Study Questions of Theology - God's Way of Salvation

Question 1

What is a covenant?

Answer 1

A sovereignly administered bond with stipulations and sanctions (Pipa)

Question 2

What is the Covenant of Works (Life)?

Answer 2

“When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; for-bidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death.”—WSC #12

Question 3

Who are its parties?

Answer 3

God and Adam as representative of all man.

Question 4

Prove that it was a covenant

Answer 4

a. It was a; Promise: Eternal life; Stipulation: Not eat the fruit of the knowledge of God and evil; Sacrament: Garden
b. It is called a Covenant in Hosea 6:7
c. It was broken Job 31:33
d. It does not have the name covenant like the Davidic covenant in 2 Sam7:23 ( It is called a covenant in Psalm 89:3)
e. It had seals
f. It has threats: The death has 3 aspects; Judicial, which places the subject under the wrath of God; Spiritual, Adam lost communion with God; Physical death, we would have to suffer physical death
g. The parties of the Covenant: God and Adam are the parties of this covenant.
h. It had conditions: Perfect obedience
i. It had probation: Eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil
j. It had a promise: eternal life, the tree of life implies a promise of life

Question 5

What is the Covenant of Redemption?

Answer 5

“God having out or hie mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a cov-enant of grace, to deliver them out of the estate of sin and misery, and to bring them into an estate of salvation by a Redeemer.”—WSC #20

Question 6

The four names for this covenant?

Answer 6

1. Nature; because it is founded on the nature of man (as it was at first created by God) and on his integrity or powers
2. Legal; because the condition on man’s part was the observation of the law of nature engraved within him;
3. Works; because it depended upon works or his proper obedience,
4. Life: because it was promised eternal life.

Question 7

How is the Covenant of Grace related to the Abrahamic Covenant?

Answer 7

One of the first stages in working out the promise of the seed. The promise of a redeemer was more specific. The grandeur of the purpose of God was more distinctly known. The Church was organized as a distinct visible or-ganization, separated for the world by the sign of circumcision.

Question 8

How is the Covenant of Grace related to The Mosaic Covenant?

Answer 8

The simple theme of blood sacrifice was elaborately explained in the ritual of the tabernacle and temple services. The ethical provision of the covenant were expounded in the moral law.

Question 9

How is the Covenant of Grace related to The Noahic Covenant?

Answer 9

Although sin has abounded God has promised to preserve Noah and his family, and the earth so that his cove-nant work may continue. But there was no change in the applicability of what had previously been revealed.

Question 10

Discuss the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. Defend from Scripture.

Answer 10

1. There is one covenant with different administrations.
   “There are not therefore two covenants of grace, differing in substance, but one and the same, under various dis-pensations.”—WCF 7.6

“He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.”—Galatians 3:14

2. The Old and New covenants are distinct in that Scripture refers to them as Old and New.
   “This is the covenant I will make with the house of Israel after that time, declares the Lord. I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts. I will be their God and they will be my people.”—Hebrews 8:10 (Jeremi-ah 31:33)

“By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disap-pear.”—Hebrews 8:13

3. It is in this sense that the New covenant displaces the Old.

“By calling this covenant ‘new’, he has made the first one obsolete; and what is obsolete and aging will soon disap-pear.”—Hebrews 8:13

Question 11

Explain and defend (with Scripture proofs} the orthodox doctrine of the person of Christ

Answer 11

“The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.”-WSC #21
“The angel answered, ‘the Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy on to be born will be called the Son of God.”—Luke 1:35
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…“—Colossians 2:9
“The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his pow-erful word.”—Hebrews 1:3

Best Rom 1:3-4 Romans 1:3–4 (ESV): concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh 4and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,

Question 12

Was Christ a human person?

Answer 12

Yes.
“Christ, being the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being con-ceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.”—
WSC #22
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God…The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us…“—John 1:1,14

Question 13

Does Christ have a soul?

Answer 13

Christ, being the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and bom of her, yet without sin.
WSC #22

John 12:27
27“Now My soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save Me from this hour’? But for this purpose I came to this hour.

Question 14

What is kenosis?

Answer 14

“The term “kenosis” is used in a twofold sense in theology. Originally it was used by Lutheran theologians to denote the self-limitation, not of the Logos, but of the God-man, whereby He, in the interest of His humiliation, laid aside the actual use of His divine attributes. In the teachings of the Kenoticists, however, it signalized the doctrine that the Logos at the incarnation was denuded of His transitive or of all His attributes, was reduced to a mere potentiality, and then, in union with the human nature, developed again into a divine-human person”

Question 15

How do we know that Adam accepted the conditions?

Answer 15

a) He tried to hide himself form God after his sin. (Gen 3:13)
b) A Law was imposed upon Adam, which necessarily implies a federal agreement and contract.
c) Eve talked about God’s covenant (stipulation) to the serpent
d) Adam was in the estate of innocence, so he loved whatever God required and prepared for Adam
e) Adam’s shame proved his own violation against to the covenant

Question 16

4. How do we know that Adam Acted in behalf of the human race? What are Smith’s arguments?

Answer 16

(1) All that was said to Adam in punishment for his having broken the covenant applied to the whole race.
(2) The solidarity of the race, and the representative character of Adam is clearly taught in Romans 5:12 , 18 ; 1 Corinthians 15:22 .
(3) The plan of salvation is based on the same representative principle. Christ is compared to Adam as the Second Adam, or the Last Man ( Romans 5:12-21 ; 1 Corinthians 15:22 , 45-58 ).
(4) This principle of representation is seen to be operative in many of the institutions of human society, such as family, church and state.

Question 17

Did Christ lay aside any of His divine attributes at the incarnation?

Answer 17

No.
“The Lord Jesus, in His human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in Him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, He might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a Mediator and surety. Which office He took not unto Himself, but was thereunto called by His Father, who put all power and judgement into His hand, and gave Him commandment to ex-ecute the same.—WCF8.3

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…“—Colossians 2:9

Question 18

Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christianity posed by: Docetism

Answer 18

-This was the view that said that the Son of God only “seemed” to become a man. The suffering and human aspects of Christ were imaginary or apparent instead of being part of a real incarnation.
“Now Thomas (called Didymus), one of the twelve, was not with the disciples when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “we have seen the Lord!”
But he said to them, “unless I see the marks in his hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into his side, I will not believe it.”
…Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe.”
Thomas said to him, “my Lord and my God.”—John 20:24-25,27,28

Question 19

Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christianity posed by: Arius

Answer 19

-He believed that Jesus was a heavenly being an intermediary between God and man, but still a created being.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the begin-ning.”—

Question 20

Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christianity posed by: Apollimarius

Answer 20

–Said that the soul was replaced by the logos so Jesus did not have a human soul. Allowed Christ only a divine nature and no human initiative.
“Christ, being the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being con-ceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born of her, yet without sin.” — WSC ft22

Question 21

Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christianity posed by: Eutyches

Answer 21

-Said that Christ had one nature, implying that Christ was a third something made from the mixture of Divinity and humanity.
“The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.”—WSC #21

Question 22

Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christianity posed by: Nestorius

Answer 22

Was understood to have taught that Christ was two persons, one human and one divine.
“She will give birth to a son and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”—Matthew 1:21
“The virgin will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel—which means, God with us.”—Matthew 1:23
“Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of Christ, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen.”—Romans 9:5
“For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form…“—Colossians 2:9

Question 23

Are any of the early heresies regarding the natures of Christ held today? If so, by whom?

Answer 23

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons are examples of Arianism

Question 24

Explain and defend the doctrine of the “communication of properties.”

Answer 24

This is a term used in Christology to describe the way in which the properties of each nature of Christ are com-municated to or interchanged in the unity of the person. The properties of both the human and divine natures are now the properties of the person and are therefore ascribed to the person.
“None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.”
—1 Corinthians 2:8

Question 25

What is the “extra Calvinisticum?”

Answer 25

This term was used by the Lutherans to refer to the Reformed insistence that while Christ was incarnate on the earth, as the second person of the Trinity he maintained his utterly transcendent nature. The Reformed argued that the Word is fully united but never totally contained within the human nature and therefore, even in the in-carnation is to be conceived of as beyond or outside (extra) the human nature. The essence of the issue is how can the infinite be contained in the finite.

Question 26

Define the following names:

Answer 26

Jesus
-Greek form of the Hebrew Joshua, expressing the idea of redemption; Best described as “The Lord saves.”
Son of Man
The most common self-designation of Jesus.
Christ
Official name of the Messiah, meaning “anointed one”
Son of God
Describes the unique relationship of Christ to God.
Lord
Gives Jesus the highest authority with God.
Lamb of God
This refers to Jesus as sacrifice.

Question 27

How was Christ born?

Answer 27

“Christ, being the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul, being con-ceived by the power of the Holy Spirit, in the womb of the virgin Mary, and born other, vet
without sin.WSC #22

Question 28

Explain and defend (including Scriptural proofs) the virgin birth

Answer 28

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will give birth to o son, and will call him Immanuel.”—Isaiah 7:14
“26 Now in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth, 27 to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the descendants of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. 28 And coming in, he said to her, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” 29 But she was very perplexed at this statement, and kept pondering what kind of salutation this was. 30 The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. 31 “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. 32 “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; 33 and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” 34 Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35 The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God. 36 “And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month. 37 “For nothing will be impossible with God.” 38 And Mary said, “Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; may it be done to me according to your word. “And the angel departed from her.”—Luke 1:26-38 (NAS)

Question 29

Trace revelation of the person and work of Christ from the beginning of the Old Testament.

Answer 29

Genesis 3:15—the promise of the seed.
Genesis 18—Abraham’s visitor.
Genesis 32—Jacob wrestles with God.
Exodus 12—Through the Exodus and Passover.
{Exodus 20—through the law.]
Leviticus 1-9—prefigures his intercessory work and sacrificial work.
Joshua 5—Commander of the Lord’s army.
People Types—Melchizedek, Aaron, Moses, Jonah, Kingly rule of David.
Object Types—Bronze serpent, manna, Passover Lamb, sacrifices, Rock of Horeb, Jacob’s ladder. Prophesy
The angel of the Lord/ Angel of God (?)

Question 30

What is the humiliation of Christ?

Answer 30

“Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergo-ing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continu-ing under the power of death for a time.”—WSC

Question 31

Define and distinguish that active and passive obedience of Christ.

Answer 31

Active—Christ actively fulfilled the covenant stipulations and lived in perfect obedience to the moral law.
Passive—Christ willing endurance of suffering ending in enduring the penal sanctions of the law due to our ac-count.

Question 32

Discuss “glorified body”.

Answer 32

The glorified body is the resurrected state whereby the body is animated and guided wholly by the Spirit, free from sinful inclinations, imperishable, glorious and powerful.
“…The body is not meant for sexual immorality, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body. By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.”—l Corinthians 6:13-14
“So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.”—l Corinthians 15:42-43

Question 33

What are the offices of Christ?

Answer 33

“Christ executes the offices of o prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exalta-tion.”—WSC #23

Question 34

How does he execute them?

Answer 34

Prophet
“Christ executes the office of a prophet in revealing to us, by his word and Spirit, the will of God for our salva-tion.”— WSC #24
Priest
“Christ executes the office of a priest, in his once offering up of himself a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and reconcile us to God; and in making continual intercession for us.”—WSC #25
King
“Christ executes the office of king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.”—WSC#26

Question 35

Who is the only redeemer of God’s elect?

Answer 35

Jesus Christ.
“The only Redeemer of God’s elect is the Lord Jesus Christ, who, being the eternal Son of God, became man, and so was, and continues to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, for ever.”—WSC #21

Question 36

What is a redeemer?

Answer 36

The idea of ransom. It the one securing of a release by the payment of a price.

Question 37

What is atonement?

Answer 37

The reconciliation of sin. The is the work of Christ on our behalf.

Question 38

Why Jesus had to be God and man?

Answer 38

God because HE is eternal and his work as a mediator will worth forever. Man because, he had to performer the law, suffer and make intersection for us.

Question 39

Was the atonement necessary?

Answer 39

Yes. Man was dead in sin and unable to do anything pleasing to God. God is holy and must punish sin. God choosing to elect some to salvation had to provide a means of atoning for their sin by a Redeemer.
“So also, when we were children, we were in slavery under the basic principles of the world. But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons. —Galatians 4:3-5

Question 40

Why isn’t a good life enough to gain salvation?

Answer 40

Because one violation of the law is a breaking of the whole law, and we are born into sin and so are children of wrath.
“For whoever keeps the law and yet stumbles at one point is guilty of breaking al of it.”—James 2;10

Question 41

Define:

Expiation

Answer 41

Atoning or making up for one’s sins through the suffering, death, forgiveness and purification of Christ.

Question 42

Define: Propitiation

Answer 42

Christ propitiated the wrath of God and rendered God propitious to his people.

Question 43

Define: Reconciliation

Answer 43

Bringing parties who were once alienated back into fellowship

Question 44

Define: Imputation

Answer 44

Definition: to attribute to or to place in account: guilt of Adam’s sin to us; our sins to Christ; Christ righteousness to us; Romans 5:12-19. Hodge, 2. 195: “but simply that in virtue of the union between him and his descendants, his sin is the judicial ground of the condemnation of his race, precisely as the righteousness of Christ is the judicial ground of the justification of his people. So much for the statement of the question.”

Question 45

What is the nature of the atonement? Discuss “penal Substitutionary atonement.”

Answer 45

That aspect of Christ’s work, particularly His death, that makes possible the restoration of fellowship between God and man. The need for reconciliation between God and man is clear from the fact that people are sinners separated from God. The doctrine of atonement states that Christ died, or “atoned”, for our sins, making recon-ciliation with God the Father possible. Atonement is effective because Christ bore the punishment justly due the elect. Christ’s dying on behalf of sinners is known as Substitutionary atonement.

Question 46

What of Christ’s work remains to be done?

Answer 46

The calling of all remaining elect to salvation, His return and judgement.

Question 47

Were Old Testament believers saved by Christ? Explain and defend (including Scripture proofs

Answer 47

“Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, effi-cacy, and benefits thereof, were communicated unto the elect in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed and signified to be the Seed of the woman, which should bruise the serpent’s head, and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world being yester-day and today the same, and for ever.”— WCF 8:6
“And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”—Genesis 3:15

Question 48

Will any for whom Christ died be lost? Explain and defend (including Scripture proofs).

Answer 48

To all those for whom Christ has purchased redemption, He does certainly and effectually apply and communicate the same; making intercession for them, and revealing unto them, in and by the Word, the mysteries of salvation; ef-fectually persuading them by His Spirit to believe and obey, and governing their hearts by His Word and Spirit; overcoming all their enemies by His almighty power and wisdom, in such manner, and ways, as are most consonant to His wonderful and unsearchable dispensation. — WCF 8.8
“AH that the Father gives to me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away”—John 6:37

Question 49

What is the purpose of the Mediator?

Answer 49

Redeem 1:2;5-6
Call - Rom 8:28
Justify Rom 8:30
Sanctify 1 Cor 6:11
Glorify Heb 1:6

Question 50

What is the covenant of redemption?

Answer 50

Berkhof: The covenant of redemption may be defined as the agreement between the Father, giving the Son as Head and Redeemer of the elect, and the Son, voluntarily taking the place of those whom the Father had given Him.

Question 51

What the confession teaches about the two natures of Christ joined together in one person?

Answer 51

without conversion: The divine is not changed into human
composition: The divine and the human do not form a third nature (Eutyches)
or confusion: The two natures are not mixed

Question 52

How do you explain Jesus’ unipersonality?

Answer 52

1) Jesus has never call Himself plural
2) Jesus often refers to His divine nature or human nature separately. Divinity = Union with God (Jn.17, Matt.11), miracles, His title the Son of God or Lord. Humanity = thirsty, hungry, sleep, weeping. His title, the Son of Man or David.

Question 53

Define terms concerning hypostasis

Answer 53

Nature: the qualities that make a thing what it is = Substance, attributes
Person: that which is added to the nature to give it individuality = hypostasis
Anhypostasis: Impersonality (non-self subsistence) of the human nature of Christ. The second person of Trinity took the flesh, and so the flesh of Jesus does not have person.
Enhypostasis: In personality. Having one’s subsistence in the subsistence of another. In other words, the subsistence of Christ was the eternal person of the Word.