Lesson 1 Flashcards
(9 cards)
What is the pactum salutis?
The eternal intra-trinitarian agreement among Father, Son, and Holy Spirit to plan the redemption of the people of God
What role does the Spirit have in the work of Christ?
Old Testament
1. OT figures had the Spirit rush upon them (e.g., Samson and Saul)
* Foreshadows the Spirit’s work in the messiah’s mission
* The Spirit’s role finds its origins in the pactum salutis (Isa 42:1)
* The Father would equip the Son with the Holy Spirit
New Testament
* Christ links the Holy Spirit with his ministry
* Jesus quotes Isa 61:1 (Lk 4:18-21)
* Jesus does not carry out his messianic work apart from the Spirit
Reformed View—WCF VIII.iii, v
* The Lord Jesus, in his human nature thus united to the divine, was sanctified, and anointed with the Holy Spirit, above measure, having in him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge; in whom it pleased the Father that all fullness should dwell; to the end that, being holy, harmless, undefiled, and full of grace and truth, he might be thoroughly furnished to execute the office of a mediator, and surety. (WCF VIII.iii)
- The Lord Jesus, by his perfect obedience, and sacrifice of himself, which he, through the eternal Spirit, once offered up unto God, hath fully satisfied the justice of his Father; and purchased, not only reconciliation, but an everlasting inheritance in the kingdom of heaven, for all those whom the Father hath given unto him. (WCF VIII.v)
Ten Points of Summary for the Spirit’s work in the Son’s mission
* Framed and miraculously conceived the human nature of Christ
* Sanctified his human nature and filled with grace
* Carried on his work and was the immediate principle of all of Christ’s moral actions
* Anointed Christ with all of the extraordinary powers and gifts that were necessary for the exercise of his office
* Wrought the miraculous works by which Christ’s ministry was attested and confirmed
* Guided, comforted, and supported Christ throughout his ministry
* Undergirded Christ as he offered himself up on the cross
* Continued Christ’s hypostatic union of the divine and human natures even during the state of death
* Was co-agent in Christ’s resurrection with the Father
* Glorified Christ’s human nature and made it ready for his eternal session at the Father’s right hand
How does Christ’s mission prepare for the Spirit’s mission?
1. The Son’s mission leads to the Spirit’s mission
A. As in creation, the Son and Spirit act as the hands of the Father in the new creation (Gen 1:2; John 1:1-3; Col 1:16)
B. The Spirit is the “power of the age to come” (Heb 6:5)
2. Prophesied outpouring
A. OT prophecies pointing to a future outpouring (see Isa 44:3; Joel 2:28; Ezek 36:26-27; 37:14; 39:29)
B. These prophecies converge in the New Testament—Gal 3:13-14
1. The promise is fulfilled because of Christ’s death on the cross
2. In the last days—eschatological focus
3. Christ as life-giving Spirit
1. Christ’s suffering and death are not the sole triggers of the Spirit’s outpouring
2. The promise of the Spirit stood before sin entered the world
3. Eschatology precedes soteriology
A. Prior to the entrance of sin, of the need for salvation, there was an end, a telos, for the creation.
B. Adam was given a task with the proleptic anticipation of the sabbath.
1. Paul’s contrast between the spiritual (pneumatikon) and natural (psychikon) body extends to the two world-orders connected with the first and last Adams
A. Christ becomes the life-giving Spirit (1 Cor 15:45)
B. Adam’s failure as the natural meant the need for a last Adam in the spiritual
1. Justification and glorification are first and foremost eschatological
A. Adam’s justification would have immediately led to his Spirit-wrought glorification: first the natural, then the spiritual
B. In the sin-fallen state, the already-not-yet colors and shapes the ordo salutis: our justification leads to our sanctification, the already-not-yet of our glorification
1. Christ sends the Spirit
A. John the Baptist testifies to this (Mt 3:11)
B. The sending of the Spirit awaited the completion of Christ’s work, but the Spirit’s sending echoes the pactum-originated sending of the Son (Jn 14:26; 15:26)
C., Thomas Aquinas: The Son, in sending of the Spirt, is the author of sanctification, and the Holy Spirit is the sign of sanctification
1. The missions in the covenant of redemption connects with their historical missions (See Handout A)
1. The ontology of the trinity determines the ensuing covenantal missions and subsequent application of redemption
A. Various strands converging on one text: Acts 2:33-36
* Peter identifies Jesus as “Lord and Christ” through Ps 2:7
* The Father promises to anoint the Son with the Spirit, and the Son in turn pours out the Spirit
B. The work found in the covenant of redemption finds its manifestation in the application of redemption
1. **
What is the relationship between the ontological processions and the historical missions of the Trinity?
Ontological Procession:
the Father is unbegotten, the Son is begotten of the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son.
The economic Trinity is the ontolological Trinity
The nature of God dictates the nature of plan redemption and the nature of plan redemption shapes and molds the nature of our redemption.
The intra-trinitarian processions shape their temporal missions, which determines the ordo salutis
How is the pactum salutis the foundation for the ordo salutis?
The pactum salutis provides the context to see the trinitarian nature of redemption, the foundation for the ordo salutis, and the relationship between the forensic and transformative aspects of redemption.
Why does the forensic have priority in the ordo salutis?
Priority of the forensic in the ordo salutis—justification logically precedes sanctification
What is imputed to us through the pactum salutis?
imputing the obedience and satisfaction of Christ unto them, they receiving and resting on him and his righteousness, by faith; which faith they have not of themselves, it is the gift of God.
Distinguish between active and passive justification. What might be a more accurate way of detailing “active” justification?
Active justification is the objective work of Christ
Passive Justification is the subjective reception of his righteousness by faith alone of the believer.
How does the confession distinguish between the eternal decree and its historical enactment?
God did, from all eternity, decree to justify all the elect, and Christ did, in the fullness of time, die for their sins, and rise again for their justification: nevertheless, they are not justified, until the Holy Spirit doth, in due time, actually apply Christ unto them.’ (WCF XI)
- In the pactum salutis the Father decreed to impute the sins of the elect to the Son and conversely his righteousness to the elect
- Justification occurs at the moment of faith
