Untitled Document

Making a Good Profession

1 Timothy 6:12

A Course in Basic Christian Faith and Practice

in Preparation for making Public Profession of Faith

Pastor Gregory Edward Reynolds, M.Div.

Contents

Introduction		i
	The Purpose of the Course	i
	Your Participation in the Course	ii
	Reading for the Course	iii
	Schedule of Classes	iv


1. Scripture: The Foundation of Our Profession					1
	The Authority of Scripture				1
	The Sufficiency of Scripture				4
	The Clarity of Scripture				5
	The Necessity of Scripture				5
	The Unity of Scripture				6
	The Confession and Scripture				6

2. Salvation Accomplished: The God of Our Profession					8
	The God of the Bible				8
		The Attributes of God			8
		The Trinity			9
		The Sovereignty of God			10
		The Creator			12
		The Providence of God			13
	The Sin of Man				14
		The Fall			14
		Total Depravity			15
	Christ the Redeemer				16
		The Promise of a Redeemer			16
		The Person of the Redeemer			17
		The Work of the Redeemer			19

3. Salvation Applied: The Realization of Our Profession					22
	The Holy Spirit				22
	The Order of Application				23
		Calling			23
		Union with Christ			24
		Regeneration			24
		Conversion: Repentance and Faith			25
		Justification			27
		Adoption			28
		Sanctification			29
		Perseverance			30
		Glorification			31

4. Salvation Applied: Living Our Profession					34
	The Mandate of Sanctification				34
	The Measure of Sanctification: God's Law				35
		The Third Use of the Law			35
		The Summary of the Law			36
		The Preface to the Ten Commandments			37
		The First Commandment			37
		The Second Commandment			38
		The Third Commandment			40
		The Fourth Commandment			41
		The Fifth Commandment			43
		The Sixth Commandment			44
		The Seventh Commandment			45
		The Eighth Commandment			47
		The Ninth Commandment			48
		The Tenth Commandment			49
	The Means of Sanctification				50
		Get Saturated with the Word of God			50
		Cultivate the Proper Motivation			50
		Use the Proper Power			51
		Mortify Your Sin Daily			51
		Follow the Proper Models and Modes			52

5. The Church: The Context of Our Profession					53
	The Definition of the Church				53
		Scriptural Names			53
		Scriptural Attributes			54
		Visible and Invisible			56
		Confessional			57
		Three Aspects of the Church			58
	The Marks of the Church				58
		True and False Marks			58
		The Three Marks			59
		Seperation			59
	The Government of the Church				59
		Christ is the Only Head			59
		Presbyterian Government			59
		The Offices: General and Special			60
		The History of Presbyterianism			62
		The History of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church			62
	Membership in the Church				62
		The Necessity of Membership			62
		The Benefits of Membership			63
		The Responsibilities of Membership			63
		Procedure			64
	The Means of Grace				64
		Definition			64
		The Word			64
		The Sacraments			66
			The Sacrament of Baptism		67
				The Meaning of Baptism	67
				The Mode of Baptism	68
				The Application of Baptism	69
				The Efficacy of Baptism	71
				The Responsibility of Baptism	72
			The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper		72
		Prayer			75
		Public Worship			77

6. Mission: The Propagation of Our Profession					79
	The Task of the Church				79
	The Message of Missions				80
	Deed Ministry in Missions				81
	The Method of Missions				81
	Apologetics in Missions				82

7. Last Things: The Fulfillment of Our Profession					83
	Personal Eschatology				83
	Historical Eschatology				84

Conclusion					87

Appendices					88
	A. Questions for Public Profession				88
	B. The Apostles' Creed				89
	C. The Lord's Prayer				90
	D. The Ten Commandments				91
	E. The Five Points of Calvinism				92

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc.