Reformed Basics Flashcards
(9 cards)
List and Describe the 5 Sola’s of the Reformation.
Sola Fide - Faith Alone - We are justified before God by faith alone, not by works or human merit.
Sola Gratia - Grace Alone - Salvation is entirely by God’s grace (His unearned favor) not initiated, maintained, or merited by human effort.
Sola Christus - Christ Alone - Jesus is the sole mediator between God and man, not the church or any other fallen means.
Sola Scriptura - Scripture Alone - Scripture is the supreme interpretative authority in all matters of faith and practice.
Sola Deo Gloria - God’s Glory Alone - everything is ordered to display God’s majesty and grace so that no human may boast.
Describe the TULIP. Name each letter and provide a brief description of each.
Summarizing Doctrine of the protestant reformation, spurred by the teaching of but not named by John Calvin.
Total Depravity - Because of the Fall, every part of human nature is corrupted by sin. People are spiritually dead and unable to choose God apart from divine grace.
Unconditional Election - God chooses whom He will save based on solely His sovereign will. Predestination.
Limited Atonement - Christ’s death is completely sufficient to secure salvation for the elect only, given to Him by the Father, not every single person.
Irresistible Grace - When God calls His elect to Himself, the Spirit’s inward call cannot be resisted.
Perseverance of the Saints - Once saved always saved, thanks to God’s power and grace.
List 1-2 Scriptures that point to each point of the TULIP.
T - Rom 3 and 5, Gen 6, Eph 2:1-3
U - Rom 9 and Eph 1
L - John 10 and 17
I - John 6
P - Phil 1, Rom 8
What is the formal definition of Covenant Theology?
An overarching, organizing, guiding concept/principle for understanding the unity and flow of the Bible. Covenant is the theme which links the different books of the Bible to make them one united story - from OT through NT.
Explain Covenant Theology to a church visitor in 5 sentences or less.
Covenant Theology is a framework for understanding the whole Bible as one unfolding story of God’s relationship with His people through covenants. God initially made the Covenant of Works with Adam, promising eternal life for perfect obedience and death for disobedience. When Adam sinned, God responded with both judgment and the Covenant of Grace, promising a Redeemer (Jesus Christ) who would fulfill the righteousness God requires. Each subsequent covenant (with Noah, Abraham, Moses, David, etc.) progressively reveals more and more of God’s unified plan to redeem His people and fulfill His promises in Christ, demonstrated consistently across the Old and New Testaments.
Describe the Covenant of Redemption. List where you can find it in Scripture.
God’s covenant with His Triune Self … Pre-Temporal Trinitarian Covenant which is outside of time/space.
John 17:1-5 - “… [Jesus] glorified [God] on earth, having accomplished the work that [God] gave [Jesus] to do. And now, Father, glorify Me (Jesus) in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed.”
Name each component, in order, of the Ordo Salutis
Election - Effectual Call - Regeneration - Conversion (Faith and Repentance) - Justification - Adoption - Sanctification - Perseverance - Glorification
Justification onwards makes up the “already but not yet” benefits.
Distinguish infusion vs imputation. List the contexts in which we believe both under the Reformed tradition.
Infusion - continual process which changes identity and being from within - think blood transfusion
Imputation - one-time, external application of new identity or status from qualified source - think credit/account from one person to another
We believe in (Christ’s) imputed righteousness and (Holy Spirit’s) infused grace.
Distinguish normative vs regulative principle of worship
Normative: Whatever is not forbidden in Scripture is permitted in worship.
Regulative: Only what is explicitly commanded or clearly inferred from Scripture is permitted in worship.
