SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY
Essential Doctrines of Christianity
Essential Doctrines of Christianity
The Bible God Works of God Angels Humans Sin Salvation Christ Holy Spirit Church End Times Afterlife
GOD:
The Existence of God
THE EXISTENCE OF GOD – There are several lines of evidence that make it more likely that the answer is “yes” than “no” to the question “Does God exist?”
cosmological argument
COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT - The effect, which is the universe, demands a cause (Ps 19:1; Is 40:26; Rom 1:19-20; Heb 3:4).
- There are 4 ‘big bangs’ that demand an explanation. One, how did something come from nothing? Two, how did life come from lifeless matter? Three, how did consciousness arise? And four, how did the concept of morality arise?
- There are 4 ‘big bangs’ that demand an explanation. One, how did something come from nothing? Two, how did life come from lifeless matter? Three, how did consciousness arise? And four, how did the concept of morality arise?
IF EVERYTHING NEEDS A CAUSE, THEN WHO CAUSED/CREATED GOD?
By definition, God is the original cause, the uncaused cause. Something had to be eternal. It doesn’t make sense for nothing to create everything. And there is good reason to believe that the physical universe is not what is eternal. Big bang cosmology, the second law of thermodynamics, and the impossibility of an infinite past are strong evidence for the universe having a beginning.
design argument
DESIGN ARGUMENT - The design in the universe calls for a Designer (Ps 94:9).
- A cairn is a signal that hikers leave for each other so that they know the right way to go. A cairn is simply three rocks: large, medium, and small stacked on each other, and yet hikers who see it immediately know that it is a signal from an intelligent being. How much more should we recognize intelligence in incredibly more complex mechanisms that exist in nature? One example, the bacterium flagellum is an amazingly complex and efficient motorized ‘machine’ that resembles less efficient motors designed by humans (search flagellum on youtube.com). Not only that, but all of its parts seem to be necessary for there to be any function, which would make piecemeal evolution virtually impossible.
- We would never believe that a Boeing 747 happened by accident without an intelligent designer, nor should we believe that a bald eagle came about without an intelligent designer. It is also important to keep in mind that it is not only the physical anatomy of the bird that needed to come about, it is the instinct of the bird that knows how to use the body. If you put me in the cockpit of a 747, I would not know how to fly it. It is not just the plane but also the pilot that needed to come into existence.
- The complexity and information in the building blocks of life like DNA suggests design.
- The complexity of body parts, like the eye, suggests design.
- The fine-tuning of the universe, especially the fine-tuning of earth for life, suggests design.
- The beauty and simplicity of natural laws and equations (e = mc2) suggests design.
- A cairn is a signal that hikers leave for each other so that they know the right way to go. A cairn is simply three rocks: large, medium, and small stacked on each other, and yet hikers who see it immediately know that it is a signal from an intelligent being. How much more should we recognize intelligence in incredibly more complex mechanisms that exist in nature? One example, the bacterium flagellum is an amazingly complex and efficient motorized ‘machine’ that resembles less efficient motors designed by humans (search flagellum on youtube.com). Not only that, but all of its parts seem to be necessary for there to be any function, which would make piecemeal evolution virtually impossible.
- We would never believe that a Boeing 747 happened by accident without an intelligent designer, nor should we believe that a bald eagle came about without an intelligent designer. It is also important to keep in mind that it is not only the physical anatomy of the bird that needed to come about, it is the instinct of the bird that knows how to use the body. If you put me in the cockpit of a 747, I would not know how to fly it. It is not just the plane but also the pilot that needed to come into existence.
- The complexity and information in the building blocks of life like DNA suggests design.
- The complexity of body parts, like the eye, suggests design.
- The fine-tuning of the universe, especially the fine-tuning of earth for life, suggests design.
- The beauty and simplicity of natural laws and equations (e = mc2) suggests design.
anthropological argument
ANTHROPOLOGICAL ARGUMENT - Man has intellectual, social, moral, religious, and creative components, which suggests a Being with the ability to give these attributes (Gen 1:26-27; Ps 94:9; Acts 17:29).
WHY DOES HUMAN REASON SHOW THAT MAN IS NOT JUST A PHYSICAL BEING?
There are those who attempt to describe humans as merely physical beings with no soul, just a brain that has neurons firing based on physical stimuli. One thing to note is that free will is not possible if there is only the physical. Something purely physical cannot make choices. For instance, computers cannot make true choices; all ‘choices’ computers make are the result of prior programming. And if choices are not possible then reason is not possible, since reason implies evaluating options and choosing the best one. Free will and, therefore, reason could not exist in purely physical beings. In contrast, free will and reason are compatible with beings that have an immaterial soul created by God. Ironically those who say they prize reason over faith construct a worldview that leaves the possibility of reason out of the picture.
- The human brain may be like a computer, but God is the programmer, and the human soul hits the keys and utilizes the capabilities of the physical machine.
- The human brain may be like a computer, but God is the programmer, and the human soul hits the keys and utilizes the capabilities of the physical machine.
innate argument
INNATE ARGUMENT - Humans have an ingrained knowledge of God (Rom 1:21).
- The vast majority of humanity throughout history has believed in and worshiped God or gods.
- Once Christians, the Spirit bears witness to us that we are children of God (Rom 8:16).
- The vast majority of humanity throughout history has believed in and worshiped God or gods.
- Once Christians, the Spirit bears witness to us that we are children of God (Rom 8:16).
DID MAN INVENT GOD OUT OF A PSYCHOLOGICAL NEED FOR A COMFORTING BELIEF IN GOD?
The needs that we have as humans generally correspond to real things that can fulfill those needs. For instance, humans hunger and there is food in the world. Humans thirst and there is water. Humans have romantic desires and there is the opposite sex. Humans have a hunger for God and so it makes sense that there is a God to fulfill that need.
Also, just as humans may have reasons to ‘invent’ God, there are also reasons to ‘kill’ God or disbelieve in his existence. Those who want to be their own gods, who want to do whatever they want with no consequences and no one to answer to, have a reason to get rid of God (Ps 10:3-4).
Also, just as humans may have reasons to ‘invent’ God, there are also reasons to ‘kill’ God or disbelieve in his existence. Those who want to be their own gods, who want to do whatever they want with no consequences and no one to answer to, have a reason to get rid of God (Ps 10:3-4).
moral argument
MORAL ARGUMENT - Even though the conscience can become corrupted, humans have an innate sense that there is right and wrong (e.g., The near universal hatred of Hitler), which implies absolute wrongs and an absolute Lawgiver and Judge who oversees them (Rom 1:19, 32; 2:14-15).
CAN EVOLUTION EXPLAIN MORALITY?
- The moral argument is not primarily about how moral actions arose like treating someone with kindness or not committing murder. An evolutionist could attempt to explain how these actions could arise by arguing that they aid in individual or group survival. (Although the opposite argument could be made, that sacrificial actions run against the selfishness of ‘survival of the fittest’ evolution.) The materialistic evolutionist cannot make the case, however, that certain actions are moral or that others like murder are immoral. They can only say that certain actions are helpful to survival, or that man has evolved to ‘like’ these actions or to ‘dislike’ other actions. For instance, someone who argues for materialistic evolution or argues that morality is relative cannot say that torturing babies is wrong. If, for some reason, torturing babies was helpful to the survival of a society and everyone ‘liked’ doing it, then under a materialistic evolutionary worldview, how can it be considered wrong or immoral? What is evil or wrong if there is no absolute law or Lawgiver? When we look at the world and have a sense that things are “not the way they are supposed to be,” that suggests a perfect God and a way that things “should be.”
incomprehensibility of god
INCOMPREHENSIBILITY OF GOD - God and his ways cannot be fully and perfectly understood by the human mind (Ps. 145:3; Rom 11:33; Is 40:18,25; Job 11:7-9; 36:26).
- Our ability to define a particular attribute of God does not mean that we can fully comprehend it. We can rightly say that God is omnipotent (all-powerful), yet we cannot fully grasp the extent of what that means (Job 26:14). This should not discourage us, but rather it should excite us that we can continue to grow in our knowledge of God without the well ever running dry.
- Our ability to define a particular attribute of God does not mean that we can fully comprehend it. We can rightly say that God is omnipotent (all-powerful), yet we cannot fully grasp the extent of what that means (Job 26:14). This should not discourage us, but rather it should excite us that we can continue to grow in our knowledge of God without the well ever running dry.
IS TRYING TO UNDERSTAND GOD LIKE AN ANT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND US?
No, C.S. Lewis stated, “God is both further from us and nearer to us, than any other being.” The ant and we are both finite creatures whereas God is infinite and so, in one sense, God is much farther from us than we are from the ant. However, since we are created in the image of God as thinking beings, we are also much closer to God than we are to the ant, and are much better able to know God than the ant is able to know us.
COULD OUR LIMITED UNDERSTANDING OF GOD MEAN THAT DIFFERENT RELIGIONS ARE EQUALLY TRUE BUT LIMITED IN THEIR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?
It is not possible to be both true (as Christianity argues) and false (as Islam argues) that Jesus is God, who died on a cross and rose again three days later. Since the deity of Jesus and his resurrection are at the heart of Christianity (1 Cor 15:17), it does not make sense to call these religions equally true. At least one of them is false in a very important way.
knowability of God
KNOWABILITY OF GOD - We cannot know God fully, but we can know God truly (1 John 5:20; John 17:3), since God promises to make himself known to whoever searches after him (1 Chron 28:9; Jer 29:13; Matt 7:7-8).
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GROW IN INTELLECTUAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?
We are supposed to study the Scriptures diligently (Acts 17:11), and love God with the minds that he has given us (Matt 22:37). The more that we know intellectually about God, his character and attributes, and what he has done for us, the more that we should desire to know him personally and follow after his teachings. And the more that we know and love him personally, the more we should desire to know more and more about him.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GROW IN PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE OF GOD?
Intellectual knowledge of God alone is not enough. The Bible tells us that even the demons believe that there is one God (James 2:19). We must personally bow before the God that we know intellectually, allow our hearts to be changed by him, and apply what we learn to our daily lives.
HOW CAN WE GET TO KNOW GOD BETTER?
We can get to know God better by reading the Bible, by praying, by fasting with prayer, by listening in prayer. The more we read the Bible the more that we get a sense for the voice of God and his Holy Spirit in our lives. We can know God better as we rely on him, as we use the spiritual gifts he has given us to serve him and his church, and as we fellowship with other believers who are also growing more like Christ.
attributes of god
ATTRIBUTES OF GOD - A collection of qualities that help describe God’s nature.
- Infinite: God has no limit (1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 145:3; cf. Acts 17:24).
- Self-existent: God is not contingent on anything (Ex 3:13-14; John 8:56-59).
- Unity: God is one (Deut 6:4; James 2:19; 1 Tim 2:5).
- Eternal/Transcendent: God created time and exists outside of time (Gen 21:33; Ps 90:2).
- Sovereign: God is in control over all aspects of his creation (Gen 50:15-21; Rom 8:28).
- Immutable: God is unchanging in his being (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6; James 1:17; Heb 13:8).
- Omniscient: God is all-knowing (Ps 139:1-4; 147:4-5; Matt 11:21; Luke 12:7).
- Omnisapient: God is perfect in wisdom (Ps 104:24; 147:5 cf. Prov 3:13-26; Rom 8:28).
- Omnipotent: God is all-powerful (Job 42:2; Matt 19:26; Rev 19:6).
- Omnipresent: God is everywhere (Ps 139:7-10; Acts 17:24-28).
- Holy: God is moral perfection and is free from all sin, evil, or impurity (Lev 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16).
- Righteous: All God’s actions are morally right and virtuous (Ps 19:7-9; Jer 9:24).
- Truthful: God cannot lie, and cannot be mistaken. All that he says is accurate (1 Sam 15:29; John 14:6; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18).
- Faithful: God keeps his word (Num 23:19; Ps 89:2; 1 Thes 5:24; Heb 10:23).
- Jealous: God guards, protects, and desires allegiance from his beloved (Ex 34:11-14; 2 Cor 11:2-6; James 4:4-10).
- Just: God does not show favoritism. He is fair. God will mete out punishment for all sin and evil (Ps 7:11; 76:8-9; Is 33:22; Acts 10:34-35; Rom 2:11; 2 Tim 4:8; 2 Thess 1:5-7).
- Wrathful: God has righteous anger toward sin and evil (Psalm 2:12; Jer 4:4; Rom 12:17-21; Rev 16:1-7).
- Merciful: God does not give us the bad things we deserve (Joel 2:12-14; Luke 23:32-43; Heb 2:17).
- Gracious: God gives us the good things we do not deserve (Ex 34:6; Eph 1:3-8; Titus 2:11).
- Longsuffering: God is patient and does not immediately destroy sinners (Joel 2:13; 2 Peter 3:9).
- Glorious: God is beauty and light that is beyond comprehension (Rev 21:23).
- Life: God is Life and the source of all life (Gen 2:7; John 14:6).
- Love: God is perfect in love, to the point of self-sacrifice (Deut 7:7-8; Ps 103:17; John 3:16; Eph 2:4-5; 1; John 4:8).
- Infinite: God has no limit (1 Kings 8:27; Ps. 145:3; cf. Acts 17:24).
- Self-existent: God is not contingent on anything (Ex 3:13-14; John 8:56-59).
- Unity: God is one (Deut 6:4; James 2:19; 1 Tim 2:5).
- Eternal/Transcendent: God created time and exists outside of time (Gen 21:33; Ps 90:2).
- Sovereign: God is in control over all aspects of his creation (Gen 50:15-21; Rom 8:28).
- Immutable: God is unchanging in his being (Ps 102:25-27; Mal 3:6; James 1:17; Heb 13:8).
- Omniscient: God is all-knowing (Ps 139:1-4; 147:4-5; Matt 11:21; Luke 12:7).
- Omnisapient: God is perfect in wisdom (Ps 104:24; 147:5 cf. Prov 3:13-26; Rom 8:28).
- Omnipotent: God is all-powerful (Job 42:2; Matt 19:26; Rev 19:6).
- Omnipresent: God is everywhere (Ps 139:7-10; Acts 17:24-28).
- Holy: God is moral perfection and is free from all sin, evil, or impurity (Lev 19:2; 1 Peter 1:16).
- Righteous: All God’s actions are morally right and virtuous (Ps 19:7-9; Jer 9:24).
- Truthful: God cannot lie, and cannot be mistaken. All that he says is accurate (1 Sam 15:29; John 14:6; Titus 1:2; Heb 6:18).
- Faithful: God keeps his word (Num 23:19; Ps 89:2; 1 Thes 5:24; Heb 10:23).
- Jealous: God guards, protects, and desires allegiance from his beloved (Ex 34:11-14; 2 Cor 11:2-6; James 4:4-10).
- Just: God does not show favoritism. He is fair. God will mete out punishment for all sin and evil (Ps 7:11; 76:8-9; Is 33:22; Acts 10:34-35; Rom 2:11; 2 Tim 4:8; 2 Thess 1:5-7).
- Wrathful: God has righteous anger toward sin and evil (Psalm 2:12; Jer 4:4; Rom 12:17-21; Rev 16:1-7).
- Merciful: God does not give us the bad things we deserve (Joel 2:12-14; Luke 23:32-43; Heb 2:17).
- Gracious: God gives us the good things we do not deserve (Ex 34:6; Eph 1:3-8; Titus 2:11).
- Longsuffering: God is patient and does not immediately destroy sinners (Joel 2:13; 2 Peter 3:9).
- Glorious: God is beauty and light that is beyond comprehension (Rev 21:23).
- Life: God is Life and the source of all life (Gen 2:7; John 14:6).
- Love: God is perfect in love, to the point of self-sacrifice (Deut 7:7-8; Ps 103:17; John 3:16; Eph 2:4-5; 1; John 4:8).
The trinity
THE TRINITY - "The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are three Persons who equally share one infinite, undivided divine nature" (Matt 28:19-20; John 14:16-17; 15:26; cf. Gen 1:1, 26; Definition by Kevin Lewis).
- While it is difficult to try to grasp the idea of the Trinity as a whole, there are three important facts about the Trinity that the Bible clearly teaches and which are not hard to understand. The first is that God is one in essence (Deut 6:4; Isaiah 45:5), The second is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are simultaneously distinct (Matt 3:16-17; Luke 10:21). The third is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each fully divine [Deity of Father (Luke 10:21-22); Deity of Son (Is 9:6 cf. 10:21; Dan 7:13-14 cf. 7:27, 4:2-3; John 1:1-3; 8:58); Deity of Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)].
- While it is difficult to try to grasp the idea of the Trinity as a whole, there are three important facts about the Trinity that the Bible clearly teaches and which are not hard to understand. The first is that God is one in essence (Deut 6:4; Isaiah 45:5), The second is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are simultaneously distinct (Matt 3:16-17; Luke 10:21). The third is that the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are each fully divine [Deity of Father (Luke 10:21-22); Deity of Son (Is 9:6 cf. 10:21; Dan 7:13-14 cf. 7:27, 4:2-3; John 1:1-3; 8:58); Deity of Holy Spirit (Acts 5:3-4)].
SHOULD WE USE ANALOGIES TO EXPLAIN THE TRINITY?
- Some analogies are helpful in describing certain aspects of the Trinity. For instance ice, water, and mist exist in different ways, but are the same essence (H2O). This gives us a sense for how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit could exist in different ways, but be of the same essence (Deity). The analogy is not perfect, though, since the Father does not melt into the Son or evaporate into the Holy Spirit. Also, ice, water, and mist have different roles and different attributes. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit have different roles, but the same attributes. They are perfectly united and of the same will.
- Most other analogies completely fail and can even be misleading. There is an analogy of an egg white, yolk, and shell that make one egg. This is misleading in that each of those parts has a different essence and attributes, which is not the case with the persons of the Trinity. Also, God is not made up of parts. Each person of the Trinity is fully God. The Trinity is unique and an incredible difficult concept to grasp, and we should not pretend that there is a simple analogy that makes it easy to understand or demonstrate. We should simply hold to the three non-contradictory truths that the Bible teaches about the Trinity.
- Most other analogies completely fail and can even be misleading. There is an analogy of an egg white, yolk, and shell that make one egg. This is misleading in that each of those parts has a different essence and attributes, which is not the case with the persons of the Trinity. Also, God is not made up of parts. Each person of the Trinity is fully God. The Trinity is unique and an incredible difficult concept to grasp, and we should not pretend that there is a simple analogy that makes it easy to understand or demonstrate. We should simply hold to the three non-contradictory truths that the Bible teaches about the Trinity.
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