Grudem - Systematic Theology Notes

Systematic Theology

Purpose: to provide the men of our church a one page summary of twelve of the main doctrines of the faith so as to be better equipped

? to know God, to love him, and to be conformed to Christ' image

? to fulfill our God-given leadership role at home and at church o by explaining and modeling the things of God to our wife, kid(s) and / or in the covenant community of the church.

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Table of Contents1:

Introduction - Why would we want doctrine? ..........................................................................................................................................3 I. The Doctrine of the Word of God ..............................................................................................................................................................5 II. The Doctrine of God (Part 1)........................................................................................................................................................................7 III. The Doctrine of God (Part 2) ......................................................................................................................................................................9 IV. The Doctrine of God (Part 3)...................................................................................................................................................................11 V. The Doctrine of Man .......................................................................................................................................................................................12 VI. The Doctrine of Christ ...................................................................................................................................................................................15 VII. The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit & the Doctrine of the Trinity ........................................................................................17 VIII. The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption (Part 1)....................................................................................................19 IX. The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption (Part 2)......................................................................................................23 X. The Doctrine of the Application of Redemption (Part 3).......................................................................................................25 XI. The Doctrine of the Church ......................................................................................................................................................................27 XII. The Doctrine of the Future.......................................................................................................................................................................29 Appendix ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................31

Question 1: Authority in the Trinity .....................................................................................................................................................31 Question 2: Could Jesus have sinned?................................................................................................................................................33 Verse Handouts for Each Section ............................................................................................................................................................34

II. The Doctrine of God (Part 1) ...........................................................................................................................................................36 III. The Doctrine of God (Part 2) ..........................................................................................................................................................42 IV. The Doctrine of God (Part 3) .........................................................................................................................................................48 V. The Doctrine of Man ..............................................................................................................................................................................53 VI. The Doctrine of Christ .........................................................................................................................................................................57 VII. The Doctrine of the HS & the Trinity .....................................................................................................................................60 VIII. The Doctrine of Redemption (Part 1)......................................................................................................................................63 IX. The Doctrine of Redemption (Part 2)........................................................................................................................................66 X. The Doctrine of Redemption (Part 3).........................................................................................................................................69 XI. The Doctrine of the Church.............................................................................................................................................................73 XII. The Doctrine of the Future .............................................................................................................................................................76

Originally taught at Fremont Evangelical Free Church, Brothers In Christ (BIC) men's study, 2009 Second Saturday Study Notes

1 Wayne Grudem's Systematic Theology, Zondervan, 1994 provides the basis for the materials for this

course for the men. Direct quotations from these materials as well as other sources are footnoted.

The Thesis paragraph of each section, the outlines of each doctrine, and anything in direct quotes are

right from the materials and are not normally footnoted but shown with the following marking: "(G5)".

This means that the quote is from Grudem's book page 5.

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Introduction - Why would we want doctrine?

What is systematic theology? ? "It is any study that answers the question, 'What does the whole Bible teach us

today?' about any given topic. This definition indicates that systematic theology involves collecting and understanding all the relevant passages in the Bible on various topics and then summarizing their teachings clearly so that we know what to believe about each topic" (G21). Why study theology?

1. Jesus commands it - evangelism includes teaching ALL that Christ taught. Matt 28:19-20 2. For our joy and the benefits to our lives.

a. Helps us overcome wrong ideas; b. Helps us to be able to make better decisions on new questions arising about doctrine; c. Helps us grow as Christians (2 Cor 3:17-18 - we become what we behold; we most clearly behold the glory of God in the face of Christ (2 Cor 4:1-6) and that is what the HS uses to make us like Him; d. These words are our life (Deut 32:46-47b) and our joy (Deut 6:5, Ps 139:17, Ps 19:8, 119:8, 14, 103, 111 and 119:162). May God make His word this joy to us! 3. The Imperatives (the commands of Scripture) are grounded in the indicative (the facts, i.e. who we ARE in Christ): The present reality of what and who believers are in Christ becomes the basis for godly and holy living. A few texts that illustrate this dynamic are Rom 6:5-14; Col 3:1-11; Titus 2:11-14. Moreover, godly living comes from a true knowledge of God and Christ (2 Pet 1:1-15). 4. Is our theology Biblical? Everyone has doctrine, that is why we make the choices in life we make. The question is not do we want doctrine. We have it. The question is, "Is our doctrine Biblical?"

What is the role of the teacher and of the listener during this study?

Role of the teacher: 1. How to read the map? Introduce categories of thinking where we can organize and understand God's revelation of Himself in his word; have a place holder or outline to have other things fit in later as we mature and hear other teaching - where does it fit / go? 2. See these doctrines in the verses: this is not a philosophy course. We must be diligent to see these truths not as abstract thoughts but right from the text of God's inspired Scriptures. 3. Lead to Christ: all the Scripture is about Christ and leads up to Him and is fulfilled in Him. Role of the listener: 1. Know God: long for Him is his word ( 1 Pet 2:1); salvation is knowing God ( Jn 17:3) 2. Learn how to read the "map" 3. Tell these truths to others: start with your wife (Eph 5:___ wash her in the word) and kids (Eph 6:2 fathers train them in the fear of the Lord) and to the church (___)

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The "verse-veto": in asking questions, make sure that you have a verse or passage you reference and not just man's philosophy.

No pain, no gain": we think it absurd to say that I am going to get bigger arms by watching TV. exhortation to less TV and more "blood, sweat, and tears" by God's grace ( 1 Cor 15:10) and for his glory.

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I. The Doctrine of the Word of God

Intro: What are the different forms of the Word of God? 1. as a person: Jesus Christ (John 1:1-5), Heb 1:1-2 God has spoken THROUGH His son). 2. as speech by God: His decrees from His mouth (Ps. 33:6), His personal address (Matt 3:17), His word through human lips (Jer 1:9, 1:7), and His words in written form (Is 30:8).

The Cannon of Scripture: What belongs in the Bible and what does not belong? ? Old testament canon - writings of Moses deposited in to the ark of the covenant

(Deut 31:24-26), and written down through Israel's history (1 Sam 10:25), 1 Chron 29:29, Jer 30:2) ? New Testament canon ? The 27 books that make up the New Testament were never declared by men as the Word of God. These books were already the Word of God. Men simply came to recognize them as inspired. The official New Testament canon was formed in 387 AD at the Council of Carthage primarily under the influence of Athanasius.

The Four Characteristics of Scripture

I. Authority - "How do we know that the Bible is God's Word? All the words in Scripture are God's words in such a way that to disbelieve or disobey any word of Scripture is to disbelieve or disobey God" (G p.73). (Scripture is authoritative because its source is God, 2 Pet 1:20-21) II. Clarity - "Can only Bible scholars understand the Bible rightly? No, as Spurgeon has said, Scripture is shallow enough for a child to wade in and deep enough to drown an elephant. (Acts 17:11; Bereans understood Scripture and tested Paul; Scripture is clear, but requires hard work when interpreting it; 2 Pet 3:15-16) III. Necessity - "For what purpose is the Bible necessary? How much can people know about God without the Bible? The Bible is necessary for knowing the gospel, for maintaining spiritual life, and for knowing God's will, but is not necessary for knowing that God exists or for knowing something about God's character and moral laws" (G116). Rom 1:18-32 says that God has revealed Himself to all people through nature, conscience, and the lesson book of Israel. It is enough to justly damn every non-believer, but it is not enough to save them - only the hearing of the gospel of Jesus Christ saves people. (Rom 10:9-10; 2 Tim 3:14-15) IV. Sufficiency - "Is the Bible enough for knowing what God wants us to think or do? Scripture contained all the words of God he intended his people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains all the words of God we need for salvation, for trusting him perfectly, and for obeying him perfectly" (G127). (2 Tim 3:16-17)

The Inerrancy of Scripture: Are there any errors in the Bible?

"Scripture in the original manuscripts does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact" (G90). Four implications if we do not believe the Bible is Inerrant (G100):

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