PUBLIC-DOMAIN CHRISTIAN BOOK
Outlines of Theology
A. A. Hodge, 1823–1886 · 184,090 words · 224 reading sections
284 THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
There is some doubt as to the precise date from which the calculation ought to commence. The greatest difference, however, is only ten years, and the most probable date causes the pro- phecy to coincide precisely with the history of Jesus Christ. 4. What prophecies, relating to the time, place, and circum- stances of …
907 wordsSECTION 122286 THE PEESOK OF CHRIST.
The union of two natures in one person is also clearly taught by those passages in which the attributes of one nature are predi- cated of the person, while that person is designated by a title derived from the other nature. Thus human attributes and actions are predicated of Christ in certain passages, while the person…
739 wordsSECTION 123THE PERSON OF CHRIST.
1st. The Manichaaan heresy, disseminated by Manes, one of the converted Magi, who, during the third century taught a mixed system of religious philosophy, adapting the historical facts of Christianity to the peculiar principles of the Persian philoso- phy. He taught that Christ and the Holy Ghost were immediate emanati…
738 wordsSECTION 124CHRIST THE ONLY MEDIATOR 291
2d. Its truth is essentially involved in every other doctrine of the entire system of faith ; in every mediatorial act of Christ, as prophet, priest and king ; in the whole history of his estate of humiliation, and in every aspect of his estate of exaltation ; and, above all, in the significance and value of that vicar…
888 wordsSECTION 125PROPHET, PRIEST, AND KING. 293
3d. From the fact that he was Mediator from the foundation of the earth, (see Chapter XIX., question 11,) it is clear that he was not Mediator in his human nature alone ; and from the fact that the Eternal Word became incarnate, in order to prepare him- self for the full discharge of his mediatorial work, (Heb. ii., 17…
859 wordsSECTION 126296 MEDIATORIAL OFFICES OF CHRIST.
2d. Because the Bible ascribes all of these functions to Christ. Prophetical, Deut. xviii., 15, 18 ; compare Acts iii., 22, and vii., 37 ; Heb. i., 2 ; priestly, Ps. ex., 4, and the whole Epistle to the Hebrews ; kingly, Acts v., 31 ; 1 Tim. vi., 15 ; Rev. xvii., 14. It is always to be remembered that these are not th…
889 wordsSECTION 127I, 9, 18.
That this propitiatory work of Christ was real, and not meta- phorical, is evident from the fact that it superseded the temple services, which were only typical of it. A type and shadow necessarily presupposes a literal substance, Heb. ix., 10-12, and x., 1 ; Col. ii., 17. 18. What part of his priestly work did Christ…
838 wordsSECTION 128NATURE OF HIS ATONEMENT. 301
Although there can not be in the Christian church any class of priests standing between their brethren and Christ, yet in con- sequence of the union, both federal and vital, which every Chris- tian sustains to Christ, which involves fellowship with him in all of his human graces, and in all of his mediatorial functions…
886 wordsSECTION 129NATUKE OF HIS ATONEMENT. 303
The advocates of this theory, which is distinctively New En- gland and New School, agree with the Socinians in their funda- mental propositions. 1st. That sin does not intrinsically deserve punishment, i. e., the true end of punishment is rather to prevent sin, than to sat- isfy vindicatory justice, and, 2d, that ther…
793 wordsSECTION 130NATURE OF HIS ATONEMENT. 305
" 1st. Sin for its own sake deserves the wrath and curse of God, 2d. God is disposed, from the very excellence of his nature, to treat his creatures as they deserve. 3d. To satisfy the righteous judg- ment of God, his Son assumed our nature, was made under the law, fulfilled all righteousness, and bore the punishment o…
867 wordsSECTION 131NATURE OF HIS ATONEMENT. 307
2d. That, possessing the same identical nature with man, he might be made under the law, and introduced into precisely the same legal and covenant relations sustained by those for whom he stood. 3d. That his person should possess infinite dignity, in order to give an infinite moral value to his finite sufferings. 4th…
804 wordsSECTION 132NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT. 309
That he is truly a priest, and that he fulfilled all the func- tions of that office has been fully proved above, Chapter XXI., questions 14-17. Xow when an Israelite sinned he went to the priest, who, taking a victim, offered it to God* life for life, and thus making atonement for sin it was forgiven the transgressor, …
869 wordsSECTION 133312 CHRIST MEDIATORIAL PRIEST.
Every argument set forth above to prove that the atonement 310 CHRIST MEDIATORIAL PRIEST. was designed to satisfy divine justice for the sins of Christ's peo- ple, also clearly proves that it was absolutely necessary to the end of their salvation. There can be no such thing as an unnecessary " ransom/' or " satisfac…
825 wordsSECTION 134CHRIST MEDIATORIAL PRIEST.
All parties agree, 1st, that the atonement accomplished by the sufferings of Christ was sufficient in its moral value to satisfy justice for the sins of all men; and, 2d, that it was exactly adapted to meet the requisitions of justice, growing out of the legal relations of all men. The only debate concerns the pur- pos…
838 wordsSECTION 135316 CHKIST MEDIATORIAL PRIEST.
3d. The Scriptures declare that the' effect of Christ's death is reconciliation and justification, Eom. v., 10 ; Eph. ii., 16 ; remis- sion of sins, Eph. i., 7 ; peace, Eph. ii., 14 ; deliverance from wrath, 1 Thess. i., 10 ; from death, Heb. ii., 14 ; from the curse of the law, Gal. iii., 13 ; from sin, 1 Pet. i., 18.…
897 wordsSECTION 136THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST.
A bona fide offer of the gospel, therefore, is to be made to all men, 1st. Because the satisfaction rendered to the law is sufficient for all men. 2d. Because it is exactly adapted to the redemption of all. 3d. Because God designs that whosoever exercises faith in Christ shall be saved by him. The design of Christ's de…
890 wordsSECTION 137322 CHRIST MEDIATORIAL KING.
3d. Because of his community of nature with his people, and his personal experience of the same sorrows and temptations which now afflict them he sympathizes with them, and watches 320 THE INTERCESSION OF CHRIST. and succors them in all their varying circumstances, and adapts his ceaseless intercessions to the entire…
853 wordsSECTION 138324 CHRIST MEDIATORIAL KING.
1st. It is providential. He administers his providential gov- ernment over the universe with the design of accomplishing there- by the support, defence, enrichment and glorification of his people. 2d. It is accomplished by the dispensation of his Spirit effectually calling, sanctifying, comforting, preserving, raising,…
827 wordsSECTION 139CHRIST EXECUTED HIS OFFICE OF MEDIATOR BOTH IN HIS ESTATE OF HUMILIATION AND EXALTATION.
That the church and the state are both divine institutions, having different objects, and in every respect independent of each other. The members and officers of the church are, as men, members of the state, and ought to be good citizens ; and the members and officers of the state, if Christians, are members of the chu…
850 wordsSECTION 140HIS ESTATE OF EXALTATION. 329
In his incarnation Christ was born precisely into the law place of his people, and sustained to the law precisely that relation which they did. He was born under the law, then, 1st, as a rule of duty ; 2d, as a covenant of life ; 3d, as a broken covenant, whose curse was already incurred. His voluntary assumption of su…
835 wordsSECTION 141HIS ESTATE OF EXALTATION. 331
1st. Through the union of the divine and human natures, the outward manifestations of the glory of his person had been veiled from the eyes of creatures. 2d. As Mediator he occupied officially a position inferior to the Father, condescending to occupy the place of sinners. He had been inconceivably humbled, and, as a r…
841 wordsSECTION 142334 EFFECTUAL CALLING.
Those who, as the Lutherans, believe that Christ's body is omnipresent to his church, of course, maintain that his ascension consisted not in any local change, but in the withdrawal of his former sensible intercourse with his disciples. It is certain, however, that his human soul and body did ac- tually pass up from e…
838 wordsSECTION 143APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 337
It is addressed to the non-elect equally with the elect, because it is equally their duty and interest to accept the gospel, because the provisions of salvation are equally suited to their case, and abundantly sufficient for all, and because G-od intends that its benefits shall actually accrue to every one who accepts …
859 wordsSECTION 144APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 339
1713. Bellarmine taught that the same grace is given to every man, which, by the event only, is proved practically congruous to the nature of one man, and therefore in his case efficacious, and incongruous to the nature of another, and therefore in his case ineffectual. 13. What is meant by " common grace" and how may…
856 wordsSECTION 145APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 341
1st. Most of the Jesuits, and the Arminians, holding that all men receive sufficient grace to enable them to obey the gospel if they will, maintain that this grace becomes efficacious when it is cooperated with by the will of the individual, and in any case is proved to be such only by the event. 2d. Bellarmine, and o…
855 wordsSECTION 146REGENERATION.
Positively. The Scriptures always associate all spiritual in- fluence with the truth, and declare the necessity of the preaching the truth to the end of saving souls, Kom. x., 14. 25. What are the objections to the Arminian doctrine of suf- ficient grace ? They hold that God has willed the salvation of all men, and t…
803 wordsSECTION 147APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 347
Dr. Taylor agreed with the advocates of the " Exercise Scheme," that there is nothing in the soul but the agent and his actions ; but he differed from them by holding that man and not God is the independent author of human actions. He held that when God and the world is held up before the mind regeneration consists in …
875 wordsSECTION 148APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 349
APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 347 cepti bility of love, but also with a specific disposition to love our children ; if he can give us a discernment and susceptibility of natural beauty, he may give us a taste for spiritual loveliness. And if that taste, by reason of sin, is vitiated and perverted, he may restore it by me…
747 wordsSECTION 149APPLICATION OF KEDEMPTION. 351
tions. As soon as these are changed he will see, and, seeing, love and obey the truth, although no constitutional change is wrought in his nature, i. e., no new faculty given, but only his perverted faculties morally rectified. This illumination is called super- natural, 1st, because, having been lost, it can be restor…
814 wordsSECTION 150APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 353
The perfect law is spiritual, and consequently requires per- fect conformity of being as well as of action ; the central and gov- erning principles of life must be in harmony with it. The re- generate man, therefore, thinks, and feels, and wills, and acts in conformity with the spirit of the whole word of God as far as…
677 wordsSECTION 151APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 355
Faith is a complex act of the soul, involving the concurrent action of the understanding and the will, and modified in differ- ent instances of its exercise by the nature of its object, and of the evidence upon which it rests. The most general definition, em- bracing all its modifications, affirms faith to be " assent …
810 wordsSECTION 152APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 357
Eonianists and Protestants agree that it is not essential to faith that its object should be comprehended by the understand- ing. But, on the other hand, Protestants affirm, and Komanists deny, that it is essential that the object believed should be appre- hended by the mind : that is, that knowledge of what we believe…
804 wordsSECTION 153APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 359
the nature of the object known and believed, and with the man- ner in which the knowledge is received, and with the evidence upon which the faith rests. The faith which the Scriptures dis- tinguish from knowledge is the strong persuasion of things not seen. It is the conviction of the truth of things which do not fall …
856 wordsSECTION 154APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 361
16. What is the specific evidence upon which saving faith is founded ? This is the light let into the soul by the Holy Ghost in his work of spiritual illumination. Thus is the beauty, and excel- lence, and the suitableness of the truth to the practical wants of the subject apprehended. With this the witness of the Hol…
843 wordsSECTION 155364 FAITH.
The Scriptures declare that by faith the Christian "embraces the promises," " is persuaded of the promises," " out of weakness is made strong," " waxes valiant in fight," " confesses himself a stranger and pilgrim seeking a better country." As faith in a threatening necessarily involves fear, so faith in a promise nece…
847 wordsSECTION 156366 FAITH.
Every doctrine taught in the Bible is the object of an enlight- ened spiritual faith. No revealed principle, however compara- tively subordinate, can be regarded as indifferent, nor may be adopted or rejected at will. Every man is bound to credit the whole testimony of God. Yet the gospel is a logically consistent syst…
791 wordsSECTION 157UNION OF BELIEVERS WITH CHRIST.
3d. The true view is that " although this infallible assurance does not belong to the essence of faith, but that a true believer may wait long and conflict with many difficulties before he par- take of it, yet being enabled by the Spirit to know the things which are freely given him by God, he may, without extraordi- n…
890 wordsSECTION 158APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 371
But the law upon which rested the covenant of works, whereby we were held in union with Adam, having been slain by Christ, " that being dead wherein we were held," we were " married to another," that is, to Christ, Rom. vii., 1-4. 2. What is the general nature of our union with Christ ? It is a single, ineffable, and…
830 wordsSECTION 159APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 373
It was established in the purpose and decree of God, and in the covenant of the Father with the Son from eternity, Eph. i., 4 ; John xvii., 2, 6. Nevertheless, the elect, as to personal char- acter and present relations, before their effectual calling by the Spirit, are born and continued " by nature children of wrath …
882 wordsSECTION 160APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 377
5th. In mutual respect and subordination, Eom. xii., 10; Eph. v., 21 ; Heb. xiii.; 17. 374 UNION WITH CHKIST. 6th. In mutual love and sympathy, Koni. xii.; 10 ; 1 Cor, xii.; 26. 7th. This fellowship exists unbroken between believers on earth and in heaven. There is one "whole family in heaven and on earth/' Eph. ii…
837 wordsSECTION 161APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 379
It is a voluntary forsaking of sin as evil and hateful, with sin- cere sorrow, humiliation, and confession ; and a returning unto God, because he has a right to us, and because he is merciful and willing to forgive, together with a determination to live, by the help of his grace, in obedience to his commandments. 8. W…
850 wordsSECTION 162JUSTIFICATION.
14. What are the Protestant arguments against auricular confession f 1st. It has no warrant in Scripture. The command is to " confess one to another." 2d. It perverts the whole plan of salvation, by making neces- sary the mediation of the priest between the Christian and Christ, which has been refuted above, Chap. XX…
847 wordsSECTION 163APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 385
2d. Forensically, that is, that the demands of the law as a condition of life are fully satisfied with regard to him, Acts xiii., 39; Kom. v., 1, 9; viii., 30-33; 1 Cor.vi., 11; Gal. ii. 16; iii., 11. 3. How can it be proved that the word ducaioco is used in a APPLICATION OF KEDEMPTION. 383 forensic sense ivhen the …
860 wordsSECTION 164APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 387
2d. If we are justified by works, then Christ is dead in vain, Gal. ii., 21 ; v., 4. 3d. If it were of works it would not be of grace. Kom. xi., 6 ; Eph. ii., 8, 9. 4th. It would afford cause for boasting, Kom. iii., 27 ; iv., 2. 5th. He also quotes the Old Testament to prove that all men are sinners, Kom. ii., 10 ;…
873 wordsSECTION 165APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 389
3d. Christ came to fulfill the whole law, Is. xlii., 21 ; Eom. iii. 31 ; 1 Cor. i., 30. 4th. The obedience of Christ is expressly contrasted with the disobedience of Adam, Eom. v., 19. 14. How may it be shown that Christ's obedience was free ? Although Christ was made under the law by being born of the woman, and re…
869 wordsSECTION 166JUSTIFICATION.
Romanists teach that original sin and all actual transgressions prior to baptism are forgiven for Christ's sake, through the re- ception of that sacrament, and that after baptism, sins, as they are committed, are through the merits of Christ forgiven in the 390 JUSTIFICATION. observance of the sacrament of penance. S…
821 wordsSECTION 167JUSTIFICATION.
1st. Peace with God, his justice being completely satisfied through the righteousness of Christ, Kom. v., 1 ; 2 Cor. v., 19 ; Col. i., 21 ; Eph. ii., 14. In witness whereof his Holy Spirit is given to us, Kom. viii., 15, 16 ; Heb. x., 15, 17. His love shed abroad in our hearts, Kom. v., 5, and our habitual fellowship w…
847 wordsSECTION 168396 JUSTIFICATION.
1st. It follows, from that theory, that justification is a sove- reign, not a judicial act of God. Christ has not satisfied the law, but merely made it consistent with the government of God to set aside the law in the case of believing men. 2d. As Christ did not die as a substitute, it follows that his righteousness i…
840 wordsSECTION 169APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 399
1st. As to the nature of justification. We regard it as a judicial act of God, declaring the believer to be forensically just, on the ground of the righteousness of Christ made his by impu- tation. They regard it as the infusion of inherent grace. 2d. As to its meritorious ground. Both say the merits of Christ. But th…
790 wordsSECTION 170SANCTIFICATION.
The definition we have given of justification, under the pre- ceding chapter, agrees precisely with that of Turrettin, only we have not made the same application of the word adoption, be- cause this word, as used in the Scriptures, does not appear to convey the idea of a mere forensic act of God, changing the rela- tio…
833 wordsSECTION 171404 SANCTIFICATION.
1st. To make clean physically, or morally. (1.) Ceremonial purification, Heb. ix., 13. (2.) To render clean in a moral sense, 1 Cor. vi., 11 ; Heb. xiii., 12. Hence the phrase " them that are sanctified" is convertible with believers, 1 Cor. i., 2. 2d. To set apart from a common to a sacred use, to devote, (1.) spoken…
716 wordsSECTION 172406 SANCTIFICATION.
In the order of nature, regeneration precedes justification, al- though as to time they are always necessarily cotemporaneous. The instant God regenerates a sinner he acts faith in Christ. The instant he acts faith in Christ he is justified, and sanetifica- tion, which is the work of carrying on and perfecting that whi…
857 wordsSECTION 173APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 409
11. What efficiency do the Scriptures ascribe in this work to the sacraments ? There are three views entertained on this subject by theo- logians— 1st. The lowest view is, that the sacraments simply, as sym- bols, present the truth in a lively manner to the eye, and are . effective thus only as a form of presenting t…
823 wordsSECTION 174APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 411
redemptive efficacy of Christ's death, Eph. v., 25-27 ; 4th, from the union of the believer with Christ, and the energy of his in- dwelling Spirit, John xv., 5 ; Gal. v., 22 ; 5th, from the very nature of faith, which first leads to and then works by love, Gal. v., 6 ; 6th, from the command of God, 1 Thes. iv., 6 ; 1 P…
797 wordsSECTION 175APPLICATION OF EEDEMPTION. 413
Under the covenant of works, God graciously promised to re- ward the obedience of Adam with eternal life. This was a reward, however, not of merit, but of free grace and promise. Every- thing under that constitution depended upon the standing of the person before God. As long as Adam continued without sin, his services…
777 wordsSECTION 176APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 415
As to the law which man in his present state may perfectly fulfill, they hold that it is the single and original law of God, the requirements of which, however, in the case of every individual subject, are measured by the individual's ability, and opportuni- ties of knowledge. As to the means whereby this perfection ma…
811 wordsSECTION 177APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 417
1st. That although every believer as soon as he is justified is regenerated, and commences the incipient stages of sanctification, yet this does not exclude the remains of much inherent sin, nor the warfare of the flesh against the Spirit, which may continue for a long time, but which must cease at some time before the…
850 wordsSECTION 178APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 419
Wesley says, " I believe this perfection is always wrought in the soul by a simple act of faith, consequently in an instant. But I believe there is a gradual work, both preceding and following that instant," — Quoted by Dr. Peck, pp. 47, 48. They hold that this entire sanctification is not to be effected through eithe…
816 wordsSECTION 179APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 421
1st. They argue that this perfection is attainable in this life, (1.) From the commands of God, who never will command im- possibilities, Matt, v., 48. (2.) From the fact that abundant provision has already been made in the gospel for securing the perfect sanctification of God's people ; in fact, all the provision that…
722 wordsSECTION 180APPLICATION OF REDEMPTION. 423
This view, as presented by the Wesleyan standard writers, is far less inconsistent with the principles and spirit of Christianity than either of the others, and consequently it is precisely in the same proportion less self-consistent as a theory, and less ace urate in its use of technical language. These Christian bret…
754 wordsSource & rights
Public-domain historical work by A. A. Hodge, 1823–1886. OCR from an original historical scan hosted by Internet Archive; OCR may contain recognition errors.
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Historical Christian writing; not Scripture.