Lesson 5

Question 1

1. What does WCF 7b mean concerning Christ’s person and two natures? (“That which is proper to one nature is sometimes in Scripture attributed to the person denominated by the other nature.)

Answer 1

Usually for exegetical punch, a Scripture writer will discuss an aspect of one nature but refer to X by the other one, e.g., 1 Cor 2:8

Question 2

2. Concerning free will, in the “state of sin,” what “ability” does man have to do spiritual good?

Answer 2

1. WCF 9.1 states that man has free “liberty” will. Man is free to do whatever his moral character wishes. He acts consistently with his “nature,” hence, “natural liberty.”
   a. WCF 9 assumes a distinction between “liberty” of the will and moral “ability” of the will. Man always has liberty to do good or evil; however, he does not always have moral ability. Even though man does not have moral ability, he is still responsible.

Question 3

3. Explain how “elect infants” in WCF 3 is purposely ambiguous

Answer 3

b. “Elect infants” is intentionally ambiguous. Everyone agrees all “elect” infants dying in infancy go to heaven; the question is how many are elect.
i. Some in RT see all covenant children dying in infancy going to heaven, but are non-committal on others. For example, GI Williamson,

Believers have special warrant to hope that their infants who die in infancy are [elect] (Luke 18:15,16, 2 Sam 12:23, Acts 2:38-39, Ezek 16:20-21). See Canons of Dort, 1.17.

ii. Some in RT see all children dying in infancy going to heaven. For example, Northern Pres 1903 Revision changed WCF 10.3 to read “all dying in infancy are included in the election of grace.” BB Warfield agrees that this was a good change (Selected Shorter Writings, 2:380-82).

Question 4

4. Which one of the following confessions discusses burials, visiting the sick, and church buildings? Luther’s Small Catechism, Heidelberg Catechism, Canons of Dort, Second Helvetic Confession, Auburn-Alabama Concord.

Answer 4

Second Helvetic Confession

Question 5

5. Explain the relationship between the OT and NT and transitory and eternal promises in Second Helvetic Confession 13.

Answer 5

a. Both OT and NT had “two kinds of promises.”
i. (1) Some promises “were of present and transitory things: such as were the promises of the land of Canaan, and of victories; and such as are nowadays concerning our daily bread.”
ii. (2) “Other promises there were then, and now are, of heavenly and everlasting things; as of God’s favor, remission of sins, and life everlasting, through faith in Christ.”

b. This is very useful theology. Although it is implied in this chapter, that OT has more of # 1 and NT has more of # 2. Also, in New Heavens and Earth, both # 1 and # 2 are in full abundance.

Question 6

6. According to Second Helvetic Confession 17, in what sense is the Church like a “drag-net”?

Answer 6

visible church like a “drag-net”; as Noah’s family needed “ark,” so believers need church; church is not an absolute necessity to be saved;