Theology I - Final

Natural Revelation

What kind of revelation is seen through creation, through what God has made?

Special revelation

God revealing himself in various and specific ways to mankind

God exists, all that is created exists because of God, all creation is dependent upon God, morality is implied in creation

What can be discerned through natural revelation?

ad extra

God’s decree is that which is ad intra in eternity and _____ in economy. (Prism, one beam of light in, rainbow out.)

Creation ex nihilo

Out of what did God create the universe?

Time, Universe, Form and Filling

What is the creation order?

Orthodox View

This view of God’s relation to creation states that God created the world and is providentially involved (pure act) with his creation. 

Materialism

This view of God’s relation to Creation states that only what is physical is real, there is no metaphysics, and no God.

Pantheism

This view of God’s relation to creation is that everything real is divine; the physical are divine emanations

Dualism

This view of God’s relation to creation states that the material and the spiritual or physical and spiritual are always in conflict.

Deism

This view of God’s relation to creation states that God creates and them steps back from his creation.

Moderate Naturalism

Model of Meaning saying life is essentially only physical. God and the soul may exist, but they contribute little to the meaning of life.

Extreme Naturalism

Model of Meaning stating life is essentially only physical. There is no God, there is no soul. The meaning of life is only found in what can be experienced. 

Nihilism (Pessimism)

Model of Meaning stating life is meaningless. Life cannot achieve meaning since there is no objective way to measure values and morality.

Supernaturalism

Mode of meaning that says “God” and “soul” exist. In this model, either one or both are accepted and thus life is meaningful because of their existence. Any sort of religion or worldview that accepts that there is some form of “god” or “soul”.

Biblical Theological

Mode of Meaning used by Christians, supernatural but the meaning is grounded in the narrative and theology of Scripture.

To glorify God and enjoy Him forever

According to the Westminster Shorter Catechism, what is the chief end of man?

the pinnacle of his creation

God created mankind as what?

God is beautiful he is the fountain of beauty, he calls his creation good and very good. We need to be attuned to the beauty of creation.

What is the relation between creation and beauty?

Substantive View

View of imago dei that states that the imago is some definite characteristic or quality within the makeup of human nature. Ex: Rationality, morality, will. “Characteristic”. 

Relational View

View of imago dei stating that the imago is not resident within human nature, but rather an experience of relationship.

Functional View

View of imago dei stating that the imago is not resident within human nature but has something to do with the dominion mandate as reflecting the image of God. 

Ontological View

View of imago dei stating that humanity is the imago Dei. The being of mankind in all that it is, is the imago Dei. 

Substantive and Ontological views

Which views of the imago dei are less problematic?

Relational and Functional views

What views of the imago dei are more problematic?

Innocence/holiness, Nature (Fallenness), Grace (Justification and Sanctification), Eternity (glorification or condemnation).

What are the four states of human nature according to Thomas Boston?

Innocence/holiness

State of Human nature in which Adam and Eve were able to sin and able not to sin.

The privation (subtraction) of good

What is evil?

Nature (Fallenness)

State of human nature in which mankind is not able not to sin.

Grace (justification and Sanctification)

State of human nature in which a believer is able not to sin, not because of themselves, but because of Christ’s righteousness imputed on them.

Eternity (Glorification or Eternal Condemnation)

State of human nature in which they are unable to sin. An escalation from the Garden to the Eternal City

Trichotomism

View of human composition stating that man is composed of body, soul, and spirit. The soul and body are related through the spirit.

Dichotomism

View of Human Composition stating that man is composed of body and soul.

Monism

View of human composition stating that man is not composed of parts, but a profound unity.

is the only one who kept the law of God perfectly and lived the life we could not live

Christ is the ideal man in that he what?

glorification is the final stage of the triune God’s overarching work of salvation in believers in which He fully conforms them to the image of the glorified human nature of the Son and by which they will be totally free from sin and its effects. (Key - glorified to his human nature.)

Describe the union with Christ in glorification

Glorification

the final stage of the triune God’s overarching work of salvation in believers in which He fully conforms them to the image of the glorified human nature of the Son and by which they will be totally free from sin and its effects. Not back to Eden.

Hamartiology

The technical name for the study of the doctrine of sin

With God and with mankind (mankind and the universe)

Sin causes disruption in mankind’s relationship with who?

Faith believes the promises of God

Why is the hope of glorification essential to our faith?

Total Depravity/Inability

mankind is sinful throughout the entirety of his being. Thus, unable to do anything to reconcile himself to God. 

Adam represents the entirety of the human race

What does Federal Headship/representation hold?

because we are sinners

We are not sinners because we sin, but we sin why?

The perfect life of Christ we could not live (His active obedience.)

The death of Christ where he received the justice of the Triune God we deserved (His passive obedience.)

His resurrection in which he conquered sin and death (which gives us the assurance of our own resurrection.)

What is our only hope concerning the sin problem?

Jesus, the incarnation of Christ

The greatest revelation of God comes to us through who?

Condemn us

Though nobody can stand before God and say they didn’t know he exists, natural revelation provides enough information to what?

the rule that rules

What does norma normans mean?

inspiration or God breathed

What does theophneustos mean?

Full and absolute

Which of the three theories of inspiration fit the verbal-plenary view?

God creates from nothing and creation is eternal in the mind of God

What is true concerning creation and God’s eternal decree?

there must be an inseparability in what the Trinity does, there is one will in God

What is the doctrine of inseparable operations?

Faith

Because nobody can account for origins, we understand God’s creative work by what?

God is over his creation in his creation power and providential care. 

How does God’s transcendence relate to his creation?

Day or age

What does or can the word yom mean?