Lesson 7

Question 1

1. Explain how the phrase “upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ” in the repentance chapter (WCF 15.2) shows that the divines saw faith and repentance as intimately related.

Answer 1

1. Faith and repentance are usually presented in RT as “two sides of the same coin.”
   a. True repentance is not simply acknowledging your evil but must be bound up w/ a “saving-faith” understanding. See Isa 55:7

Question 2

2. Give Cara’s two required components of the WCF’s view of a good work.

Answer 2

1.** A truly good work requires both an outward component and an inward component. **
a. Outward (WCF 1). The work must be according to God’s word, explicitly or by good and necessary consequence. Therefore, RC denial-type works (evangelical counsels) are not intrinsically good works.
b. Inward. The work must be done by a true Xn and out of a God-honoring intention.

Question 3

3. Explain how it can be that works done by non-Xns are sin, but the neglect of them is even more sinful.

Answer 3

6. WCF 16.7. assumes a scale of heinousness of sin. Non-Xns cannot do true good-works, but these works are still of “good use” and “the neglect of them is more sinful, and displeasing to God.”
   a. Even if for ultimately the wrong motive, it is advantageous for non-Xns to do quasi-good-works. Hence, Xns should have some level of concern for cultural issues as they encourage non-Xns to have less heinous sins.

Question 4

4. Frederick III, the Elector of Palatinate, is related to which Reformed catechism/confession?

Answer 4

Heidelberg Catechism

Question 5

5. Give the 3-fold outline of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Answer 5

HC purposely follows outline of Romans:
A. sin (Rom 1:18-3:20)
B. redemption in Christ (Rom 3:21-11:36),
C. Christian life (Rom 12-16).

Question 6

6. Contrast Heidelberg Catechism 44 and the WLC 50 concerning ‘descended into hell.’

Answer 6

HC 44, matching Calvin, presents the figurative “descended into hell” view, i.e., X’s suffering in his soul was the hell into which he descended (Institutes 2.16.10).

WLC 50 Christ’s humiliation after his death consisted in his** being
buried**,t and continuing in the state of the dead, and under the power
of death till the third day;u which hath been otherwise expressed in
these words, He descended into hell.