Kevin Matthew Young

Preparation for Ordination Examining Council

This document is in p= rocess of being prepared for my own benefit, in hopes of sharpening my own doctrin= al skill and in preparation of the Examining Council. It will be updated regularly over = the next several weeks (generally on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays).

These answers are not= in any way meant to be exhaustive or final explanations on their respective topics. Libraries have been dedicated to answering some of these questions. Please consider these answers the ‘tip of the theological iceberg.’ Further study would be required for anyone serious enough about these questions to formulate their own answers.=

If you disagree or ha= ve questions or comments, please contact me directly or post your thoughts on = the MediaFORUM.

1) PERSONAL HISTORY (this section will be finished last)

a)&n= bsp;     Briefly describe your religious background.

b)&n= bsp;     What events led to your conversion experience?

c)&n= bsp;     Name several evidences of your salvation.

d)&n= bsp;    How and when were you baptized?

e)&n= bsp;     Where do you hold current church membership?

f)&n= bsp;      Relate any subsequent spiritual experience you have= had since your conversion.

g)&n= bsp;     What is your personal pattern of prayer and Bible study?

h)&n= bsp;     What particular gift(s) do you feel God has given y= ou?

i)&n= bsp;       How are you using those gifts?

j)&n= bsp;       Relate your experience in determining “God’s call” to the Gospel ministry.

k)&n= bsp;     What blessing or fruit has resulted from your minis= try?

&nbs= p;

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2)    HOLY SCRIPTURE

a)      What is the primary purpose of the Bi= ble?

The primary purpos= e of the Bible is salvation. The Bible= is God’s revelation of Himself to man.&= nbsp; It is exhaustive in that it contains only what God chose to reveal t= o us about Himself. It is sufficie= nt in that is all that is necessary to truly know God and His plan for mankind. It contains all that we need to kn= ow about God and His purposes for us; if it does not then the Bible cannot be trusted to be infallible.

b)     Define “revelation”.=

An uncovering, bri= nging to light, of that which had previously been wholly hidden or only obscurely se= en.

c)      How do you distinguish between revela= tion, inspiration, and illumination?

Revelation – new truth directly communicated= by an act of God.

Inspiration – truth revealed directly to the= mind of the writer by God.

Illumination – truth revealed directly to the heart by the Holy Spirit.

d)     What validity, if any, is there to extra-Biblical revelations?

None, as God no longer speaks to us in this manner= . God speaks to us today solely thro= ugh the conduit of illumination. = There is no divine revelation occurring in this age. It ended, according to Ephesians 2= :20 and other passages, with the death of the apostles and prophets, and with t= he close of the canon. A close inspection of the NT will reveal that even in t= hose times revelations, signs, and wonders were fading away.

e)      What is meant by the term, “ine= rrancy of the Scriptures?”

The Scriptures (in their original handwritten form) are/were free from error and correspond at every point to what is true, whe= ther it be theological, historical, or scientific in nature. This quality is claimed only for t= he original manuscripts and not their copies or translations. For those (including our current B= ible versions) we say are infallible: meaning that the Scriptures are trustworthy in that they in no way lead us = away from true doctrine or practice. We do not separate inerrancy and infallibility. Inspiration leads to Inerrancy whi= ch leads to Infallibility.

f)      = What does “canon” mean?

Rule or measuring rod. In reference to Scripture it means= the collection of books which were measured to be both authentic and authoritat= ive (Inspired).

g)      What is the Apocrypha, and why is it = not in the Protestant Bible?

The Apocrypha (and other extant literature) was me= asured and found to be less than inspired. This does not infer that they cannot be helpful and even true in the= ir own right, but they should not be understood to be ‘God-breathed’. M= easure was made on the basis of 1) The authority of the author, 2) Internal eviden= ce of Inspiration, 3) The opinions of the early church.

Specific to the Apocrypha, its twelve books were n= ever accepted by the Jews or Christ. They were revered but not considered Scripture.

h)     How would you advise your congregation respecting the value and use of translations?

Translations of the Bible are of immeasurable use = to the serious believer. They are gi= fts from God to believers in our time. But with great blessing always comes great responsibility. No translation is perfect… n= ot the KJV, not the NASB, not the NIV. There are details and nuances that NO English Bible could ever pick = up from Ancient Hebrew or NT Greek. Therefore, the best option is to be aware of what makes each transla= tion different, and ease them in tandem for serious study.

Examples:

Beauty and accuracy – King James Version (or= the New KJV)

High Accuracy – New American Standard Bible<= /p>
Readability / Middle of the Road – New International Version

High Readability – New Living Translation.
i)      = Is evo= lution compatible with Scripture? Explain.

No, not really.&n= bsp; While there is some validity to views such as adaptation of species, etc. Evolution is so detrimen= tal because it removes God from the equation.&= nbsp; Foundationally, it removes God from His rightful position as the Gre= at Cause and seeks to explain life apart from any involvement from Him.

Assuming a normal interpretation of Scripture, evo= lution has no place in the grand design.

j)      = Are there contradictions in Scripture= ? If so, how do you handle them?

“Inerrancy means that when all the facts are known, the Scriptures in their original autographs and properly interpreted will be shown to be wholly true in everything they teach, whether that teac= hing has to do with doctrine, history, science, geography, geology, or other disciplines or knowledge.”^{^[i]} There are apparent contradictions i= n some places in Scripture, but to suggest that there are errors in the Bible is to impugn the character of God. = Almost all of the contradictions presented are easily answered by in-depth study.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Those few that are not as easily answered are almost always chalked up to errors in transcription/ translati= on and are not in danger of misrepresenting any doctrine. We should remember that only the original manuscripts are inspired. Our copies, while no less true, are inerrant due to derived inspirat= ion.

3)    THE TRINITY

a)      Give three Scriptures that show God i= s a Trinity.

God is both unity and plurality.

2 Corinthians 13:14 – The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and fellow= ship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all. NASB

Matthew 28:19 – Go therefore and make discip= les of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and t= he Holy Ghost. NASB

Deuteronomy 6:4 – Hear, O Israel!= The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! NASB

b)     Can you explain the oneness of God in= the light of the doctrine of the Trinity?

It is difficult for the finite to understand the infinite, if not altogether impossible.&nb= sp; The Bible (OT and NT) teaches that God the Father, God the Son, and = God the Holy Spirit are all divine, all are fully and eternally God. They are distinct. Yet there is one God.

c)      How was the Trinity at work in:<= /o:p>

i)      = Creati= on?

God’s own speech hints toward the doctrine o= f the Trinity. “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness” (Gene= sis 1:26 NASB). And “man has become like one= of us” (Genesis 3:22 NASB). The Hebrew word for Go= d, Elohim, is frequently used in the OT in its plural form showing that God frequently sp= oke of Himself in plural.

ii)      Salvation?

Without the doctrine of the Trinity, there would b= e no salvation. If Jesus were not = God, then there was no redemption at Calvary.= The unity of the Father and Son is critical to the doctrine of the Trinity and salvation (Matthew 11:27; John 10:30, 14:9-11, 20:28; Colossians 2:9; and 1 John 5:20).&= nbsp; Most notably, the passages referring to Christ’s baptism and transfiguration should be considered.

iii)<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>    The work of the Church?

Without the Holy Spirit the Church would be in sad= shape indeed. He is ‘God with us’ and our ‘Comforter’ (John 14:16). The Baptist Faith and Message says that He: “convicts men of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. He calls men to the Saviour, and effects regenerat= ion. At the moment of regeneration he baptizes every believer into the Body of Christ. He cultivates Christi= an character, comforts believers, and bestows the spiritual gifts by which the= y serve God through His church.”

d)     Is Christ or the Holy Spirit any less= God than the Father? Explain your answer.

No. = They are all divine, and there is but one God. While they each have differing offices and functions, to say that on= e is subordinate to another is contrary to Scripture and destroys the unity and oneness of the Godhead.

e)      How would you illustrate the Trinity?=

=

4)    PERSON OF GOD=

a)      Define “Theology”.

The study of religious faith, practice, and experi= ence; especially as it relates to the study of God and His relation to the world.=

b)     Explain the terms:

i)      = Theism= .

Belief in the existence of one God viewed as the creative source of man and the world who transcends yet is immanent in the world.

ii)      Deism.

The belief that an impersonal God created the worl= d then divorced Himself from the human race leaving man alone to fend for himself. God’s transcen= dence is acknowledged, but his immanence is not.

iii)<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>    Atheism.

The disbelief in the existence of deity.

c)      Give what is to you the clearest Scri= pture statement of the Being and Person of God, explaining why you feel this Scripture teaches these facts.

“I AM THAT I AM” – Exodus 3:14

The words of God, spoken to Moses from the bush, s= ignify ‘I AM, I WAS, I SHALL BE.’&nbs= p; God is totally independent of all other things and beings for His existence and all he does. He= re He is revealed as the God who not fail to keep His promises because nothing can change Him, since everything depends on Him.

d)     Give four New Testament statements th= at tell what God is.

John 4:24 – God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. NASB

Hebrews 12:29 – Our God is a consuming fire. NASB

1 John 1:5b – God is Light, and in Him there= is no darkness at all. NASB

1 John 4:8 – The one who does not love does = not know God, for God is love. NA= SB

e)      Name several moral attributes of God.=

Holiness, Righteousness and Justice, Goodness and = Mercy, Truth

f)      = Name several non-moral attributes of = God.

Omnipresence, omnipotence, omniscience, immutabili= ty

g)      Define “Immutability”.

God is not capable of, or susceptible to, change.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Neither His purposes nor His promi= ses change. He is absolute perfec= tion.

h)     What are some of the evidences and arguments for the existence of God?

First, He is self-existent. He does not rely on any force or o= utside influence to prove or maintain His existence. That being said, here are several classic arguments for His existence…

Cosmologi= cal Argument. (the Watchmaker Argument). God is the Great C= ausal Agent. Because there is somet= hing instead of nothing, God must there exist.&= nbsp; .” How can there= be a watch without a Watchmaker? H= ow can there be a creation without a Creator?

Teleologi= cal Argument. (the Intellegent Design Argument)= . Design supposes a Designer. The created order shows intelligent design, purpose, and harmony, therefore there must be an intelligent, purposeful, and harmonious Master Architect behind it.

Anthropol= ogical Argument. Man, God’s highest order of creation, is not simply a physical being, but also a moral being will conscience, intellect, emotion, and will. The imago dei= (image of God in man) is spiritual, not physical. Lewis Sperry Chafer writes, “= ;There are philosophical and moral features in man’s constitution that which= may be traced back to find their origin in God… A blind force… could never produce a man with intellect, sensibility, will, conscience, and inhe= rent belief in a Creator”[ii]

Moral Arg= ument. Sometimes associated with the Anthropological Argument. Since man knows the difference bet= ween right and wrong there must be a God. A sense of morality cannot come from simple evolutionary processes.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> Romans 2:14-15 indicates that for Gentiles who have no revelation of the law still have an inner, moral witne= ss placed there by God. God has written Himself on our heart.

Ontologic= al Argument. In contrast to = the above inductive arguments, this philosophical argument states that: ‘= If man could conceive of a Perfect God who does not exist, then he could conce= ive of someone greater than God himself which is impossible. Therefore God exis= ts.’ The argument rests on the fact tha= t all men have an awareness of God. Therefore because the concept of God is universal, God Himself must = have placed that idea within man.

i)      = Give s= everal Old Testament names for God.

Elohim – plural = form meaning “plural of majesty.”&n= bsp; Used over 2,000 times as a general name for God.

Adonai – “Lord” or “Master.” Occurs 449 times.

Yahweh – “LORD” or “Jehovah”. The pr= oper name of God, His covenant name. So sacred to the Israelite/Jewish nation that it is never written or pronounce= d, instead YHWH is used.

5)    PERSON and WORK OF CHRIST<= /o:p>

a)      Define:

i)      = Messiah (Christ)

Means “anointed One.”

ii)      Jesus

The proper name of the Lord. Is the Greek form of the Hebrew hame: Joshua. Means “saviour.”

iii)<= span style=3D'font:7.0pt "Times New Roman"'>    Immanuel

“God with us.”

iv)    Lord

A title of dignity and honor acknowledging the pow= er and authority of the one so addressed. <= /span>

b)     Why do you believe Christ is God?

Christ is referred to with divine names. He is called God (John 1:1; Hebrews 1:8). He is also called the Son of God numerous places in Scripture. He is called Lord.

Christ is ascribed divine worship. = And since the Scriptures recognize worship as being due to God alone, then Chri= st must therefore be God. Matthew 4:10 – “Worship the Lord thy God, and Him only.”

Christ po= ssesses the qualities and properties of deity.= Pre-existence (John 8= :58); Self-existence and life-giving power (John 5:21, 26 and 1:4); Immutability (Hebrews 13:8); Full= ness of the Godhead dwelt in Him (Colossians 2:9).

Divine of= fices are ascribed to Him. He i= s the Creator (John 1:3); He is the upholder of all things (Col. 1:17); He has the right to forgive sins (2:5-10); He raised men from the death (John 6:39,40,54); He is to be t= he judge of all men (John 5:22).

Christ po= ssesses divine attributes. Omnipo= tence (Matthew 28:18); Omniscience (John 16:30); Omnipresence (Matthew 18:20= ).

Christ= 217;s name is coupled with that of God the Father. This occurs in the Apostolic Bened= iction in 2 Corinthians 13:14, the Baptismal Formula of Matthew 28:19 and Acts 2:3= 8, as well as other passages such as John 14:23 and 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17. <= /p>
c)      What is meant by the “Pre-existence” of Christ? Is He eternal?

The deity of Christ and His eternality (or pre-existence) is inseparably linked. You cannot have one without the other. John 1:1 says “In the beginn= ing was the Word…”, but a better rendering from the Greek changes t= his to read “In the beginning the Word was continually existing.” Later in John, Christ claims to ha= ve existed before Abraham, “Before Abraham was, I AM” (8:58). Paul says in Colossians 1:17 that “He is before all things, and by Him all this consist.” Christ always was, is, and will be= .

d)     What does “the only begotten Son” mean?

Begotten means “to produce especially as an = effect or outgrowth” or to “be procreated.” Therefor we cannot say that He was begotten as God, or we would be denying His pre-existence and ultimately his deity.&nb= sp; Instead, his HUMANITY was begotten.= Christ was God from all eternity (Micah 5:2), but at Bethlehem He took to Himself an additio= nal nature, a human nature.

Only-begotten suggests that Christ is “unique,” “the only one of His kind.” It is used to mark out Jesus uniqu= ely above all earthly and heavenly beings.&nbs= p;

e)      Explain what Jesus meant when He said, “I and the Father are One,” and “the Father is greater th= an I.”

“I and the Father are One” (John 10:30) is not meant affirm= that God the Father and God the Son (Christ) is the same person. He was instead saying that they ha= ve the closest possible unity of essence and purpose.

“The Father is greater than I” (John <= st1:time Hour=3D"14" Minute=3D"28" w:st=3D"on">14:28) does not nullify or contradict the previous statement. This is called the Arien Heresy, and Jehovah’s Witnesses fall into the trap of misinterpreting this verse = by assuming it to say that Christ is lesser than God and therefore not God. Here Christ is saying that there is organization in the Godhead. = We refer to them as ‘God the Father’ and ‘God the Son’, and that makes neither one of them less important, less powerful, or less G= od.

f)      = Explain the word, “Christophany”.

An appearance before the incarnation of the second Person of the Trinity (i.e. an appearance of Christ in human form in the Old Testament). The most notable = of these occurs in Genesis 32:23-32 when Jacob wrestles with the Angel of the Lord.

g)      What is meant “hypostatic union= ”?

The hypostatic union is a theological explanation = of what happened when Christ became man. Was He God with a human nature or man with a Godly nature? Actually, neither. He was 100% God and 100% man. He did not simply dwell in a human person but instead was the union of two natures in one theanthropic Person (the God-man). This un= ion is eternal… Christ did not simply take this form on earth, but became the God-man forever.

h)     How much importance should be placed = on the Doctrine of the Virgin Birth?

This is one of the most important doctrines in the Bible. If Christ was not virg= in born, then He was not sinless. Should Christ have been born of Joseph, he would have possessed a sin nature.

i)      = Why is= it necessary for Christ to be God?

If Jesus were only a man, then He could not have d= ies to save the world. An attack on = the deity of Christ is an attack on the bedrock of Christianity. Because of his status as God, Chri= st’s death had infinite value whereby He could die for the entire world.

j)      = Define “pantheism” and “deism”. How do they differ from orthodox Christianity?

Deism is the belief that God is not personally inv= olved with the universe, though He may have created it. Pantheism is the belief that God i= s coextensive with the universe, i.e. the universe IS God.   These differ from orthodox Christianity in that they deny the existence of a personal deity.

k)     What is the work of Christ today?

Christ is building His church. He is forming, guiding, and controlling the church. He is nurturing and cleansing it.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He is also giving gifts to it, administered by the Holy Spirit.

Christ is= praying for believers. He is assu= ring the security of our salvation, restoring us to fellowship when it is broken through sin, and preparing a heavenly home for us. He is producing fruit in our lives= .

6)    PERSON and WORK OF THE HOLY SPI= RIT

a)      Define “Pn= eumatology”.

The study of the doctrine of the Holy Spirit.

b)     Set forth your reasons, using Scriptu= re, for the belief in the Deity of the Holy Spirit.

When He is called the Spirit of God, that meant th= at He is the Person of God. 1 Corin= thians 2:11 attests to = this.

He has di= vine attributes. Life (Romans = 8:2); Omniscience (1 Corinthians = 2:10-12); Omnipotence (Job 33:4); Omnipresence (Psalm 139:7-10); Eternality (Hebrews = 9:14); Holiness (Matthew 12:32); Love (Galatians 5:22); and Truth (John 14:17).

He does d= ivine works. Creation (Genesis = 1:2); Generating Christ (Matthew = 1:20); Inspiration of Scripture (2 Peter 2:21); Regeneration (Titus 3:5); Intercession (Romans 8:26); Sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13); and Helping Saints = (John 14:16).

c)      Set forth your reasons, using Scriptu= re, for the belief in the Personality of the Holy Spirit.

His attri= butes. Intellect (1 Corinthians 2:10); Knowledge (1 Corint= hians 2:11); Mind (Romans 8:27); Emotions (Ephesians = 4:30); Will (Acts 16:6).
His works= . Teaching (John 14:16); Testifying (John 15:26); Guidance (John 16:3); Conviction= (John 16:8); Regeneration (John 5= :21); Intercession (Romans 8:26); Commands (Acts 13:2).

His posit= ion. He can be Grieved (Isaiah 63:10); Blasphemed (Matthew 12:32); Resisted (Acts 7:51); Lied to (Acts 5:3); Obeyed (Acts 10).

d)     How does the Old Testament bear witne= ss to the personality and work of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Spirit regenerated believers in the Old Testament (Ezekiel 36:25-27). He selectively indwellent believers (John 14:16-17, Numbers 27:18).<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> He restrained sin (Genesis 6:3). He made people able to serve (Judg= es 14:19).

e)      Name and define at least five distinct ministries of the Holy Spirit.

Baptizing= – the work whereby the Spirit places the believer into union with Christ and = into union with other believers in the body of Christ (1 Corinthians 12:13). This is not a “second blessi= ng,” but instead occurs immediately at the point of conversion.

Indwellin= g – the unique ministry of the Holy Spirit (John 14:16) whereby all believers are permanently indwelt= by the Spirit, occurring at the point of salvation.

Gifts= – a divine endowment of a special ability for service upon a member of the Bo= dy of Christ.

Sealing <= /b>– the act in which the believer is sealed with the Spirit to identify the believer as belonging to God. Like the branding of cattle, it is an act of owenership.

Filling – the only conditional ministry of the Spirit. It is the experiential and repeated process by which believers are empowered for service.

f)      = Why is belief in the personality of t= he Holy Spirit essential?

To deny the personality of the Holy Spirit is to d= eny his deity. The Holy Spirit is= not just an influence but a Person.

g)      How may one sin against the Holy Spir= it?
Although speaks of quenching and grieving as being= sins against the Holy Spirit, normally it is the blaspheming of the Holy Spirit = that one has in mind when this topic arises (Mark 3:28-29). Much has been said on the topic of= the ‘unpardonable sin’. The sin of blasphemy is not the sin of belief.= The sin against the Spirit was final and unforgivable because they h= ad the witness and the works of Christ (Matthew 12). We must keep in mind these things = (1) the nature of the sin is to ascribe what is the obvious wor= k of the Holy Spirit (e.g., releasing people from Satan’s power) to Satan himself; (2) it is not simply a momentary doubt or sinful attitude, but is indeed a settled condition which opposes the Spirit’s work, as typifi= ed by the religious leaders who opposed Jesus; and (3) a person who is concern= ed about it has probably never committed this sin, for those who commit it here (i.e., the religious leaders) are not in the least concerned about Jesus= 217; warning.

h)     Where in Scripture do we find the gif= ts of the Spirit listed?

Romans12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:8-10, 28-30; Ephesi= ans 4:11

i)      = How are these gifts given to the Church?

These gifts are given to believers (1 Corinthians = 12:11). We all receive at least one at the= point of salvation (Romans 12, 1 Peter 4:10). They are God’s enablement for personal spiritual service to the church.

j)      = Are all the gifts valid for the Church today?

Volumes have been written on the answer to this question. And yet, it is still argued. Personally, I believe= that not all gifts are valid for the Church today, and I further believe that the Scripture gives ample systematic support for this view.

Some gifts were meant specifically for the beginni= ng of the Church. Apostles and prop= hets are said to have been given for the founding era of the body of Christ (Ephesians 2:20)= . The first generation of Christians experienced spectacu= lar signs and wonders which the second generation apparently did not (Hebrews 2:3-4). Even the gift of tong= ues evidently died out before the gift of prophecy was withdrawn (1 Corinthians 13:8).

We must draw a line in the sand and remind ourselv= es that much of the New Testament was not written directly to us. It was written to believers in the= first century and contains admonitions and guidance written directly to them in m= any instances, not us (i.e. many of the Pauline Epistles). This does not mean we cannot trans= fer and infer to our own culture, but we must do so with a watchful eye to the entire context of Scripture and the revelation of the whole, not the part.<= /p>
That being said, here are some bullet points that = must be stated:

·      =    Pentecost was a one-time-never-to-be-repeated event. Pentecost completes Christ’s finished work for our salvation.

·      =    The book of Acts is unique, and as an histor= ical narrative seeks to document a completed history, a unique epoch in the hist= ory of redemption whereby the apostolic spread of the gospel is taken to the en= ds of the earth.

·      =    Even in Acts and the Pauline Epistles there = is no uniform nature to the experiences.

·      =    The Prophetic gifts (Prophecy and its assessment, tongues and their interpretation, the word of wisdom, and the w= ord of knowledge) have ceased. To believe otherwise is to call into question the canonicity of the New Testam= ent. If the canon is closed, then how c= an God continue to give revelation to man?

·      =    The office of Apostle, Prophet, and Healer h= ave ceased along with the divinely given ability to perform them as a function = of a Spirit-gifting. These ‘= sign gifts’ are no longer necessary in this later part of the dispensation= .

For the one whom still disbelieves, let us speak t= o more practical issues. If the New Testament was written by men who exercised these sign gifts, why then should they say that they had ceased. Further, the New Testament Apostles expected the Lord to return in t= heir lifetime, therefore we should not expect them to make any statement about t= he cessation of certain gifts. T= his being the case, we would have to find a contemporary of the Apostles, who l= ived longer than the Apostles and wrote about giftings, if we are to more fully answer the question of the cessation of gifts. Fortunately, both Hebrews and Jude= fit this description. All in all, Hebrews 2:3-4 seems to involve some solid inferences that the sign gifts had for the most part ceased. Further, it offers equally inferential evidence of the purpose of the sign gifts: to confirm that God was doing something new.= The whole argument of Hebrews rests on this assumption: there is a new and final revelation in Jesus Christ

If the Spirit of God, the Spirit of truth and orde= r, is really restoring these prophetic gifts to the church today in such a widesp= read way, would there be, as there in fact is, such widespread ambiguity and confusion, not to mention division, about them? Does the Spirit, who gives gifts to unify and edify, work in this ambivalent and uncertain way?

I could write more, but Dr. Dan Wallace already has! Visit http://www.netbibl= e.org/docs/soapbox/continu.htm

k)     List the fruit of the Spirit. Where i= s it found?

Galatians 5:22,23 – Love, joy, peace, patien= ce, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

l)      = What position do you hold on speaking in tongues? Slaying in the Spirit? Prophesying?

Assuming a Normative, Dispensational view of the Scriptures: No, they are not meant to be practiced today. For more information, refer to Sec= tion 6 Part j.

m)   What is the primary purpose of the Ho= ly Spirit today?

He gives gifts, He fills, He teaches, He guides, He gives assurance, He prays.

7)    ATONEMENT=

a)      Define “Atonement”.<= /o:p>

At-one-ment. The state of being at one or recon= ciled. The means by which the guilt-punishment chain produced by violation of God’s will is broken.

b)     Where and when did the plan of the atonement originate?

The plan originated with God, revealed to His peop= le most clearly in Genesis 22:8 when God provided Abraham a lamb in place of I= saac on Mount = Moriah= .

c)      What does the atonement teach us abou= t God?

The atonement teaches us that our God is a god con= cerned with reconciliation. He draws= His own unto Himself. God was/is = a faithful, holy covenant partner to His people; He provided the means of atonement when His sanctuary or the land became defiled, or when the people were unfaithful. God did not need appeasement; rather, atonement removed the sinful barrier to the covenantal= relationship.

d)     If God loves us, was the atonement necessary?

Yes. The atonement came as a result of God’s love for us. It was absolutely necessary because of God’s love for us= .

e)      What does the atonement teach us abou= t man?

The atonement teaches us that man is sinful and therefore separated from the Holy God of the Universe. It teaches us that we cannot become sinless or bridge that gap ourselves, there must be a mediator.

f)      = Could anyone other than Christ have m= ade an acceptable atonement?

No. = No one other than could have made a complete and acceptable atonement. The Old Testament sacrificial syst= em did not provide a lasting atonement for the Israelites; it had to be repeated yearly. Only a perfect sacrif= ice, where one stood in our stead and died, could satisfy and pay for the penalt= y of sin.

g)      How does propitiation relate to atone= ment?

Propitiation is a facet of the atonement. Propitiation means that the death = of Christ fully satisfied all the righteous demands of God toward the Sinner.<= span style=3D'mso-spacerun:yes'> i.e. God is propitiated – His holiness is vindicated and satisfied by the death of Christ.

h)     How does redemption relate to the atonement?

Redemption is one of the most amazing concepts in = the Scripture. Redemption is the purchasing back of something that had been lost, by the payment of a ransom. The debt against us i= s not merely seen as cancelled, but because of Christ’s atoning work is ful= ly paid.

i)      = What assurance do we have that the sacrifice of Christ was acceptable to God as = an atonement?

The most obvious sign that His atoning work was acceptable is the resurrection of Christ.&= nbsp; His coming back to life on the third day was a sign of vindication a= nd approval. Romans 3:24-25 tell= s us that “Yet now God in his gracious kindness declares us not guilty. He= has done this through Christ Jesus, who has freed us by taking away our sins. F= or God sent Jesus to take the punishment for our sins and to satisfy God’= ;s anger against us. We are made right with God when we believe that Jesus shed his blood, sacrificing his life for us. God was being entirely fair and just when he did not punish those who sinned in former times.”

j)      = For whom did Christ die? In your answ= er, discuss your views on limited atonement vs. unlimited atonement vs. univers= al atonement.

Limited A= tonement – the atonement of Christ is limited to a definite or particular numb= er of people (the Elect).

Unlimited Atonement – Christ died for every person but His death is effecti= ve only in those who believe the gospel.

Universal Atonement – Christ died for the sins of the entire world, and therefore all men are saved.

Christ died for all. 2 Peter 2:1 seems to infer th= at unlimited atonement is the correct answer to the question. Though one cannot be dogmatic on t= his doctrine, Unlimited Atonement offers the most solution and creates the numb= er of problems in relation to the text.

k)     Can the atonement be effective in hum= an lives in any way where the Gospel is unknown?

The Atonement: no. General Revelation: yes.

l)      = What p= art does the blood of Christ play in the atonement?

Without the shedding of blood, there is no remissi= on for sins (Matthew 26:28). The blo= od of Christ is the guarantee of our secured salvation in the New Covenant.

8)    JUSTIFICATION=

a)      Define “justification”.

To justify is to declare righteous the one who has= faith in Jesus Christ. It is a forensic (legal) act of God whereby He declares the believing sinner righteous on the basis of the blood of Christ.

b)     Where in the Bible would you take som= eone to teach them concerning the doctrine of justification?

Romans 5:1-10

c)      What is the basis on which God justif= ies the sinner?

A believer in Christ is justified on the basis of = the death of Christ, apart from works.

d)     What is the nature of the change brou= ght about justification?

“It is the judicial act of God, by which he pardons all the sins of those who believe in Christ, and accounts, accepts,= and treats them as righteous in the eye of the law, i.e., as conformed to all i= ts demands. In addition to the pardon of sin, justification declares that all = the claims of the law are satisfied in respect of the justified. It is the act = of a judge and not of a sovereign. The law is not relaxed or set aside, but is declared to be fulfilled in the strictest sense; and so the person justifie= d is declared to be entitled to all the advantages and rewards arising from perf= ect obedience to the law.”^{^[iii]}

e)      Describe the relationship between justification and regeneration.

Regeneration is the “new birth.” It is God’s act of begetting eternal life in the one who believes in Christ. Justification is a change of a leg= al nature: God declares one righteous. Regeneration is the communication of divine life to the soul...as the impartation of a new nature...or heart...and the production of a new creati= on.

f)      = What are some of the blessings of justification?

(a)&= nbsp;    The pardon and removal of all sins

(b)&= nbsp;    The end of separation from God.

(c)&= nbsp;    Imputation of Christ’s righteousness upon the believing person.

g)      Does the Law have a relationship to justification?

Romans 3:20 clearly states that as a means of establishing right relations with God the= law is totally insufficient. The = law can open a person’s eyes to his own sinfulness, but it cannot remove it. In fact, it was never mea= nt to remove it, but to intensify it (Galatians 2:16, 3:10; Romans 3:28).

9)    RESURRECTION<= /b>

a)      How important is the doctrine of the = resurrection of Christ to the Christian faith?

The resurrection of Christ is of cardinal importance. “If Christ = was not raised, then all our preaching is useless, and your trust in God is useless. And if Christ has not been raised, then your faith is useless, and= you are still under condemnation for your sins” (1 Corinthians 15:14,17).

b)     How do you explain the words of Jesus: “I am the resurrection”?

Jesus is the Lord of both the physical and spiritual. He held power over= life and death.

c)      Give support from the Old Testament a= s to the certainty of the resurrection.

Daniel 12:2 – “And many of them that s= leep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt.”

Psalm 16:10 – “For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption.”=

Isaiah 26:19 – “Thy dead men sh= all live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

Job 19:25-27 – “For I know tha= t my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth; and though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God: whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.”

d)     The Bible (I Corinthians 15:44) refers to our resurrected body = as a Spiritual body. How does this differ from our present body?<= /p>
There will be a continuity between mortal and immo= rtal body, just as there was with Christ’s. Our resurrection bodies will be spiritual in that they are created, indwelt, and sustained by the Holy Spir= it and will belong to the eternal, imperishable, immortal, heavenly order of things.

e)      Is it possible for a resurrection to = occur without a physical body?

Of course. Paul answered this question in 1 Corinthians 15:35-49.

f)      = What is the relationship between the resurrection of Jesus Christ and future resurrection?

They are inseparably linked (1 Corinthians 15:12-19). If Jesus was raised, haw can anyon= e ever say, “There will be no resurrection of the dead?” If there is no resurrection, then = Christ could not have been raised and in that case our faith is futile and we are still in our sins.

g)      Describe the believers’ resurre= ction.

John 6:39,40,44; 1 Corinthians 15:22-23; 1 Thessal= onians 4:14-17

h)     Where in the Bible would you take som= eone to teach them concerning the doctrine of the resurrection?
See above. John 5:28.

10)           REGENERATION<= /b>

a)&n= bsp;     Define soteriology.

b)&n= bsp;     Define regeneration.

c)&n= bsp;     Give two passages of Scripture that teach the neces= sity o of man being regenerated.

d)&n= bsp;    How are the Holy Spirit and Scripture involved in regeneration?

e)&n= bsp;     How can one come to a personal assurance of regeneration?

f)&n= bsp;      How would you lead a person into salvation?

g)&n= bsp;     Which of the following characteristics must be pres= ent in an individual before regeneration can occur: faith; forgiving spirit; repentance; love; patience; conviction; confession?

h)&n= bsp;     What are some of the manifestations of regeneration= ?

i)&n= bsp;       Describe the faith that results in regeneration.

j)&n= bsp;       What is meant by the terms “old man” and “new man”?

11)           SANCTIFICATION

a)