Theology

Note: This is a handout for a systematic theology class I teach.

Theology. A word most Christians consider to be simply the academic ramblings of grey headed men from antiquity. They think of debate and division. Yet, as we grow in our knowledge of the Lord, our hearts yearn for more. To know God. Further, to be known by Him! The systematic study of Theology is something every believer must do. I believe this book will serve as a compass for your own study of God’s Word, and the great doctrines that form your belief system. This is truly a Biblical-Systematic Theology!

Strong said, “I believe these truths are science as well as truths of revelation; that the supernatural will yet be seen to be most truly natural; and that not the open-minded theologian, but the narrow-minded scientist will be obliged to hide his head at Christ ’s coming.”

Through exegetical study of God ’s Word, we will develope the framework for a systematic theology that will be your foundation for a Biblical belief system.

If you are reading this, today begins your season of discovering God in a deeper, richer way. The study of Theology can be the most rewarding study you will ever do.

The steps you take today and the decisions you make set the course for the rest of your life. We have all heard advice like this since the time we started grade school. “This will go on your permanent record.” The good news is that you can change the course of the rest of your life today – you can start right now. You can drift with the tide or raise your sails and start living the life God created you to live! Unfortunatly, many Christians are still drifting. The study of theology will help them recognize sound doctrine.

Eph 4:14 says, “As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming”

This study will build your faith. We are told in Ephesians 2:19-20 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God's household, (20) having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone,”

There are no guarantees in life, but there is faith. You have a choice as to what course you will take.

This book will help you discover the narrow path that leads to abundant life in Jesus Christ, and the absolute truth you can find in His Word. Many have diverted from sound doctrine, so it is imparitive that a new generation of Bible scholars arise and contend for the faith! We are told in Timothy;

2Ti 4:3 “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires”

We need good theologians, who study God’s Word, and stay on the narrow road of discovering truth! I pray that this will be just the beginning of a lifetime of study, and that through it all you learn how to ‘Stay the course’.

“When I talk about ‘staying the course’, I’m talking about living life to its fullest – celebrating each moment as the wind of God’s Spirit drives you on – it is adventure – it is discovery, it is experiencing the joy that God created you to live in. This book will help you trim your sails, get your life on course, and discover the contentment of living in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ!”

There is nothing more awesome than a fine tuned sailing yacht traversing the stormy ocean, driven by the wind, able to withstand the perils of the sea. I lived on a sailboat for two years and raced sailboats for over 8 years. During that time, out there on the unforgiving ocean, I learned the importance of staying on course. Your have to constantly check your compass and trim your sails in order to keep moving in the right direction. Inevitably, the ocean currents and the swells slowly take you off course – so you trim your sails and adjust the helm to compensate. Are you on course today? Or is it time to adjust your sails and get yourself back on track? The systematic study of Biblical Theology is the best way to become grounded in your beliefs and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and God.

Life is a lot like a sailboat race. You do your best with the boat and the sails, but ultimately you rely on the wind to bring you home. The word in the Bible for ‘Spirit’ is the same word for ‘wind’. In life you do your best, but only God’s Spirit can bring you home. Without Jesus in your life, you simply drift with the current of popular thought, going no where fast. When you allow Jesus to take the helm of your life, and His Spirit fills your sails, you begin to sail through life on a course destined to bring you contentment and peace.

Many people today have everything they need, and yet they still do not have peace. Their marriage is on the rocks, their children are in trouble, and the stress of their job is too much to bear. Even more devestating than that, their Theology is based upon church tradition or man’s ideas rather than the Word of God. The Bible contains the keys to turning your life around and getting your theology in line with what God intended us to know.

“…fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” I Timothy 1:18b & 19

God taught me what it means to keep the faith (in Jesus) and a good conscience (by doing your best with what God has given you). If you have all faith but your life is not on the course, you will suffer shipwreck. If you do all these great religious works and have a clear conscience, but lack faith, you will end up on the rocks. We need both to be successful and experience abundant life in Christ.

Jesus said in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

It is in knowing God that you truly become ‘born again’ and experience life. The best place to get to know God is by studying His revelation of Himself – the Bible & creation.

The Bible is the only religious book that has been authenticated by over 20,000 manuscripts and prophecy that was WORD for WORD fulfilled! It is a foundation for the only true belief system.

2 Timothy 3:16 'All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness'

As we ‘keep the faith’ we must consider our task – it is beyond simply ‘having’ faith. It suggests that we ‘guard the faith’.

1Ti 6:20 “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called "knowledge"—

How can we guard what we don’t understand? How can we understand if we don’t study? We are compelled to study God’s Word. We are driven to study theology!

The study of Theology is the scientific process of experiencing God through the written revelation in His Word, and the natural expression of Himself in the universe. It is a great journey, and I pray this book will establish the absolute Truth revealed in scripture in your heart and mind so powerfully that you begin to make a stand for that truth. That you begin to make an impact on the world through your diligence to know God and make Him known!

Introduction

DEFINITION

• THEOLOGY

– theos- God

– logos- word, study, discourse,understanding, universal rational

• SYSTEMATIC

– Synistemi, Synistano- comprehend, put together, organize-

• Systematic Theology is “that department or section of theology which is concerned with setting forth systematically, that is to say, as a organized whole, what is known concerning God.” Warfield, Studies in Theology, 91.

Theology then is the study of God and how He relates to the universe. It is the scientific pursuit of understanding God. It is the exploration of God’s revelation of Himself in the Bible (divine) and our experience (natural). Theology has been referred to as "fides quaerens intellectum" or "faith seeking understanding."

The foundation for developing a sound theology is the absolute truth contained in the Bible. It requires a hermeneutic that allows the theologian to extract Biblical truth without inserting his own feeling/beliefs into that truth. ‘Hermeneutics’ can be defined as a scientific method of interpreting scripture. It leads to ‘rightly dividing’ or ‘dissecting’ the truths in scripture. I will give you a method of hermeneutical study near the end of the introduction.

OUR APRIORI: Our ‘apriori’ is what we believe before we study something. It is the filter we use to analyze any new truth. A presupposition is to suppose beforehand. Something which you presume to be true before you begin a study. For example, the evolutionist presupposes that the Biblical account of creation is false. His apriori is that man has evolved through countless adaptations and slow genetic changes. He looks at creation as myth.

Our presupisition is that the Bible is God ’s Inspired Word. We will discuss this at length in the chapter on ‘Bibliology’. Our apriori becomes our dogma – something held as established fact we can hold to with certainty. Within the Christian ‘dogma’ is the facts that God is manifest in the Father, the Son (who is also the Messiah), and the Holy Spirit.

To study theology we must believe that the human mind can comprehend the truths about God revealed in scripture. We can never know God in His infinite totality, but we can know what He has revealed about Himself. As we understand the truth, it gives us the tools to recognize falsehood and contend against it.

Col 2:8 - Beware lest any one cheat you through philosophy or empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ .

“Finitum non capax infiniti.” That is to say, the finite is not capable of the infinite. Finite man is incapable of understanding God without God first revealing Himself.

Every attempt to understand God that grows from man’s limited intellect leads to humanistic philosophy or false religion. It leads to a man made belief system that lacks any real insight.

2 Tim 3:5 - having the form of Godliness, but denying it's power, from such people turn away.

False religions. We need to know the truth to recogognize error! When we know the truth, we are set free to worship God in Spirit and in truth!

1 John 5:6 ¶ This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.

John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

John 14:17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

John 15:26 ¶ But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

John 16:7 ¶ Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.

John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.

John 17:19 And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.

John 18:37 Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.

John 18:38 Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault at all.

John 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.

John 4:24 God is a Spirit : and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

How do we study the Truth? What are the sources of our study of Theology?

–The “Wesleyan Quadrilateral”

• Scripture (Supreme Authority)

• Reason

• Tradition

• Experience

–All four of these areas are important to discover truth – however, the last two need to be used with caution.

Theology is the science of studying God and how He relates to His creation. Some feel that calling theology ‘science’ is an oxymoron; however, they are unaware that modern science is the child of theologians. Yes, science began as the endeavor to discover God in His creation.

Science is a wonderful thing – in studying science one get a glimpse of the very finger print of God as He established universal laws governing the physical universe, and spiritual laws controling the spiritual realm. In the study of science we can see the wonderfully complex mechanisms of creation. Theology used to be one of the sciences – but, even as the 2^nd law of thermodynamics states everything goes from order to disorder, so science has gone from embracing the truth to believing a lie. The study of Theology is the study of God and His revelation of Himself.

Thiessen states, "Until rather recent times Theology was considered the queen of the sciences and Systematic Theology the crown of the queen. But today the generality of so-called theological scholarship denies that it is a science and certainly the idea that it is the queen of the sciences."[1]

When we think of science, what comes to mind? Physics, experiments, astronomy, chemestry, biology, etc. Science discovers principals that can be repeated and thus proven as fact.

Science is the study of established laws and provable facts. It also is the seeking of new laws and facts that can help mankind progress. Absolute truth in Science, at it’s core, is God . The God who created all things and holds them together by His mighty hand! This is the study we are about to embark on!

Mankind has left this truth to embrace secular humanism and foolish ideas.

Rom.

1:18-23.

Galilio, the faither of modern science called God the ‘divine geometer of the universe, the mathematizing source and goal of all relationships.’[2]

A boat is sailing at 10 knotts, and the captain is walking on the deck walking in the direction the boat is traveling at 2 knotts. Galilio used this to establish his theory of relativity. You must have a fixed point of reference to establish any truth.

I add this to this example: The boat is the world, the ocean is the universe, and the captain is a man. If another man is sitting on the deck of the boat, his perception is that the captain is walking by him at 2 knotts an hour. From shore, the captain is walking 12 knotts - the 10 the boat is going and the 2 he is going.

From a boat drifting in the current flowing 2 knotts in the same direction of the other boat, the captain appears to be traveling 10 knotts and the boat 8 knotts. Which one is right? In mans thinking all are right, but from an absolute fixed point of reference all are wrong. From this absolute fixed point of reference the boat is actually traveling 12 knotts (10 plus the 2 knotts for the current), and the captain is actually traveling 14 knotts (10 + 2 +2).

Therefore, as individuals on the boat, we need a perspective outside our own space and time domain to give us ultimate truth - this is where God steps in and inspires 40 scribes to write the Bible - it is God's revelation of ultimate truth from His fixed point of reference - it is the only truth - and it is completely accurate. (I could have included the rotation of the earth and the spin of our Galaxy but there is no need to do that for this example).

Other religions say we are only going 10 knotts, science says we are only traveling 2 knotts, and absolute truth says we are going 14 knotts.

Which one is right? Of course the fixed point of reference has the only ability to measure truth. God did this in the Bible – our source of absolute Truth and the basis of any systematic theology.

Absolute Truth

• Premise – there is absolute truth and it does not change with personality or culture

– Since the Scriptures, ultimately, are God’s revelation to all of mankind, there will be a unity of truth even in the midst of diverse cultural emphases and contextualized language

– We “have tended to view theology as transcultural or culturally neutral. …and have typically championed biblical authority by claiming that there is only one horizon in theology- the biblical text itself.” Richard Lints, The Fabric of Theology, 102

Theology gives us truth that is not bound by space or time…

• There is a transcultural aspect to the doing of theology: “Ought we to give our western creeds to the Oriental mind? . . . Of course those Western creeds ought to be given to the Oriental mind. But that ought to be done only on one condition- that those western creeds are true. If they are not true, they ought not to be given to the Oriental mind or to any other kind of mind; but if they are true, they are just as true in

China

as they are in the

United States

.” Machen, Christian Faith in the Modern World, 93

The result of studying theology:

• Our practice of studying and applying theological truth will impact our culture: “Contemporary theologians must also seek to challenge the contemporary mind to think more critically about its own culturally accepted values.” Lints, Fabric, 113

• Even in the post-modern world, we must be salt and light. As we study theology, we must begin to change. Our beliefs, our actions, and our world. It is exciting to begin a study of theology. As our knowledge grows, our heart changes.

An exert from my personal log while I lived on the sailing yacht ‘Salvation II’…

“There is nothing more exciting than the start of a Regatta (a sailboat race). You have 30 or more boats all maneuvering for position – to cross the starting line right as the gun goes off. You are pushing your boat to the limit – and so is everyone else. This is my first race, and the start was totally extreme! I almost hit several boats – and several almost hit me. I was tacking at full speed every 30 seconds – the time was counting down for the start. I started for the line, adjusting the sails to slow down and speed up – trying to get there in perfect harmony with the starters gun. This was an e-ticket ride – 5 seconds left, I trimmed for speed and went for the line. If I was even a split second early I would have to do a complete circle before starting the race. I heard the gun, and to my surprise we crossed the line just after it sounded – a perfect start!”

You can’t start this study without knowing Jesus Christ as Lord. Without believing in the absolute truth contained in the Bible!

– The premise is simple: Reason is subordinated to Scripture, yet faith is reasonable.

1Co 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

When you believe in Jesus, and your eyes are opened to the wonderful truth about who He is, you are filled with excitement and anticipation. You then realize that there is a God who loves you and desires to know you – that He protected you your whole life, and knew you would choose to follow Him on this day. However, many people are not open to this truth. They refuse to examine the Bible or consider the existence of God. They have embraced an apriori based on two philosophical systems of thought that, when you consider them, are almost intellectual suicide.

The two philosophies that have influenced thought and religion today are postmodernism (the idea that there is no absolute truth) and the idea that order can evolve from chaos.

This new philosophical system of thought actually goes beyond postmodernism and the theory of evolution – it is now based mainly on your experience. It is a merging of science and self directed thought. It is a neo-experientialism. What is experientialism? The thought that experience, either that of ourselves or of others, is the test or criterion of general knowledge or truth.

Neo-experientialism is what I am calling the post-postmodern philosophy or postdecostructionalism. This philosophy believes there are no absolutes nor are there any laws except logic. Nothing beyond personal experience is knowable. It has the idea that everything is conceptual and fabricated according to your own experience – and reality is only the experience of the moment. Even past experience is beyond the knowable and is to be questioned because it exists only in the imagination and is therefore not reality.

This philosophical thought is influenced heavily by what I will call the ‘internet generation’. The idea is that everything on the Internet is conceptual and not real. It is a cyber world made up in the minds of the users – a basic assumption in neo-experientialism.

I’ve always been a thrill seeker – an adventurer. But there is no greater adventure that being a Christian and becoming a Theologian! You may be thinking, how do you know? Well, I have had my share of adventure. I used to be an extreme backpacker. Every chance we had, my two best friends and I would drive to the Sierras and pack in to some secluded lake or pristine river. I would drink in the thrill of being alone in God's country, most of the time at least a three day's walk to the nearest road.

When you're out there so far from everything you have learned to depend on, like a store to buy whatever you need, or the knowledge that if you broke a leg or hurt yourself you could be at a hospital within a few minutes, you begin to understand what it is like to be totally self dependent for everything you need to survive. A very wise man once said there are no atheists at sea, and I finally understood what he meant - when you have to be self reliant to survive, you realize how limited you really are and how much you need God at the helm of your life leading, guiding, and providing for you all things pertaining to life and Godliness. The realization that I was a three day journey from the nearest road, and then at least an hour drive to the nearest small mountain community would overwhelm me at times, usually late in the afternoon after a day filled with fishing, rock climbing, carving a walking stick, or just laying in the sun allowing the balm of the wilderness to free my mind. As the sun would begin to hide itself behind a distant ridge, I would realize I wasn't in a camp ground, I was in the untamed wilderness, far away from anything remotely resembling life in modernized

America

. At that time I would look towards the heavens and thank God for His provision and grace which He abundantly pours into my life every moment of every day. His peace would flow into my mind along with a wealth of creative thought, as if God Himself was pouring inspiration into my consciousness. I would ponder many things – and I would realize that creation itself declares the majesty of God.

My favorite day dreams were those concerning the great wilderness I was in, for even though time goes on and people change, the wilderness does not. That big sequoia tree over there could be the same one a mountain man rested under 100 years ago. Oh yes, out there I could as well have been a Knight in some enchanted forest, 3 days walk from the castle, or a mountain man in the mid 1800's out tracking bear, the only difference at that moment in that place was the cloths on my back and the tent I would sleep in. This is when a boy truly becomes a man - when a philosopher truly understands mans place in the ecosystem of this world - when a poet experiences the most glorious beauty and sense of wonder and contrasts that to the sometimes hostile and bleak environment in which he dwells - and when a theologian looks God in the face, through the majesty of His creation, and praises Him for His workmanship. Up there, my mind assumed the role of each of the afore mentioned individuals, and in each role I would come to the same conclusion - God created man in a universe that seems to be endless, and God created in man an imagination that is equally as immense, along with the rational to know that and see Gods signature right there in our own thought process and creativity as well as in the universe.

Romans 1:18-25 “for the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since that which is known about God is evident within them, for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so men are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God, or give thanks to Him, but they became futile in their speculations and thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. “Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the Glory of the incorruptible God, for images made in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Because of this God gave them over to the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity, degrading their bodies with one another. They exchanged the truth for a lie - and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator-who is forever praised. Amen.”

As part of the introduction to the study of theology, we must talk about two things – true Christianity and science. True Christianity to have a starting point for our discussion. Science to give us the roots of theology itself – for good theology is science.

True Christianity-

There are many ideas about Christianity. From being born in

America

, to belonging to a certain church, to keeping a bunch of rules established by the religious elite from any number of denominations. Most people have no idea of what it means to be a true Christian.

Barna did a survey last year (2001), and found that on 152 items of lifestyle – there was no difference between those claiming to be Christians and the society in general. More recently, in a survey done early 2002, Barna found out that 86% of Americans claim to be Christian. Of those, 76% believe there are many ways to God. (no absolute truth). Only 8% of those who claim to be Christian consider themselves evangelical!

How are Christians depicted in the media? Most often as unthinking, mystical, and socially inept. Despite this, we need to;

How do people know you’re a Christian? Peter here tells us that our ‘behavior’, ultimately is what they observe and judge. The word ‘behavior’, in the Greek, lit. means ‘way of living’. It is much more than simply the way you behave. – It is your lifestyle. I have an 9 year old son, who, when needed to, can behave very well. He attends a college level class I teach, and he behaves very appropriately in the class – he listens, takes notes, and even asks relevant questions. However, this is a learned behavior for him – it is not his lifestyle. He normally acts much like any other nine year old. The point is, many people act like Christians at church, but their way of life is anything but Christian.

In order to define what a Christian is, we must first examine what a Christian is not.

Many have a misunderstanding of what it means to be a Christian’; I surveyed many people, and here are the top five categories of stereotypical Christians:

“Don’t drink, don’t smoke, don’t dance, and keep away from all romance”

These are the somber, earning God’s blessings, judgmental, type of Christians. They proclaim a religion of do’s and don’ts.

What does the Bible say about them?

Mat 6:1-11 "Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven. (2) "So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. (3) "But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, (4) so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.

Galatians 2:¹⁶nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified.

Luke 18:10-14 "Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. (11) "The Pharisee stood and was praying this to himself: 'God, I thank You that I am not like other people: swindlers, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. (12) 'I fast twice a week; I pay tithes of all that I get.' (13) "But the tax collector, standing some distance away, was even unwilling to lift up his eyes to heaven, but was beating his breast, saying, 'God, be merciful to me, the sinner!' (14) "I tell you, this man went to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted."

True Christianity is not about rules or self righteous deeds. It is about the grace and mercy of God. It’s not about what you do, it’s all about what Jesus Christ did. However, I should note that saving faith will produce a person who lives a Godly life and practices righteous deeds.

These Christians seem to always hang their head, they never smile, often appear weak, proclaiming “I’m humble & proud of it!” Or “the battle is hard, but I’m trying to perservere”. I think we have some clear direction against this type of Christianity in scripture. If you practice the discipline of ‘fasting’, you know this would be the most likely time to hang your head and appear pious. But we are given this instruction;

Mat 6:16 "Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

2Ti 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of timidity, but of power and love and discipline.

Now that cuts against our grain. We are raised learning pride, not meekness. However, God blesses those who are meek:

(Jam 4:5&6)Or do you think that the Scripture speaks to no purpose: "He jealously desires the Spirit which He has made to dwell in us"?(6)But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE."

Meekness, is a word (prah – oose) in the Greek, used for a wild horse which has been tamed. ‘energy under control’ or focused living!

Pride would say – “I did this – look at how great I am” God does not bless this. And He will not use this person.

Humility/meekness would say – “God did this – look at how Great He is” – God will

Bless this, and will use this person to do great things for His kingdom!

Humility then is submitting yourself totally to God, so that He receives the glory for what He does in and through you! Macarthur said, ‘If Jesus isn’t Lord of all, He isn’t Lord at all’

Let’s read these verses and instead of ‘humility’, let’s say ‘submission to God’:

(Pro 15:33 ) The fear of the LORD is the instruction for wisdom, And before honor comes being submitted to God (humility.)

(Pro 18:12 ) Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, But humility (submission to God) goes before honor.

(Pro 22:4) The reward of humility (submitting yourself to God) and the fear of the LORD Are riches, honor and life.

( Col 3:12) So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility (submission to God), gentleness and patience;

As we submit to God, His plans and blessings are released in our lives. His plans are better than ours!

Jer 29:11 'For I know the plans that I have for you,' declares the LORD, 'plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.

Isa 25:1 O LORD, You are my God; I will exalt You, I will give thanks to Your name; For You have worked wonders, Plans formed long ago, with perfect faithfulness.

but just as it is written, "THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOT HEARD, AND which HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPARED FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."

3. The zealous – ‘Street preacher’ type

These Christians are fiery, loud, condemning, focusing on the bad news rather than the good. They try to tell people about Jesus like it’s bad news.

I Corinthians 13:¹If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.

We need to talk about the Gospel – in love! ‘Gospel’ - literally means ‘good news’.

Act 13: (32) "And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,

Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Col 4:6 Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

I am of Luther, I am of the Baptist, John, I am of the Pope, I am of Chuck Smith, etc.

1Co 1:10-13 Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. (11) For I have been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. (12) Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." (13) Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul?

Being a Christian is not simply being a member of a church! Church simply means ‘ a gathering of believers’!

As Christians, we are all a part of the ‘body of Christ’. We all make us the church universal. We all express this in our individual ‘church’ services and Bible studies.

5^th and final popular definition of a true Christian– the super spiritual/mystic

These Christians often speak of demons hiding under every rock, they curse Satan – they focus on the emotion and ‘work up’ mystical experiences –I have heard some even challenge Satan to a fight; They seek spiritual gifts more than they seek to know God!

Jud 1:8-13 Yet in the same way these men, also by dreaming, defile the flesh, and reject authority, and revile angelic majesties. (9) But Michael the archangel, when he disputed with the devil and argued about the body of Moses, did not dare pronounce against him a railing judgment, but said, "The Lord rebuke you!" (10) But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. (11) Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay (send me $10 and I’ll mail you a prayer cloth that will heal you, etc.) they have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam(prophecy for hire - 2Pe 2:15-16 forsaking the right way, they have gone astray, having followed the way of Balaam, the son of Beor, who loved the wages of unrighteousness; (16) but he received a rebuke for his own transgression, for a mute donkey, speaking with a voice of a man, restrained the madness of the prophet.), and perished in the rebellion of Korah.(Numbers 16 – they rebelled against Moses, and did what God did not call them to do) (12) These are the men who are hidden reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; (13) wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.

As you seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, all these other things will be added unto you. You will be used by God in the gifts. We need to seek the giver of gifts, not the gift itself!

True Christianity is living life to it’s fullest! It is experiencing God. It is knowing God. We will do this as we study theology!

The theme verse for Living Water Fellowship, the church I Pastor, says it all:

"Ho! Every one who thirsts, come to the waters; And you who have no money come, buy and eat. Come, buy wine and milk Without money and without cost.

Joh 7:37 Now on the last day, the great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink.

Have no money – come buy and eat - Jesus paid the price for our complete satisfaction and fulfillment in this life and eternity!

1Co 6:20 For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

wine and milk--a gradation. Not merely water, which is needed to maintain life, but wine and milk to strengthen, cheer, and nourish; the spiritual blessings of the Gospel are meant

Joh 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it more abundantly.

Being a true Christian is living every day in the rest of the Lord! That is where the ‘joy of the Lord’ is your strength!

Hebrews 4:1-7 Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. (2) For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. (3) For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said, "AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH, THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST," although His works were finished from the foundation of the world. (4) For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; (5) and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." (6) Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, (7) He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before, "TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE, DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

True Christianity is celebrating life – by doing what God created us to do! Love and praise Him, Love and help others, meditate on His Word – which washes us!

A Christian is someone who has entered into relationship with God through Jesus Christ, he or she Loves God, loves others, and study’s God’s Word.

2Ti 2:15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.

Eph 5:26 so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

Being a Christian is living a life full of love – the love from God to you, the love of true Christians to you, and your love for God and others.

1Th 3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you;

Joh 13:35 "By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another."

Matt.24: 12 And because iniquity shall be multiplied, the love of the many shall wax cold.

As we study God, who, in essence is love, we learn how to love and be loved. The study of theology will ground you in truth and wash you by His Word and compel you to love!

Joh 14:21 "He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him."

We are told that all the law is fulfilled in this: love God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength, and love your neighbor as yourself.

Yet in the last days we read earlier that the love (agape) of many will wax cold.

.1. In the last days, bad times will come, {2} For people will love only themselves and their money;

they will be proud and boastful, sneering at God, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful to them, and thoroughly bad.

{3} They will be hardheaded and never give in to others; they will be constant liars and troublemakers

and will think nothing of immorality. They will be rough and cruel, and sneer at those who try to be good.

{4} They will betray their friends; they will be hotheaded, puffed up with pride, (lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God .

{5} They will go to church, yes, but they won't really believe anything they hear. Don't be taken in by people like that.

We need to get back to being true Christians – people who love deeply and allow others to love us!

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawnyou with lovingkindness” (Jeremiah 31:3).

A true Christian loves God – and desires to read His Word – the Bible – a love letter to you from God!

Mar 12:30-31 AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.' (31) "The second is this, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

You can do a lot to try to earn God’s love, but you can’t – it is a free gift – all He wants from us is our love and praise:

Rev 2:2-4 (2) 'I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; (3) and you have perseverance and have endured for My name's sake, and have not grown weary. (4) 'But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.

Mat 7:8-11 "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. (9) "Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? (10) "Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? (11) "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Jam 1:17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

God does not change - Heb 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

It is time to go back to our first love. I think as you read this book you will be compelled to love God deeper. And you will become someone who desires to please God more than desiring to please men.

1Th 2:4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who examines our hearts.

A true Christian desires to please God – but back to our original question – what is a true Christian?

“Keep your behavior(lifestyle – way of life) excellent(beautiful) among the Gentiles(unbelievers), so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers (Christians were considered evil because of communion – their ‘love feasts’ – their saying they love one another and hugging each other, saying there is only one God and one way to enter into relationship with Him), they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

Phi 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, (10) so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ; (11) having been filled with the fruit of righteousness which comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Luke 6:45 "The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

( Col 4:5-6) Conduct yourselves with wisdom toward outsiders, making the most of the opportunity.(6) Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.

Jam 3:13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom.

As we study theology, no doubt there will be those whom we have to correct in love. Remember;

Jud 1:3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.

(Jud 1:20-23) But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit,(21) keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting anxiously for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to eternal life. (22) And have mercy on some, who are doubting; (23) save others, snatching them out of the fire; and on some have mercy with fear, hating even the garment polluted by the flesh.

Eph 4:15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

Rom 12:10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;

2Ti 3:16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;

There is nothing more awesome than a tuned sailing ship traversing the stormy ocean, driven by the wind, able to withstand the perils of the sea. I lived on a sailboat two years, and in those years, God taught me what it means to keep the faith.

In all these things, we need to remain steadfast in the Lord – never compromising the truth of the gospel!

“…fight the good fight, keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith.” I Timothy 1:18b & 19

And that truth – what it means to be a true Christian – is knowing God through Jesus Christ. This is why we study theology!

1Pe 2:25 For you were continually straying like sheep, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Guardian of your souls.

Joh 14:27 "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

Heb 13:20-21 Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, (21) equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Joh 10:11-18 "I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. (12) "He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. (13) "He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep. (14) "I am the good shepherd, and I know My own and My own know Me, (15) even as the Father knows Me and I know the Father; and I lay down My life for the sheep. (16) "I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will hear My voice; and they will become one flock with one shepherd. (17) "For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. (18) "No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father."

Are you still trying to run your own life? Are you into intellectualism? Are you studying theology to please men or God? I pray that your goal is to know God. The more you know Him, the more He directs your life!

Will you follow Jesus today? It is being open to the Holy Spirit – and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead and guide you!

As we study theology, we will discover just what all this means. So now the question is this – why should we study theology?

Why study theology?

1Ti 4:1 But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons,

2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires,

We have Pastors teaching humanism and psychology, who have left the task of equipping the church for ministry!

Eph 4:11-15 And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, (12) for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; (13) until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. (14) As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; (15) but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ,

This is the purpose of Church – to worship God and learn His Word – to be equipped for the ministry!!

(Rom 2:13 ) for it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified.

(Jam 1:22 ) But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.

We need to study theology to know God’s truth. And since many are falling away from truth, we need to study theology to contend for the truth. It begins with understanding that theology is science.

I always wanted to be a scientist growing up. In fact, before I was called into ministry I had a full scholarship to Cal. State Northridge in computer science. Then, I didn’t know how science and theology fit together. Now, I love the fact that science and theology are married – and you can’t truly know one without understanding the other!

Theology as Science…

When you think of science, what do you think of? Test tubes, laboratories, mathmatics, etc. Science is evaluating empirical data in order to understand the universe and establish (or discover) laws that govern our natural world.

Theology is evaluating empirical data in order to understand the universe and discover laws (both spiritual and natural) that govern mankind.

Before we proceed, we must find the commen ground between science and theology. This is our next section.

• “It will readily be inferred what as Christians we mean by antinomies. They are involved in the fact that human knowledge can never be completely comprehensive knowledge. Every knowledge transaction has in it somewhere a reference point to God. Now since God is not fully comprehensible to us we are bound to come into what seems to be contradiction in all our knowledge. Our knowledge is analogical and therefore must be paradoxical. We say that if there is to be any true knowledge at all there must be in God an absolute system of knowledge. . . . Yet we ourselves cannot fully understand that system.” C. Van Til, The Defense of the Faith, 44.

• It is a Practical Science; it has more than mere Ontology (existence)

• Theology has Teleology; it has purpose and direction

• The end of theological inquiry is not merely mental equilibrium – a stagnate state of existance

• The goal of scientific inquiry is knowledge that must produce a response and a transformation.

• Theology is more than philosophical ascension – it is experienced in all we do!

So, if theology is science, we may affirm that the Bible will agree with science rather than oppose science. And the more we learn scientifically, the more the Bible will be established as factual. So let’s examine science and scripture – to see if our premise holds true.

Science and Scripture

I find it fascinating the way God has established spiritual laws that govern our lives just as much as natural laws do. You can't fight gravity - it is a force too great for you to overcome by any act of will. Spiritual laws are more sure and powerful than natural laws. Science continues to establish one overwhelming fact – this universe had to have had an author. One of our top geneticist finally mapped the human gene, and found that it only contains 70,000 bits of code, and proclaimed “if there is any evidence of God, this is it”, to the many men of science have given their lives to Jesus Christ as they determined the empirical evidence for God was too great to ignored – God has truly manifest Himself in the order of the universe.

The world is too complicated in all its parts and interconnections to be due to chance alone. I am convinced that the existence of life with all its order in each of its organisms is simply too well put together. Each part of a living thing depends on all its other parts to function. How does each part know? How is each part specified at conception? The more one learns about biochemistry the more unbelievable it becomes unless there is some type of organizing principle—an architect (Allan Sandage, Truth, Vol. 1, Dallas: Texas, Truth Incorporated, 1985, p. 54).

To grasp the reality of life as it has been revealed by molecular biology, we must magnify a cell a thousand million times until it is twenty kilometers in diameter and resembles a giant airship large enough to cover a great city like London or New York . What we would then see would be an object of unparalleled complexity and adaptive design. On the surface of the cell we would see millions of openings, like the port holes of a vast space ship, opening and closing to allow a continual stream of materials to flow in and out. If we were to enter one of those openings we would then find ourselves in a world of supreme technology and bewildering complexity. . . .

Is it really credible that random processes could have constructed a reality, the smallest element of which—a functional protein or gene—is complex beyond our own creative capacities, a reality which is the very antithesis of chance, which excels in every sense anything produced by the intelligence of man? (Michael Denton, Evolution: A Theory in Crisis, Bethesda, Maryland: Adler and Adler, 1985, pp. 328,342).

I started as devil’s advocate against the creationist view and came, in principle, though not according to any particular creed, to prefer it . . . For this it will probably be condemned from some quarters. But I hope I have shown that apparently convincing arguments in support of a belief can often be seen to be either based on insufficient data or open to more than one interpretation; and that much that passes for science is no more and no less emotional, illogical and idiosyncratic than many of the opposing arguments . . . .

Adam and Evolution should be controversial. The many issues it raises cannot all be dealt with, let alone in depth, in a single sweep. But the direction of the argument is clear—there has been neither chemical evolution nor macro-evolution. Nor as some twentieth century churchmen bio-illogically accept, did God involve chance mutations in ‘creation by evolution’. No intelligent creator would leave matters to chance; on the contrary his purpose would be to realize, in plan and practice, his ideas. Pressing the logic to its conclusion, this book advocates a grand and full-blooded creation. The implications of this view necessitate a reappraisal of ourselves and of the whole world of organisms around us (Michael Pitman, Adam and Evolution, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987, pp. 254, 255).

You see, science began as a quest to find the fingerprint of God in nature. It is now accomplishing that daunting task!

Computer scientist, Gene Myers, at the Maryland headquarters of Celera Genomics said this of the mapping of the genetic code at a scientific conference in 2001: "What really astounds me is the architecture of life," he said. "The system is extremely complex. It's like it was designed."

The more we study the universe, the more we find the nessecity of a creator – a designer who built all the complex systems that hold it together.

Some would argue, “well didn’t the Bible teach the earth was flat?” The answer is a resounding NO! It simply calls the earth a ‘circle’ (the word in the Hebrew suggests ‘sphere’). “It is He who sits above the circle of the earth” (Isaiah 40:22).

It also says the earth hangs in space – not on the back of two turtles or on Buddha’s belly.

“He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing” (Job 26:7).

The fact is, science has always confirmed the Bible, both as a reliable historical document and as a source of factual information!

“This is my first sail to an Island off the main coast of California. I was on course toward Avalon. It was a very dark night. At 0300 hours (3am) I see a ship in the distance. It was a welcome site. A watched the lights and it appeared to be traveling the same direction I was. As I continued to mark it’s position and direction I noticed it’s lights were getting closer… and then I realized my mistake – I looked at the chart closer, and in the middle of the passage between Catalina and the coast of the mainland was a small red line marked ‘shipping lane’. At that moment I realized this ship wasn’t sailing with me, it was headed straight for me! I started my engine and began calling on the radio for the ship. I also turned on all my lights and pointed a flash light at my main sail. And I prayed. A helicopter flew between us, and the huge tanker attempted to change course. It nearly hit me as I looked up at the mountain going by, and I surfed it’s 10 foot wake to safety”.

Our senses can be deceiving. Life gives us many surprises. Einstien once said, “Science without religion is lame, and religion without science is blind”. Both require absolute truth.

Jesus truly is a savior we can count on. The absolute truth of God’s Word – the Bible – is always clear and never leads you down the wrong path.

Of all the religious writings in the world, many contain re-writes, changes, problems, and ideas that contradict science. In fact, it is interesting that finite man has always sought to understand an infinite God – but we have always fallen short of the truth. It took an infinite God to reveal Himself to finite man. He did that in the Bible. The Bible is the only book that has not been changed and actually contains ideas that were beyond even the teachings of science durring the time period it was written.

We might well wonder if there could be among all the so-called revelations of the world’s religions one document that is untouched by the foibles and fallacies of men, one record that reveals an accurate understanding of man and nature, one collection of writings that holds an immutable relationship to scientific truth? One book—and only one—can meet these qualifications. It is known as the Bible . . “[3]

I take great comfort in the fact that the Bible does not teach strange practices or beliefs. It does not contradict science, like every other religious book does!

Barfield lists errors commen to that time period and other religious writtings that the Bible did not fall into – these include:

6. Incorrect understanding of earthquakes, storms, oceans, mountains, lightning, and other physical phenomenon

Colson on Science

Mind Your Math: Uncovering the Structure of Creation
by Charles Colson

Physicist Paul Davies is the author of a book titled The Mind of God -yet Davies doesn't even believe in God. So why would he choose that title? The point of the book is that modern science started out with the belief that it was uncovering the very thoughts of God.

Many of us grew up with the conception that science and Christianity are bitter enemies. But that's actually a misconception. Davies is dead right when he says science started with the conviction that by studying the mathematical structure of creation, scientists catch a glimpse of the Creator's mind.

In fact, the very idea that creation has a mathematical structure emerged from Christianity. The ancient Greeks, who founded Western philosophy, relegated mathematics to a realm of abstract ideals. They thought the material world was too formless, too unpredictable to be described mathematically.

But Christianity teaches that the material world is God's handiwork--therefore it is not formless; it is exactly what God wants it to be. The early scientists expected to find precise order in the dust and dirt of the physical world itself.

Take Copernicus. When he proposed that the planets go around the sun instead of the earth, he had no empirical evidence. Without telescopes, observations of the planets fit equally well with an earth-centered system.

The sole factor favoring a sun-centered system was that it was simpler mathematically. And since Copernicus was convinced that God had made the world mathematically, that was good enough for him. Later, of course, he was proved right. Then there was Kepler, famous for discovering that the orbits of the planets are not circles, as people thought at the time, but ellipses. It started when Kepler noticed a slight mismatch between mathematical calculations of Mars's orbit and actual observations. The difference was so tiny that other scientists had shrugged it off. But Kepler was convinced that everything in creation is precisely what God wants it to be. If He wanted the orbits to be circular, they would be exactly circular. And if they were not exactly circular, they must be exactly something else.

Inspired by his Christian faith, Kepler struggled for years to reconcile the slight mismatch in Mars's orbit-finally hitting upon the discovery that the orbits are actually ellipses.

The same conviction inspired Galileo. In ‘The book of nature’, Galileo said, is "written by the hand of God in the language of mathematics." The same conviction also inspired Isaac Newton, who put classical physics on a mathematical basis.

Anyone who studies the history of science is forced to acknowledge that, from the beginning, science and Christianity have been allies, not enemies. Science was founded on the assumption that God created the world with a mathematical structure and that human beings can discover that structure.

Get the true historical picture from a book called The Soul of Science, by Nancy Pearcey and Charles Thaxton. The early scientists were not hostile to religion. On the contrary, they firmly believed they were discovering, as Paul Davies puts it, the Mind of God.

Where does the Bible contain science not yet embraced by secular society when it was written?

He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing (Job 26:7).

This idea was an oddity in the ancient world, for most people believed the earth was supported by something.

As the host of heaven cannot be numbered, nor the sand of the sea measured (Jeremiah 33:22).

Before the telescope was invented, people believed they could count the stars. Even the great astronomer Johann Kepler numbered the stars at slightly over one thousand. Not until modern times did man realize that numbering the stars is an impossibility.

The Israelites were forbidden to eat the flesh of any animal that had died a natural death:

Today we know that dead animals can carry lice, flies, and fleas. Each of these are carriers of disease.

God ordered those who had contagious diseases to be separated from the rest of the camp:

Now the leper on whom the sore is, his clothes shall be torn and his head bare; and he shall cover his mustache, and cry, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ He shall be unclean. All the days he has the sore he shall be unclean. He is unclean, and he shall dwell alone; his habitation shall be outside the camp (Leviticus 13:45 ,46).

The children of

Israel

were forbidden to drink water from small or stagnant pools or from water that had been contaminated by coming into contact with animals or meat (Leviticus 11:29 -36). It is only in the last 100 years that medical science has learned that contaminated water can cause typhoid and cholera.

Today humans eat rabbits and pork, although both are susceptible to infectious parasites. The children of

Israel

were not allowed to eat either of these animals. Though they may be cleanly fed and well-cooked, they both can be a source of disease. Roasting pork over an open flame is not sufficient to kill the parasites that could have attached themselves to the animal. Parasites can also be transmitted by the mere handling of pork. Consequently, the children of

Israel

were not even allowed to touch the body of a dead swine.

The Bible contains hygienic regulations for the children of

Israel

. The Bible commands that sewage should be disposed of outside the camp of

Israel

Also you shall have a place outside the camp, where you may go out; and you shall have an implement among your equipment, and when you sit down outside, you shall dig with it and turn and cover your refuse (Deuteronomy 23:12 ,13).

God also commanded his people to circumcise the male children on the eighth day:

He who is eight days old among you shall be circumcised, every male child in your generations (Genesis 17:12 ).

The full meaning of that command has only been recently understood. Doctor Russel J. Thomsen writes:

One simple aspect of God ’s command to Abraham helped prevent excessive bleeding with circumcision of the newborn. That was the instruction that the rite should be done on the eighth day of life. Modern medicine has come to understand the mechanisms at work in the clotting of blood. Of major importance in blood clotting is prothrombin, a compound made in the liver and the precursor of the active clotting agent thrombin. It has been well established that within a few hours after birth prothrombin becomes relatively depleted and does not become replenished by the infant’s liver until about the eighth day of life (Russel J. Thomsen, M.D., Medical Wisdom From the Bible, Old Tappan, New Jersey: Fleming H. Revell Company, 1974, p. 17).

It has been only since 1940 that it has become a standard practice to circumcise all male infants.

The Bible also gave a prescription for the control of pests. Robert Boyd writes:

A sure-fire remedy for the control of pests was given centuries ago, and yet we are plagued today with insects, oftimes with no remedy. Moses commanded

Israel

to set aside one year in seven when no crops were raised [Leviticus] 25:1-24 . God promised sufficient harvest in the sixth year to provide for this period. Following this plan, here’s what would happen—insects winter in the stalks of the last year’s harvest, hatch in the spring, and are perpetuated by laying eggs in the new crop. Now, if one year in seven no crop were raised, there is nothing for the insects to subsist upon and the pests are controlled by this method. Man ’s method today is crop rotation, but we’re still pestered with insects. This method will never approach God’s method. "Then there was the year of Jubilee after every seven Sabbatical years, which would serve to eliminate the insects which had a cycle of seven years or more or less and which were not affected by the one year in seven" (Robert Boyd, Boyd’s Bible Handbook, Eugene, Oregon: Harvest House Publishers, 1983, p. 78).

Many other examples could be added. With regard to science, the biblical writers were separate from their contemporaries in the ancient world in the following two ways: (1) they did not repeat the commonly held errors of their day (2) they spoke of things that only present-day science has come to realize is scientifically accurate.

I told you in the beginning of this book that theology is science. The biggest attack on theology today is science. In particular, evolution.

“Now we would like to pursue that inquiry further back in time, but the barrier to further progress seems insurmountable. It is not a matter of another year, another decade of work, another measurement, another theory; at this moment it seems as though science will never be able to raise the curtain on the mystery of creation. For the scientist who has lived by his faith in the power of reason, the story ends like a bad dream. He has scaled the mountains of ignorance; he is able to conquer the highest peak; as he pulls himself over the final rock, he is greeted by a band of theologians who have been sitting there for centuries” (Robert Jastrow, God and the Astronomers, New York: W.W. Norton and Company, Inc., 1978, p. 113).

Many unbelieving scientists admit there is evidence for a Creator. One scientist wrote:

After examining the evidence for the creationist view scientist Michael Pitman concluded:

I started as devil’s advocate for the creationist view and came, in principle, though not according to any particular creed, to prefer it . . . For this it will probably be condemned from some quarters. But I hope I have shown that apparently convincing arguments in support of a belief can often be seen to be either based on insufficient data or open to more than one interpretation; and that much that passes for science is no more and no less emotional, illogical and idiosyncratic than many of the opposing arguments . . . .

Adam and Evolution should be controversial. The many issues it raises cannot all be dealt with, let alone in depth, in a single sweep. But the direction of the argument is clear—there has been neither chemical evolution nor macro-evolution. Nor as some twentieth century churchmen bio-illogically accept, did God involve chance mutations in ‘creation by evolution’. No intelligent creator would leave matters to chance; on the contrary his purpose would be to realize, in plan and practice, his ideas. Pressing the logic to its conclusion, this book advocates a grand and full-blooded creation. The implications of this view necessitate a reappraisal of ourselves and of the whole world of organisms around us (Michael Pitman, Adam and Evolution, Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1987, pp. 254, 255).

Though neither the evolutionary model nor the creation model can be proven scientifically, we have seen that the evidence supports special creation. There is no need to be ashamed of holding to a belief in God as Creator. Though the person who believes in creation may not have every answer to questions of evolutionary scientists, he does have sufficient answers. If one wishes to put his faith in the God of the Bible he can do so with intelligent faith that is based upon the best available evidence. Faith is completely rational. The following is from an email I received:

Creation

Where did religion come from? According to Harvard biologist E.O. Wilson, religion is a product of evolution.

In his new book Consilience, Wilson says belief in God must have given early humans an edge in the struggle for survival. But today, he says, traditional religions are being replaced by a new morality, a new unifying myth, based squarely on evolutionary biology.

Darwinism itself is becoming a new religion.

Wilson may sound radical, but he's right. Darwinism is about much more than science: It provides the scientific support for an entire naturalistic worldview or religion. Broadly speaking, a religion is anything that functions as a person's ultimate belief or worldview- anything that answers the basic questions of life: Where did we come from? What are we here for? How do we know what's right and wrong?

For many people today, Darwinian evolution answers those fundamental questions. Where did we come from? >From chance collisions of atoms, Darwinism says. Why are we here? There is no purpose to life, Darwinism says-no reason for existence. We are cosmic accidents. How do we know right and wrong? We DON'T know any
objective moral law: Morality is merely an idea that appears in the human mind when it has evolved to a certain stage. Hence people make up their own ideas of right and wrong.

Cornell biologist William Provine sums up the implications of Darwinism in simple bullet points: It means "No life after death; no ultimate foundation for ethics; no ultimate meaning for life; no free will."

This is why the issue of Darwinism versus cosmic design has become such a fierce battleground in

America

today. The debate is not just about fossils or genetic mutations. Our theory of origins determines our identity, our values, our sense of meaning.

This is why, in today's world, the Christian message must begin with creation. We cannot simply start off with John 3:16 and the gospel message. That's like starting to read a book in the middle of the story--you don't know the characters and you can't make sense of the plot. We need to start with creation, where the main character of the "story" is introduced as the Creator of all, and the "plot" of human history begins to unfold.

Creation tells us who we are and why we are here. It tells us our lives DO have ultimate meaning.
It gives the basis for morality, because if God created us for a purpose, then morality is
the guidebook telling us how we fulfill that purpose. And when we live outside the bounds of the purpose for which we were created, that is sin. Suddenly theological terms make sense.

Creation is the basis for the entire Christian worldview.

Scientific proofs of the Bible

.JI Packer uses the following illustration of the antinomy of divine sovereignty and human responsibility:

"Modern physics faces an antinomy, in this sense, in its study of light. There is cogent evidence to show that light consists of waves, and equally cogent evidence to show that it consists of particles. It is not apparent how light can be both waves and particles, but the evidence is there, and so neither view can be ruled out in favor of the other. Neither, however, can be reduced to the other or explained in terms of the other; the two seemingly incompatible positions must be held together, and both must be treated as true. Such a necessity scandalizes our tidy minds, no doubt, but there is no help for it if we are to be loyal to the facts" (J. I. Packer, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God [Downers Grove, Ill.: Inter-Varsity, 1961] p. 19). 24.

Einstein said: “Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind” (As quoted in Newsweek, July 20, 1998)

One of the strongest evidences that the Bible is the Word of God is the great number of scientific truths that have lain hidden within its pages for thirty centuries or more, only to be discovered by man within the last few centuries or even years. Let's look at some examples.

The bible says in Genesis 2:2 that "God ended His work which He had made." The matter and energy that was part of the original creation is all there will ever be; no new matter or energy is being created. The complete cessation of creative activity has been recognised by modern science as the first law of thermodynamics, or the law of conservation of mass and energy. According to this law, which is one of the most universal and certain of all scientific principles, nothing is now being created or destroyed. This truth is also illustrated in the following verse.

Ecclesiastes 3:1415 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere him. 15 Whatever is has already been, and what will be has been before.... (NIV)

The second law of thermodynamics tells us that though energy cannot be destroyed, its ability to do useful work decreases. Systems tend to degenerate from a state of order to a state of chaos. Science tells us that eventually this process will lead to the death of the universe. The bible also teaches this truth.

Psalms 102:2526 25 In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. 26 They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment.(NIV)

Recently the nobel prize was given to a scientist who confirmed that the universe is expanding and therefore cannot be measured. Thousands of years ago this truth is illustrated when God swore that He will preserve

Israel

against this impossible act.

Jeremiah 31:37 This is what the LORD says: "Only if the heavens above can be measured and the foundations of the earth below be searched out will I reject all the descendants of

Israel

because of all they have done," declares the LORD. (NIV)

The following verse has been a source of attack for bible critics.

Psalms 19:6 It (The Sun) rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat. (NIV)

For a long time it was thought that the sun was stationary while the earth revolves around it. It was only recently that astronomers discovered that the sun, with the entire solar system, actually does move through space at the tremendous speed of 600,000 miles per hour in such a gigantic orbit that it requires two million centuries to complete it. The sun's circuit is indeed from one end of the heavens to the other!

Job 26:7 He spreads out the northern over empty space; he suspends the earth over nothing. (NIV)

Normally, when looking at the sky through the telescope, you cannot put a pin-prick between the stars. In 1900, Lord Roscoe, an astronomer, through a powerful telescope, found a "black" hole in the northern hemisphere that measures millions of light years across. Indeed, the northern part is an empty space. The second part of the verse which tells us that the earth is suspended upon nothing also goes against our reasoning and is a relatively new scientific discovery.

Isaiah 40:22 He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. (NIV)

The word translated "circle" is the Hebrew word "khug", a more exact connotation of which is "sphericity" or "roundness". In contrast to the widely held ancient belief that the earth was flat, the bible clearly teaches that it is round. This verse also talks about the protective effect of the atmosphere. We know as a fact that the ozone layer in the atmosphere act as a canopy to protect us from the sun's harmful ultra-violet rays.

Isaiah 40:12 Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? (NIV)

Isostasy is a field of study that deals with the balance maintained within the earth's crust. The differing weights of the various types of rocks maintain a delicate balance; otherwise the earth would wobble in its rotation like a lopsided basketball. The above verse describes how God keeps everything exactly in balance.

Genesis 1:24 And God said, "Let the land produce living creatures according to their kinds: livestock, creatures that move along the ground, and wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. (NIV)

God is very clear that living things reproduce only after its own kind. In other words, a horse will reproduce only horses, a donkey only donkeys. Scientist have tried to cross a horse with a donkey; the offspring will be a mule. A mule in turn cannot be reproduce further off-springs just as the bible predicted. Likewise, if you cross a peach seed with a plum seed, the result will be a tree bearing nectarines. If you plant a nectarine seed, it will produce a tree but will bear no fruit.

Job 36:2728 27 "He draws up the drops of water, which distil as rain to the streams; 28 the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. (NIV)

The science of hydrology was founded in the seventeenth century by Mariotte, Perault, and Halley, but the hydrologic cycle is clearly described in scripture long before that.

Ecclesiastes 1:6 The wind blows to the south and turns to the north; round and round it goes, ever returning on its course. (NIV)

In the seventeenth century George Hadley discovered that the winds circulate around the world. Thousands of years earlier, the book of Ecclesiastes referred to this phenomenon.

We have seen that the bible contains many scientific truths even before they were discovered by modern scientists. How is this possible? Surely it demonstrates that God, who knows everything from the beginning, is behind the teachings.

We have seen that the evidence, both Biblical and scientific, points to a Creator who is the God of the Bible. This being the case we can make the following conclusions:

The existence of God is clear from both biblical and scientific evidence. The world around us testifies to the existence, power and love of God. The Bible says:

The heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows His handiwork (Psalm 19:1).

The Bible says that God exists and has spoken to us. Without divine revelation we would not know the difference between ourselves and animals. Fortunately, God has given us the answers in His Word.

Instead of life being meaningless, we now discover there is a purpose for our existence. We can have a relationship with the true and living God through His Son Jesus Christ .

The separation from the presence of God that sin has caused has been overcome by the death of Jesus Christ on the cross. He has provided salvation and eternal life to those who put their trust in Him.

The Bible provides genuine hope for the future. Because Christ died and rose again, we all have hope for a life beyond the grave. For the believer, death leads to glory.

The late astronomer Carl Sagan is famous for making the statement, "The cosmos is all there was, is, or ever will be."

This is a statement of faith. The Bible records questions that God has given to scientists like Sagan who make such assertions:

Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone? (Job 38:4-6).

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12).

It is clear that the only reliable answers concerning the meaning of our existence are found in the Bible. The Creator of the universe has revealed Himself in Scripture so that the entire world may know who He is and what He expects from them.

This is the study we are about to embark on. Theology. It is imperative we study this diligently, so that we can know God and make Him known!

Theological catagories:

Natural theology: God’s revelation of Himself in nature. The complexity, the order, the beauty all point to a creator!(Ps 19:1-5, Acts 14:17 , and Rom. 1:20 ) What can we know of God from nature? God is a God of order (the orbits of each planet, the interrelationships between species, etc.). God is a God of variety (Look at tropical fish, look at flowers, look at mankind, etc.). God is a God of immenseness (the universe).

Revealed theology: God’s direct revelation of Himself in the Bible. (I Cor. 2:10 shows that God has revealed to man. How much can we know from the Revelation of God? A great deal can be learned from His Revelation. I have been studying the Word for more than twenty years and I still feel like a freshman!

Historical theology: What has the church believed in times past? How have denominations developed their own theological truths? Why are they different?

Bibliology(Biblical theology): God’s revelation of Himself progressively through the Biblical record. This could be considered the study of ‘progressive revelation’. Does God change? Or, has God simply revealed His full revelation slowly so that we could grasp all the dimensions of His Word?

Systematic theology: That which may be known of God by collecting all Scriptures together on a given topic to show the teaching of the Bible on that topic.

Example: Concerning the inscription over Christ on the cross: Mk. 15:26 states, "THE KING OF THE JEWS." Lu. 23:38 states, "THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS." Mat. 27:37 states, "THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS." John 19:19 states, "JESUS, OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS." It takes four verses to know exactly what the Bible says on the topic.

It is only through systematic study of God ’s Word that you get the complete picture!

Practical theology or Applied theology: Having studied a particular topic, how will you apply that truth to your life? To the church? To the world?

As we study Theology, we will utilize all of the above methods of research to establish our base of knowledge. And on that base, you will be able to study any book of the Bible with a fundamental knowledge of the truth. This will help you interpret scripture and apply scripture to your life in a way that keeps you from false teaching and practice.

Our Apriori:

1. God is the creator of all things. He exists and has revealed Himself to mankind.

Can we prove this by any scientific method? No. Is there empirical evidence that support this belief? Yes. This is also where faith comes to play.

2. In order to interpret God’s revelation of Himself, we must have an established methodology that is applied to each area of study. It starts with a good hermeneutic – or method of interpreting scripture. I will give you a hermeneutic I developed after our discussion on apriori.

There are basically two methods of dealing with God 's Word - deduction and induction. Deduction begins with an idea. You then go to scripture and try to establish your idea. This method often times leads the theologian to error.

Induction begins with nothing. You study the Bible systematically and allow it to teach you. The truth is thus established through the scripture itself.

So how do we study scripture? Let me give you a proven method of ‘rightly dividing’ God’s Word. I developed this method over the past 20+ years of study. However, as you use this method, don’t forget the Spiritual aspect of study!

As the authors of the Bible, by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote their books, God had you in mind. He knew when you would read it.

Do you remember the first time you read the Bible and the message came alive? Do you remember when the mystery and the excitement of reading the Words of God filled your mind and you were blessed each time you picked up God’s Word?

Many of you may be at the point in your life where the Bible isn’t as exciting as it used to be. Many may feel understanding and interpreting scripture is too difficult for you. Some may feel like just reading commentaries instead of going through the process of discovery on your own.

It is my prayer that this method will help you go through the process of Biblical interpretation without the anxiety and stress of feeling ill equipped.

Studying God’s Word can be the most exciting thing you do as a believer – expect God to speak to you as open the Bible and read the Words of Life. This is just the beginning of a great adventure!

A Method of Hermeneutics (10 steps incorporating the 7 rules)

There are 7 generally accepted rules of doing scholarly hermeneutical research on a text. This method has 10 steps that incorporate the 7 rules.

Read the passage several times – until you can restate the entire concept in your own words.

Put yourself in the story – identify the backdrop (is it night or day? Are they in a city or the country? By a lake or river or in the desert?, etc.)

Be sure to note repeated words or themes, promises (who are they for?), prophecy (for whom: the church,

Israel

, or the world?), anchors to your faith, truths to proclaim, significant people or places, theological concepts (does it confirm one or teach a new one?), events (do events like this happen today), and special circumstances that make interpretation of the passage unique.

a.) Do not rush this step! Take your time and prayerfully consider each word and idea.

b.) Don’t assume you know the definition of a word – treat the text as if this were the first time you studied it – observe all key concepts and ideas, etc.

This step includes the 1st rule of hermeneutics – define the key words and theological concepts.

Remember – always interpret and define the words literally, simply, and naturaly – don’t look for symbols unless the literal interpretation / definition violates any other rules of hermeneutics.

b.) Translate the words from the original languages. Strongs Dictionary, Interlinear, Greek Hebrew dictionaries with Strongs numbers.

c.) If the simple, natural definition does not appear to work, note that you may have to identify any symbolism as you cross reference the word or concept.

At this point you should know the passage, know the meaning of the words and concepts, and have identified any symbolic language you will have to interpret as you go to the next step.

The 2nd rule is the rule of first usage-“Where is the concept or word used for the first time and defined in scripture?”

If it is a concept, you go to the first use in the entire Bible. If it is a word, you go to the first use in the same language (Greek, Hebrew, Aramaic, Chaldee, Persian, Akadian, etc.).

Six - (precedent) “Is this interpreted somewhere else in scripture that sets a precedent as to how it should be interpreted here?”

a.) List the cross references and how they help define the word or concept (or identify the person, place, or event).

b.) Don’t get bogged down going too many cross-references. You only need enough to “interpret scripture with scripture”.

a.) Read far enough before and after the passage you are studying to ‘paint’ a picture of what is going on.

c.) Notice words like ‘therefore’ and find out what the reason it is ‘there’ for.

1. Identify all persons and places mentioned in the passage. Who are they? Look at the text through their point of view.

2. Find location(s) on a map and identify the location (desert, lake, city, etc.). Does this make a difference to the interpretation of the passage?

3. Find the year it was written – I recommend you start your own timeline and fit this event into it’s proper location - look in the Time Table of History book and find out what was going on in the world in this time. How does the historical context affect the interpretation of the passage?

4. How does the cultural context affect the interpretation of the passage? Try using Manners and Customs of the Bible.

5. If the historical or cultural context affects the interpretation of the passage, note how it does and how we come to a proper interpretation in our historical / cultural context.

NOTE: The more you study God’s Word, the more you learn the historical cultural context and the less you have to research it each time you examine a passage in the same period of time (or close to) one that you have already studied.

Part of being a good theologian is becoming a scholar of diverse background. You need to know history, language, sociology, psychology, world religion, and much more, including anthropology.

a. The scientific study of the origin, the behavior, and the physical, social, and cultural development of human beings.

b. That part of Christian teaching concerning the genesis, nature, and future of human beings:[1]

Yes, in order to be a good student of God’s Word, you need to be a good Anthropologist.

“The anthropologists are busy, indeed, and ready to transport us back into the savage forest where all human things . . . have their

Edith Hamilton (1867–1963), U.S. classical scholar, translator. The Greek Way , ch. 1 (1930).[2]

What’s my point with this quote? Simple – God is able to make His Word valid and authentic to each person in each culture regardless of the historical backdrop – God’s progressive revelation is perfect and His Word stands the test of time – don’t be overly concerned with this step – the Holy Spirit will make sure you interpret the passage correctly.

From a drop of water a logician could infer the possibility of an Atlantic or a Niagara without having seen or heard of one or the other.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), English author. Sherlock Holmes, in A Study in Scarlet, pt. 1, ch. 2 (1887).[3]

b. Analize your findings – judge your conclusions and formulate a hypothesis or proposition. If you find a problem (a contradiction, etc.), you will continue to step 3. Otherwise go on to step 4.

c. State the Problem - A problem can't be solved if it isn't understood. In Biblical interpretation it may be an apparent contraction –

Form a Hypothesis - This is a possible solution to the problem formed after gathering information about the problem. The term "research" is properly applied here. Utilize all the above steps and rules to properly form a prepositional interpretation of the

Test the Hypothesis - An experiment is performed to determine if the hypothesis solves the problem or not. Experiments are done to gather data. It is very important that good observations and records are made during an experiment. Cross-reference!!

d. Find someone to articulate your initial interpretation and discuss it with them – consult a good commentary. At this point you have established that the text is logically valid and reasonable. You may want to test the validity of your conclusion further. Step d1.

Data - Observations from the experiment. (Observations from further Bible study).

Draw Conclusions - After examining the data from the ‘experiment’ (Biblical research), conclusions can be drawn. In it's simplest form, the conclusion will be "yes" the hypothesis (interpretation) was correct, or "no" the hypothesis (interpretation) was not correct.

If the hypothesis (interpretation) is proven to be incorrect, you must find out what was wrong with it. This might lead to the formation of a hypothesis about the hypothesis!

Scientific Theory - A logical explanation of observed events. It may be that your interpretation of the passage may not have any support from other texts in the Bible. It is then you will develop a ‘theory’ for that passage. The most logical interpretation of a passage that cannot be completely defined by other scripture. Note that you must state when you teach or present this that it ‘your best idea’ of the interpretation – don’t state it as verifiable if it isn’t.

Scientific Law - A theory that has been tested and widely accepted as true. If the full council of God’s Word agrees with your conclusion, you can teach it as ‘Gospel truth’.

e. Reason – discuss and articulate your findings. See what a good commentary has to say.

‘Discuss’ has the idea of throwing ideas back and forth – like the old Greek Olympic game of disc throwing. Find someone to articulate your ideas to – you may be surprised how the Holy Spirit illuminates your mind as you share with someone.

List all sub-issues or concepts contained in the passage. Divide a cluster of issues or concepts into individual questions.

Eliminate factual (scientific and quantifiable) questions/issues/concepts/words. If you already are sure of the meaning, you don’t have to employ hermeneutics to interpret it.

Inquiry. Seek evidence. Sources can be your own experience, background and history of the issue/concept/word itself (or prior studies you have done – DO NOT take someone elses research as evidence of the proper interpretation – you must research it yourself. Look at Biblical facts and statistics, information and stories from other people, Biblical resources,etc.

If there is more than one record of the event or concept in scripture, do they agree? If not, why?

How impartial are you as a Biblical interpreter? Do you avoid unsupported assertions, oversimplification, generalizations and false doctrine?

Did you do a complete study and gather enough information to rightly divide the Word of Truth? Did you ‘disect’ the passage?

Identify all qualifications and conditions – explain any symbolism or special circumstances that lead your interpretation.

Identify all stated and unstated assumptions – list them and explain how you came to conclusion for each one.

Notice any connections between your interpretation, assumptions, and assertions.

Review your own biases and tendencies. Be honest with yourself. Be sure your final judgment is objective and clear.

8. Precedent – is the word or concept defined in another part of scripture where a precedent is set.

By this point in your analysis of the text, you should have discovered if any precedent exists by which you need to interpret the word or the theological concept. Mainly this step is done in the cross referencing step.

If you did not find a prior occurrence of the word or concept when you cross referenced the passage, it would be wise to do it now. One example is in the parables, there are occasions when Jesus defines terms within the explenation of the parable – in other parables with the same terms, you may be able to apply the same definition in the parable you are studying (you still need to apply all the other rules however, for it may be defined differently even if Jesus defined it another way in another parable).

Is there a meaning inferred by another passage that can be applied to this one. For example, if we are ‘saved by grace, not by works’, and Jesus told us in John 14:21 that if we love Him we will keep His commandments, we can infer that even though nothing we can do will save us – it is all grace – beyond that if we truly love Jesus, we will want to please Him and keep His commandments.

In critical thought, the law of inference is just an instruction for obtaining additional true statements from a list of true statements. In Biblical interpretation you do this by cross-referencing the concept in scripture.

Now you pray – meditate on the passage – give time for the Holy Spirit to instruct you – and write down your final interpretation based

3. Move to the next key word, concept, etc. in the text and start over with these steps and rules.

Congratulations! You are a Bible scholar! A Theologian! A student of God’s Word!

If you have a computer, you may consider purchasing a Bible software program that includes these tools. The online Bible

is a good source and very inexpensive. QuickVerse deluxe is a excellent tool.If you have internet access, the Blue letter Bible by

Sowing Circle is AWESOME!Go to our site at http://living-water-fellowship.org and follow the link to the Blue letter Bible.You may also want to explore

Remember this, it is the Holy Spirit that illuminates your mind to the Truth in scripture – don’t get too caught up in buying reference books – just read THE Book!

Theological Themes :

Becoming a good student of theology- the standards:

1. SAVED: The natural man does not understand, nor appreciate the truths of the Scriptures, however the saved person can understand and appreciate what God is trying to communicate to him. I Cor. 2:14 states: "But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness unto him, neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

2. SPIRITUAL: The theologian must not only be saved but he must be growing in the Lord and walking with the One that he seeks to know. He needs to be filled with the Holy Spirit . (I Cor. 3:1 indicates that the understanding of the spiritual vs the carnal Christian is different. Heb. 5:11 also.) Growing AND walking are needed to be a good theologian.

3. STUDIOUS: II Tim. 2:15 states, "Study to show thyself approved unto God , a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth."

4. STRAIGHT FORWARD: You must be honest, open, and speak directly with no hidden agenda. Your motives must be to glorify God , not personal exaltation.

NOTE: The study of Theology is a lifetime undertaking. It is the work of the Christian . It is the supreme pursuit. It is the way of getting to know the Creator and thus become known by Him. It is a Journey, a walk, a conversion, regeneration, a filling, a flowing, a river of living water that flows in and through you as you seek to know God!

Current views of Theology :

1. Rationalism : Rationalism is a form of theology/philosophy which seeks to understand Scripture in light of reason. The extreme rationalist will reject scripture in its current state. They will say that scripture is only authoritative in the orginal manuscripts, which we do not posses. There are rationalists in the "Born Again" camp as well. They do not reject all of scripture but when the Word disagrees with what they believe, they have no problem ignoring the rules of hermeneutics and apply an allegorical or even a deduced view of the text in question.

Example: During the Carter presidential campaign Mr. Carter was ask how he felt about women preaching. He replied that he thought that it was all right. (After all, his sister was a charismatic evangelist.) The reporter mentioned that Paul seems to forbid it. Carter's reply was that this was one place where he would disagree with Paul. That is rationalism - if you don't like it you don't do it.

This is where the homosexual "Christians" are, but I would not call them ‘Christians’. They have rejected the clear statements of Scripture and hold to what they want to hold to.

Fundamentalists even do the same thing when they don't want to follow the Word. We find a rational reason to say no I don't have to follow that. Example: "That is cultural" we don't have to do that anymore. Example: "That was for the age of the law when Christ was still on the earth." We don't have to do that. Be very careful what you declare to be cultural, or what you declare to be for ‘another dispensation’ – for God does not change.

2. Mysticism : Mysticism has found many expressions within Christianity today. We have the ultra charasmatics barking and laughing, we have the demonizers, we have those who fast and light candles and burn incense when they pray, thinking that in doing these things God is more likely to hear their prayers. All of these are extreme and unbiblical practices.

True mysticism is the enlightening of God’s Word and the empowering/gifting which comes from the Holy Spirit to the believer. It is not based on any ritual we perform. It is simply God expressing Himself to the individual believer.

3. Romanism : Romanism is Catholicism. Romanism places the Scripture on a very high level, yet they place other things on the same level, which is not proper. (Example: The words of Christ and the apostles which aren't recorded in Scripture carry the same weight as Scripture.) What the Church says also carries the same weight as Scripture. The Pope as well, when he speaks officially, speaks with the authority of Scripture. This allows the Romanist hierarchy to accept or reject anything they want to, and their people will accept it as right and proper.

Frank Eberhardt, a missionary to Catholics in Philadelphia , who is a graduate of a Jesuit school in the East, stated that the normal priest gets about 49% of his information from Scripture and 51% from tradition. In the mass they use about 5% of Scripture in a three year cycle. This is the only Scripture read in mass.

In an article on devotions, Pope Paul II mentioned that he read a certain percentage from tradition, a percentage from Scripture and a percentage from a good Christian book.

4. Traditional or cultic: These people are similar to the Romanist, however are not Catholic. They elevate their own teachings to the level, or above the level of the Bible. Some in this category would be the Mormons, the Christian Scientists, and some of the cults that place their leaders teaching before, or equal to, the Scriptures.

5. Orthodoxy : The orthodox position can be summed up with ‘sola scriptura’. a.The Bible is accepted as the infallible Word of God . b. It is the ONLY rule for faith and practice. c. All information, be it scientific or philosophical, must become subject to the Scriptures. d. There is no super enlightenment, or informing, or any further revelation given. The Scripture is complete as it exists. e. The Scriptures are the truth and no man, nor organization, has been given authority to expand that truth.

• The Deductive Approach: This is a method that uses Scripture and/or the tradition of the Church to deduce objective truth. It begins with a premise and attempts to find that in the text/teaching. Examples would include Hodge, Barth, Grudem, Erickson, Oden, Reymond

• The Inductive Approach: This is a method begins with no premise. As you read & study, you seek what the Spirit tells you about the passage. This allows the text to speak to you directly to teach you objective truth. Examples would include Schleiermacher, Tracy, Kung, Theissen

• The Reductive Approach: This is a method that seeks to translate Scripture into a modern idiom. Reductions have been criticisized by some orthodox scholars. Examples would include Bultmann, Cone, Gutierrez, Fiorenza

The Regulative Approach: This is a method that views the Bible “as being primarily and essentially . . . narrative or story.” This view seems to limit the scope of the scriptural texts. Examples would include Lindbeck, Frei, Hauerwas, Pinnock

• Further, according to Donald Bloesch in, A Theology of Word and Spirit, we are given four modern systems of theology:

• This affirms a “conscious return to known theological roots and foundations,” Toon, 157

• This “attempts to present the Christian faith in modern concepts and symbols,” Toon, 158

• “Human reason finds its goal and fulfillment in divine revelation,” Toon, 159

There are so many ideas and theories as to how to study theology, that we could spend an entire semester just covering those. So, in this book and this class, we will take the following approach;

· All that can be known about God is revealed in the canon of scripture and the natural universe.

· All revelation must be measured by scripture, and is subordinate to scriptural truth.

· We must apply the 7 rules of hermeneutics to scripture to rightly interpret it.

· We must reject tradition, commentaries, and any other views or doctrinal positions that do not agree with scripture.

Our boudries in regards to Theological study:

Pardington lists six items that limit our ability to understand theology. I will list these with a few comments. (Pardington, Rev. George P. Ph.D.; "OUTLINE STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE"; Harrisburg, PA: Christian Publications, 1926, p 18ff)

The finite mind can not comprehend the infinite truths of God. This is the reason the Lord has given us the Holy Spirit to illuminate and lead us into the truths of the message.

Science and revelation come from the same creative hand [God ], so must coincide. If the two contradict it must result from the improper understanding of science. This has been proven over and over in history. Man has had a misunderstanding of the scientific evidence so assumes that the Scripture is in error. (Example – the world is flat).

We must be diligent to understand the language of revelation in order to understand the meaning behind it.

4. "In the incompleteness of our knowledge of the Scriptures: Psa. 119.18; Luke 24.32, 45."

The Bible is unlike any other book. It is spiritually discerned. It takes years to begin to understand the deep truths contained throughout the text. We must use caution and not jump to conclusions about the meaning of a text. We must consider it and mediatate on it.

5. "In the silence of the written revelation: Deut. 29.29; Luke 13.23, 24; John 13.7; I Cor. 2.9."

Where the Bible is silent, we too must be silent. If God intended us to fully understand, He would have revealed it in the Bible.

We are often tempted to speculate. Please, do not do this! This is the birth place of false doctrine!

If you desire to speculate, you must make sure you inform those who listen to you that this is your ‘best guess’ and that it can not be substantiated in scripture! An example of this is the rapture. There is no text (even according to pre-trib scholars) that says it will happen prior to the 70^th week of Daniel. So we can hope that it does, but we must be open to other possibilities – and we can not teach this as doctrin!

We are told that in the last days there will be a great falling away from the faith, that the love (agape) of many will wax cold, that there will be a rebellion from within the church against the basic doctrines of scripture.

I find it interesting that many Pastors state they are not called by God into ministry, but chose that as a good career. Not much is being done today that I would call ‘impacting’ as far as theologians go.

Some great strides in theology were made after the reformation because the people were truly seeking after God and His righteousness.

If you wonder why churches in

America

are dead and complacent take a look at the pastors of the Churches of America. There may be a relationship…

We aren't producing any great new thought spiritually today. Indeed, the books that I have been reading are just restatements of past truths in new ways. This is one reason why our churches are weak. They have no new meat coming from the pulpits of our churches. We have no true theologians. Will you take the challenge? Will you seek God and study His Word? Will you meditate on scripture rather than just read commentaries?

Luk 18:8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?"

I pray that you will consider getting serious in your study of theology – and that you may even begin to make contributions to the field, and impact the church with what God begins to teach you as you read this book!

May God’s grace be upon us as we study His truth, grow to know Him, and become equipped to make Him known!

[1] Thiessen, Henry C.; "LECTURES IN SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY"; Grand Rapids : Wm. B. Eerdmans, 1949, p 23

[2] Philip Wiener, “Dictionary of the History of Ideas”, pg.346.New York , Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1973,

[3] Kenny Barfield, Why The Bible is Number 1, Grand Rapids : Baker Book House, 1988, pp. 9,10.

Theology - An Introduction
By Pastor Brett Peterson

• THEOLOGY

– theos- God

– logos- word, study, discourse,understanding, universal rational

• SYSTEMATIC

– Synistemi, Synistano- comprehend, put together, organize-

• Systematic Theology is “that department or section of theology which is concerned with setting forth systematically, that is to say, as a organized whole, what is known concerning God.” Warfield, Studies in Theology, 91.

• Scripture (Supreme Authority)

• Reason

• Tradition

• Experience

• Our practice of studying and applying theological truth will impact our culture: “Contemporary theologians must also seek to challenge the contemporary mind to think more critically about its own culturally accepted values.” Lints, Fabric, 113

•

Theological catagories:

Theological Themes :

Current views of Theology :

Our boudries in regards to Theological study: