Christ and Salvation

Question 1

How does the confession use the terms ‘effectual calling’ and ‘regeneration’

Answer 1

• It subsumes regeneration under effectual calling.
• Warent: “those whom he called he justified” Romans 8:30

Question 2

Similarities and differences between effectual call and external call

Answer 2

• It is the same gospel word in both; the same content.
• The difference is the “effectual” application of that word to the hearts.
• Lydia in acts 16, She hears (external call), the Lord opens her heart (regeneration), and she heeds the things spoken by Paul (effectual call).

Question 3

Union with Christ objective and subjective

Answer 3

Objective: federally in the covenant of redemption; Ephesians 1 “Chosen in Him”
Subjectively: applied to us by the Spirit.

Question 4

Relation of union with Christ and other saving benefits

Answer 4

• we must distinguish but not separate Christ and His benefits.
• when we are in Christ, we have his benefits “faithful in Christ Jesus” “chosen in Him”
• We are justified in Christ based on our legal union, we are adopted in Christ, we are sanctified in Christ through the realization of our union with him.

Question 5

Quote and expound Romans 3:21-24

Answer 5

• “but now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus”
• God provides righteousness in Christ through his gracious redemption. We are unable to be justified by the Law, but Christ gives us his righteousness freely as he makes propitiation by His blood.

Question 6

Explain how James 2 relates to justification by faith alone?

Answer 6

• James uses the word “justified” (δικαιοῦται) not in the declarative sense but in the demonstrative sense.
• He is arguing that all faith should be living, not dead.
• WCF 16.2 “good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and living faith.”

Question 7

How does sanctification relate to good works?

Answer 7

• Sanctification enables us to perform good works.
• 100% of God - we do not sanctify ourselves. But we do diligently use his means (word, sacrament, and prayer).
• Good works are the fruit and purpose of sanctification; Ephesians 2:10.

Question 8

Exegetical arguments for perseverance of the saints.

Answer 8

• The Scripture teaches the necessity of enduring, Heb 4:14 “let us hold fast our confession”
• The Scripture teaches the certainty of enduring Phil 1:6
• The Scripture teaches the relation of enduring to preservation (Num 16)
• The grounds of enduring is particularism - election of the father, efficacy of the son, indwelling of the spirit

Question 9

A church member comes to you for help because they have no assurance of salvation. How do you counsel them?

Answer 9

Theological:
- Have the looked to their adoption and justification?
- What is their view of God? Do they think he is gracious and merciful?
- Do they understand the trustworthiness of the God that spoke the gospel to them?
- Do they think christians never doubt? Especially as they become increasingly aware of their sin. (James 3)

Habitual:
- Are they under the means of grace?
- do they daily seek God in His word and through prayer?
- Is there a besetting sin?

John 6:48 “truly, truly, whoever believes upon me has eternal life.”
1 John 8, 9

Question 10

How do you comfort parents who’s infant dies? Did the child go to heaven? What are the positions.

Answer 10

• Elect infants are regenerated and saved (Acts 2:38, the promises of God)
• Most baptists teach that all children go to heaven because they were not at the “age of accountability”
• It wouldn’t make sense for Christ to say “such is the kingdom of heaven” regarding infants is they had no possibility of salvation (Matthew 19).
• Infants of unbelievers are a mystery to me.

Question 11

Defend the imputation of Christ’s righteousness in justification.

Answer 11

• Infusion of righteousness doesn’t deal rightly with past sins.
• Imputation of Christ’s righteousness makes the remission of sins and removal of condemnation possible.
• Romans 5
• Romans 10:10 “a man believes unto righteousness”

Question 12

Three parts of saving faith

Answer 12

• Knowledge
• Assent (Hebrews 11:1)
• Trust (Proverbs 3:5)

Question 13

Hebrews 11:1

Answer 13

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen

Question 14

Proverbs 3:5

Answer 14

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding

Question 15

What is fides generalis

Answer 15

Fides generalis: a mere conviction of the truthfulness of the gospel

Question 16

Define the ordo salutis

Answer 16

the order of salvation applied

Question 17

state the Ordo salutis

Answer 17

• calling (general, regeneration, effectual)
• conversion (repentance, faith)
• union with Christ
• Justification
• Adoption
• Sanctification (definitive & progressive)
• perseverance unto glorification

Question 18

Defend the ordo.

Answer 18

• Romans 8, predestination, calling, justification, glorification
• John 3:3, regeneration must come before sanctification and glorification.
• John 1:12, receiving Christ by faith precedes adoption
• Ephesians 1:13, sealing comes after the belief of the truth.

Question 19

Roman Catholic Doctrine of Justification

Answer 19

• Final cause: glory of God
• Efficient Cause: God’s grace
• Meritorious Cause: merits of Christ (no our view of merit, but that Christ secured the gifts of the Spirit to effect our souls in baptism)
• Occasional Cause: faith (a mere assent to the gospel that prompts the believer to seek grace in baptism)
• Formal cause: infusion of righteousness that banishes sin and enables good works.
• Rome rejects the notion that it is a forensic act.
• baptism takes place of faith.

Question 20

Issues of federal vision theology.

Answer 20

• They hold to a objectivity of the covenant.
• They deny the covenant of works
• blur the Law/gospel distinction
• deny imputation of active obedience
• fail to confirm the definitive nature of justification in this life
• usually merge faith and faithfulness
• usually hold to monocovenantalism

Question 21

Two views of the relation of adoption to justification

Answer 21

1. Adoption is a part of justification (Turretin).
2. Adoption is a separate act (Giradeau and Thornwell).

• Adoption is based on justification, but that does not mean it is the same act.
• 1 John 3:1 seems to regard it on its own. The WCF seems to agree by treating it on its own in Chapter 12, even though it does root in in justification.

Question 22

Wesley’s perfectionism

Answer 22

• Wesley believed a man through faith could reach perfection and not sin because he is sinless in Christ. He degraded his definition of sin to willful acts against the law. His view of human ability distorted his soteriology.