Question of Theology - Christian Life Flashcards
What is the moral law?
The declaration of God’s will directing and binding everyone to conformity and obedience to it.
“The rule of obedience revealed to Adam in the estate of innocence, and to all mankind in him, besides a special command not to eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, was the moral law.”— WLC #92
What laws besides the moral law did God give his people under the Old Covenant?
The ceremonial law The judicial (civil) law.
“Besides the law, commonly called moral, God was pleased to give to the people of Israel, as a church under age, ceremonial laws, containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship, prefiguring Christ, His graces, actions, sufferings, and benefits; and partly holding forth diverse instructions of moral duties. All which ceremonial laws are now abrogated, under the new testament.”-WCF 19.3
Are believers under obligation to the law today? Explain and Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.
Yes, the moral law forever binds all, though it is by no means a way to merit salvation, which only come through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as he is freely offered in the gospel.
“We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, ‘ I know him,” but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”—l John 2:3,4
What is “theonomy?” Evaluate it biblically.
Theonomy encompasses a fairly broad spectrum of views about the exercise and authority to exercise the civil, social, and religious laws of the Mosaic law and the legal system of the Old Testament theocracy of the nation of Israel.
Where is the law of God summed up?
The ten commandments—Love God and love your neighbor.
“The moral law is summarily comprehended in the ten commandments.”—WSC Ml
“He answered: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”—Luke 10:27
Can believers keep God’s law? Explain and defend your answer with Scripture proofs.
Yes and no. We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to do good, nonetheless, we cannot fulfill the law perfectly.
“No mere man since the fall is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but does daily break them in thought, word and deed.”—WSC #82
“There is no one righteous, not even one; there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”—Romans 3:10-12
What is at stake in the current “Lordship Controversy?” Explain and defend your view.
The unity of the person of Christ. Christ is both Lord and savior in union of person—he is not a split personality.
The “Lordship controversy” has implications for the nature of regeneration, assurance, and salvation as well as asking the question of who or what will be the sovereign over our life.
Since Jesus Christ is indeed Lord and this must be acknowledged for true saving faith. Following James’ thought, true faith must manifest itself in works. That is not to say that we earn or in any way merit salvation, it is completely a gracious gift of the God who predestines, elects, regenerates, and sacrifices. An admission of our sin (repentance) is part of the application of salvation by the Holy Spirit. Without acknowledging that we are sin-ful and that Christ is both Savior and Lord, we cannot be saved. Christ is and must be the Lord of the believer.
What are the “means of grace?”
Word
Sacraments
Prayer
What is “Christian Liberty?” Explain and defend your answer with Scripture proofs.
The freedom of the Christian, on the basis of the work of Jesus Christ by the Holy Spirit, to be free from the power of sin.
Galatians 5:1 (NKJV): Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage.
And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness. But now having been set free from sin, and having becomes slaves of God, you have your fruit to holiness, and the end, everlasting life.”—Romans 6:18-22
“Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God. Show proper respect to everyone: Love the brotherhood of believers, fear God, honor the king.”—l Peter 2:16-17
Who or what is Lord of the conscience? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.
God alone.
“Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of the conscience, for, The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it.”—l Corinthians 10:25-26
How does Christian liberty bear on the Christian’s obligation to the state?
Romans 13:1–2 (NKJV): Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. 2Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves.
Since God intends our liberty, not to destroy, but to uphold the powers which he has ordained; we are to submit to the state.
“And because the powers which God has ordained, and the liberty which Christ has purchased, are not intended By God to destroy, but mutually uphold and preserve one another, they who, upon pretense of Christian liberty, shall oppose any lawful power, or the lawful exercise of it, whether is be civil or ecclesiastical, resist the ordinance of God…-WCF 20.4
What is the “regulative principle?” Defend from Scripture.
The principle that the manner in which we worship God should be in accordance with what he has instituted him-self in his reveal will—the Scriptures. - Second commandment
They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.”—Matthew 15
Who is to be worshipped? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.
God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit and Him alone.
“And Jesus said to him, Away from me, Satan! For it is written: Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only - Matthew
What are the ordinary parts or elements of worship?
Reading of Scripture
Preaching and hearing the Word
Singing
Administration of the sacraments.
Are Christians under obligation to keep a Sabbath? Defend your answer with Scripture proofs.
“Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.”—Exodus 20:8-11
