THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THEOLOGY

THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF THEOLOGY

2003

LESSON TWO

The Number of Religions in the World (p. 9 et.seq.)
1. Prior discussion there are not many.
2. There are only two essentially different religions.
  1. The religion of the Law (i.e. reconciliation through works).
  2. The religion of the Gospel (i.e. faith in Lord Jesus Christ).
3. Christian religion
  1. Has divine mandate to displace all other religions.
  2. Mt 28:19.
  3. Denies the right of existence to all other religions.
  4. Only it has saving power.
4. Modern days’ concept of religion.
  1. Seeks to be all-embracing.
  2. Their “definitions” (e.g. “the personal relation of man to God”).
    1. trying to make two essentially different religions one.
    2. Disguising opposition between grace and works.
  3. Other attempts.
    1. modern psychology of religion.
    2. historico-religious school.
    3. philosophy of religion.
    4. scientific theology.
5. Jn 8:31.
The Sources of the Two Existing Religions (p. 19 et. seq.)
1. Religion of the Law.
  1. Of human origin.
  2. After fall, man still had a knowledge of the divine Law.
    1. Ro 1:32.
    2. Ro 2:14,15.
  3. The heathen have an evil conscience because of their transgressions. (Ro 1:32)
  4. They propose to reconcile the Deity through works, morality, self-devised worship, sacrifices, etc. (Ac 17:23)
  5. Is the religion of the flesh (Gal 3:3)
2. Religion of the Gospel
  1. Of divine origin.
  2. Deals with things not out of man. (1Co 2:9,10)
  3. Conceived in the eternal counsel of God.
  4. Known only through God’s revelation in the Word.
    1. 1Co 2:8.
    2. Ro 16:25-27.
  5. Introduction of works, whether partly or wholly, for obtaining God’s grace requires reclassification to “man-made”.
The Cause of the Divisions within Visible Christiandon ((p. 21 et.seq.)
1. It’s strange that divisions appear.
2. Christian Church.
  1. Has one principle of cognition.
  2. Namely, His Word.
  3. Jn 17:20.
  4. Eph 2:20.
3. Not due to climate, or race, etc.
4. Solely due to men within church who did not continue in the Word.
  1. Proclaimed their own word.
  2. Thereby, impaired the specific difference of the Christian Church (justification by faith, without the deeds of the Law.)
  3. 1Co 14:37,38.
  4. Remains the sole cause of divisions.
5. Roman Catholic body.
  1. Sets Scripture aside by insisting that its sense can only be ascertained through its interpretation, ultimately the Pope’s.
  2. Expressly and emphatically anathematizes the central doctrine of the Christian religion.
6. Reformed denominations.
  1. In practice, forsake the Scripture principle.
  2. As far as follow Calvin and Zwingli, operate with rationalistic axioms.
  3. State that reason must have voice in determining doctrine.
    1. means of grace: argue not befitting the Holy Spirit and sever Him from His means.
    2. is in effect a reversion to Romish “infused grace”.
    3. Deny the real presence in the Supper.
    4. Calvinistic theologians: argue for particular grace, not universal grace.
    5. Arminian: argues for universal grace but at the expense of “grace alone”, arguing for human co-operation.
7. Synergistic Lutherans.
  1. Argue for “right conduct”, “self-assertion”, “self-determination”, “lesser guilt in comparison to others”.
  2. Same as Arminian “co-operation”.
8. All these divisions due to brazen denial of the divine authority of Scripture.
  1. Unity of the Church is a unity in the truth.
  2. Jn 8:31,32.
  3. Whether a “liberal” or “positive” theologian, refusing to accept Scripture as the principle of knowledge, the source and norm of doctrine.
9. Christian faith can not exist side by side with:
  1. Refusal to accept Scripture as the Word of God.
  2. Denial of His vicarious satisfaction.
  3. Not if men reduce their teaching to practice.
10. Need to remember this “evil disposition” is within all of us.
  1. He alone establishes and preserves unity in the Christian doctrine.
  2. Jn 17:11,12.
  3. Jn 17:15.
  4. Jn 17:20,21.