Good job! If you have been following along this journey we have just completed a study on the attributes of God. In Theology Proper (the study of God, primarily the Father) we have covered The Existence of God, and now the Attributes of God, next we will aim at understanding the Trinity of God, and after that we will complete this study with the fatherhood of God. That means in our scheme of Systematic Theology we have covered Prolegomena, Bibliology and we are about half way through Theology Proper. Here’s a look at the whole picture.
Systematic Theology Delineated
Prolegomenon, introduction to Systematic Theology
Bibliology, the Doctrine of the Scriptures
Theology Proper, the Doctrine of God (mainly God the Father)
Christology, the Doctrine of the Son
Pneumatology, the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit
Angelology, the Doctrine of the Angels Elect
a) Satanology, the Doctrine of Satan
b) Demonology, the Doctrine of the Fallen Angels
Anthropology, the Doctrine of Man
Hamartiology, the Doctrine of Sin
Soteriology, the Doctrine of Salvation
Ecclesiology, the Doctrine of the Church
Israelology, the Doctrine of Israel (the lost or forgotten doctrine)
Eschatology, the Doctrine of the Last Things
A Survey of the Biblical Distinctives of Baptist
I hope you are finding this material helpful and practical.
Walk in His truth,
Brother John
Saturday, July 21, 2007
Truth
The Attributes That Are True of God and of Man (in a limited way):
Truth
Truth or veracity is God’s being and God’s knowledge eternally conformed to each other. Veracity is an agreement to, and consistent with all that is represented by God Himself. Veracity is God’s knowledge, declarations, or representations conforming to reality. Veracity means God is consistent within Himself, which results in “God is truth”.
Four Implications of Truth
Truth opposes that which is fictitious or imaginary.
Truth purposes that which come up to its ideal completely.
Truth corresponds exactly to reality.
God is what He declares Himself to be.
His declarations correspond to reality.
Truth means God can be depended on because He is immutable and that includes the truths of God.
Three Areas of Gods Truth
God’s ways are true (Ps. 25:10; Rev. 15:3).
God’s works are true (Ps. 33:4; 111:7-8; Dan. 4:37).
God’s words are true (2Sam 7:28; 1Kings 17:24; Ps. 19:9; 33:4; 138:2; Jo. 17:17; 2Cor. 6:7; Eph. 1:13).
Other Scriptures concerning the truth of God
Num. 23:19- God does not lie.
Ps.31:5- The Lord God of truth.
Ps. 89:15- God is truth.
Jer. 10:10- YHVH (Jehovah) the true God.
Jo. 3:33- God is truth.
Jo. 17:3- He is the only true God.
Rom. 3:4- Let God be true.
1Thess. 1:9- He is the true God.
Titus 1:2- God cannot lie.
Heb. 6:18- It is impossible for God to lie.
Rev. 6:10- How long Sovereign Lord, holy and true.
Applications:
All truths are God’s truth, whatever may be discovered as truth, that discovery is God’s truth.
God’s truth is the ground for man’s truth, it is the basis for the truth that we discover, and that truth that we discover is really God’s truth.
We can trust God’s promises. They are true!
We must be truthful and not lie. We should be characterized by truthfulness in what we say, in what we do, what we write, and what we claim even things like our income tax (Prov. 6:16-17; Matt. 5:37).
We can judge what truth is, and what truth is not (1Jo. 4:6).
Keep shining,
brother John
Truth
Truth or veracity is God’s being and God’s knowledge eternally conformed to each other. Veracity is an agreement to, and consistent with all that is represented by God Himself. Veracity is God’s knowledge, declarations, or representations conforming to reality. Veracity means God is consistent within Himself, which results in “God is truth”.
Four Implications of Truth
Truth opposes that which is fictitious or imaginary.
Truth purposes that which come up to its ideal completely.
Truth corresponds exactly to reality.
God is what He declares Himself to be.
His declarations correspond to reality.
Truth means God can be depended on because He is immutable and that includes the truths of God.
Three Areas of Gods Truth
God’s ways are true (Ps. 25:10; Rev. 15:3).
God’s works are true (Ps. 33:4; 111:7-8; Dan. 4:37).
God’s words are true (2Sam 7:28; 1Kings 17:24; Ps. 19:9; 33:4; 138:2; Jo. 17:17; 2Cor. 6:7; Eph. 1:13).
Other Scriptures concerning the truth of God
Num. 23:19- God does not lie.
Ps.31:5- The Lord God of truth.
Ps. 89:15- God is truth.
Jer. 10:10- YHVH (Jehovah) the true God.
Jo. 3:33- God is truth.
Jo. 17:3- He is the only true God.
Rom. 3:4- Let God be true.
1Thess. 1:9- He is the true God.
Titus 1:2- God cannot lie.
Heb. 6:18- It is impossible for God to lie.
Rev. 6:10- How long Sovereign Lord, holy and true.
Applications:
All truths are God’s truth, whatever may be discovered as truth, that discovery is God’s truth.
God’s truth is the ground for man’s truth, it is the basis for the truth that we discover, and that truth that we discover is really God’s truth.
We can trust God’s promises. They are true!
We must be truthful and not lie. We should be characterized by truthfulness in what we say, in what we do, what we write, and what we claim even things like our income tax (Prov. 6:16-17; Matt. 5:37).
We can judge what truth is, and what truth is not (1Jo. 4:6).
Keep shining,
brother John
Tuesday, July 3, 2007
Goodness
The Attributes That Are True of God and (in a limited way):
Goodness
Goodness means the perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all of His creatures (Ps. 145:9; Matt. 19:17; Rom. 11:22).
There are at least five divisions of the attribute of goodness they are benevolence, mercy, longsuffering, and love, and grace. These attributes of the thrice holy God, all seem to be glossed over, under taught, misapplied, and/or ignored completly. On the other hand when any atribute of God is over emphasized it can lead to a deformed view of God and extreemism/s. I have tried to maintain a biblical balance in and throughout this presentation of God's atributes and God's goodness is no exception. Here are the five aspects of goodness.
1. Benevolence
Benevolence is God's disposition to promote happiness. It is goodness in its generic sense embracing all of His creatures. The affection that God feels and manifests toward His creatures.
Scripture
Job 38:41; Ps. 36:6; 104:21; 145:15-16; Matt. 5:45.
Application
We need to do good to all men in general but especially to those who are members of the household of faith (Gal. 6: 9-10).
2. Mercy
Mercy is God's goodness exercised on behalf of the needs of others. It refers to kindness which is exercised. It includes compassion. It is goodness manifested to those in misery and distress.
There are four brief points to be understood about the exercise of divine mercy:
It is optional, God does not have to, but He chooses to (Ro. 9:14-18)
God is merciful to those who put their trust in Him (2Cor. 1:3-4; Heb. 4:16).
When an individual sinner is called and saved it is the exercise of His mercy (1Tim. 1:13). All should be thankful for this!
His mercy will be manifested in a special way at Israel's national restoration (Is. 54:7).
Scripture
Deut. 5:10; 1Chro. 16:34; Ps. 57:10; 86:5; 36:1-26; Is. 55:7; Luke 1:54, 72, 78; Ro. 11:30-31; 15:9; Eph. 2:4; James 5:11; 1Pet. 1:3.
Application
We too need to be merciful toward others.
3. Longsuffering
Longsuffering means God bears with evil and delays judgment (Ex. 34:6-7; Ps. 86:15).
Scripture
Ro. 2:4; 9:22; 1Pet. 3:26; 2Pet. 3:15.
Application
We are to bear with others the same way by the exercise of patient endurance, and longsuffering.
4. Love
Love means God is moved to self communication. God always seeks the highest good that of displaying His own glory. Love is that which seeks good for the object loved. Good equals the will of God. That which seeks the will of God in the object loved is the true evidence of love. Love also includes His voluntary affection not mere emotional impulse. Love is the very nature of God, the very structure of His being (1Jo. 4:8,16).
Objects of God's love.
God the Father loves God the Son (Mat. 3:17; Jo. 17:24).
God loves the world (Jo. 3:16; Ro. 5:8; 1Jo. 3:16).
God loves Israel (Deut. 7:7-8; Jer. 31:3; Ezekiel 16:8; Hos. 11:1). These verses should be taken as literal, national Israel not some misapplied figurative Israel some presume to be the church. The church is not in view in these verses.
God loves believers (Jo. 16:27; 17:23; 1Jo. 4:19)
Other Scriptures concerning the love of God include: Ps. 11:7, He loves righteousness. Is. 61:8, He loves justice. 2Cor. 13:11, He is the God of love.
Application
From this facet of God's goodness we should include the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Ro. 8:35-39) for this reason we should also love the brethren (Gal. 5:26).
5. Grace
Grace is love that is exercised to the unworthy, this includes you and me, we are all unworthy of God's love. Grace is God's goodness manifested toward the undeserved, this also includes you and me we none of us deserve God's goodness. Grace is God's free actions on behalf of the unmerited, this once again includes you and me none of us can preform well enough to merit God's benifits to us. (cf. Titus 3:4-7)
Here are seven biblical areas of God's grace:
1. Salvation is a product of God's grace (Acts 18: 27; Eph. 2: 7-9; Titus 2: 11).
2. Election is the result of God's grace (Eph. 1: 4-6).
3. Redemption is the riches of God's grace (Eph. 1: 7-8).
4. Sanctification is the fruit of God's grace (Rom. 5: 21).
5. Preservation is God's grace perfecting His strength in our weakness (2Cor. 12: 9).
6. Service is the overflow of god's grace (Heb. 12: 28).
7. Grace is the result in that final presentation in (1Pet.1: 13).
Scripture:
Ephesians 2:8-10
Aplication:
Just as God has demonstrated His grace to us we should be gracious to one another; in our homes, in our churches, and in the world those we like and those we don't like, the lovable and the unlovable.
This concludes God's attribute of goodness. We have one more attribute to cover before I bring this segment to an end it is God's attribute of truth. See you next time.
Stay bright,
Brother John
Goodness
Goodness means the perfection of God which prompts Him to deal bountifully and kindly with all of His creatures (Ps. 145:9; Matt. 19:17; Rom. 11:22).
There are at least five divisions of the attribute of goodness they are benevolence, mercy, longsuffering, and love, and grace. These attributes of the thrice holy God, all seem to be glossed over, under taught, misapplied, and/or ignored completly. On the other hand when any atribute of God is over emphasized it can lead to a deformed view of God and extreemism/s. I have tried to maintain a biblical balance in and throughout this presentation of God's atributes and God's goodness is no exception. Here are the five aspects of goodness.
1. Benevolence
Benevolence is God's disposition to promote happiness. It is goodness in its generic sense embracing all of His creatures. The affection that God feels and manifests toward His creatures.
Scripture
Job 38:41; Ps. 36:6; 104:21; 145:15-16; Matt. 5:45.
Application
We need to do good to all men in general but especially to those who are members of the household of faith (Gal. 6: 9-10).
2. Mercy
Mercy is God's goodness exercised on behalf of the needs of others. It refers to kindness which is exercised. It includes compassion. It is goodness manifested to those in misery and distress.
There are four brief points to be understood about the exercise of divine mercy:
It is optional, God does not have to, but He chooses to (Ro. 9:14-18)
God is merciful to those who put their trust in Him (2Cor. 1:3-4; Heb. 4:16).
When an individual sinner is called and saved it is the exercise of His mercy (1Tim. 1:13). All should be thankful for this!
His mercy will be manifested in a special way at Israel's national restoration (Is. 54:7).
Scripture
Deut. 5:10; 1Chro. 16:34; Ps. 57:10; 86:5; 36:1-26; Is. 55:7; Luke 1:54, 72, 78; Ro. 11:30-31; 15:9; Eph. 2:4; James 5:11; 1Pet. 1:3.
Application
We too need to be merciful toward others.
3. Longsuffering
Longsuffering means God bears with evil and delays judgment (Ex. 34:6-7; Ps. 86:15).
Scripture
Ro. 2:4; 9:22; 1Pet. 3:26; 2Pet. 3:15.
Application
We are to bear with others the same way by the exercise of patient endurance, and longsuffering.
4. Love
Love means God is moved to self communication. God always seeks the highest good that of displaying His own glory. Love is that which seeks good for the object loved. Good equals the will of God. That which seeks the will of God in the object loved is the true evidence of love. Love also includes His voluntary affection not mere emotional impulse. Love is the very nature of God, the very structure of His being (1Jo. 4:8,16).
Objects of God's love.
God the Father loves God the Son (Mat. 3:17; Jo. 17:24).
God loves the world (Jo. 3:16; Ro. 5:8; 1Jo. 3:16).
God loves Israel (Deut. 7:7-8; Jer. 31:3; Ezekiel 16:8; Hos. 11:1). These verses should be taken as literal, national Israel not some misapplied figurative Israel some presume to be the church. The church is not in view in these verses.
God loves believers (Jo. 16:27; 17:23; 1Jo. 4:19)
Other Scriptures concerning the love of God include: Ps. 11:7, He loves righteousness. Is. 61:8, He loves justice. 2Cor. 13:11, He is the God of love.
Application
From this facet of God's goodness we should include the fact that nothing can separate us from the love of God (Ro. 8:35-39) for this reason we should also love the brethren (Gal. 5:26).
5. Grace
Grace is love that is exercised to the unworthy, this includes you and me, we are all unworthy of God's love. Grace is God's goodness manifested toward the undeserved, this also includes you and me we none of us deserve God's goodness. Grace is God's free actions on behalf of the unmerited, this once again includes you and me none of us can preform well enough to merit God's benifits to us. (cf. Titus 3:4-7)
Here are seven biblical areas of God's grace:
1. Salvation is a product of God's grace (Acts 18: 27; Eph. 2: 7-9; Titus 2: 11).
2. Election is the result of God's grace (Eph. 1: 4-6).
3. Redemption is the riches of God's grace (Eph. 1: 7-8).
4. Sanctification is the fruit of God's grace (Rom. 5: 21).
5. Preservation is God's grace perfecting His strength in our weakness (2Cor. 12: 9).
6. Service is the overflow of god's grace (Heb. 12: 28).
7. Grace is the result in that final presentation in (1Pet.1: 13).
Scripture:
Ephesians 2:8-10
Aplication:
Just as God has demonstrated His grace to us we should be gracious to one another; in our homes, in our churches, and in the world those we like and those we don't like, the lovable and the unlovable.
This concludes God's attribute of goodness. We have one more attribute to cover before I bring this segment to an end it is God's attribute of truth. See you next time.
Stay bright,
Brother John
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