Salvation Accomplished (WCF 10-13, WLC 57-60, 67-68, 70-71, 74-75, 77-78; WSC 29-36)

Question 1

What is the ordo salutis? Support your answer from Scripture.

Answer 1

The process by which redemption is applied to the elect sinner in the logical course of time. (Romans 8:28-30)

1. ) Election (Eph. 1:4)
2. ) Effectual Calling – preaching of God’s word to all people (Rom. 8:28-30)
3. ) Regeneration – implanting of new life in the heart of a sinner by the Holy Spirit (John 3:5-6)
4. ) Conversion – Acts 3:9, repentance + faith
5. ) Justification – declared righteous (Gal. 2:16)
6. ) Adoption – act of God which he accepts the justified sinner, with the right as heirs to all the spiritual blessings and privileges won by Christ (Gal. 4)
7. ) Sanctification – renewing the whole man and conforming him to the image of Christ, through mortification and vivification (Col. 3:10)
8. ) Perseverance – Phil 1:6
9. ) Glorification – final perfection; 1 John 3:2-3

Question 2

How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever?

Answer 2

Michael Allen’s definition of gospel: The gospel is the glorious news that the God who has life in himself freely shares that life with us, when we refuse that life in sin, graciously give us life yet again in Christ.

Question 3

Define and defend (include Scripture) the doctrine of effectual calling.

Answer 3

WSC 31: Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the Knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel.

• • Acts 2:37 – pricked in the heart, what shall we do?
• • Ezekiel 36:26-27 – new heart
• • John 6:44-45 – no man can come, unless the Father calls

Question 4

On what is God’s decision to call a certain person based?

Answer 4

WCF 10.2 – “of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man.”

God’s sovereign love in his election of us
– Romans 9:11-12; Ephesians 2:4-5 (on God’s great love)

Question 5

How can infants be called?

Answer 5

WCF 10.3 – elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated, and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who work when, and where, and how he pleases.

2 Sam. 12:23 – David will go be with him

Gen. 17:7, Luke 18:15-16, Acts 2:39, John 3:3-5; John 3:8, John 16:7-8, 1 John 5:12, Acts 4:12 .

Question 6

Can anyone not called by the Spirit be saved? Explain and defend (using Scripture).

Answer 6

No, Matthew 7:21-23, Rom. 8:9 – have to have the spirit
– WCF 10.4 -

There is no other way (John 14:6).

Question 7

Is Jesus really the only way of salvation? Explain and defend (including Scripture).

Answer 7

Yes,

• • John 14:6 –
• • Acts 4:12 – no onther name

Because we have sinned against God, we need a mediator for atonement. Jesus Christ is our only mediator and redeemer, because He alone is God and man, truly able to mediate and reconcile us back to god through his active and passive obedience.

Question 8

What about those who never had the chance to hear about Jesus?

Answer 8

They are condemned on the basis of revelation they have received.

WCF 1.1 – The light of nature, the works of creation and providence do so far manifest the goodness, wisdom, and power of God, as to leave men inexcusable.

Romans 2:14-15, Rom. 1:19-20, Psalm 19:1-4, Rom. 1:32-2:1

Question 9

What about the sincere Buddhist (or Muslim, or Unitarian)?

Answer 9

Object of faith, not amount of faith.

– 1 John 2:23 – no one who denies the Father has the Son; Hebrews 6 (our sure hope)

Question 10

Define and defend (include Scripture) the doctrine of justification.

Answer 10

WSC 33 – Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

Romans 4:5, Romans 3:22-25, romans 5:1, Gal. 2:16, Phil. 3:9

Question 11

What is the basis of justification?

Answer 11

Christ’s active/passive righteousness that is imputed to our account (2 Cor. 5:21)

Question 12

Explain this statement: “Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.”

Answer 12

Salvation is by faith alone, but true saving faith will produce real active fruit.

– Faith leads to good works (James 2). Faith is dead if not.

Question 13

When is a Christian justified?

Answer 13

1. ) Justification from eternity (the cause) – elect are considered “theoretically” justified in the covenant of grace from before all time, due to our election in Christ before the foundations of the world (Eph. 1)
2. ) Justification at the cross (the basis) – elect are objectively justified at the point of the death of Christ on the cross, which accomplished the atoning work that is imputed to us.
3. ) Justification by faith (the instrument) – subjective accomplishment in the life of an individual sinner in which he is declared no longer to be an object of wrath but an object of God’s love.

Question 14

What happens when a Christian sins after being justified?

Answer 14

Romans 8:1 – no condemnation for those in Christ; Col. 3:4 - hidden in Christ

Union with Christ can’t change, but communion can.

1 John 1 - Confession; Forgiveness; Hebrews 12 - Discipline

Difference between Justification (declared righteousness, doesn’t change nature); and Sanctification (being made righteousness)

Question 15

How were believers justified under the old covenant?

Answer 15

By faith in the covenantal promises of the seed (Christ)

– By looking forward to christ (credit vs. debit)

Justified at the cross - here is also a sense in which all the elect are objectively 
justified at the point of Christ’s death on the cross, which, in effect, accomplished the atoning work that is then imputed both to OT saints (retrospectively) and all other members of the invisible church from that point onward (prospectively

Question 16

Define and defend (include Scripture) the doctrine of adoption.

Answer 16

WSC 34: Adoption is an act of God’s free grace whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God.

Gal. 4:4-7; 1 John 3:1, John 1:12, Romans 8:17

Question 17

Define and defend (include Scripture) the doctrine of Sanctification.

Answer 17

WSC 35: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.

Eph. 4:23-24, Romans 6:4, 6, 14; Romans 8:4

Question 18

Can anyone become perfect (completely sanctified) in this life? Defend (include scripture)

Answer 18

WSC 82 - 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.

Gen. 8:21, Rom. 3:9-11; 23
No, Sanctification is progressive, and is a lifelong process of growing into holiness until final glorification. 
- Romans 7
- Matthew 6:11-12 – pray for forgiveness
- 1 John – none without sin