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Know What You Believe Know What You Believe v David J. Fischer v Pittsford Community Church v College Class v Fall 1996 Motivation for knowing the Fundamentals v "...a Christian lay person, who does not have to be an expert in theology but does nevertheless have to take responsibility for his faith in his non-Christian milieu, must have at his disposal this kind of a brief formulation of his profession of faith which is oriented towards the essentials of this faith." - Karl Rahner, Foundations of Christian Faith, p448 v "...always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence." 1 Peter 3:15 10 Fundamentals of the Faith Þ Inerrancy of Original Scripture Documents v Trinity - One God in three persons v Virgin Birth of Jesus v Resurrection of Jesus v Return of Jesus v Original Sin v Justification by shed blood of Jesus v Second birth of believers of Holy Spirit v Great Commission v Bodily resurrection of believers Why does this truth matter? v Written record is needed to reach all men v Witness for those not present to see Jesus in action v If the knowledge of salvation is to be known, there must be a reliable source of information. If the Bible is this source, but isn't reliable, then we cannot know what is true about God's revelation to us. What does it mean? v The Bible originated in the mind of God v The Bible was given to man by "inspiration" v Men wrote it, in their words, with their words, in their own, personal, unique style v "Plenary" inspiration - full inspiration. The whole thing, not just parts. v "Verbal" inspiration - the words are inspired, and not just the thoughts. v Inerrancy applies only to the text as originally produced by the writers Can you support that? v Old Testament – Romans 3:2, 15:4 1 Corinthians 10:11 – Matthew 5:17 Acts 4:24-25 v New Testament – 2 Timothy 3:16 2 Peter 1:21, 3:15-16 – 1 Corinthians 2:12-13 1 Timothy 5:18 v Canon – fixed in AD 367 and confirmed in AD 397 – Criteria of canonical books u Apostolic origin? u used and recognized by the churches? u teach sound doctrine? How has this been perverted? v "Inspired" applies only to theological issues, nothing else v The Bible "contains" the word of God, as opposed to being the word of God. It isn't wholly inerrant. v It's all figurative v It's all literal What can we do with it? v Thank God for it v Read it v Use it for the basis of moral truth v Test your behavior & thoughts what it teaches v Test others' teaching against it’s teachings What is our application? v Memorize 2 Tim 3:16 v Ask a friend what he thinks about the Bible. Find out if he thinks it is mythical, unreliable, reliable, wholly inspired 10 Fundamentals of the Faith v Inerrancy of Original Scripture Documents Þ Trinity - One God in three persons v Virgin Birth of Jesus v Resurrection of Jesus v Return of Jesus v Original Sin v Justification by shed blood of Jesus v Second birth of believers of Holy Spirit v Great Commission v Bodily resurrection of believers Why does this truth matter? v It circumscribes and safeguards the mystery of God being one God yet acting in 3 persons. v The doctrine does not seek to explain this truth -- that is beyond human reason [Packer 40] What does it mean? v One God v Three personal distinctions v The Son and the Spirit are said to be subordinate to the Father. This does not mean they are inferior. They are subordinate in relationship v Father originates. He is First. v Son is eternally begotten of the Father. He is second. He reveals. v Spirit eternally proceeds from the Father and the Son. He is third. He executes. Can you support that? v Gen 1:1-3 Father, Spirit, word v Deut 6:4-5 Lord is One Lord v Gen 1:26 "Us" v Isaiah 48:16-17 God sent His Spirit v Matt 28:18-20 Father, Son, Spirit v John 10:30 I and Father are one v John 15:26 Helper proceeds from Father v John 14:10-21 Son, Father, Spirit (Helper) v Matt 26:36-46 Jesus yields to God’s will How has this been perverted? v Modalism v Originated from a man named Sabellius in third century. v It states that the Father, Son, Spirit are merely different manifestations which God assumes to achieve His purposes. v Analogy: God has a mask for each person. He dons a mask to assume a role to achieve some goal. v Flaw: "One God" so dominates that "three persons" is perverted and destroyed How has this been perverted? (cont.) v Tritheism v Arius (~AD325) v States that God is split into three different persons. The Son and Spirit are lesser, subordinate beings whom the Father willed into existence to act as His agents with men and the world v Analogy: A group of three separate Gods, with one clearly the head. God #1 created God #2, & #3 to do his will v Flaw: "Three persons" so dominates that "One God" is perverted and destroyed. What can we do with it? v Pay equal attention to each person of the Trinity v Pay equal honor to each person of the Trinity v Be thankful for how each has worked in your life – God Being God. For creating – Jesus Dying for our sins – Spirit Providing new life. Enables us to know Father u Rom 8:16 u Gal 5:22-23 u Rom 8:1-4 v Worship all three persons of the Godhead What is our application? v Memorize Matthew 28:18-20 v Ask a friend what he thinks about God. Find out if he thinks there is a God. What does he think this God is like? Does he believe in a triune God? 10 Fundamentals of the Faith v Inerrancy of Original Scripture Documents v Trinity - One God in three persons Þ Virgin Birth of Jesus v Resurrection of Jesus v Return of Jesus v Original Sin v Justification by shed blood of Jesus v Second birth of believers of Holy Spirit v Great Commission v Bodily resurrection of believers Why does this truth matter? v "Liberalism, seeking to desupernaturalize the faith and reinterpret Jesus as no more than a uniquely godly and insightful teacher cast doubts" on the supernatural nature of Jesus' birth (Packer 111) v To deny this is to strike at the essential supernatural nature of Jesus v It also clearly illustrates the dual nature of Jesus: He is both fully human (of human birth), and fully divine (a virgin birth) What does it mean? v Mary became pregnant by the Holy Spirit's creative action without sexual activity v Helps show that Jesus was fully human and fully man. v Jesus left supernaturally via resurrection and ascension. A supernatural birth is very fitting v Matthew and Luke are more concerned with God fulfilling his redemptive purpose, than in the apologetic nature of this event. What does it mean? (cont.) v Human – Jesus was tempted as we are. He can understand us. – He was physically limited as we are: hungry, tired, angry, troubled, sorrow, suffered – He had human relationships: love, compassion, friends. – Thus, he can understand us and help us. v Divine – He resisted sinful temptations. He can enable us to do so. – He was God incarnate. He revealed God to man in a new way, and so we can know God through that. v Able to help us in our human condition – Heb 2:17-18 – Heb 4:14-16 – Heb 5:2, 7-9 Support for Virgin Birth v Matt 1:22-23 v Luke 1:26-56; 2:4-7 Support for Jesus being human v has a family Matt 13:55; Mark 3:31 v tempted Matt 4:1-11 v eats & drinks Mark 3:20; Luke 5:29-32 v has friends Luke 5:29-32; John 2:1-3 v value system Matt 5-8 v compassion Mark 1:29-39 v sorrows John 11:1-35 v suffers Mark 15:15-23; Luke 23:26; v betrayed Matt 26:47-56 v dies Matt 27:50; Mark 15:37 Support for Jesus being divine v John 20:24-28 (E) Resurrected v John 10:30 (E) “I and the Father are one” v John 26:63-65 (E) Son of God, Christ v Mark 2:1-12 (E) heals paralytic v John 11:43-44 (E) resurrects Lazarus v Mark 2:1-12 (I) forgives sin v John 11:21-27 (I) resurrection and life v John 14:6 (I) only way to the Father v John 6:47-58 (I) bread of life v (E) = Explicit (I) = Implicit How has this been perverted? Not fully Human. v Denials that Jesus was a human (2 John 7) v Docetism: Jesus was a supernatural visitant who seemed human but was really a kind of phantom, a teacher who didn't really die for our sins. Based on assumption that matter is inherently evil v Monophytism: Jesus has only a divine nature v Arians taught that Christ was created by the Father and was the highest of all created beings, but was not eternally self-existent. How has this been perverted? Not fully divine.
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