“But sanctify the Lord
God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that
asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (I Peter
3:15)”
I.
Theology
1.Means “the study of, or idea of God”
2.Comes from two Greek words
i.
Theo,
which means “God”
ii.
Logos,
which means “word, study, science, or idea”
3.According to Strong’s “Theology is
the science of God and the relations between God and the universe”
4.According to Towns, “Theology is the
study of God from all sources, while Doctrine is the study of God that arises
from the Bible.”
II.
5
Important things to Remember
1.We must avoid pre-conceived ideas or
traditions. Only the Holy Ghost can
really make us free from this (Mk 7:7-9; Matt. 15:9)
2.Inspiration must be accepted above
that which a man can reason out on his own.
The authority of the Bible comes because of its Author.
3.Present day experiences (visions
& revelations) must be judged by the Word of God and not the other way
around (Isa. 8:19 & 20).
4.Doctrine is fixed. Many things today are in a state of change
but Bible truths are not (Heb. 13:8; Ps. 119:89).
5.We must check our mental and moral
attitude. Are we willing to be
convinced? We must have a teachable, not
gullible spirit (Acts 17:11; Lu. 16:31).
III.
3
Reasons why theology is limited
1.The human mind is finite and limited
(Job 11:7-9)
2.The inability of the human language
to describe the things of God.
Comparisons and associations are the only way tat a person can tell the
things of God.
3.The silence of the Word of God on
certain subjects should make us cautious to speak (Deut. 29:29).
IV. 10 reasons why we study theology
1.
Correct doctrines are essential to
salvation (1 Tim.
4:16).
2.It supplies the need to have an authoritative and systematic statement of
truth. The Bible is not structured in a way as to
represent all the facts on a single subject at one time.
3.It provides a solid Christian foundation (1 Peter 3:15). The foundation is the most important part of
a building.
4.A proper understanding of theology protects against error (Matt 22:29; Gal. 1:6-9; Eph. 4:14
& 15; 2 Tim. 4:2-4). II Peter 3:16
describes those who are unstable. Those
who are unlearned are apt to be unstable.
5.It provides guidelines for Christian conduct and living.
It is essential to understand doctrine for the full development of
Christian character. This not only gives
us a standard but furnishes us with motives for living those standards (1 John
3:3; Heb. 4:13). Right living without
correct doctrine will provide nothing in eternity. Men will act according to what they believe
(2 Tim. 3:10). Doctrine should lead to
life, theory to practice (Job 11:4).
Pure doctrine can be tested by the purity of life it produces.
6.It is a necessary part in our establishment as a Christian teacher.
It fits us to speak a word in season to him that is weary (2 Tim. 4:2;
2:15; Titus 1:9).
7.It is necessary if we are going to propagate Christianity (Matt. 28:20). Doctrine demonstrates the difference between
Christianity and paganism. The truth is
employed to produce experience. Then
experience gives us a new appreciation for the truth. Christianity does not seek to add Christ to
their list of gods but to show them the truth of Who Christ is and their need
to serve Him.
8.The deeper our convictions and the firmer our persuasion of the truth,
the more intensely earnest we shall be (John 6:66-69; Heb. 11:25 & 28). Our degree of commitment is directly
proportional to our faith and our persuasion of the truth.
9.We are instructed to contend for the faith (Jude 3). We must know what the faith is before we can
contend for it. Hebrews 6:1 & 2
gives us a beginning statement of the Apostle’s doctrine.
10.
Doctrine establishes fellowship
between believers (Amos
3:3; 1 John 1:6 & 7). The measure of
common light will determine the measure of fellowship. 2 John 1:9 & 10 reveals that there are
essentials that decide if we can fellowship with one another.
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