The Revelation of Humanity Flashcards
Thomas Boston
- 18th Scottish Theologian
- Most notable work is “Human Nature in its Fourfold State”. A reformed anthropology
- Identifies 4 states of man as it relates to redemptive history
Augustines fourfold development of the will
- Asserted by Augustine in the Enchiridion
- State of innoncence, posse non-peccare, able not to sin. Lost as a result of the Fall
- State of sin, non posse non peccare, not able not to sin. Total depravity, the state of man post-fall and pre-regeneration
- state of Grace, posse peccare et non peccare, able to sin able not to sin. The state of man after regeneration, and wholly supernatural
- State of Glory, non-posse peccare, unable to sin! Man in his glorified body. for unbelievers, this is a state of torment.
Thomas Boston Fourfold state
- Primitive Integrity. The state of original Righteousness
- Entire depravity. Boston’s version of total depravity
- Begun recovery. The state after regeneration and union with Christ
- Consumate happiness or misery. Glorification for the believer, endless torment for the unrepentant
Enchiridion
-author Augustine c.420
-A “handbook” of Christian living of sorts
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WCF 9
- Summary of free will
- at creation man could either good or evil
- Fall results ins a loss of ability for good and salvation
- Regeneration results in freedom from the bondage of sin, but because of remaining corruption can still sin
- Upon glorification man is made immutably good
God, from all eternity, did, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely, and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass: yet so, as thereby neither is God the author of sin, nor is violence offered to the will of the creatures; nor is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established”
- WCF 3.
- Asserts the sovereignty of God AND human responsibility
- Asserts 1st and 2nd Causation. God (1st cause) makes use of 2nd causes (Man). Example Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers “What you meant for evil, God meant for Good”
“…He directs even our free acts, and however far above our comprehension may be the manner in which he does that, in any case it must be a co-working, a concursus. Not matter, not fate, not chance can affect us, if our freedom is to be maintained, but only the co-working of God.”
- Vos, Reformed Dogmatics
- Asserts God is the ultimate cause of all things
- refutes the idea of Chance/fate which subsequently refute deism.
“For if our future blessedness shall consist in being where he is, and beholding of his glory, what better preparation can there be for it than in
a constant previous contemplation of that glory in the revelation that is made in the Gospel, unto this very end, that by a view of it we may be gradually transformed into the same glory?”
- John Owen, “Meditations and discourses on the Glory of Christ”
- His dying testimony to the Church
- Nothing prepares us for seeing the glory of God in person, other than seeing the glory of God in faith.
- The Longed looked for Day has come at last!
The Flower and the Bookends – The Bible
- The Flower, what we see in seed form in Genesis 1-3 begins to grow throughout scripture and ultimately blooms in Revelation.
- The book ends, Genesis and revelation, compliment each other. What was lost in Genesis is regained in Revelation
- Where the 1st Adam failed our second Adam succeeded.
Rev 21-22
God’s place
- To describe it John uses creation language borrowed from Isaiah 65&66.
- Here we relate to Jesus by faith, there we will be able to behold Him a relate to him by sight
- WE will be one people, free of sin, reconciled and consecrated to God
Rev 21-22
God’s Presence
- God will tabernacle with his people
- The Immanuel theme through scripture reaches it fulfillment God WILL be with us
- represents the ultimate fulfillment of all covenant promises
Rev 21-22
Gods Promise
- There will be no more tears. We will be cared for by the Great shepherd!
- No more sin, The prince peace will rule. It will be impossible to sin and to not worship God
- We will thirst for God no longer
Conclusion
- Hope - No matter the pain, sorrow, struggle, there is hope.
- Supremacy of the New Heaven and New Earth - What is gained in Christ is far greater than anything in this world.
- Anticipation of Beholding God - The place that God dwells is the place we long to be.
- Worship - To be fully human is to orient ourselves to behold God in glory.
The glory of the gospel
- Hope, The suffering in this life does not compare to the glory that has yet to be revealed. We have an imperishable inheritance waiting for us
- Supremacy, Whatever we gain in this life pales in comparison to the infinite glory and wonder of heaven
- Anticipation, We were made to behold God. If the new heaven and earth is where Christ and God will be, so will we!
- Worship, Heaven will be a place of rest and worship. in this life we practice sabbath rest and worship weekly. The local church is where we train for glory!
