The Christian Life (WCF 19-20, 22-24, WLC 91-152, 154-196; WSC 39-84, 88-107)

Question 1

What is the moral law?

Answer 1

3 types of law: moral, ceremonial, civil

WSC 40: The rule which God at first revealed to man for his obedience, was the moral law.

• • The declaration of God’s will directing and binding everyone to conformity and obedience to it.
• • Universal law (apply to everyone, everywhere); usually summarized in the 10 commandments

Question 2

What laws besides the moral law did God give his people under the old covenant?

Answer 2

Ceremonial Laws: containing several typical ordinances, partly of worship; given to Israel to separate them from other nations

Civil Laws: judicial laws, which expired together with the state of that people; given to Israel to implement as nation and government

Question 3

Are believers under obligation to the law today? Explain and defend with Scripture.

Answer 3

WCF 19.1 – God gave Adam a law, by which he bound him and all his posterity to personal, entire, exact, and perpetual obedience, with the promise of life, and the death in its breaking.

WCF 19.5 – The moral law does forever bind all, not only in the matter contained in it, but in the authority of God the Creator who gave it.

1. ) Universal authority
   - law is the knowledge of sin (Rom. 3:20)
   - Matthew 5:17 - not cancel, but fulfill law
2. ) Drives to Christ
3. ) Rule of life for believers
   - 1 John 5:2-3 - those who love God keep his commandments

Question 4

What is “theonomy?” Evaluate it biblically

Answer 4

Theonomy: “The abiding validity of the Mosaic Law in exhaustive detail.”
– The civil law continues as does the moral law; because there’s no distinction.

Answer: All of God’s law is relevant and applicable to believers today. (Matthew 4:4, 2 Tim. 3:16-17), but the question is not whether God’s law applies, but how it applies.

• • Sees too much continuity between Old and New Covenant.
• • OT civil law applies to Israel in a different way than does the church because God’s people under the Old Covenant were organized in a nation state, now their organized as a church who’s citizens are members of heaven.
• • Examples: Jesus tells Peter to put down the Sword;

Question 5

Where is the law of God summed up?

Answer 5

WSC 41: Ten Commandments

Question 6

Can believers keep God’s law? Explain and defend your view.

Answer 6

Yes, “The Spirit of Christ subduing and enabling the will of man to do that freely, and cheerfuly.” (WCF 19.7)

No, we cannot fulfill the law perfectly, because of indwelling sin. (Romans 3:10-12, 1 John 1:8-9, Romans 7

WSC 82: “No mere man, since the fall, is able in this life perfectly to keep the commandments of God, but doth daily break them in thought, word, and deed.”

Question 7

What are the “means of grace”?

Answer 7

WSC 88: The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are, his ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.”

• • Acts 2:41-42
• • Matthew 28:18-20
• • The Lord’s supper, 1 Cor. 12

Question 8

What is Christian Liberty? Explain and defend with Scripture.

Answer 8

Believers are free to act according to conscience in areas where Scripture is silent.
(1 Cor. 9, Rom. 14-15)

WCF 20.2 - God alone is Lord of the conscience, and has left it free from the doctrines and commandments of men, which are contrary to Word.

WCF 20.1 – Christian Liberty is:
Freedom from 
-- the guilt of sin, 
-- the condemning wrath of God, 
-- the curse of the moral law, 
-- bondage to Satan and dominion of sin, from the evil of afflictions, the sting of death, the victory of the grave, and everlasting damnation, 

Freedom for:

• • free access to God,
• • and their yielding obedience unto him, not out of slavish fear, but a childlike love and willing mind.

Hebrews 4:14-16; Gal. 5:1, 1 John 4:18 – no more fear; Acts 15:10-11

Question 9

Who or what is Lord of the conscience? Explain and defend with Scripture.

Answer 9

WCF 20.2 – God alone is Lord of the conscience.

Your conscience is free from the doctrine and commandments of men.
– James 4:12, Rom. 14:4, 10; 1 Cor. 10:29

Question 10

How does Christian liberty bear on the Christian’s obligation to the state?

Answer 10

Obligated to submit to civil authorities except when they require to disobey God.
i. Acts 4:19, 5:29, 1 Cor. 7:22-23, Rom. 13, Titus 3:1

Question 11

What is “regulative principle?” Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 11

“Christian corporate worship may only consist of those elements which are expressly commanded in Scripture or which appear with approval.

• • Corporate worship should be comprised of those elements we can show to be appropriate from the Bible.
• • Let’s worship God as he wants to be worshipped
• • (Ex. The bible is silent on doing dramatic plays, then it is not permissible in corporate worship).

WCF 21.1 – “The acceptable way of worshipping the true God is instituted by Himself and so limited by his revealed will.”

Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:9; Leviticus 10:1-3; Deut. 13:32, Matthew 15:9, Acts 17:23-25, John 4:23-24

Question 12

Who is to be worshiped? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 12

WCF 21.2 – “Religious worship is to be given to God, the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost; and to him alone; and since the fall not without a mediator, with Christ alone.”

• • Matthew 4:10; John 5:23, Matt. 28:19, Eph. 3:14, Rev. 5:11-14
• • Col. 2:18,
• • John 14:6, 1 Tim. 2:5

Question 13

What are the ordinary parts or elements of worship?

Answer 13

1. ) Prayer (Phil. 4:6)
2. ) Preaching of the Word (Col. 1:25)
3. ) Sacraments (Matthew 28:19, 1 Cor. 12)
4. ) Singing psalms, hymns, spiritual songs (Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16)
5. ) Public reading of Scripture (1 Tim. 4:13)
6. ) Collections of offerings/tithes (Gal. 2:10, 1 Cor. 9:3-12)
7. ) Oaths/vows/laying on of hands (Heb. 6:2, 2 Tim. 1:6)
8. ) Recitation of creeds (2 Tim. 2:11, Phil. 2:6)

Question 14

Are Christians under obligation to keep a Sabbath? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 14

Yes,
WCF 21.7 – A positive, moral, and perpetual commandment binding all men in all ages, he has particularly appointed one day in seven, for a Sabbath, to be kept holy unto him, which from the resurrection of Christ was changed into the first day of the week, and is to be continued to the end of the world, as the Christian Sabbath.
– Gen. 2, Exodus 20:8, Matthew 5:17-18
– Matthew 5:17-18, Mark 2:27-28, Rom. 13:8-10, James 2:8-12

1. Sabbath is a creation ordinance (Gen. 2:2-3)
2. 4th commandment in included in the Decalogue (God wrote all 10 commandments on 2 tablets of stone - came from his hand)
3. Jesus observed the Sabbath and NT gives no indication of its abrogation (Mark 7:19)
4. Sabbath observance honors Jesus as Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:28)
5. Isaiah 56:3-6 suggests continued Sabbath observance in New Covenant.

Question 15

If so, how should the Sabbath be kept? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 15

WSC 60: “The Sabbath is to be sanctified by a holy resting all that day, even from such worldly employments and recreations as are lawful on other days (Ex. 20:10, Nehemiah 13:15-22, Isaiah 58:13-14); and spending the whole time in the public and private exercises of God’s worship (Ex. 20:8, Lev. 23:3, Luke 4:16, Acts 20:7); except so much as is to be taken up in the works of necessity and mercy (Matt. 12:1-13).

• • Rest is primary in Sabbath, that leads to worship (Recreation shouldn’t be forbidden, but should be set apart for the Lord).
• • Rest (the 4th commandment is primarily concerned with rest – Gen. 2:2-3, Exodus 20:18-20, Numbers 15:32-36; Nehemiah 13:15-18; Jeremiah 17:22)
• • Heb. 4; Matthew 11:28-30

The 4th commandment invites us to devote ourselves to the worship of God on the Sabbath.

• • The rest invites worship, not the reverse. (Rest points us backward and forward)
• • We should not pit the requirement to rest against the invitation to worship.
• • Plan Sabbath so they include both rest and worship.

Question 16

Differentiate between the “Continental” and “Westminster” view of the Sabbath.

Answer 16

Agreement:

1. ) Sabbath is still in effect.
2. ) Sabbath is a time for corporate worship
3. ) Sabbath is a day of rest when believers are to abstain from unnecessary commerce.

Disagrement:

1. ) Question of Recreation: Is recreation a legitimate form of rest-taking, or is recreation something that mars a sacred observation of the Sabbath day?
   - - The WCF view argues against the acceptability of recreation on the Sabbath day. The text most often cited to support this view is Isaiah 58:13–14

Question 17

Should a Christian ever take an oath or vow? Explain. Defend with Scripture proofs.

Answer 17

Yes, but never contrary to Scripture. The taking of oaths for a Christian is permissible, yet they can never be contrary to the Word.

The 3rd commandment requires us to verbally confess God’s name (Deut. 6:4-9)

• • A lawful oath consists in calling upon God, to witness the truth of what we affirm as true, or our voluntary assumption of an obligation to do something in the future
• • Scripture frequently endorses oaths - Heb. 6:13-18; Matthew 26:63-64; Rev. 10:15-16; Romans 1:9; Gal. 1:20; Philippians 1:8; Genesis 14:22-23, 21:23-24)
• • It is the misuse and abuse of oaths that is forbidden.

Question 18

What should be our attitude toward civil authorities? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 18

WCF 23.1 - God has placed civil authorities under his authority and over his people for his own glory and the public good (Rom. 13:1-5, Titus 3:1)
– Rom. 13:1-4, 1 Peter 2:13-14

WCF 24.4 – “It is our duty to pray for magistrates, to honor their persons, to pay them tribute, to obey their lawful commands, and to be subject to their authority, for conscience sake.”
– 1 Tim. 2:1-3, 1 Peter 2:17, Matt. 22:21, Rom. 13:6-7

Question 19

What is the relationship between church and state?

Answer 19

WCF 24.3 – Civil magistrates may not assume to themselves the administration of the Word and Sacraments, or in the least, interfere in matters of faith. Yet, as nursing fathers, it is the duty of civil magistrates to protect the church of our common Lord,

Church: worshipping body; State = ruling/governing body

1. ) Church: the extended family organized primarily for the purposes of worshipping God
   - - Keys of the Kingdom, not sword (word, sacraments, discipline); authorized by God’s Word
2. ) State: the extended family organized primarily for the purposes of maintaining law and order
   - - Responsibilities: punishment of crime, protection of church, military, etc.
   - - Authorized by God’s word, as well as wisdom

Question 20

What are the proper duties of civil authorities? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 20

WCF 24.3

1. ) Protect the church (Isa. 49:23; Rom. 13:1-6)
2. ) Prevent interference with church government (Psalm 105:15)
3. ) Protect persons and their good name
4. ) Provide freedom of religion
5. ) Guarantee the freedom of assembly (Rom. 13:1-5, 1 Tim. 2:2)

Question 21

What obligations do believers have to civil authorities? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 21

1. ) Pray for Magistrates (1 Tim. 2:1-3)
2. ) Honor their Persons (1 Peter 2:17)
3. ) Pay them tribute or other dues (Matt. 22:21, Rom. 13:6-7)
4. ) Obey Lawful commands
5. ) To be subject to their authority, for conscience sake (Rom. 13:5, Titus 3:1)

Question 22

By whom and for what purpose was marriage designed? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 22

WCF 24.1 – “Marriage is to be between one man and one woman.”

1. ) For the mutual help of husband and wife (Gen. 2:18, Eph. 5:28, 1 Peter 3:7)
2. ) For the increase of mankind and of the church with an holy seed (Gen. 1:28, Gen. 9:1, Mal. 2:15)
3. ) For Preventing of uncleanness (1 Cor. 7:2, 9)

Purposes (from Swain)

1. ) Represents unity and diversity of humanity in the image of God
2. ) Represents covenant
3. ) Constitutes the basic unity of human society
4. ) Family is grounded in marriage
5. ) Provides ideal context (covenant) for mutual support and intimacy
6. ) Provides stable environment for raising of Godly children
7. ) To model the relationship between Christ and Church

Question 23

Who may (and may not) lawfully be married? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 23

“All sorts of people to marry, who are able with judgment to give their consent.” (WCF 24.3)
– Heb. 13:4, 1 Tim. 4:3, 1 Cor. 7:36-38, Gen. 24:57-58

1. ) Yet it is the duty of Christians to marry only in the Lord (1 Cor. 7:39)
2. ) Those not unlawfully divorced (Matt. 19)

Question 24

What is divorce?

Answer 24

“Dissolving the bond of marriage prior to death” (WCF 24.6)

– Matthew 19:8-9, 1 Cor. 7:10-16, Matthew 19:6

Question 25

Under what circumstances is divorce permissible? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 25

1. ) Adultery (Matthew 5:31-32) – sexual immorality

2. ) Willful Desertion (Matthew 19:8-9, 1 Cor. 7:15, Matthew 19:6) by an unbelieving spouse

Question 26

Is divorce an option for those abused by their spouses (physically or otherwise)? Defend.

Answer 26

Spousal abuse is a case of desertion, giving up his marriage obligations. He is forcing a separation through his actions (1 Cor. 7:10-16, Matthew 19:3-9).

Although divorce is permitted, it is not required.

1. ) Repentance, reconciliation, and restoration are always the first choice.
2. ) We should not the lay the burden on the innocent party to purse this at all cost.
3. ) Adultery and desertion is always permitted for divorce, even if there is repentance. There’s obligation to forgive, not to stay married.
4. ) Although divorce is not always sinful, it is always a tragedy that falls short of God’s design (Matthew 19:6)

Question 27

May those who have been divorced remarry? Defend it from Scripture.

Answer 27

Divorce in case of sexual immorality and desertion by an unbelieving spouse and remarriage is permitted only in those cases (Matthew 19:9, 1 Cor. 7:15)

• • To remarry as if the offending party is dead (WCF 24.5)
• • Matthew 19:9, Rom. 7:2-3