Theology C. God And His World (WCF 2-5; WLC 7-19; WSC 4-11)

Question 1

What is God?

Answer 1

God is a spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in his being, his wisdom, power, holiness,
justice, goodness, and truth. WSC #4

Question 2

Briefly explain and defend (including Scripture proofs) the doctrine of the Trinity.

Answer 2

There is but one God only, the living and true God- WSC #5
There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, The Son, and the Holy Ghost; and these three are on God, the same in substance, equal in
power and glory.- WSC #6
Hear oh Israel: The Lord our God, the LORD is one.- Deut. 6.4
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy Spirit…- Matt. 28.19
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all- 2 Cor. 13.14

Question 3

What are the attributes of God?

Answer 3

(Be prepared to offer Scripture proofs.)
God is a Spirit infinite, eternal and unchangeable in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness
and truth- WSC #5

Question 4

Attributes of God, Which are communicable?

Answer 4

<b>Wisdom:</b> If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it
will be given to him.- James 1.5
<b>Holiness:</b> Be holy, because I am Holy- Leviticus 11.44; 1 Peter 1.16
<b>Justice:</b> Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts. Perhaps the Lord God Almighty will have mercy on the remnant of Joseph.- Amos
5.15
Micah 6.8- He has shown you, oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you- but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to
walk humbly with your God

Question 5

Attributes of God,

Which are incommunicable?

Answer 5

Infinite: Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the
heavens- what can you do? They are deep than the depths of the grave- what can you know? Their measure is
longer than the earth and wider than the sea. – Job 11.7-9
Eternal: Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world from everlasting to everlasting you are God- Ps. 90.2
Unchangeable: Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows.- James 1.17

Question 6

What are the decrees of God?

Answer 6

The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, God has foreordained whatsoever
comes to pass- WSC #7

Question 7

What is the difference between <b>infralapsarian </b> and supralapsarian view of God’s decrees?

Answer 7

Infra: views God’s decrees historically
God decreed to CREATE man in holiness
God decreed to permit the FALL
God decreed to ELECT some
God decreed to PASS over others

Question 8

What is the difference between infralapsarian and <b>supralapsarian</b> view of God’s decrees?

Answer 8

Supra: views God’s decrees logically (elect before the fall)
Decree to ELECT some and pass over others
Decree to CREATE
Decree to PERMIT the fall
Decree to JUSTIFY the elect and condemn the reprobate

Question 9

What is an Amyraldian view of God’s decrees?

Answer 9

A system of Reformed theology based on the premise that God wills all to be saved if they believe. – Moise
Amyraut of the Saumer Academy- Unlimited Atonement or 4 point Calvinist

Question 10

How does God execute his decrees?

Answer 10

God executes his decrees through the works of creation and providence- WSC #8

Question 11

What is God’s work of creation?

Answer 11

The work of creation is, God’s making of all things out of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six
days, and all very good- WSC #9

Question 12

Briefly discuss the length of the days of creation.

Answer 12

I don’t think the scriptures are clear on the length. I see them as analogical days. They are God’s work days.

Question 13

Evaluate biblically the theory of evolution.

Answer 13

<b>Naturalistic Evolution-</b> believes everything, including matter and man developed by natural random processes and
are purely a result of natural forces functioning over a period of time. Naturalistic evolution denies God’s work of
creation and providence. This system denies that God created the world out of nothing, by the power of his word, in
the space of six days.<br></br>
<b>Theistic Evolution- </b>believes that God as the worker/ mover behind the process set the evolutionary process in motion.
This system , though acknowledging God as creator, gives him little more credit than first cause. This theory tends to view the
creation account as mythical and denies God the sovereign capacity to create as he claims in Genesis 1-2 (essentially a form of Deism

Question 14

What is God’s work of providence?

Answer 14

God’s work of providence are his most holy, wise and powerful, preserving and governing of all his creatures and all their actions- WSC #11

Question 15

What is a miracle?

Answer 15

When God works without, above or against the normal means of his providence
“God in His ordinary providence, makes use of means, yet is free to work without, above, and against them, at His pleasure WCF 5.3

Question 16

Do miracles occur today? Explain.

Answer 16

If we take miracle to mean that God working without second causes for the sake of the affirmation of revelation, like
Warfield does, then I would not affirm that miracles occur today due to the closed nature of the canon. In saying
this I would also add that I would at the same time affirm what Warfield called “extra-ordinary” acts of providence.
In other words, I do think God still answers prayer in quite extraordinary ways (for example prayers for healing).

Question 17

Is God responsible for sin?

Answer 17

NO

Question 18

Is God responsible for sin? Did he decree it?

Answer 18

Did he decree it?
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 the will of the
creatures; nor is liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established (WCF 3.1)

Question 19

Is God responsible for sin?

Did he permit it?

Answer 19

In that nothing takes place in all the universe without God’s permission

Question 20

Who is the ultimate cause of all things?

Answer 20

God is!
God from all eternity, did by the most holy and wise counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably ordain whatsoever comes to pass… WCF
3.1
The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own Glory, God has ordained whatsoever comes
to pass.

Question 21

What is theodicy?

Answer 21

A philosophical attempt to vindicate the justice and goodness of God, especially in view of the fact of evil, which is
normally felt or judged to constitute a challenge to such attributes of God.

Question 22

If God is good and all-powerful, explain AIDS, deformed babies, natural disasters.

Answer 22

The affirmation that God is good and all-powerful does not deny the reality that we live in a fallen world. Though
God created the world good man in his rebellion against God brought sin into the world and with it sickness,
destruction and death. However, God’s goodness is still seen in his common grace as he holds his creation together,
as well as in his sovereign acts of providence. WE see God’s goodness in his willingness to subject himself to the
depravity of the world in order to redeem us from the world and his all powerful sovereignty in his even using that
which is otherwise evil to work good for those who love him and are called according to his purpose.

Question 23

Discuss the biblical teaching regarding predestination, election, and reprobation.

Answer 23

By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestined unto everlasting life; and others foreordained to
everlasting death- WCF 3.3 Romans 9

Question 24

Distinguish the Reformed and Arminian understandings of these doctrines.

Answer 24

Arminians do not accept the Reformed doctrine of absolute predestination. Rather they support the doctrine of
conditional predestination, that is, that God predestined his Elect based on the condition of his foreknowledge that
they would believe.

Question 25

Are these doctrines compatible with belief in real human choice and responsibility?

Answer 25

“nor is violence offered the will of creatures; nor is liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather
established- WCF 3.1. It seems to me that the Bible affirms both sovereignty of God and responsibility of man. (He
will not leave the guilty unpunished)

Question 26

. What should be some of the practical results of believing the doctrine of election?

Answer 26

Humility, gratitude, comfort, security, assurance, grace/mercy towards others, obedience out of thankfulness

Question 27

Is there a real, personal devil? Explain from Scripture.

Answer 27

Yes, Job 1; Matthew 4