6. THEOLOGY - SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY Flashcards by Devon Webb

What is meant by “Systematic Theology”?

Study of Scripture topically.

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What are the divisions of Systematic Theology?

Bibliology - Scripture
Theology Proper - God
Anthropology - Man
Soteriology - Salvation
Christology - Christ
Pneumatology - Spirit
Ecclesiology - Church
Eschatology - Last Things

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What is Reformed Faith?

A system of faith articulated during the protestant reformation that can be summarized in the acrostic, TULIP.

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What is “Covenant Theology”? Why important?

Covenant theology stresses the unity of God’s plan of redemption throughout the entirety of Scripture for a chosen people.

It shows how God relates to His people.

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List and explain the “Five Points of Calvinism”.

Total Depravity

Sin affects the whole person, that the total essence of our humanity is fallen.

Rom 3:10
“None is righteous, no, not one;”

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List and explain the “Five Points of Calvinism”.

Unconditional Election

God does not foresee an action or condition on our part that induces Him to save us.

Rom 9:11
“though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls”

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List and explain the “Five Points of Calvinism”.

Limited (Particular) Atonement

Christ death is good enough for everyone yet it is only for those whom the Father has given to Jesus.

John 6:37
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

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List and explain the “Five Points of Calvinism”.
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Irresistible Grace

The elect come to faith by the Spirit’s effectual call.

John 6:37
“All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.”

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List and explain the “Five Points of Calvinism”.

Perseverance of the Saints

The process by which we are kept in a state of grace accomplished only by God.

Phil. 1:6
“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

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Where did the Five Points come from?

A summary of the Synod of Dort in response to the 5 Remonstrance’s of Jacob Arminius.

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Define general and special revelation.

General is to all men; special is reserved for people who are recipients of God’s special love to sinners.

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Define/Defend the “Inspiration” of Scripture.

“God-breathed” - 2 Tim. 3:16

“For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
- 2 Peter 1:20-22.

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Define/Defend the “Necessity” of Scripture.

Scripture is necessary to reveal Christ to men and is the basis upon which the church exists.

“So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”
-Romans 10:17

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What is the “Canon”? Defend it Scripturally.

It means rule, measure or standard.

The canon is closed (Revelation 22).

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Define/Defend the “Authority” of Scripture.

The Scriptures, which are inspired by God himself, carry the full weight of God’s authority.

2 Tim. 3:16-17
“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

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Define/Defend the “Sufficiency” of Scripture.

The Scriptures are completely sufficient to guide us in all of the ways of faith and practice. The Law is perfect.

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Define/Defend the “Perspicuity” of Scripture.

The way of salvation is so clearly revealed in Scripture that every person can easily understand it, irrespective of his spiritual condition.

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Reformed interpretation of Scripture.

God Centered.
Redemptive Significance.
Rule of interpretation.

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Rules of Interpretation

Every text has a context
Scripture interprets Scripture (no conflicts through interpretation)
Standard rules of grammar and literary form

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What do the Scriptures principally teach?

(WSC 3) The Scriptures principally teach what man is to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man.

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Define/Defend the “Inerrancy” of Scripture.

The Bible is free from error.

OT: Ps. 19, “The Law of the Lord is perfect.”

NT: 2 Tim. 3:16 (God-breathed);
2 Peter 3 (confirming Paul’s epistles as
Scripture)

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What is God?

(WSC 4) God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

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Explain/defend the Trinity.

(WSC 5) There is but one only, the living and true God.

Deut. 6:4 - “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.”

(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.

Matt. 28:19 - “Go therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.”

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Attributes of God
- Which are communicable?

Wisdom (James 1:5)
Holiness (1 Pet. 1:16)
Justice (Amos 5:15)

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Attributes of God
- Which are incommunicable?

Infinity (Job 11:7-9)
Eternal (Psalm 90:2)
Unchangeable (James 1:17)

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What are the decrees of God?

(WSC 7) The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

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Define infralapsarian and supralapsarian.

Two opposing systems of doctrine that deal with the eternal mind of God.

Infralapsarian: God decreed the Creation and permitted the Fall, and then elected a chosen number for salvation and suffered the remainder to be eternally punished.

Supralapsarian: God decreed the election and redemption of man before creation and the Fall.

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What is the “Amyraldian” view in God’s decree?

A system of Reformed Theology based on the premise that God wills all to be saved if they believe.

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How does God execute His decrees?

(WSC 8) God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

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Days of creation. (PCA view)

Seven 24-hour days.
PCA allows varying views.

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Evaluate evolution biblically

No support found in Scripture.

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What are God’s works of providence?

(WSC 11) God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

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What is a miracle?

Something that occurs outside the normal laws of nature and is supernatural in origin.

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Do miracles occur today?

Yes

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Is God responsible for sin?
- Did He decree it?
- Did He permit it?
- Who is the ultimate cause of all things?
- What is theodicy?

No; second cause is held responsible.
- No, in the sense of cause/authorship
- Yes
- God is the 1st cause; not responsible/author of 2nd causes
- Theodicy is an attempt to justify divine justice in the face of the existence of evil.

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If God is good and all-powerful, explain AIDS, deformities, etc.

Effects of the fall.

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Discuss predestination, election, and reprobation.

Double-Predestination: God decreed some unto election and glory in Christ and others to reprobation and damnation.

Reformed vs. Arminian views of predestination, election, and reprobation.

Arminian: God foresaw who would choose Christ.

Reformed: God foreloved those whom He enabled to choose Christ.

Are these doctrines compatible with belief in real human choice and responsibility?

Man always chooses what he wants
Man is responsible for all his actions (2nd cause)
God is still sovereign (1st cause)

Practical results of believing in election.

(1) assurance of God’s love,
(2) peace of conscience,
(3) joy in the Holy Spirit, and
(4) growing and persevering in grace to the end of our lives.”

Is there real, personal devil? Explain from Scripture.

Yes.
Job 1 - The devil appears before God
1 Pet. 5:8 - “Your adversary, the devil, prowls…”

What is the chief end of man?

(WSC 1) Man’s chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy him forever.

What is the duty which God requireth of man? (What is the supreme activity of man?)

(WSC 39) The duty which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will.

How did God create man?

(WSC 10) God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

How is man the “image of God”?

Man is reflective of God’s image in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness with dominion over the creatures.

How does this (the image of God) influence debates about gender roles?

They are equally the image of God.

Where did man’s soul come from?

The soul was created directly by God at the moment of conception.

What is sin? Include Scripture proof.

(WSC 14) Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.

James 2:10
For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.

Discuss the guilt of sin and corruption of sin

Guilt: we are bound over to the wrath of God and so made subject to death, with all miseries spiritual, temporal, and eternal.

Corruption: we are utterly disabled in our ability to do good, as our hearts are wholly inclined to all evil.

Define original sin (consequences of 1st sin)

Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first transgression?

(WSC 16) The covenant being made with Adam, not only for himself, but for his posterity; all mankind, descending from him by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him, in his first transgression.

Rom 5:12
Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men[a] because all sinned—

Is there any good in a fallen, sinful man?

No. His whole being is corrupted by the fall (Total depravity)

In what ways does man sin?

Man does not perfectly conform to the righteous requirements of the Law.

What is the misery of that estate whereinto man fell?

(What are some of the consequences of sin?)

(WSC 19) “By their fall all mankind lost fellowship with God and brought His anger and curse on themselves. They are therefore subject to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever.”

Is the will of man free?
Was Adam’s will free?
Can a sinner do anything good?
Is a sinner’s will free to believe?
Does a believer have free will?

NO. Apart from Christ, man is a slave to sin and the flesh.

YES, prior to the Fall.

NO, unless this “sinner” is born again and walking in the Spirit

NO. They are dead in sins & trespasses, so they are both unable and unwilling to belief, apart from the regenerative work of the Holy Spirit.

YES. As God’s grace enables him.

What is a covenant?

By definition, a covenant is a binding agreement made by two or more parties.

In the Bible, the covenant is a divinely administered oath bound by blood.

What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created?

(What is the Covenant of Works? Who are the Parties?)

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.

Is there a present validity to the Covenant of Works?

Yes. It is in the federal headship of Adam.

What is the Covenant of Redemption?

Who are its parties?

An agreement in which the Son undertakes to meet the obligations of those whom the Father has given him.

God and His Son, representing His people.

Covenant of Grace?

Agreement between God and His elect where the benefits of redemption were promised to man (elect) upon
1) acceptance by faith and
2) consecration to God in a new obedience.

How is the Covenant of Grace related to:
- Abrahamic Covenant
- Mosaic Covenant
- Noahic Covenant

Abrahamic: The promised Redeemer.

Mosaic: God delivered the law and established a nation of people for himself.

Noahic: God provided common grace to man, refraining from destroying the world as a consequence of its sin.

Discuss the relationship between the Old and New Covenants?

Same covenant - different administration
Shadows & types;
The new has come so the old is obsolete

Gal 3:14
“…so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit[a] through faith.”

How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

(Orthodox doctrine of the person of Christ?)

(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 continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Col 2:9

Natures of Christ
- Was Christ a human person?
- Does Christ have a soul? (WSC 22)
- What is kenosis (Phil. 2:7)
- Did Christ lay aside any of His divine attributes at the incarnation?

-Yes.
-(WSC 22) 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.
-The humility of Christ - laying aside the “office/glory”

No. Col 2:9 “…all the fullness of…deity live in bodily form”

Defend against:
- Docetism
- Nestorius
- Eutyches
- Arius
- Apollinarius

Doc - Deny Christ’s humanity
Nes - Denied union of the 2 natures; creating 2 persons of Christ
Eut - Christ only had one nature, a mixture of both human and divine.
Ari - Christ is not the eternal Son of God
Apo - Christ lacked a human soul

Are any of early heresies held today?

Yes. JW, LDS, liberals, and unitarians deny the deity of Jesus Christ.

Defend doctrine of “communication of properties”.

Christ = one person + two natures

What is “extra Calvinisticum”?

The belief that the divine nature of Christ cannot be contained within a finite person.

Define these names:
- Jesus
- Christ
- Lord
- Son of Man
- Son of God
- Lamb of God

Savior
-Anointed One
-Kurios, One in authority
-Self-designation of Jesus
Jesus relation to God as second person of the trinity
-The Lamb who takes away the sins of the world

How was Christ born?

(WSC 22)

Defend virgin birth

(WSC 22)
Matt. 1 and Luke 1

Trace revelation of the person and work of Christ from beginning of OT

Gen 3:15 - seed of the woman
Gen 12 - He is the promised seed of Abraham & patriarchs
2 Sam 7 - everlasting king promised to David

Wherein did Christ’s humiliation consist?

(WSC 26) Christ’s humiliation consisted in his 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.

Define and distinguish the active and passive obedience of Christ

Active: His perfect obedience as 2nd Adam

Passive: His paying the penalty of sin by suffering and death

What happened in the resurrection of Christ?

(Wherein consisteth Christ’s exaltation?) (WSC 28)

(WSC 28) 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.

Discuss glorified body

Our bodies resurrected but without morality and sin.

What are Christ’s offices? (WSC 23)
{What offices doth Christ execute as our Redeemer?}

How does He execute them? (WSC 24, 25, 26)

(WSC 23) 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 24) Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation.

(WSC 25) 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 26) 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.

Who is the Redeemer of God’s elect?

What is a redeemer?

One who purchases another by paying of a specified sum.

What is the atonement?

Christ paying the penalty for our sin.

Was the atonement necessary? Explain and Defend.

Yes. Otherwise God’s character is violated and He would be a covenant breaker.
Rom 3:23

Define Expiation

“Casting away” - Removing our sins from us in atonement

Define Propitiation

“Covering for sin” - to satisfy God’s wrath.

Define Reconciliation

Regain favor with person wronged by making amends for sin committed.

Define Redemption

To recover ownership by paying a specified sum

Define Imputation

To ascribe to another - “reckoned” (KJV)

What is the nature of the atonement?

Atonement is the (PSI) of our sin.
- Propitiation: It satisfied God
- Substitutionary: It vicarious
- Included Christ’s active and passive obedience.

Discuss “penal substitutionary atonement”.

Satisfaction for the penalty of man’s transgression (death) is made to God through a substitute (Christ).

What of Christ’s work remains to be done?

His second coming.

Were OT believers saved by Christ?

Yes. They were saved through the blood of the eternal covenant (Heb. 13:20). They were saved by forward-looking faith, and we are saved by backward-looking faith.

Will any for whom Christ died be lost?

No.
To all those for whom Christ hath purchased redemption, he doth certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same
(Rom. 8:28-29; Jn 6:39-40)

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6. THEOLOGY - SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY Flashcards

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