Theology Proper Flashcards
(18 cards)
Existence of God
A Priori
Existence demonstrated apart from empirical or sensory data
Ontological
Man can conceive of a perfect being , therefore that being must exist. A perfect being who did not exist would not be truly perfect.
A Posteriori
Existence demonstrated from empirical or sensory means
Cosmological
Argues from the world back to God
The universe is dependent on something for its beginning & preservation.
* Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God created. . .
* Ps. 19:1 The heaven’s declare the glory of God
* Heb. 11:3 By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God.
Teleological
The design of the universe demands a designer.
* Rom. 1:20-For since the creation of the world, His invisible attributes. . .
Anthropological
The intellectual, emotional, social, moral, and spiritual nature of man implies a Maker of corresponding, if not great characteristics.
* Acts 17:29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to thing that the Divine nature is like gold or silver or stone. . .
Biblical
The Bible assumes God’s existence
* Gen. 1:1 In the beginning God. . .
* John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word.
Incommunicable Attributes (Self Existence)
John 5:26 For just as the Father has life in Himself. . .
Is. 40:12ff Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand. . .
Rom. 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
Incommunicable Attributes (Sovereignty)
Sovereign Will
God is self-determined, basis of all being/existence
* Rom. 11:36 For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things.
* James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth…
* Rev. 4:11 Worthy… Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.
Decretive will
God purposes what will come to pass. Secret in decrees but always occurs.
* Dt. 29:29 The secret things belong to the Lord our God…
Preceptive will
God’s rules for moral creatures. Revealed to man though often disobeyed.
* Dt. 29:29 …but the things revealed belong to us and to our sons forever, that we may observe all the words of this law.
Sovereign Power
God is the highest causality
* Ps. 115:3 But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.
* Jer. 32:17 Nothing is too difficult for God
* Matt 19:26 With God all things are possible
* Luke 1:37 Nothing will be impossible with God
Incommunicable Attributes (Immutability)
God does not change (Moral standard, promises or plan)
* Mal. 3:6 For I, the Lord do not change
* James 1:17 . . . with whom there is no variableness, or shifting shadow
Incommunicable Attributes (Infinity)
Absolute Perfection
* Matt. 5:48 You are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
* Ps. 18:30 As for God, His way is blameless.
* Hab. 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil, and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor…
Eternity
* Ps. 90:2 Even from everlasting to everlasting Thou art God
* Is. 46:10 Declaring the end from the beginning
* II Peter 3:8 with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and . . .
Immensity
Transcends Spatial limitations, yet Omnipresent
* I Kings 8:27 Behold, heaven and highest heaven cannot contain Thee
* Ps. 139:7-10 Where can I go from Thy Spirit? Or where can I flee from Thy presence?
* Jer. 23:24 Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? declares the Lord
Communicable Attributes (Spirituality)
God is immaterial, invisible, uncompounded, indestructible.
* John 4:24 God is spirit (anarthrous)
* I Tim 1:17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible. . .
* I Tim 6:16 Who alone possesses immortality and dwells in unapproachable light; whom no man has seen or can see.
Communicable Attributes (Personality)
Intellect
Knowledge
God knows all things as they actually come to pass
* Ps. 147:5 His understanding is infinite.
* Is. 40:28 The Everlasting God. . . His understanding is inscrutable
Wisdom
God’s knowledge He applies for His glory.
* Rom 11:33-36 Oh! the depth of the riches both of the wisdom & knowledge…
* Ps. 19:1-7 The heaven’s declare the glory of God-(Wisdom in creation)
* Rom. 8:28 …all things to work together for good(Wisdom in providence)
* Eph. 3:8-11 the manifold wisdom of God… (Wisdom in redemption)
Emotion
* Ps. 78:40 How often they rebelled against Him in the wilderness, and grieved Him in the desert!
* Jer. 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love…
* John 3:16 For God so loved the world…
Will
* James 1:18 In the exercise of His will He brought us forth…
* II Peter 3:9 The Lord is not… wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
* Rev. 4:11 Worthy… Thou didst create all things, and because of Thy will they existed, and were created.
Communicable Attributes (Holiness)
Separate from Sin
* Job 34:10 Far be it from God to do wickedness, and from the Almighty to do wrong.
* Isaiah 6:1-3…the Lord, lofty & exalted…holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts
* Hab. 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor.
* Matt. 5:48 Be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect.
Communicable Attributes (Goodness)
Absolute perfection in Himself
Communicable Attributes (Veracity/Truth)
God is true and perfectly reliable
* Num. 23:19 God is not a man that he should lie…
* Rom. 3:4 …let God be found true and every man a liar…
* Heb. 6:18 It is impossible for God to lie
* II Tim. 2:13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful…
Communicable Attributes (Grace)
Common Grace
He deals kindly with all His creatures.
* Matt. 5:45…He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, sends rain…
Particular Grace
Specific grace that leads to salvation
* Eph. 2:8-9 For by grace you have been saved…
Communicable Attributes (Love)
God’s benevolence demonstrated in a concrete act
* Rom. 5:8 God demonstrates His love for us in that while we were yet sinners
Communicable Attributes (Mercy)
Goodness shown to those in misery or distress
* Rom. 11:32 God has shut up all in disobedience that He might show mercy to all.
Communicable Attributes (Longsuffering)
God bears with long continued disobedience
* 2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promises as some count slowness…
Communicable Attributes (Righteousness)
He does not accommodate to violations of His holiness
* Ps. 119:137 Righteous art Thou, O Lord, and upright are Thy judgments
* Ps. 145:17 The Lord is righteous in all His ways
* Hab. 1:13 Thine eyes are too pure to approve evil and Thou canst not look on wickedness with favor.
Communicable Attributes (Justice)
God is lawgiver and judge-Remunerative and Retributive
* Rom. 2:6-8 who will render to every man according to his deeds…perseverance in doing good=eternal life… do not obey the truth=wrath and indignation
* Rom. 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness
* Heb. 11:24-26 Moses was looking to the reward
Divine Decrees
Infralapsarianism
* Creation-of universe and man with his free will
* Fall-God permitted
* Election-chosen out of the mass of fallen humanity ->Rom. 9:19-24
* Provision-salvation of the elect provided for
Providence
God’s sovereign direction of all things to their appointed end
* Gen. 50:20 You meant evil against me, but God meant if for good…
* Acts 2:23 this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross… and put Him to death.
* Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes all thing to work together for good to those who love God…
Trinity
One in three co-equal persons, same in substance, distinct in subsistence.
Unity
* Deut. 6:4 Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one!
* Is. 46:9 I am God, and there is no other, I am God and there is no one like me.
* John 10:30 I and the Father are one.
Plurality
* Is. 48:16 …the Lord God has sent Me, and His Spirit. “me” = God context
* Matt. 3:16-17 The Spirit descends on the Son with approval by the Father
* Matt. 28:19 …in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit
* I Cor. 12:4-6 …varieties of gifts, same Spirit,… varieties of ministries, same Lord… varieties of effects, same God
Eternal Subsistences
Christ
* Luke 24: Touch me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and blood
* Heb. 1:3 When He had made purification of sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
* Heb. 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever
* Rev. 22 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end
The Spirit
* Heb. 9:14 Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself up…
