Exam 3 Flashcards
What is soteriology?
The study of the doctrine of salvation.
What is contrition?
The step before repentance in which we reflect on our sin and wish we could make ourselves right with God.
What is repentance?
The action of turning away from sin and towards God.
What is justification?
God’s work in justifying the sinners by forgiving our sins and making us right with God.
Think the divine part of repentance.
What is imputed righteousness?
Refers to the righteousness of Christ that is the basis of our acquittal.
What is works of righteousness?
The attempt to earn justification from God by doing good works. Stands in opposition of legalism.
What is antinomianism?
Acting as though God’s laws have nothing to say to the Christian life, so it does not matter how we live. Stands in opposition of the doctrine of sanctification.
What is the focus of the Calvinist understanding of salvation?
The priority and sovereignty of God’s grace by emphasizing God as the sole agent of salvation.
*The Cat.
What is the focus of the Arminian understanding of salvation?
God’s loving desire to be in a saving relationship with humanity and sees this as connected to God opening up space for human agency, along with divine grace, in salvation.
*The Monkey.
What is prevenient grace?
A gift of grace from God that comes before us, preceding anything we do. Was given to all people, not just the elect.
What are the Remonstrant articles?
The summary of the beliefs of Arminianism. Written after Arminius’s death.
What is the first article of the Remonstrant articles?
God’s will is to elect those who through God’s grace believe in Jesus and persevere in faith and obedience.
What is the second article of the Remonstrant articles?
Christ died for all humanity.
What is the third article of the Remonstrant articles?
We cannot obtain saving faith by ourselves, and we stand in need of God’s grace through Christ to be renewed in thought and will.
What does the third article of the Remonstrant articles confirm?
The crippling effect of original sin and our need for grace.
What is the fourth article of the Remonstrant articles?
Grace is the cause of the beginning, progress, and completion of salvation.
What does the fourth article of the Remonstrant articles discuss?
Co-operating grace (God’s grace working with human freedom) and that all good works come from the grace of God, which humans can resist.
What is the fifth article of the Remonstrant articles?
In Christ, people receive the strength of the spirit to fight against sin, their flesh, Satan, the world, and still get the victory.
What does the fifth article of the Remonstrant articles maintain?
The possibility of apostasy (that someone might turn away from God).
What is the Synod of Dort?
A response to Arminianism that gives the soteriology of Calvinism or five-point Calvinism (TULIP).
What is total depravity?
The point that reaffirms the doctrine of original sin. In Adam, we are all sinners and unable to choose God. Emphasizes our complete inability to save ourselves.
What does total depravity emphasize?
Emphasizes our complete inability to save ourselves.
What is unconditional election?
God elects some people according to the good pleasure of his will without regard to their foreseen faith.
What does unconditional election serve as a rebuttal to?
The Arminian belief that belief and faith are the reason God elects people. Calvinists fear this leads to work-based faith.
What is limited atonement?
The atoning work of Christ is only effective for the elect and not for those who remain in sin.
What is irresistible grace?
The electing grace of God will not fail because it cannot be resisted.
What is perseverance of the saints?
God will finish his saving work in the elect who cannot fall away. Goes along with irresistible grace.
What do the concepts of limited atonement, irresistible grace, and perseverance of the saints articulate?
The vision of God’s sovereign grace.
What is the definition of monergistic?
God is the only actor in salvation.
*Calvinist soteriology.
What is the definition of synergistic?
God works with humanity in the process of salvation.
*Arminian soteriology.
What is atonement?
The description of the way Christ’s work undoes the separation between God and humans. Opens the possibility for us to be reconciled or made one with God.
What is deification?
The process in which Christ became human, so that humans could become one with God. Model of atonement.
Attributed to Athanasius.
What is Christus Victor (Christ the Victor)?
The dramatic model of atonement with the central theme of atonement as a divine conflict and victory.
Attributed to Gustaf Aulen.
What is satisfaction atonement?
The cross-centric atonement theory that thinks God’s offended honor and dignity could only be satisfied by the sacrifice of Jesus.
Attributed to the thinking of Anslem of Canterbury.
What is substitutionary atonement?
The cross-centric atonement theory that thinks Jesus served as a substitute for humans in receiving God’s wrath.
Attributed to the thinking of Anslem of Canterbury.
What is forensic atonement?
The cross-centric atonement theory that views atonement as happening in something similar to a court. God as judge finds Jesus guilty and punishes him, despite us being the guilty ones.
Attributed to the thinking of Anslem of Canterbury.
What is moral exemplar?
Christ, with his perfect love, became a moral example for us who witnessed this love.
Attributed to Peter Abelard.
What is pneumatology?
The study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
What are some incorrect ways of classifying The Holy Spirit?
- As a power, energy, or force.
- Jesus in another mode.
What is the correct way of classifying The Holy Spirit?
Equal in divinity, distinct in person.
What is the filioque controversy?
The disagreement between whether to say that The Holy Spirit proceeds from The Father or The Holy Spirit proceeds from The Father and The Son.
Which group believes that The Holy Spirit proceeds from The Father alone?
The Eastern Church.
What does the Eastern Church’s belief stand on?
Not risking subordinating The Spirit to The Son.
Which group believes that The Holy Spirit proceeds from The Father and The Son?
The Western Church.
What does the Western Church’s belief stand on?
Galatians 4:6 (Spirit of The Son) and Matthew 10:20 (Not just The Spirit of The Father).
What was John Calvin’s belief about The Holy Spirit?
That The Holy Spirit shifts accent from sacraments (channels of salvific grace) to personal work of The Spirit in the human heart.
What is the definition of catholic?
Universality and wholeness of the church.
What is the definition of apostolic?
The modern church having the same qualities as the church of the apostles.
Our church is the same church as the church of the apostles.