Theology - God’s Way of Salvation (WCF 7-8; WLC 20, 30-56; WSC 12, 20-28)

Question 1

What is a covenant?

Answer 1

Covenant is a conditional promise for blessing in obedience and cursing in disobedience (Rhodes; note it has to be broad enough to include Cov. of Redemption)

Bond in blood sovereignly administered (Robertson)

The elements of a covenant consist of:
* The parties
* Stipulations
* Oaths/vows
* Blessings and curses
* Witnesses

WCF 7 describes God’s covenant with man as a “voluntary condescension on God’s part.”

Question 2

What is a Covenant of Works? Who are its parties?

Answer 2

• WSC #12: When God 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 the pain of death. (Gen 2:16-17; Hos 6:7)
• Adam is a cov. representative, and through his obedience God promises to graciously give the blessing of eschatological, glorified life to Adam and his posterity…but…

Question 3

Is there a present validity to the Covenant of Works?

Answer 3

• Yes. The cov. of works is still ongoing
• Before Christ we are in Adam under the curse of the covenant of works
• In Christ we are freed from the curse because Christ actually fulfilled Adam’s task (Rom 5)

Question 4

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

Answer 4

Intra-trinitarian covenant where God the Father decrees, God the Son accomplishes, and God the Spirit applies salvation to the elect (Eph 1:1-14)

Question 5

Discuss the Covenant of Grace.

Answer 5

• WLC #31: The covenant of grace was made with Christ as the second Adam, and in him with all the elect as his seed.
• The parties in this covenant are Christ and the elect, God’s people.
• God had no obligation to enter into covenant and his word is the insurance of its validity
• Begins in Gen 3:15; ends in new cov. leading to new heavens and new earth
• Trinitarian, eternal, Christ fulfills the conditions for us, only for elect, one covenant with various dispensations

Question 6

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

Answer 6

• Abrahamic: The promised Redeemer (SEED of Gen 3:15) is one step closer in the covenant with Abraham. God chooses one man to be the eventual father of the promised Redeemer, the people are proclaimed God’s people and are guaranteed to regain the promised land (LAND), the scope of the covenant encompasses all nations (BLESSING), and the sign of circumcision is added to the covenant as a physical reminder of God’s faithfulness to this covenant.
• Noahic: this administration of the covenant underscores God’s intention not to abandon the work of his creation, but to sustain, preserve, and redeem his good creation through families, despite the ongoing presence of sin in the world (highlights his COMMON GRACE); reaffirms work of creation mandate
• Mosaic: the stipulations of the law are given in great detail under this administration of the covenant, regarding sacrifice, worship, and community, as a response to the redemption God achieves on behalf of his people. (the giving of the law is a grace; so also are things contained in the law).

Question 7

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

Answer 7

• There is one covenant of grace with different dispensations.
• The Old Covenant refers to the dispensations of the cov. of grace before the new covenant
• This time is typically characterized by the Mosaic law and sacrifice
• The new cov. fulfills the old as Christ is the once and for all sacrifice for sin (Heb 8)
• The new cov. expands the promises of the old such that Christ rules over all and in all including the Gentiles (Gal 3 blessing of Abraham to Gentiles)

Question 8

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

Answer 8

• WSC #21: 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 continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever. (Acts 4:12; Heb 7:24-25)
• WSC #22: 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. (John 1; the Gospels; Phil 2:7ff)
• As defined by creeds (Apostolic, Nicene, Chalcedonian definition)

Question 9

Briefly discuss the natures of Christ, including: was Christ a human person? Does Christ have a soul?

Answer 9

• Christ has a true body and a reasonable soul
• He is made like us in every respect (Heb 2:17)

Question 10

What is kenosis?

Answer 10

• Kenosis is a theological term (kenow, “to empty”) from Phil 2:5-11 referring to the incarnation of Christ, claiming that Christ literally emptied himself of deity
• The correct answer is to say that Christ “emptied himself” by adding a human nature
• Christ in human flesh is “limited” by his human nature in the sense that he refuses to “access” or to “rely” on his divinity but instead chooses to live as a human with us and for us
• All the while remaining 100% God as 2nd person of Trinity

Question 11

Did Christ lay aside any of his divine attributes at the incarnation?

Answer 11

• NO, even in his humanity, “all the fullness of deity dwelled in bodily form” (Col 2:9)
• The divine attributes continue to exist in his person

Question 12

What were some of the early heresies regarding the nature of Christ? Provide a short rebuttal.

Answer 12

Docetism claimed Christ only appears/seems to become a man; he had no human flesh (Gnostic tendency)
* Rebuttal: John 20, Thomas touches the nail prints and wounded side of Jesus.

Arianism claimed Christ is not the eternal son of God, but the first created being.
* Rebuttal: John 1:1-14

Apollinarianism claimed Christ lacked a human soul, thus not truly human (human body but divine mind)
* Rebuttal: Christ, the Son of God, became man, by taking to himself a true body, and a reasonable soul
- John 1; Philippians 2:7

Nestorianism claimed Christ is divided into two persons, totally separated, human and divine.
* Rebuttal: Colossians 2:9 the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily

Eutychianism claimed Christ only had one nature, a mixture of human and divine. (“blend”)
* Rebuttal: 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 continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever.

Question 13

Arius

Answer 13

Heretic
Denied: Godhood of Christ
Defeated by: Athanasius
Condemnded by: Nicea (325)

Question 14

Apolliarius

Answer 14

Heretic
Denied: Manhood of Christ
Defeated by: Basil
Condemned by: Constantinople (381)

Question 15

Nestorious

Answer 15

Heretic
Denied: Unity of personhood
Defeated by: Cryil
Condemned by: Ephesus (431)

Question 16

Eutychus

Answer 16

Heretic
Denied: Two natures of Christ
Defeated by: Leo
Condemned by: Chalcedon (451)

Question 17

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

Answer 17

• Indirectly, many people hold to various forms of these heresies.
• Directly, the Jehovah Witnesses and Mormons hold to a form of Arianism.

Question 18

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

Answer 18

• A term that attempts to account for the way in which the properties of each of Christ’s natures “interact” with one another
• The properties of the two natures of Christ are held in common by the one person Jesus (cf. Phil 2:5-11; Col 2; Jn 1)

Question 19

Define Extra-Calvinisticum

Answer 19

• The so-called extra Calvinisticum teaches that the 2nd person of Trinity was not restricted to the human flesh of Jesus even in the incarnation (although the two natures made one person)
• Ex: Jesus in human flesh was not fleshly omnipresent as he walked the earth; 2nd person of Trinity still upholds universe even while Jesus is on earth
• (Affects communion views)

Question 20

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

Answer 20

• Jesus - “he will save their people from their sins” (Mt 1:21)
• Son of Man - Jesus’ favorite title for himself (Dan 7)
• Christ - the Messiah, the “anointed one of God”
• Son of God - Jesus’ unique reality as the second member of the Trinity
• Lord - NT designation for Christ as divine (cf. YHWH)
• Lamb of God - Jesus as the sacrificial lamb who “takes away the sins of the world” (Jn 1:29)

Question 21

How was Christ born?

Answer 21

WSC #22: 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. (Jn 1; Luke 1; Phil 2:7ff)

Question 22

Explain and defend the Virgin Birth.

Answer 22

• WSC #22: 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; Phil 2:7ff)
• Isa 7:14…”the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and you shall call his name Immanuel.”

Question 23

What is the humiliation of Christ?

Answer 23

WSC #27: 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; Ps 22; Phil 2)

Question 24

Define and distinguish the active and passive obedience of Christ

Answer 24

Active…obligation to keep the law.
* He fulfills the stipulations of the law in perfect obedience.
* Cf. Mt 5; Phil 2; Rom 5

Passive…obligation to pay the penalty of sin.
* He willingly undergoes the curse of the law for our sake.
* Cf. Gal 3; Phil 2; 2 Cor 5; 1 Pet 2

Question 25

What happened in the resurrection of Christ?

Answer 25

• WSC #28: Christ’s exaltation consisteth in his rising again from the dead on the third day, in ascending up into heaven, in sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and in coming to judge the world at the last day. (Acts 2:33-34; Heb 1:3)
• He bodily rose from the dead, proclaiming victory of sin and death, and giving hope of future glory.

Question 26

Discuss the “glorified body.”

Answer 26

• The glorified body is the resurrected state whereby the body is animated and guided wholly by the Spirit, free from sinful inclinations, imperishable, glorious, and powerful.
• WSC #38: At the resurrection, believers, being raised up in glory, shall be openly acknowledged and acquitted in the day of judgment, and made perfectly blessed in the full enjoying of God to all eternity. (1 Cor 15; Mt 25; 1 Thes 4)

Question 27

What are the offices of Christ? How does Christ execute them? (WSC #23-26)

Answer 27

• WSC #23: Christ, as our Redeemer, executeth the offices of a prophet, of a priest, and of a king, both in his estate of humiliation and exaltation. (Deut 18:18; Heb 4:14ff; Is 9:6-7)
• WSC #24: Christ executeth the office of a prophet, in revealing to us, by his Word and Spirit, the will of God for our salvation. (Lk 4:18ff; Jn 15:26-27)
• WSC #25: Christ executeth 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; Heb 9:26-28)
• WSC #26: Christ executeth 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. (Mt 28:18-20; Col 1:13; Ps 2:6-9)

Question 28

Who is the only redeemer of God’s elect?

Answer 28

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 continueth to be, God and man in two distinct natures, and one person, forever. (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb 7:24-25)

Question 29

What is a redeemer?

Answer 29

• Someone who buys back another from slavery or bondage of some sort.
• Cf. kinsman redeemer?

Question 30

What is the atonement?

Answer 30

Christ paying the penalty for our sin, dying our death and paying our debt, justifying us, reconciling us, substituting as a sacrifice for us, and assuaging God’s wrath.

Question 31

Was the atonement necessary?

Answer 31

• There was no constraint on God to do so, but once he decreed to save man, there was no other way than the substitutionary, penal atonement of Christ because of man’s sin and man’s sinful condition. Man is spiritually unable to appease the wrath of God towards them as sinners. He could not live the life he needed to live or pay the penalty against him…only Christ could.
• WSC #19: All mankind by their fall lost communion with God, are under his wrath and curse, and so made liable to all the miseries of this life, to death itself, and to the pains of hell forever. (Gen 3:8, 24; Rom 1:18; Rev 14:9-11)

Question 32

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

Answer 32

• Man’s sinful condition deems him incapable.
• Isa 53:6…”all we like sheep have gone astray and turned to our wicked ways…”
• Isa 64:6…”all our righteous deeds are like filthy rags…”
• Rom 3:9-23…”there is none who does good, no not one”
• Eph 2:1-10…”you were dead in your trespasses and sins…it is by grace you have been saved…it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no man may boast…”

Question 33

Define the following terms:
* Expiation
* Propitiation
* Reconciliation
* Redeption
* Imputation

Answer 33

• Expiation - taking away of guilt/sin through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. (Heb 10)
• Propitiation - paying the price for sin; punishment to satisfy divine wrath/justice. (1 Jn 2 he is the propitiation for our sins)
• Reconciliation - removal of God’s enmity, establishment of peace between God and man. (2 Cor 5)
• Redemption - buying us back from slavery/sin as a ransom paid by Christ (Eph 1; Mk 10)
• Imputation - the righteousness of Christ reckoned to us because of his work & obedience (2 Cor 5)

Question 34

What is the nature of the atonement? Discuss “penal substitutionary atonement.” (see appendix of binder for views)

Answer 34

• Penal and substitutionary.
• Christ’s atonement paid the full penalty, removing the guilt and the curse of sin.
• Gal 3:13-14…”Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us…”
• Christ’s atonement was a substitute for us.
• 2 Cor 5:19-21…”for our sake, he made him who knew no sin to become sin on our behalf, that we might become the righteousness of God in him”
• 1 Pet 2:24-25…”he himself bore our sin in his body on the tree…”

Question 35

What of Christ’s remains to be done?

Answer 35

The gathering of the elect to salvation, his second coming, and the subsequent judgment of all the nations.

Question 36

Were the Old Testament believers saved by Christ?

Answer 36

• Yes. In the same way we look back at the redemption purchased for us, the OT believers looked forward to it in faith. (cf. 1 Cor 10; Heb 11)
• WCF 8.6: Although the work of redemption was not actually wrought by Christ till after His incarnation, yet the virtue, efficacy, and benefits thereof were communicated unto the elect, in all ages successively from the beginning of the world, in and by those promises, types, and sacrifices, wherein He was revealed, and signified to be the seed of the woman which should bruise the serpent’s head; and the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world; being yesterday and today the same, and forever

Question 37

Will any for whom Christ died be lost?

Answer 37

• NO.
• Jn 6:37…”all that the Father gives me will come to me…”
• Jn 10:27-28…”I give them eternal life…and no one shall snatch them out of my hand…”
• Rom 8…”nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus…”