(EXAMINING WHAT WE BELIEVE) By Rev. John P. Lutz |
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The driving passion of every Christian should be the pursuit of understanding God’s Word and making it understandable to others. Everything else pales in comparison to this task. There should be an insatiable craving to study the Bible, which is a manual for the knowledge of God. Our spiritual growth and maturity is directly proportionate to the amount of time and effort we put into the study of the Scriptures. George Whitefield, the 18 th century preacher, once asked an individual what he believed, and the man replied: “I believe what my church believes.” “What does your church believe?” Whitefield asked. “My church believes what I believe,” he responded. “Well,” the preacher inquired, “what do you believe?” “We both believe the same thing!” 1 This response is typical of young people and adults in the church today. They do not know what they believe or why they believe it. Furthermore, they can’t defend it. 2 There are numerous factors that contribute to this, but the main one is an ignorance of Bible doctrines. It is not sufficient to say that we believe what our local church believes. We must know and discern what we believe and why we hold to certain biblical convictions. What we believe is extremely important! “One of the outcomes of the Reformation was the formal division of the church. In fact, it seemed that once the precedent of division was set there was no end to the dividing of church people over differences of belief. Today there are a multitude of denominations including at least 27 Baptist denominations, 23 Methodist, 10 Presbyterian, 10 Brethren, 12 Lutheran, 12 Mennonite, 13 Pentecostal, 200 Churches of God, and countless others with a variety of names. (This does not include all the independent churches.) Each denomination has its own doctrinal distinctives.” 3 The sixty-six books of the Bible are divided into two sections. The Old Testament focuses exclusively on the promise of the coming Messiah and the history of the nation of Israel. The New Testament majors on the person and work of Christ and the institution of the church. Within both of these testaments there are various doctrines with numberless subjects under each general heading. We find seven major doctrine categories in the Word:
Isaiah recommended that we understand doctrine “precept upon precept, line upon line” (Isa. 28:9-10). Paul speaking to Timothy said: Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (II Tim. 2:15). Bible study takes discipline. We must be diligent to present ourselves approved to God in this area. The Greek word for “rightly dividing” literally means “cutting it straight”. This was a term Paul was very familiar with as a tentmaker. Believers must learn how to handle the Bible correctly. BIBLIOLOGY – Study of the Scriptures The Bible is the source book of our knowledge of God. It is a manual for all soul work and is comprehensive in the diagnosis of every spiritual matter. II Timothy 3:16-17 tells us that the Bible is profitable for doctrine (what to believe), for reproof (when you err), for correction (how to get right again), and for instruction in righteousness (how to stay on the right path in life). As Psalm 19:7 so accurately says: “The law of the LORD is perfect (complete), converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.” The Scriptures are, therefore, the ultimate source of Christian theology. 4 Canonicity The word canon comes from the Greek word kanon which means a fixed “rule or standard”. As applied to the Scriptures, it refers to those books approved as acceptable and inspired by the Father. The compilation of all 66 books of the Bible was according to apostolic authority, church council acceptance, content, and mainly, whether the book was inspired or not. In the fourth century, efforts were made to assemble all “canonical” texts into a single volume (Revelation 22:18-19; Luke 24:25-27). 5 Matthew 5:18 – “For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled.” Inspiration God superintended human authors to write His revelation to man. By using their own personalities, God inspired these men to write the original autographs. To “inspire” means to “breathe upon.” 6 Inspiration is the “in breathing” of God that enabled holy men to write His revelation of truth with accuracy and authority. The Christian believes in the verbal, plenary, infallible Word of God (II Timothy 3:16; II Peter 1:20-21; John 10:35; II Samuel 23:2). The Bible writers make various claims for inspiration: -“Thus saith the Lord,” occurs in the Old Testament at least 1900 times. -“The Lord said,”“The Lord spoke,”“the word of the Lord came,” or such equivalent occurs 3,808 times in the Old Testament. - In the New Testament, there are more than 280 quotations from Old Testament books. - Jesus spoke what the Father gave Him to speak (John 12:49; 177:6, 8). - Jesus upheld the verbal inspiration of the Scriptures (John 10:34-35). 7 Revelation This is the record of God’s communication through man. The term basically means an “unveiling,” and involves God transmitting to man what God could only do. The Father makes Himself known to man both in general ways and through supernatural means. He reveals Himself through: - Creation (Psalm 19:1-6) - History (Acts 17:26-27) - Conscience (Romans 1:17-20) - Scripture (John 1:1-12) Illumination Thiessen says, “The one who inspired men in the writing of Scripture, illumines the minds of those who read it.” Man in his natural state, being without Christ, cannot comprehend spiritual truth (Rom. 1:21; I Cor. 2:6-16); however, the Holy Spirit makes clear the message of God‘s Word to the believing heart. John also alludes to this subject in I John 2:20,27. 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.” THEOLOGY - Study of God, Christ and the Holy Spirit Theology is the study and presentation of truths about God. He is the Creator of the universe (Gen. 1:1-31; Eph. 3:9). There is only one true and living God (Deut. 6:4). His existence is presupposed in the Scriptures. God has revealed Himself both naturally and supernaturally. He is Father to all men (Eph. 4:6), but He is a Spiritual Father only to believers (Rom. 8:14; II Cor. 6:18). He delivers from sin all those who come to him by faith in His Son (Rom. 3:23-24; Eph. 2:8-9). Isaiah 45:5-7- “I am the LORD, and there is non else, there is no God beside me… I am the LORD, and there is none else. I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things.” God the Father God is the designer of the universe. Logical arguments for His existence would fall in the realm of intuition, cosmology, thleology and anthropology. By faith, the saint believes God exists. For example, the writer of Hebrews states: “Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of thins which do appear…But without faith it is impossible to please him”(ll:3, 6). John Wesley said, “Bring me a worm that can comprehend man, and I’ll show you a man that can comprehend the triune God.” By spiritual adoption, we are His children and He is our Father. We must be well pleasing in His sight. 8 Consider the following about God: - God is an infinite, all-knowing Spirit (John 4:24). He is an incorporeal (bodiless), invisible reality (Deut. 4:35). - God is a Person. He has all the characteristics of a person with intellect, emotion and will (Psalm 94:9-10). God, one in essence, eternally exists in three Persons Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19; II Cor. 13:14). Each Person equally deserves worship and obedience. - God is perfect in all His Attributes. Tozer said, “An attribute is whatever God has in any way revealed as being true of Himself.” He has incommunicable and communicable attributes: eternality (Ps. 90:1-2), immutability (James 1:17), omnipresence (Ps. 139:7-10), omnipotence (Matt. 19:26), omniscience (Gen. 6:5), holiness (I Peter 1:15-16) faithfulness (I Cor. 10:13), mercy (James 5:13), truth (John 14:6) love (I John 4:8, 16), etc. - God controls all humans and history. He habitually maintains, directs, and governs all creatures and affairs. Chronicles 29:11- “Thine, O LORD, is the greatness, and the power, and the glory, and the victory, and the majesty: for all that is in the heaven and in the earth is thine; thine is the kingdom, O LORD, and thou art exalted as head above all.” God the Son The second person of the Godhead is the “exoressed image”of the Father. If we want to know what God is like, all we have to do is look at His Son (Hebrews 1:3). He is co-equal with the Father and the holy Spirit in all attributes, essence and perfection. He has always existed (John 1:1). He is God come in the flesh (John 1:14; Philippians 2:7-8). Jesus is worshipped as God (John 5:23; Philippians 2:10-11). He suffered vicariously for all sinners (II Corinthians 5:21; Isaiah 53). Isaiah tells us He was virgin born (Isaiah 7:14; Luke 2:6). The New Testament records His resurrection from the dead (I Corinthians 15). God the Holy Spirit The Bible affirms the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit. He is not just an idea or influence, but is a person according to the masculine pronoun used in John 16:13. Throughout the Bible, personal pronouns are used to refer to Him. He is the third person of the trinity who is equal with the Father and the Son (Matthew 28:19). His work involves several areas: He was active in creation (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 40:7).
ANTHROPOLOGY – Study of Man Anthropology is the doctrine of man and his relation to God. Man was created directly by God and was made in His own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27; 2:7). Man acquired perfect communion with God until his fall from grace. He has both a material and immaterial (soul and spirit) nature within (I Thessalonians 5:23). Adam’s transgression plunged the whole human race into sin (Romans 3:10,23). All men are depraved and stand guilty before a Holy God (Romans 3:19-20). Without divine intervention, man will physically die in his sins and experience spiritual death in hell (Romans 6:23; Revelation 20:14-15). According to Ephesians 2:3, all lost people are considered the “children of wrath”. Ecclesiastes 7:20- “For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.” SOTERIOLOGY – Study of Salvation Man is desperately in need of God’s salvation and deliverance from his sins. Soteriology speaks of the provision of salvation through Christ and the application of it through the Holy Spirit. 9 Christ became the “ransom” in order for man to obtain free, unmerited salvation through His blood (Matthew 20-28). The work of regeneration is accomplished through the Holy Spirit whereby He imparts the life of Christ in man (Titus 3:5). Scripture teaches God’s gracious doctrine of election (Acts 13:48; Romans8:29-30); yet, it also provides man with a free will and choice (Romans 10:13). I Timothy 2:4 states, “Who (God) will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” Various terms accompany the doctrine of salvation .10 Regeneration – A work of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is given new life in Christ (John 3:1-7). Atonement – The reconciliation of man to God through the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus on the cross of Calvary (I Peter 2:24). Repentance – A heavenly motivated response whereby an individual turns intellectually, emotionally and dispositionally from his sin and old life to God (Luke 13:3). Election – God’s choosing, before the foundation of the world, those who would be saved in responding to Christ’s invitation (II Tim. 2:10; Rom. 8:28-30). Divine election does not contradict or negate the responsibility of man to repent and accept Christ as his Savior (Ezek. 18:23, 32; II Thess. 2:10-12; Rev. 22:17). Faith – The act of believing what Christ has said and done, but also completely trusting and applying what He has spoken (Rom 10:17; Eph. 2:8-9). Justification – The act of a sinner being declared righteous in the eyes of God. Through saving faith in the shed blood of Christ, it is the righteousness of Christ imputed on a believing sinner (Rom. 3:24). Eternal Security – According to John 10:28, it is the saint who is kept by the power of God unto the day of redemption. A true believer can never lose his salvation. Adoption – A term of relationship whereby the saved sinner receives all the benefits and privileges of a child in God’s family (Gal. 4:4-7). Sanctification – A lifetime process of the Holy Spirit separating the believer from sin unto God. It is living out the declaration of our justification before God (Heb. 10:10; I Peter 1:15-16). ECCLESIOLOGY – Study of the Church The Bible reveals two types of churches – the universal church speaks of all believers regenerated from Pentecost until the rapture. This is an organism where Christ is the head of the church, and man is the body or bride of Christ Ephesians 1:22-23; Colossians 1:18). According to Eph. 5:25, Jesus Christ loved the church and gave Himself for it. The main purpose of God for this dispensation and age is the establishing of His church in making disciples. The Apostle Paul considered the persecution of the body of Christ his greatest sin (I Cor. 15:9; I Tim. 1:13). The local church in a smaller sense is a “group of professed believers in any one locality.” Local churches were corresponded to in the Epistles (I Thess. 1:1) and the leaders kept track of its members (Acts 5:14; Rom 16:1-2). What are the purposes of the church?
There are two main officers in the church mentioned in Scripture – pastor and deacon. The pastor is also called the elder and bishop (overseer). These terms denote the same office in the New Testament. A pastor is a called servant who shepherds the flock by feeding, protecting and caring for the sheep (I Peter 5:1-4; Matthew 23:11). A deacon (diakonos) is also a servant who assists the pastor and church in numerous physical and spiritual need of the assembly (I Timothy 3:1-13). Acts 6:3-4 – “Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word.” ANGELOLOGY – Study of Angels and Satan Angels are created beings that cannot die or be saved (Colossians 1:16; Nehemiah 9:6; Luke 20:34-36). They are spirits that are sexless, knowledgeable, strong and not bound by natural laws. They neither marry nor are they given in marriage. Their specific purpose is to glorify God and minister to the saints according to Hebrews 1:14. Because of their moral nature, angels are divided into two groups: holy angels and fallen angels. Holy angels are simply messengers of God with some having great authority (cherubim, seraphim and archangels). According to Job 38:4-7, angels were created before human beings and they were present at the creation of the universe. Psalm 148:2-5 includes angels with the sun, moon and stars as a part of the Lord’s creation. Angels were in existence by Genesis 3:1 when Satan, an angelic being made his appearance. 11 Angels are said to be greater in wisdom and power than man (Psalm 103:20; II Peter 2:11). Examples of their might are found in the delivering of the apostles from prison (Acts 5:19; 12:7) and the rolling away of the stone from Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2). One angel destroyed 185,000 Assyrians (Isaiah 37:36) and another cast Satan into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:3). Angels are not omnipotent (Rev. 12:7; Dan. 10:13; Jude 9). They are greater than human beings in knowledge (II Sam. 14:20; Luke 4:34); however, they are not omniscient (Matt. 24:36). Jesus said: “But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.” What are the duties of angels? - Their primary ministry is to worship God (Matt. 18:10; Psa. 148:2; Rev. 5:11-13; Isa. 6) Hebrews 1:6 – “And again, when he bringeth in the first- begotten into the world, he saith, And let all the angels of God worship him.” - They deliver and protect the Lord’s people (I Kings 19:5; Dan. 3:28; 6:22; Acts 5:19; Gen. 19:11) - They guide and encourage believers (Acts 8:26; Matt. 28:5-7) - They discern God’s will for man (Job 33:23; Dan. 7:16; 10:5, 11).- They are executers of God’s judgment toward people and nations (Gen. 19:12; Acts 12:23; Eze. 9:1). - They transport believers after physical death (Luke 16:22). - They will be actively involved in the second coming of Christ (Matt. 24:31; Matt. 13:39, 49; Rev. 16:1; 21:12). Fallen angels are commonly referred to as demons with Satan as their leader. Satan tried to be like God and was cast out of heaven (I Peter 5:8; Isa. 14:12-15). His ministry has been to frustrate and tempt God’s people (James 1:13-15). His ultimate purpose is to destroy God’s plan. Job 1 & 2 assures us that the devil and his demons cannot do anything destructive without God’s permission. The final destiny of fallen angels is the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10). Jude 6 – “And the angels which kept not their first estate, but left their own habitation, he hath reserved in everlasting chains under darkness unto the judgment of the great day.” ESCHATOLOGY – Study of Last Things This is the doctrine of last things that includes the second coming of Christ, the resurrections, the judgments, the millennium and the final state. The Bible speaks of a personal, bodily return of our Lord Jesus Christ before a seven-year tribulation (I Thess. 4:16; Titus 2:13) to translate His church from this earth (I Cor. 15:51-53; I Thess. 4:15-5:11). Believers will be rewarded according to their works (I Cor. 3:11-15; II Cor. 5:10). There will be immense wrath during the tribulation period (Rev. 6: 16-17). At the end of the seven years, Christ will visibly return with His saints to reign. Satan will be taken and cast into the bottomless pit (Rev. 20:1-6). Christ will usher in the millennial kingdom (1,000 years) with universal peace and righteousness (Rev. 5:10). Satan will then be loosed for a short season to deceive the nations; but eventually, he will be utterly destroyed. God will then judge all unbelievers at the great white throne judgment (Rev. 20:11-15). All who are not saved will be cast into the lake of fire. Finally, our present world will be replaced by a new heaven and earth where the redeemed will abide forever and forever with the Godhead (II Peter 3:11-13). 12 Finally, our present world will be replaced by a new heaven and earth where the redeemed will abide forever and forever with the Godhead (II Peter 3:11-13). (12) DOCTRINAL TERMS Agnosticism – The concept that neither the existence of God, nor the nature of God, nor the ultimate origin of the universe, is known or knowable. Anthropological – The argument for the existence of God based on the moral nature of man. Anthropomorphic – This is giving human substance and attributes to deity. The use of terms applicable to men in speaking of God. Apocalypse – A term that refers to any work dealing with prophetic themes by symbols and visions (Revelation). Apocrypha – The 14 books accepted by the Roman Catholic Church as canonical, but excluded from the Protestant canon. These are books of doubtful authorship, origin and authority. Apostasy – This is when a “professing” believer experiences a total abandonment of his faith and religion. It is simple proof that the false teacher or deceiver was never truly saved. Bibliolatry – This refers to a reverence and worship of the Bible without a genuine love and passion for the author of the Bible. Calvinism – This is the doctrine and teachings of John Calvin that emphasized predestination, the sovereignty of God, etc. It opposes Arminianism. The “Five Points of Calvinism” are (1) Total depravity (2) Unconditional election (3) Limited atonement (4) Irresistible grace (5) Perseverance of the saints. Christophany – An appearance of Christ after the resurrection as recorded in the gospels. Congruity – This is one of the so-called rational arguments for the existence of God. It is called the argument from agreement. Cosmoligical – This is one of the arguments for the existence of God (cause and effect). God is the first cause. Dichotomy – The teaching that man is made up of two parts. His material nature is his body; his immaterial nature is his soul and spirit. A trichotomist does not believe the soul and spirit are the same. Dispensation – The administration of good and evil by God to man. It is a period of time marked by God’s dealing with man by a particular method. Ecumenical – This term means anything that is worldwide or universal. It has reference to the subject of separation. Eternity – This is the quality, condition, or fact of being everlasting. It speaks of infinite time without beginning or end. Ethnological – The argument for the existence of God based on the religious nature of man. Henotheism – The belief in a single god without asserting that he is the only God. Hermeneutics – This is the branch of theology with determines laws for the interpretation and explanation of the Bible. Humanism – This is a philosophy that centers in man, his achievements and ideals. Immutability – God is immutable for He is not subject or susceptible to change. Imputation – This is attributing to believers the righteousness of Christ for sin by vicarious substitution. Monotheism – The doctrine that teaches there is only one God. Necromancy – This is called spiritism and the art of communicating with dead spirits in order to reveal the future. Omnipotence – A doctrinal term that refers to God who is almighty and infinite in power. Omnipresence – This is an attribute of God that identifies his ability to be present at the same time in all places. Omniscience – This speaks of God’s capacity to know all things. Original sin – The corruption of man’s nature incurred by each man as a consequence of his participation in the sin of Adam. Pantheism – This is the belief or theory that god and the universe are identical (implying a denial of the personality and transcendence of God). Plenary – This word refers to the Bible as fully and completely inspired. Polytheism – The belief that man must worship many gods. Propitiation – This is the term that satisfies divine justice and enables God to act favorable toward man (I John 2:2). Teleological – This is another argument for the existence of God dealing with design and purpose. Theophany – This is an Old Testament manifestation or an appearance of God to man. Tri-theism – This is a belief in three distinct gods. Unitarianism – This speaks of one who affirms the uni-personality of the Godhead, especially as opposite to an orthodox Trinitarian. Christ is merely an exalted teacher. 13 ____________________________________ At the Diet of Worms, in 1521, Martin Luther appeared before his ecclesiastical accusers. They had given him a final warning to renounce his unwavering faith in the sufficiency and clarity of the Scriptures. Luther is said to have responded, “Unless I am convicted by Scripture and plain reason—I do not accept the authority of popes and councils, for they have contradicted each other—my conscience is captive to the Wor of God. . .God help me! Here I stand.” Like Martin Luther, may we be lovers of the Word and loyal soldiers who contend for the faith. Let us stand with God and the Scripture alone! May we cherish the author of this precious volume that is comprised of 66 books, 1,189 chapters, 31,173 verses and 774,746 words. May we know what we believe (doctrine) and be willing to defend it. The Apostle Paul said to the Thessalonian believers: “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. (2:13) |
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