HOW IS THEOLOGYIMPORTANT INKNOWING GOD?

Knowing God: An Introduction To TheologySession 1

April & May

- April 28 How Is Theology Important In Knowing God?- May 5 Who And What Is God?- May 12 How Can God Be Known?- May 19 How Much Faith And/Or Reason Is Required To

Know God?- May 26 How Can God Be Three Persons But One God?

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June

- June 2 How Can We Know What’s Really True?- June 9 Could Every Religion Be Correct?- June 16 Is God The Originator Of The Universe Or A

Product Of It?- June 23 Does Theology And Science Oppose Each

Other?- June 30 Does Theology And Philosophy Oppose Each

Other?3

July

- July 7 Why Do Different Christian Denominations Have So Many Theological Differences?

- July 14 What Differentiates Good Theology From Bad Theology?

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Martin Luther

- “We are all called theologians, just as [we are] all [called] Christians.”

(Sermon on Psalm 5:17)

We use theology every day- Marital- Parental- Occupational- Political

- Emotional- Volitional (Will)- Prayer- Devotional

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Prolegomena

- Pro = before- Lego = to say- Literally: to say before- First words, Introduction

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I. What Is Theology?

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““The Science of God and of the relations between God

and the universe.”- A. H. Strong

If Theology Is To Help Us Understand God Through His Own

Words, Then It Must Be Biblical

- 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

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If Theology Is To Be Comprehensive, Then It Should Be

Systematized

- Luke 1:3-4 3 it seemed good to me also, having followed all things closely for some time past, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, 4 that you may have certainty concerning the things you have been taught.

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If Theology Is To Affect Our Lives, It Should Be Embraced Practically

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching [doctrine], for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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If Theology Provides The Reality Of God And Life, Then We Should Live

It With Passion And Proclaim It With Conviction To A World That

Shuns Him- Acts 28:31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and

teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

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II. What Are The Different

Approaches To Theology?

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Systematic Theology

- Systematic Theology systematizes doctrines throughout the Bible thematically

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“- B. B. Warfield: “ ‘Systematic Theology’ is not that it deals with its material in a systematic or methodological way, and the other disciplines do not; but

that it presents its material in the form of a system. Other disciplines may use

a chronological, a historical or some other method…” (Studies In Theology, p. 49)

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What Are The Major Categories In Systematic Theology?

- Christology (Christ)- Theology (God)- Bibliology (Bible)- Soteriology (Salvation)- Pneumatology (Holy Spirit)- Anthropology (Man)

- Ecclesiology (Church)- Cosmology (Origins)- Eschatology (Future)- Hamartiology (Sin)- Angelology- Demonology

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What Is Biblical Theology?

- Biblical theology seeks to understand the Bible as the original authors understood it. - Their literary context- Their historical perspective- Their vocabulary- Their geography- Their historical context

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“- “To summarize, by the phrase biblical theology I

mean the interpretive perspective reflected in the way the biblical authors have presented their

understanding of earlier Scripture, redemptive history, and the events they are describing,

recounting, celebrating, or addressing in narratives, poems proverbs, letters and

apocalypses.” - (Hamilton, What Is Biblical Theology?)

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1 Corinthians 4:6

- Now these things, brethren, I have figuratively transferred to myself and Apollos for your sakes, that you may learn in us not to think beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up on behalf of one against the other.

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Exegetical Theology

- What does the passage say about this topic?

- How does it relate to the context and the intent of the author?

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Biblical Theology- What does the author say about this

topic in his book and other writings - What do the other authors of the same

genre - How does the author develop the topic?

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Systematic Theology

- What do all the authors and books have to say about this topic?

- What do all 66 books have to say?

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Historical Theology- How was this taught in the first century?

Early church? Middle church? Reformation? What views are held on this today?

- What points were affirmed by the church?- What heresies arose and how were they dealt

with?

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Historical Theology

- Traces the historical development of doctrines- Creeds, confessions and declarations: what was

important to the church - Heresies and false teaching debated and debunked- Apologetics defended correct doctrine- We benefit from history by not repeating the same

mistakes that happened in the past.

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Approaches To Historical Theology

- The Chronological Development (Diachronic)- Time & history- Creeds & councils

- The Study Of Theologian Or A Movement (Synchronic)- Theologians & topics- Writings & Denominations

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Benefits Of Historical Theology

- Distinguishing Orthodoxy From Heresy- Providing Theological Concepts Through Centuries Of

Making Sure Our Interpretation Is Accurate To The Whole Of Scripture

- Demonstrating Doctrines Are Worth Living For And Dying For

- Illustrating That There’s Nothing New (Theologically) Under The Sun

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Natural Theology

- Natural theology is comprehending God’s revelation outside of Scripture. God reveals Himself in nature, in creation, in our moral conscience, in humans which bear His likeness.

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Psalm 19:1-41 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament

shows His handiwork.2 Day unto day utters speech, and night unto night reveals

knowledge.3 There is no speech nor language where their voice is not

heard.4 Their line has gone out through all the earth, and their

words to the end of the world.

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Romans 1:20- 20For since the creation of the world His

invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,

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The Cosmological Argument

- Since our universe exists as an effect, there must be a cause (God).

- Hebrews 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God.

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The Teleological Argument

- Because there is order and design, there must be a Designer

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Other Theological Approaches

- Dogmatic Theology- Philosophical Theology- Practical Theology- Integrative Theology

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III. Why Should We Study Theology?

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Theology Enables Man To Know The Right God Rightly As

He Reveals Himself

- Revelation: God’s communication of Himself to His loving creation

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Theology Directs Us To Godliness By Aligning Ourselves To The

Person Of God

- 1 Timothy 6:3 the teaching that accords with godliness,

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Theology Engages The Intellect By Bringing Reasons For Our Faith

- Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.

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Theology Relies On The Holy Spirit To Illuminate Our Minds About His

Truth

- 1 Corinthians 2:12 Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.

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Theology Humbles Us By Seeing God And Man In Reality

Psalm 8 1 O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens… 3 When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you care for him? 5 Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

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Theology Is The Catalyst For Worship

- Psalm 139:17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

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Sound Theology Is The Basis For Faithful Servants And Faithful

Living

- Orthodoxy leads to Orthopraxy.- 1 Timothy 4:6 If you put these things before the

brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed

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Theology Is The Foundation For The Church

- 2 Thessalonians 2:15 15Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.

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Sound Theology Wards Off False Teaching

- 1 Timothy 6:3 If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness,

- Titus 1:9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

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Conclusion

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Study

- 2 Timothy 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.

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Know

- Psalm 139:17-18 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! 18 If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you

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Know

- Philippians 3:10 0 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

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Apply

- 2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching [doctrine], for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

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Christian Doctrine In Its Four Applications:

- Doctrine is believed. Orthodoxy is true belief, or sound doctrine.

- Doctrine is practiced. Orthopraxis is right practice, or godly living.

- Doctrine is confessed. Confession is the public profession of Christian belief.

- Doctrine is taught. Teaching is the faithful transmission of Christian belief from generation to generation.”

- (Gregg Allison, 50 Core Truths of the Christian Faith, p. 1)

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Worship

- John 4:23-24 23 But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. 24 God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

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Equip

- 2 Timothy 2:2 and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also

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Equip

- 2 Timothy 4:2-3a 2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching. 3 For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching

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Who And What Is God?

Next Tuesday, 7:30pmMay 5, 2020

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Tune in next week on Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6505911322?pwd=ZmRFSXNOSTIrYnJ4WjNiQjhaUmxRdz09Meeting ID: 650 591 1322, Password: 2710

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Thanks!Any questions?

You can contact me atsteve@fbc-belmont.org