Systematic Theology 1 Quiz 4 Flashcards
God’s characteristics that we (as God’s creation) can share in in a finite way
Communicable Attributes
- Intellectual Attributes (the mind of God)
- Moral Attributes (God’s moral attributes)
- Attributes of God’s Rulership (God’s governing rule)
*Some of these attributes
overlap
(the mind of God)
Intellectual Attributes
Intellectual Attributes
- Omniscience
- Omnisapience (Wisdom in latin)
- Truth
God knows all that is knowable- that He knows all things possible & actually and that He knows all things past, present, & future
Omniscience
everything that is he knows everything; he knows all the ways in which the world could be possible, all the ways that things are & all the ways things could be (Omniscience)
possible & actual
God not only knows all that could be & things that will be & He also knows what would be the case in certain circumstances if it weren’t as it were (ex. God knows where you are right now & where you would be if you weren’t where you are right now) Matt 11 & 1 Cor. 2 // how God has control over all
(Omniscience)
Middle Knowledge
Middle Knowledge Scripture
Omniscience
Matthew 11 - if they would have heard the revelation they would have repented
1 Corinthians 2 - if they would of had that revelation they would not have crucified Christ
Ware does not believe William Graig’s belief of__________ __________
(Omniscience)
libitarian freedom-
William Graig’s belief of libitarian freedom is
Omniscience
it is impossible to know what the human would do because it is up to the free agent (this arminian view of middle knowledge with libitarian freedom is not biblical)
compatible freedom + middle knowledge =
Omniscience
correct
God knows all of what will happen in the future exhaustively
(Omniscience)
Future Knowledge
those who do not believe God has Future Knowledge
Omniscience
Open Theist
the future is open, not closed = not even God knows what would happen in the future because of libiterian freedom (humans can do whatever they want) // God either knows the future or there is libiterian freedom -> you cannot have both is what these people believe -> they believe God cannot know what is going to happen if people have lib freedom
(Omniscience // Future Knowledge)
Open Theist
Future Knowledge Scripture (first 3)
Omniscience
- 1 Samuel - God repenting of Saul being king
- Genesis 22:12 - Open Theist use to prove that God does not know the future / Abraham & Isaac -> Abraham followed what God said to do of sacrificing Isaac -> Abraham did not kill Isaac -> Abraham proved he feared God -> God was faithful but God needed to “learn” that Abraham would be faithful // “now I know that you fear me”.. God has always known that Abraham feared him (Romans 4) // Sarah & Abraham having a baby at such an old age showed his fear & trust in God (Hebrews 11) Abraham had always been showing God fearing trust. Abraham believed that God could raise his son from the dead
- Genesis 18 - another instance in which God “learned” something // God spoke to Abraham saying // to believe as the Open Theists do.. God doesn’t know the past or present, he is not omnipresent if you can’t know.. what he is saying is that God is relationally connected to us
Future Knowledge Scripture (last 3)
Omniscience
- Psalm 139 - God knows us. He knows all. He knew us before we were born.
- Isaiah 40-48 - God knows the future. God declares the future. This claims his deity. Open Theist take this from him and this is offensive to God.
- John 13:19 - so you can know that I am God. Simon Peter says where are you going Lord. Then Jesus tells him that he will deny him 3 times before the rooster crows. Jesus knew this was going to happen because he was God and God is all knowing. God can declare the future because he is all knowing.
(Wisdom in latin) - God is ALL wise.
Omnisapience
is the application of God’s infinite knowledge in a manner that accomplishes his morally perfect ends by morally upright means
Wisdom
- Wisdom - we have _______ ____________ // ex. how you travel because you didn’t know about a wreck
- God never plans anything that is not ________ _______ __ _______// God’s plans he makes are guided by his goodness
- the end does not justify the means.. the means must be _______
- limited knowledge
- morally worthy of praise
- worthy
What is the difference between wisdom & knowledge?
- wisdom uses knowledge; wisdom is knowledge applied
- you can know a lot, but if you are not wise with your knowledge then it is useless
- think of someone who is shrood - they’re clever
God’s wisdom, power, & knowledge is the ____ so what he does is always the ____. We have to have a trust in His ways - that they are ____.
best; best; best
Wisdom Passages (first 3)
- Psalm 104:24 Creation testifying to the wisdom of God
- Proverbs 3:19 - God’s knowledge & wisdom seen in creation
- Daniel 2:20 - let the name of God be blessed forever & ever
Wisdom Passages (last 3)
- Jeremiah 10:12, 51:10 - God’s wisdom & power // God needs both. We trust God’s plan to be what are best.
- Romans 4 - believed in God’s promise that he would do what he said he would do / have confidence in our faith of God
- 1 Corinthians 1:18,21 - redemption shows God’s wisdom
- Romans 16:27 - to the only wise God be honor and glory forever
God is _____. He speaks ____.
truth.
God knows all things as they are and his Word & revelation are utterly reliable
Truth
Truth Passages (first 3)
- 1 John 5:20 - God is in His nature the apitamea of Truth
- John 17 -God’s Word is Truth. God is the Truth & He speaks the Truth.
- Titus 1, Hebrews 6:18- God cannot lie. The Bible is the product of God’s out breathing and what God says is always true; therefore, the Bible is always true. It is impossible for God to lie.
Truth Passages (last 2)
- John 1:1 - the Word was God, v 14 - the Word became flesh and was dwelt among us - full of grace & truth - Jesus had his Father’s character. Yahweh is full of grace & truth - so is Jesus. We should desire to be like Jesus - to be full of grace & truth.
Must have a balance of grace & truth. Too much grace, lack truth. Too much truth is lack of grace. - John 8 - truth sets us free. We should be seekers of truth for His glory & our good.
God’s moral attributes
Moral Attributes
God’s two primary domains of his moral attributes:
God’s goodness & God’s holiness
God’s goodness & God’s holiness
are never in ______ with one another with God as they do with ______ // they work in _____ //
conflict; humans; harmony
the holiness of God is_________. // Goodness is expressed in ________.
goodness; holiness
Holiness demands……..
God’s love motivated God to……
judgment against our sin
send Jesus to pay for our sin.
the intrinsic disposition of God by which he embraces all that is morally upright and acts according to all that is morally upright in showing kind to all of his creation
Goodness
Goodness in-essence is showing us
the way to holiness.
God’s goodness is always an expression of his
holiness
God’s Goodness Passages (first 2)
- Deuteronomy 10:12-13 - important to know & follow the ways of the Lord // God commands his ways for our good. // so important for youth to see this. God is not a kill joy. He wants to maximize our happiness.
- Psalm 16:11 - the longing you have for joy & fulfillment is from God to be filled by God.
God’s Goodness Passages (last 3)
- Psalm 119:68 - how good is the law of the Lord - God’s nature is good & he does good
- Romans 2:4 - speaks of the goodness of God; kindness of God leads to repentance
- 1 Peter 2:3 - taste the kindness & goodness of the Lord; seeks the well being of others
God’s Goodness displayed in his
love, grace, & mercy.
God’s Love is
discriminate.
OT love
hesed, the steadfast love of God, in longing to bring good to his people (Ps. 106:1, Lamentations 3:22) the love of God is new every morning
NT love
agape, unconditional love & despite of love (1 John 4:9-10 - love that we get in spite of our sinfulness, Romans 5:8- though we were sinners Christ died for us)
D.A. Carson - the difficult doctrine of the love of God - love for all, ________ ____ for his people & even more ________ ____ for his Son // the love of God for all people is what is thought of when people read about the love of God in the Bible // ex. John 3:16 - where does it get narrowed? - world - he has in mind the whole world (it is universal) - he does love all people // is the love of God always used this way?
particular love; particular love; no
Particular love seen in Romans 9
God’s own choice over another - choosing Jacob over Esau (Malachi 1) - discriminate/selectiveness of God’s love - love Jacob more, Esau is under God’s judgement, under his wrath - by God’s choice; God chose to love Jacob over Esau before they were born
Particular love seen in Isaiah 43
God favored His people. The people that were not his had the plagues come upon them. His people were spared. God is behind all of this. Could God of told the Egyptians? yes. He only tells the Israelites. He only lets the Israelites cross the Red Sea & the Egyptians not so
Particular love seen in Ephesians 5:25
as a husband loves their wife particularly, (we are called to love all people, but your spouse differently) - glorious truth
General/Universal love for all people=
John 3:16
=we have nothing to claim that we are better - why God chooses some over others is his choice/mystery
Particular love for His people
If we say that God only has general love for all it would
minimize His special love that God has for his own
2 passages on God’s particular love for His people
- Ephesians 1- the blessings that only some have, not all have been chosen to be holy & blameless - this is in God’s providence
- Revelation 3 - church in Philadelphia - his favor distinguishes them from others
the unmerited favor which is given to those who by nature are totally underserving of that favor or good pleasure
Grace
core/root of grace =
notion of unmerited favor
see this Ephesians 2 - > that grace is a
GIFT of God
Grace Scripture (1-3)
- 1 Corinthians 15 -> the power at work within those that are undeserving
- Romans 3 - > grace & gift linked closely together
- Ephesians 1:5 -> saving grace that God gives is selective (Effectual calling/irresistible grace) “Still Sovereign” he wrote
Grace Scripture (4-5)
- 1 Corinthians 1:22 -> the “called” - the work of the gospel are at work in those who would on their own rejected the gospel
no one deserves salvation - God does not have to save anyone, we are all undeserved (undeserved favor) - Matthew 25 - hell prepared for devil and fallen angels
compassion or pity of God expressed to those who are in dire need or down cast , ruined, helpless, & hopeless
Mercy
Mercy Scripture (1-2)
- Ephesians 2 - were dead {the walking dead} bound to Satan
- 2 Corinthians 4:4 - blind to truth by Satan; cannot see truth for truth; God’s wrath directed toward us; face this unless we are forgiven -> verse 4 BUT GOD -> being rich in MERCY
= for the undeserved people
Grace
= those who are helpless & hopeless- cannot do anything to get us out of this position
Mercy
Mercy Scripture (3-4)
- Titus 3:3 - we also wee foolish once (condition = slavery, foolishness)
- Romans 9 -> God will have mercy on whom he will have mercy;
God is eternally separate & distinct, in in-particular distinct from all in purity and he demands purity from all His creature
Holiness
Holy is
separate.
Holiness Scripture (1-2)
- Exodus 15:11- ”who is like you O God?” - no one
2. 1 Samuel 2:2- there is no one holy like the Lord - he is separate & distinct
Holiness Scripture (3-4)
- Exodus 31:15 Sabbath is holy- not moral distinction, it is a one of the kind day / it is a day of rest
- Leviticus 11:41-45 - commanded to only eat some - > nothing morally wrong to eat some animals.. Jesus says no people are unclean (Acts 10- ex. for Peter who will go to the Gentiles who are unclean & God has said no meat in unclean.. meaning no human is unclean) these foods in themselves are not in themselves dirty ->the reason was God wanted the Israelites to be the witness of the holy God by being the holy people -> the food laws showed this