Theology - Salvation Accomplished (WCF 10-13; WLC 57-60, 67-68, 70-71, 74-75, 77-78; WSC 29-36) Flashcards
1
Q
What is the “ordo salutis”? Support your answer from Scripture.
A
- The OS is the traditional sequence of systematically discussing of the different aspects of salvation.
- Birthed from William Perkins’ “Golden Chain” from Rom 8:29-30.
- The danger of the OS is overemphasizing one aspect of salvation over or against another!
- Election/Calling - Rom 8:29-30, those whom he foreknew he predestined to be called…
- Regeneration - Jn 3:3, must be born again to see the kingdom
- Conversion/F&R - Jn 1:12-13…to those who believe in his name, they are children of God
- Justification - 2 Cor 5:19-21; Rom 3:21-26…by grace you are saved, justified by faith
- Adoption - Rom 8:15ff; Eph 1:4ff…in love predestined to adoption as sons
- Sanctification - 2 Cor 3:17-18; Rom 6:22…being transformed into the image more and more
- Perseverance - Phil 1:6…he who began the good work will complete it
- Glorification - Jn 6:39-40…I will raise him up on the last day
- Union with Christ is the architectonic principle undergirding the entire discussion for these are all benefits of our union with him by the application of the Holy Spirit. (Calvin, Ferguson, et al.)
- WCF 3.6: As God has appointed the elect unto glory, so has He, by the eternal and most free purpose of His will, foreordained all the means thereunto. Wherefore, 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.
2
Q
How would you explain the plan of salvation to an unbeliever?
A
- Using three questions: “Who is God?” and “Who is man?” and “Who is Jesus?” (Cre-Fal-Red-Glo)
“Who is God?”
* God is holy…Isa 6
* God is just…Rom 3
* God is gracious/loving…Rom 6, 8
“Who is man?”
* Man was made in God’s image. (Gen 1-2)
* Man fell, and is now inherently sinful and without God. (Gen 2-3; Rom 3:23)
* Sin’s penalty is death. (Rom 6:23)
* Judgment is certain. God must punish sin (to be just and good). (Rom 3:1-26)
* BUT…refer back to “Who is God?” and “gracious/loving”…
“Who is Jesus?”
* Jesus was the remedy and the redeemer for God’s justice and love. (Rom 5:8)
* Jesus lived the life we should have lived and died the death we should have died. (2 Cor 5:21)
* For all who believe in him and give their life to him, he offers justice, righteousness, love, and abundant life this side of heaven and the next. (Jn 5:24; 10:10)
3
Q
Define and defend the doctrine of “effectual calling.” Include Scripture proofs.
A
- WSC #31: 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 doth persuade and enable us to embrace Jesus Christ, freely offered to us in the gospel. (1 Cor 2:10-12; Eph 1:17-18)
- WSC #29: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. (Tit 3:4-7)
- WSC #30: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 2:12-16; Jn 15)
- John 6:36-39 all that the father gives will come; John 3
4
Q
On what is God’s decision to call a certain person based?
A
- His own sovereign pleasure and choice
- WCF 10.2: 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.
- Eph 2:8-9…”by grace you have been saved, that not of yourselves, is is the gift of God…”
- Rom 9:11-16…”it does not depend on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy”
5
Q
How can infants be “called”?
A
- Elect infants are regenerated and saved by Christ through the Spirit.
- WCF 10.3: 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.
6
Q
Can anyone not called by the Spirit be saved? Explain and defend, including Scripture proofs.
A
- No.
- WSC #29: We are made partakers of the redemption purchased by Christ, by the effectual application of it to us by his Holy Spirit. (Tit 3:4-7)
- People may hear the gospel and have some visible response, but unless the Holy Spirit effectually calls them, they do not truly come to Christ and are not saved. (Luke 8 parable of sower)
- WSC #30: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 2:12-16; Jn 15)
- Mt 7:21-23…”not everyone who says, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…”
- Heb 6 in its warning passages, also speaks to those who have had experiences, including those of the blessings of the covenant, such as baptism, yet possibly without true regeneration and effectual calling!
7
Q
Is Jesus really the only way of salvation? Explain and defend, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Yes
- 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. (Jn 14:6; Acts 4:12; Heb 7:24-25)
- Jn 14:6…”I am the way, the truth, the life…no man comes to the Father but through me”
- Acts 4:12…”nor is there salvation in any other for there is no other name…by which we are saved”
- WCF 10.4: …much less can men, not professing the Christian religion, be saved in any other way whatsoever, be they never so diligent to frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess, and to assert to maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.
8
Q
What about those who never had a chance to hear about Jesus?
A
- It is not a person’s ignorance, but a person’s inherent sinfulness, that condemns him before God.
- Rom 1:19ff…”since what may be known about God is plain to them all, because God has made it plain to them…for since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen…so that men are without excuse”
- Ps 19:11…”the heavens declare the glory of God…night after night they display knowledge…”
- WCF 10.4: 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 frame their lives according to the light of nature, and the laws of that religion they do profess, and to assert to maintain that they may, is very pernicious, and to be detested.
9
Q
What about the sincere Buddhist, Muslim, Unitarian, or Mormon?
A
- Their sincerity is commendable, and their morality as well, but a denial of Christ alone for the salvation of sins is a denial of salvation. It is faith in him that saves and denial of him that condemns.
- If you don’t believe, you are condemned already (John 3:16-17ff)
10
Q
Define and defend the doctrine of “justification.” Include Scripture proofs.
A
- WSC #33: Justification is an act of God’s free grace, wherein 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. (Rom 3:21-26; 2 Cor 5:17-21)
- Rom 3:23-24…”all have sinned and fallen short…and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that comes by Christ Jesus”
- Phil 3:8-9…”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 come from God by faith”
- 2 Cor 5:17-21…”he made him who knew no sin to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in him”
11
Q
What is the basis of justification?
A
- The finished work of Christ (active/passive obedience) reckoned to our account by faith alone.
- WCF 11.1: Those whom God effectually calleth, he also freely justifieth: not by infusing righteousness into them, but by pardoning their sins, and 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.
12
Q
Explain this statement: “faith alone saves, but saving faith is never alone.”
A
- This is theme of the book of James, especially chapter 2. Salvation is by faith alone in Jesus Christ, but true saving faith unites you to Christ and results in the Spirit’s conforming you into his image in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. All saving faith produces good fruit—works of new obedience.
- Could also be said, “you cannot have justification without sanctification and glorification”
- WSC #35: Sanctification is the work of God’s free grace, whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness. (Ezek 36:27; 2 Thes 2:13; 2 Cor 3:17-18)
- WCF 11.2: Faith, thus receiving and resting on Christ and his righteousness, is the alone instrument of justification: yet is it not alone in the person justified, but is ever accompanied with all other saving graces, and is no dead faith, but worketh by love.
13
Q
When is a Christian justified?
A
- When the Holy Spirit applies the work of Christ to you by faith in your effectual calling.
- Christ has already accomplished, Spirit is still to apply
- WSC #30: The Spirit applieth to us the redemption purchased by Christ, by working faith in us, and thereby uniting us to Christ in our effectual calling. (Rom 3:21-26; 1 Cor 2:12-16; Jn 15)
- WCF 11.4: 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 doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.
14
Q
What happens when a Christian sins after being justified?
A
- They come under God’s fatherly discipline and in humility ask forgiveness for their sins.
- Cf. 1 Jn 1:5-9; Heb 12:6
- WCF 11.5: God doth continue to forgive the sins of those that are justified; and, although they can never fall from the state 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.
15
Q
How were believers justified under the old covenant?
A
- They looked forward, in faith, by grace, for the redeemer who would take away their sins and restore God’s favor, just as we look back in faith by grace.
- Rom 4:1-3…”What shall we say about Abraham in this matter?…Abraham believed God and it was reckoned to him as righteousness.” Cf. Gen 15:6
- Heb 11…all were commended for their faith.
- Gal 3:14…”so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles”
- WCF 11.6: 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.
