Important Definitions (with proofs) and Other Questions

Question 1

Propitiation

Answer 1

The turning away, or judicial satisfaction, of God’s holy and just wrath

Question 2

Covenant

Answer 2

A formal agreement that creates a relationship with legal aspects

Question 3

Covenant of Grace

Answer 3

The covenant is grace is God freely offering to sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ, requiring of them faith in him, that they may be saved, and promising to give unto all those that are ordained unto eternal life his Holy Spirit, to make them willing, and able to believe. (WCF 7.3)

Keele: The covenant between God and believers with their children, in which he promises salvation through faith in Christ, who merited their salvation by his obedience”

Question 4

Inspiration of Scripture

Answer 4

The Bible is God-breathed, inspired by the Holy Spirit
- 2 Peter 1:21 (Men moved along by the Holy Spirit)
- 2 Tim 3:16 (God breathed)

Question 5

Necessity of Scripture

Answer 5

The Bible is necessary so that man may know what to believe concerning God and what duty God requires of man. We cannot know God’s redemption apart from Scripture
- Romans 10:17 (Faith comes form hearing, and hearing by the Word of Christ)
- Matthew 4:4 (Man lives by word that comes from God)
- 2 Tim 3:15 (The Scriptures make wise unto salvation through faith)
- WCF 1.1

Question 6

Canon

Answer 6

The canon refers to the 66 books of the Bible that were recognized by the church as authoritative.
- Luke 24:27 (Begins with Moses and all the prophets)
- 2 Peter 3:16 (People distort the “Scriptures”)

Question 7

Authority of Scripture

Answer 7

Scripture is to be received as the very word of God, being inspired by him. Authority not dependent on outside
- 1 John 5:9 (the witness of God is greater than the witness of man)
- 2 Timothy 3:16-17
-2 Peter 1:19-21 (Do well to pay attention to it… Comes from God)
- WCF 1.4 Scripture to be received because it is God’s word.

Question 8

Sufficiency of Scrpture

Answer 8

All things in necessary for God’s glory, man’s salvation, and life is in Scripture or by good and necessary consequence.
- 2 Tim 3:16-17

Question 9

Inerrancy

Answer 9

Barrett: Scriptures are wholly true in all things that they assert in the original autographs
- 2 Timothy 3:16
- Heb 6:18 (Impossible for God to lie)

Question 10

Perspicuity

Answer 10

The things that are necessary to be known, believed, and observed for salvation are clear for all people.
- Acts 17:11 (Bereans search the Scriptures)
- Psalm 119:130 (The words give understanding to the simple)
- WCF 1.7

Question 11

Aseity of God

Answer 11

He is life in and of himself.
- WCF 2.2
- Acts 17:24-25 (God not served by human hands)
- Psalm 50:12 (If I were hungry I would not tell you, for the world and its fullness are mine)
- Job 41:11 (Whatever is under the whole heaven in mine)
- This is an encouragement because God does not need us to save us! The gospel depends upon God

Question 12

Simplicity

Answer 12

God is not made up of parts. He is his attributes
- Deuteronomy 6:4 (The Lord is one)

Question 13

extra Calvinisticum

Answer 13

Person of the son is not contained to by his human nature, he continues to exist and operate beyond his flesh
- Heb 1:3
- Col 1:15-17 (Jesus maintains the universe)

Question 14

Scripture as Final Arbiter

Answer 14

Acts 15:15 (The words of the prophets agree)
Is 8:20 (if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is not light in them)

Question 15

Trinity

Answer 15

There are three persons in the Godhead, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance, equal in power and glory (WSC 6)
- Deut 6:4 (Father)
- John 1:1
- Acts 5:4-5 & Eph 4:30 (lying to the Spirit; not grieving the Spirit)

Question 16

Communicable Attributes

Answer 16

Attributes that are true of God and also reflected in his image bearers in some partial way

Question 17

Incommunicable Attributes

Answer 17

Divine attributes that are true of God but not true of the creature (infinitude, aseity, simplicity)

Question 18

What should we gain from doctrine of predestination?

Answer 18

1. Praise, reverence, and admiration of God (Rom 11:33)
2. Humility, Diligence, and Abundant Consolation
   WCF 3.8

Question 19

Second Causes (3 Ways)

Answer 19

1. Necessarily (laws of physics)
2. Freely (Human choices)
3. Contingently (“Ifs”)

Question 20

Are there any conditions in the covenant of grace?

Answer 20

WCF 7.3 Faith is the conidtion in the covenant of grace
- John 3:16
Romans 10:6,9 (Confess with your mouth and believe in your heart you will be saved)

Question 21

How was the covenant of grace administered in the OT?

Answer 21

• Promises
• Prophecies
• Sacrifices
• Circumcision
• Paschal lamb
• Scriptures (Romans 4:11; Col 2:11-12; Hebrews 8-10)

Question 22

Covenant of Redemption

Answer 22

The covenant established in eternity between the Father, who gives the Son to be the Redeemer of the elect and requires of him the conditions for their redemption; and the Son, who voluntarily agrees to fulfill these conditions; and the Spirit, who voluntarily applies the work of the Son to the elect

Question 23

What happens when a Christian sins after being justified?

Answer 23

• They do not fall from the state of justification
• May fall under God’s fatherly displeasure
• Not have the light of his countenance restored until they repent

Question 24

What are the privileges of adopttion?

Answer 24

• Name put on them
• Receive Spirit of adoption
• Access to the throne of grace
• Cry Abba father
• Pitied
• Protected
• Provided for
• Chastened but not cast off
• Heirs of salvation
• Inherit promises
• Sealed for redemption

Question 25

What makes up the ordo salutis?

Answer 25

• Effectual Calling/Regeneration (Romans 8:29-30.. Titus 3:5)
• Faith (Eph 2:8-10)
• Repentance (Luke 13:3-5)
• Justification (Rom 5:1)
• Adoption (Rom 8:15-17)
• Sanctification (Eph 2:10)
• Perseverance (Rom 8:29-30; John 10:26-29)
• Glorification (Rom 8:30)

Question 26

Is repentance necessary?

Answer 26

While it is not the basis for pardon, there is no pardon without repentance
- Luke 13:3-5 (unless you repent, you will all perish)
- Acts 17:30-31 (God commands all people everywhere to repent)

Question 27

Good works as proof of lively faith?

Answer 27

James 2:18,22
1 Peter 2:9 (show for the praises of him who has called you)

Question 28

Ability to Do Good Works?

Answer 28

Wholly from the Spirit of Christ
- Romans 8:4-14
- John 15:4-6

Question 29

Sanctification a human work or of God?

Answer 29

Phil 2:13 (God works in you)
1 Cor 15:10 (not I, but the grace of God within me)

Question 30

Works by unregenerate men. Why not acceptable?

Answer 30

Not from faith (Heb 11:6)
Not in the right manner(1 Cor 13:3)
Not to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31)

Question 31

Can good works save us?

Answer 31

WCF 16… Great disproportion, distance between us and God
- Romans 3:20 (No flesh justified by deeds of the law)
- Eph 2:8-9 (saved by grace through faith)
- Gal 5:4

Question 32

Upon what does perseverance depend?

Answer 32

WCF 17.2
- Upon the immutable decree of election flowing from:
- Upon the love of God
- The efficacy of the merit and intercession of Christ
- the abiding of the Spirit, and seed of God within them
- the nature of the covenant of grace

Question 33

Basis of Assurance

Answer 33

• Divine truth of the promises (Heb 6:17-18)
• The inward evidence of graces (2 Peter 1:4-11)
• Testimony of the Spirit (Romans 8:15-16)

Question 34

Uses of the Law?

Answer 34

Civil: Restrains sin
Pedagogical: Brings conviction of sin and brings to Christ
Normative: The law as a rule of life for believers

Question 35

Which chapters show that the ceremonial law no longer applies?

Answer 35

Hebrews 9
Col 2:14,16-17 (Let no one judge you in…)

Question 36

Where do we see that the moral law still binds people?

Answer 36

Eph 6:2
Romans 13:8-10 (Law all fulfilled in one word)

Question 37

What scriptures show that God is not responsible for sin?

Answer 37

James 1:13-14, 17 (Let no one say he is tempted by God… All good from God)
1 John 1:5 (In him is no darkness)
1 John 2:16 (Lust and all come from the world, not from God)

Question 38

What verses show that it is not the place of government to interfere in the church?

Answer 38

Matthew 16:18-19 (keys of the kingdom)
1 Cor 6:1-8 (for matters that do not cross over into the civil sphere)

Question 39

What verses show we have communion with each others gifts and graces?

Answer 39

Eph 4:15-16
1 Cor 12:7,12

Question 40

Souls of believers going to heaven?

Answer 40

Luke 23:43 (Today you will be with me in paradise)
Heb 12:23 (Come to place of the spirits of the righteous made perfect)

Question 41

Where does it say the Holy Spirit works faith in us?

Answer 41

1 Cor 2:12-16 (Receive these things by work of the Spirit)
Eph 2:8 (Faith is a gift of God)

Question 42

What passages show that unbelievers go to hell?

Answer 42

Luke 16:19-31 (Rich man and Lazarus)
Jude 6-7 (Angels and Sodom and Gomorrah)

Question 43

Resurrection on the last day?

Answer 43

John 5:25-29 (Resurrection of life and resurrection of judgment)
Daniel 12:2 (Some will be raised to everlasting life and others to everlasting judgment)

Question 44

Appointed day of judgment verses

Answer 44

Acts 17:31 (He has appointed a day)
Jude 6 (Judgment of “the great day”)