Peremptory Prep

Question 1

Principles of Church Polity

Answer 1

Christ is Mediator and Head of his church (Eph 1:23)

Christ’s Teaching is therefore authoritative for the church (2 Tim 3:16-17)

Elders may not lord over each other, nor churches (Acts 14:23)

Churches that are unified in faith should seek federation (Acts 15:22)

Federated churches benefit from each other in much counsel (Proverbs 11:14)

Question 2

Ephesians 1:22-23

Answer 2

And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church,which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all

-Christ is Head of church

Question 3

2 Tim 3:16-17

Answer 3

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

-Biblical principle is Christ’s rule

Question 4

Acts 14:23

Answer 4

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.

-Elders are local, they may not lord over others, nor churches over other churches

Question 5

Acts 15:22

Answer 5

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.

-Churches that are one in faith should seek federation

Question 6

Proverbs 11:14

Answer 6

Where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety

-Federated churches benefit from much counsel

Question 7

Principles of Covenant Preaching

Answer 7

Address the congregation as covenant members (Eph 1:1)

Example of covenant address (Deuteronomy)

Listener’s experience can be addressed (LD 31, CoD 1, xiii, xvi)

Question 8

Principles of Covenant Worship

Answer 8

Our God is the holy, covenant God (Deut 6:1)

Covenant parties are not equal, worship is done according to God’s rule (Commandments 1-4, LD 34-39).

We are covenant breakers, thus the law must be taught, understood, and sins repented of (Psalm 19, 51, 119, 130).

Our children are members of the covenant and belong in worship (LD 27)

As a covenant service, the “revelation-response” mode is standard (Joshua 24)

Teaching, fellowship, breaking bread, prayer, alms are prescribed (Acts 2).

Question 9

Cod 1

Answer 9

1) All mankind condemnable
2) Sending of God’s Son
3) Preaching of the Gospel
4) Twofold Outcome
5) Cause of Unbelief, Source of Faith
6) God’s Eternal Decree
7) Election Defined
8) One Decree of Election
9) Election not based on foreseen faith
10) Election based on God’s Good Pleasure
11) Election Unchangeable
12) The Assurance of Election
13) Value of Assurance
14) How Election is to be Taught
15) Reprobation Described
16) Responses to the Doctrine of Reprobation
17) Children of believers who die in infancy
18) Not Protest by Adoration

Question 10

CoD 2

Answer 10

1) The Punishment God’s Justice Requires
2) The Satisfaction Made By Christ
3) The Infinite Value of Christ’s Death
4) Why His Death Has Infinite Value
5) Universal Proclamation of Gospel
6) Why Some Do Not Believe
7) Why Others Do Believe
8) The Efficacy of the Death of Christ
9) The Fulfillment of God’s Counsel

Question 11

CoD 3/4

Answer 11

1) Effect of the Fall
2) The Spread of Corruption
3) Man’s Total Inability
4) The Inadequacy of the Light of Nature
5) Inadequacy of the Law
6) The Need for the Gospel
7) Why the Gospel is Sent to Some and Not Others
8) Earnest Call by the Gospel
9) Why Some Who are called Don’t Come
10) Why Others Who Are Called Do Come
11) How God Brings Conversion
12) Regeneration is the Work of God alone
13) Regeneration is Incomprehensible
14) How Faith is a gift of God
15) Proper Attitude with respect to God’s Undeserved Grace
16) Man’s Will Not Taken Away by Made Alive
17) Use of Means

Question 12

CoD 5

Answer 12

1) Regenerate Not Free From Indwelling Sin
2) Daily Sins of Weakness
3) God Preserves His Own
4) Saints May Fall Into Serious Sin
5) Effects of Such Sins
6) God Will Not Permit His Elect To Be Lost
7) God Will Again Renew His Elect To Repentance
8) The Grace Of The Triune God Preserves
9) The Assurance Of This Preservation
10) The Source Of This Assurance
11) This Assurance Not Always Felt
12) This Assurance Is An Incentive To Godliness
13) This Assurance Does Not Lead To Carelessness
14) The Use of Means in Perseverance
15) This Doctrine Hated By Satan But Loved By Church

Question 13

Indwelling Sin in Saints

Answer 13

1 John 1:8

Question 14

Salvation is still available for saints who sin

Answer 14

1 John 1:9

Question 15

Christ is covenant Surety

Answer 15

Heb 7:22

Question 16

Covenant in the Canons

Answer 16

CoD 2.viii

Question 17

Fruits of election

Answer 17

Christ’s appointment as mediator
Christ’s confirmation of the new covenant by his blood
By way of the covenant, Christ effectually redeems elect
Elect are people from every people, tribe, nation, tongue
Elect are elect from eternity
Elect are given to Christ by the Father
Christ gives faith to those given to him
The Holy Spirit works faith
There are other saving gifts
Christ cleanses elect from all sins - original and actual, before and after faith
Christ guards the elect to the end
Christ presents the elect to himself in splendour
Christ makes our final state without any spot or wrinkle

Question 18

Arminian covenantal errors

Answer 18

CoD 2, error ii - Christ’s death annulled the old covenant only.

CoD 2, error iv - After Christ’s death, the Father, through the mediation of Christ’s death made a new covenant in which the old demand of perfect obedience is revoked and regards faith (though imperfect) as perfect obedience (condignity).

CoD 2, error v - The grace of this so-called new covenant makes no one liable to condemnation on account of original sin.

Question 19

Key Dates Involved in CoD

Answer 19

1609 - Arminius’ death
1610 - Remonstrants written
1611 - Counter Remonstrans by Festus Hommius
1618 - Sententiae
1618-1619 - Synod of Dort produces Canons

Question 20

“eodem modo” or “non eodem modo”

Answer 20

Are election and reprobation considered in the same way? Not so. The conclusions of the Canons actually state that they detest this wholeheartedly.

Question 21

Pastoral Considerations of CoD

Answer 21

Balanced Use (CoD 1.xv, xvi)
Evangelistic Use (Prov 21:1)
Humility (Rom 3:27)
Worship (Luke 7:47)
Confidence (Acts 2:42)
Correcting Automatism (Rom 11:21)

Question 22

Election and “decretum absolutem”

Answer 22

Barth’s critique of the Canons of Dort
His hyper-Christo-centrism leads him to say that the CoD do not focus appropriately on Christ.

Answer: CoD 1.vii - Election Defined practically drips with Christology.

Question 23

Woelderink et al.

Answer 23

Many others in the Reformed world who critique the CoD do so more carefully. Their issue is the “causal” nature of election and reprobation. In response, these critics “actualize” election too much.

Answer: Election and reprobation are “non eodem modo.” Reprobation is never considered apart from sin, which is man’s own fault. In this sense, the CoD leans in an infralapsarian direction. Election and Reprobation both regard the “common mass of sinful humanity.” But election is based on God’s sovereign good pleasure, whereas reprobation takes sin into account.

Such critics should be more careful of “actualizing” election. As far as I understand, this means that they no longer regard election as a degree, but regard it as an act of God in history, conflating it with the covenant.

Question 24

Pentateuch Themes

Answer 24

Genesis - “Seed of the Woman”
Exodus - “Redeemer and Redeemed”
Leviticus - “Purity in God’s place of worship”
Numbers - “Covenant Rebellion/Remnant in Exodus”
Deuteronomy - “Covenant Renewed”

Question 25

Former Prophets

Answer 25

Joshua - “God fulfills Abrahamic Promise for land”
Judges - “Rebellion and Remnant in the Land”
Samuel - “God fulfills Abrahamic Promise for king”
Kings - “Rebellion and Remnant in the kingship”

Question 26

Latter Prophets

Answer 26

Isaiah - God’s Utter Holiness makes idolatry most wicked
Jeremiah - Tearing Down and Rebuilding Israel
Ezekiel - Watchman over Israel and God’s perspective on Redemptive History

Hosea - Unfaithful Israel, Faithful God
Joel - Judgement of locusts and future glory
Amos - Seek the Lord and live, or be destroyed
Obadiah - Oracle against Edom
Jonah - God shows mercy to whom he will
Micah - “Who is like God?”
Nahum - Oracle against Nineveh
Habakkuk - God’s fierce judgement
Zephaniah - Reform needed in Josiah’s time
Haggai - Latter glory of the post-exile temple
Zechariah - God’s continued plan after exile
Malachi - Waiting on the Messiah

Question 27

Historical Writings

Answer 27

Job - Understanding Suffering; Suffering Righteously
Ruth - God’s providential care and inclusion in the covenant
Chronicles - Record of the fall of kingship
Daniel - God’s continued communication in exile
Esther - God’s providential care in exile
Ezra - Return from Exile, rebuilding the temple
Nehemiah - Israel once again a distinct people in place and holiness

Question 28

Poetry

Answer 28

Psalms - Book 1 (1-41): Waiting on the Lord in an unfaithful nation
Psalms - Book 2 (42-72): The LORD is refuge for the repentant
Psalms - Book 3 (73-89): An apparently broken covenant
Psalms - Book 4 (90-106): The LORD upholds the covenant
Psalms - Book 5 (107-150): Living in a fulfilled covenant
Lamentations - mourning over sin and loss of Promised Land
Song of Songs - Godly love and attraction

Question 29

Wisdom

Answer 29

Proverbs - Living wisely in God’s honor
Ecclesiastes - Vanity of life without God, meaning is found in God

Question 30

Gospels

Answer 30

Matthew - OT fulfilled in Christ
Mark - Jesus Son of God?
Luke - Jesus proclaims year of God’s favor
John - Jesus the Logos, “I am” Incarnate

Question 31

Epistles

Answer 31

Romans - Justification in Christ
1 Corinthians - Weakness and Foolishness/Strength and Wisdom of God
2 Corinthians - Listen to the truth1
Galatians - No legalism!
Ephesians - God’s Eternal Plan of Salvation
Philippians - Peace from Humility
Colossians - Preeminence of Christ and his Deity
1 Thessalonians - Acceptance of God’s Word as it is preached
2 Thessalonians - Regarding the last things
1 Timothy - Guard the Deposit
2 Timothy - Hold to Scripture
Titus - Teach life according with sound doctrine
Philemon - Christian brotherhood considered first above other relations
Hebrews - Jesus is Better
James - True Wisdom by faith
1 Peter - Living as God’s chosen people
2 Peter - Trust the apostles/prophets as sent by God
Jude - Perseverance Required
1 John - Being of God and not of world
2 John - Abide in God
3 John - Watch out for heresy
Revelation - Jesus wins!

Question 32

Belgic Confession: God and Revelation

Answer 32

1) The God we believe in
2) The Two “Books”
3) The Word of God
4) Canonical Books
5) Authority of Scripture
6) Canonical/Apocryphal Books
7) Sufficiency of Scripture

Question 33

Belgic Confession: Triune God

Answer 33

8) God is one in essence, three in persons
9) Scripture Proof of this Doctrine
10) Jesus is True, Eternal God
11) Spirit is True, Eternal God
12) Creation of All things - especially Angels
13) Providence of God
14) Creation of Man - His Total Inability
15) Original Sin
16) Divine Election
17) Rescue of Fallen Man

Question 34

Belgic Confession: Person and Work of Christ

Answer 34

18) Incarnation of Son of God
19) The Two Natures in the One Person of Christ
20) Justice and Mercy of God in Christ
21) Satisfaction of our High Priest
22) Justification Through Faith in Christ
23) Our Righteousness Before God
24) Our Sanctification and Good Works
25) Christ, Fulfilment of the Law
26) Christ’s Intercession

Question 35

Belgic Confession: Church and Last Things

Answer 35

27) Catholic Christian Church
28) Everyone’s Duty to Join the Church
29) Marks of the True/False Church
30) Government of the Church
31) Officers of the Church
32) The Order and Discipline of the Church
33) The Sacraments
34) Baptism
35) Lord’s Supper
36) The Civil Government
37) The Last Judgement

Question 36

Church Order: Division

Answer 36

1) Purpose and Division
2) Offices (2-28)
3) Assemblies (29-51)
4) Worship, Sacraments, Ceremonies (52-65)
5) Discipline (66-76)

Question 37

Church Order: Key Articles

Answer 37

3) Calling to Office
16) Office of Minister
18) Missionaries
22) Office of Elder
23) Office of Deacon
25) Equality of Office Bearers
26) Subscription to the Confession
30) Ecclesiastical Matters
37) Jurisdiction
51) Mission
52) Worship Services
55) Psalms and Hymns
56) Administration of Sacraments
61) Admission to the Lord’s Supper
66) Nature and Purpose of Church Discipline
68) Excommunication
74) No Lording over others
76) Observance and Revision of Church Order