Doctrine II final revised

Question 1

Doctrine 7

Answer 1

We believe that repentance toward God, faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and regeneration by the Holy Spirit are necessary to salvation.

Question 2

Doctrine 8

Answer 2

We believe that we are justified by grace through faith in our Lord Jesus Christ and that he that believeth hath the witness in himself.

Question 3

Regeneration

Answer 3

Literally ‘re-birth’, the renewal by the Holy Spirit which comes with the acceptance of God’s grace

Question 4

Grace

Answer 4

the persistent, loving favor of God towards undeserving humanity

Question 5

Prevenient Grace

Answer 5

literally ‘grace’ which ‘comes before’, the action by which God prepares and helps the hearer to seek him and find salvation.

Question 6

Faith

Answer 6

confident, obedient trust in the living God

Question 7

How does the atonement of Jesus Christ relate to justification?

Answer 7

If the transforming grace brought about by the Atonement is to save us, we must experience the power of the universal work of Christ on the Cross for ourselves. This comes about, not by understanding the doctrine, but by trusting in the God who saves.

Question 8

Repentance

Answer 8

change of direction; the action of turning away from sin and towards God

Question 9

imparted righteousness

Answer 9

Christ’s righteousness is given to, or infused within, the believer such that he or she actually becomes righteous.

what God does in Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit after justification, working in the Christian to enable and empower the process of sanctification

Question 10

regeneration

Answer 10

Literally ‘re-birth’, the renewal by the Holy Spirit which comes with the acceptance of God’s grace

Question 11

imputed righteousness

Answer 11

carries the theological weight of being “counted” or “considered” or “reckoned” righteous.”

righteousness of Jesus credited to the Christian, enabling the Christian to be justified

Question 12

justification

Answer 12

God’s act of declaring people to be righteous before him, accepting them despite their past sins.

Question 13

Discuss what it means “he that believeth hath the witness in himself.”

Answer 13

“The Holy Spirit is the seal and guarantee of our salvation and assures us of the truth of the gospel message and its effectiveness for us. Our new life, our determination to obey God, our break with the past and our new spiritual direction give evidence of our adoption into God’s family (Romans 8:14-17)… Our confidence is based not on changing moods or feelings but on the word of God…Some people receive their assurance in a moment of intense experience; with others the assurance is quietly and slowly given…It is God’s will that his children should know they belong to his family and so continue on their way with confidence…”