Featured The Nature of Theology

TC Said:

Does not the gospel teach that, without Christ, men are depraved?

Or that man is saved due to no merit of his own?

Or that salvation is only for believers?

Or that grace draws the lost to Christ?

Or that a saved person is preserved unto the end?

I agree and not trying to turn this into a Arminian/Calvinistic debate... But all these existed in the written gospel those taught by Jesus Christ and the Apostles, disciples and teachers he set aside to carry on his work on down through the ages... The accusatory finger is pointed at the Calvinist brethren saying this is a Calvinist Theology as opposed to other theologies... No so and as I have said many times in the past Calvin coined TULIP but he did not, no way, ever write the gospel... The 5 points TC laid out are biblical truth and gospel... That to me is the true gospel that put Jesus Christ as our all and all... Anything less than that is the theology of man not of God!... Brother Glen

 

All through the Bible from the Old to the New it is Jesus Christ not John Calvin!... Brother Glen

 

Theology is the study of God. We believe that the study of scripture is our best method of studying God.
Neither Calvinism nor Arminianism correctly presents scripture as plainly written. No need to go through that again.

We believe Jesus is God and therefore believe in the Trinity.
We believe God exists eternally, without a beginning or end.
We believe God was not caused by anything and therefore is the uncaused cause of everything.
We believe God is everywhere and is all powerful.
We believe God knows everything He chooses to know, but can also choose not to know things, like the sins He has forgiven. Some deny this truth based on their own theology.

God's justice is sure but sometimes is tempered with mercy. Praise God.

 

Ha ha... oh my goodness Tom...great point!

 

Hi Jonc,

I don't think your two 'If so's' that precede this above statement follow or flow into your next 'If so' shown above. You may have gotten 'If so' happy? If not, can you explain how it does because I don't see how it fits?

Also, since I am fully aware of the errors ('flawed understandings' per you) of Arminianism (or so-called) it would be honest of you to not just label Calvinism as flawed, but explain as to why.

I also wish you'd use the Word more often in your interactions.

Of course there is only one Gospel; Galatians 1:8ff. Some say there are two. Scripture disagrees with this false dichotomy.

To so-called or alleged 'Arminians' (who are generally not but are non-Calvinists) to me, and to many others, and I believe according to Scripture as well, preach a truncated gospel message. This message guarantees a person heaven, a retirement in the heavens that is guaranteed on the basis of a prayer too many times.

This is preached instead of preaching the vital need of a Savior who will save them from their sins, and change their life now, Matthew 1:21, Romans 6:1ff of the evidence of sanctification being necessary, Hebrews 12:14; of the necessity of repentance, Mark 1:15, Acts 2:38, Acts 17:30; and the necessity of a change via true conversion, 1 John 1:1ff; 1 Corinthians 5:17. Instead men are guaranteed something wonderful to happen.

When they die.

But nothing transforming has to happen at this point, as evidence of conversion is generally mocked in this 'other gospel' message.

 

I'm arriving a bit late but hopefully not too late.

Not necessarily, on that last point, there are other disciplines of theology as TCassidy noted...and some others on top of his. While systematic theology has helpfully provided appropriate categories of theological study, it is not inherently the default method of inquiry.

It is reasonable to suggest that all disciplines of observation and inquiry are bound by multiple horizons (limitations) of which being human is one of the most difficult to overcome. Our theological inquiry, while grounded in and directed by Scripture isn't limited to what is contained in the 66 books. Other theological disciplines helpfully explore how we can rationally, logically, and evidentially come to knowledge of God when coupled with Scripture. As a note, this is where the discipline of theological prolegomena is helpful.

God's revelation is, indeed, objective but the challenge is that mankind's observation and interpretation of that revelation isn't so set.

To the first question, undoubtedly. Special revelation has been given and we can encounter that special revelation as we study Scripture. As for the second, there is no discipline or system that is without taint of the limitations of mankind nor the results of the Fall.

Just as a note, I'm also a believer that general revelation also provides us access to the nature and character of God...though not exhaustively.