Theology E (Chappell/Meek)

Question 1

What is a covenant?

Answer 1

A covenant is a bond in blood sovereignly administered. It has parties, obligations, promises, oaths, blessings/curses, and witnesses. When made by God, it requires a voluntary condescension on his part.

Question 2

What is the Covenant of Works (Life)? Who are its parties?

Answer 2

When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon pain of death (Gen. 2:16–17; James 2:10).

Its parties are God and mankind (represented by Adam as their federal head).

Question 3

Is there a present validity to the Covenant of Works (Life)? What is it?

Answer 3

Yes; the Covenant of Works (Life) maintains present validity because all mankind fell in Adam’s first transgression and are under God’s wrath and curse apart from the work of Christ who has kept the Covenant of Works (Life) in Adam’s stead that all who trust in him might be counted covenant keepers.

Question 4

What is the Covenant of Redemption? Who are its parties?

Answer 4

God, having out of his mere good pleasure, from all eternity, elected some to everlasting life, did enter into a covenant 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 (Gen. 3:15; Jer. 31:31–34).

Its parties are God and Christ (as the second Adam), with all the elect as his seed.

Question 5

Discuss the Covenant of Grace.

Answer 5

The Covenant of Grace is the redemptive-historical enactment of the Covenant of Redemption. The Covenant of Grace has a series of administrations in Adam, Abraham, Moses, David, and Christ himself.

Question 6

How is the Covenant of Grace related to:
~ the Abrahamic Covenant?
~ the Mosaic Covenant?
~ the Noahic Covenant?

Answer 6

The Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Noahic Covenants are redemptive-historical administrations of the one Covenant of Grace.

Question 7

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

Answer 7

The Old Covenant was:
1. Administered in promises, prophecies, sacrifices, circumcision, the Passover, and other ordinances (Heb. 8–10)
2. Sufficient in building up the elect in faith in the promised Messiah (1 Cor. 10:1–4)

The New Covenant is:
1. A continuation of the Old Covenant in a new dispensation (2 Cor. 3:6–9)
2. Administered in Word and sacraments (Matt. 28:19–20)
3. Simpler and less outwardly glorious but fuller and more spiritually efficacious (Heb. 12:22–24)

Question 8

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

Answer 8

The Lord Jesus Christ, 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 forever (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5–6). Christ 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 Ghost in the womb of the virgin Mary and born of her, yet without sin (Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Phil. 2:7).

Question 9

Briefly discuss the natures of Christ, including:
~ Was Christ a human person?
~ Does Christ have a soul?
~ What is kenosis?
~ Did Christ lay aside any of His divine attributes at the incarnation?

Answer 9

Christ was a fully human person, taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul, being conceived by the power of the Holy Ghost, and born of her, yet without sin (John 1:1, 14; Gal. 4:4).

Kenosis is a theological term derived from Philippians 2:5–11 which refers to Christ’s incarnation. In taking human form, Christ “emptied himself” by:
1. Taking on the likeness of sinful humanity unto death
2. Not exercising all the privileges of the godhead in his incarnation.

Christ did not lay aside any of his divine attributes at the incarnation.

Question 10

Briefly explain and defend against the challenges to orthodox Christology posed by:
Docetism
Arius
Nestorius
Appolinarius
Eutyches

Answer 10

Docetism: Christ only appears (i.e. “seems”) to become a man. His suffering and other human traits are merely philosophical (John 1:14; 20:24–28).

Arius: Christ is the first created being, not the eternal Son of God (John 1:1–14)

Nestorius: Christ is divided into two persons, one human and one divine (Col. 2:9)

Apollinarius: Christ lacked a human soul, which was instead replaced by the logos (Phil. 2:7; Heb. 2:14, 17)

Question 11

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

Answer 11

Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons both hold a form of Arianism (Jesus is the first created being, not the eternal Son of God.).

Question 12

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

Answer 12

“Communication of properties” is a term in Christology used to describe the relationship between Jesus’ human and divine natures.

Question 13

What is the “extra Calvinisticum”?

Answer 13

The “extra Calvinisticum” is a doctrine which holds that the eternal Son’s presence is not limited to his assumed human nature.

Question 14

Define the following names:
Jesus
Son of Man
Christ
Son of God
Lord
Lamb of God

Answer 14

Jesus: “Jesus” means “Savior”; he will save his people from their sins.

Son of Man: “Son of Man” means “human being” but is also a reference to Daniel 7, where the Son of Man is an exalted figure with dominion from God.

Christ: “Christ” means “anointed one”; he is the designated Davidic heir who will reign forever.

Son of God: “Son of God” is a claim to divinity which describes Jesus’ relation to the Father in the Trinity; the title also rivals the designations of emperors of his time.

Lord: “Lord” is the New Testament designation of Yahweh; it also conveys Jesus’ authority.

Lamb of God: Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who takes away the sins of the world.

Question 15

How was Christ born?

Answer 15

Christ, 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 Ghost, in the womb of
the Virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin (Luke 1:27, 31, 35; Phil. 2:7).

Question 16

Explain and defend (including Scripture proofs) the Virgin Birth.

Answer 16

Christ, 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 Ghost, in the womb of
the Virgin Mary, and born of her yet without sin (Isa. 7:14; Luke 1:16–38).

Question 17

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

Answer 17

1. Promised seed (Second Adam)
2. Sacrificial lamb (Lamb of God)
3. Priest (Great High Priest)
4. Prophet
5. King (Messiah)

Question 18

What is the humiliation of Christ?

Answer 18

Christ’s humiliation consisted in his being born, and that in a low condition, made under the law, undergoing the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; in being buried, and continuing under the power of death for a time (Isa. 53:3; 2 Cor. 8:9).

Question 19

Define and distinguish the active and passive obedience of Christ.

Answer 19

Active obedience: Christ fulfills the stipulations of the law perfectly.

Passive obedience: Christ suffers the curse of the law unto death.

Question 20

What happened in the resurrection of Christ?
~ Discuss “glorified body.”

Answer 20

At Christ’s resurrection, both his body and soul were:
1. Reunited in a living organism
2. Restored to pristine strength and perfection
3. Raised to a higher (glorified) level

The glorified body is:
1. Resplendent with heavenly brightness
2. Incapable of decay
3. A perfect instrument of the Spirit

Question 21

What are the offices of Christ?
~ How does Christ execute them?

Answer 21

Christ, as our Redeemer, executes the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation (Heb. 1:1–2; 4:14–15; John 18:37). Christ executes the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation (John 4:41–42; 20:30–31). 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 (Isa. 53; Acts 8:32–35). Christ executes the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies (Ps. 110:1–3; 1 Cor. 15:24–26).

Question 22

Who is the only redeemer of God’s elect?

Answer 22

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, forever (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5–6).

Question 23

What is a redeemer?

Answer 23

A redeemer is someone who buys back or rescues another from slavery or bondage of some sort.

Question 24

What is the atonement?

Answer 24

The atonement is Christ’s payment of the penalty for our sin. He dies our death and pays our debt. The atonement both cleanses and ransoms.

Question 25

Was the atonement necessary? Explain and defend (include Scripture proofs).

Answer 25

Yes; the atonement is the only way for sinners to be delivered from death and reconciled to God while still satisfying his holiness and justice (Rom. 3:23; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 4:3–5).

Question 26

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

Answer 26

Adam already broke God’s covenant and made all humanity liable to death. In addition, all humanity shares in a state of original sin which mars any works done so that they cannot merit salvation.

Question 27

Define:
Expiation
Propitiation
Reconciliation
Redemption
Imputation

Answer 27

Expiation: Removal of guilt and sin

Propitiation: Turning away God’s wrath

Reconciliation: Restored relationship with God

Redemption: Buying back from slavery to sin and death

Imputation: Conferral of one’s actions or standing upon another

Question 28

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

Answer 28

The nature of the atonement is satisfaction of God’s wrath by Christ in the stead of sinners.

Penal substitutionary atonement requires that law breakers be punished (penal) but allows for Jesus to bear that punishment in our place (substitutionary) (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13–14)

Question 29

What of Christ’s work remains to be done?

Answer 29

Christ has yet to:
1. Call all of the elect to salvation
2. Come again to raise and judge all people

Question 30

Were Old Testament believers saved by Christ? Explain and defend (include Scripture proofs).

Answer 30

Yes; believers were saved in the same manner in the Old Testament as they are today. Instead of looking back to Christ’s atoning sacrifice, they looked forward to it by believing the promises of God, embracing covenant faithfulness from the heart, and eagerly looking for and awaiting the promised Messiah (Gen. 3:15; Gal. 4:4–5; 1 Cor. 10:4; Heb. 13:8).

Question 31

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

Answer 31

No; all those for whom Christ died will respond in faith and be preserved in that faith until the end (John 6:37, 44; 10:16; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:29–30; Phil. 1:6).