Lecture 12-4 Beginning to End

Question 1

“From Grace to Grace”

Answer 1

a. Beginning Salvation
b. Continuing Salvation
c. Completing Salvation
d. To speak of salvation is to hold up a precious jewel and examine its intricate and varied beauty!

Question 2

Concurrent Events in the Initial Moment of Salvation

Answer 2

i. Logical Ordering?
ii. Effectual and Responsive Calling
iii. Conversion
iv. Regeneration
v. Justification
vi. Union with Christ
vii. Adoption

Question 3

The Logical Order? I

Answer 3

i. Calvinists distinguish logical ordering from temporal ordering.
1. Such a distinction is untenable, for logic is always stated temporally.
2. Such a distinction can be presumptive, especially when biblical evidence is lacking (cf. divine decrees).

Question 4

The Logical Order? II

Answer 4

ii. In reaction to the Calvinists, Arminians bring forward their own logical ordering, thus repeating the same mistake in a different direction.

Question 5

The Logical Order? III

Answer 5

iii. Major dispute: Does conversion precede regeneration or does regeneration precede conversion?
1. Faith precedes regeneration: Acts 2.38; 16.31.
2. Regeneration precedes faith: Calvinist construal of BF&M.

Question 6

The Logical Order? IV

Answer 6

BF&M, art. 4: Regeneration “is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Question 7

The Logical Order? V

Answer 7

v. Calvinist construal: Regeneration “is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Question 8

The Logical Order? VI

Answer 8

vi. Non-Calvinist construal: Regeneration “is a change of heart wrought by the Holy Spirit through conviction of sin, to which the sinner responds in repentance toward God and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Question 9

The Logical Order? VII

Answer 9

vii. One of the difficulties with Classical Calvinism is that it sees the will as inactive in conversion.

Question 10

The Logical Order? VIII

Answer 10

viii. “[T]he will, which, though heretofore dead, he quickens.”

Question 11

The Logical Order? IX

Answer 11

ix. “But this is not effected … [by] such a mode of operation that, after God has performed his part, it still remains in the power of man to be regenerated or not, to be converted or to continue unconverted….” Canons of the Synod of Dort, Third and Fourth Heads, arts. 11-12

Question 12

Effectual Calling I

Answer 12

i. The Calvinist distinguishes between a general call and an effectual call.
1. Matt. 22.14 is often cited: “Many are called (klatoi) but few chosen (eklektoi).”
2. However, the parable (Matt. 22.1-14) teaches human choice, divine disappointment at human rejection, and human sanctification.
3. The subject of the choosing is not identified.

Question 13

Effectual Calling II

Answer 13

ii. Calvinists and Arminians perceive an ex opere operato chain of causation in Rom. 8.28-30
1. Disagreement over the subject of the purposing (prothesin) (v. 28)
2. Arminians take foreknowledge (proegno) as preceding election (proorisen), but Calvinists equate the two (v. 29)
3. Both Calvinists and Arminians perceive divine causation with mechanical precision (v. 30), which become the basis of various, often competing intricate schemes (golden chains) depicting the ordo salutis

Question 14

Effectual Calling III

Answer 14

iii. Responsive Calling
1. Scripture also teaches that man must respond to the divine call by believing and calling back upon God (Rom. 10.9-10). In other words, the Word establishes a divine-human dialogue.
a. The responsive calling that saves requires belief, which requires hearing, which requires preaching, which requires the Word (Rom. 10.14, 17).
2. Scripture is clear that, negatively, men may harden their hearts against the Word of God.
a. Concurrent with the human hardening is the divine hardening. Cf. the hardening of Pharoah’s heart.

Question 15

Effectual Calling IV

Answer 15

1. With the BF&M, note the interplay between divine sovereignty and human response.
2. Hebrews 3-4:
   a. The Word of God powerfully works upon the inner man (4.12-13)
   b. must not be resisted (no hardening of the heart) (3.7-8, 13)
   c. must be mixed with faith (3.19, 4.2)
   d. must be obeyed (4.6)
   e. requires diligence (4.11).

Question 16

Conversion I

Answer 16

i. Conversion includes both faith and repentance.
ii. “Repentance and faith go together. They are inseparable. They are not two acts or spiritual attitudes, but two aspects of one act or spiritual attitude.” W.T. Conner, Gospel Doctrines

Question 17

Conversion Repentance

Answer 17

1. Nacham (Heb): emotive; used of both God & man
2. Shub (Heb): moral; used of man
3. Metamelomai (Grk): emotive; remorse, but not necessarily conversion
4. Metanoein (Grk): “change of mind”
5. Epistrephein (Grk): “change of action”
6. Repentance is turning to God from sin.
7. Repentance entails both godly sorrow and confession of sin.
8. Repentance is the duty of man: Matt. 4.17; Acts 17.30
9. Repentance is due to the convicting work of the Spirit: John 16.8-10.

Question 18

Conversion Faith

Answer 18

1. Aman (Heb): “depending upon”
2. Batach (Heb): “leaning upon”
3. Pisteuo (Grk): verb; “believe,” “trust,” “have faith”
4. Pistis (Grk): noun; “faith”
5. In faith, acceptance of propositional truths is required.
6. In faith, personal trust is required. One must believe “in” Christ
   a. Acts 10.43; John 1.12; Rom. 9.33
   b. Cf. James 2. 19.
7. Faith is a human duty.
   a. Mark 1.14-15
8. Faith is a divine gift.
   a. Eph. 2.8-9; Phil. 1.29

Question 19

Regeneration I

Answer 19

i. Literally means, “to be born again or from above”
ii. Palingenesia: “rebirth,” Titus 3.5.
iii. Gennao anothen: “born again,”“born from above.”

Question 20

Regeneration II

Answer 20

iv. John 3.1-8: Regeneration is:
1. Required for salvation (v. 3).
2. Mysterious (vv. 4, 7).
3. A spiritual event (vv. 5-6).
4. Not a human work (Eph. 2.1).
5. A divine work (v. 8).

Question 21

Regeneration III

Answer 21

v. John 3.9-18: Regeneration and faith are concomitant means of describing salvation.

Question 22

Regeneration IV

Answer 22

vi. John 3.19-21: Not only is faith necessary for salvation, but so is repentance, a changed life!

Question 23

Regeneration V

Answer 23

vii. Regeneration as Separate?
1. Theologians should not unduly separate conversion from regeneration in their search for precision.
2. John Calvin: “I apprehend repentance to be regeneration.”
3. James Pendleton: “If regeneration and repentance are not identical, they are so closely connected that it is not worth while to inquire whether the one precedes or follows the other. As to regeneration and faith, a plausible argument may be made in favor of the priority of either.”
4. Donald Bloesch: The undue separation of faith and regeneration is an error.

Question 24

Union with Christ

Answer 24

i. Union with Christ is descriptive of salvation as a whole.
ii. Mutual indwelling:
1. Christ is the source of life
a. John 15.4-5
2. Christ dwells within the believer (minor use)
a. Col. 1.27, Gal. 2.20
3. The believer dwells within Christ (major use)
a. En Christo (In Christ) – used 100s of times in Paul
b. Eph. 1.3-4, 6-8, 2.10
4. Union is effected by the Holy Spirit
a. 1 Cor. 12.13, Rom. 8.9-11
5. To be united with Christ is to be united with His body, the Church
a. Acts 2.41, 47

Question 25

Adoption

Answer 25

i. Must distinguish the “universal fatherhood” of God over creation (Mal. 2.10; Acts 17.29) from the “particular fatherhood” of God in redemption. Adoption refers to the particular fatherhood of God.
ii. John 1.12-13
iii. Eph. 1.5
iv. Gal. 4.4-5
v. Rom. 8. 14-17
vi. Heb. 12.5-11

Question 26

Continuing Salvation

Answer 26

i. Vocation
ii. Discipleship
iii. Sanctification
iv. The Role of the Law

Question 27

Vocation

Answer 27

i. Vocation Has Two Aspects
ii. Eph. 4.1
iii. God calls the believer Not Only to Salvation But Also to Service
iv. Our Call to Service Includes Both God and Other Human Beings
v. Every Christian’s Service is found in what Martin Luther called the Three Estates. We Serve God and One Another:
1. In the Church
2. In the Home
3. In the State

Question 28

Discipleship

Answer 28

i. Matt. 4.18-22
1. Discipleship is by divine invitation
2. Discipleship is complete followership
ii. Matt. 10.24-25
1. Discipleship is difficult
iii. Matt. 16.24-27
1. Discipleship is costly
iv. Matt. 28.18-20
1. Discipleship is reproductive
2. Discipleship is an aspect of the beginning, continuation, and completion of salvation Sanctification

Question 29

Sanctification

Answer 29

i. Sanctification is the work of the Spirit in setting the Christian apart to God initially and progressively.
ii. Qadosh (Heb): “Separate” or “set apart”
iii. Hagioi (Grk): “Saints”
iv. Perfection (“not the least but the most”) is the goal of the Christian life
1. Matt. 5.48; 1 John 3.6
v. Perfection is not attainable this side of glory
1. 1 John 1.8-10; Rom. 7.18-19
2. Cf. The Frontage of Bath Abbey
vi. Sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit
1. 2 Thess. 2.13; Rom. 8.13; Rom. 15.16
vii. Sanctification is a duty for the Christian
1. Phil. 2.12-13; Matt. 5.48

Question 30

The Role of the Law

Answer 30

i. Matt. 5.17: The Law continues
ii. Rom. 7.7,12,14: The Law is Holy
iii. Rom. 3.20: The Law reveals sin
iv. Gal. 3.10: The Law condemns
v. John 14.15: The Law continues for the Christian, as the Spirit leads us to freedom
vi. The Law drives us to despair of ourselves
vii. The Gospel brings us hope in Jesus Christ
viii. The Gospel frees us to follow Christ

Question 31

Completing Salvation

Answer 31

i. Perseverance

ii. Glorification

Question 32

Perseverance

Answer 32

i. A Reason for Rejoicing
1. Rom. 8.38-39
ii. A Result of Grace (Divine Gift)
1. 1 Cor. 10.13; John 10.27-30; 2 Tim. 1.12
2. A Reason for Diligence (Human Responsibility)
a. Matt. 24.3-14; Heb. 6.11-12
3. A Problem for the Arminian
a. If salvation is lost, it can never be regained: Heb. 6.4-6
4. A Problem for the Antinomian
a. If salvation is presumed as a reason for sin; it has never been: Heb. 10.26-27

Question 33

Glorification

Answer 33

i. Glorification is God’s gift to the believer to dwell in God’s heavenly presence.
ii. Kabod (Heb): “weightiness,” the awe-inspiring majesty and fame of a king
iii. Doxa (Grk): “glory”
iv. A Complete Sanctification: No More Sin!
1. Col. 1.22
v. A Concrete Resurrection: A New Body!
1. Phil. 3.20-21; 2 Cor. 5.1-5; 1 Cor. 15.38-50
vi. A Co-Heirship: An Incomparable Inheritance!
1. 2 Cor. 4.17; 1 Peter 1.3-5
vii. A Creation Renewed: No More Death!
1. Rom. 8.20-23