G. Salvation Applied (WCF 14-18; WLC 72-73,76,79-81,153; WSC 85-87)

Question 1

What is saving faith (Q86)? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 1

Saving faith is faith in Jesus Christ, whereby we receive and rest upon Him alone for salvation, as He is offered to us in the gospel (Jn 1:12 - all who do receive …, Romans 10:9)

Question 2

Where does saving faith come from? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 2

The Spirit through the Word (1 Pet 1 - born again through the word of God, 2 Pet 1 - the word comes from the Spirit)

The Spirit of Christ wrought by the ministry of the Word (XIV:1)

Question 3

What does saving faith believe? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 3

It believes the word of God, acting on it, obeying it, trembling at it, and embracing its promises (1 Thess 2 - you received the word as God’s word, Isaiah 66 - who trembles at my word, John 4 - the man believed the word of Jesus)

WCF 14:2 By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God Himself speaking therein

Question 4

Is all faith alike? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 4

It can have different degrees, but is secured by Christ (Rom 4 - justified by faith, Mark 9 - I believe, help my unbelief, Heb 11)

WCF 14:3 This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed and weakened, but gets the victory; growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.

Question 5

Define “repentance”—What is repentance unto life (Q87)? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 5

Repentance unto life is a saving grace whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience (Acts 2 - repent, Acts 11 - Cornelius, Jonah)

Question 6

In what sense is repentance “necessary?” Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 6

We cannot expect pardon without it (Acts 2, 1 John 1:9, Mark 1 - repent and believe)

WCF 15:3 Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ; yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.

Question 7

How ought we to confess our sins? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 7

To God and to our brother (1 John 1:9 - to God, James 5 - to brother)

WCF 15:6 As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy; so he that scandalizeth his brother, or the Church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended; who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.

Question 8

What are good works? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 8

The things commanded by God’s word (Micah 6:8, Romans 12 - list)

WCF 16:1 Good works are only such as God hath commanded in His holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretence of good intention.

Question 9

What is the relation of good works to faith? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 9

Good works are the fruits of faith (WLC 73)(John 15 - branches bearing fruit, James 2 - they naturally follow)

Question 10

Can our good works save us? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 10

No, at best we have done our duty and our works are mixed with imperfection (Rom 3 - all have fallen short, Eph 2 - dead in sin, Luke 17 - we are unworthy servants)

WCF 16:5 WCF 16.5 We cannot, by our best works merit pardon of sin, or eternal life, at the hand of God, by reason of the great disproportion that is between them and the glory to come, and the infinite distance that is between us and God, whom by them, we can neither profit nor satisfy for the debt of our former sins; but when we have done all we can, we have done but our duty, and are unprofitable servants; and because, as they are good, they proceed from His Spirit; and as they are wrought by us, they are defiled, and mixed with so much weakness and imperfection, that they cannot endure the severity of God’s judgment.

Question 11

Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of “perseverance.”

Answer 11

God will keep us until the end (Phil 1 - God will complete his good work in us, John 10 - no one will snatch them from my hand)

WCF 17.2 This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father;(1) upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ;(2) the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them;(3) and the nature of the covenant of grace:(4) from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.(5)

(1) 2 Tim. 2:18,19; Jer. 31:3.
(2) Heb. 10:10,14; Heb. 13:20,21; Heb. 9:12-15; Rom. 8:33-39; John 17:11,24; Luke 22:32; Heb. 7:25.
(3) John 14:16,17; 1 John 2:27; 1 John 3:9.
(4) Jer. 32:40.
(5) John 10:28; 2 Thess. 3:3; 1 John 2:19.

Question 12

Can a saved person later be eternally lost? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 12

No (John 6 - all who the father gives will come, John 10 - no one will snatch them from my hand, Rom 8 - what can separate from the love of God)

WCF 17.1 They, whom God hath accepted in His Beloved, effectually called and sanctified by His Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace; but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.(1)

(1)Phil. 1:6; 2 Pet. 1:10; John 10:28,29; 1 John 3:9; 1 Pet. 1:5,9.

Question 13

Can a person be sure he is saved? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 13

We can have reasonable assurance (1 John 3 - by this we shall know we are of the truth: belief and love)

WCF 18:1 ….yet such as truly believe in the Lord Jesus, and love Him in sincerity, endeavouring to walk in all good conscience before Him, may, in this life, be certainly assured that they are in the state of grace,(3) and may rejoice in the hope of the glory of God; which hope shall never make them ashamed.(4)

(2) Matt. 7:22,23.
(3) 1 John 2:3; 1 John 3:14,18,19,21,24; 1 John 5:13.
(4) Rom. 5:2,5.

Question 14

Should a person be sure he is saved? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 14

• Yes, it is our duty to make our calling and election sure (1 Peter 1)

Question 15

How could a person know he is saved? On what could such assurance be based?

Answer 15

• The promises of God (Heb 6 - unchangeable oath)
• Inward testimony of the Holy Spirit (Eph 1 - Seal of the Holy Spirit)
• Fruits: obedience and love (1 John 3 - love in actions and truth)

Question 16

What should a person do who lacks assurance of salvation?

Answer 16

• Go through the tests of life: doctrine, love for others, obedience to the commandment (1 John)
• Look to the finished work of Christ (Rom 5-8)
• Be diligent (2 Pet 1)

Question 17

Can unbelievers do good works? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.

Answer 17

No, they only can come from a heart purified by faith since anything else is the wrong motive (Heb 11 - without faith it is impossible to please God)

a. WCF XVI.7: “Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner,according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God: and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.”

Question 18

On what does a believer’s persevering depend? Defend with Scripture proofs.

Answer 18

God’s love, grace, and election (Rom 8 - order)

WCF XVII.2: “This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace: from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.”