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Introduction to Christian Theology

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Introduction to Christian Theology DOCTRINES OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH u BRO. RAY SMITH u PHONE: 313-820-4675 u EMAIL: [email protected] u SHORT SERIES (6) UNITS Introduction u NO TEXTBOOK IS REQUIRED to Christian u FORMAT: u INTRODUCE THE DOCTRINE Theology u SET IT IN CONTEXT u DEVELOP IT FROM SCRIPTURE u BRING IT TO BEAR ON THE CHRISTIAN LIFE THERE WILL BE A RECOMMENED SCRIPTURE FOR MEMORIZATION FOR EACH SUBJECT CATEGORY What is Theology “Theology is a discipline of study that seeks to understand the God revealed in the Bible and to provide a Christian understanding of reality. It seeks to understand God’s creation, particularly human beings and their condition, and God’s redemptive work in relation to humankind.” Erickson, Millard J., Christian Theology 2nd Edition, Baker Academic, Grand Rapids, MI 1998. Pg. 17 Why Study Theology • Obedience to the Great Commission: • Matthew 28: 19 – 20 • It will Help us grow as Christians: • 1 Timothy 6: 3 - 5; Titus 1: 1 Why Study Theology – cont’d u Theology is important because correct doctrinal beliefs are essential to the relationship between the believer and God. u Theology is necessary because truth and experience are related. u Theology is needed because of the large number of alternatives and challenges presented by culture at the present time. (3) Normative Questions that Theology Answers Orthodoxy Orthopraxy Orthokardia THE HEAD THE HANDS THE HEART What we What we What we ought to ought to ought to desire/love believe practice What we should value How We Issue of having the ought to live right “heart” What is Systematic Theology A branch of Christian theology that seeks to develop an orderly, rational, and coherent account of the doctrines of the Christian faith. It attempts to construct what we ought to believe from Scripture for today, to critique other theological ideas within the church, and also the false ideas of non-Christian worldviews. The goal is that we learn to live more faithfully under the Lordship of Christ. uApologetics is considered a subset of Systematic Theology Apologetics, is the intellectual defense of the truth of the Christian faith (doctrine). What is Christian Doctrine The English word, “doctrine,” comes from the Latin word doctrina. It can be defined as, “teaching or instruction.” Christian doctrine simply means the beliefs of Christians. uAnother term for doctrine would be “catechism.” u https://www.blueletterbible.org/Comm/stewart_don/faq/bible-basics/question2-what-is- christian-doctrine.cfm u DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE - BIBLIOLOGY Christian u DOCTRINE OF GOD – THEOLOGY PROPER Doctrines u DOCTRINE OF MAN - ANTHROPOLOGY u DOCTRINE OF SIN - HAMARTIOLOGY u DOCTRINE OF CHRIST - CHRISTOLOGY u DOCTRINE OF SALVATION - SOTERIOLOGY u DOCTRINE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - PNEUMATOLOGY u DOCTRINE OF THE CHURCH - ECCLESIOLOGY u DOCTRINE OF END TIMES - ESCHATOLOGY UNIT I DOCTRINE OF THE BIBLE – BIBLIOLOGY 2 TIMOTHY 3: 16 - 17 DOCTRINE OF GOD – THEOLOGY PROPER Hebrews 11: 6 Key Terms: Revelation Doctrine of Inspired the Bible Infallible Inerrant u THERE ARE ONLY TWO OPTIONS WHEN IT COMES TO KNOWLEDGE OF A DIVINE CREATOR: REVELATION OR SPECULATION. u EITHER HE SPEAKS TO US, OR WE GUESS. Revelation u General Revelation- God's revelation of himself that is available to all people at all times in all places u Special Revelation - specific truths about God, his will, and his redemptive purposes that are given to specific people in specific places Questions only the Bible can Answer Adequately ORIGIN MORALITY MEANING DESTINY The three ’I’s of Scripture uInspired- God is its ultimate author uInfallible - It is incapable of error and will accomplish exactly what God wants. uInerrant- God used human authors to write exactly what He wanted without error Why do you believe the Bible? Reasons to Believe the Bible uJesus believed the Bible – Matthew 5:18 uInternal Evidence for Inspiration of the Bible – Psalm 19: 7 – 11 uThe Testimony of Fulfilled Prophecy uExternal Evidence Follow up from Week 1 uThe question of origin - Where did I come from? uThe question of morality - How shall I live? uThe question of purpose - Why am I here? uThe question of destiny - Where am I going? Genesis 1: 1 uIn the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. *The Bible begins with the assumption that God “exists.” Key Terms: Doctrine of Omnipotent God Omnipresent (Theology Omniscient Proper) Transcendence Immanence uOmnipotent – God has “unlimited” power and can do anything. uOmnipresent – God is present everywhere at the same time and cannot be defined by size or space. uOmniscient – God has all knowledge of all things past, present and future. uTranscendent – God is greater than all creation. God exists outside of time and space. uImmanent – God is present within his creation. He is nearby and we can feel his presence. God Has Personality Biblical view of God – He is personal. He has a Name – Gen 4:26; Gen 12:8; Psalm 20:7, 9 He is not an abstract “force” or unknowable being. He is depicted in the bible as knowing and communing with humans. uHe can be approached. Implications uHe can be spoken to. Because uHe speaks to us. God is a uHe is valuable because of Person who he is, not just for what he does. uExodus 20: 1 - 3 The Goodness of God u Holiness – Exodus 15:11 u Absolute Purity or goodness – Habakkuk 1:13; Job 34:12 u Righteousness – ethical conduct – (God is the ultimate standard) Isaiah 33:22 u Justice – requires conformity to his law – Romans 6:23 u Love – I John 4:8 uThere Is Only One God That Doctrine Exists. of the Trinity Deuteronomy 6:4; Isaiah 45: 5- 6; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Galatians 3:20; 1 Timothy 2:5 Doctrine of the Trinity uThere Are Three Distinct Persons Who Exist. (The Father, Son, And The Holy Spirit) (Genesis 1:1, 26; 3:22; 11:7; Isaiah 6:8, 48:16, 61:1; Matthew 3:16-17, 28:19; 2 Corinthians 13:14) Shield of the Trinity Doctrine of the Trinity uEach Of These Three Persons Is Called God. The Father is God. (John 6:27; Romans 1:7; 1 Peter 1:2) The Son is God. (John 1:1, 14; Romans 9:5; Colossians 2:9; Hebrews 1:8; 1 John 5:20) The Holy Spirit is God. (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Corinthians 3:16) Doctrine of the Trinity uThe Three Persons Are The One God (The Trinity). The Father chooses who will be saved (Eph. 1:4); the Son redeems them (Eph. 1:7); and the Holy Spirit seals them (Eph. 1:13). Council of Nicea 325 A.D. Arianism – denies the full deity of the Son and the Holy Spirit. (re: Colossians 1: 15) This teaching was condemned at the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325. *This is the doctrine taught by Jehovah Witnesses. Modalism uClaims that there is one person who “appears” to us in three different forms ( or “modes”). Re: John 10: 30 *Taught by United Pentecostal Church, T.D. Jakes Importance of Doctrine of the Trinity u 1. If Jesus is just a created being, and not fully God – he cannot bear the full wrath of God for all our sins. u 2. If Jesus is not God, can we really trust him to save us completely? Can we depend on a created being for our salvation? u 3. If Jesus is not God, should we pray to him or worship him – as the Bible instructs us to? Philippians 2: 9-11 uAccording to Mormonism, Mormonism Jesus is a created being, the first spirit to be born of the Father (Mormon Doctrine, p.129) uAnd a celestial mother (Mormon Doctrine, p. 516) Theodicy HOW CAN WE BELIEVE IN A GOD WHO IS ALL LOVING AND ALL POWERFUL WHEN THERE IS SO MUCH EVIL IN THE WORLD? u DOCTRINE OF MAN – ANTHROPOLOGY PSALM 139: 14 UNIT II u DOCTRINE OF SIN - HAMARTIOLOGY ROMANS 3: 23 uHumanity originated not The Christian through a chance process of evolution, View of but through a Humanity conscious, purposeful act by God. Theological Meaning of Human Creation u 1. Humans have no independent existence. We exist because God so desired it u 2. Humans are part of the creation. u 3. Humans have a unique place in creation. u 4. There is a brotherhood among humans Imago Dei – the image of God Key Concept Of all the major religions of the world, only the biblical religions of Judaism and Christianity affirm that human beings are made in the image of God. Image of God uGenesis 1: 26 – 27 26 Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals,[a] and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” 27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. uGenesis 5: 1 5 This is the book of the generations of Adam. On the day when God created man, He made him in the likeness of God.2 He created them male and female, and He blessed them and named them “mankind” on the day when they were created. Implications 1. We belong to God (Mark12: 13 – 17). 2. We should pattern ourselves after Jesus (the complete revelation of the image of God) (Romans 8:29). 3. We experience full humanity only when we are properly related to God (2 Corinthians 3: 18). Implications – cont’d 4. Learning and work are good (the exercise of dominion is a consequence of the image of God).
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