Ordination Comprehensive Questions
Ordination Comprehensive Questions
I. Systematic Theology—Comprehensive
In systematic theology, the candidate shall be required to commence all answers by quoting a biblical reference(s) followed with an explanation of the text. The candidate must not proof-text his answers must demonstrate a systematized theology based upon biblical exegesis.
II. Bibliology
a. Scripture
i. Theme
1. EB: “God’s revelation of Himself and His will in redeeming of mankind through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross so that God in the end might be glorified. (The glory of God in the exultation of His Son and the salvation of sinners.)”
2. RZ: The display of God’s greatness as especially seen in His loving sacrifice of His Son for the salvation of sinners.
3. The glory of God in the revelation and exaltation of His Son particularly through the salvation of sinners.
4. Scriptures
a. Jeremiah 9:23-24 23 ¶ Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, 24 but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."
b. Romans 9:22-23 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory--
c. 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 9 so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 30 And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31 so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."
d. 2 Corinthians 4:6 6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
e. Ephesians 1:3-14 3 ¶ Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
f. Revelation 5:13-14 13 And I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and in the sea, and all that is in them, saying, "To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb be blessing and honor and glory and might forever and ever!" 14 And the four living creatures said, "Amen!" and the elders fell down and worshiped.
ii. Purpose (To provide a rule of faith and practice)
1. Teach about God
a. Jeremiah 9:23-24
b. Psalm 19:7-9 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes; 9 the fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the LORD are true, and righteous altogether.
2. Teach about salvation in Christ
a. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 4 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.
b. James 1:21 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
c. 1 Peter 1:23-25 23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for "All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever." And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
3. Equip the Man of God
a. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 6 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
b. Revelation
i. General
1. EB: The truths God has revealed about Himself to all mankind through creation, the conscience, and providence.
2. TMS: General revelation is the disclosure of God in nature and the constitution of man whereby all people gain an introductory knowledge of God (theo1).
3. WG: The knowledge of God’s existence, character, and moral law that comes through creation to all humanity.
4. Through Creation (Existence, Power, Judgments)
a. Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.
b. Romans 1:19-20 19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. 20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
5. Through Conscience (God’s Law)
a. Romans 2:14-15 14 For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. 15 They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them.
6. Through Providence
a. Matthew 5:45 For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
b. Acts 14:17 7 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."
ii. Specific
1. EB: The divine revealing of truth through Jesus Christ and through the Scriptures.
2. TMS: God’s personal disclosure of Himself to us through the Living and Written Word so that we might come to know Him in salvation and glorify Him through our lives.
3. WG: God’s words addressed to specific people, including the words of the Bible. This is to be distinguished from general revelation, which is given to all people generally.
4. In Christ (diff. modes: miracles, theophanies, and divine speech)
a. The Son reveals the Father: John 1:18 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
b. The Son is the culmination of Special Revelation: Hebrews 1:1-3 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
5. In the Scriptures (see above for Scriptures)
a. Reveals God
b. Reveals Salvation in Christ
i. See also Romans 10:14-18
c. Reveals how the believer is to be equipped.
c. Inspiration
i. Definition:
1. EB: “God-breathed”- The act of the Holy Spirit in which He superintended the writers of Scripture so that, while writing according to their own styles and personalities, they produced God’s Word written, authoritative, trustworthy, and free from error in the original writings (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
2. WG: A term referring to the fact that the words of Scripture are spoken by God. Because of the weak sense of this word in ordinary usage, this text prefers the term ‘God-breathed’ to indicate that the words of Scripture are spoken by God.
ii. Method: Dual authorship
1. 2 Peter 1:20-21 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. (cf. Acts 27:17)
iii. Verbal: Inspiration extends to the selection of words and even to the letters
1. Matthew 5:18 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
iv. Plenary: Inspiration extends to all parts of Scripture
1. John 10:35—the Scripture cannot be broken
2. 2 Timothy 3:16—All Scripture
d. Authority of Scripture
i. Based on God’s authority: Isaiah 45:22-23 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. 23 By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: 'To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.'
ii. Inerrancy:
1. EB: Since the Scriptures are given by God, they are free from error in all their contents, including doctrinal, historical, scientific, geographical, and other branches of knowledge. It allows for variety in details in telling the same event (e.g., the synoptics). Jesus spoke in Aramaic and the writers translated into Greek. Each writer view the even from a unique standpoint, etc.
a. Numbers 23:19 19 God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
b. John 17:17 7 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
c. Psalm 119:160 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
d. Titus 1:1-2 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, 2 in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began
2. WG: The idea that Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.
iii. Infallibility
1. EB: The word of God is completely trustworthy, reliable and faithful.
2. WG: The idea that Scripture is not able to lead us astray in matters of faith and practice.
a. Psalm 19:7-8 7 The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; 8 the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes;
b. John 17:17 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
e. Illumination
i. Saved: A ministry of the Holy Spirit in enlightening the believer, enabling him to understand the Word of God.
1. 1 John 2:27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him.
2. 1 Corinthians 2:10-13 10 these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 11 For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. 13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.
3. Psalm 119:18 18 Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
ii. Unsaved: A ministry of the Holy Spirit by which the unbeliever comes to understand and accept the truth of the gospel and is regenerated as a new believer.
1. 1 Corinthians 2:14-16 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 15 The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. 16 "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ
2. 1 Thessalonians 1:5 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. …
f. Canonicity: A term used relative to the sixty-six books of the Bible, indicating that they have passed the tests used to determine their inspiration and inclusion in the body of Sacred Scripture.
i. OT: 39 Books (English; Hebrew Bible, 24 [Kings, the 12, Ezra-Nehemiah, Chronicles])
1. Internal Testimony
a. Deuteronomy 31:11 11 when all Israel comes to appear before the LORD your God at the place that he will choose, you shall read this law before all Israel in their hearing.
b. Deuteronomy 17:18 "And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests.
c. Daniel 9:2 in the first year of his reign, I, Daniel, perceived in the books the number of years that, according to the word of the LORD to Jeremiah the prophet, must pass before the end of the desolations of Jerusalem, namely, seventy years.
2. External Testimony
a. Accepted by Jews
b. Christ quotes OT:
i. Matt. 4
ii. Luke 4:20-21, quoting Isa. 61
1. Luke 4:20-21 20 And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21 And he began to say to them, "Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
iii. John 10:35b and Scripture cannot be broken—
c. NT writers repeatedly quote OT
ii. NT: 27 books
1. Internal Testimony
a. Apostles’ claimed authority
i. 1 Thessalonians 5:27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.
ii. Colossians 4:16 And when this letter has been read among you, have it also read in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you also read the letter from Laodicea.
iii. 2 Peter 3:2 2 that you should remember the predictions of the holy prophets and the commandment of the Lord and Savior through your apostles,
b. Apostles recognized NT as authoritative
i. 1 Timothy 5:18 8 For the Scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves his wages." … quoting Luke 10:7
ii. 2 Peter 3:15-16 5 And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him, 16 as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.
2. External Testimony
a. In post-apostolic days all were recognized except Hebrews, 2 Peter, 2 and 3 John
b. All 27 affirmed at Council of Carthage 397
3. Criteria
a. Written by apostle or close associate?
b. Accepted by the church at large?
c. Consistency with orthodox doctrine?
d. Content reflected divine inspiration?
e. Gives internal testimony to inspiration?
iii. Final and Ultimate Proof on Canonicity
1. “The only true test of canonicity which remains is the testimony of God the Holy Spirit to the authority of His own Word.” Archer SOTI, 85.
III. Theology Proper
a. Proof of God
i. Cosmological: “An argument for the existence of God based on the observation that, since every known thing in the universe has a cause, the universe itself must also have a cause, which can only be God.” WG
ii. Teleological: An argument for the existence of God which reason that, since the universe exhibits evidence of order and design, there must be an intelligent and purposeful God who crated it to function in this way.” WG
iii. Anthropological: The philosophical and moral feature in man’s constitution must be traced back to find their origin in God.
iv. Ontological: An argument for the existence of God that begins with the idea of God as the greatest of beings that can be imagined. As such, the characteristic of existence must belong to such a being, since it is great to exist than not to exist.” WG
v. Biblical: Presuppostionalism—Does not seek to prove God but assumes His existence. His revelation is proof of His being. Gen. 1:1; John 1:1; Psalm 90:2 (From everlasting to everlasting, Thou art God); Impossibility of the Contrary, preconditions of knowledge
b. Attributes of God
i. Note: God is an invisible, personal, living spirit.
1. Invisible: 1 Timothy 6:15-16 he who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, 16 who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen.
2. Personal: Self-conscious, Intelligence, Self-determination, Emotions.
3. Living: John 5:26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
4. Spirit: John 4:24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth."
ii. Communicable: Attributes of God’s character that he shares or “communicates” with us. WG
1. Perfection: Matthew 5:48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
2. Holiness:
a. Leviticus 19:2 "Speak to all the congregation of the people of Israel and say to them, You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy.
b. Isaiah 6:3 3 And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!"
c. Habakkuk 1:13a You who are of purer eyes than to see evil and cannot look at wrong,
3. Justice/Righteous:
a. Genesis 18:25 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing, to put the righteous to death with the wicked, so that the righteous fare as the wicked! Far be that from you! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
b. Psalm 145:17 The LORD is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works.
c. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
d. Micah 6:8 8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
4. Grace
a. Common Grace
i. Matthew 5:45 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.
ii. Acts 14:17 7 Yet he did not leave himself without witness, for he did good by giving you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness."
b. Saving Grace
i. Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
ii. Ephesians 2:8 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,
iii. See also Romans 3:24
c. Merciful Love
i. Lamentations 3:22 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end;
ii. Exodus 34:6-7 6 The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, 7 keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation."
iii. John 3:16 16 ¶ "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
iv. Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved—
d. Faithfulness/Truth
i. Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.
ii. 1 Corinthians 10:13 3 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
iii. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
iii. Incommunicable: Aspects of God’s character that God does not share with us. WG
1. Self-Existence (Aseity)
a. Exodus 3:14 4 God said to Moses, "I AM WHO I AM." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I AM has sent me to you.'"
b. John 5:26 6 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
c. Acts 17:25 25 nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.
2. Immutability: He does not change
a. Malachi 3:6 6 ¶ "For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.
b. James 1:17 very good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
3. Infinity: the lack of space/time limitations
a. Eternality
i. Psalm 90:2 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
ii. 1 Timothy 1:17 17 To the King of ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.
b. Immensity
i. 1 Kings 8:27 "But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you; how much less this house that I have built!
ii. Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
c. Omnipresence
i. Psalm 139:7-10 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! 9 If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, 10 even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.
ii. Acts 17:27 that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us,
d. Omniscience
i. Psalm 139:1-6 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. O LORD, you have searched me and known me! 2 You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. 3 You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. 4 Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. 5 You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it.
ii. Romans 11:33 33 ¶ Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
e. Omnipotence
i. Job 42:2 2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
ii. Revelation 1:8 "I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."
c. Divine Decrees
i. General Comments
1. God hath decreed in himself, from all eternity, by the most wise and holy counsel of his own will, freely and unchangeably all things, whatsoever comes to pass; yet so as thereby is God neither the author of sin nor hath fellowship with any therein; nor is violence offered to the will of the creature, nor yet is the liberty or contingency of second causes taken away, but rather established; in which appears his wisdom in disposing all things and power and faithfulness in accomplishing his decree.”
2. Grudem: “The decrees of God are the eternal plans of God whereby, before the creation of the world, he determined to bring about everything that happens.”
3. Psalm 33:11 The counsel of the LORD stands forever, the plans of his heart to all generations.
4. Isaiah 46:10-11 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
5. Psalm 115:3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.
6. Job 42:1-2 Then Job answered the LORD and said: 2 "I know that you can do all things, and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
7. Ephesians 1:11 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
ii. Special Application of the Decrees
1. Creation and Preservation
a. Psalm 119:90-91 90 Your faithfulness endures to all generations; you have established the earth, and it stands fast. 91 By your appointment they stand this day, for all things are your servants.
2. History
a. Daniel 2:20-21 20 Daniel answered and said: "Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might. 21 He changes times and seasons; he removes kings and sets up kings; he gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding;
b. Acts 17:26 26 And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,
c. Romans 13:1 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.
3. Life’s circumstances
a. James 4:13-15 13 ¶ Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit"-- 14 yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. 15 Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that."
4. Men’s good deeds
a. Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
5. Men’s evil deeds:
a. Genesis 50:20 20 As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.
b. Acts 2:23 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.
6. Salvation of sinners
a. Ephesians 1:4a 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world
7. Order of Divine Decrees
a. Supralapsarianism: God decreed election and reprobation prior to the fall.
b. Infralapsarianism: God decreed election after the fall.
c. Amyraldian: God decreed election after sending Christ to make salvation possible for all.
8. Perdition of ungodly men
a. 1 Peter 2:8 They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
9. Most trivial circumstances
a. Matthew 10:29 29 Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.
iii. Problem of sin
1. God can work though the acts of evil men to accomplish His purpose. God is the author of free moral agents not sin, though He decreed it (or decreed to allow it).
2. God is not the author of sin
a. James 1:13 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
iv. Providence
1. The outworking of God’s sovereignty as it relates to the world and man. God’s work through world events and trivial circumstances to accomplish His own purpose.
v. Sovereignty
1. Grudem: God’s exercise of power of His creation.
d. Trinity
i. Unity: One in essence
1. Deuteronomy 6:4 4 ¶ "Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one.
2. Isaiah 45:5 5 I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God;
3. James 2:19 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!
4. Isaiah 45:21-22 21 Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the LORD? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; there is none besides me. 22 "Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other.
5. 1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
ii. Plurality: Existing in three Persons
1. OT
a. Genesis 1:26-27 26 ¶ Then God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth." 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
b. Psalm 110:1 ESV Psalm 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."
c. Isaiah 48:16 16 Draw near to me, hear this: from the beginning I have not spoken in secret, from the time it came to be I have been there." And now the Lord GOD has sent me, and his Spirit.
2. NT
a. Matthew 28:19 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
b. Matthew 3:16-17 16 And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; 17 and behold, a voice from heaven said, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased."
c. 2 Corinthians 13:14 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
3. Individual attestations to the Father’s, Son’s, and Spirit’s deity.
e. God the Father
i. Relationship with the Trinity:
1. With the Son: 1 Corinthians 11:3 3 But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.
2. With the Spirit: Galatians 4:6 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
ii. Relationship with Creation:
1. Creator/Sustainer of all men: Acts 17:28 28 for "'In him we live and move and have our being'; as even some of your own poets have said, "'For we are indeed his offspring.'
2. Spiritual Father of Believers: Romans 8:14 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
3. Creator of everything: Genesis 1:1
f. God the Son
i. Names
1. God:
a. Matthew 1:23 23 "Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel" (which means, God with us).
b. John 1:1 ESV John 1:1 ¶ In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
c. John 8:58 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
d. Romans 9:5 5 To them belong the patriarchs, and from their race, according to the flesh, is the Christ who is God over all, blessed forever. Amen.
2. Son of God: Matthew 16:16 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
3. Son of Man: Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
4. Lord: Revelation 19:16 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
5. The Holy One: Acts 3:14-15 14 But you denied the Holy and Righteous One, and asked for a murderer to be granted to you, 15 and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.
6. The First and Last/Living One: Revelation 1:17-18 17 ¶ When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, 18 and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
7. Alpha and Omega: Revelation 22:12-13 12 ¶ "Behold, I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me, to repay everyone for what he has done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end."
8. The Amen: Revelation 3:14 14 ¶ "And to the angel of the church in Laodicea write: 'The words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.
9. Man: 1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, (cf. Acts 17:31)
10. Christ, Messiah: Matthew 16:16
11. Jesus: Matthew 1:21 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
ii. Prerogatives
1. All Authority:
a. Matthew 28:18 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
b. Philippians 2:9-10 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
2. Creator
a. Colossians 1:16 16 For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities--all things were created through him and for him.
b. Hebrews 1:1-3 Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
c. See also: John 1:1-3
3. Sustainer:
a. Colossians 1:17 17 And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together.
b. See also Hebrews 1:1-3
4. Redeemer: Colossians 1:13-14 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
5. Judge: Acts 17:31 31 because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead."
6. OT Predictions of Divine Messiah
a. Psalm 2:7 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son; today I have begotten you.
b. Psalm 110:1 The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool."
c. Isaiah 7:14 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
d. Isaiah 9:6 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7. Jesus Self-testimony:
a. John 5:17-18 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working until now, and I am working." 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
b. John 8:58-59 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am." 59 So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.
8. Hearing and Answering Prayer: John 14:13-14 13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it.
9. Accepting Worship and praise:
a. Matthew 21:16 16 and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?"
b. John 20:28 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
c. Matthew 28:17 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.
10. Object of Faith: John 14:1 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.
11. Attributes of Deity:
a. Sovereignty: Matthew 11:27-30 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
b. Omnipresence: Matthew 28:20 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
c. Omniscience: Matthew 11:27 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
12. Apostles recognition of Deity:
a. Matthew 16:16 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."
b. John 20:28 28 Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!"
c. See also: John 1:1; Rom. 9:5; Titus 2:13; Col. 1:15-20.
iii. Preexistence
1. OT:
a. Micah 5:2 2 But you, O Bethlehem Ephrathah, who are too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose coming forth is from of old, from ancient days.
b. Isaiah 9:6 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
2. NT:
a. John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
b. John 8:58 58 Jesus said to them, "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am."
iv. Theophanies
1. As an Angel of the Lord
a. Genesis 16: to Hagar (?)
b. Genesis 18, 22: to Abraham
c. Genesis 32: to Jacob
d. Judges 6: to Gideon
2. As a Man: Joshua 5:13-15: to Joshua
v. Incarnation
1. “in flesh”; the act wherein the eternal God the Son took to Himself and additional nature, humanity through the virgin birth. He does not cease to be God, but remains forever fully God and fully man—two natures in one person.
a. John 1, 14: John 1:14 14 ¶ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
b. Colossians 2:9 9 For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
c. Galatians 4:4-5 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
vi. The kenosis: “the emptying”; Christ, no setting aside His deity, but taking upon himself the limitations of humanity in order to fulfill the service of God in redeeming the elect. Surrendering the independent exercise of the divine attributes.
1. Philippians 2:7 7 but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.
2. Colossians 1:19 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
3. Deity was veiled: John 17:5 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
4. Didn’t know time of return: Matthew 24:36 "But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.
vii. Hypostatic union
1. Grudem: The union of Christ’s human and divine natures in one person.
2. Theological term referring to the dual nature of Christ; God the Son took to Himself a human nature, and therefore remains forever true God and true man—two natures in one person. The two natures remain distinct without any intermingling; but they compose one Person, Christ, the God-Man
a. W/O confusion, change, division, separation
b. Fully God
i. John 10:30 30 I and the Father are one."
ii. Colossians 1:19 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,
c. Fully Man
i. 1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
ii. Hebrews 4:15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
d. United
i. Philippians 2:6 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,
ii. Galatians 4:4 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
viii. Humanity: Christ had a human body consisting of body and spirit. He was subject to the limitations of humanity with the exception of the sin nature
1. Hebrews 4:15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
2. Hebrews 2:17 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
3. Galatians 4:4 4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
ix. Temptation and impeccability
1. Jesus was really tempted to sin:
a. Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil.
2. Jesus did not sin:
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
b. Hebrews 4:15 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
c. 1 Peter 2:22 22 He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
d. 1 Peter 3:18 18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God,
3. Though the choice to sin was provided, Jesus never chose to sin, but continually to honor and love God. In a real sense, Jesus could not have sinned because He was God.
a. James 1:13 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, "I am being tempted by God," for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one.
x. Transfiguration: Christ pulled back His flesh and gave his disciples a preview of his coming exaltation; This was to assure them that he was fully God and to prepare them for persecution:
1. Matthew 17:1-2 And after six days Jesus took with him Peter and James, and John his brother, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light.
2. 2 Peter 1:16-18 For we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 For when he received honor and glory from God the Father, and the voice was borne to him by the Majestic Glory, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased," 18 we ourselves heard this very voice borne from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain.
xi. Teachings
1. Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5-7; Luke 6:20-49: Jesus teaches the ethics of the Kingdom of God.
2. Olivet Discourse: Matthew 24-25—Be on the alert, sign, and directions for 2nd coming
3. Upper Room Discourse: John 13-16—He encourages His disciples in His departure, persecution, and coming Holy Spirit.
a. Remember: John 14:31 Rise, let us go from here.
b. Include or ends with High Priestly Prayer
xii. Miracles: Supernatural signs given for the purpose of providing credentials for the Son of God.
1. Hebrews 2:2-4 2 For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
xiii. Resurrection
1. Evidence/Reasoning
a. Jesus said He would
i. Matthew 12:39-40 39 But he answered them, "An evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.
ii. Mark 8:31 31 ¶ And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again.
iii. John 2:18-22 18 So the Jews said to him, "What sign do you show us for doing these things?" 19 Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." 20 The Jews then said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?" 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body. 22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.
b. Empty Tomb
i. John 20:6-9 6 Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen cloths lying there, 7 and the face cloth, which had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen cloths but folded up in a place by itself. 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
ii. Mark 16:6 6 And he said to them, "Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him.
c. He appeared to many:
i. 1 Corinthians 15:6 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep.
d. Changed disciples and birth of church: Acts 2-3
e. Tomb was guarded:
i. Matthew 28:11-13 While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. 12 And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers 13 and said, "Tell people, 'His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.'
f. Changed life of non-followers
i. Paul the Apostle: Gal. 1
ii. James, Jesus half-brother: Gal. 1
2. Importance of the Resurrection
a. Jesus declared Son of God: Romans 1:4 4 and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
b. Central to the Gospel: 1 Corinthians 15:4
c. Necessary for salvation: Romans 4:25 25 who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification.
d. Assurance of our Resurrection: 1 Thessalonians 4:14 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
e. Spiritual Power to the Believer: Romans 6
3. Ascension: Grudem: The rising of Jesus form the earth into heaven forty days after his resurrection.
a. Sacrifice sufficient—work done: Hebrews 10:12-14 12 But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
b. Intercedes for believers: Romans 8:34 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
xiv. Glorification: He returned to the glory He had with the Father
1. John 17:5 5 And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.
2. Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
xv. Mediatorial work: Christ’s present ministry as mediator
1. He is sole Mediator: 1 Timothy 2:5 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
2. He is our intercessor: Hebrews 7:25 25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. (Romans 8:34)
3. He is our aid in temptation: Hebrews 2:18 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
4. He is our advocate: 1 John 2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.
xvi. Second Coming: Jesus Christ will one day return to the earth at the end of the age before the Millenium: Matt. 24-25; Acts 1:11; 1 Thessalonians 4.
g. God the Holy Spirit
i. Deity
1. Lie to the Holy Spirit (v. 3) and to God (v. 4)
2. Grouped with the Father and the Son: Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 13:14 14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
3. Equated with the Lord: 2 Corinthians 3:18 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
ii. Attributes
1. Eternal: Hebrews 9:14 14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.
2. Omniscience: Isaiah 40:13 13 Who has measured the Spirit of the LORD, or what man shows him his counsel?
3. Omnipresence: Psalm 139:7 7 Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence?
4. Truthful: John 16:13 13 When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come.
5. Emotion: Ephesians 4:30 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
6. Will: 1 Corinthians 12:11 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
iii. Baptism: The Holy Spirit’s work in incorporating and identifying the new with the body of Christ, the church: all believers—1 Corinthians 12:13 13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
iv. Filling
1. Commanded: Ephesians 5:18 18 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit; The control and domination by the Spirit of the life of a believer; being filled with the Spirit is being controlled and dominated by the Word of God (cf. Col. 3:16)
2. Spirit can be quenched or grieved: Ephesians 4:30 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (see also 1 Thess. 5:19)
3. Controlled by and Dependent on the Spirit: Galatians 5:16 16 ¶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
v. Indwelling: permanent abiding presence
1. New Covenant:
a. Ezekiel 36:26-27 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
b. Jeremiah 31:33 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
c. John 14:16-17 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
i. Note: Perhaps, we can say the Spirit somehow dwells with OC saints for regeneration and sanctification, but not to the degree of power and success as in the NC.
2. Individual for the Believer
a. Romans 8:9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.
b. Galatians 4:6 6 And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, "Abba! Father!"
vi. Sealing: Guarantee of ultimate salvation (down payment). The act of God in giving the Holy Spirit to the believer at salvation as a sign of God’s ownership: Ephesians 1:13-14 13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory. (cf. 2 Cor. 1:22)
vii. Ministry to believers
1. Teaches & Illuminates: 1 John 2:27 27 But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie--just as it has taught you, abide in him.
2. Guides: Romans 8:14 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
3. Empower to Serve: 1 Corinthians 12:7 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
4. Empower to witness: Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
5. Sanctifies: 2 Corinthians 3:18 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
6. Gives assurance: Romans 8:16 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
7. Intercedes: Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.
viii. Spiritual gifts: God given abilities for service within the Church
1. Identification
a. Lists
i. 1 Corinthians 12:7-11, 28-30;
ii. Romans 12:6-8;
iii. Ephesians 4:7-12
iv. 1 Peter 4:11
b. Gifts that have ceased, truly or practically:
i. Apostleship
1. Acts 1:21-22 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us--one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection."
2. 2 Corinthians 12:12 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
3. 1 Corinthians 15:7-8 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me.
4. Seen Jesus resurrected
5. Commissioned by Jesus
ii. Revelatory Gifts
1. Discerning of Spirits
2. Word of Wisdom
3. Word of Knowledge
4. Prophecy
5. Faith
iii. Miraculous Gifts
1. Tongues: foreign languages (Acts 2:4-12)
2. Interpretation of Tongues
3. Miracles
4. Healings
c. Remaining gifts (speaking&serving)
i. Pastor-teacher
ii. Teaching
iii. Exhortation
iv. Administration
v. Mercy
vi. Helps/Service
vii. Giving
2. Given to each believer by the Holy Spirit: 1 Corinthians 12:11 11 All these are empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one individually as he wills.
3. Purpose: Build the Church
a. 1 Corinthians 12:7 7 To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
b. Ephesians 4:11-12 11 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
c. 1 Peter 4:11 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
4. Sign Gifts: Miraculous Gifts
a. Confirmed Apostolic Preaching/Ministry
i. Hebrews 2:3-4 3 how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, 4 while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.
ii. Acts 4:29-30 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
iii. 2 Corinthians 12:12 12 The signs of a true apostle were performed among you with utmost patience, with signs and wonders and mighty works.
b. Establish the Church: Ephesians 2:20 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone,
c. Ceased?:
i. 1 Cor. 13:8-10—I take the perfect to be Christ’s return, not the Canon. So, I don’t think this means the cessation of revelatory and tongue gifts, exegetically speaking.
ii. Historically speaking, miraculous gifts seem to have gone with the apostles.
iii. I am believe in miracles and healings, but not healers.
iv. I am open to miraculous gifts, perhaps in “new foundation” contexts.
ix. Ministry in Old Testament versus New Testament
1. OT
a. Selective empowerment for ruling, service, and speaking
i. Joshua, judges, David, Saul
ii. Bezalel, Tabernacle artisan (Exo. 31:2)
iii. Prophets
b. Regeneration in faith: Jesus assumes as common knowledge: John 3:10 10 Jesus answered him, "Are you the teacher of Israel and yet you do not understand these things?
c. The Spirit would mark the Messiah: Isaiah 11:1-2 There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. 2 And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the LORD. (42:1ff.; 61:1ff.)
2. NT
a. Corporate Indwelling: 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (pl.)
b. Individual dwelling: Romans 8:9 9 ¶ You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him
c. Enablement for service: Acts 1:8
d. Enablement for ministry: 1 Cor. 12:13
e. Regeneration is still regeneration, but the type (clearly now “in”) and so increased degree/effectiveness.
IV. Anthropology
a. Origin and nature of man
i. Origin: God created man as a rational/moral being with intelligence, emotion, and will with a moral responsibility to God.
1. Genesis 2:7 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
2. Genesis 1:31 31 And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day.
3. Two elements of the ‘image of God in man’ (Gen. 1:26; James 3:7)
a. Natural image of God = spiritual, rational, moral, and immortal being; retained after the fall;
b. Moral image of God = true knowledge, holiness, & righteousness; lost by sin, regained through Christ
i. Ephesians 4:24 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
ii. Colossians 3:10 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
ii. Nature of Man (Holistic: Cannot be separated in various facets)
1. Dichotomy: Man is both material and immaterial
a. Genesis 2:7 7 then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.
b. Soul/Spirit are used interchangeably
i. Psalm 42:2 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
ii. Hebrews 12:23 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
c. Body & soul = whole person: Matthew 10:28 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
2. Trichotomy: Man is three parts: body, soul, and spirit
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
b. Hebrews 4:12 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
3. Quadchotomy: Mark 12:30
4. Unified being
a. Nonmaterial designations: heart, conscience, mind, will, soul, spirit.
b. Material: strength, body.
iii. Origin of the Soul:
1. Pre-existence, soul-planting: Soul pre-existed & is placed into the human body at conception—no biblical defense (RC, Mormon).
2. Creationism: God creates each soul & is placed into the body created by conception.
a. Hebrews 12:9 Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?
b. Psalm 139:13 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb
c. Difficulty to explain imputation of sin. Can God create a sinful soul?
3. Traducian theory: by ordinary generation. Parents transmit the immaterial and material part of the human personality.
a. Explains the depravity of man
b. Explains hereditary similarities beyond physical similarities
c. Hebrews 7:10 for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.
b. State of innocence
i. Man was created very good: Gen. 1:26-27, 31.
ii. Man chose to sin: Genesis 3:1ff. (temptation came from without)
c. Imago Dei: Image of God (Gen. 1:26)
i. Scope: God is personal, rational (w/ intellect & will, able to form plans & execute them) creative & morally admirable, creating only what is good. He is able to communicate and have relationships, has all dominion & can grant dominion. He is immortal.
ii. Resultant Principles
1. Death penalty: Genesis 9:6 6 "Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.
2. Church Conduct: 1 Corinthians 11:7 7 For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man.
3. Social Conduct: James 3:9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
iii. Salvation begins the process of restoration of the image of God in its originally perfect state:
1. Colossians 3:10 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
2. Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
d. The Fall
i. Genesis 3 does not describe the origin of sin, but it does describe the entrance of sin into the realm of humanity. It is a historical event and the basis of the analogy between Adam and Christ in Romans 5.
ii. Adam and Eve were tested. The purpose was to give man a knowledge of sin through obedience. (???)
iii. Results
1. Serpent/Satan Cursed: Genesis 3:14-15
2. Woman punished: Genesis 3:16
3. Man punished: Genesis 3:17-19
4. Creation cursed: Genesis 3:17-18
5. Mankind condemned: Romans 5:19 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
e. Original Sin
i. Derived from the original root of human race, Adam: Romans 5:19 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
ii. Present at birth: Psalm 51:5 5 Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me.
iii. The inward root of external sins defiles the man: Mark 7:21-23 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
iv. Implication
1. All are sinners:
a. Romans 3:11-12 11 no one understands; no one seeks for God. 12 All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one."
b. Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
c. Isaiah 64:6 We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment. We all fade like a leaf, and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
d. Ephesians 2:1-3
2. Totally Unable:
a. Romans 8:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
b. 1 Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
c. John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
3. Real Guilt: because of our corruption and inability to please God, we are deserving of punishment:
a. Romans 5:18-19 Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
b. Romans 3:19-20 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God. 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
f. Personal sin: Each person is culpable and guilty for their own sin; no one can reach perfection.
i. Ezekiel 18:4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
ii. 1 John 1:8 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
g. Punishment
i. Matthew 25:46 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
ii. Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death." (cf. 20:10, 15).
V. Soteriology
a. The Savior
i. Offices
1. Prophet: Deuteronomy 18:15 "The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your brothers--it is to him you shall listen—
2. Priest: Hebrews 10:21 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God
3. King: Revelation 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.
ii. Sufferings: Substitutionary
1. Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"—
2. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
iii. First and second Adam:
1. Romans 5:12-21: Romans 5:19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:45-47 45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. 46 But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. 47 The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven.
iv. Work of Christ
1. John 4:34 34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
2. Hebrews 1:3 3 He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
b. Terminology
i. Atonement: the means by which men are reconciled to God
1. Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. 1 Peter 3:18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit,
3. Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.
4. Grudem: The atonement is the work Christ did in his life and death to earn our salvation. …Sometimes it is used to refer only to Jesus’ dying and paying for our sins on the cross. But, … since saving benefits also come to us from Christ’s life, we have included that in our definition as well.
5. Commercial word groups
a. Agorazo/purchase: Revelation 5:9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation,
b. Lutruo: 1 Peter 1:18-19 knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
6. Appeasement word group: propitiation
a. Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
b. 1 John 2:2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
7. Changed relationship: allasso, reconcile
a. Colossians 1:20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross.
b. Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
8. False views of atonement:
a. Ransom to Satan: Jesus’ paid Satan; Origin/Augustine
b. Recapitulation: Jesus lived the life Adam could not; Irenaeus
c. Commercial: Jesus death’ pays back the honor stolen from God in man’s sin; this reward is given to sinners; Anselm
d. Moral influence: Soften sinners hearts to repentance; Abelard
e. Accident: Schweitzer
f. Example (martyr): live like Christ
g. Governmental: token payment; his death upheld government in God’s law; enables God to set the law aside and forgive…
ii. Depravity: every part of man’s being is corrupt. The corruption of sin extending to all people, affecting the entire person (intellect, emotions, and will—so that in the person can commend him to God).
1. Universal: extends to all men
a. Romans 3:11-12, 23
b. Isaiah 53:6
2. Comprehensive
a. Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
b. Mark 7:21-23 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, 22 coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. 23 All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person."
c. Romans 8:7-8 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
3. Produces inability: Ephesians 2:1-10…dead in your trespasses and sins
iii. Expiation: cancellation of sin on basis of Christ’s death (wrongly used to minimize God’s wrath)
1. John 1:29 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
iv. Forgiveness: The legal act of God in removing the charges against the sinner because of the atonement for the sin has been made, thereby erasing the debt incurred by sin.
1. Psalm 103:12 as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us.
2. Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
v. Grace: unmerited favor on the part of the undeserving.
1. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
2. Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
vi. Guilt: The liability to punishment because of wrongdoing. All mankind is condemned before God.
1. Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
2. Romans 3:19 Now we know that whatever the law says it speaks to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be stopped, and the whole world may be held accountable to God.
vii. Imputation: Means ‘to place on one’s account’ whether as a charge or a credit.
1. Adam’s sin to all mankind
a. The discussion: Romans 5:12-21
b. Views
i. Pelagian: Every one is born innocent and unstained. Adam was a bad example.
ii. Arminian: Depravity is not total; people received corrupt nature from Adam but no guilt or culpability.
iii. Federal View: Adam was the head of the human race and as its representative chose to sin and plunged the whole race into sin, suffering and death. Adam alone sinned but human race affected. I prefer (Rom. 5:19)
iv. Augustinian/Seminal Headship: All were present in the loins of Adam genetically (depends on Hebrews 7:9-10).
2. The Elect’s sin to Christ
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
b. Romans 5:19 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
3. Christ’s righteousness to the believer
a. 2 Corinthians 5:21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
b. Romans 5:19 19 For as by the one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man's obedience the many will be made righteous.
c. Philippians 3:9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith--
viii. Justification: “to declare righteous”—The legal act wherein God pronounces that the ungodly sinner who believes has been credited with all the virtues of Jesus Christ. Whereas forgiveness is the negative aspect of salvation meaning the subtraction of human sin, justification is the positive aspect meaning the addition of divine righteousness.
1. Genesis 15:6 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
2. Romans 3:24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
3. Romans 4:5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
4. Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
5. Galatians 2:16 yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified.
ix. Propitiation: The satisfaction of God’s wrath. The removal of wrath by the offering of a gift (cf. atonement).
1. Romans 3:25-26 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. 26 It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.
2. 1 John 2:1-2 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
3. 1 John 4:10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.
4. Hebrews 2:17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.
x. Reconciliation:
1. Defs.
a. Grudem: The removal of enmity and the restoration of fellowship between two parties.
b. The reversal of man’s alienation from God via the death of Christ which attained peace and salvation for the one who would put their confidence in it.
2. Refs.
a. Romans 5:10-11 0 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
b. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
xi. Redemption; ransom: To set free by the payment of a price
1. Mark 10:45 45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
2. 1 Timothy 2:6 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
xii. Regeneration: The work of the Holy Spirit in giving life to the believing sinner, effecting new birth. In a sense, precedes faith. Faith would be the first fruit of regeneration.
1. John 3:3 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
2. Titus 3:5 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
3. Ephesians 2:5 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved—
4. John 1:12-13 12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, 13 who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.
xiii. Sacrifice
1. Defs
a. Grudem: “Christ’s death on the cross viewed from the standpoint that he paid the penalty that we deserved.”
b. The offering to God of what is necessary to pay for sin; Christ’s death was the final sacrifice.
2. Refs
a. Hebrews 7:26-27 26 ¶ For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. 27 He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.
b. Hebrews 10:10 10 And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
c. Hebrews 10:14 14 For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified.
xiv. Vicarious/substitution: “one in place of another”
1. Defs
a. Grudem: Vicarious atonement—The work Christ did to earn our salvation by standing in our place in his life and death.
b. Christ sacrificed Himself in the place of condemned sinners to satisfy God’s holy and righteous judgments against sinners.
2. Refs
a. Isaiah 53:4-6 4 Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. 5 But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. 6 All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
b. 2 Corinthians 5:21 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
c. Galatians 3:13 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us--for it is written, "Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree"--
c. Election: “to choose from/out of”; Grudem: “An act of God before creation in which he chooses some people to be saved, not on account of any foreseen merit in them, but only because of his sovereign good pleasure.”
i. Predestination: “marking out beforehand”; Grudem: “Another term for ‘election’; in Reformed theology generally, this is a broader term that includes no only election (for believers), but also reprobation (for unbelievers).
1. Ephesians 1:5 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will,
2. Romans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
3. About reprobation
a. Proverbs 16:4 4 The LORD has made everything for its purpose, even the wicked for the day of trouble.
b. Romans 9:22-24 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory-- 24 even us whom he has called, not from the Jews only but also from the Gentiles?
c. 1 Peter 2:8 They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.
d. Reconciling God’s justice, goodness, reprobation, and man’s responsibility:
i. Romans 9:18-21 18 So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills. 19 ¶ You will say to me then, "Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?" 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, "Why have you made me like this?" 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use?
ii. Man is responsible: John 3:36 36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
iii. God is just: Genesis 18:25 Shall not the Judge of all the earth do what is just?"
iv. Romans 3:4 Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
ii. Man’s free will
1. Not a biblical term.
2. The unregenerate man’s will is in bondage to sin.
a. Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
b. Romans 6:6 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
c. Romans 8:7-8 7 For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
3. Man is responsible for what he does.
a. Ezekiel 18:4 4 Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
b. Romans 2:6 6 He will render to each one according to his works:
4. In salvation, God effectually draws man to choose Him.
a. John 3:3 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
b. John 6:37 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
c. Acts 16:14 14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
iii. Limited/unlimited atonement
1. Unlimited atonement: The view that Christ’s death actually paid for the sins of all people who ever lived (Grudem).
2. Limited atonement:
a. The Reformed view that Christ’s death actually paid for the sins of those whom he knew would ultimately be saved. A preferable term for this view is ‘particular redemption’ in that the power of the atonement is not limited, but rather it is fully effective for particular people (Grudem).
b. ‘God purposed by the atonement to save only the elect and that consequently all the elect, and they alone, are saved.’ Christ’s death saves all it intended to save (Enns).
3. Christ’s atonement, though would be sufficient for all, was efficient/effective for the elect/believer.
4. 1 Timothy 4:10 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
5. John 3:16 "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever [“each one who”] believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.
6. Scriptural Defense for Limited atonement
a. John 10:11 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep (cf. 15)
b. Acts 20:28 28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
c. Romans 8:33-34 33 Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
d. Ephesians 5:25 25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
e. John 17:9 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours.
f. Matthew 1:21 21 She will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
g. Titus 2:13-14 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
7. Scripture references to universal offer
a. John 1:29 29 ¶ The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, "Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!
b. John 3:16, For God so loved the world.
c. 2 Corinthians 5:19 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
d. 1 Timothy 4:10 10 For to this end we toil and strive, because we have our hope set on the living God, who is the Savior of all people, especially of those who believe.
e. Titus 2:11 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
8. Scripture wrongly understood to defend universal atonement, but point to universal offer
a. 1 Timothy 2:3-6 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
i. All men in context points to all kinds of men, like princes (cf. 1).
b. 1 John 2:2 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
i. Probably points to whole world, as Jews and Gentiles, seeing that John was an apostle to Jews (cf. Gal. 2:9)
c. 2 Peter 3:9 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
i. Context defines the “any” and “all” as “you,” which are believers.
d. Hebrews 2:9 9 But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.
i. Following context, appears to point to believers: “sons to glory” [v. 10]; “those who are sanctified” [v. 11]; “the children God has given me” [v. 13].
iv. Convicting work of the Spirit
1. John 16:8-11 8 And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: 9 concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; 10 concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; 11 concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.
2. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers beloved by the Lord, because God chose you as the firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.
v. Terms
1. Calling
a. Effective calling: An act of God the Father, speaking through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which he summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith (Grudem).
b. Calling: The word of God by His Spirit in which He summons men to come to Him and receive His mercy in Jesus Christ; also, invitation to the Gospel.
i. General call:
1. Matthew 11:28-30 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
2. Romans 10:13 13 For "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved."
ii. Specific/Effectual Call: the effective call given to the elect who must respond
1. Romans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
2. John 6:37 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
3. John 6:44 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
4. John 10:27 27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.
2. Drawing: Sovereign act of God to bring a sinner to salvation
a. John 6:44 44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
3. Foreknowledge:
a. Relating to the doctrine of election, the personal, relation knowledge by which God thought of certain people in a saving relationship to himself before creation. This is to be distinguished form the mere knowledge of facts about a person (Grudem).
b. Selecting on the basis of sovereign love. ‘Divine election,’ God’s loving selection in eternity past involving an intimate relationship with specific people.
c. 1 Peter 1:2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
4. Foreordination: The act by which God marks out beforehand or determines before the foundation of the world events, circumstances and works.
a. Acts 2:23-24 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it.
b. Ephesians 2:10 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
c. Ephesians 1:4 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
5. Chosen: God’s selection of those for eternal salvation, synonym with predestination.
a. John 15:16 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you
b. Matthew 22:14 14 For many are called, but few are chosen."
d. Conditions of salvation
i. Old Testament versus New Testament
1. Salvation is always by grace through faith.
2. The only difference is the content of what is believed.
a. Genesis 15:6 6 And he believed the LORD, and he counted it to him as righteousness.
b. Habakkuk 2:4 4 "Behold, his soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith.
c. Romans 10:9-11 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, "Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame."
d. Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
e. Romans 4!; Romans 4:6 6 just as David also speaks of the blessing of the one to whom God counts righteousness apart from works:
ii. Terminology
1. Believe: placing your trust in the work and person of Jesus Christ (death and resurrection)
a. Romans 10:9-10 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
b. Romans 4:3-5 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness." 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due. 5 And to the one who does not work but believes in him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness,
2. False belief
a. James 2:14 14 ¶ What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? (implied answer is “no”).
b. James 2:19 19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe--and shudder!
c. 1 John 2:19 19 They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us.
3. Repent: change of mind resulting in a change of life
a. God’s Gift
i. Acts 11:18 When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, "Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life."
ii. 2 Timothy 2:25 God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
b. Man’s Responsibility
i. Luke 13:3 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
4. Confess: to agree with God, concerning sin/guilt, who He is; to say the same thing
a. Confession of Sin
i. Psalm 32:5 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
ii. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
b. Confession of Christ’s Lordship
i. Romans 10:9-10 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
ii. Philippians 2:9-11 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
iii. 1 John 4:15 15 Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.
5. Surrender: to give up, relinquish
a. Galatians 2:20 20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
b. Philippians 3:8 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
c. Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
6. Lordship of Christ
a. Mark 8:34 And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, "If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
b. Titus 2:11-14 11 ¶ For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
e. Sanctification: A progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free that we deserved (Grudem).
1. New birth: regeneration, the act of God whereby He gives eternal life to the one who believes in Christ and causes him to be spiritually reborn with a new world and life view.
a. John 3:3 3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
b. Titus 3:5 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,
2. New Creature: the believer is a new man with a new attitude towards God and man.
a. 2 Corinthians 5:17 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
b. 1 John 3:9 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God's seed abides in him, and he cannot keep on sinning because he has been born of God.
3. Old Man/Old Nature—biblical/theological—Connotes the whole self in its falleness, the autonomous man under sin; the human view ethically in his unregenerate state or acting in his unregenerate state; also old nature or former disposition in Adam.
a. Romans 6:6 6 We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.
b. Ephesians 4:22 22 to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,
c. Colossians 3:9-10 9 Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices
4. New man/New nature
a. Romans 13:14 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
b. Ephesians 4:24 24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
c. Colossians 3:10 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.
5. Joint heirs with Christ: on the basis of being a child of God the believer shares in all the blessings afforded Jesus.
a. Romans 8:17 17 and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
b. Galatians 4:7 7 So you are no longer a slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God.
c. Ephesians 1:11 11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
6. Position versus practice
a. Position: Justified, “declared righteous”
i. Romans 3-5
b. Practice: Sanctification, sinner becoming more holy like Christ
i. Romans 7
ii. 1 John 1:8 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
iii. Romans 6:12-14 12 ¶ Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. 13 Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. 14 For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
7. Eternal security: Another term for ‘perseverance of the saints.’ However, this term can be misunderstood to mean that all who have once made a profession of faith are ‘eternally secure’ in their salvation when they may not have been genuinely converted at all (Grudem).
a. John 10:28-29 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand.
b. Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
c. Romans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
8. Ultimate glorification: the completion of the sanctification process at the rapture and 2nd coming when believers are given a new body.
a. Romans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
b. 1 Corinthians 15:51-53 51 ¶ Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. 53 For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. (cf. 34-58).
c. Philippians 3:21 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.
d. 1 John 3:2 2 Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.
i. Grace versus law: As a means of salvation they are antithetical. The Law is God’s standard, but justification can only come by faith. The law reveals sin and all are guilty before God by it.
1. Romans 3:20 20 For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin.
2. Galatians 3:10-11 10 ¶ For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for "The righteous shall live by faith."
3. Romans 10:4 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.
4. Romans 3:24 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,
5. Galatians 3:24-26 24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith. 25 But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian, 26 for in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith.
ii. Heaven versus hell
1. Heaven: the temporary dwelling place of redeemed souls and future abode of redeemed souls in resurrected bodies.
a. Three scenes
i. Atmosphere: Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven
ii. Space: Psalm 8:3 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
iii. Abode of God:
1. Isaiah 66:1 Thus says the LORD: "Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool; what is the house that you would build for me, and what is the place of my rest?
2. Matthew 6:9 9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.
b. Believers and Heaven
i. Presence of God and Christ: 2 Corinthians 5:8 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.
ii. Heaven is the eternal state: 2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
iii. Location of our inheritance: 1 Peter 1:4 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
2. Hell: Place of Eternal Punishment
a. Terms
i. Sheol: realm of the dead. No distinction between good and bad; local of material bodies
1. Psalm 139:8 8 If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!
2. Psalm 16:10 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
ii. Hades: Used for realm of the dead and used for place of punishment.
1. Punishment: Luke 16:23 23 and in Hades, being in torment, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham far off and Lazarus at his side.
2. General use: Matthew 16:18 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
iii. Gehenna: burning rubbish heap just south of Jerusalem. Place of burning and perpetual torment where the soul is eternally punished and separated from God
1. Matthew 10:28 28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
iv. Tartarus: from classical mythology, used in connection with fallen angels:
1. 2 Peter 2:4 4 ¶ For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
v. Abyss: the prison of demons and Satan
1. Revelation 20:1-3 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 3 and threw him into the pit, and shut it and sealed it over him, so that he might not deceive the nations any longer, until the thousand years were ended. After that he must be released for a little while.
vi. Lake of fire and brimstone
1. Revelation 20:13-15 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
b. Eternity of Hell
i. Mark 9:48 48 'where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.'
ii. Matthew 25:41 41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
iii. Calvin’s Tulip
1. Total Depravity: The complete inability of man to save himself because he is inherently corrupt extending to his whole being
a. Genesis 6:5 The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.
b. 1 Kings 8:46 --for there is no one who does not sin—
c. Romans 3
d. Mark 7:21 21 For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
e. Jeremiah 17:9 9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
f. Ephesians 2:1-3 And you were dead in the trespasses and sins 2 in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- 3 among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
2. Unconditional Election: The act of God whereby He graciously and on account of no foreseen merit chooses from among sinful men certain ones to be recipients of His special grace. This is predicated upon the divine decree for His glory.
a. Deuteronomy 7:7-8 It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, 8 but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
b. Ephesians 1:4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love
c. Romans 9:16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy.
3. Limited Atonement: See above
4. Irresistible Grace: God effectively calls people and also gives them regeneration, both of which guarantee that we will respond in saving faith (Grudem).
a. John 6:37 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never cast out.
b. Romans 8:30 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
5. Perseverance of the Saints: The doctrine that all those who are truly ‘born again’ will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere until the end have been truly ‘born again’ (Grudem).
a. John 10:28 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand.
b. Philippians 1:6 6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
VI. Ecclesiology
a. Christ and the church
i. Christ
1. Christ is the head of the church, corporate unity and submission
a. Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church.
b. Ephesians 4:15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
2. Christ is the bridegroom of the church
a. Ephesians 5:25 Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her,
3. Christ is the shepherd of the sheep:
a. John 10:11 11 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.
b. 1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
4. Christ is the vine:
a. John 15:5 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
5. Christ is the cornerstone of the church:
a. 1 Peter 2:4-5 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
6. Christ is the great high priest:
a. Hebrews 10:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near
7. Christ purchased the church with his own blood
a. Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
ii. Church
1. Begun at Pentecost: Acts 2; 1 Corinthians 12:13 For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and all were made to drink of one Spirit.
2. Local bodies, Epistles, Revelation 2-3; Colossians 4:15 Give my greetings to the brothers at Laodicea, and to Nympha and the church in her house.
3. Universal, all that are baptized by the Holy Spirit
4. Functions
a. Exaltation
i. Word and Prayer: Acts 6:4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.; 1 Timothy 4:13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching.; 2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
ii. Fellowship and Lord’s Supper: Acts 2:46-47 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
iii. Baptism: Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
b. Church and Israel
i. Broad Principles
1. Christ’s Kingdom is Spiritual in Nature:
a. John 18:36 Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world."
b. Colossians 1:13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,
2. Israel, as a nation, was temporarily supplanted by the church as God’s primary vehicle in His program on earth
a. Romans 11:20 That is true. They were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear.
b. Matthew 21:43 Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits.
3. The Jews will be restored to a position of high regard in the future:
a. Romans 11:25-29 Lest you be wise in your own sight, I want you to understand this mystery, brothers: a partial hardening has come upon Israel, until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. 26 And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written, "The Deliverer will come from Zion, he will banish ungodliness from Jacob"; 27 "and this will be my covenant with them when I take away their sins." 28 As regards the gospel, they are enemies of God for your sake. But as regards election, they are beloved for the sake of their forefathers. 29 For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.
b. Deut. 30:1-10
ii. Distinctions
1. The Church is Christ’s Body: 1 Cor. 12
2. The Church began at Pentecost (Acts 2 and Matthew 16:18)
3. The Church was purchased by and built upon the blood of Christ: Acts 20:28
4. Spiritual gifts are given to the church: Ephesians 4, 1 Cor 12-14
5. The Church is New Revelation
a. Ephesians 3
b. Romans 16:25-26 Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages 26 but has now been disclosed and through the prophetic writings has been made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring about the obedience of faith—
6. The NT never equates Israel and the Church
7. Israel still awaits blessing that will follow the literally fulfilled curses that have fallen upon her.
8. Israel is a national, ethnic entity whereas the church is a spiritual entity comprised of individual from all over the world.
c. Church government (see practical theology for additional subject matter)
i. Christ is the head of the church
1. Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church.
ii. Elders (also called bishops, overseers, pastors)
1. Qualifications
a. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 The saying is trustworthy: If anyone aspires to the office of overseer, he desires a noble task. 2 Therefore an overseer must be above reproach, the husband of one wife, sober-minded, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not a drunkard, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive, 5 for if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how will he care for God's church? 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. 7 Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace, into a snare of the devil.
b. Titus 1:6-9 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination. 7 For an overseer, as God's steward, must be above reproach. He must not be arrogant or quick-tempered or a drunkard or violent or greedy for gain, 8 but hospitable, a lover of good, self-controlled, upright, holy, and disciplined. 9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.
2. Authority
a. 1 Thessalonians 5:12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
b. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
3. Responsibilities
a. Plan: Acts 15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
b. Lead/shepherd the flock (lead, feed, protect, rule, oversee)
i. Acts 20:28 Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood.
ii. 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
iii. 1 Peter 5:2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;
c. Exemplary Lives
i. Hebrews 13:17 Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
ii. 1 Peter 5:3 not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock.
d. Accountable:
i. Acts 20:28
ii. Hebrews 13:17
e. Servants:
i. John 13: footwashing
ii. Matthew 20:26-28 It shall not be so among you. But whoever would be great among you must be your servant, 27 and whoever would be first among you must be your slave, 28 even as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."
f. Equality: 1 Peter 5:1 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed:
g. Reproduce
i. Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
ii. 2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
4. Plurality, team of elders rather than just one single elder.
a. Always plural in reference to function and appointment
b. Verses
i. Acts 14:23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
ii. Acts 20:17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
iii. 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
iv. Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you—
5. Unity in Decision Making
a. There must be unification in principle, with allowance for deference in preferences
b. Verses—principle: If the church is to be of one mind, how much more so the leadership
i. Ephesians 4:3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.
ii. Philippians 2:2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.
iii. 1 Corinthians 1:10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.
iv. Acts 6:5-6 And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 These they set before the apostles, and they prayed and laid their hands on them.
v. Acts 15:22 Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas.
6. Men:
a. 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says. 35 If there is anything they desire to learn, let them ask their husbands at home. For it is shameful for a woman to speak in church.
b. 1 Timothy 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
c. 1 Timothy 3:2 the husband of one wife,
7. Not Congregational Rule:
a. Acts 6:5
b. Acts 15:6
iii. Deacons: designated officers whose primary responsibility to the church is to serve, so that the elders might be freed up to oversee the church in payer and ministry of the Word (Acts 6:4).
1. Examples:
a. Acts 6:2-4 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables. 3 Therefore, brothers, pick out from among you seven men of good repute, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we will appoint to this duty. 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
b. Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:
2. Qualifications: 1 Timothy 3:8-13 (both men and women)
3. Deaconesses:
a. Use of the word ‘likewise’ suggests a third group is designated.
b. No qualifications for elders’ wives mentioned, why would there be for deacons?
c. The word deacon in masculine form is sued to refer to women.
d. Paul specifically used the word, ‘women’ without any possessive pronoun or grammatical connection to the men.
e. Must be dignified, no gossips, temperate, and faithful.
4. Special qualifications
a. Elders must be above reproach, husband of one wife, temperate, prudent, respectable, hospitable, able to teach*, not addicted to wine or pugnacious, gentle, uncontentious, free from the love of money, must manage his own household well and keep his children under control, not a new convert, must have a good reputation with those outside the church, not accused of dissipation or rebellion, not quick tempered, loving what is good, just devout, self-controlled, exhort* and refute*
b. Deacons must not be double-tongued, must be tested first, serve, husband of one wife, good managers of children, and household, dignified, not addicted much wine or fond of sordid gain, hold to the mystery of the faith.
VII. Eschatology
a. Covenants:
i. Abrahamic: Unconditional: Gen. 12:1-3 (repeated/expanded Gen. 15, 17, 26, 28, 35)
1. Promised Land (Gen. 12:1)
2. Descendents (Gen. 12:2)
3. Blessing and Redemption (Gen. 12:3)
ii. Mosaic:
1. Exodus 19:5-6 Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine; 6 and you shall be to me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words that you shall speak to the people of Israel."
2. Conditioned on obedience, Moses is a mediator
3. Participants are God and Israel
iii. Davidic: 2 Samuel 7:8-18; 1 Chronicles 17
1. Promise includes house for God, everlasting kingdom and a descendent on the throne forever
2. Participants: David & God (Solomon included in blessings)
iv. New Covenant: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 36:24-27
1. Promise—new heart, forgiveness, regeneration, blessing on the nation, outpouring of the Spirit
2. Participants—God and Israel
3. Provision—was the death and resurrection of Christ who purchased the spiritual benefits for the church, Matthew 26:28—for this is My blood of the Covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins (1 Corinthians 11:25); Servants of a New Covenant (2 Cor. 3:6)
b. Daniel’s 70 weeks—Daniel 9:24-27; 11
i. Accomplishments related to Sin: finish the transgression, make an end to sin, and make atonement for iniquity (first advent)
ii. Accomplishments related to Righteousness: bring in righteousness, seal up the vision and prophecy, and anoint the most holy place (Second advent)
iii. At the end of the age, the middle of the 70th week, the Antichrist breaks the covenant, stops the offerings, desecrates the temple
iv. The 69 week prophecy, begins 457 BC with Ezra’s return to Jerusalem; 69 x 7 = 483 years to AD 27 then a 3 ministry to death at April 7 AD 30.
c. Church and Israel
d. Advents of Christ
i. First Advent-Suffering Servant came to atone, Mark 10:44-45, Galatians 4:4
ii. Second Advent-Comes to reign on earth (separate from the rapture), refers to Christ’s return to earth to establish the Millennial kingdom
1. Described- Zechariah 12-14; Revelation 19-20
2. Timing, Matthew 24:29-30—But immediately after the tribulation of these days … and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with power and great glory; Revelation 19:11-21.
iii. Purpose
1. Establish the Millennial Kingdom—Revelation 20:4-6
2. Punish the wicked-Revelation 19:11-21, 2 Thessalonians 1:8- dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus
3. Judge the Sheep and the Goat (the living at the end of the tribulation), Matthew 25:31-36
e. Rapture—the catching up of the church at Christ’ return for her in the air prior to the beginning of the tribulation. The first event of the Day of the Lord. During this first stage of the resurrection when the ‘dead in Christ’ arise & those that are alive together meet the Lord in the air.
i. Imminency
1. John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
2. 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.
3. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.
4. James 5:8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
5. 2 Peter 3:3-4 knowing this first of all, that scoffers will come in the last days with scoffing, following their own sinful desires. 4 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation."
6. Acts 1:11; Phil. 3:20; Col. 3:4; 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Tim. 6:4
ii. Support for Pretribulational Rapture
1. Nature of the Tribulation—God’s judgment and punishment, directed primarily toward Israel, Daniel’s 70th week is specific to Israel
2. Scope of the Tribulation—all the earth, Isaiah 24
3. Purpose of the Tribulation—to judge the inhabitants of the earth, to prepare Israel for her king
4. The exemption from the Tribulation—the church,
a. Revelation 3:10 10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.
b. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
c. Romans 5:9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
5. The sequence, the signs of Matthew 24 (et al) were given to anticipate the second coming of Christ, the rapture is immediate and imminent and there are no signs given to the church to anticipate it (2 Thess 2:13)
6. Arguments against Pre-wrath Rapture:
a. Loss of imminency; instead believers should look for signs (Matt. 24:1-14)
b. Must redefine wrath to make it only 2nd half of tribulation (first half will see the 1st five seals opened, bringing war, famine, and 1 / 4 of the world will die)
f. Tribulation
i. The future seven-year period described in Revelation 6-19; Daniel’s 70 week pertains to Israel; During this time God judges an unbelieving world and His disobedient people, Israel
1. Key passages: Daniel 9:24-27; Isaiah 24; Matthew 24-25; Revelation 6-19
a. Daniel 9:24 Seventy weeks are decreed about your people and your holy city, to finish the transgression, to put an end to sin, and to atone for iniquity, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to seal both vision and prophet, and to anoint a most holy place.
2. Begins with the signing of the covenant between the beast and Israel offering protection.
3. Purpose of the tribulation
a. Preparation and Conversion of Israel
i. Daniel 12:1 At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book.
ii. Zechariah 13:8-9 In the whole land, declares the LORD, two thirds shall be cut off and perish, and one third shall be left alive. 9 And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The LORD is my God.'
b. To Judge the unbelieving people and the nations
i. 2 Thessalonians 2:12 in order that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness.
g. Jacob’s trouble: Could refer to the tribulation where God’s wrath is poured out upon the Jews and they suffer at the hands of the world, or it could more specifically refer to the second half of the tribulation following the abomination of desolations when the antichrist desolates the temple
i. Jeremiah 30:7 Alas! That day is so great there is none like it; it is a time of distress for Jacob; yet he shall be saved out of it.
ii. Daniel 9:12; 12:1
h. The Antichrist: those who hold a false doctrine concerning Christ; specifically, the beast described by John as a political, Gentile rule, empowered by Satan, who receives worship and desecrates the temple for three and one half years, persecutes believers and dominates the world
i. Revelation 13:1-17
ii. Daniel 9:26
i. The Beast
i. First beast—Antichrist (and the system he represents); Revelation 13:1-10
ii. Second beast—False prophet, the religious promoter of the political military leader who is the antichrist, Revelation 13:11-17
j. Marriage of the Lamb: This special occasion begins after the rapture, prior to the Second Coming. Likely extends through the Millennium and the New Heavens and the New Earth. It initially includes the church made up of members who were resurrected or changed at the Rapture, but will likely grow to include the resurrected saints of all ages including the martyrs of the tribulation and the OT saints as their time of resurrection comes
i. Daniel 12:1-2 At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone whose name shall be found written in the book. 2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
ii. Revelation 19:7-9 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure"-- for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 ¶ And the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb." And he said to me, "These are the true words of God."
iii. Revelation 20:4-6 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.
k. Armageddon
i. The battle between the armies of the anit Christ and the forces of Christ. This battle bring the great Tribulation to its climatic end.
1. Prophecy OT: Joel 3:9-15
2. Prophecy NT:
a. 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
b. Revelation 14:17-20 Then another angel came out of the temple in heaven, and he too had a sharp sickle. 18 And another angel came out from the altar, the angel who has authority over the fire, and he called with a loud voice to the one who had the sharp sickle, "Put in your sickle and gather the clusters from the vine of the earth, for its grapes are ripe." 19 So the angel swung his sickle across the earth and gathered the grape harvest of the earth and threw it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. 20 And the winepress was trodden outside the city, and blood flowed from the winepress, as high as a horse's bridle, for 1,600 stadia.
c. Revelation 16:14-16 14 For they are demonic spirits, performing signs, who go abroad to the kings of the whole world, to assemble them for battle on the great day of God the Almighty. 15 ("Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!") 16 And they assembled them at the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
d. Revelation 19:11-12 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.
l. The Kingdom: A multifaceted concept relating both to both the subjects of the ruler, the reign, and the territory of the ruler, the realm, in different contexts.
i. God is the absolute ruler.
1. Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
ii. God has appointed mediators throughout history.
1. Adam: Genesis 1:28
2. to Christ: Luke 1:32-33 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end."
iii. In relation to Israel, through the OT Israel is promised a national reconciliation, which will include physical blessings and international preeminence. This will occur in the Millennial Kingdom.
1. Zechariah 12-14
2. Romans 11:25-29
3. Revelation 20
iv. In relation to the church, the church & the kingdom are never equated. The kingdom has entered into the world in a mystery form whereby the Kingdom of god has invade the world, the kingdom of Satan, in a spiritual sense to bring to individuals the blessings of the kingdom.
1. Forgiveness: Colossians 1:13-14 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
2. Life: John 3:3 Jesus answered him, "Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God."
3. Righteousness:
a. Matthew 5:20 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.
b. Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
m. Resurrection of the dead: The promise of all of an eternal body, for some the resurrection is unto life and blessing for other it is unto punishment and wrath.
i. OT allusions to Resurrection:
1. Psalm 16:9-10 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. 10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
2. Psalm 17:15 As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness.
3. Job 19:25-27 For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth. 26 And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God, 27 whom I shall see for myself, and my eyes shall behold, and not another. My heart faints within me!
4. Psalm 49:15 But God will ransom my soul from the power of Sheol, for he will receive me.
5. Daniel 12:2 And many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.
ii. NT allusions to resurrection:
1. 1 Corinthians 15
2. Philippians 3:20-21
3. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17
4. Revelation 20:4-6
n. Bema seat
i. The judgment seat of Christ where Jesus Christ judges the works of believers on the conduct of Christians. This judgment results in either rewards or the sense of loss. (Happens prior to the return of Christ when the believers are already rewarded, Rev. 19:8).
1. 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. 11 For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- 13 each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. 14 If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire.
2. 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
3. Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God;
o. Great white throne judgment: The final judgment of nonbelievers, the wicked, which will result in their being thrown into the lake of fire along with the devil, the beast and the false prophet
i. Revelation 20:11-15 Then I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away, and no place was found for them. 12 And I saw the dead, great and small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Then another book was opened, which is the book of life. And the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done. 13 And the sea gave up the dead who were in it, Death and Hades gave up the dead who were in them, and they were judged, each one of them, according to what they had done. 14 Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. 15 And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
p. Judgment of the Sheep and Goats: the judgment of the Gentiles at the beginning of the Millennium of those who survive the tribulation; this follows the judgment of the Jews who survived the tribulation (Matthew 25:1-30). Those Gentiles that believed in the Messiah will inherit the kingdom alongside the Jews, but those who did not will away into eternal punishment.
q. New Jerusalem: The center of the new heavens and new earth where believers will dwell eternally with God in intimate, blissful fellowship.
i. John 14:1-3 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.
ii. Revelation 21
r. Hell and heaven (cf. Soteriology above)
s. Eschatological chronology
i. Rapture of the Church: 1 Thess. 4:13-18; 1 Cor 15:52
1. Judgment Seat of Christ (Bema): 1 Cor. 3:9-15; 2 Cor. 5:10
2. Marriage Supper of the Lamb: Rev. 19:1-10
ii. Tribulation
1. First half
a. Seals: Revelation 6
b. Covenant between Antichrist & Israel: Daniel 9:24ff.
c. Abomination of Desolations: Daniel 9:26-27
2. Second half
a. Time of Jacob’s distress: Jeremiah 30:7
b. Trumpets: Revelation 8-9, 11
c. Satan loosed; Jews Persecuted: Revelation 12
d. Bowl judgments: Revelation 16
iii. Second Coming
1. Battle of Armageddon: Joel 3:9ff.; Revelation 14:20; 16:16; 19.
2. Resurrection of OT saints and Tribulation Martyrs: Daniel 12:2; Revelation 20:4-5
3. Judgment on those who survive the tribulation
a. Jews: Matt. 25:1-30
b. Gentiles: Matt. 25:31-46
4. Satan Bound: Revelation 20:1-3
iv. Establishment of the Millennial Kingdom: Revelation 20; Psalm 2; Zechariah 14
1. Who: OT saints, NT saints, Tribulation Saints, those born in Millennium (saints and rebels).
2. Satan loosed and Rebellion crushed: Revelation 20:7-10
v. Eternal State
1. Resurrection of unbelievers and Great White Throne judgment; Revelation 20:11-15
2. New Heavens and New Earth; Revelation 21-22
t. Millennial views
i. Amillennialism: no millennium; rapture & second coming are the same event; tribulation is experience in this age; church = Israel
ii. Postmillennialism: present age blends into millennium because of progress of the gospel; Christ comes after millennium; rapture and the second coming are the same even; church = new Israel; tribulation in this age.
iii. Historic Premillennialism: rapture and second coming are simultaneous; Church goes through tribulation; millennium is present and future; Christ is presently reigning, the millennium is not necessarily 1000 years; provides for a future for Israel, though church is spiritual Israel to some extent.
u. Benware’s Eschatological Overview
i. Rapture of the Church
1. 1 Thess. 4:13-18
ii. The Judgment Seat of Christ: Christ’s judgment of raptured Christians
1. Rom 14:10
2. 1 Cor. 3:11ff.
3. 2 Cor. 5:10
iii. 7-year Tribulation
iv. Christ’s Second Coming
1. Judgment of living Gentiles: to determine whether or not they can enter the Millennial kingdom
a. Matt. 25:31-46; sheep and goats
2. Judgment of Israel: to determine whether they can enter the Messiah’s kingdom
a. Matt. 25:1-11; Ten Virgins
3. Resurrection and Reward to OT saints, perished believers of the Tribulation
a. Revelation 20:4-6
4. Binding of Satan
a. Revelation 20:1-3
5. Establish of Actual Kingdom
v. Millennial Kingdom of Christ
vi. Judgments of the End Times
1. Judgment of Satan and fallen angels
2. Unbelievers at the Great White Throne judgment
3. Judgment of heavens and earth
vii. Eternal State
v. The Necessity of an Interval of Time between the Rapture and the Second Coming
i. Judgment seat of Christ
1. Revelation 19:8, garments
ii. Marriage of the Lamb
iii. The salvation of people after the Rapture who will then populate the earth during the millennial kingdom
VIII. Angelology
a. Classification of angels: Colossians 1:16; Ephesians 3:10; 6:12; 1 Peter 3:22
i. Cherubim: Highest order of Angelic beings. Heralds and protectors of God’s holiness and presence. On the mercy seat, Exodus 25:18-22; Accompanying God’s glory, Ezekiel 10; Guarding the Garden, Genesis 3.
ii. Seraphim: ‘burning ones,” surround the throne of God, Isaiah 6
iii. Living Creatures: likely cherubim, Ezekiel 1; Revelation 4.
iv. Archangels
1. Satan, not mentioned as such, but likely
2. Gabriel: likely due to special duties & associations, announced Messiah, Matt. 1 & Luke 1.
3. Michael: specifically mentioned as an archangel. Prepared Daniel for vision and withstood prince of Greece and Persia, Dan. 10; Contends with Satan over the body of Moses, Jude 9; Leads angels against the dragon & his demons, Revelation 12:7.
v. Lists: thrones, dominions, rulers, authorities, powers.
b. Angels and free will: Clearly some angels rebelled against the perfect and holy will of God.
i. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
c. Satan
i. Names
1. Primary
a. Satan/Adversary: 1 Timothy 5:15
b. Accuser of the brethren: Rev. 12:10
c. Adversary/Roaring Lion; 1 Peter 5:8
d. God of this age, 2 Cor. 4:4
e. Prince of the Power of the air; Ephesians 2:2;
f. Liar and Murderer, John 8:44
g. Tempter, 1 Thessalonians 3:5
2. Secondary: Abaddon, Apollyon, Beelzebub, Belieal, Devil, Dragon Enemy, Evil One, Ruler of demons, Serpent of Old.
ii. Satan’s sin
1. Prideful Self-exaltation;
a. 1 Timothy 3:6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become puffed up with conceit and fall into the condemnation of the devil. ?
b. Isaiah 14: King of Babylon
c. Ezekiel 28: King of Tyre
iii. Satan’s Career
1. Created Good: Genesis 1:31
2. Fell into pride and was cast out of heaven before; Genesis 3:1;
3. Directly tempted Eve and Christ: Genesis 3; Matthew 4;
4. Serves as the prince of power of the air: Ephesians 2:2;
5. Ruler of this world deludes unbelievers: 2 Corinthians 4:4
6. Works through world systems & false beliefs: 2 Cor. 10:3-5
7. He empowers false prophet and the Antichrist: 2 Thess. 2
8. Will be bound during the Millennium, set loose at the end to lead a final rebellion and then crushed: Rev. 20
9. Spends Eternity in the Lake of Fire
iv. Character
1. Evil: 1 John 5:19 We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.
2. Murderous Liar: John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and has nothing to do with the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
3. Tempter: Matthew 4:3…and the tempter came
4. Accuser: Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
5. Deceiver: Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was thrown down, that ancient serpent, who is called the devil and Satan, the deceiver of the whole world--he was thrown down to the earth, and his angels were thrown down with him.
6. Sinner: 1 John 3:8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil.
v. Methods
1. Works in the world system of ideologies & philosophies:
a. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. 5 We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ,
2. Disguises himself as an angel of light:
a. 2 Corinthians 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.
3. Introduces false doctrines:
a. 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
4. Blinds the minds of the unbelieving:
a. 2 Corinthians 4:4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
5. Wage war against believers
a. Ephesians 6:10ff.
b. Revelation 12:10 And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God.
vi. Future
1. Matthew 25:41 "Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
2. Revelation 20:1-2 Then I saw an angel coming down from heaven, holding in his hand the key to the bottomless pit and a great chain. 2 And he seized the dragon, that ancient serpent, who is the devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years,
3. Revelation 20:10 and the devil who had deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.
d. Fallen angels
i. Their Fall
1. Jude 1:6 And the angels who did not stay within their own position of authority, but left their proper dwelling, he has kept in eternal chains under gloomy darkness until the judgment of the great day—
2. 2 Peter 2:4 For if God did not spare angels when they sinned, but cast them into hell and committed them to chains of gloomy darkness to be kept until the judgment;
ii. Their Work
1. Oppose good angels
a. Daniel 10
b. Jude 1:9 But when the archangel Michael, contending with the devil, was disputing about the body of Moses, he did not presume to pronounce a blasphemous judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you."
2. Introduce heresies
a. 1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will depart from the faith by devoting themselves to deceitful spirits and teachings of demons,
3. Battle against believers
a. Ephesians 6:10ff.
b. 2 Cor. 10:3-5
4. Demon possession
iii. Destiny, Revelation 20—the fiery pit
e. Ministry of angels
i. Worship God: Isaiah 6; Revelation 4-5
ii. Messengers of God; Genesis 18;
iii. Ministered to Christ after temptation: Matt. 4:11
iv. Removed the stone and announced the resurrection: Matt. 28:2, 6
v. Predicted Christ’s return: Acts 1:11
vi. Serve the Saints: Hebrews 1:14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?
vii. Pour out judgment on the earth: Revelation 6-18
viii. Predicted Christ’s birth: Matt. 1; Luke 1-2
ix. Minister to Christ at Gethsemane: Luke 22:43 [probably not original, though certainly ancient testimony]
x. Return with Christ: 2 Thess. 1:7;
xi. Protect in times of trouble: Matt. 2; Acts 5, 8, 10, 27
IX. Apologetics:
a. Historicity of the Bible
i. Lower criticism/textual criticism: a valid science which employs the comparison various texts in order to determine the exact words of the inspired autographs.
1. New Testament
a. 99% substantial agreement among ancient manuscripts
b. Only 1% of variants are meaningful (simply meaning is altered in some degree) and viable (can even remotely be said to be a potential reading of the autograph)
c. 5,700+ Greek Manuscripts
d. 20,000+ Ancient versions manuscripts
e. 1,000,000+ quotations among the church fathers
f. Some manuscripts from 2nd century (earliest AD 125; p52).
2. Old Testament
a. Carefully and meticulously copied
b. Masoretic’s text historicity validated by Dead Sea Scrolls (i.e., Isaiah scroll) and Origen’s Hexapla
ii. External Evidence: the Scriptures are continually supported by archeological findings; none have inexplicably contradicted the Scriptures
iii. Internal Evidence: The Scriptures, though written by many authors over a long period of time, manifest a unity and purity and accuracy when compared to one another
iv. KJV Controversy
1. Used best manuscripts available to them at the time…
2. Since, many and much older manuscripts have been discovered
b. Sudden Creationism (six days)
i. Creation is a recent event measured in thousands of years and not millions or billions (10-6k)
1. Theistic evolution is unbiblical
2. Day-age theory is weak and appeals to me as pandering
3. Support for literal 24 hour days
a. Use of ‘yom’-every instance that this word is used with ordinal numbers, it refers to a 24 hour day
b. Repetition of the phrase, “And there was evening and there was morning”
c. The commandment of the Sabbath (a 24 period) is based on the creation account
d. Adam named all the animals in Gen. 2. In a day/age scheme many would be extinct
e. Scientific evidence can be explained by catastrophic flood
f. The biblical account contradicts a ‘developmental’ process
g. The use of the vav-consecutive points to the narrative form of Genesis 1.
ii. Six days of creation
1. Light and Darkness
2. Waters above and below
3. Dry land and vegetation
4. Luminaries
5. Birds and fishes
6. Animals and man
7. Sabbath rest
iii. Gap theory
1. Scenario
a. Perfect creation millions of years ago 1:1
b. Satan’s rebellion brought about catastrophe, 1:2
c. Reconstruction in six days or ages 1:3
2. Problems
a. Scientific data can be explained by flood rather than time
b. Formless and Void does not signify chaos
c. Contradicts Genesis 1:31: all was very good
d. Syntax of 1:2 is three subordinate clauses supporting 1:1
c. Deity of Christ: See Christology
d. Problem of evil
i. Key principles
1. God made everything good:
a. Gen. 1:31
2. God is good:
a. Psalm 106; 107
3. God is defined by mercy:
a. Exodus 33:19-34:6ff.
4. God is just:
a. Genesis 18:25
5. God’s ways are unsearchable
a. Romans 11:33 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!
6. God’s sovereignty is over all
a. Psalm 103:19 The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all.
7. God is tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone (James 1:13)
8. God allows (purposes, but no author?) evil: Job 1, 2; 1 Corinthians 10:13; 2 Corinthians 12:7 (thorn in the flesh)
9. God commands obedience but allows disobedience: Gen 2, 3
10. God knew that there would be evil before the foundation of the world: Ephesians 1:3-14
ii. Conclusion
1. God is not the author of sin.
2. He allows sin to runs its course for the time being.
3. Man is responsible for sin.
4. God will accomplish His ultimate goals despite sin (is this strong enough).
iii. Why Does Allow Evil?
1. To display all of His attributes: mercy, justice, holiness, power, wrath (cf. Romans 9:22-23)
2. Because of sin, God’s rich mercy is made all the more clear.
3. Reveals the true nature of evil, as set against the goodness purity and holiness of God
iv. Why does God allow suffering? Could be the result of:
1. Human choice/the consequences of sin, ultimately Genesis 3, but other specific consequences
2. Test which serves to better moral character, Job; James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5
3. Direct men to God and prepare them for the Gospel and deliverance: Romans 8:18-25
4. To reveal God’s glory in healing or deliverance, John 9:3
e. Existence of God
i. Assumed in the Bible, “In the beginning God…”
ii. Revealed effectively in Creation: Psalm 19:1-6
iii. Revealed to all through conscience: Romans 1, 2
iv. Revealed through the written word: Psalm 19:7:10
v. Revealed in Christ’s glory
1. John 1:1-18
2. John 14:1-9
3. 2 Corinthians 4:3-6
vi. Transcendental Argument: Impossibility of the contrary
1. Necessary for arguments of Ultimate Authority
2. Ultimate authority established
a. Spirit through the Church
b. Spirit in the heart
vii. Traditional arguments
1. Cosmological
2. Teleological
3. Anthropological: superiority of man b/c in God’s image
4. Moral
f. Resurrection of Christ
i. Empty grace and empty wrappings left intact
ii. Eyewitnesses: 1 Cor. 15:5-8
iii. Birth and growth of the church
iv. Transformation of the disciples
1. Particularly Paul and James, Jesus half-brother
g. Virgin birth: Jesus’ humanity was conceived in Mary by the Holy Spirit, apart from an earthy father.
i. Biblical evidence, assumed by biblical record, no effort made to prove it:
1. Isaiah 7:14
2. Matthew 1:18ff.
3. Luke 1:34-35 And Mary said to the angel, "How will this be, since I am a virgin?" 35 And the angel answered her, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be called holy--the Son of God.
4. John 1:14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
5. Galatians 4:4 But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,
ii. Context of Isaiah 7:14- sign to King Ahaz
h. Major Heresies:
i. Sabellianism: An anti-trinitarian view that is also called Modalism and Modalistic Monarchianism. It was named after a third-century theologian named Sabellius. Unitarianism is a modern form of this doctrine.
1. Modalism: The anti-trinitarian view that states there is only one person in the Godhead, variously manifested in the form or mode as Father, Son, or Holy Spirit.
ii. Arianism: The belief founded by Arius that denied the eternality of Christ, stating that Christ had been crated by the Father. Arius was condemned by the Council of Nicea in AD 325.
iii. Ebionism: den[ies] the virgin birth and deity of Christ, teaching instead that Christ was only a human prophet.
iv. Socinianism: Denied the Trinity, deity of Christ, and the Substitutionary atonement. Socinus also denied man’s depravity, teaching that people have the ability to avoid sinning. Socinus was Unitarian in belief.
v. Apollinarianism: taught the deity of Christ but denied the true humanity of Christ, stating that Jesus had a human body and soul but not a human spirit.
vi. Docetism: An early Christian sect that affirmed the deity of Christ while denying His humanity.
vii. Eutychianism: A view formulated by Eutyches (c. AD 378-454) that taught that Christ had only one nature not truly divine or truly human.
viii. Nestorianism: The view taught by Nestorius (d. AD 451) that acknowledged the human and divine nature of Christ, but denied the union of the two natures, teaching Christ was two persons.
X. Practical Theology—Comprehensive
a. General
The candidate must be able to discuss effectively, with biblical references, the following areas.
i. Church government
1. Plurality of elders
a. CSB Acts 15:2 But after Paul and Barnabas had engaged them in serious argument and debate, they arranged for Paul and Barnabas and some others of them to go up to the apostles and elders in Jerusalem concerning this controversy.
b. James 5:14 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.
c. Acts 14:23 23 And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.
d. Acts 20:17 Now from Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the elders of the church to come to him.
e. Titus 1:5 This is why I left you in Crete, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you--
2. Deacons
a. 1 Timothy 3:13 For those who serve well as deacons gain a good standing for themselves and also great confidence in the faith that is in Christ Jesus.
b. Pattern like the Seven in Acts 6
c. In the post-apostolic church, the office of deacon also bore additional ruling and teaching power
i. Didache 15:1
ii. Ignatius to the Philadelphians 11:1
iii. Polycarp to Philippians 5:3
3. Deaconesses
a. Why not wives?
i. Seems odd that requirement put upon deacon’s wife and not the elder’s wife
ii. Use of “likewise” seems to refer to another group
iii. Pheobe is referred to as a servant/deaconess in Romans 16:1
iv. No possessive pronoun (argument from silence)
b. Arguments for wives
i. Distinguished from deacons, explicitly (use of “likewise”)
ii. Wisdom in letting wives helps serve with deacons instead of simply deacons in general
iii. Explains why no requirement for sexual fidelity is mentioned
iv. Perhaps better explains why “women” is so interjected
ii. Principles of biblical decision making
1. Search the Scripture for specific reference or related principle
2. Pray for wisdom as to how best glorify God in this decision
a. Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
b. James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
3. Seek counsel from godly people
a. Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no guidance, a people falls, but in an abundance of counselors there is safety.
b. Proverbs 15:22 22 Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers they succeed.
4. Glad submission to God’s providence
iii. Role of women in the church
1. Cannot teach or wield authority over men
a. 1 Timothy 2:12 I do not permit a woman to teach or to exercise authority over a man; rather, she is to remain quiet.
2. Submission to the church, especially its teaching in public setting
a. 1 Corinthians 14:34 the women should keep silent in the churches. For they are not permitted to speak, but should be in submission, as the Law also says.
3. Apparently can voice in public prayer, for example
a. 1 Corinthians 11:5 5 but every wife who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven.
iv. Pastoral ministry priorities
1. Ministry of the Word
a. 2 Timothy 4:2 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.
b. Acts 6:4 4 But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
2. Prayer
a. Acts 6:4
3. Equipping of the Saints for Ministry
a. Ephesians 4:11-12 And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, 12 to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,
4. Evangelism
a. 2 Timothy 4:5 As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
5. Raise up and Train future leaders
a. 2 Timothy 2:1-2 You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus, 2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
v. Expository preaching
1. Eisegesis versus exegesis
a. Eisegesis is putting meaning into
b. Exegesis would be taking meaning out of
2. Whole Counsel of God
a. Acts 20:20-27 20 how I did not shrink from declaring to you anything that was profitable, and teaching you in public and from house to house, 21 testifying both to Jews and to Greeks of repentance toward God and of faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, 23 except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me. 24 But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. 26 Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all of you, 27 for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God.
b. Declaring the whole of God’s truth;
c. Accomplished well through systematic expository preaching
i. Can’t cherry pick topics
d. However, demands that the whole message of Christ and Scripture is brought to bare through explanation of larger parts of Scripture at times… and tying in Scripture to the text at hand
vi. Biblical hermeneutics
1. Goal: Rules and steps used to best establish and demonstrate the authorial intent of the text
2. Grammitcal-Historical Method
a. Grammatical: Deals with the original language of the text in details and context
i. Grammar
ii. Syntax: word arrangement; usage
iii. Semantics: meaning of texts
iv. Genres
b. Historical: Deals with the cultural and historical contexts of the writing
vii. Church discipline
1. Matthew 18:15-20 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. 16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. 17 If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. 18 Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. 19 Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. 20 For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."
2. 1 Corinthians 5:1-5 It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. 2 And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. 3 ¶ For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. 4 When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, 5 you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.
3. Steps
a. 1: Tell him his sin alone
b. 2: Take someone with you
i. To confirm, repentance or impenitence
ii. Mohler in Compromised Church (180), “Jesus cited the Deuteronomic law which required multiple witnesses of a crime for conviction. Yet His purpose here seems larger than the mere establishment of the facts of the case. Jesus seems to intend for the witnesses to be an important presence in the event of the confrontation, thus adding corroborating testimony concerning the confrontation of a sinning brother. The brother cannot claim that he was not confronted with his sin in a brotherly context.”
c. 3: Tell the Church-to urge him to repent
d. 4: Treat as an outsider
viii. Biblical ordinances
1. Baptism
a. Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
b. Does not save: 1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel,
c. Based on faith: NEED REFERENCE
2. Lord’s Supper
a. 1 Corinthians 11:23-26 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, "This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me." 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.
b. OPEN? CLOSED? WHY?
ix. Baby dedications
1. 1 Samuel 1:11 11 And she vowed a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head."
2. Not true practice
3. Today seems more carry over from infant baptism
4. Proper, really as parent dedication to be held accountable by the church
x. Leadership development
1. Training
a. Doctrinal
i. Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem or
ii. The Moody Handbook of Theology, Paul Enns
iii. Bible Doctrine: OT and NT Survey
b. Counseling
i. A Theology of Christian Counseling, Adams
ii. More Adams, check at home
iii. Instruments in Redeemer’s Hands, Tripp
c. Spiritual Life
i. Cross-Centered Life, C.J. Mahaney
ii. Spiritual Disciplines of the Christian Life, Whitney
iii. Discipline of Grace or Transforming Grace, Jerry Bridges
d. Elder Instruction (if training for Eldership)
i. Biblical Eldership, Strauch
ii. Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges
2. Experience
a. Ministry leadership opportunities
i. Counseling
ii. Small Group
iii. Administration/Coordination
iv. Teaching
b. Faithful service
3. Example
a. Learn by shadowing and exposure
b. Confirmation of godly character in time
xi. Biblical concept of missions
1. Local and foreign
a. Matthew 28:18-20 18 And Jesus came and said to them, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
b. Acts 1:8 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth."
c. Psalm 67
d. Revelation 5:9-10 9 And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
2. Sending process
a. Galatians 2:6-10
i. Confirmation of grace granted ministry
ii. Right hand of fellowship
iii. Submissive attitude, send under authority
b. Acts 13
i. Congregational Spirit-led affirmation
ii. Congregational commissioning
3. Evangelism
a. Romans 1:15-17 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome. 16 ¶ For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith."
b. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
4. Parachurch versus local church
a. Matthew 16:16-19 16 Simon Peter replied, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." 17 And Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven. 18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
b. The church is God’s institution and appears in local assemblies.
c. Para-church organizations should exist to further churches. Examples: seminaries, missions boards
d. Church has
i. Ordinances
ii. Discipline
iii. Required
1. Attendance (Heb. 10:26)
2. Service (Ephesians 4)
iv. Preaching-Centered
1. God’s word (2 Timothy 4:2)
2. Gospel, specifically
v. Mission: Matthew 28:18-19
xii. Stewardship
1. Loans
a. Exodus 22:25 25 ¶ "If you lend money to any of my people with you who is poor, you shall not be like a moneylender to him, and you shall not exact interest from him.
b. Romans 13:7-8 7 Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed. 8 ¶ Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.
i. Here the issue is not owing things explicitly, but rather paying what you owe.
c. Deuteronomy 15:7-10 "If among you, one of your brothers should become poor, in any of your towns within your land that the LORD your God is giving you, you shall not harden your heart or shut your hand against your poor brother, 8 but you shall open your hand to him and lend him sufficient for his need, whatever it may be. 9 Take care lest there be an unworthy thought in your heart and you say, 'The seventh year, the year of release is near,' and your eye look grudgingly on your poor brother, and you give him nothing, and he cry to the LORD against you, and you be guilty of sin. 10 You shall give to him freely, and your heart shall not be grudging when you give to him, because for this the LORD your God will bless you in all your work and in all that you undertake.
d. Psalm 112:5 5 It is well with the man who deals generously and lends; who conducts his affairs with justice.
e. Luke 6:35 35 But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil.
2. Giving
a. No tithe
b. Grace giving principles (2 Cor. 8-9)
i. According to what a person has, not according to what he does not have (2 Cor. 8:12)
ii. Sow sparingly, reap sparingly (2 Cor. 9:6)
iii. Cheerful giver, from the heart; not coherced (2 Cor. 9:7)
xiii. Lawsuits: (1 Cor. 6:1-8)
1. Judge for yourselves (vv. 1-6)
2. Suffer the wrong (v. 7)
xiv. Biblical basis of marriage and remarriage
1. Marriage:
a. Genesis 2
i. V. 18: Not good for man to be alone
ii. Vv. 22-23: woman taken out of man
iii. Vv. 23-24: Covenant together
1. Bone of my bone and the tribes of Israel commitment to David in 2 Samuel 5:1
2. Hold fast: used of covenant faithfulness in Deut. 10:20
iv. Leave: father and mother
v. Cling/Hold fast: to wife (not wives)
vi. One flesh: physical and spiritual unity
b. Called covenant:
i. Proverbs 2:16-17 16 So you will be delivered from the forbidden woman, from the adulteress with her smooth words, 17 who forsakes the companion of her youth and forgets the covenant of her God;
ii. Malachi 2:14 14 But you say, "Why does he not?" Because the LORD was witness between you and the wife of your youth, to whom you have been faithless, though she is your companion and your wife by covenant.
c. Matthew 19: Jesus affirms the sanctity of marriage and its ideal of lasting commitment and exclusive relationship
d. 1 Cor. 7:
i. singleness is good(undivided devotion to the Lord
ii. Marriage is not a sin and is good for sexual fulfillment and obligation
e. 1 Timothy 4:3-4, blessing to be enjoyed with thanksgiving
f. Believers are only to marry believers
i. 1 Corinthians 7:39 39 ¶ A wife is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to be married to whom she wishes, only in the Lord.
ii. 2 Corinthians 6:14 14 ¶ Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness?
2. Remarriage
a. For widows, should marry (certain situations) and free to marry
i. 1 Timothy 5:14 14 So I would have younger widows marry, bear children, manage their households, and give the adversary no occasion for slander.
ii. Romans 7:3 3 Accordingly, she will be called an adulteress if she lives with another man while her husband is alive. But if her husband dies, she is free from that law, and if she marries another man she is not an adulteress.
b. For divorcees:
i. Permissible under the principle of Romans 7:3 and the implications of Matthew 19:9 (see below on divorce)
ii. That is, if a divorce was biblically annulled, then remarriage is possible
iii. If an unbiblical divorce
1. To marry another would be adultery: Mark 10:11-12 11 And he said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her, 12 and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."
2. Must remain unmarried or reconciled to her husband: 1 Corinthians 7:10-11 10 ¶ To the married I give this charge (not I, but the Lord): the wife should not separate from her husband 11 (but if she does, she should remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband), and the husband should not divorce his wife.
3. Can only be remarried to another person if reconciliation is impossible
a. Former spouse remarries
b. Former spouses proves to be an unbeliever
c. Former spouse dies
xv. Biblical basis for divorce
1. Sexual sin:
a. Matthew 19:9 9 And I say to you: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery."
b. Porneia is likely to be taken here in the broad sense here.
c. So, remarriage is permissible on these grounds. That is, if someone divorces his wife and marries another, he does not commit adultery, presuming the basis for the divorce was sexual sin.
2. Desertion by an unbeliever
a. 1 Corinthians 7:15 15 But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.
b. This “separation” can be applied broader than specifically filing divorce papers. Hence, to describe it as desertion fits the word meaning well. So then, a believer could file for divorce, if the deserting unbeliever refuses.
xvi. Manifestations of salvation
1. Profession of faith
a. Romans 10:9 9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
b. Acts 4:12 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."
2. Acknowledgement of sin/first manifestation of genuine repentance
a. Luke 13:3 3 No, I tell you; but unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.
b. Acts 3:19 19 Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,
3. Lasting Positive Change(Assurance
a. Jeremiah 31:33-34 33 But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the LORD: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, 'Know the LORD,' for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the LORD. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more."
b. Ezekiel 36:25-27 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
c. Romans 6:1-2 ¶ What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?
d. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 ¶ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
xvii. Progressive sanctification
1. Prayer
a. Matthew 6:9-15 9 Pray then like this: "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. 10 Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread, 12 and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. 14 For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, 15 but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
b. Ephesians 6:18 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints,
c. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 17 pray without ceasing,
2. Personal Bible study tools/methods
a. Steps
i. Observe
ii. Interpret
iii. Apply
b. Phrasing
c. Theme Summaries
i. Break up passages in verses
ii. Summarize verse in your own words
iii. Summarize each paragraph
iv. Summarize each chapter
v. Summarize whole books
d. Tools
i. Study Bibles
1. MacArthur Study Bible
2. ESV Study Bible
3. Reformation Study Bible
4. NIV Study Bible
5. NET Bible
ii. Bible study tools
1. Vines
2. Strong’s
3. NIDNTT (Colin Brown)
iii. Background
1. New Testament History, Bruce
2. A History of Israel, Kaiser
3. A Survey of OT Introduction, Archer
e. Commentaries
i. Expositor’s
ii. MacArthur
iii. Matthew Henry
f. Theology
i. Systematic Theology or Bible Doctrine, Grudem
ii. Moody Handbook of Theology, Enns
3. Confession of sin
a. 1 John 1:9 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
b. James 5:16 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
c. Proverbs 28:13 13 Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy.
d. Psalm 32:1-5 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. 2 Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit. 3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. 4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer. Selah 5 I acknowledged my sin to you, and I did not cover my iniquity; I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD," and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah
4. Worship
a. Revelation 4-5
b. Matthew 22:37-40 37 And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
c. Colossians 3:16-17 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
d. Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
5. Fellowship
a. Acts 2:42 42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
b. Hebrews 10:24-25 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
xviii. Social issues
1. Abortion
a. Exodus 20:13 13 ¶ "You shall not murder.
b. Psalm 139:13-14 13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
c. Luke 1:44 44 For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
d. Luke 2:12 And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger."
e. Luke 18:15-17 15 ¶ Now they were bringing even infants to him that he might touch them. And when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. 16 But Jesus called them to him, saying, "Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. 17 Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it."
2. Politics
a. Romans 13:1-2 Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God. 2 Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment.
b. 1 Peter 2:17 17 Honor everyone. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the emperor.
c. Ultimate: Theocracy with Jesus reigning
d. For now
i. Democracy/Republic: to check and balance and so better protect and represent the minority
ii. Less government involvement in society, necessitates Church pick up banner
iii. Promote religious freedom; separation of church and state
3. Homosexuality: serious, though forgivable, sexual sin
a. Romans 1:26-27 26 ¶ For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; 27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
b. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 9 ¶ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
xix. Church’s responsibilities to widows, orphans, and the poor
1. 1 Timothy 5:3-16
2. James 1:27 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
3. Acts 6:1 Now in these days when the disciples were increasing in number, a complaint by the Hellenists arose against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution.
4. Poor
a. Proverbs 14:21 Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor.
b. Proverbs 19:17 Whoever is generous to the poor lends to the LORD, and he will repay him for his deed.
c. Proverbs 31:9 9 Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.
d. Romans 15:26-27 26 For Macedonia and Achaia have been pleased to make some contribution for the poor among the saints at Jerusalem. 27 For they were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have come to share in their spiritual blessings, they ought also to be of service to them in material blessings.
e. Galatians 2:10 10 Only, they asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.
xx. Demon possession/oppression:
1. Are Demons active in the World Today?
a. Yes.
b. There is nothing in Scripture to think it has changed from NT times.
2. Not all Evil and Sin is from Satan and Demons, but Some is.
a. Ephesians 4:26-27 26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and give no opportunity to the devil.
b. 1 John 5:18 18 ¶ We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he who was born of God protects him, and the evil one does not touch him.
3. Can a Christian be Demon Possessed?
a. Demon possession is not a good translation as if to insinuate that demons take total control of persons.
b. Exorcism—as a term was not used to describe Jesus ministry
i. Not in NT epistles
ii. No instructions or test concerning demon possession
c. Focuses should be
i. Reliance upon God’s strength
ii. Clothing with whole armor
iii. Waging a defensive strategy
4. Satan and demons written about, but Believers not warned of demon inhabitation, nor are Believers instructed about exorcising demons from believers or from unbelievers
So Conclude:
a. Inconceivably indwelt
b. Inconceivably unreported
c. Inconceivably uninstructed
b. Situations
In addition, the candidate must have studied the following situations and be able to provide proper biblical counsel. The actual ordination questions need not be limited to the cases presented.
i. Deacon/Elder responsibilities
1. Among the people you are called to shepherd is a man who is very analytical. He wants to understand just what deacons are supposed to do according to the Bible. What Scriptures would you use in helping him discern what the ministry of deacons should include?
a. Scriptures:
i. 1 Timothy 3:8-13
ii. Acts 6
iii. Philippians 1:1
iv. Romans 16:1
b. Sum:
i. Deacons/nesses have significant roles in the church, as judged from the moral qualifications. Their “ministry” appears (judging from Acts 6) to free pastoral/teaching leaders for teaching and prayer by taking care of other ministry components (i.e., ministry to widows).
2. Someone from another church states that their church’s position is that the pastor is the only elder and that the and his Board of Deacons form the ruling body of the church, but even their decisions are subject to congregational approval. He then challenges you to show him if you think there is a more biblical pattern for church rule. If you disagree with him, what form of church order and rule would you advocate? What line of scriptural evidence would use to prove your position?
a. Position: Elder(s) rule with congregational trusting support.
b. Support/Explanation:
i. Elders ultimately govern Christ’s church by God’s authority.
1. 1 Peter 5
2. 1 Tim. 5:17
3. 1 Thess. 5:12
4. Heb. 13:7, 17
5. Acts 20:28
ii. The congregation supports their Elders with trusting submission/affirmation.
1. Affirming Deacon ministry: Acts 6:3
2. Rebuking Elders: 1 Tim. 5:19-20
3. Putting Out members: Matthew 18:15-17; 1 Cor. 5:4
4. Doctrinal affirmation: Acts 15:22
3. A man comes to you and says he would like to be an elder in the church. He has served faithfully as a deacon for a number of years now feels he is ready to serve as an elder. He asks you to tell him how he can become an elder. What would you say to him as far as what a faithful deacon should do and be in order to become an elder?
a. How to become an elder: (at GBC)
i. Logistics
1. Nominate yourself
2. Continue to pray and serve
ii. Instruction
1. Review Pastoral Letters, highlighting
a. Qualifications: 1 Tim. 3
b. Responsibilities: Teaching, Doctrine, Oversight, Defense, Shepherding
2. Read Strauch’s book Biblical Eldership
iii. Equipping
1. Doctrinal: Review, instruction, to be able to defend
2. Teaching: Look for, church provide opportunities to teach
3. Pastoral Shepherding: training up for more spiritual oversight (i.e., small group leader)
4. An argument has occurred over whether 1 Tim. 3:11 refers to wives of deacons or whether it provides for an office in the church for women deacons. What would you state as your position on this issue, and how would you defend it? (1 Timothy 5:10 f.)
a. Use of the word ‘likewise’ suggests a third group is designated.
b. No qualifications for elders’ wives mentioned, why would there be for deacons?
c. The word deacon in masculine form is sued to refer to women.
d. Paul specifically used the word, ‘women’ without any possessive pronoun or grammatical connection to the men.
e. Must be dignified, no gossips, temperate, and faithful.
5. An elder in your church has a grown son who has recently deserted his wife and children and joined a cult. This elder has served faithfully for many years and is above reproach in the eyes of the people. Do you think he is still qualified to serve as an elder? If so, explain why, and if not, give your biblical reasons for thinking he should step down.
a. Above reproach: Yes.
b. Why:
i. Texts:
1. 1 Timothy 3:4 He must manage his own household well, with all dignity keeping his children submissive,
2. Titus 1:6 if anyone is above reproach, the husband of one wife, and his children are believers and not open to the charge of debauchery or insubordination.
ii. Explanation
1. From Titus 1:6, “believers” should be taken as faithful
2. With comparison of 1 Timothy, the issue is behavior as further explained in both passages.
3. Further, “children” would seem to point to children at home, implying the father still has significant influence on ordering their behavior.
6. Two leaders from a newly formed church come to you with an issue that has divided the leadership. Some of the leadership feel that a simple majority is reasonable, while others felt that leadership decisions should be made on a unanimous basis. Which do you believe is the biblical pattern for decision making, and what kind of biblical reasoning would you take them through to prove your point?
a. Pattern for Decision-Making: Unanimity
b. Defense:
i. Principle of Christian Unity:
1. Colossians 3:12-14 Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.
2. Ephesians 4:1-5 I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, 2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, 3 eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism,…
ii. Precedent established on solidarity in discussions and decisions.
1. 1 Timothy 5:17 Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching.
2. Acts 11:30 And they did so, sending it to the elders by the hand of Barnabas and Saul.
3. Hebrews 13:17 ¶ Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.
iii. Example at the Jerusalem Council:
1. Acts 15:6 ¶ The apostles and the elders were gathered together to consider this matter.
2. Acts 15:22 ¶ Then it seemed good to the apostles and the elders, with the whole church, to choose men from among them and send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. They sent Judas called Barsabbas, and Silas, leading men among the brothers,
iv. Outworking:
1. All decisions must be unanimous among the Elder Board.
2. The Elders may agree to delegate authority for certain decisions to certain Elders (individuals or sub-group).
3. For dissensions:
a. Final agreement must be made for the sake of Christ’s peace.
b. The dissenting group must persuade the majority.
c. If the minority fails to persuade, the minority must entrust their decision and so actively back the majority’s decision.
d. Thereby, unity is secured.
7. The pastor and some of his leaders from a congregational ruled church come to you and tell you that they are convinced that a plurality of elders is the biblical pattern for rule in the church. If you disagree with them, who what you believe is the biblical argument for your position. If you agree with them, show them a way to move the church from congregational to elder rule with greatest possibility of maintaining church harmony in the process.
Move from purely congregational rule to Elder rule:
a. No immediate changes must happen.
b. Teach through 1 Timothy. While teaching, say something of your persuasion concerning biblical church polity.
c. Actively disciple elder-like men in your church.
d. Establish a pastoral advisory board:
i. Group of elder-like/qualified men
ii. Bounce ideas off of
iii. Solicit input
iv. Get feedback
v. Delegate spiritual responsibility
e. In time, teach topically on church polity. In concluding, state your desire to move to biblical fidelity.
f. In time (depending on responsiveness), move for the congregation to officially establish an advising Elder Board and at least two other Elders.
g. In time, move for the congregation to officially bestow some ruling authority (in part, if necessary) to the Elder Board.
8. An elder, because of an indiscretion on his part, has stained his reputation and is no longer ‘above reproach.’ Because you are his close friend, you are asked to lead in dealing with him and his position as an elder. Describe step-by-step how you would handle the situation, taking it to the point of what you would do if he rejected counsel. What Scripture would you use to support your approach?
a. Pray together.
b. Clearly demonstrate how his “indiscretion” has disqualified him from the office of Elder based on 1 Timothy 3:2 and Titus 1:6.
c. Indicate that this former elder needs to resign before the church expressing his repentance (cf. 1 Timothy 5:20).
d. If he rejected the counsel, the process of church discipline would be begin, in an accelerated way. With continual un-repentance, the former elder would be openly rebuked (1 Timothy 5:20) and eventually excommunicated from the Fellowship (cf. Matthew 18:17).
9. A man in your church has been suggested for the office of elder, and for the five years he has been in the church he and his family have led exemplary lives. His personal life in business, sports, and church has been above reproach. However, you know that he has been divorced in the past. You have talked with him and found that he was a Christian at the time of his divorce. However, his wife was unfaithful and she divorced him, even though he told her he was willing to forgive her and try to rebuild the marriage. In trying to determine how you would stand on his becoming an elder, what else might you want to know about him before you decided? Also, if another elder pointed out that he feels that 1 Tim. 3:2 (‘husband of one wife’) prohibits the man from ever being an elder, would you accept that as a valid reason for rejecting him? If not, why not?
a. What I would want to know more about him:
i. How long ago it happened?
ii. Where did this happen?
iii. Does this fellowship very certainly know about the divorce or have any connection his former wife?
iv. How has he grown spiritual in leading his home?
b. Would I accept “husband of one wife” as a valid reason?
i. No, I take that phrase to refer to monogamy.
ii. Would need to discuss if “above reproach.”
iii. Would need to show deference to the Elder majority, if I could not persuade.
ii. Church Leadership
1. To what Scripture passages would you refer to find the personal characteristics that God considers essential in calling men to the leadership of His people? What are the key qualities that you find in these passages? Are these qualities the kind of things that can be developed in a person, or are they a part of a person’s innate nature?
a. Characteristics:
i. 1 Timothy 3
ii. Titus 1
b. Key characteristics:
i. Above reproach
ii. Self-controlled
iii. Able to teach
iv. Not a new convert
v. Leads
vi. Aspires
c. Developed or innate?
i. I think it can be both.
ii. The point is that all God-honoring ministry is accomplished by God’s grace and power.
iii. 1 Peter 4:10-11 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies--in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
2. A deacon comes to you and asks you for some things he can say and do in the following situations: What would you say to help him prepare for each of these possible situations?
a. Visiting someone in the hospital who is very ill.
i. Pray, beforehand by yourself, if possible for wisdom
ii. Encourage with sympathy and the mercy of God
iii. God gives all comfort (2 Cor. 1:1-3)
iv. Read Scripture (John 3:16; Psalm 23; Romans 8:18ff.)
v. Remind them of the love on the cross
vi. Perhaps move to encourage trust and hope (cf. Romans 8)
vii. Pray with them
b. Someone who spouse just died.
i. Pray, beforehand by yourself, if possible for wisdom
ii. Mourn with them (Rom. 12:15)
iii. God gives all comfort (2 Cor. 1:1-3)
iv. Remind them of the love on the cross
v. If believer and the situation fits, move to hope in death like 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4:13ff.
vi. Pray with them.
c. Someone whose child has just died accidentally.
i. Pray, beforehand by yourself, if possible for wisdom
ii. Mourn with them (Rom. 12:15)
iii. God gives all comfort (2 Cor. 1:1-3)
iv. Remind them of the love on the cross
v. If believer and the situation fits, move to hope in death like 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4:13ff.
vi. Or if the child was quite young, encourage with Jesus’ love for children (cf. Matthew 18).
vii. Pray with them.
d. Someone who has just lost a job he’s had for thirty years.
i. Pray, beforehand by yourself, if possible for wisdom
ii. Mourn with them (Rom. 12:15)
iii. God gives all comfort (2 Cor. 1:1-3)
iv. Encourage trust and hope
v. Solicit feedback on how church can help
e. Someone who has just discovered he (she, his wife, parent, child) has a fatal disease.
i. Pray, beforehand by yourself, if possible for wisdom
ii. Mourn with them (Rom. 12:15)
iii. God gives all comfort (2 Cor. 1:1-3; Psalm 23)
iv. Remind them of the love on the cross
v. Move towards trusting hope (Romans 8).
vi. If believer and the situation fits, move to hope in death like 1 Cor. 15 and 1 Thess. 4:13ff.
vii. Pray with them.
iii. Discipling
1. One of the young men you are shepherding has a genuine desire for spiritual growth, and he has come to you with a request that you disciple him. Under what circumstances would you be available to help him in his Christian walk? What is the first thing that you would tell him to do?
a. Circumstances for availability:
i. Commitment to regular meeting
ii. Commitment to open accountability
iii. Commitment to pursue Christ personally
iv. Commitment to do additional “homework”
b. First thing: Pray about the commitment; initial meeting to determine expectations and etc.
2. A young man you are shepherding comes to you and asks if you will disciple him. He, however, is not sure what that means and asks you to tell him what the process includes. What would you tell him? List at least three things you think the process of discipling should include.
a. Regular meeting
b. Defined meeting: times and for how long (initial for few weeks)
c. Spiritual/Scriptural instruction
d. Accountability
e. Life/ministry mentoring
3. A group of men in your fold asks you to teach them how to disciple other men. Outline or list what you would teach them, including philosophy, goals, bibliography, tools, materials, and methods.
a. Content:
i. How to Study/Read/Interpret Your Bible
ii. Theology Overview
iii. The Gospel and Life Change
iv. Specific Sanctification
v. Specific Ministry Equipping
b. Philosophy:
i. Teaching
ii. Accountability
iii. Life/ministry mentoring
c. Goals:
i. Increase worship and view of Christ
ii. Provide foundations for study and growth
iii. Equip for ministry
d. Bibliography
i. How to Study
1. BTC: Bible Study Methods and Rules of Interpretation
2. Personal PowerPoint presentation: shorter summary
ii. Theology
1. Christian Beliefs, Grudem and Grudem
2. Bible Doctrine, Grudem and Purswell
3. The Moody Handbook of Theology, Enns
iii. Gospel and Life Change
1. The Cross-Centered Life, Mahaney
2. Pursuit of Holiness, Bridges
3. Discipline of Grace, Bridges*
4. How to Help People Change, Adams
5. How Can I Change, Mahaney/Boisvert
iv. Specific Sanctification
1. All above
2. Humility, Mahaney
3. Not Even a Hint, Harris
4. A Homework Manual for Biblical Living, vol. 1, Mack
5. CCEF booklets
v. Specific Ministry Equipping
1. Life in the Father’s House, Mack
2. The Cross and Christian Ministry, Carson
3. Stop Dating the Church, Harris
4. The Master’s Plan for the Church, MacArthur
5. The Christian Ministry, Charles Bridges
vi. Methods
1. Gatherings: teach, interact, pray, accountability
2. Time together, causal: ministry sharing and life sharing
4. A man in your fold comes to you and says he is discipling someone who is most anxious to get on with using his spiritual gifts for the welfare of the body. He asks you who to help the young man identify his spiritual gifts. What would you tell him about spiritual gifts versus natural talents and how he could lead the young man to discover his gifts and implement them in the body?
a. Pray and think about how you want to serve
b. Look for opportunities
c. Serve, even in areas you don’t initially think you would like or be gifted at
d. In time, your gifts will become more clear as others affirm and you see fruit and enjoy the ministry
5. A young man you are shepherding is active in the youth ministry at the church, but he seems not be doing well in gaining credibility with the youth, and he is unable to teach and lead them effectively. He is beginning to get very discouraged and is wondering if his spiritual gifts and natural talents really equip him for that ministry. How would you help him?
a. Assess and discuss weaknesses
b. Give added instruction to fill and help weaknesses, if desired
c. For example, follow up later to see if changes
d. Perhaps if no significant change, I may encourage him to move to a different ministry.
iv. Counseling situations
1. One of the couples you have been shepherding has been anxiously awaiting the birth of their first child. You get a phone call from the new father telling you that baby has been born with a serious physical handicap. His wife is in a semihysterical state. He wants you to come over. What will you tell him? How will you comfort her?
a. What to tell him?
i. First, ask that him to confirm or reaffirm that this is a good time for he and his wife for me to come.
ii. I’ll be there ASAP.
b. Counsel to her:
i. Weep and mourn with her.
ii. Encourage with God as comforter and point to God’s love as Savior, which is constant.
iii. Remind them to trust this great God, who sent His Son for them.
iv. Brainstorm practical ways to help or for church to help them
v. Serve.
2. A man who is the husband of one of the ladies in your fold calls you and in a desperate voice tells you his wife is packing her bags and preparing to leave him. He wants you to come over and talk her into staying. He admits that he has been unfaithful and he does, on occasion, drink too much and beat her. Now he realizes how much he loves her and needs her. What will you say? How will you deal with each of them?
a. Say:
i. Need to calm down.
ii. I am willing to talk with her if she want to talk right now.
iii. Remind him that they are both very emotional now and it may be best to let her go now. Then after prayer and time, talk, eve the next day.
iv. Assure Him God gives grace to endure and do what He would want.
v. Tell Him that I or someone from church is willing to meet with them.
b. Dealing with him:
i. Eventually move towards genuine repentance
ii. Preach the gospel
iii. If receptive, encourage with the gospel and encourage trust and glory of God
c. Dealing with her:
i. Encourage her, if she feels unsafe, to get away at least for now.
ii. Encourage her, in later counseling, towards grace and forgiveness.
iii. Depending on how this goes, we can begin to move towards reconciliation.
iv. Divorce would be allowed, but I would encourage reconciliation.
v. Divorce would be encouraged only if the man is routinely unrepentant and especially still abusive.
3. The doctor of a thirty-nine-year-old man you know very well calls to tell you that the man has terminal cancer and has less than a year to live. The doctor has just told him this, and he asked the doctor call you and ask you to come to the hospital. He is married and has three children ranging from four to thirteen years old. What will you say to him? What will you say to his wife and children?
a. Say to him and his wife:
i. Presuming they are believers, I would be straight-forward: “Man, the doctor tells me you have been diagnosed with cancer and that he thinks you may have less than a year to live.”
ii. Weep with them.
iii. Point to God’s comfort.
iv. Depending on reception, could move to God’s hope in God’s sovereignty and goodness.
v. Depending on reception, could also move to resurrection- probably more down the road.
b. Say to children (only with the parents’ encouragement)
i. Your daddy is very sick
ii. So he is going to be with doctors a lot to try and help
iii. We are going to pray to God to help daddy to keep praying and trusting in Jesus too
iv. Perhaps, I would address the older children later; they probably can more realistically understand the reality; my counsel for that one would be similar to the parents above.
4. You get a call from a crying mother and a distraught father. You have been shepherding their family, and they have just discovered that their fourteen-year old daughter has been using drugs. Not only that, but she has been sexually involved with her boyfriend and is pregnant. She says she loves him. They want you to come over and talk to the four of them. How will you handle this?
a. Agree to meet
b. Issues to discuss
i. For parents
1. Encourage with hope for them and their daughter in the gospel
2. The ultimate issue and their grief should not revolve around their shame for their child, but for their child’s heart for God…with this there is great hope. All conversion is of God and His grace.
3. Data gather as to what they think led their daughter to this
4. Consider how the parents contributed to their daughters behavior through two extremes
a. Too lax
b. Too restrictive
ii. For daughter
1. Data gather as to her wants and motives, especially for extreme behavior
2. Discern the wise wants: relationships, marriage, companionship, (perhaps) sexual fulfillment
3. Warn of the danger in her decisions
a. Premarital sex
b. Drug use
c. Difficulty created for new child
4. Point to hope in the gospel of Christ
5. You discover that a woman you have been shepherding is in a deep state of depression over the recent death of husband of over forty years. She has lost all her desire to live. She is not eating, and she appears to be willing to die herself. How would you deal with her?
a. Grieve afresh with her
b. Encourage with pointer her to fruitful potential ministry now (cf. Philippians 1:21-26)
c. Help set up other women to invest in her life for accountability and discipleship
d. Eventually, encourage along the lines of 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff., grieving without hope…our hope and life is secure and in Christ.
6. You have just been asked to come to the home of a couple in your fold whose seven-year-old son was hit by a car and killed. What will you say to them?
a. Weep with those who weep (Rom. 12:15)
b. Pray with them
c. Assure and remind them that God is a God of all comfort
d. Encourage them to draw near to God in their time of need through Christ: Read Hebrews 4:14-16.
e. Read 1 Peter 5:7, encourage them to give God their hurts and worries, in time.
f. Comfort them in God’s goodness and grace through Christ and for their son (cf. heaven? 2 Sam. 12:18-23)
7. A dear woman in the church whose husband has been painfully ill for an extended period of time calls you and tells you that her husband has just committed suicide. How will you comfort her? What would you say to her if her husband was not a believer?
a. Weep with her
b. Pray with her
c. Assure and remind her that God is a God of all comfort
d. Encourage them to draw near to God in their time of need through Christ: Read Hebrews 4:14-16.
e. If believer: encourage with the hope of resurrection, like 1 Thessalonians 4:13ff.
f. If not believer:
i. Encourage with hope in God’s mercy
ii. Possibility of faith
iii. Assure her to see God’s love in the cross and remember
8. While passing the men’s room late in the evening when everyone appears to be gone, you hear two familiar voices. Because there is stress in the voices, you stop and discover that one is asking the other to continue in a homosexual relationship. The other indicates that he thinks what they’ve been doing is wrong, but the first voice continues to plead for one more sexual episode. By now you realize that both men are members of your church. What would you do?
a. Call an elder on the phone
b. Confront the individuals
i. Walk
ii. Tell them what you heard
c. Essentially, demand that we all have a meeting to discuss issue, soon
d. In meeting, move towards self-confession and repentance and restoration…otherwise possible discipline
9. One of the men you have been shepherding is proving to be a very godly man and an exceptionally capable leader. You and he have developed a very close friendship. He requests your help in making a decision about a job opportunity. He has a good job where he is, but it has limited opportunities for advancement. He has been offered a job in another state with a lower starting salary but excellent prospects of advancement. His family has left the decision up to him and he wants to do whatever God directs. He is having trouble making the decision and has come to you for help. What will you say?
a. Consider what will be glorify God
b. How will this other job advance God’s glory more?
c. Attempt to assess why you want to make a larger salary
d. Keep in mind church body in other locale
e. Otherwise, plusses and minuses of each decision
10. A lady in your fold has been seeing a psychiatrist for some strange fears she has developed. Just recently she has become a Christian and believes that Christ can deal with the problem more adequately. There is no outwardly apparent reason for her fears. They seem to come on her without any connection to fearful events. How would you treat this problem using the Word?
a. Believer have no need to fear
i. Romans 8:15
b. God is always with us
i. Hebrews 13:5
ii. Psalm 27:1 Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
c. Actively trust in Him
i. Psalm 56:10-11 10 In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise, 11 in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can man do to me?
d. Encourage her to memorize these Scriptures and meet with some ladies to talk about these things
11. The teenage son of one of the couples you shepherd has a problem with a compulsive desire to steal. He knows it is wrong, and he has the desire under control most of the time. His frustrated parents have taken him to a psychologist, who suggests long months of expensive counseling for the kleptomaniac son. You sense that there is more to this than simply the obvious sin of stealing. How would you diagnose this problem and attempt to help them deal with it?
a. Listen to the teen to get at wise wants
b. Get at reaping and sowing, though likely not in those words
c. Encourage change…
d. Ultimately point to forgiveness and power for change in the gospel
12. A man comes to you with a tremendous burden for his wife who constantly nags him. He indicates to you that the only way he can have peace is for his to somehow change. He is desperate for her to change and wants your help. He intimates that he would like you to talk with her about this. What would you tell him?
a. Tell him, ask him, to tell you how he contributes to his wife’s “nagging”
b. Highlight for him, that regardless of what his wife does (he can’t control her), he must still honor the Lord by loving his wife
c. With that said, agree to meet together to get communication going in the right direction
d. If needed, develop a communication strategy
e. Get at what really causes any conflict in heart issues
13. A teenager in your shepherding area comes to you and pours out his heart about his poor self-image. He says that this has been a problem since early childhood. There are no obvious sin issues that you can discern. In fact, he is one of the exemplary young men in the church youth group. He confides that in the last month or so the problem has surfaced again with some intensity. How would you deal with this problem?
a. Assure him, that he actually has a very high-view of self
b. Point the young person to have confidence in God and not in Himself
i. Psalm 20:6-7 6 Now I know that the LORD saves his anointed; he will answer him from his holy heaven with the saving might of his right hand. 7 Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.
c. Any self-love should simply remind us of how much we need to love others (cf. Matthew 22:37ff.)
14. One of the women in your fold confides with you that she is being abused by her husband, who is not a church attender. He has made it clear to her the he wants nothing to do with her religion. As far as you are able to tell, there has been no sexual immorality, and you cannot discern any scriptural grounds for divorce. What would you advise her to do?
a. First, I think she should notify the police to protect herself first, if she wants. I would strongly encourage this for her own safety.
b. Otherwise, I would encourage her on the basis of 1 Peter 3 to live a life of love and sacrifice as much as possible for her husband.
c. Also, I would strongly encourage her to get plug into a network of relationships at church for support spiritually.
15. “I’m terribly afraid that I’m going to hurt one of my children.” The frustrate voice is from one of the new members of your fold. She confides that in the last month she has exploded at the slightest disobedience of her two preschool children. It is no that their behavior is out of the ordinary, but her reactions are sometimes violent. Just today she knocked one child across the room with a violent attack. In despair over her own uncharacteristic violence, she has called you for help to understand what her root problem is. What would you look for in your effort to help her?
a. Data gathering…
i. What are the other life circumstances like now?
ii. Is this person worried about something else?
b. Strategy
i. Think on what’s true (Phil. 4:8)
ii. Turn to God for help (Gal. 5:22-23)
iii. Put on gratitude (Col. 3:17)
iv. Remind of the blessings of trust and obedience
16. A father cannot understand why he clashes with his second son when his oldest son’s antics do not seem to bother him half as much. You are asked to help him understand why he reacts this way. What would you tell him?
a. Data gather
i. What other situations are going on in life?
ii. Does the father frequently compare his sons?
b. Strategy
i. Think on what’s true (Phil. 4:8)
ii. Turn to God for help (Gal. 5:22-23)
iii. Put on gratitude (Col. 3:17)
iv. Remind of the blessings of trust and obedience
17. One of the young people who has grown up in the church is doubting his salvation. He has been plagued with this for almost a year. You know that he knows all the verses that would give him assurance. In fact, you have discipled him personally. How would you help him understand the reason for his lack of assurance? What Scripture passages would you use?
a. Reasons?
i. Hidden sin
ii. Introspection
iii. Self-focus instead of Christ and cross-focus
b. Scripture
i. Gospel texts like Romans 3-5; 2 Cor. 5:21; Romans 8
ii. Also, sanctification texts if other sins are involved, like Romans 6
18. A woman in your fold comes to you very concerned about a decision she must make. It seems that her son has asked permission to drive a carload of other young people to a church retreat. She sees the value in his driving, since it would be a boost to his confidence. Still, she is unsure about the wisdom of it. In the course of the conversation you learn that she has not discussed this problem with her husband because she is the one to whom the children have always come. What would you advise her to do?
a. Strongly encourage the woman to talk to her husband and they need to make sure they are on the same page
i. Perhaps the son did already talk to the father and the father did not allow it
ii. Then you really would not want to go behind your husbands back
b. In the end, need to encourage unity in the marriage and submission
c. In time, probe the wife’s pride issues here and potential worry issues (over reacting to this situation?)
19. An active couple in the church has a boy who is a terror. They have tried just about everything they can think of to deal with him, but he seems to be getting worse. Even their stern disciple is often ineffective. In fact, he almost seems to enjoy it. What Scriptures would give you insight into the cause and cure for this situation? How would you advise them?
a. Insight: sinful hearts in little kids/and all
i. Romans 3
ii. Jeremiah 17:9
b. Cure: Ultimately Christ in the gospel
c. Advice:
i. Be consistent and persistent with discipline
1. Proverbs 13:24 24 Whoever spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is diligent to discipline him.
2. Proverbs 22:15 15 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline drives it far from him.
3. Proverbs 23:13 13 Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die.
ii. Always point to the gospel in disciple
20. “We’re having a communication problem in our marriage,” confides a couple in your fold. They have tried to work it out, but they have come to an impasse. Their greatest frustration is that they do not even know why the problem exists. There is no outwardly sinful behavior in either of their lives. They have simply lost the desire to communicate with each other. How would you help them discern the root problem and deal with it?
a. Remind of the purposes of marriage
b. Remind of the covenant promise of marriage
c. Guide to expose how they are finding marriage fulfillment relationally in other relationship or things
d. Remind them of the picture of marriage in the gospel
v. Church discipline
1. A man you are shepherding comes to you and asks you to help him deal with a situation in which he feels he must admonish a fellow believer. A friend of his has taken the first step into a sinful situation, and he needs to confront him. What Scriptures would you share with him to inform him of how to admonish a sinning brother? Be sure to include the whole process so that he knows how to carry it through to the end, regardless of his friend’s response.
a. Galatians 6:1ff.
b. Matthew 18
c. 2 Timothy 2:24-26 24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will.
2. You have received second-hand information that one of the men in your fold has been coming home very late at night on several occasions recently, which is highly unusual for him since he works nearby and has always come home right after work. You were also told that his car has been noticed parked in front of a bar in the next town. What is the first thing that you would do? Would you confront him with this information yourself?
a. I would like to first go back to the where I heard this information.
b. I would challenge the knower to talk this man or his family as appropriate.
3. A man how is a member of your fold has left his wife and family and is living with another woman. He has rejected your admonishment and also that of the two other who went with you the second time. It is now time to “tell it to the church.” You want to let him know that you are going to do that at the next communion service, but he has made himself unavailable to either personal contact or phone calls. You know where he is staying, so you are writing a letter to send to him by registered mail. What would you say in the letter? What would you do if before the communion service you received a letter or phone call from him resigning his membership in the church? In “telling it to the church,” if you were asked to make the statement in regard to what he had done what exactly would you say?
a. Letter
i. Remind of the grace of the gospel
ii. Remind of the call to holiness in the gospel
iii. Review what the sin is; information known by the church
iv. Review the process of restorative discipline from Matt. 18
v. Plead for repentance
b. Resignation?
i. I would refuse.
ii. Ideally, the by-laws like here at GBC make this clear.
c. Public statement
i. Unrepentant sexual sin or adulterous sin
4. A woman in the church was asked to separate herself from the fellowship because she persisted in pursuing a divorce from her husband on unbiblical grounds. In spite of numerous efforts by her husband, her friends, and the elders of the church, she refused to change her mind and turned away from everyone close to her. Six months later she fell in love with another man was soon remarried. Two years after the second marriage she contacts you in a very humble and repentant attitude. She knows she has offended her family, her friends, the church, and God Himself. She is deeply sorry and says that she wants to “make things right.” She and her new husband both want to join the church. What would you tell her to do? What biblical guidance would you give her? Under what circumstances do you thing she should be allowed to join the church again?
a. Her to do:
i. Directly and personally ask forgiveness from those she offended like her husband, friends, and elders
b. Biblical guidance…
c. Circumstances for return
i. Public explanation of repentance and situation
5. A deacon is dealing with a man in the church who has fallen into a sinful behavior pattern. The man has rejected the deacon’s admonition on several occasions when they have talked privately. This time the deacon wants you to go along with him to be a witness to this confrontation. You have no firsthand knowledge of the matter, but you agree to serve as a witness to the man’s response. What will you do to prepare your own heart and mind for this meeting? What Scripture passages will you review ahead of time? How will you pray for your own attitude? How will you pray for the others involved in this situation?
a. Galatians 6
b. 2 Timothy
c. Prayer: humility for all; clarity into situation
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