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Whystudyingtheologyisimportant…
Whystudyingtheologyisimportant…
! ItisthemeanstoaCOMPREHENSIVEframeworkandunderstandingofGodandHisWord.
! GodhasCOMMANDEDustopursuearigorousunderstandingofHim,asHismultipleexhortationstoteach,keepandprotectsoundtheologydemonstrate.
! EveryoneliveshisTHEOLOGY.
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Whystudyingtheologyisimportant…
“Alltheologyisalsospirituality,inthesensethatithasaninfluence,goodorbad,positiveornegative,onits
recipients’relationshiporlackofrelationshiptoGod.Ifourtheologydoesnotquickentheconscienceandsoften
theheart,itactuallyhardensboth;ifitdoesnotencouragethecommitmentoffaith,itreinforcesthe
detachmentofunbelief;ifitfailstopromotehumility,itinevitablyfeedspride.”[J.I.Packer]
Whatdoes“systematictheology”mean?
! Theos +logos=theology! God +word=word/studyofGod! SystematictheologyistheORGANIZED,harmonious,arrangementofallknowntruthaboutGodandHisworks—basedfundamentallyandprimarilyonSCRIPTURE—sothattheunderstandingofHimisbothcomprehensiveandTRANSFORMING.
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1. Epistemology–thedoctrineofKNOWLEDGEa. GodisINCONCEIVABLEandincomprehensible(Is.
40:18;1Tim.6:15-16).b. GodhasrevealedHimselftousandisthusKNOWABLE
(Jn.1:14,18;Rom.16:25-27).c. GodisthesourceofallTRUTH(Jn.14:6;17:17).
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d. Ifpeoplewantasoundmind,theymustseethingsasGodseesthemanddefinethemasHedoes(Prov.1:7;9:10;Phil.3:8-10).
e. WhenweknowGod,wewillhave—▪ greatenergyforGod▪ greatthoughtsofGod▪ greatboldnessforGod▪ greatcontentmentinGod
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“…wemustrecognizehowmuchwelackknowledgeofGod.Wemustlearntomeasureourselves,notbyourknowledgeaboutGod,notbyourgiftsandresponsibilitiesinthechurch,butbyhowweprayandwhatgoesoninourhearts.Manyofus,Isuspect,havenoideahowimpoverishedweareatthislevel.LetusasktheLord
toshowus.”[J.I.Packer]
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2. Bibliology–thedoctrineoftheSCRIPTURESa. TheScripturesare“God-breathed”(2Tim.3:16-17).b. TheScriptureshaveAUTHORITY(Lk.4:1-13).c. TheScripturesspeaktoeveryareaoflife(2Tim.
3:14-15)andarerelevantforeverySITUATION(2Tim.3:16-17,2Pet.1:3).
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d. Afailuretoacknowledgethesetruthsleadsto:▪ apursuitofcomfortratherthanobedience▪ asubmissiontothe“authority”ofpersonalexperience
overtheauthorityofScripture▪ anexaltationofcontemporarythinkingratherthanthe
principlesoftheBible
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3. TheologyProper–thedoctrineofGOD
“WhatcomesintoourmindswhenwethinkaboutGodisthemostimportantthingaboutus.…ForthisreasonthegravestquestionbeforetheChurchisalwaysGod
Himself,andthemostportentousfactaboutanymanisnotwhatheatagiventimemaysayordo,butwhatheinhisdeepheartconceivesGodtobelike.Wetendbya
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secretlawofthesoultomovetowardourmentalimageofGod.ThisistruenotonlyoftheindividualChristian,butofthecompanyofChristiansthatcomposestheChurch.AlwaysthemostrevealingthingabouttheChurchisherideaofGod,justashermostsignificantmessageiswhatshesaysaboutHimorleavesunsaid,forhersilenceisoftenmoreeloquentthanherspeech.”
[Tozer,TheKnowledgeoftheHoly,p.1.]
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3. TheologyProper–thedoctrineofGODa. GodhasrevealedHimselftousthroughHisWordin
whichHedemonstratesHisATTRIBUTES.b. GodisaTRIUNEbeing.
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3. TheologyProper–thedoctrineofGODa. GodhasrevealedHimselftousthroughHisWordin
whichHedemonstratesHisATTRIBUTES.b. GodisaTRIUNEbeing.c. BecauseGodisGod,alllifeterminatesonHim.We
liveforHim,topleaseHim,andtoglorifyHim(2Cor.5:9;1Cor.8:6;10:31).
d. KnowingthetruthofGodwillproducerestandtrust.
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4. Anthropology–thedoctrineofMANa. ManisGod’screationandheismadeintheimage
andlikenessofGod(Gen.1:27).! Heisnotananimal! Heisnotavictimofhisenvironment! HeismadeforGod’sglory
B. ALLmankindisundersinbecauseofmankind’sidentificationwiththesinofAdam(Rom.5:12).
c. AllmensinbecausetheyareSINNERS(bornwithoriginalsin)andallmenaresinnersbecausetheySIN(theirownsincondemnsthem).
d. ManistotallyDEPRAVED—! Onhisownhecannotdogood(Rom.3:10-18).! Everythinghedoesissin,becausenothinghedoesisfor
God’sglory(1Cor.10:31).! Hisheartisdeceitfullywicked(Jer.17:9-10).
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! Hisgoalinlifeisselfishnessandonlyevilcontinually(Gen.6:5).
! Everyaspectofhislifeistaintedbysin.
c. Manisdirectedbyhisheart/mind(hismissioncontrolcenter).Thisistheareainneedofchange.
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MissionControlCenterBehavior
(words&ac+ons)
Missioncontrolcenter
Lk.6:43-45;Mk.7:20-23;Mt.12:34
Proverbs4:23;23:7INNERMAN(whatcannotbeobserved)
OUTERMAN(whatcanbeobserved)
Will
Conscience
Thoughts
Beliefs
Emo8onsDesiresMind/Heart
e. Manisdirectedbyhisheart/mind(hismissioncontrolcenter).Thisistheareainneedofchange.
f. ManwascreatedtoglorifyGod,butbecauseofsin,heseekstoglorifyhimself(Rom.1:18ff,3:23).
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5. Hamartiology–thedoctrineofSINa. SinisawillfultransgressionofthelawofGod.b. AllpeopleareSINNERS;thenatureofallmenissinful
fromthemomentofbirth(Rom.3).c. SinrenderspeopleHELPLESStochangethemselves
(Eph.2:1-3).
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d. AsinnerisALIENATEDfromGod,andasaresult,hewillseekfulfillmentfromtheworld’ssystem(1John2:15-17).Theimplications:▪ Christwillnotbeseenastheonlysolutiontoman’s
problems.▪ Thesinnerwilltrytoprovidesubstitutesthatpromise
fulfillment.▪ Thesinnerwillpursuehisfeltneedsinsteadofhisreal
needs.
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e. SinleadstomanyotherPROBLEMS.f. WhatisthehopefortheChristianwhosins?
▪ OursinsdonotaffectourLEGALSTANDINGwithGod.▪ OursindoesdisruptourFELLOWSHIPwithGod.▪ OursinisREDEEMABLEandisabletobeusedasan
instrumentofgrowthbymeansofappropriatingafreshthetruthsofthegospel(1Pt.1:17ff).
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6. Soteriology–thedoctrineofSALVATIONa. GodsentJesustoRECONCILEsinnerstohimself(2Cor.5:19)b. Jesus’perfectlifeofobedienceandSUBSTITUTIONARYdeath
providethebasisforabeliever’srestorationtoGod! TheremustbeaPROPITIATIONforGod’swrath(Rom.3:25)! TheremustbeIMPUTATIONofrighteousnessandatonementforsin
(Rom.3:24,2Cor.5:21)! TheremustbeREDEMPTIONfromthebondageofsin(Rom.3:24)! TheremustbeRECONCILIATIONtoGod(2Cor.5:19)
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c. SalvationfreesusfromthePENALTYofsinandthePOWERofsin(Rom.6)sothatwecanENJOYGod.
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“…tobelievethegospelisnotonlytoaccepttheawesometruthsthat1)Godisholy,2)wearehopelesssinners,3)Christdiedandroseagainforsinners,and4)thisgreatsalvationisenjoyedbyfaithinChrist—butbelievingthegospelisalsototreasureJesusChristasyourunsearchableriches.WhatmakesthegospelGospelisthatitbringsapersonintotheeverlasting
andever-increasingjoyofJesusChrist.”
[JohnPiper,“WhatistheChristianGospel?”]
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d. AsinnerisreconciledtoGodthroughrepentanceandfaith(2Cor.7:10-11;Eph.2:8-10).
e. Claritywiththegospelisessentialbecausethemeansofjustificationisthemeansofsanctification(cf.theerroroftheGalatians,Gal.3:1ff).
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7. Christology–thedoctrineofCHRISTa. ChristwasFULLYmanineveryway,thoughHedidnot
sinanddidnothaveasinnature(Heb.4:15;1Jn.3:5).b. ChristwasandisFULLYGod(Jn.1:1ff;Phil.2:5-8).c. AstheGod-man,JesusChristisneitherdiminishedas
Godorasman.▪ Christhadtwodistinctnatures:humanityanddeity.▪ Therewasnomixtureorinterminglingofthetwonatures.
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▪ AlthoughHehadtwonatures,ChristwasonePerson.
d. JesusdiedandroseagainasasubstituteforHispeople(Is.53;1Pt.2:24;3:18;2Cor.5:21)
e. JesusChrististhemeansofourlifeandallthatweneedforlife(2Pt.1:3;Jn.14:6).
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“IfyoutakeChristoutofChristianity,Christianityisdead.…ThereisnoGospelworththinkingof,muchlessworth
proclaiming,ifJesusisforgotten.WemusthaveJesusasAlphaandOmega…”
[CharlesSpurgeon.]
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8. Pneumatology–doctrineoftheHOLYSPIRITa. TheHolySpiritisaPERSON,notafeeling,aforce,
idea,ormovement.b. TheHolySpiritisneededforapersontotrulychange
(Rom.8)
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c. TheHolySpiritwillproduceHisfruitinALLbelievers(Gal.5:16-26)
d. TheHolySpirithasgiftedALLbelieverssotheycanhelpotherbelieversgrowinChrist(Rom.12;1Cor.12;Eph.4:11-16).ThepersonwhoistryingtohelpotherschangehastheHelperheneedsintheHolySpirit.
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“TheChristianlifebeginsandcontinuesbythepoweroftheHolySpirit,whomGodhasgraciouslysentfirsttoawakenustoourneedforsalvation,thentogiveusanewbirth,andfinallytodwellwithinustoeventually
presentusflawlesswhenChristreturns.”
[JohnMacArthur.]
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9. Ecclesiology–thedoctrineoftheCHURCHa. ThechurchisthebodyofChrist.Jesusistheheadof
thechurch(Eph.1:21-23).b. Thechurchexistsforthepurposesofworship,
instruction,fellowship,andevangelizationandequipping(Acts2:43-47;Eph.4:11-16;Titus2:11-14;Matt.28:19-20).
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▪ ThechurchexiststoprovideacontextoflovingfellowshipwithoneanotherforthepurposeofmutualEDIFICATION(Eph.3:16-19,4:12-16).
▪ Thechurchisatrainingcenterwherebypeoplecangrowthroughtheapplicationofteachingandtheutilizationoftheirspiritualgifts.
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c. ThechurchhasAUTHORITY—itisthepillarandsupportofthetruth(1Tim.3:15).
d. Themosteffectiveplaceforcounselinganddiscipleshipisinthechurch.
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10. Angelology—thedoctrineofANGELSa. Angelswerecreatedasmessengersandservantsof
Godandtheystillexist(Eph.6:12).b. Angelsexistasboth“ELECT”and“EVIL.”
▪ TheevilangelsfollowedSataninhisrebellionagainstGodandwerecastoutofheaven—perhapsasmanyasone-thirdofthemfell(Is.14:13-15;Ezk.28:12-17;Rev.12:3-4).
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▪ Satanandhisangels(demons)arepowerful,buttheyarecreatedbeingsandnotINFINITEinanyway.TheyarelimitedbyGodandunderhisauthority(Js.4:7-10;1Jn.4:4;Job1:12;2:5-6)
c. ChristiansCANNOTbeinhabitedbydemons(1Jn.2:14;4:4);abelievercannotbeinhabitedbybothlightanddark(1Pt.2:9).Abelievercannotbeundertheauthorityoftwomasters(Mt.6:24;1Cor.6:15ff).
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c. TheprimaryactivityofdemonsisDECEPTION(1Thess.3:5;2Cor.4:4;10:5;11:14).
d. AChristiancounselee’sprimaryproblemiswithhisownsinfulflesh(Js.1:13-15)anddeceptionfromSatan’sinfluenceovertheworldsystem(1Jn.2:15-18),notdemonization.
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11. Eschatology–doctrineoftheLASTTHINGSa. ThebelieverhasaGREATfuturethatsurpassesany
trialsonearth(Rev.21-22;2Cor.4:16-18).b. TheunbelieverhasaTERRIBLEfuturethatsurpasses
anyofthefleetingjoysofsin(Mt.25:29-30;Rev.20:11-15).
c. Alwayshelpcounseleesmaintainaneternalperspectiveontheircircumstances.
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TheologicalProblemswithSomeChristianCounselingBooks&Methods
1. AbsenceoftheHolySpirit2. NeglectoftheChurch3. Lackofemphasisonprayer4. NocommitmenttothesufficiencyofScripture5. Therenamingofsinandtheomissionofrepentance6. Lackofclaritywiththegospel7. Man-centered,feeling-oriented,needs-oriented8. Psychologizedterminology&concepts
Purchase(andread)goodtheologybooks