Theology: Chapters 9-18
Does eschatology shape your view of justification? Is there a past, present and a future to justification?
No, Justification is a one-time event. One time declaration of our righteousness. 1 Peter 3:18 "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit."
Does God justify because in regeneration a new heart has been given to us and we have been changed?
No, we are justified b/c of what Christ did.
Does "infused righteousness" have anything to do with God's declaration of a sinner to be righteous?
No, we are righteous because of Christ, not anything we have done or will do.
Can someone who is justified become unjustified?
No.
Given your view of justification, would you say that at the end the books will be opened and believers will be justified by works - works that are produced by the HS and done out of the believers union w/Christ?
No. Our justification is solely based upon the work of Christ alone.
Is regeneration an immediate work of God (in which the person is passive) apart from means?
Yes, we are passive. The means of regeneration is faith which is given to us by grace of God.
Does justification include the imputation of the good works of obedience to the law by Christ to the person justified? Do you accept the teaching of the imputation of the active obedience of Christ? Why or why not?
Yes. Yes. The active obedience of X is the ground of our justification. It is the righteousness that God not only takes into our account but also reckons to us when he justifies the godly. (Romans 5:19)
What is "definitive sanctification" and how does it relate to "progressive sanctification"?
Definitive: sin is not destroyed but the dominion of sin is definitively destroyed --> no longer slaves to sin Progressive: the sins are more and more weakened and mortified. The believer is gradually transformed into greater and greater Christ like-ness. Phil 2:12-14 "work out your salvation."
What are the 8 stages of the Application of Redemption. (Ordo Salutis)
Election; Calling; Regeneration; Conversion (Rep. & Faith); Justification; Adoption; Sanctification; Glorification. (Rom 8:29-30)
Relate the terms "free will" and "bondage of the will."
Free will means that man has voluntary or free power of himself to choose the way which leads to salvation apart from the grace of God. There is no such entity as free-will because the will is enslaved to sin. Luther often says there is no such thing as free-will. The will of man without the grace of God "is not free at all, but is the permanent prisoner and bondslave of evil since it cannot turn itself to good." Upon regeneration man is free from natural bondage of the will.
Distinguish between the "general call" and "effectual calling."
General call (outward call) - the call of all men to repent and turn to Christ and be saved (Acts 17) Effectual Calling - The HS; the call to those whom God has predestined to life, effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ.
WCF 11.1 speaks of imputing the "obedience and satisfaction of Christ" - how do you understand this?
Here we have Christ's active obedience (perfectly obeys the law) and passive obedience (paying the penalty for our sins) for our righteousness.
What does WCF 25.2 mean when it says that outside the visible church there is no ordinary possibility of salvation?
If you read the scriptures Great Commission is given to visible, it is the instrument to proclaim the message. Ordinary people came to X through some member of the visible church (who proclaim message - which was given to the church).
What makes a good work good? Are the good works of believers ever meritorious? Do they contribute to justification?
Commanded by God, Done in Faith & to the Glory of God. (See WCF 16.3). No. No.
How does the law of God relate to sanctification? Is sanctification ever complete in this life?
1) The law is a mirror - it shows us where we need to grow and teaches us how to grow/what is pleasing to God. 2) Sanctification is never complete in this life.
What is the nature of saving faith?
1. Belief: in the Gospel (who God is) 2) Assent: acknowledgment of our sin & need (who man is) 3) Trust: Resting upon Jesus and his work (responding to who Jesus is) Ephesians 2.8-9 "for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no one can boast.
What is justification? How is a person right with God?
A. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein he pardoneth all our sins, and accepteth us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone. (WSC 33) Grounds for justification = X's sacrifice Instrument for our justification = faith
What are "the principle acts of Saving faith?"
Accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, adoption, and sanctification.
What is adoption? How does adoption relate to the "already/not yet" of God's Kingdom? What are pastoral implications of adoption?
Adoption is an act of God's free grace, whereby we are received into the number, and have a right to all the privileges of the sons of God. WSC 34 Adoption is God receiving us into his family. It is a change in legal status (We don't just get a pardon, we get the full rights as sons). God sees us as he sees his own Son. 1 John 3, "See what kind of love the father has given to us; that we should be called children of God."
What is the significance of union with Christ for salvation and the application of the benefits of Christ to us?
All applied by HS. All redemption is accomplished through our union with Christ. So we will be raised in Christ, and be glorified because of his glory. (Romans 6).
Distinguish free will from moral responsibility.
All men are morally responsible for all decisions. But for the unregenerate man free will is completely covered in sin. I choose to do many things (and I'm accountable for them) but for the unbeliever sin has corrupted their choices, they do not choose to do good - the biggest choices being the ability to choose salvation. In Bondage man is responsible to God and to obey the Law.
Under what circumstances is the will of man free?
In the state of glory alone.
What is the relationship between indicatives and imperative, (doctrine and duty)?
Indicatives: what is true; Imperatives: what we do, in response to what is true.
Distinguish infusion and imputation.
Infusion: "Made righteous" Sanctification Imputation: "Declared righteous" Justification
Is the assurance in any sense of the essence of saving faith? Is assurance the "norm" for the believer? May assurance of faith be hindered?
No. WCF 18.3. not a norm see 18.3 line 2 It ought to be but most likely do not. 18.4 Yes, if they do not preserve the doctrine it may be hindered. i.e. much difficulty = question assurance, struggle with depression (William Cowper). Suffering and disobedience=hinder
Are good works necessary for true faith and salvation?
No; but they should be a natural outworking of our faith (James 2)
What are our sources of assurance?
Promises of God Evidence in life of God's work Witness of HS in our hearts
Relate faith and repentance. Distinguish repentance from penance; faith from repentance.
Repentance - is a turning from, and faith is a turning towards. Faith - justifies a sinner in the sight of God as an instrument by which he receives and applies Christ and righteousness Penance - voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for wrongdoing.
Describe the biblical teaching concerning total inability. How does this point to the necessity of regeneration?
Rom. 3 ("no one understands, no one seeks for God, all have turned aside...") Man's nature is so corrupt that he is unable of himself to savingly believe the Gospel. Man must be given a new heart by the Holy Spirit in order to choose good.
Discuss Romans 8:4 and James 2:24 in relation to the place of good works in the life of the believer.
Romans 8:4 - Christ fulfills requirements of law that 1st Adam could not. (b/c of our union with him - works credited to us) James - there is no true faith w/o evidence of true works. (offering up of Abrahams son is evidence of faith)
Distinguish "sanctification" from "justification."
Sanctification means to be made holy. Justification is to be declared righteous.
What is the relationship of faith and works?
Saving faith will result in good works. (James 2:14-26). B/c our works are good (they come from God); B/c they are works (they are defiled and mixed)
What does Paul mean in Romans 6:2 when he says we are "dead to sin"?
Sin no longer reigns in our life (old man was crucified- argument of Romans 6 shall we go on living in sin?) --> the byproduct of union with Christ
What are the primary means of the believer's sanctification?
The Means of Grace: Word, prayer, fellowship of believers, and sacraments.
What means does God use to call his own to himself?
The Word of God accompanied by the Holy Spirit, who is working faith in the elect 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
Who are the subjects of effectual calling?
The elect (those whom God has predestined). "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up in the last day." (John 6:44).
What is the relationship between perseverance and election? Will the elect persevere to the end? Does the doctrine of perseverance contribute to carnal security?
The elect will persevere. "Perseverance of the saints depends not upon their own free will, but the immutability of the decree of election." WCF 17 Yes. No.
What does Paul mean by "righteousness of God" as it relates to justification? (Does it mean God's covenant faithfulness or does it relate to status?)
This is God's judicial declaration that we are either "right" before him or "condemned" as sinners. It is imputed to us by Christ. (Romans 3:19ff)
WCF 10.3 says that elect infants dying in infancy are regenerated. Comment on this.
We do not presume Election, but if they are "Elect" then certainly they are regenerated. Luke 18; Romans 9 --> The elect are ultimately justified in Christ.