WLC Flashcards
WLC 10 – “It is proper to the Father to beget the Son, and to the Son to be begotten of the Father, and to the Holy Ghost to proceed from the Father and the Son from all Eternity
EXPLAIN ETERNALLY BEGOTTEN. The Son was not created but was eternally begotten of the Father. (Be prepared to explain what “eternally begotten” means). John 16:28 Jesus says, “I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.” This shows the Son was eternally begotten of the Father and sent to the world to be born of the Virgin Mary. The Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son from all eternity. When Jesus describes the sending of the indwelling Holy Spirit, he says in John 14:26 that He will send the Spirit and in John 14:16 he says that the Father will send the Spirit. This shows the eternal procession of the Holy Spirit from the Father and the Son.
WLC 38-40 – Why was it necessary for our Mediator to be God? Man? God and Man in one person?
The Word of God teaches us that “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim 2:5). First, God’s wrath against sin is an infinite wrath. The psalmist is not exaggerating when he declares: “If you o Lord, should mark iniquities, O lord, who could stand?” (Ps 130:3). No mere man can withstand the wrath of God.
Second, the Mediator must be God, else we would have no representative in the “everlasting covenant” (Heb 13:20)
It was necessary for the Mediator to be man so “that He might advance our nature.” This simply means that he took on human nature in order that he may represent us. Christ must be man in order to “suffer.” God cannot suffer. God can have sympathy for our suffering, but as God He cannot sympathise with (or suffer with) our sufferings, for suffering implies limitations, while God is infinite. But our Mediator, in order to bear our iniquities (Isa 53:4-6,11), must suffer on our behalf. He therefore partook of flesh and blood with us “that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil” (Heb 2:14).
WLC 69 – “The communion in grace which the members of the invisible church have with Christ, is their partaking of the virtue of his mediation, in their justification, adoption, sanctification, and whatever else, in this life, manifests their union with him.” Do these benefits belong to every member of the visible church?
ADD MORE. No, these benefits are uniquely given only to the members of the invisible church, the elect people of God. Jesus teaches in Matthew 7:21 that “not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…”
WLC 73 – “How doth faith justify a sinner in the sight of God?” Answer in terms of what faith is and how it relates to justification.
ADD SCRIPTURE. Saving faith is a gift of God’s grace and should not be viewed as a sort of meritorious work that accomplishes our justification apart from Christ’s work. God credits the righteousness of Christ to us when we receive and rest in it alone by saving faith. Without faith we cannot please God. Without faith we cannot be justified. Without faith the work of Christ is not credited to us.
How would you characterize the extensive exposition of the ten commandments in the Larger Catechism? Is it accurate, legalistic, useful, etc? Give a reason for your answer.
I have found the extensive exposition of the 10 commandments in the Larger Catechism to be one of the most beneficial ways for a Christian to mature and grow in his/her faith. The first reason is it causes us to really dwell on the perfect requirements of God’s moral law. His demands are perfection. By reflecting in detail on God’s moral law, we realize how sinful we really are and how much we don’t deserve his mercy and grace. This section of the Catechism is not legalistic but is meant to show us the spiritual nature of God’s law. The Pharisees thought they could open God’s moral requirements by external obedience. (Underline mine – ERD; not sure what you mean by “open God’s moral law.” However, Jesus taught in the sermon on the mount, that God’s requirements cut to the heart. Examining, both what God requires and what is forbidden is particularly useful in the negative commandments, “do not murder, do not steal, etc.”
WLC 109 – “The sins forbidden in the second commandment are . . . the making any representation of God, of all or any of the three persons . . .” How does this relate to images of Jesus? What is your view?
The second commandment is clear that we are not to make any images of God, and this includes any of the three persons. We are forbidden to make images of Jesus Christ, even if we are not bowing down to them in worship. Therefore, I believe children’s story Bibles with images of Jesus Christ are in error. I also believe movies that depict Jesus Christ with an actor are in error. One of the problems of depicting Jesus Christ through images is an overemphasis on his human nature whereby when we view these images we often neglect to think about his divine nature.
WLC 144 – The ninth commandment requires: “. . . from the heart, sincerely, freely, clearly, and fully, speaking the truth, and only the truth, in matters of judgment and justice, and in all other things whatsoever . . .” Is there a justified form of lying? If so, then how does your view relate to the catechism?
There is a permitted form of deception. In Exodus 1, the Hebrew midwives did not kill the sons as Pharaoh had commanded them because they feared God. The permitted form of deception must have a proper motivation, which in this case was the fear of God. Then they deceived Pharaoh by saying in verse 19 the reason they didn’t kill the sons was “because the Hebrew women are not like the Egyptian women, for they are vigorous and give birth before the midwife comes to them.” The very next verse, verse 20, says that “God dealt well with the midwives.” God blessed the actions of the midwives by multiplying the people and the fact the people grew strong. This shows that there is a permitted form of deception if it is done with a proper motivation, and for the purpose of preserving life.
WLC 156 – “Although all are not to be permitted to read the word publicly to the congregation . . .” Who may not read the word publicly to the congregation and who may? Why?
I believe the reading of the Word publicly is authoritative in its very nature because of what is being read. Therefore, I believe that women should not read the Word publicly because it is an act of authority. Paul states in 1 Timothy 2:12 “I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man…” A woman reading the Word, which is exercising authority over a man, would violate this principle. Furthermore, I believe only an ordained man (whether teaching elder or ruling elder) should read the word publicly to the congregation. Again, if reading the Word is an authoritative act, then it should only be done by any ordained officer of the church.
WLC 167 – What does “improving” our Baptism mean?
Especially in two situations, (1) ‘in the time of temptation’, and (2) ‘when we are present at the administration of it to others.’ Improving our baptism means that when we witness baptisms, we ought to remember our own baptism and receive the confirmation that the benefits represented in baptism have become our own by saving faith.
WLC 181 – In your own words, “Why are we to pray in the name of Christ?”
First, Jesus teaches us to ask for things in his name. Second, there is only one mediator between God and man, the Lord Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5). Therefore, we ought to use the only name, of our only mediator to make our supplications known to God.
