Systematic Theology
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SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY Vincent Cheung To Denise, my wife, best friend, companion for life, fellow-servant to the Lord Jesus Christ, and partner in the publication of his gospel, to her, I dedicate all my writings, with great love and affection, forever. Copyright © 2010 by Vincent Cheung http://www.vincentcheung.com Previous editions published in 2001 and 2003. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted without the prior permission of the author or publisher. Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved. 2 CONTENTS 1. THEOLOGY .............................................................................................................................................. 4 THE NATURE OF THEOLOGY ................................................................................................................ 4 THE POSSIBILITY OF THEOLOGY ........................................................................................................ 5 THE NECESSITY OF THEOLOGY .......................................................................................................... 9 2. SCRIPTURE ............................................................................................................................................. 13 THE NATURE OF SCRIPTURE .............................................................................................................. 13 THE INSPIRATION OF SCRIPTURE ..................................................................................................... 16 THE UNITY OF SCRIPTURE .................................................................................................................. 19 THE INFALLIBILITY OF SCRIPTURE ................................................................................................. 24 THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE ....................................................................................................... 25 THE NECESSITY OF SCRIPTURE ........................................................................................................ 26 THE CLARITY OF SCRIPTURE ............................................................................................................. 27 THE SUFFICIENCY OF SCRIPTURE .................................................................................................... 29 3. GOD ........................................................................................................................................................... 32 THE EXISTENCE OF GOD ..................................................................................................................... 32 THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD ................................................................................................................... 51 THE WORKS OF GOD........................................................................................................................... 102 4. MAN ........................................................................................................................................................ 110 THE CREATION OF MAN .................................................................................................................... 110 THE NATURE OF MAN ........................................................................................................................ 118 THE FALL OF MAN .............................................................................................................................. 134 5. CHRIST .................................................................................................................................................. 140 THE PERSON OF CHRIST .................................................................................................................... 140 THE LIFE OF CHRIST ........................................................................................................................... 144 THE WORK OF CHRIST ....................................................................................................................... 146 THE SUPREMACY OF CHRIST ........................................................................................................... 159 6. SALVATION .......................................................................................................................................... 165 ELECTED ............................................................................................................................................... 165 SUMMONED .......................................................................................................................................... 190 REGENERATED .................................................................................................................................... 191 CONVERTED ......................................................................................................................................... 193 JUSTIFIED .............................................................................................................................................. 198 ADOPTED .............................................................................................................................................. 202 SANCTIFIED .......................................................................................................................................... 204 PRESERVED .......................................................................................................................................... 206 3 1. THEOLOGY Theological reflection is the most important activity a person can perform. This statement may astonish some readers, but an explanation of the theological enterprise will provide justification for the claim. We shall consider the nature, possibility, and necessity of this field of study. THE NATURE OF THEOLOGY The word THEOLOGY refers to the study of God. When used in a broader sense, it can include all the other doctrines revealed in Scripture. God is the supreme being who has created and now controls all that exists, and theology seeks to understand and articulate in a systematic manner information revealed to us by him. Thus theology is concerned with ultimate reality. Since it is the study of the ultimate, nothing is more important. And because it is a study of the ultimate, it defines and governs every other area of thought and life. Therefore, as long as God is the ultimate being or reality, theological reflection is the ultimate human activity. This book is a presentation of several major biblical doctrines that come under the study of systematic theology. A doctrine consists of a set of ideas or propositions on a topic, so a biblical doctrine is the biblical teaching on a subject. Theology refers to the study of the Bible or the systematic formulation of doctrines from the Bible. A biblical doctrine is always binding, and a system of theology is authoritative to the extent that it reflects the teachings of the Bible. Many Christians think it is wrong to study theology for its own sake. An anti-intellectual spirit has so infiltrated the church that they refuse to believe that intellectual activity possesses intrinsic value. But this implies that even knowing God must serve a greater purpose, probably a practical or ethical one. Although the knowledge of God ought to affect one's conduct, it is a mistake to think that the intellectual enterprise of theology serves a purpose that is greater than itself. Rather, since to study theology is to know God, and to know God is the highest purpose of man, theology possesses the highest intrinsic value. As Jeremiah 9:23-24 says: This is what the LORD says: "Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD, who exercises kindness, justice and righteousness on earth, for in these I delight," declares the LORD. There is no higher purpose for which the knowledge of God intends to reach, and there is no higher purpose for man but to know God. Theological knowledge can produce moral 4 virtues and other effects in a person's life, but we should not regard them as higher purposes than the knowledge of God and his revelation. THE POSSIBILITY OF THEOLOGY Prior to the construction of a theological system, it is necessary to establish that theological knowledge is possible. "God is Spirit" (John 4:24) – he transcends the spatiotemporal existence of man. Thus the question is whether man can know anything about God, or how man can know anything about him. The Bible's answer is that it is possible for man to have knowledge about God because God has revealed himself to man. The Bible teaches that the universe displays God's glory. The magnitude and excellence of the things that God has created offer testimony to his power and wisdom: The heavens are declaring the glory of God, The vast expanse displays his handiwork. Day after day they "pour forth speech"; Night after night they display knowledge. They have no speech, there are no words; No sound is heard from them. Their "voice" goes out into all the earth, Their words to the ends of the world. (Psalm 19:1-3)1