ETCF VII.70. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul(c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

VII.70. PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS

Summary

1. Many people make a profession of faith in Christ and later repudiate Him.
2. Perseverance of the saints rests on the promises of God to preserve the saints.
3. God will bring to completion the salvation of the elect.
4. Those who depart from the faith were never really believers.
5. We can have confidence in our salvation because we have been sealed with the Holy Spirit. He is God’s pledge to bring our salvation to
completion.
6. The intercession of Christ is for our preservation.

Biblical passages for reflection:

John 6:35-40;Romans 8:31-39;Philippians 1:6;2 Timothy 2:14-19;Hebrews 9:11-15;

http://sites.google.com/site/biblestudyetcf/Home/audio/P07/ETCF.070.PERSEVERANCE_OF_THE_SAINTS.wpl

ETCF II.18 The Justice of God

From  Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 18. The Justice of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Genesis 18.25; Exodus 34.06-07; Nehemiah 09.32-33; Psalm 145.17; Rom 09.14-33;

Summary:

1. Justice is giving what is due.
2. Biblical justice is linked to righteousness, to doing what is right.
3. Injustice is outside the category of justice and is a violation of justice. Mercy is also the category of justice but is not a violation of justice
   

Additional Link to all the Audio(.wpl):
http://bit.ly/dAIMRr

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

I found the contrast between Paul and Judas helpful. Paul received grace(received more than he deserved) - Judas did not(received what he deserved, i.e., justice).

ETCF II.17 The Goodness of God

From  Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 17. The Goodness of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Exodus 34.06-07; Psalm 25.08-10; Psalm 100; Romans 08.28-39; James 01.17;

Summary:

1. Creatures have shadows cast by the darkness of sin.
   
2. There is no shadow side to God.
3. God is not under Law.
4. God is not apart from Law.
5. God is a Law unto Himself.
   

Additional Link to all the Audio(.wpl):
http://bit.ly/9OiIxH

ETCF II.16 The Holiness of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 16. The Holiness of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Exodus 03.01-06; 1Samuel 02.02; Psalm 99.01-09; Isaiah 06.01-13; Revelation 04.01-11;

Summary:

1. Holiness has two distinct meanings: (1) "otherness" or being "set apart" and (2) "pure and righteous actions.
2. We are called to be holy - to reflect God's righteousness and purity.

Additional Link to Audio Summary and Scriptures:
http://bit.ly/aQwZGM

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

What place should the holiness have in our lives?

How does this / should relate to church life?

ETCF II.15 The Omniscience of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 15 The Omniscience of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Psalm 147.5; Ezekiel 11.5; Acts 15.18; Romans 11.33-36; Hebrews 4.13;

Summary:

1. Omniscience means "all knowledge".
   
2. Only an infinite Being can possess infinite knowledge.
   
3. God has a higher degree of knowledge than His creatures, but it is of the same logical order.
4. To attribute a different kind of logic to God is fatal to Christianity.
   
5. God's omniscience is grounded in His infinity and his omnipotence.
6. God's omniscience is crucial to His role as the Judge of the world.
   

This post:
http://tinyurl.com/ygm5ba4

Audio summary and Biblical passages:
http://tinyurl.com/yz3gzsh

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

The degree vs. kind distinction is helpful. It addresses right understanding Christians need to appreciate and trust God's judgment.

John 2.24-25 ...Jesus knew what was in a man...because? He was God:

Colossians 1.16 For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.

ECTF II.14 The Omnipresence of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 14 The Omnipresence of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

1Kings 8.27; Job 11.7-9; Jeremiah 23.23-24; Acts 17.22-31;

Summary:

1. Only an infinite Spirit can be omnipresent.
   
2. God is not bound by time or space. His being transcends time and space.
   
3. God's omnipresence includes his immensity by which He is able to present in His fullness at all times and in all places.
   
4. God's omnipresence is a comfort to the believer and a terror to the unbeliever.
   

Another audio link to these summary points and the scriptures:
http://tinyurl.com/yle6ly5

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

Acts 17:28 for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’...

ETCF II.13 The Omnipotence of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 13 The Omnipotence of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Genesis 17.1; Psalm 115.3; Romans 11.36; Ephesians 1.11; Hebrews 1.3;

Summary:

1. Omnipotence does not mean that God can do anything. He cannot act against His nature.
2. Omnipotence refers to God's sovereign power, authority, and control over the created order.
3. Omnipotence, though a threat to the wicked, is a source of comfort to the believer.
4. The same power God exhibited in creation is displayed in our redemption.
5. Nothing in the universe can thwart or frustrate God's plans.

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

Here's another link to all the Scriptures:
http://tinyurl.com/yfavxks

ECTF II.12 The Self-existence of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 12 The Self-Existence of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Psalm 90.2; John 1.1-5; Acts 17.22-31; Colossians 1.15-20; Revelation 1.8;

Summary:

1. Every effect must have a cause.
2. God is not an effect; He has no cause.
3. Self-creation is an irrational concept.
4. Self-existence is a rational concept.
5. Self-existence is not only rationally possible, but, rationally necessary.
   

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

This is another verse, perhaps, for self-existence: Exodus 3.14

Other relevant links:

Thoughts of St. Thomas
...explores the idea of self-existence and unchangeableness

Another link to all of the scriptures:
http://tinyurl.com/yzgrwoj

ETCF II.11 The Triunity of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 11 The Triunity of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Deuteronomy 6.4; Matthew 3.16-17; Matthew 28.19; 2Corinthians 13.14; 1Peter 1.2;

Summary:

1. The doctrine of the Trinity affirms the triunity of God.
2. The doctrine of the Trinity is not a contradiction: God is one in essence and three in person.
3. The Bible affirms both the oneness of God and the deity of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
4. The Trinity is distinguished by the work assumed by the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
5. The doctrine of the Trinity sets the limits of human speculation about the nature of God.
   

Googlebooks link:

Google books ~ Essential Truths...Doctrine of the Trinity

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

The doctrine of the Trinity is strong medicine for heresy: Isa 42.1-7 is followed by... Isa 42.8 & ... the servant has many names: Isa 9.6 ...

Here's another link for all the scriptures:
http://tinyurl.com/yjlrs8y

ETCF II.10 The Incomprehensibility of God

From Essential Truths of the Christian Faith by R.C. Sproul (c) 1992 R. C. Sproul Published by Tyndale ISBN 0-8423-2006-1

Part II. The Nature and Attributes of God ~ 10 The Incomprehensibility of God

Biblical passages for reflection
[Links to the ESV Bible]:

Job 38.1-41.34; Psalm 139.1-18; Isaiah 55.8-9; Romans 11.33-36; 1Corinthians 2.6-16;

Summary:

1. There is profound meaning in even the simplest of Christian truths.
2. No matter how deep our knowledge of theology, there will always be much about the nature and character of God that will remain a mystery to us.
3. No human being can have a comprehensive knowledge of God.
4. The doctrine of the incomprehensibility of God does not mean that we can know nothing about God. It means that our knowledge is limited, bounded by our humanity.
   

Personal(Michael.T.Bee) Reflections:

I liked this study particularly. I think there's a great beauty in God's condescension toward us.

I liked, too, the additional scripture mentioned in the text: Deuteronomy 29.29

Here's another link to all the scriptures for this study:

http://tinyurl.com/yjlatyo