of the Holy Spirit
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What Is "Covenant Theology?" Why Is It Important? (Explain As To A New Christian.)
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Covenant Theology is a way of understanding how God relates to mankind. In the days of the Old Testament covenants were relationships between kings and his people. God chose to use that relationship/covenant to show how He relates to His people, only much more based on grace. Covenant theology believes that God has always dealt with His people in a similar way, both in the Old Testament and the New. The only way they have gotten to be in relationship is because He graciously chose to favor them with His presence. God’s people have always been saved by grace through faith in the hopes that God would deliver them from the punishment they deserved. Covenant theology is important because it maintains the unity and continuity of the Old and New Testaments and the way God relates to His people in each. Covenant theology recognizes God's sovereignty over of history as an outworking of His loving grace.
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List And Explain The 'Five Points Of Calvinism.' Where Did They Come From?
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Total Depravity – through the fall, every part of man has been corrupted by the effects so that man is not able to restore His relationship with God. God must restore relationship if man is to enter into fellowship with God. Romans 3:10-18; Gen. 6:5.
Unconditional Grace – God's choice of certain persons to salvation is not dependent upon any foreseen virtue or faith on their part. Rom. 9:11-13; ***. 3:4-5. Limited Atonement, Particular Redemption – Christ came to save those the Father had given Him. All those Christ died for, God will draw to Himself. Sufficient for all, effectual for the elect. John 6:37,39 & 10:14-15. Irresistible Grace – The elect come to faith by the Spirit’s effectual call. Grace changes your nature giving you the ability to choose Him. John 6:37; 10:26-27; Acts 13:48. Perseverance of the Saints – By God’s grace and perseverance, those who genuinely come to trust in Christ, despite their weaknesses, are preserved in the faith till the end. John 10:18; Rom. 8:28-37; Phil. 1:6 |
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Define And Distinguish "General Revelation" And "Special Revelation."
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General Revelation is truth about God available to everyone through nature, history and God's image in mankind. – Qualities rendering man without excuse. WCF 1.1 & Psalm 19:1-3
Special Revelation is what God has revealed about Himself to His people, through special messengers (angels or prophets), Jesus Christ, or the Scripture. Certain theological knowledge, i.e., the way of salvation, can come only through this method. – Mediated through word and spirit. WCF 1.1 & 2 Tim.3:15. |
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Define And Defend (Including Scripture Proofs) The "Inspiration" Of Scripture.
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To say that the Scripture is inspired is to say the it is God's special revelation-a product of God' s direct intellectual superintending of the men who wrote it. Therefore the inspired Scriptures are the very words of God and thus are the absolute and immutable authoritative rule for faith and practice. 2 Tim.3:16, Heb. 1:1-2, 2 Pet.1:21.
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Define And Defend The "Necessity" Of Scripture.
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Scripture is necessary as a means of revealing the saving truth of Jesus Christ, “the knowledge of God and of his will that is necessary for salvation”. WLC #2, Rom. 10:17, 1 Cor.2:11
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What Is The "Canon"? Defend It Scripturally.
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Canon means rule, measure or standard. The Old Testament canon was confirmed by Jesus himself (Matthew 5:17). The New Testament built on the teaching of Jesus as he taught and trained the disciples to accurately share his message. Matthew 10: sending out of the twelve with a specific message. John 20: Jesus appears to twelve with final instructions and Holy Spirit. 2 Peter 3, Peter understands Paul to be writing Scripture. Matt. 5:17, 2 Pet.3:15-16.
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Define And Defend The "Authority" Of Scripture.
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The authority of Scripture rests not with any humans but solely with God, inspired by the Holy Spirit which makes , it God's very word. It possesses historical authority in that it is 100% historically reliable. It possesses normative authority in that it is God's rule for faith and practice. 2 Tim.3:16-17.
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Define And Defend The "Sufficiency" Of Scripture.
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Scripture is complete, containing all that is needed for God’s glory and for man’s salvation, faith, and life. WCF 1.6
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Define And Defend The "Perspicuity" Of Scripture.
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The knowledge of saving faith is so clearly and simply presented in Scripture that anyone who earnestly seeks salvation therein can easily gain this knowledge for himself, and need not depend on the church or the priesthood to attain it. WCF 1.7
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What Is Distinctive About Reformed Interpretation Of Scripture?
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It sees the continuity between the Old and New Testament. The principle of private interpretation, that is, the right of the individual believer to interpret Scripture without the aid of a priest or any other.
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What Principles Should Guide Our Interpretation Of Scripture?
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Scripture is the only infallible rule of interpretation. When there is ambiguity concerning one passage, the true meaning must be found in other clearer portions of Scripture. WCF 1.9
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Define And Defend (Including Scripture Proofs) The "Inerrancy" Of Scripture.
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The Bible, in all that it teaches, is free from error. Where it speaks to history it is true, but it doesn't speak to everything.
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What Do The Scriptures Principally Teach?
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What man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man. (WCF 2-5: WLC 7-19: WSC 4-11)
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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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WSC #5 There is but one God only, the living and true God WSC #6 There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are on God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory. Deut. 6:4 (ESV) "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. 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.
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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
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Which Are Communicable?
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Wisdom: James 1:5 (ESV) If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. Holiness: Leviticus 11:44 (ESV) For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. 1 Peter 1:16 (ESV) since it is written, "You shall be holy, for I am holy." Justice: Amos 5:15 (ESV) Hate evil, and love good, and establish justice in the gate; it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts, will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. Micah 6.8- He has shown you, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you- but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God
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Which are Incommunicable?
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Infinite: Job 11:7-9 (ESV) "Can you find out the deep things of God? Can you find out the limit of the Almighty? [8] It is higher than heaven—what can you do? Deeper than Sheol—what can you know? [9] Its measure is longer than the earth and 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.
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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 the difference between infralapsarian and supralapsarian view of God's decrees?
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Infra: 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 Supra: 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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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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I don’t think the scriptures are clear on the length. I see them as analogical days. They are God’s work days.
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Evaluate biblically the theory of evolution.
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Naturalistic Evolution- believes 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. Theistic Evolution- believes that God as the worker/ mover behind the process set the evolutionary process in motion. This system , 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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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
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Do miracles occur today? Explain.
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If we take miracle to mean that God working without second causes for the sake of the affirmation of revelation, like Warfield does, then I would not affirm that miracles occur today due to the closed nature of the canon. In saying this I would also add that I would at the same time 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
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Did he decree it?
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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 it?
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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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The affirmation that God is good and all-powerful does not deny the reality that we live in a fallen world. Though God created the world good man in his rebellion against God brought sin into the world and with it sickness, destruction and death. However, God’s goodness is still seen in his common grace as he holds his creation together, as well as in his sovereign acts of providence. WE see God’s goodness in his willingness to subject himself to the depravity of the world in order to redeem us from the world and his all powerful sovereignty in his even 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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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 Romans 9
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Distinguish the Reformed and Arminian understandings of these doctrines.
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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.
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Are these doctrines 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
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Is there a real, personal devil? Explain from Scripture.
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Yes, Job 1; Matthew 4
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What is the chief end of man?
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"Man's chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. " -WSC #1 1 Cor. 10:31 (ESV) So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
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What is the supreme activity of man? (Catechism: "what does God require of man?")
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Obedience to God's revealed will. "The duty God requires of man is obedience to his revealed will." - WSC #39
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What does the Bible teach about the creation of human beings?
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“God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.” - WSC #10 “After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female with reasonable and immortal souls, endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image, having the law of God written in their hearts and power to fulfill it; and yet under a possibility of transgressing being left to the liberty of their own will which was subject unto change. Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of knowledge of good and evil; which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.” - WCF 4.2
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In what way is a man in the image of God?
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Man is endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness. "God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. with dominion over the creatures. " (WSC #10) Ephes. 4:24 (ESV) and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. Col. 3:10 (ESV) and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
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Are all men in the image of God? If so, to what extent?
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Yes, to the extent that they possess the characteristics listed above and realizing that all men, share in the fallen state which has corrupted (though not destroyed) that image "Whosoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed; for in the image of God has God made man." (Genesis 9:6) [post-fall; post-flood] "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. " (James 3:1)
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How does the doctrine of the image or God influence debates about gender roles?
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They are equally the image of God. "God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. (Genesis 1:26,27) Part of being in the image of God includes gender differences and complements. Both male and female are made in the image of God in a unique way, and thus are equal in dignity and worth as human beings. On the other hand, neither male nor female fully reflects the image of God without the other. Thus, there is a necessary complimentary relationship between the genders.
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Where did man's soul come from? When?
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Our soul is inherited from our parents-mediate origin. (Buswell). God creates each new soul immediately-without second causes. (Berkhof).
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What is sin? (See WSC 14). Include Scripture proofs.
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"Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. " (WSC #14) "Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself as he is pure. Everyone who sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness. " (1 John 3:3,4) "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins. " (James 4: 17) "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. " (James 2:10) "All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: 'cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.'" (Galatians 3:10) "Keep my decrees and laws, for the man who obeys them will live by them. I am the Lord. " (Leviticus 18:5)
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Discuss guilt of sin and the corruption of sin.
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Guilt is a judicial or legal concept describing one's relationship to the, law-in this case God's law. Guilt is the state of deserving condemnation or being liable to punishment because the law has been violated. Corruption has to do with our moral condition. “From this original corruption, whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgressions.” (WCF 6.4) “This corruption of nature, during this life, doth remain in those that are regenerated; and although it be, through Christ, pardoned, and mortified; yet both itself, and all the motions thereof, are truly and properly sin.” (WCF 6.5)
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Define and discuss original sin (include Scripture proofs).
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The effects of Adam ' s sin on the lives of all his descendants . "The sinfulness of that estate where into man fell consists in the guilt of Adam 's first sin, the want of original righteousness, and the corruption of his whole nature, which is commonly called original sin; together with all actual transgressions that proceed from it. " (WSC #18) "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men. because all sinned...For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous. " (Romans 5: 12,19; see also second half of the chapter) " For since death came through a man, the resurrection of the dead comes also through a man. For as in Adam all die. So in Christ all will be made alive. "-1 Corinthians 15:21,22
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How can original sin be reconciled to the canons of justice, either human or divine?
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The covenant was made with Adam and all his descendants, therefore Adam’s sin was the transgression of all men. This transgression requires of it the payment of the penalty of death. Thus, original sin is not only reconcilable with the perfect justice of God, his justice actually requires it. "The covenant being made with Adam as a public person, not for himself only, but for his posterity, all mankind descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in that first transgression. " (WLC #22)
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Is there any good remaining in a fallen, sinful man? Explain.
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No. The fall has so corrupted and permeated all of man's being that nothing he does is not in some way effected by that fall. "From this original corruption. whereby we are utterly indisposed, disabled, and made opposite to all good, and wholly inclined to all evil, do proceed all actual transgression. " (WCF 6.4)
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In what ways does man sin?
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In that man does not perfectly conform to the righteous requirements of the law, but rather transgresses that law, he sins. "Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. " (WSC #14)
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What are some of the consequences of sin?
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"All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself; and to the pains of hell forever. (WSC#19)
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Is the will of man free? Explain (include Scripture proofs).
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• Created: possible to sin • Fallen: not possible not to sin • Redeemed: possible not to sin • Glorified: not possible to sin "God has endued the will of man with that natural liberty, that it is neither forced, nor by any absolute necessity of nature, determined to good, or evil. "(WCF 9.1) "Bu1 I tell you, Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but have done to him everything they wished. " (Matthew 17:12) But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. " (James 1:14) "I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your seed may live. "-Deuteronomy 30:19
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Was Adam's will (before he sinned) free? Explain; include Scripture proofs.
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Yes. "Man, in his state of innocency, had freedom, and power to will and to do that which was good and well pleasing to god; but yet, mutably, so that he might fall from it. " (WCF 9.2) "Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. " (WSC #13) "And the Lord God commanded the man, you are free to eat from any tree in the garden; but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die. " (Genesis 2:16-17) “This only have I found: God made men upright, but men have gone in search of many schemes.” (Ecclesiastes 7:29)
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Can a sinner do anything good? Explain; include Scripture proofs.
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No (The confession defines "good" deeds as those which are glorifying to God). "There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. " (Romans 3:10,11) "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away. " (Isaiah 64:6)
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Is a sinner's will free to believe? Explain; include Scripture proofs.
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Not without the regeneration of the Holy Spirit. "Man, by his fall into a state of sin, has wholly lost all ability of will to any spiritual good accompanying salvation: so as, a natural man, being altogether averse from that good, and dead in sin, is not able, by his own strength, to convert himself, or to prepare himself thereunto. " (WCF 9.3) "The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. "(1 Cor. 2: 14) "This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. " (1 John 3:19,20)
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Does a believer have free will? Explain; include Scripture proofs.
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Yes, as God's grace enables him. "When God converts a sinner, and translates him into the state of grace, he frees him from his natural bondage under sin; and, by his grace alone, enables him .freely to will and to do that which is spiritually good; yet so, as that by reason of his remaining corruption, he does not perfectly, nor only, will that which is good, but does also will that which is evil. " (WCF 9.4) "You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness. " (Romans 6: 18) “But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and results in eternal life. " (Romans 6:22)
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What is a covenant?
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-It is an agreement between persons. The elements of a covenant consist of parties, obligations/stipulations, promises, oaths/vows, blessings and curses and witnesses. God’s covenant with man is described as a “voluntary condescension on God’s part” (WCF 7).
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What is the Covenant of Works? Who are its parties?
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-(WSC 12) When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death. -The parties are God and Adam, as well as all the descendants of Adam.
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Is there a present validity to the Covenant of Works?
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-The present validity of the Covenant of Works is the federal headship of Adam. He is our representative, and his sin and the subsequent effects of the fall are passed down to his descendants. We have sinned, fallen, and reaped the consequences of disobedience in Adam.
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What is the Covenant of Redemption? who are its parties?
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-(WSC 20) God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant of grace to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer. -
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Discuss the Covenant of Grace
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-Gracious = God had no obligation to enter into covenant and his word is the insurance of its validity. -Trinitarian = Father elects, Son justifies, Spirit applies effectually -Eternal = cannot be broken -Particular = only effectual for the elect, not universal in scope -One covenant of grace with various administrations (dispensations)
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How is the Covenant of Grace related to the Abrahamic Covenant? Mosaic? Noahic?
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-The promised Redeemer (seed of Gen 3:15 is coming one step closer in the covenant with Abraham. God chooses one man to be the eventual father of the promised Redeemer, the scope of the covenant encompasses all nations (eventually), and the sign of circumcision is added to the covenant as a physical reminder of God’s faithfulness to his covenant. - The stipulations of the law are given in great detail under this administration of the covenant, regarding sacrifice, worship, and community, as a response to the redemption God achieves on behalf of his people. -
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Discuss the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. Defend from Scripture.
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WCF 7. 6 WLC 32, 33, 34, 35 There is one covenant with different dispensations. (Galatians 3:14) There is a distinction between the Old and New (Hebrews 8:13), and the New in this sense replaces the old.
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Explain and defend with Scripture proofs the orthodox doctrine of the person of Christ.
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(WSC 21) The only redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever. Luke 1:35 = birth of Christ, fully man Colossians 2:9= fully God Hebrews 1:1-4 = the union of both God and man
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Briefly discuss the natures of Christ, including: Was Christ a human person? Does Christ have a soul?
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(WSC 22) Christ took to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the virgin Mary and born of her, yet without sin.
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What is kenosis?
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Kenosis is a theological term from Philippians 2:5-11 which refers to the incarnation of Christ. He is described as having “emptied himself” and taken human form. In taking on human flesh, Christ is spoken of undergoing some manner of self-limitation. The emptying has two aspects to it: taking on the likeness of sinful humanity and enduring death on the cross. Dr. Bayer underscores the humility of Christ in not exercising all the privileges of the godhead in the incarnation.
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Did Christ lay aside any of his divine attributes at the incarnation?
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-No, Colossians 2:9 - “in Christ, all the fullness of the deity lives in bodily form”
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Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christology posed by: Docetism
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Christ only appears to become a man, the suffering and other human traits were merely imaginary phenomena - not a true body and a rational soul at the incarnation. John 20 and Thomas touching the nail prints and the wounded side of Jesus.
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Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christology posed by: Arius
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Christ is not the eternal son of God, the first created being. John 1:1-14.
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Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christology posed by: Nestorius
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Christ is divided into two persons, a human and divine. Colossians 2:9.
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Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christology posed by: Apollinarius
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Christ lacked a human soul. WSC 22 - “reasonable soul”
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Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christology posed by: Eutyches
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Christ only had one nature, a mixture of both human and divine. WSC 22- “two distinct natures”.
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Are any these early heresies regarding the nature of Christ held today? If so, by whom?
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The Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormons hold a form of Arianism.
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Explain and defend the doctrine of the “communication of properties.”
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Define the following name: Jesus
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he will save his people from their sins
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Define the following name: Son of Man
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Jesus favorite title for himself, taken from the book of Daniel
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Define the following name: Christ
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Messiah, the anointed one of God
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Define the following name: Son of God
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Jesus unique reality as the second member of the trinity
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Define the following name: Lord
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New Testament designation for Christ as Yahweh.
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Define the following name: Lamb of God
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Jesus as the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sins of the world
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How was Christ born?
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Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin. WSC #22
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Explain and defend the Virgin Birth.
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WSC 22 Isaiah 7:14, Luke 1:16-38
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Trace the revelation of the person and work of Christ from the beginning of the Old Testament.
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promised redeemer in Gen 3:15 prophet, priest, and king temple implements, sacrifices, and laws Angel of the Lord
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What is the humiliation of Christ?
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Christ’s humiliation consisted in being born and that in a low condition made under the law undergoing the miseries of this life the wrath of God and the cursed death of the cross, in being buried and continuing under the power of death for a time.” WSC #26
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Define and distinguish the active and passive obedience of Christ.
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Active = He fulfills the stipulations of the moral law in perfect obedience Passive= He willingly undergoes the curses of the law for our sakes.
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What happened in the resurrection of Christ?
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Christ's exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. – WSC#28
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Discuss the “glorified body”
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The glorified body is the resurrected state whereby the body is animated and guided wholly by the Spirit, free from sinful inclinations, imperishable, glorious and powerful.
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What are the offices of Christ? How does Christ execute them?
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Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. WSC #23 Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. WSC #24 Christ executeth the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God, and in making continual intercession for us. WSC #25 Christ executeth the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies. WSC #26
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Who is the only redeemer of God’s elect?
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The only Redeemer of God's elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever. -WSC 21
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What is a redeemer?
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Someone who buys back another from slavery or bondage of some sort.
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What is the atonement?
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Christ paying the penalty for our sin. He died my death and paid my debt. It combines the images of justifying, reconciling, substituting, and assuaging God’s wrath.
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Was the atonement necessary?
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Christ paying the penalty for our sin. He died my death and paid my debt. It combines the images of justifying, reconciling, substituting, and assuaging God’s wrath.
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Why isn’t a good life enough to gain salvation?
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Isaiah 53:6 Ephesians 2:1-10
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Define: Expiation
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atonement for sins through the death of Christ on the cross as the sacrifice once and for all
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Define: Propitiation
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turn away/satisfy God’s wrath
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Define: Reconciliation
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restoring alienated people back into fellowship
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Define: Redemption
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to buy back at a price
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Define: Imputation
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to reckon, to charge to one’s account. Christ’s righteousness is imputed to believers.
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What is the nature of the atonement? Discuss “penal substitutionary atonement”.
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Galatians 3:13-14 = Christ became a curse for us that we may avoid the curse 2 Corinthians 5:21 = Christ became sin for us that we may receive declaration of righteousness from God.
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What of Christ’s remains to be done?
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The calling of the elect to salvation, his second coming, and the subsequent judgement of all the nations.
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Were the Old Testament believers saved by Christ?
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WCF 8.6 Promise of the Redeemer looked forward to by OT saints as we look back at the cross
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Will any for whom Christ died be lost?
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WCF 8.8 John 6:37 John 10:27-28 Romans 8
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What is the ordo salutis? Support your answer from Scripture.
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The traditional sequence of discussions of the different aspects of salvation: Calling, Regeneration, Conversion, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, Perseverance, Glorification. "As God has appointed the elect to glory; so has he, by the eternal and most free pu1pose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Therefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified and kept by his power, through faith, unto salvation, Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified and saved, but the elect only. "-WCF 3.6
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How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever?
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WHO IS GOD? God IS HOLY: He is majestic and absolutely perfect in his character. "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty"-Isaiah 6:3
GOD IS JUST: God is so holy that he cannot even look upon sin. "He does not leave the guilty unpunished"-Exodus 34: 7 GOD IS VERY LOVING: God's love prompted him to provide a way for man's relationship with himself to be restored. "For God so lived the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life "-John 3:16 WHO IS MAN? MAN IS SINFUL: Sin is breaking God's law or falling short of his perfection in thought, word or deed. "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God"-Romans 3:23 SIN'S PENALTY IS Death: This separation between God and man is so great that even man's best efforts cannot satisfy God's holiness and justice. "For the wages of sin is death "-Romans 6:23 JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN: Because God is holy and just He must punish sin. And the penalty for sin is death. Spiritual death (separation from God) and physical death are not the only consequences of sin. "Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement "-Hebrews 9:27 WHO IS CHRIST? JESUS CHRIST DIED As A SUBSTITUTE FOR SINFUL MEN: Because Jesus, the Son of God, became a man and lived a perfect and sinless life, He was qualified to die as a substitute. The wrath of God, which in justice was reserved for sinful men, fell upon Jesus when He died on the cross. "For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit "-1 Peter 3:18 WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE? MAN MUST RESPOND To THE GOOD NEWS. Jesus said that we must not only hear, but believe as well. To believe in Christ means to turn from your sin (repent) and personally trust him as Lord and Savior. "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life "-John 5:24 |
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Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of "effectual calling.
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WSC #31 2 Thess. 2:13-14 John 6:44 Rom. 8:29-30 Ez. 36:26-28
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On what is God's decision to call a certain person based?
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"This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. "-WCF 10.2 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-not by works, so that no one can boast. "-Ephesians 2:8,9 Romans 9:11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad-- in order that God's purpose in election might stand. . . . 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy.
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How can infants be 'called'?
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Elect infants who are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit. "Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who works when, and where, and how he pleases: so also as all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word. "-WCF 10.3
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Can anyone not called by the Spirit be saved? Explain and defend (include Scripture proofs).
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People may hear the gospel and have some response, but unless the Holy Spirit effectually calls them, they do not truly come to Christ and are not saved. 'Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved... ."-WCF 10.4 .'Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of m Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly. I never knew you. Depart from me, you evil doers. "-Matthew 7:21-23 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. "- John 6:44
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Is Jesus really the only way of salvation? Explain and defend (include Scripture proofs).
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Yes. "... much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never ~ so diligent to fame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess. And to assert and maintain the they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested. "-WCF 10.4 "1 am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. "-John 14:6 "Salvation is found in no one else, for there in no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. "-Acts 4: 12
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What about those who never had the chance to hear about Jesus?
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It is not a person's ignorance which will condemn him before God, it is his sinfulness. "Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word may have some common operation" of the Spirit. yet they never truly come unto Christ. and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to fame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess. And to assert and maintain that they may is very pernicious, and to be detested. "-WCF 10.4 "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. "-Psalm 19: 1-2 "... since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. "-Romans 1:19-20
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What about the sincere Buddhist (or Moslem, or Unitarian)?
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There sincerity is commendable, but in the end we must declare that they are sincerely wrong.
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Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of “justification”.
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That gracious act of God in which he treats me "Just as if I'd never sinned and lived a perfect life. "Justification is an act of God 's free grace, where he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. "-WSC 33 "..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that comes by Christ Jesus. "-Romans 3:23-24 "I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. "-Philippians 3:8b, 9
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What is the basis of justification?
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The finished work of Christ credited to our account by faith "Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies; not by infusing righteousness into them, but by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ's sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God. "- WCF 11.1
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Explain this statement: "Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.”
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Salvation is by faith alone, but true saving faith unites you to Christ and thus his Spirit conforms you after his image producing works of obedience. All saving faith will produce good fruit. "Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love. "-WCF 11.2 "You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. "-James 2:24
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When is a Christian justified?
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When the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to you by faith. (When he/she trusts in Christ)"God did, from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit does in due lime, actually apply Christ to them. "-WCF 11.4 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the Jaw of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. "-Romans 8:1,2
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What happens when a Christian sins after being justified?
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They may fall under fatherly discipline and need to humble themselves asking for forgiveness. "God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and, although they can never fall from the slate of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God's fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. "-WCF 11.5
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How were believers justified under the old covenant?
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They looked forward, in faith, by grace, for send a Messiah to take away restore God’s favor, just as we look back in faith by grace. "The justification of believers under the old testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the new testament. "-WCF 11.6 "What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was c
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