Systematic Theology, Chapter 34

Regeneration, an act of God where he imparts a new spiritual life in us.  (also called being born again).

Just like we did not choose to be physically born, so do we not take an active role in regeneration.   Both the New Testament and Old Testament speak of this....

Ezekial says, "A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you."
John 1 says, "we were born not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of God , but born of God."

Regeneration occurs first, and then effective calling.

Effective calling is God speaking powerfully to us, and regeneration is God working powerfully in us, to make us alive.

Heard of the word, irresistible grace? This is similar, and shows the power of God to reach into our lives and change us from the inside out.

We were spiritually dead, and also "dead in our sins," and later we are a new creation, alive in Christ.

Whether you are raised in a Christian family or go from ragged sinner to saved, there is a point of salvation on both situations, wher eGod awakens spiritual life within.

THAT change will become evident over time in patterns of behavior and desires that are pleasing to God.

What kind of results?

• heartfelt trust in Christ for salvation, 
• assurance of forgiveness of sins
• desire to read the Bible and pray
• delight in worship
• desire for Christian fellowship
• desire to be obedient to God's word in Scripture
• desire to tell others about Christ. 

John 6, "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him." 

Acts 16, "The Lord opened her (Lydia's) heart to give heed to what was said by Paul." 

1 John 3, "no one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God's seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning because he has been born again of God." 

Grudem says, "when we are asked to characterize a regenerated persons life, the adjective that comes to mind should not be "sinner," but rather something like, "obedient to Christ or obedient to Scripture."  

As regenerated, there is also protection from Satan, as 1 John 5 says, "the one who was born of God keeps him safe, and the evil one cannot harm him." 

Systematic Theology, Chapter 33

The Gospel call and effective calling.

Romans speaks of how God first predestines, then calls, then justifies, then glorifies.  Is there a definite order in how salvation should go about?

God calls us in a way that is not a mere human calling, but a sort of "summons" from the King of the universe.  It is an act of God that guarantees a response, as God does the work in justifying us.

Effective calling, an act of God, through the human proclamation of the gospel, in which HE summons people to himself in such a way that they respond in saving faith.

A general gospel call is the crying out to all people to repent and believe in the gospel, offered to all people, even to those who do not accept it.

The elements of the gospel call:
1. Explanation of salvation.  (All have sinned, penalty is death, Christ died to pay that penalty)
2. Invitation to respond personally in repentance and faith. (Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest).   We cannot cling any more to our sin, but willingly renounce it in genuine repentance.
3. Promise of forgiveness and eternal life.

Are there points that we have missed normally in sharing the gospel? Do we know the key verses needed to share clearly?

Next week, regeneration.

Systematic Theology, Chapter 32

Election and Reprobation.

Election occured when God decided to choose us to be saved before the foundation of the world.

They are not elected because of any foreseen merit, but only because of his sovereign and good pleasure.

Is predestination in the Bible?
Acts 13:48, "And as many as were ordained to eternal life believed."
Romans 8:28-30, "Those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his son...."
God chose Jacob over Esau, according to Paul, not because of anything they had done, but that God's purpose of election might continue.

Eph 1:4-6, "He chose us in him before the foundation of the world,"

And the list goes on....

Election should be a:
1. comfort.  An assurance. Past, present, and future, God has acted for our good.
2. A reason to praise God. We cannot take pride, but simply thank God for saving us.
3. An encouragement to evangelism. We may go forth confidently, knowing that God has chosen some people to be saved from every folk and people.

Misunderstandings of election.
1. Is it fatalistic? (i.e., we have no choice in the matter) In a true fatalistic system, our humanity is destroyed as our choices mean nothing, and there is no motivation for moral accountability. The Bible speaks many times about "come to me," or "they refuse to come," thus putting a personal willful choice into the mix.
   God doesn't just know a person is "elect" because he can see in the future, but rather that he knew from the beginning of the world.
   Scripture shows that we are not elect because of any redeeming factor in us, but rather purely for Christ and what he did.  We are chosen by grace, so that we can see that there is no merit in us or as God's basis for choosing us. Salvation is all about grace and not about human ability!

If God makes us in a certain way and then tells us that our voluntary choices are real and genuine choices, then we must agree that they are.  God is the ultimate definer of truth.

When people "who never had a chance to believe" rejected God, then he blames them in their willful choice to reject him.   "You refuse to come to me that you may have life."

Election is unfair?  True fairness would be for God not to save anyone.   This question reaches deep into our understanding of ourselves as creatures and of our relationship to God as our creator.   We have no right to tell God what he should be doing in our finite person.

God says in his word that he wills to save everyone.
1 Tim 2:4, God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.
2 Peter 3:9  The Lord is not slow about his promise as some count slowness, but is forbearing towards you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
Ezekiel 33:11, As I live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked will turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, o house of Israel?

next week, The Gospel call and effective calling.

Systematic Theology, chapter 31.

Common grace, those undeserved blessings given to all people.

"How can God continue to give blessings to sinners who deserve only death?"

Yes, God gives innumerable blessings that are not part of salvation to all people.

In the Physical realm, God's provision through nature, plants, etc.  Matthew 5 says, "He makes his sun rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

In the intellectual realm, God allows knowledge, truth, and even an awareness of God's existence for all mankind.

In the moral realm, common grace restrains people from being as evil as they could be. Their conscience provides some moral restraint.

In the creative realm, we can see artistic and musical skill poured out on both believers and unbelievers.

In the societal realm, family structure, human government, and other organizations are a way of holding order, and expressions largely of the common grace of God.

In the religious realm, God may out of his common grace answer the prayers of unbelievers, and asks us to love and pray for those who persecute us.

Common grace and special grace (to salvation) influence each other.  By common grace, our churches could be built, our Bibles printed, etc.  And by special grace, believers can influence and bless their communities.

YET, Common grace does NOT save people, i.e. it does not change the heart or bring repentance and faith.

Why should non believers get God's grace?
1.  To let them live and have time towards salvation, and also that their children might be saved.
2. Demonstrating God's goodness and mercy.   When God is kind to the ungrateful and the selfish, his kindness is revealed in the universe, to his glory.
3. Demonstrating God's justice. God gives many opportunities to come to him, and thus no one will be able to object that God was unjust.
4. Demonstrating God's glory. We reflect the wisdom of our creator, in our skills, moral virtue, etc.  These are tainted by sinful motives, but the original creator reflection shines through.

"As i live, says the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn back from his way and live. "   Ezekiel 33:11.

"God desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth."  1 Timothy 2:4.

What is our response?
When we see our non believing friends do good, we should see God's hand in it and be thankful for common grace.  At the same time, we should realize that no amount of God's common grace is equivalent to saving grace.
Not just the immediate nature and creation of God, but all that has come from the abilities given by common grace allow us to thank God.  He created the flowers, yes, but he also gave the talent to the carpenter who made our house, etc.  And we don't deserve any of it!

Systematic Theology, chapter 30

The work of the Holy Spirit.

Always an interesting topic!

Definition:  The work of the Holy Spirit is to manifest the active presence of God in the world, and especially in his church. ....the one present to do God's work in the world.

Already in Genesis 1:2, "the Spirit of God was moving on the face of the waters."

The Holy Spirit manifests Gods presence in the new covenant age.

The Holy Spirit brings God's blessing in the following ways:

1. Empowers.
   Gives and sustains both physical life and spiritual regeneration.
   Empowers God's people for service.
       Although the Holy Spirit was involved in Old Testament people's lives, it is much more clear in the New Testament.  "You shall recieve power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you...."
      Gives spiritual gifts to Christians for service.  "When spiritual gifts are active, it is another indication of the presence of God the Holy Spirit in the church."

2. Purifies.
   The Holy Spirit sanctifies us and cleanses us from sin.  He gives us the fruit of the spirit, which makes us more Christ-like.

3.  Reveals.
   Revelation of God's words to the apostles and prophets.
   Gives evidence of God's presence.  
   Guides and directs God's people. We as Christians need to take the example of the New Testament as the Holy Spirit clearly led his people, and have the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives.  This is not just a matter of following scripture and common sense, but also being aware of the blessing or lack of peace as one goes about life.
   He provides a Godlike atmosphere when he manifests his presence.
   He gives us assurance.
   He teaches and illumines. He helps us remember his word, and helps us understand God's word.
   The Holy Spirit unifies.
   The Holy Spirit gives stronger or weaker evidence of the presence and blessing of God according to our response to him.  (are we sinning and quenching the spirit). 

Systematic Theology, chapter 29

I just want to say first, that I am pretty surprised at myself that I have made it more than halfway through this massive book!  621 pages down....


Now we are at chapter 29, The Offices of Christ.

Among the people of Israel, there were three major offices, prophet, priest, and king.

Christ fulfills all three of these offices.


1. Prophet:
    Prophets in the Old Testament spoke God's words to the people.  Often people in the New Testament spoke of Jesus as a prophet when they didnt know much about him, but saw something great from him.

The Epistles never call Jesus a prophet, but points out that Jesus is special as he is "the son."

They almost avoid calling Jesus a prophet, as he is so much more than that.  He is the one that all the prophets spoke about who was coming, thus putting him on a whole different level.  Jesus was also not merely a messenger of God's revelation, but the source of revelation from God.

Instead of saying, "thus says the Lord," but Jesus could say, "I say unto you."

2.  Priest
   In the Old Testament, priests were the ones who offered sacrifices on behalf of the people.  They made the people acceptable to come into God's presence.

As priest, Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice for Sin.   He continually makes it possible for us to come into God's presence.

As priest, Jesus continually prays for us. He is the only one who is perfectly suited as man and God, to understand and pray on our behalf.

3.  King.
Jesus was king, but his kingdom was not "of this world."  He is the king of kings and lord of lords.

There are parallels for us.  Adam was a prophet in that he had true knowledge of God and spoke truthfully about God and his creation.  Adam was a priest who could come before God (before the need for a sacrifice for sins).   Adam and Eve were also king/queen in the sense that they ruled over the creation around them.

After sin entered, those three offices were removed from Adam and Eve. Others took up the role throughout history, but often they were also sinful and corrupt in their jobs.

When Christ came, he did and does perfectly fulfill those three roles.

As Christians, we can imitate Christ in these roles, as we "prophetically" proclaim the gospel to the world, and prophetically proclaim God's truth to others.  We also are priestly in the sense that we can offer sacrifices of praise to God and come before him.   We are also kingly in that we share the kingly reign with Christ, and have been given limited authority.

Systematic Theology, Chapter 28

Resurrection and Ascension

Jesus resurrection was not the same as Lazurus, in the sense that his resurrected body would never again taste decay or death.  He was the first fruits of a new kind of life, in which the body was made able to live eternally.

His body was human in the sense that he could touch, be touched, eat, etc.   Yet he could also appear and disappear quite suddenly.

Could it be, as Murray Harris suggests, that Jesus' resurrection body could go between physical and immaterial at will?  One minute he is flesh and blood, another minute walking through walls?

Scripture does not require this, and does not expressly say so, so we are walking a tight line if we make this conclusion ourselves.   The main point of scripture seems much more focused on how the resurrection body and Christ's later return are of a physical body.

Furthermore, the "new Jerusalem," is often focused on as a place for real physical bodies to be, not just spirits and angels.  What God made in the beginning, physical bodies, was very good, and we should not think necessarily that heaven and the new Jerusalem will be "body-less."

What significance does this have to us?  Paul says that the power by which God raised Christ from the dead is the same power at work within us.  "you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus."

Christ's resurrection insures our justification, and also that we will receive a perfect resurrection body.

The resurrection of Christ gives us also a future hope, and encourages us to live with this heavenly reward as our goal, continuing steadfastly in the Lord's work.

As Jesus ascended to heaven in his physical resurrection body, we can affirm that he went to a "place."   "...In my father's house there are many rooms," etc.   We cannot say where heaven is, but we can see indications that heaven is a place in the space-time universe.

Christ sits at the right hand of God in heaven, showing his dramatic completion of redeptive work, and also an indication that he has authority over the universe.

What a glorious Christ we serve.