Bible S2

Anthropology

B. why was man created?

God did not need to create man, yet he created us for his own glory.
what is our purpose in life?

C. Man in the image of God

the meaning of “image of God”
The fall: God’s image is distorted but not lost

1. man is not as fully like God as he was before -- his moral purity has been lost and his sinful character does not reflect God’s holiness 2. Human beings still possess the image of God

redemption in Christ: a progressive recovering of more of God’s image
at christ’s return: complete restoration of God’s image
specific aspect of our likeness to God

1. moral aspects

1. morally accountable before God 2. have an inner sense of right and wrong 3. we reflect our likeness to God in right behavior and our unlikeness to God in sin 2. spiritual aspects

1. we have immaterial spirits 2. we have a spiritual life and can relate to God 3. we are immortal 3. mental aspects

1. we can reason and think logically and learn 2. we can use complex, abstract language 3. we are aware of the distant future 4. we reflect God in our creativity 5. we reflect God in our emotional complexity 4. relational aspects

1. we have dep, interpersonal relationships 2. we reflect God’s nature in marriage 3. we reflect God in our rule over creation

Chapter 23: The essential nature of man

What does scripture mean by “soul” and “spirit”?

Are they the same thing?

trichotomy -- man is made of three parts (body, soul, and spirit)
dichotomy -- the view that man is made of 2 parts (body and soul/spirit)
monism -- man is only a physical body and cannot exist apart from the physical body

scripture seems to affirm dichotomy, but it also emphasizes the overall unity of man -- we have unity between body and soul

biblical data

scripture uses “soul” and “spirit” interchangeably
at death, scripture says either that the “soul” departs or the “spirits” departs
man is said to be either ”body and soul” or “body and spirit”
the “soul” can sin or the “spirit” can sin

\ arguments for trichotomy and responses to arguments

1 Thes. 5:23
Heb. 4:12
1 Cor. 2:14 - 3:4
1 Cor. 14:14
the argument from personal experience
our spirit is what makes us different than animals
our spirit is what comes alive at regeneration

1. Romans 8:10 2. Deut. 2:30; Dan. 5:20

conclusion

1. while these arguments have force, none of them conclusively overcome the wide testimony of scripture using the terms “soul” and “spirit” interchangeably 2. trichotomy is prone to some errors

1. it can result in a deprecation of the physical 2. it can have an anti-intellectual tendency 3. if we hold a view of dichotomy that upholds the overall unity of man, we can avoid these errors and we can be reminded to pursue Christian growth with every aspects of life

where do our souls come from?

creationism -- God creates a new soul for each person and sends it to that person’s body between conception and birth

traducianism -- the soul as well as the body of the child are inherited from the child’s parents at conception

pre-existentialism -- the souls of people exist in heaven long before their births, and God joins soul to body during gestation (not scriptural)

\ in favor of traducianism -

God created us with the ability to create other human beings like ourselves
Levi was “in the loins” of Abraham
God ceased creating on the seventh day

in favor or creationism

scripture depicts children as a gift from God
Scripture speaks of God giving/forming the spirit of man to the living

Common reasons for aversion

general tendency to minimize or deflect guilt
“I only act that way because that person”
general tendency to consider sin as an exception

How do we define SIN?

attitude or an action
committed or omitted
occasional or normal
caused or a condition

\ Ignorance

innocent (Heb. 9:7) and intentional (Eph. 4:18)

Error

Lev. 22:14 -- where a fine indicates culpability

Inattention

Mark 5:36 ; Heb. 2:2-3 -- ignoring

Matt. 18:17 -- refusing to listen

our unwillingness to be corrected by others is a sin in itself

Missing the mark

can be accidental in literal usage (Judges 20:16) -- almost always intentional and metaphorical

you intentionally miss the target -- our unwillingness to do God’s will

Transgression

crossing over, disobedience (Num. 14:41-42)
irreverence, impiety, and irreligion * lack of worship of God (typical in Romans and 2 Peter) * lack of obedience (matt. 7:23 ; 13:41 ; 23:28) * lack of righteousness (Col. 3:25)

Iniquity

a lack of integrity, willingness to pervert justice (Lev. 19:15)
rebellion and stubborn rebellion * typically rebellion against God (Isa. 1: 2, 20 ; 1 Tim. 4:1 ; Heb. 3:12) * persistence in rebellion (Deut. 21:18 ; Ps. 78:8)

Treachery

unfaithfulness (Lev. 26:40 ; Joshua 7:1 ; 22:20)
perersion * warping the image of God (Isa. 19:14 ; 21:3)
abomination * embracing reprehensibility (Duet. 12:31 ; 17:1 ; 18: 9 - 12)

Jesus condemns

sinful actions -- murder and adultery (Matt. 5:21 , 27)
sinful motives -- hate and lust (Matt. 5:22 , 28)
good actions driven by sinful motives (Matt. 6:2 , 5, 16)

Biblical terms commonly describing the fruit of sin

agitation and restlessness -- (Job 3:17 ; Isa. 57:20-21)
badness and harmfulness -- (Amos 6:3 ; Deut. 30:15)
guilt / owing restitution -- (Matt. 5:21-22 ; 1 Cor. 11:27)
trouble and misery -- (Hos. 4:5 ; 10:8 ; Prov. 22:8)

Sin is essentially sensuality?

this view well encompasses and explains some sins * sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, drunkenness and orgies (Gal. 5:19-21)
it ultimately fails to account for some sins -- jealousy
absolute control of physical desire does not equate to sinlessness

sin is essentially selfishness-ness?

many (maybe most) sins pour forth from our readiness to enthrone ourselves
this view ultimately fails to account for scripture’s appeal to self interest * “lay up for yourself treasures in heaven” - (Matt. 6:20) * “turn back from your evil ways; for why will you die, O house of Israel?” (Ez. 33:11)

]]sin is, in essence, displacing God]]

Scripture points toward our condition as sinners

We are sinners, not just people who sin

Our sinful nature is (nearly) universal

apart from Adam (prior to the fall) and Christ, every single person’s life is characterized by sin (Rom. 3:10)

Our sinful nature is absolute

we are, by ourselves, wholly unwilling to please God * Titus 1:15 * Rom. 7:18 * Eph. 4:18 * Jer. 17:9 * John 15:5 * Heb. 11:6

Subject to Scripture

why do I believe what I believe
can I substantiate my belief with scripture

what does it mean to be a slave to sin?

every part of our being is affected by sin -- our intellects, our emotions, and desires, our hearts, our goals, and motives, and even our physical bodies

How extensive is sin’s reach?

representation in Adam * Rom. 5:12 * Are you really better at Adam * If representation is unfair, Christ’s suffering is also unfair

How intensive is sin’s reach?

are we able to do good -- in their natural state * by what standard is it considered good?
If we use the biblical description we discussed last week, is there any human action, desire, thought or word that escapes infection * Ps. 14:3 * Ps. 143:2 * 1 John 1:8 - 10 * Rom. 7:18 * Titus 1:15 - 16 * Eph. * Rom. 8:7 - 8 * John 8:34
Isa. 64:6 - 7
Jer. 13:23
Rom. 14:23

Pre-Fall(Adam) primitive integrity	Post-Fall(unbelievers) Entire depravity	Reborn Man (believers) begun recovery	Glorified Man (believers in eternity) Consummate Happiness
Able to sin	able to sin	able to sin	<<Not able to sin<<
]]Able to not sin]]	not able to not sin	]]able to not sin]]	]]able to not sin]]

Pre-Fall(Adam) primitive integrity	Post-Fall(unbelievers) Entire depravity	Reborn Man (believers) begun recovery	Glorified Man (believers in eternity) Consummate Happiness
Able to die	able to die	able to die	<<Not able to die<<
]]Able to not die]]	not able to not die	]]able to not die]]	]]able to not die]]

In hell, would people die bc of the separation of God? What would happen to their physical and spiritual being?

Does Brad believe that there is a spot that God had made for the believers who were before people could go to heaven after they died? Before Christ came, died, and rose again -- there were people that believed in God, but died before they could go to heaven. Could there be a place where those people’s spiritual lives went before Christ came to earth?

Pre-Fall(Adam) primitive integrity	Post-Fall(unbelievers) Entire depravity	Reborn Man (believers) begun recovery	Glorified Man (believers in eternity) Consummate Happiness
Able to sin	able to sin	able to sin	<<Not able to sin<<
]]Able to not sin]]	not able to not sin	]]able to not sin]]	]]able to not sin]]
innocence	only inclined to sin, don’t have the power of contrary choice	inclined to sin, free to worship	only inclined to worship, loses freedom to sin, don’t have the power of contrary choice

We have free will, but we don’t have the power of contrary choice.

The person of Christ

Jesus Christ was fully God and fully man in one person, and will be so forever.

The humanity of Christ

Jesus Christ is fully man

1. virgin birth

1. Matt. 1:18 + 20 2. Luke 1:35

The doctrine of the virgin birth is important * it shows that salvation ultimately comes from the Lord and not from mere human effort (Gal. 4:4-5) * it made possible the uniting of full deity and full humanity in one person * it made possible Christ’s true humanity without inherited sin (Luke 1:35)

A. Jesus had a human body

he was born, grew, he became tired, he hungered and. thirsted, he became physically weak, and he died
he rose again in a perfected human body

B. Jesus had a human mind

he grew in wisdom, he learned obedience, and he had knowledge

{{do you think that Jesus came into the world knowing exactly how to do things? or if he learned certain behaviors?{{

C. Jesus had a human soul and human emotions

his soul was troubled, he wept, he was tempted, and he was sorrowful among other things

D. People near Jesus saw him as only a man -- Matt. 13:53-58

3. Sinlessness

Heb. 4:15
2 Cor. 5:21
He resisted temptation in the wilderness, whereas Adam sinned in the garden

Could Jesus have sinned?

1. scripture clearly affirms that Christ never actually sinned 2. it also clearly affirms that jesus was tempted, and that these were real temptations (Luke 4:2 + Heb. 4:15) 3. it also clearly affirms that God cannot be tempted with evil

why was Jesus’ full humanity necessary

1. for representative obedience (Luke 4:1-13 + rom. 5:18-19) 2. to be a substitute sacrifice (Heb. 2:16-17) 3. to be the one mediator between God and men (1 Tim. 2:5) 4. to fulfill God’s original purpose for man to rule over creation (Heb. 2:8-9 + Eph. 1:22) 5. to be our example and pattern in life (1 John 2:6; Rom. 8:29 + 1 Peter 2:21) 6. to be the pattern for our redeemed bodies (1 Cor. 15:12-57) 7. to sympathize as high priest (Heb. 2:18 + 4:15-16)

1. he knows the weaknesses of human because he’s been a human and has a human nature

Jesus will be a man forever

1. jesus did not give up his human nature after his death and resurrection 2. he ascended in his resurrection body, and will return in the same manner 3. he is now in the father’s presence as the son of Man 4. his divine nature was permanently united to his human nature, and he lives forever not just as the eternal son of God but also as jesus the man born of mary and as christ the messiah and savior of his people

The deity of Christ

direct scriptural claims

1. the word of God is used of Christ 2. the word Lord is used of Christ 3. The NT includes other strong claims to deity (Mark 2:8 , John 1:48, 16:30

{{evidence that Jesus possessed attributes of deity{{

1. he demonstrated omnipotence Matt. 8:26-27 , 14:19) 2. he asserted his eternity (John 8:57-59) 3. he demonstrated omniscience (Mark 2:8 , John 1:48, 16:30) 4. he possessed divine sovereignty -- he could forgive sins and speak with his own authority (Mark 2:5-7, Matthew 5:22) 5. he was immortal (John 2:19-22; 10:17-18) 6. he is worthy to be worshiped (Revelations 19:10 , Philippians 2:9-11)

Did Jesus give up some of his divine attributes while on earth?

1. Phil. 2:7 2. The Kenotic theory seems like a wrong interpretation

1. until about 1860, no theologian taught this 2. Paul does not speak of Christ giving up divine attributes 3. the text describes the “emptying” as a humbling of himself in the incarnation 4. Paul’s purpose is to teach humility, not to teach believers to give up their strengths or attributes 5. if such a thing took place, it seems like it would be taught repeatedly and clearly in Scripture, but it is not

Conclusion : Christ is Fully divine (Colossians 1:19 ; 2:9)
Is the doctrine of the incarnation “unintelligible” today?

1. it is a paradox, but not incoherent or unintelligible

Why was Jesus’ deity necessary

1. Only someone who is infinite God could bear the full penalty for all the sins of all who would believe in Him 2. salvation is from the Lord

The incarnation: deity and humanity in the one person of Christ

[[three inadequate views of the person of Christ[[

1. apollinarianism: in one person, Christ had a human body but a divine mind and spirit

1. this was rejected because our whole person needs salvation (not just our bodies) Christ had to be fully and truly man if he was to save us (Heb. 2:17) 2. don’t think of Jesus as half and half 2. nestorianism: there were two separate persons in Christ

1. this was rejected because Scripture portrays Christ as a single person acting in wholeness and unity 3. monophysitism (Eutychianism): christ had one, new, third kind of nature, made up of a mixture of human and divine natures

1. this was rejected because it made Jesus Christ neither truly God nor truly man

The solution to the controversy: the chalcedonian definition of AD 451

1. “We, then, following the holy Fathers, all with one consent, teach men to confess one and the same Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, the same perfect in Godhead and also perfect in manhood; truly God and truly man, of a reasonable soul and body; consubstantial with the Father according to the Godhead, and consubstantial with us according to the Manhood; in all things like unto us, without sin; begotten before all ages of the Father according to the Godhead, and in these latter days, for us and for our salvation, born of the Virgin Mary, the Mother of God, according to the Manhood; one and the same Christ, Son, Lord, only begotten, to be acknowledged in two natures, confusedly, unchangeably, indivisibly, inseparably; the distinction of natures being by no means taken away by the union, but rather the property of each nature being preserved, and concurring in one Person and one Subsistence, not parted or divided into two persons, but one and the same Son, and only begotten, God the Word, the Lord Jesus Christ; as the prophets from the beginning have declared concerning Him, and the Lord Jesus Christ Himself has taught us, and the Creed of the holy Fathers has handed down to us.”

combining specific biblical texts on Christ’s deity and humanity

1. one nature does some things that the other nature does not do

1. His human nature aged; his divine nature is eternal (Luke 3:23) 2. his human nature was tired; his divine nature is omnipotent (Matt. 8:24-27) 2. anything either nature does, the person of Christ does (John 5:58; 1 Cor. 15:3) 3. brief summary sentence: “remaining what he was, he became what he was not” 4. communication of attributes

1. from the divine nature to the human nature -- Christ’s human nature gained a worthiness to be worshipped and an inability to sin 2. from the Human nature to the divine nature -- Christ’s divine nature gained an ability to experience suffering and death, an ability to experience what we experience, and an ability to be our substitute sacrifice. 5. conclusion

1. this is the most amazing miracle of the entire Bible 2. the infinite, omnipotent, eternal son of God became man and joined himself to a human nature forever, so that infinite God became one person with finite man

Could Jesus know what it’s like to sin without experiencing sin?

The Atonement

Who did Jesus die for?

hear the gospel, repent and believe and must have fruits of the spirit coming produced

Can’t jesus still draw them in to hear the gospel and prompt a life change?

Atonement

the atonement is the work Christ did in his life and earth to earn our salvation

The cause of Atonement

the ultimate cause of the atonement is the love and justice of God * John 3:16 -- explaining the condition, but not the who (the number) * it’s because of love God is doing this * Romans 3:25-26 * why: because of love * Bigger picture of why he did it the way he did: because He is just

the necessity of the atonement

God did not need to save anyone at all (2 Peter 2:4)
the atonement is absolutely necessary as a consequence of God’s decision to same some human beings (Matt. 26:39 ; Luke 24:25-27; Romans)

the nature of the atonement

Christ’s obedience for us (sometimes called his “active obedience”)

1. Christ had to live a life of perfect obedience to God in order to earn righteousness for us (Phil. 3:9) 2. His perfect obedience becomes our positive moral righteousness (1 Cor. 1:30)

Christ’s sufferings for us (sometimes called his passive obedience)

1. suffering for his whole life 2. the pain of the cross

1. physical pain and death 2. pain of bearing sin 3. abandonment 4. bearing the wrath of God 3. Further understanding the death of Christ

1. the penalty was inflicted by God the Father (2 Cor. 5:21) 2. not eternal suffering but complete payment (Isa. 53:11) 3. the meaning of the blood of Christ (1 Peter 1:18-19) 4. Christ’s death as “penal substitution” -- he bore a penalty in our place 4. new testament terms describing different aspects of the atonement

1. sacrifice : we deserve to die, but he died (heb. 9:26) 2. propitiation : we deserve God’s wrath, but he bore it (1 Jn 4:10) 3. reconciliation : we are separated from God, but he reconciled us to the father (2 Cor. 5:18-19) 4. redemption : we are in bondage to sin, but he has freed us (Mark 10:45) 5. other views

1. the ransom to satan theory - the view that Christ paid the ransom to Satan 2. the moral influence theory - the view that Christ died to teach us about God’s love 3. the example theory - the view that Christ died to teach us to truth God 4. the governmental theory - the view that Christ died to show us how bad sin is

what does it mean when christians say we’re be atoned and we’re apart of atonement?

natural ability * there are some things that a person may truly desire, et they are not able actualize their desire because they are biologically / physically / constitutionally limited

\ \

God’s justice

God’s just nature requires him to judge all sin. He cannot be unjust in any sense.
Christians have all sinned but they do not experience judgement. They experience God’s grace. * God’s grace is not unjust because Christ paid the penalty for sin.
Must God give an ‘equal’ amount of grace to all people in order to be just? * Grace, by definition, cannot be required.

Justification

an instantaneous legal act of God in which he * thinks of our sins as forgiven and Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us and * declares us to be righteous in his sight

A. Justification includes a legal declaration by God

to justify -- to declare righteous * forensic -- having to do with legal proceedings
Rom. 3:20
Rom. 3:26
Rom. 3:28

B. God declares that we have no penalty to pay for our sin

forgiveness makes us morally neutral, but does not give us favor with God
forgiveness of sins is simply one part of justification

B.2 God also declares that we are righteous in his sight

God must declare us to actually be righteous in his sight
God impute Christ’s righteousness to us as the other part of justification

C. God thinks of Christ’s righteousness as belonging to us

imputation is central to the heart of the Gospel, and it has happened twice already * God imputed Adam’s sin to us * God imputed our sin to Christ

D. God can declare us to the be just because he imputes Christ’s righteousness to us

if justification changed us internally, and then we are declared to be righteous based on how good we actually were in life * we could never be declared perfectly righteous in this life because sin still remains in our lives * there would be no provision for past sins committed before we were changed internally, and hence no confidence before God
The Roman catholic view of justification is that it changes us internally and makes us more holy within * begins at baptism * it is infused, not imputed * people cannot be sure they are in a state of grace * people can experience varying degrees of justification * our eternal life with God is based both on God’s grace and our merits

E. Justification come to us entirely by God’s grace, not on account of any merit in ourselves

Rom. 3:20
Rom. 3:23-24
Eph. 2:8-9

F. God justifies us through our faith in Christ

Scripture never says we are justified because of the inherent goodness of our faith * our faith does not have merit before God * our faith is the means or instrument of justification
why faith? * it is the one attitude of the heart that is the exact opposite of depending on ourselves (Rom. 4:16; Eph. 2:8-9)
practical implications of this doctrine * genuine hope to unbelievers who know they could near make themselves righteous before God * confidence that God will never make us pay the penalty for sins that have been forgiven on Christ’s merits (Rom. 8:1)

Adoption

A. adoption is an act of God whereby he makes us members of his family

Scripture Evidence

John 1:12
Rom. 8:14 - 17
John 20:17
I John 3:1-2

B. Adoption follows conversion and is an outcome of saving faith

C. adoption is distinct from justification

regeneration and justification * regeneration makes us spiritually alive and able to relate to God * Justification has to do with our standing before God’s law
Adoption * adoption makes us members of God’s family with the privileges of family membership * adoption has to do with our relationship with God as our father

D. the privileges of adoption

we can speak to God and relate to him as a good and loving father
God loves us
God understands us
God takes care of our needs
God gives us many good gifts
God gives us the Holy Spirit
God gives us a great inheritance in heaven
we are led by the Holy spirit
God disciplines us as his children
We can share in CHrist’s sufferings and subsequent glory

There are privileges to adoption that affect how we relate to one another and our personal conduct

we are all members of one family
we are to imitate our father
we can honor our father

Perseverance

Can true Christians lose their salvation?

The perseverance of the saints means that all those who are truly born again will be kept by God’s power and will persevere as Christians until the end of their lives, and that only those who persevere * John 6:38-40 * John 10:27-29

a. all who are truly born again will persevere to the end

Rom. 8:1
Rom. 8:30 * salvation is the result of God’s eternal purpose in predestination and his working those purposes out in life * Paul speaks of our glorification as already accomplished
Eph. 1:13-14 * Guarantee here means “deposit” or “pledge” * this represents “a payment which obligates the contracting party to make furter payments”
Phil. 1:6
1 Peter 1:3-5

b. only those who persevere to the end have been truly born again

1 Peter 1:5
John 8:31-32
Matt. 10:22
Col. 1:22-23
Heb. 3:14
We should not think that assurance that we belong to Christ is impossible until we die
continuing in faith is one means of assurance * the purpose of these passages is to warn those who are thinking of falling away or who have fallen away that this is a strong indication that they were never saved in the first place * 1 John 2:19

c. those who finally fall away may give many external signs of conversion

Judas must have acted almost exactly like the other disciples, otherwise they would have suspected him when Jesus warned of his approaching betrayal -- Matt. 26:22
Paul frequently speaks of false brethren - Gal. 2:4; 2 Cor. 11:15; 26
Jesus describes false believers who exorcise demons and prophesy and perform mighty works -- Mat. 7:21-23
Jesus describes some who initially respond with interest, but finally fall away -- Mark 4:1-20
Jesus also describes branches that are connected to him in some way, but which do not bear fruit and are cast out -- John 15:1-11
Hebrews describes some who appear to be Christians but ifnally fall away (Heb. 6:4-12; 10:26-31)

d. what can give a believer genuine assurance?

do i have a present trust in Christ for salvation?

1. present faith in Christ stands in contrast to a testimony to a conversion decision from 20 or 30 years ago 2. true faith will be active to this very day

is there evidence of a regenerating work of the Holy spirit in my heart?

1. the subjective testimony of the Holy spirit bearing witness in our hearts that we are God’s children 2. the fruit of the Holy spirit 3. \ 4. do I have love for other Christians? 5. Am I actively involving myself in Christian fellowship

Do I see a long term pattern of growth in my Christian life?

1. 2 Peter 1:5-10

\ \ \

Glorification

when will we receive resurrection bodies?

A. NT evidence for glorification

Paul describes our glorification and our resurrection body in detail * Other passages * 1 Thes. 4:14-17 * John 5:28-29 * John 6:39-40 * Rom. 8:11 * Phil. 3:20-21

B. OT support for glorification

Jewish people at Christ’s time expected a resurrection (John 11:23-24; Acts 24:15)
Hebrews says that Abraham and other OT saints expected a resurrection (Heb. 11:1) * OT passages anticipating a resurrection * Job 19:25-26 * Psalms 49:15 * Isaiah 26:19 * Daniel 12:2

C. What will our resurrected bodies look like?

1 Cor. 15: 42-44; 49
imperishable * will not wear out, grow old, be subject to sickness / disease
in glory * they will no longer be dishonorable or unattractive but rather glorious in appearance (Matt. 13:43; Dan. 12:3)
in power * they will be given fullness of strength and power
spiritual * this is not “nonphysical” but rather “consistent with the character and activity of the holy spirit”
like him * we will be like Christ ethically and physically
what kind of continuity will there be between our present bodies and our resurrection bodies? * Paul anticipates considerable continuity (Rom. 8:11; Phil. 3:21; 1 Cor. 15:37; 51-53) * Christ was not immediately recognized, but he was recognizable (Luke 24:13-32; John 20:16; 19-20; Matt. 28:9) * People in heaven will apparently recognize and know one another (Matt. 8:11)

E. The unbelieving dead will be raised for judgement on the day of final judgement

John 5:29
Acts 24:15
Daniel 12:2

The Church

The Universal Church

“The Church is the community of all true believers for all time.”

“The invisible church is the church as God sees it.”
“Christ loved the church and give himself up for her.”
“I will build my church.” (Matt. 16:18)
“gather” -- qahal
“assembly” -- ekklesia

The Local Church

Churches as Christians on earth see them

Not non-christians -- does not include heretics, false teachers, or or nominal Christians * “To the church of God which is at Corinth.” * “To the church of the Thessalonians.” * “and the church in your house”

Post reformation view

“congregation of the saints in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the sacraments are rightly administered”

Grudem’s View

In the church, the Gospel is proclaimed
In the church, the sacraments are upheld
The church exists for worship * Col. 3:16 * Eph. 5:18-19
The church exists to nurture believers * Eph. 4:12-13 * Col. 1:28
The church exists to evangelize and show mercy * Matt. 28:19 * Gal. 6:10 * Luke 6:35-36

A legacy of American Christianity

churches embracing the social liberalism of FDE schleiermacher and an altered gospel
churches embracing the traditional evangelicalism of Billy Graham and a previous culture
churches embracing the seeker-sensitivity of Bill Hybels and comfortable church

\ \

Baptism

Who should we baptize?

anyone?
anyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ?
Everyone who professes faith in Jesus Christ?
children of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ?
Should people be baptized again?

The Testimony from church history

Purposes offered, in the first few centuries

forgiveness of sins
deliverance from death
regeneration
gift of the Holy Spirit
Renunciation of Satan
Identification with Christ

by the fourth century, a period of catechesis was required prior to baptism, typically lasting 3 years.

\ The paedobaptists case

Acts 22:16
Titus 3:5 * baptism prefigures the washing of regeneration * baptism has replaced circumcision as the sign and seal of the covenant (Col. 2:11-12) * unless scripture expressly states otherwise, the principles of circumcision carry to baptism

\ \

Qualities of a church

Non-negotiable

doxological

1. oriented to the glory of God

Jesus Christ as the word

1. centered on Jesus 2. and the authority of his word

being numa dynamic

\ \ Doxological

praise or knowledge of God
centered on the glory of God
everything that we’re supposed to do is to be to the glory of God

Romans 1:16-25

power of God for salvation
wrath * doxological vs man praised and man praised * creation vs creator * exchanged the glory of the immortal God

\ Logocentric

centered on the word * John 1:1 * Word of God
centered on the headship of Jesus

2 Tim. 3:15

purpose of the scripture: all scripture makes you wise unto salvation to Jesus Christ
does the church believe this? * through the preaching * if it wasn’t preached to its purpose to point you towards salvation -- then you haven’t been preached to

\ numa dynamic

“spirit” “powered”
the work of the Holy Spirit
each person is gifted in a way to help nourish believers * we are equipped with something to bless others with your gifts that will be beneficial towards others
the church is gifted to make the church operate
people are gathered and nourishing one and other through their gifts

Marks Of A Healthy Church

Biblical Theology

what we want to be true vs what is true * church over the body of God
we ought to worship God as He is, not as we want him to be * if there is a difference between what we wish God was and what Scripture reveals to Him to be, we must: * mould our understanding of God to reflect Scriptures * not mould our theology to reflect our inclinations
it’s easy to find agreement on the place of the NT in building a biblical theology, look for churches that employ the OT well

God Creates

God creates Adam and Eve * man steadily disrupts the order God created -- the fall, Cain and Abel, the Flood and then the tower of Babel
God creates a people for himself in Abraham * man steadily disrupts the order God created -- slavery in Egypt, wandering in the wilderness and then judges
God creates a kingdom in david and solomon * the kingdom divides, idolatry becomes routine, the assyrian captivity, the babylonian captivity and the destruction of Jerusalem

God is Holy

recognizing the fundamental separation between God and the people he created -- our sin and His Holiness
the need for atonement * passover lamb (Exodus 12; leviticus 16) * ultimate need for the Christ
misunderstanding regarding the separation caused by sin and the need for atonement will always lead to an altered Gospel

God is Faithful

God introduces himself to Moses * Exodus 34:6-7

A Healthy Church

does not treat aspects of Scripture as outdated or irrelevant
recognizes that all scripture reveals truth about God * the OT reveals God as One who exemplifies creativity, relationship, order, long suffering, mercy, holiness, love, sovereignty and faithfulness
a church that ignores aspects of Scripture is refusing to accept God’s revelation about Himself * there is a difference between embracing the OT and moralizing from the OT

Text

be intensely weary of a church that makes you the center of Scripture

The Gospel

the Gospel must be proclaimed and celebrated * the Gospel in its entirety * The Gospel unadulterated
Sin -- our rebellion against God * James 2:10-11
Sin is not recu ed to a problem among many
sin is not treated lightly
sin is not confused with its consequences

Christ crucified -- for sinners

penal substitutionary atonement
repentance
belief * knowledge of facts, assent, trust
forensic justification
salvation unto godliness
The Gospel is not lightly held
The gospel does not reduce our view of God to a few attributes
the gospel is not confused -- there is nothing taken from it or added to it
the gospel saturates every aspect of the church’s ministry
the gospel is freely extended

\ Who engages in Evangelism

It’s a command for all Christians, not for professionals * Acts 8:1-4 * Continues with evangelism in Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, with men from Cyprus and Cyrene going back to the Greeks in Antioch (Acts 11:19-21)

the church is a place for people to come to consume rather than being employees

Who?

tell everyone “with honesty that if they repent and believe they will be saved.”
tell everyone with urgency
tell everyone with joy
use scripture
recognize the importance of individual and corporate testimony
pray

Evangelism is not

a change oriented testimony * did anything point to Christ * point of the testimony life change or social interaction
social action vs Gospel work * promoting ministries that will make an impact in 500 years
apologetics * growing vs faithful * faithfulness brings growth, but growth doesn’t mean they’re faithful
fruit of evangelism * 2 Cor. 2:15-16