ETCF IV.35 THE THREEFOLD OFFICE OF CHRIST

Summary:

1. Jesus was the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy and was Himself a prophet.
2. Jesus was both Priest and sacrifice. As Priest, He offered Himself as the perfect sacrifice for sin.
3. Jesus is the anointed King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Psalm 110;Isaiah 42:1-4;Luke 1:26-38;Acts 3:17-26;Hebrews 5:5-6;

ETCF IV.34 JESUS CHRIST AS MEDIATOR

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



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Summary:
1. A mediator works to bring about reconciliation between estranged
parties.
2. Christ as the God-man reconciles us to the Father.
3. Christ and the Father are agreed from eternity that Christ should be our
Mediator.
4. Christ’s work of mediation is superior to prophets, angels, and Moses.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Romans 8:33-34;1 Timothy 2:5;Hebrews 7:20-25;Hebrews 9:11-22 ;



Hebrews 7 verse 25 (KJV)~Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him,seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.~Hebrews 7 verse 25


Hebrews 9 verse 14 (NIV)~How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God!~Hebrews 9 verse 14

ROHR ~ Rely On His Resources

This set of verses is from the "Rely on His Resources" packet found in the Navigators Topical Memory System.

His Spirit	1 Corinthians 3:16	1 Corinthians 2:12
His Strength	Isaiah 41:10	Philippians 4:13
His Faithfulness	Lamentations 3:22,23	Numbers 23:19
His Peace	Isaiah 26:3	1 Peter 5:7
His Provision	Romans 8:32	Philippians 4:19
His Help in Temptation	Hebrews 2:18	Psalms 119:9,11

New International Version, ©2011 (NIV)

LTNL ~ LIVE THE NEW LIFE

Christ the Center	2 Corinthians 5:17	Galatians 2:20
Obedience to Christ	Romans 12:1	John 14:21
The Word	2 Timothy 3:16	Joshua 1:8
Prayer	John 15:7	Philippians 4:6,7
Fellowship	Matthew 18:20	Hebrews 10:24,25
Witnessing	Matthew 4:19	Romans 1:16

BCD ~ Be Christ's Disciple

This set of verses is from the "Be Christ's Disciple" packet found in the Navigators Topical Memory System.

Put Christ First	Matthew 6:33	Luke 9:23
Separate From the World	1 John 2:15,16	Romans 12:2
Be Steadfast	1 Corinthians 15:58	Hebrews 12:3
Serve Others	Mark 10:45	2 Corinthians 4:5
Give Generously	Proverbs 3:9,10	2 Corinthians 9:6,7
Develop World Vision	Acts 1:8	Matthew 28:19,20

New International Version, ©2011 (NIV)

GIC ~ Grow in Christlikeness

Love	John 13:34,35	1 John 3:18
Humility	Philippians 2:3,4	1 Peter 5:5,6
Purity	Ephesians 5:3	1 Peter 2:11
Honesty	Leviticus 19:11	Acts 24:16
Faith	Hebrews 11:6	Romans 4:20,21
Good Works	Galatians 6:9,10	Matthew 5:16

New International Version, ©2010 (NIV)

Google ~ Growin in Christlikeness [last day] [last week]

ETCF X.102 HELL

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

X. End Times

102. HELL

Summary

1. The suffering of hell is beyond any experience of misery found in this world.
2. Hell is clearly included in the teaching of Jesus.
3. If the biblical descriptions of hell are symbols, then the reality will be worse than the symbols.
4. Hell is the presence of God in His wrath and judgment.
5. There is no cruelty in hell. Hell will be a place of perfect justice.
6. Hell is eternal. There is no escape through either repentance or annihilation.

Biblical passages for reflection:

Matthew 8:11-12;Mark 9:42-48;Luke 16:19-31;Jude 1:3-13;Revelation 20:11-15;



GoogleBooks ~ Search ~ "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith ~ HELL

ETCF.102.HELL.00a.mp3(secure file)

ETCF X.101 THE BEATIFIC VISION

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

X. End Times

101. THE BEATIFIC VISION

Summary

1. God’s invisibility is often the occasion for human acts of idolatry.
2. Christ displayed the perfect image of God; to see Him is to see the Father.
3. The vision of God is promised to the pure in heart.
4. No mortal can see the face of God until we are purified in heaven.
5. The future vision of God is called “beatific” because it will flood our souls with blessedness.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Exodus 32:1-33:23;Numbers 6:24-26;Matthew 5:8;John 14:1-11;Revelation 22:1-5;



GoogleBooks ~ Search ~ "Essential Truths of the Christian Faith ~ BEATIFIC VISION

ETCF.101.THE_BEATIFIC_VISION.00a.mp3(secure file)

Fighter Verse Dec 18-19 ~ Matthew 7.26-27

Matthew 7:26-27 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”

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 VII.67. FAITH AND WORKS

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.67. FAITH AND WORKS

Summary

1. No one can be justified by good works. Only through faith in Christ can
we be justified.
2. Faith and good deeds must be distinguished but never separated. True
faith always produces works of obedience.
3. Justification is by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.
4. Dead faith cannot justify.
5. Faith in Christ means trusting in Him as Savior and submitting to Him
as Lord.
6. We are rewarded in heaven according to our good works, though this
reward is one of grace.

Works = Justification ~ FALSE
Faith + Works = Justification ~ FALSE
Faith = Justification - Works ~ FALSE
Faith = Justification + Works ~ TRUE

Biblical passages for reflection:

Romans 3:9-4:8; Philippians 2:12-13;
James 2:18-24; 2 Peter 1:5-11;
1 John 2:3-6; 1 John 4:7-11;

AUDIO: http://bit.ly/msgp_etcf_67_wpl

ETCF VII.63 FREE WILL

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.63. FREE WILL

Summary:

1. Every choice we make is for a reason.
2. We always choose according to our strongest inclination at the
moment of choice.
3. The will is the choosing faculty.
4. Fallen human beings have free will but lack liberty. We have natural
freedom but not moral freedom.
5. Freedom is self-determination.
6. In regeneration, God changes the disposition of our heart and plants a
desire for Himself within us.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Deuteronomy 30:19-20;
John 6:44, 65;
John 8:34-36;
Romans 8:5-8;
James 1:13-15;

http://bit.ly/MSGP_ETCF_63_wpl

ETCF VII.61 ATONEMENT

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.61 ATONEMENT

Summary:

1. Atonement involves a payment to make amends for a debt.
2. Human beings cannot atone for their own sins.
3. Jesus’ perfection qualified Him to make atonement.
4. Christ fulfilled the curse of the Old Covenant.
5. Christ’s atonement was both a work of substitution and satisfaction.
6. The Father and Son worked in harmony to effect our reconciliation.

Biblical passages for reflection:

Romans 3:21-28
Romans 5:17-19
Ephesians 1:7
Philippians 3:8-9
Titus 3:1-7

Links to all the Audio (WPL)

...to be clear -- 'vicarious' is used in the 2nd definition:
vicarious
adj. 1 indirect, through another; 2 performed for or experienced by one person in place of another; substituted, delegated; happening in an unusual part of the body (Physiology)

http://www.box.net/shared/82i7h1hpiak9ah49ob10

While the use of the word is technically correct -- more common usage is something we 'imagine' ourselves -- on behalf of another. 2ndary --older usage is 'substitutionary'.

Christ's death was real _it was experienced for us_ --we benefit from the atonement through his _vicarious_ sufferings.

ETCF VII.62. DEFINITE ATONEMENT

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.62. DEFINITE ATONEMENT

Summary

1. Definite atonement replaces the term limited atonement in the acrostic
TULIP.
2. Definite atonement refers to the scope of God’s design for redemption
and the intent of the Cross.
3. All who are not universalists agree that Christ’s atonement is sufficient
for all, but effective only for those who believe.
4. Christ’s atonement was an actual propitiation for sin, not a potential or
conditional propitiation.
5. The Atonement in a broad sense is offered to all; in a narrow sense, it
is only offered to the elect.
6. John’s teaching that Christ died for the sins of the whole world means
that the elect are not limited to Israel but are found throughout the
world.

Biblical passages for reflection:

Matthew 1:21
John 3:16
John 10:27-30
John 17:9-12
Acts 20:28
Romans 8:30

Links to all the audio

ETCF VII.60. REBIRTH

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.60. REBIRTH

Summary:

1. All who are truly Christians are born again.
2. All who are truly born again are Christians.
3. Rebirth is a necessary precondition to entering the kingdom of God.
4. Regeneration is the sovereign, gracious work of the Holy Spirit.
5. Regeneration precedes faith. It is God’s divine initiative in salvation.

Biblical Passages For Reflection:

Deuteronomy 30:6
Ezekiel 36:26-27
Romans 8:30
Titus 3:4-7

WPL Link to Summary points and Scripture text and references

ETCF VII.58. PREDESTINATION AND REPROBATION

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.58. PREDESTINATION AND REPROBATION

Summary

1. Predestination is double; it has two sides to it.

2. Some teach that God is equally responsible for election and reprobation. This is characteristic of hyper-Calvinism.

3. The Reformed view of double predestination reflects a positive- negative schema.

4. God passively, not actively, hardened Pharaoh’s heart.

5. God hated Esau in the sense of failing to give him a blessing of grace or in the sense of abhorring him as a vessel fit for destruction.

Biblical passages for reflection:

Exodus 7:1-5

Proverbs 16:4

Romans 9  text

Ephesians 1:3-6

Jude 1:4 

Link to WPL Audio of Summary points and Scriptures

ETCF VII.57. PREDESTINATION

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.57. PREDESTINATION

Summary

1. Predestination is a difficult doctrine and must be handled with care.
2. The Bible teaches the doctrine of predestination.
3. Many Christians define predestination in terms of God’s
foreknowledge.
4. The Reformed view does not consider foreknowledge to be an
explanation of biblical predestination.
5. Predestination is based upon God’s choice, not the choice of human
beings.
6. Unregenerate people have no desire to choose Christ.
7. God does not elect everybody. He reserves the right to have mercy
upon whom He pleases.
8. God treats no one unjustly.

Biblical passages for reflection:

Proverbs 16:4
John 13:18
Romans 8:30
Ephesians 1:3-14
2 Thessalonians 2:13-13

Link to All the Audio

ETCF VII.56 SALVATION

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 VII. SALVATION
56. SALVATION

Summary

1. The broad meaning of salvation is “to be rescued from a threatening
situation.”
2. Ultimate salvation means to be delivered from the ultimate calamity of
God’s wrath.
3. The Bible uses salvation in several tenses, referring to God’s past,
present, and future work of redemption.
4. Justification is sometimes used as a synonym for salvation; at other
times it is seen as one aspect in the whole scheme of redemption.
5. Salvation is of the Lord and from the Lord.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Ezekiel 36:26-27;
Zephaniah 1;
John 3:16-17;
Romans 1:16-17;
1 Corinthians 1:26-31;
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10;

AUDIO WPL of summary points and scripture texts

ETCF VI.55 SYNCRETISM

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 VI. Human Beings and the Fall
55. SYNCRETISM

Summary:
1. Syncretism is the blending or mixing of alien religions or philosophies into one.
2. One of the constant problems of Israelite religion in the Old Testament was the intrusion of pagan religions.
3. The New Testament church struggled against the influence of Greek and Roman religion and culture.
4. Modern Christianity is threatened by attempts to combine Christian thought with pagan religion and secular philosophy.

Biblical passages for reflection:
1 Kings 16:29-34;
1 Corinthians 10:14-23;
2 Corinthians 6:14-18;
Galatians 3:1-14;
Colossians 2:8;
1 John 5:19-21;

AUDIO WPL of summary points and scripture texts

ETCF VI.54 THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN

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 VI. Human Beings and the Fall
54. THE UNFORGIVABLE SIN

Summary:
1. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not to be equated with murder or adultery.
2. Blasphemy is an offense against God involving words.
3. Christ’s original warning was against attributing the works of God the Holy Spirit to Satan.
4. Jesus prayed for the forgiveness of blasphemers who were ignorant of His true identity.
5. Christians will never commit this sin because of the restraining grace of God.

Biblical passages for reflection:
Biblical passages for reflection:
Matthew 12:22-32;
Luke 23:34;
1 John 5:16;

AUDIO WPL of summary points and scripture texts