Course Syllabus

Course title: ST 711 Doctrine of Christian Life (Soteriology)

Course description: A systematic study of the application of salvation to the believer from effectual
calling to glorification.
Course instructor: Greg Nichols was ordained as a pastor in 1978. He is a graduate and former
professor of Trinity Ministerial Academy, Montville, NJ. He is the author of
Covenant Theology: A Reformed and Baptistic Perspective (Solid Ground Books,
2011). He is a pastor of Grace Immanuel Reformed Baptist Church, Grand Rapids,
Michigan. Greg and his wife Ginger have 4 children.
Course credit: 3 credits
Course requirements: Student must satisfactorily complete the following course requirements:
(1) Lectures The student must listen to all 39 lectures by Greg Nichols on Doctrine of the
Christian Life (Soteriology), which are available on Virtual Campus.
(2) Reading The student must read completely the assigned reading in the following primary
textbooks as well as the assigned reading from the secondary textbooks:
Primary textbooks
Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941).
James Buchanan, The Doctrine of Justification (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth,
1984).
R. L. Dabney, Lectures in Systematic Theology (Edinburgh: The Banner of Truth,
1985).
John Murray, Redemption Accomplished and Applied (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans,
1955).
Secondary textbooks
Wilhelmus A Brakel, The Christians Reasonable Service, vol. 2 (Soli Deo
Gloria, 1997).
John Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion, 2 vols. (Westminster Press,
1960).
John Murray, The Collected Works of John Murray, vol. 2 (Banner of Truth,
1977).
________, The Free Offer of the Gospel (Banner of Truth, 2001).
J. C. Ryle, Holiness (Evangelical Press, 1979).
C. R. Vaughn, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit (The Banner of Truth, 1995).
Benjamin B. Warfield, Biblical and Theological Studies (Presbyterian &
Reformed, 1968).
________, Select Shorter Writings, vol. 1 (Presbyterian & Reformed, 2001).
Thomas Watson, A Body of Divinity (Banner of Truth, 1998).
London Baptist Confession of Faith of 1689.

See the assigned reading schedule below for books and pages. The substitution of
another work for those listed above in each category will be considered, but the
course instructor must approve it in advance of its being read.

(3) Final Exam At the completion of the lectures there will be a final exam. The final exam will
consist of 20 short-answer questions over the lecture material each worth 2-points
(for a total of 40 pts) and three 20-point discussion questions in which the student
will be required to discuss and expound justification, sanctification, and the
experimental knowledge of God (for a total of 60 pts).
The instructor will provide the student with a Study Guide that identifies the
subject matter of the lectures, which the student will need to know for the exam.
The student should direct any questions about the exam to Greg Nichols ([616]
249-7336; ggbrown2006@mac.com) or the seminary dean (dean@rbseminary.org).
Course grading: Lectures and reading = 10% / Final comprehensive exam = 90%

Assigned Reading Schedule for Doctrine of Christian Life

TOPIC TOTAL PAGES REQUIRED READING


INTRO. TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE 113
Murray, RDAA, p.79-87; 161-173
Murray, The Free Offer of the Gospel (27 pgs.)
Dabney, LST, p.553-559; 612-617
Calvin, Institutes, 2:7, 2:8:1-12; Vol.1, p.348-379
Berkhof, ST, p.415-426; 447-453

Unit 1: Calling and Regeneration 105
Murray, RDAA, p.88-105
Dabney, LST, p.560-579
Murray, CW 2, p.167-201
Warfield, B+TS, p.351-374
LCF, Ch.10; CSD, Heads 3&4 (8 pgs.)

Unit 2: Repentance and Faith 55
Murray, RDAA, p.106-116
Murray, CW 2, p.235-263
Warfield, SSW I, p.267-277
LCF/WC, Ch.14,15 (4pgs.)

Unit 3: Justification and Forgiveness 229
Buchanan, Justification, p.221-412
Murray, RDAA, p.177-131
Murray, CW 2, p.202-222
LCF, Ch.11 (1 pg.)

Unit 4: Adoption 31
Murray, RDAA, p.132-140
Murray, CW 2, p.223-234
Watson, Bod. of Div., p.231-239
LCF, Ch.12 (1 pg.)

Unit 5: The Gift of the Holy Spirit 51 Vaughan, The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, p.211-258
Brakel, Reasonable Service, Vol.2, p.469-471

Unit 6: Sanctification 109
Murray, RDAA, p.141-150
Murray, CW 2, 277-320
Ryle, Holiness, Intro., p.vii-xviii
LCF, Ch.13,16 (2 pgs.)

Unit 7: Experimental Communion 90
Pink, Exp. Union and Com., p.98-134
Murray, CW 2, p.264-276
Brakel, Reas. Service, Vol.3, p.263-302

Unit 8: Hope and Assurance 55
Brooks, Hvn. on Earth, Wks., Vol.2, p.318-346
Watson, Bod. of Div., p.250-260
Brakel, Reas. Serv., Vol.3, p.317-330
LCF, Ch.18 (1 pg.)

Unit 9: Preservation and Perseverance 52
Murray, RDAA, p.151-160
Dabney, LST, p.687-698
Pink, The Saint's Pers., p.1-25
LCF, Ch.17; CSD, Head 5 (5 pgs)
Unit 10: Glorification 9 Murray, RDAA, p.174-182

TOTAL REQUIRED READING 899





RECOMMENDED ADDITIONAL READING

The Christian Life: An overview
The Christian Life, Sinclair Ferguson, p.1-179 179
A Body of Divinity, Thomas Watson, p.215-289 74
Works, Thomas Boston, Vol.1, p.529-661; Vol.2, p.5-51 180
The Christian's Reasonable Service, Wilhelmus Brakel, Vol.2, p.191-467; Vol 3, p.3-33, 303-315, 331-481 472
Christian Salvation: its Doctrine and Experience, RA Webb, p.269-437 169
ST, Berkhof, p.455-549 95
Regeneration
Works: John Owen, Vol.3, on regeneration (Book 3), p.207-337 131
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, CR Vaughan, p.132-207 76
Works, Thomas Goodwin, Vol.6, Books 2-10, p.73-522 450
Repentance and Faith
Works; Vol.1, David Clarkson, on repentance (p.16-62) and faith (p.63-173) 158
Repentance, John Colquohoun, p.5-159 155
Institutes, John Calvin
on faith; 3:1,2, p.537-592 56
on repentance; 3:3, p.592-621 30
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, CR Vaughan, p.73-131 59
Justification
Institutes, John Calvin, 3:11-14, on justification, p.725-788 64
Works: John Owen, Vol.5, on justification, p.7-400 394
Adoption
The Reformed Doctrine of Adoption, RA Webb, p.1- ??
Sanctification
Works: John Owen, Vol.3, on sanctification (Book 4); p. 366-565 200
Holiness, JC Ryle, p.1-50 50
The Gift of the Holy Spirit
The Gifts of the Holy Spirit, CR Vaughan, p.259-415 156
Experimental Communion
A Call to Prayer, JC Ryle, p.9-78 70
Prayer, John Bunyan, p.11-172 162
Works, John Bunyan, on the fear of God, Vol.1, p.437-491 55
[esp. see Brakel, Vol.3, p.263-302; 331-481; listed above]
Assurance
Heaven on Earth, Thomas Brooks, Works, Vol.2, p.347-534 188
Preservation and Perseverance
The Saint's Perseverance, AW Pink, p. 25-121 96
"Perseverance", JC Ryle, Old Paths, p.476-521 45
Works: John Owen, Vol.11, on perseverance, p.77-406 330

TOTAL RECOMMENDED 3,994+ Webb Adoption 3994+