Westminster Confession and Scripture Study Guide
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Westminster Confession and Scripture Study Guide CONTENTS 1 WCF 1-3: Scripture, God, Trinity, Decrees ........................................................... 1 2 WCF 4-6: Creation, Providence, the Fall .............................................................. 1 3 WCF 7-10: Covenant, Christ the Mediator, Free Will, Effectual Calling ................ 2 4 WCF 11-14: Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, Saving Faith ........................... 2 5 WCF 15-18: Repentance, Good Works, Perseverance, Assurance of Salvation .... 2 6 WCF 19-22: Law and Liberty, Worship and Oaths/Vows ...................................... 3 7 WCF 23-26: State, Marriage/Divorce, Church ...................................................... 3 8 WCF 27-30: Sacraments, Baptism, Lord’s Supper, Discipline ............................... 3 9 WCF 31-33: Councils, Death, Resurrection, Last Things ....................................... 4 Book of Church Order ......................................................................................... 4 10 Review for Exam: ............................................................................................. 4 Instructions: Read the Westminster Confession of Faith. Along the way, answer the questions that come from the sections (in parentheses). If a question does not have a section to it, answer it as best you can. Write down your questions as you read so we can talk about them when we meet next! 1 WCF 1-3: SCRIPTURE, GOD, TRINITY, DECREES 1. (1.1) What are the two ways God has revealed himself? (Cf. Psalm 19) 2. (1.1) Is God still revealing Himself the same way He did during Biblical times? 3. (1.4) What does the authority of the Bible rest on? 4. (1.7) Are all things in Scripture equally plain? (1.9) How can we gain clarity? 5. (1.10) Evaluate the statement: “We believe this because the church decided it long ago” 6. (2.3) In your own words, in one sentence, describe the Trinity. 7. In one sentence, describe how the doctrine of the Trinity can be found in Mt 28:19? 8. (3.1) What does God order or ordain? 9. (3.2-6) How is God sovereign over salvation? 2 WCF 4-6: CREATION, PROVIDENCE, THE FALL 1. (4.1) According to this paragraph, did God use anything to create all things? How long did it take to create all things? 2. *What is your personal view / interpretation of Gen 1? 3. (5.1) In your own words, in one sentence, what does God’s providence mean? 1. (5.2) If all things happen according to God’s will, does that mean that God directly causes all things? Is God responsible for sin? 2. (6.4-6) How would you counsel someone who said that they are basically a good person? 3. Look up the Westminster Shorter Catechism question #14: What is sin? 1 3 WCF 7-10: COVENANT, CHRIST THE MEDIATOR, FREE WILL, EFFECTUAL CALLING 1. Know the Definition: A covenant is a relationship with boundaries and obligations. 2. (7.2) Who was the covenant of works made with? What was the condition of the covenant for Man? 3. (7.3) What does God offer in the Covenant of grace? What is required? How are we enabled to believe? 4. (8.1) Who is the mediator or ‘go between’ for us to God? 5. (8.1) What are the three ‘jobs’ (or offices) of Christ? 6. (8.2) What are the two natures of Christ? 7. (8.5) How did Christ earn for us our salvation? 8. (9.1) Does man have a natural liberty or freedom? 9. (9.2-3) What happened to free will at the Fall? 10. (10.2) When God ‘predestines’ us, does he look forward in history to the faith he knew we would have? 11. (10.3) What is predestination a comfort to parents of an infant who died? 12. What are at least three places you could go to in order to prove the doctrine of predestination? (Book and chapter) 4 WCF 11-14: JUSTIFICATION, ADOPTION, SANCTIFICATION, SAVING FAITH 1. (11.1) What is Justification (in one sentence)? 2. (11.4) If God elected me before the foundation of the world, why wasn’t I just born believing? 3. (12.1) What is adoption (in one sentence)? 4. (13.1) What is sanctification? (Hint: How is it different from Justification?) 5. (13.2) Is anyone perfect once they are saved? 6. *How is saving faith and good works related to one another? 5 WCF 15-18: REPENTANCE, GOOD WORKS, PERSEVERANCE, ASSURANCE OF SALVATION 1. (14.1) What is the basic act of saving faith? 2. *Pastoral Point: Is it proper to tell someone they need to give their life to Christ even though we believe in predestination? 3. (15.2) After understanding God’s mercy to those who repent, what are the three basic elements of repentance? 4. (15.5) Why is simply saying ‘I’m sorry’ not enough? 5. (16.2) How do good works function in the life of a believer? 6. (16.5-6) Can I do works that are truly ‘good’? 7. (17.2) What does my perseverance in the faith depend upon? 2 8. (18.3) Evaluate the following statement: “I don’t feel like God loves me right now, I think maybe I’ve lost my salvation” 6 WCF 19-22: LAW AND LIBERTY, WORSHIP AND OATHS/VOWS 1. (19.3) Which laws no longer apply to a believer? (19.5) Which laws still apply? 2. (20.2) Who is the Lord of our conscience? Who is not? 3. (21.1) What is the rule of how we should worship? 4. (22.1) What is an oath? 5. *What are some vows or oaths we make in our church today? 7 WCF 23-26: STATE, MARRIAGE/DIVORCE, CHURCH 1. (23.3) What is and is not the duty of the state? 2. (24.1-2) What is the definition of marriage? 3. (24.6) What are the two stated acceptable reasons for divorce? 4. *Pastoral Question: Is abuse in a marriage an acceptable reason for divorce? 5. (25.1-2) What is the difference between the invisible and visible church? 6. Could you be a part of the visible church but not part of the invisible church? 8 WCF 27-30: SACRAMENTS, BAPTISM, LORD’S SUPPER, DISCIPLINE 1. (27.4) How many sacraments are there? (27.5) Were there sacraments in the Old Testament? 2. What was the OT referent for Baptism? (See Col 2:10-12) What was the OT referent for the Lord’s Supper? (See Mt 26) 3. (28.3) What are the permissible ways to baptize? 4. (28.4) Who can be baptized? *What is your view of infant baptism? 5. (28.6) Are the promises of baptism immediately given when someone is baptized? 6. *Pastoral Point: what if a couple wants to have their baby dedicated but not baptized? 7. (29.2) Is Jesus re-sacrificed at the Lord’s Supper? 8. *Can infants take the Lord’s Supper? 9. (30.3) What is the point of church discipline or ‘censures’? 10. (30.4) What are the four censures mentioned? 3 9 WCF 31-33: COUNCILS, DEATH, RESURRECTION, LAST THINGS 1. (31.3) Are church counsels infallible? 2. (31.4) Should the church promote a political candidate? 3. (32.1) At death, what happens to our bodies? Our souls? 4. (32.2-3) What will happen to the souls/bodies of believers? What about unbelievers? 5. (33.2) What is the eternal state of believers? Unbelievers? 6. *What is your view of the end times? (Amillenial, Pre-millenial, Rapture- Pre-trib, Post-millenial, I have no clue!)? **LIST ANYTHING YOU DISAGREE WITH CONCERNING THE WESTMINSTER CONFESSION: Book of Church Order 1. Look up the Book of Church Order for the PCA (http://www.pcaac.org/resources/bco/) and read the PREFACE. 10 REVIEW FOR EXAM: 1) Multiple Choice, True/ False, Short Answer (80 %) Read and Study WCF chapters 1-33 along with study guide, notes, etc. (20-25 Questions of multiple choice, true false, and short answer) Know the qualifications of the church offices of elder and deacon ( 3 – 5 Questions multiple choice, true / false, short answer) What is the purpose of church office, etc? (Short Answer) Practical Theology: Explain some of the duties of the particular office you are nominated for ( 8-10 Questions same as above) 2) Essay Questions (20%) … These should be answered with well written response (at least one fully developed paragraph, etc.). Pick one question of the 4 following three. Use of biblical references, and or, WCF, is required in your response. 1) Discuss the origins and biblical consequences of sin for mankind and the world at large? 2) How does God, Sovereignly govern the affairs of the world and men? 3) Explain the concept of saving faith. How does faith in Christ intersect with justification, sanctification, and glorification flowing from the gospel of God’s grace as a “free gift?” 3) Personal qualifications. Be ready to answer any of the following: Your sense of calling to the office you have been nominated to Any exceptions you take to the Westminster Confession (if any) Your sense of qualification based upon 1 Tim 3 or Titus 1 Any sins or entanglements that may hinder your ability to serve as an officer of the church Your family and your wife’s opinion of you serving Do you agree with the mission and vision of the church? Passing for this exam is a 70 % or higher! Pray, study, ask questions, and we’ll trust God for the results! 5 .