Theology - Salvation Applied (WCF 14-18; WSC #85-87; WLC #72-81, 153) Flashcards
1
Q
What is saving faith? Define and defend, including Scripture proofs.
A
- WSC #86: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel. (Eph 2:8-9; Phil 3:3-11)
- Jn 3:16
- Gal 2:15-16…”man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ”
2
Q
Where does saving faith come from? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Saving faith is worked in the heart by the Holy Spirit and the Word of God.
- 2 Thes 2:13…”God chose you to be saved through…the Spirit…and belief in the truth”
- WSC #89: The Spirit of God maketh the reading, but especially the preaching, of the Word, an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith, unto salvation. (Rom 10:14-17; 2 Tim 3:15-17)
3
Q
What does saving faith believe? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Believes what is taught in Scripture concerning the person and work of Jesus Christ.
- WSC #86: Faith in Jesus Christ is a saving grace, whereby we receive and rest upon him alone for salvation, as he is offered to us in the gospel. (Eph 2:8-9; Phil 3:3-11)
- WCF 14.2: By this faith, a Christian believeth to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acteth differently upon that which each particular passage thereof containeth; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.
- Jn 5:24…”whoever hears my word and believe Him who sent me has eternal life…”
- WSC #3: The Scriptures principally teach, what man is to believe concerning God, and what duty God requires of man. (Jn 5:39ff; Rom 10:14ff)
4
Q
Is all faith alike? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- No, there are degrees of saving and non-saving faith, and also weak and strong faith.
- WCF 13.3: This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may be often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory: growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.
- Heb 12:2…”looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith…”
- Heb 5:13-14…”solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves”
- Js 2:19…”you believe God is one, you do well! Even the demons believe that and shudder”
5
Q
Define “repentance.” Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- WSC #87: Repentance unto life is a saving grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, doth, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience. (Ps 51:1-4; Joel 2:13; 2 Cor 7:10ff)
- Acts 2:37-38…”the people were cut to the heart…Peter said, ‘repent and be baptized in the name of JC…’”
- Joel 2:13…”return to Me with all your heart…rend your heart, not your garments”
6
Q
In what sense is repentance “necessary?” Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Repentance is necessary in that no sinner may expect pardon without it; it is a twin-fruit with faith.
- WSC #85: To escape the wrath and curse of God, due to us for sin, God requireth of us faith in Jesus Christ, repentance unto life, with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption. (Acts 2:38; 1 Cor 11; Mt 28:19)
- WCF 15.3: Although repentance be not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ; yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.
- Acts 17:30-31…”God commands all people everywhere to repent”
- Lk 13:3…”unless you repent, you too will all perish”
7
Q
How ought we to confess our sins? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Specifically, in private with God and publicly with those we have offended.
- WCF 15.5-6: Men ought not to content themselves with a general repentance, but it is every man’s duty to endeavor to repent of his particular sins, particularly…As every man is bound to make private confession of his sins to God, praying for the pardon thereof; upon which, and the forsaking of them, he shall find mercy; so, he that scandalizeth his brother, or the church of Christ, ought to be willing, by a private or public confession, and sorrow for his sin, to declare his repentance to those that are offended, who are thereupon to be reconciled to him, and in love to receive him.
- Prov 28:13…”whoever conceals his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy”
- 1 Jn 1:9…”if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to purify us from all unrighteousness”
- Lk 19…the example of Zacchaeus in private with Jesus and returning funds publicly
8
Q
What are good works? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- WCF 16.1: Good works are only such as God hath commanded in his holy Word, and not such as, without the warrant thereof, are devised by men, out of blind zeal, or upon any pretense of good intention.
- WSC #39: The duty, which God requireth of man, is obedience to his revealed will. (Mic 6:8; 1 Jn 5:3)
- Mic 6:8…”he has showed you what is good…he requires you to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God”
- Heb 13:20-21…”may the God of peace…equip you with everything good for doing his will, and may he work in us what is pleasing to him…”
- Also Jas 2, a good work encompassing thought, word, and deed itself.
9
Q
What is the relation of good works to faith? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Good works are the evidence of saving faith. (saved by faith alone, but saving faith is never alone)
- WCF 16.2: These good works, done in obedience to God’s commandments, are the fruits and evidences of a true and lively faith: and by them believers manifest their thankfulness, strengthen their assurance, edify their brethren, adorn the profession of the gospel, stop the mouths of the adversaries, and glorify God, whose workmanship they are, created in Christ Jesus thereunto, that, having their fruit unto holiness, they may have the end, eternal life.
- Jas 2:18-25…”show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by what I do…faith without deeds is dead”
- Quoting Gen 22 – Abraham demonstrating justification that has previously occurred by being willing to sacrifice Isaac
- Paul quotes Gen 15 where Abraham believes God’s promises and receives justification via faith at that moment
- Eph 2:8-10…”by grace you have been saved through faith…not of works…we are God’s workmanship, created to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us”
10
Q
Are good works necessary for salvation? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- NO, they are the fruit of saving faith. Saved by faith alone. But saving faith is never alone.
- Eph 2:8-10 and Jas 2:17-25.
11
Q
Can our good works save us? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- NO
- WCF 16.7: Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful, and cannot please God, or make a man meet to receive grace from God: and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.
- Eph 2:8-9…”saved by grace through faith…not by works lest any man should boast”
- Tit 3:4-5…”he saved us, not b/c of righteous things we had done, but b/c of his mercy”
- Rom 3:20…”no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law”
12
Q
Can unbelievers do good works? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- No, according to God’s standard, because they are not done by the right motive (heart-faith), manner (according to the Word), or end (the glory of God). Though their works may be good according to man, they fail to have the right motive, manner, and end, and thus are not “good.”
- WCF 16.7: Works done by unregenerate men, although for the matter of them they may be things which God commands; and of good use both to themselves and others: yet, because they proceed not from an heart purified by faith; nor are done in a right manner, according to the Word; nor to a right end, the glory of God, they are therefore sinful & cannot please God or make a man meet to receive grace from God: and yet, their neglect of them is more sinful and displeasing unto God.
- Gen 6:5…”ever inclination of the thought of man’s heart was only evil all the time”
- Rom 3:10-12…”there is no one righteous, not even one; all have turned away…there is none who does good, no not one”
- Rom 8:7-8…”the sinful mind is hostile to God, it does not submit to his law nor can it do so…those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God”
- Also Jer 17:9; Eph 2:1-3; Is 64:6
13
Q
Define and defend the doctrine of “perseverance.” Include Scripture proofs.
A
- WCF 17.1: They, whom God hath accepted in his Beloved, effectually called, and sanctified by his Spirit, can neither totally nor finally fall away from the state of grace, but shall certainly persevere therein to the end, and be eternally saved.
- Jn 10:28…”I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand”
- John 6:39 lose nothing the Father has given; I will raise them up on the last day
- Phil 1:6…”I am confident of this, he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus”
- Rom 8:29-39…”those whom he foreknew, he predestined…called…justified…and glorified…nothing can separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus”
- 1 Jn 2:19…”they went out from us but did not belong to us…if they belonged to us, they would have remained with us”
14
Q
On what does a believer’s persevering depend? Defend, including Scripture proofs.
A
- The immutability of God’s election of them in Christ. The unchangeable love of the Father!
- WCF 17.2: This perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but upon the immutability of the decree of election, flowing from the free and unchangeable love of God the Father; upon the efficacy of the merit and intercession of Jesus Christ, the abiding of the Spirit, and of the seed of God within them, and the nature of the covenant of grace: from all which ariseth also the certainty and infallibility thereof.
- Jn 10:28…see above (no one can snatch out of MY hand)
- John 17 the love that the Father and Son have is the basis of our salvation because we are united to Christ
- Phil 1:6…see above (HE who began will complete)
- Rom 8:29-39…see above (nothing can separate us from GOD’S love)
15
Q
Can a person be sure he is saved? Defend your answer, including Scripture proofs.
A
- Yes.
- 1 Jn 5:13…”I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God
- Rom 8:16…”the Spirit testifies with our spirit that we are children of God”
- WLC #80: Such as truly believe in Christ, and endeavor to walk in all good conscience before him, may, without extraordinary revelation, by faith grounded upon the truth of God’s promises, and by the Spirit enabling them to discern in themselves those graces to which the promises of life are made, and bearing witness with their spirits that they are the children of God, be infallibly assured that they are in the estate of grace, and shall persevere therein unto salvation.
