Theology (Written Exam) Flashcards
The Ordo Salutis
- Predestination: By his eternal decree, God foreordained some to salvation (Rom. 8:29–30; Eph. 1:11).
- Election: Out of his mere good pleasure, God chose those whom he foreordained for salvation (Eph. 1:4; Titus 3:4–5).
- Effectual Calling: God, by his Spirit, convinces those whom he predestined and elected of their sin and misery, enlightens their minds in the knowledge of Christ, and renews their wills such that they are persuaded and enabled to embrace Jesus Christ for salvation (Matt. 11:28–30; John 6:37; Acts 13:48).
- Regeneration: Those who are called have their calling applied to them by the Holy Spirit such that they are born again (John 3:3; 1 Pet. 1:3).
- Conversion: The regenerate respond in repentance and faith to Jesus. Repentance is a saving grace whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, does, with grief and hatred of his sin, turn from it unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience. Faith is a saving grace whereby a sinner receives and rests upon Christ alone for salvation, as he is offered in the Gospel (Matt. 4:17; Mark 1:15; Acts 2:38; Eph. 2:8–9).
- Justification: God, out of his free grace, pardons a sinner’s sins and accepts him as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to him and received by faith alone (Rom. 8:29–30; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16)
- Adoption: At the moment he is justified, a believer is, out of God’s free grace, received into the number and has a right to all the privileges of the sons of God (John 1:12; 1 John 3:1).
- Sanctification: Throughout his life of faith, a believer is renewed in the whole man after the image of God and is enabled, more and more, to die unto sin and live unto righteousness (Rom. 6:4, 6, 12–14; 2 Cor. 5:17).
- Perseverance: Those who have truly believed will be preserved in their faith until the end (John 6:44; Rom. 8:29–30; Phil. 1:6)
- Glorification: At Christ’s return, believers will be raised to new life and receive new bodies and sinless natures, to dwell in a new heavens and a new earth with God himself forever (Rom. 8:29–30; 1 Thess. 4:14; Rev. 21)
The Five Points of Calvinism
- Total Depravity: All aspects of human nature are corrupted by sin and its effects (Gen. 6:5; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:10–12).
- Unconditional Election: God’s choice to save certain people is not dependent on any foreseen virtue or faith in them (Rom. 9:9–13; Eph. 1:4; Titus 3:4–5).
- Limited [Particular] Atonement: Christ’s sacrificial death is effectual only for the elect (John 6:44; 10:14–16; Rom. 8:29–30).
- Irresistible Grace: Those whom God has chosen for eternal life will come to saving faith (John 6:37; 10:16; Acts 13:48).
- Perseverance of the Saints: Those who are genuine believers will be preserved in faith to the end (John 6:44; Rom. 8:29–30; Phil. 1:6).
Necessity
Necessity: Indispensability of Scripture in revealing the will of God for salvation (Rom. 10:17; 1 Cor. 2:11).
Sufficiency
Sufficiency: Scripture’s independence from interpreters or additions in order to reveal the way of salvation (Gal. 1:8–9; 2 Tim. 3:16–17).
Authority
Authority: Scripture’s status as the only rule of faith and practice because it is God’s very word (1 Thess. 2:13; 2 Tim. 3:16–17).
Perspicuity
Perspicuity: Scripture’s clarity and simplicity for anyone seeking the way of salvation in it (Deut. 29:29; Ps. 119:105)
What are the attributes of God? (Be prepared to offer Scripture proofs.)
~ Which are communicable?
~ Which are incommunicable?
- All-sufficient (Rom. 11:35–36)
- Almighty (Gen. 17:1)
- All-knowing (Heb. 4:13)
- Eternal (Ps. 90:2)
- Infinite (in glory, blessedness, and perfection) (Exod. 3:14)
- Incomprehensible (Ps. 145:3)
- Omnipresent (Ps. 139:1–13)
- Unchangeable (Mal. 3:6)
- *Wise (Rom. 11:33–34)
- *Holy (Lev. 19:2)
- *Just (Deut. 32:4)
- *Merciful (Exod. 34:6–7)
- *Long-suffering
- *Good
- *True
Imputation
Imputation: Conferral of one’s actions or standing upon another (Rom. 5:12–21; James 2:10; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 2:16).
Discuss the relationship between the Old and New Covenants. Defend from Scripture.
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)
Before the coming of Christ, how were people redeemed?
People were redeemed in the same manner under the Old Covenant as they are under the New. Instead of looking back to Christ’s atoning sacrifice (as believers do today), 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 (1 Cor. 10:1–4; 2 Cor. 3:6–9; Heb. 8–10).
Is there a hell?
Hell is a real place, described as a furnace (Matt. 13:42) or lake (Rev. 20:14) of fire. It is described with geographic specificity (2 Pet. 2:4).
What is “annihilationism”? Evaluate it biblically.
Annihilationism is a doctrine which teaches that unbelievers are completely and permanently destroyed after judgment instead of enduring eternal punishment.
It is unbiblical because Scripture:
1. Uses the same word (“eternal”) to describe believers’ reward and unbelievers’ punishment (Matt. 25:46; cf. Rev. 20)
2. Describes hell-fire as unquenchable (Mark 9:48)
