Theology F. Salvation Accomplished (WCF 10-13; WLC 57-60, 67-68, 70-71, 74-75, 77-78; WSC 29-36)

Question 1

What is the ordo salutis? Support your answer from Scripture.

Answer 1

The traditional sequence of discussions of the different aspects of salvation:

 Calling, 
Regeneration, 
 Conversion, 
Justification,
 Adoption, 
Sanctification,
 Perseverance, 
Glorification.

Question 2

Concerning Ordo Salutis WCF 3.6

Answer 2

“As God has appointed the elect to glory; so has he, by the eternal and most free pu1pose of his will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Therefore, they who are elected, being fallen in Adam are redeemed by Christ, are effectually called unto faith in Christ by his Spirit working in due season, are justified, adopted, sanctified and kept by his power, through faith, unto salvation, Neither are any other redeemed by Christ, effectually called, justified, adopted, sanctified and saved, but the elect only. “-

Question 3

Ordo Salutis supporting Scripture

Answer 3

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many bothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. “ Roman” 8:29,30.

“In reply Jesus declared, ‘I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again. “-John 3:3

Question 4

The Ordo Salutis Foreknowledge:

Answer 4

Romans 8.29- For those he foreknew he also predestined…

Question 5

The Ordo Salutis Predestination/Election:

Answer 5

Romans 8:30- And those we predestined, he also called; those he called, those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Question 6

The Ordo Salutis Effectual Calling:

Answer 6

Romans 8:30-

Question 7

The Ordo Salutis Regeneration:

Answer 7

John 3.3- I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again.
1 Peter 1.3- Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ in his great mercy, he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead…

Question 8

The Ordo Salutis Conversion:

Answer 8

(faith and repentance) Romans 5.1- Therefore, since we have been justified through faith…

Question 9

The Ordo Salutis Justification:

Answer 9

Romans 8.30-

Question 10

The Ordo Salutis Adoption:

Answer 10

Ephesians 1.5- he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will…

Question 11

The Ordo Salutis Sanctification:

Answer 11

Ephesians 2.8-10: For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship , created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared n advance for us to do.
Perseverance/ Preservation: Philippians 1.6 – being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus

Question 12

The Ordo Salutis Glorification:

Answer 12

Romans 8.30

Other verses of interest: John 6:37;39-40; 44; Titus 3:5-7; John 10:26-29; Romans 6:22

Question 13

How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever? WHO IS GOD?

Answer 13

WHO IS GOD?
WHO IS MAN?
WHO IS CHRIST?
WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

Question 14

How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever? WHO IS MAN?

Answer 14

God IS HOLY: He is majestic and absolutely perfect in his character.
“Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord Almighty”-Isaiah 6:3

GOD IS JUST: God is so holy that he cannot even look upon sin.
“He does not leave the guilty unpunished”
-Exodus 34: 7

GOD IS VERY LOVING: God’s love prompted him to provide a way for man’s relationship with himself to be restored.
“For God so lived the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life “-John 3:16

Question 15

How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever? WHO IS CHRIST?

Answer 15

MAN IS SINFUL: Sin is breaking God’s law or falling short of his perfection in thought, word or deed. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”-Romans 3:23

SIN’S PENALTY IS Death: This separation between God and man is so great that even man’s best efforts cannot satisfy God’s holiness and justice.
“For the wages of sin is death “-Romans 6:23

JUDGMENT IS CERTAIN: Because God is holy and just He must punish sin. And the penalty for sin is death. Spiritual death (separation from God) and physical death are not the only consequences of sin. “Just as man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgement “-Hebrews 9:27

Question 16

How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE?

Answer 16

JESUS CHRIST DIED As A SUBSTITUTE FOR SINFUL MEN: Because Jesus, the Son of God, became a man and lived a perfect and sinless life, He was qualified to die as a substitute. The wrath of God, which in justice was reserved for sinful men, fell upon Jesus when He died on the cross. “For Christ died for sins once for all, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive by the Spirit “-1 Peter 3:18

Question 17

How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever?

Answer 17

MAN MUST RESPOND To THE GooD NEWS. Jesus said that we must not only hear, but believe as well. To believe in Christ means to turn from your sin (repent) and personally trust him as Lord and Savior.
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“I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life “-John 5:24

Question 18

Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of “effectual calling.

Answer 18

“Effectual calling is the work of God’s Spirit, whereby, convincing us of our sin and misery, enlightening our minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renewing our wills, he persuades and enables us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered in the gospel. “-WSC #31

“But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through the belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. “-2 Thessalonians 2: 13-14

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day. “ John 6:44

“For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. “ Romans 8: 29,30.

“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your fathers, you will be my people and I will be your God. “ Ezekiel 36:26-28

Question 19

On what is God’s decision to call a certain person based?

Answer 19

“This effectual call is of God’s free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. “-WCF 10.2

‘For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast. “-Ephesians 2:8,9

Romans 9:11 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad– in order that God’s purpose in election might stand. . . . 16 It does not, therefore, depend on man’s desire or effort, but on God’s mercy.

Question 20

How can infants be ‘called’?

Answer 20

Elect infants who are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit.
“Elect infants, dying in infancy, are regenerated and saved by Christ, through the Spirit, who works when, and where, and how he pleases: so also as all other elect persons who are incapable of being outwardly called by the ministry of the word. “-WCF 10.3

Question 21

Can anyone not called by the Spirit be saved? Explain and defend (include Scripture proofs).

Answer 21

People may hear the gospel and have some response, but unless the Holy Spirit effectually calls them, they do not truly come to Christ and are not saved.
‘Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word may have some common operations of the Spirit, yet they never truly come unto Christ, and therefore cannot be saved… .”-WCF 10.4
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.’Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of m Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly. I never knew you. Depart from me, you evil doers. “-Matthew 7:21-23

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. “- John 6:44

Question 22

Is Jesus really the only way of salvation? Explain and defend (include Scripture proofs).

Answer 22

Yes.
“… much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never ~ so diligent to fame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess. And to assert and maintain the they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested. “-WCF 10.4
“1 am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. “-John 14:6
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there in no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved. “-Acts 4: 12
What about those who never had the chance to hear about Jesus?
It is not a persons ignorance which will condemn him before God, it is his sinfulness.
“Others, not elected, although they may be called by the ministry of the Word may have some common operation” of the Spirit. yet they never truly come unto Christ. and therefore cannot be saved: much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to fame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess. And to assert and maintain that they may is very pernicious, and to be detested. “-WCF 10.4
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. “-Psalm 19: 1-2
“… since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. “-Romans 1:19- 20
What about the sincere Buddhist (or Moslem, or Unitarian)?
There sincerity is commendable, but in the end we must declare that they are sincerely wrong.

Question 23

Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of “justification”.

Answer 23

That gracious act of God in which he treats me “Just as if I’d never sinned and lived a perfect life.”
“Justification is an act of God ‘s free grace, where he pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. “-WSC 33

”..for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that comes by Christ Jesus. “-Romans 3:23-24

“I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. “-Philippians 3:8b, 9

Question 24

What is the basis of justification?

Answer 24

The finished work of Christ credited to our account by faith.
“Those whom God effectually calls, He also freely justifies; not by infusing righteousness into them, but by accounting and accepting their persons as righteous; not for anything wrought in them, or done by them, but for Christ’s sake alone; nor by imputing faith itself, the act of believing or any other evangelical obedience to them, as their righteousness; but by imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on Him and His righteousness by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God. “- WCF 11.1

Question 25

Explain this statement: “Faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.”

Answer 25

Salvation is by faith alone, but true saving faith unites you to Christ and thus his Spirit conforms you after his image producing works of obedience. All saving faith will produce good fruit.
“Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but works by love. “-WCF 11.2
“You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. “-James 2:24

Question 26

When is a Christian justified?

Answer 26

When the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to you by faith. (When he/she trusts in Christ)
“God did, from all eternity decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit does in due lime, actually apply Christ to them. “-WCF 11.4
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the Jaw of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. “-Romans 8:1,2

Question 27

What happens when a Christian sins after being justified?

Answer 27

They may fall under fatherly discipline and need to humble themselves asking for forgiveness.
“God does continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and, although they can never fall from the slate of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance. “-WCF 11.5

Question 28

How were believers justified under the old covenant?

Answer 28

They looked forward, in faith, by grace, for send a Messiah to take away restore God’s favor, just as we look back in faith by grace.
“The justification of believers under the old testament was, in all these respects, one and the same with the justification of believers under the new testament. “-WCF 11.6
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“What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather, discovered in this matter? If in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about-but not before God. What does the Scripture say? Abraham believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. “-Romans 4:1-3
“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. …These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. “-Hebrews 11:1-2,39-40

Question 29

Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of “adoption”.

Answer 29

“Adoption is an act of God’ s free grace where we are received into the number, and have a , right to all the privileges, of the sons of God.”-WSC 34
“The Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs heirs of God and coheirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. “-Romans 8:17-18

Question 30

Define and defend (include Scripture proofs) the doctrine of “sanctification.”

Answer 30

“Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, where we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God; and are enabled more and more to die to sin, and live to righteousness. “- WSC #35
“ But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through the belief in the truth. He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. “-2 Thessalonians 2: 13-14
Romans 6; Romans 8:1-15

Question 31

Can anyone become perfect (completely sanctified) in this life? Defend (include Scripture proofs).

Answer 31

No, “This sanctification is throughout the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still Some remnants of corruption in every part; whence arises the continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. “-WCF 13.2
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