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Archive for the ‘theology’ Category

Whiplash

Posted in Baptist Catechism, General, theology, Work of Jesus on November 9, 2025| Leave a Comment »

From the glories of heaven incessantly praised by angels, willingly and purposefully submitting to the humility of vulnerability and dependence as a baby, pains of bruised knees, cut fingers, hunger and thirst, conflicts, turmoil, misunderstood, disrespected, denied, accused, rejected, falsely condemned, suffered, died, descended, raised, ascended, seated, “highly exalted” because He emptied Himself, “becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.” Brothers and Sisters in Christ, this is nothing short of positional and experiential whiplash: exalted…humbled…highly exalted, and all for our good. We joyously add praise to His name for His grand and gracious rescue!

Question 31: What do we mean by Christ’s humiliation?

Answer: By Christ’s humiliation we mean that he was born, and that in a low condition; that he was made under the law, and underwent the miseries of this life, the wrath of God, and the cursed death of the cross; that he was buried, and continued under the power of death for a time.

Luke 2:7; Galatians 4:4; Isaiah 53:3; Luke 22:44; Matthew 12:40; 27:46; Philippians 2:8; Mark 15:45-6.

Question 32: What do we mean by Christ’s exaltation?

Answer: By Christ’s exaltation we mean his rising again from the dead on the third day, ascending up into heaven, sitting at the right hand of God the Father, and coming to judge the world at the last day.

1 Corinthians 15:4; Acts 1:11; Mark 16:19; Acts 17:31.

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Priest and King

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Gospel, Person of Jesus, theology, Work of Jesus on October 29, 2025| Leave a Comment »

In the last entry we considered that the offices of prophet, priest, and king are the means and authority by which our Redeemer Christ accomplished our grand rescue. Jesus is the only one in Scripture who fulfilled all three offices. Some, like David who was both prophet and king, fulfilled two offices, but only Christ fulfilled three.

Now we consider the offices of priest and king (1).

Who can imagine a priest who crawls up onto the altar? That is what Jesus did, becoming the sacrifice as well as the mediator and intercessor before the Father, and a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek (2).

As sovereign king, He has power to bring about all that He has purchased for us. “For You were slain, and purchased for God with Your blood men from every tribe and tongue and people and nation.” (Revelation 5:9) Thus, He rules over His church as Head (3), indeed “over all rule and authority” (4), and will at last rule visibly over all the earth and then forever (5).

Question 29: How does Christ perform the office of a priest?
Answer: Christ performs the office of a priest by once offering himself as a sacrifice to satisfy divine justice, and to reconcile us to God; and by making continual intercession for us before God.

1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2: 17; 7:25; 9:28; Ephesians 5:2; Romans 8:34.

Question 30: How does Christ perform the office of a king?
Answer: Christ performs the office of a king, in subduing us to himself, in ruling and defending us, and in restraining and conquering all his and our enemies.

Psalm 110:1-2; Matthew 2:6; Luke 1:32-33; 1 Corinthians 15:25.

  1. For an introduction and consideration of Christ as prophet, click on “Kinsman-Redeemer“.
  2. Psalm 110:4, Hebrews 5:6, 6:20, 7:17.
  3. Colossians 1:18
  4. Colossians 2:10
  5. Daniel 7:14, Revelation 20:4, Daniel 2:44

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2-in-1

Posted in Connotations, Doctrine, Faith, General, Gospel, Grace, Person of Jesus, Salvation, theology, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , , , , on October 1, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Consider the mystery of Christ’s nature. Theologians refer to the hypostatic union of His divine and human nature. Hypostatic is a fancy word composed of “hypo”, underneath, and “stasis”, position. It means what is underneath all else, essential, or foundational, and by extension, unchanging.

I remind you that a catechism is an abbreviation of the a confession, just as a confession is an abbreviation and condensation of the essential truths of the Scriptures. In chapter 8.2 of the 1689 London Baptist Confession it says, “that two whole, perfect and distinct natures were inseparably joined together in one person.” How mysterious and wonderful it is that eternal, divine nature eternally takes on a second human nature, now equally essential to the divine. By this act, Jesus has exalted redeemed mankind far above all other created things, angels included. He cares about us more than we can imagine.

In this description of Christ’s human nature, the writer of the catechism included the following explanation: “Christ, the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul.” This explanation was added to refute heresy that claimed Christ only appeared to have a body (1). “A true body” is not ethereal or substance of a spirit; it is flesh and bone. “A reasonable soul” means He had normal reasoning abilities of the mental, emotional capacity of His being.
So, being Spirit conceived and virgin born are not mere niceties for telling the story of Christ’s arrival. They are essential doctrines for our salvation. By reason of Spirit conception, He is divine without having Adam’s sin nature passed down through an earthly father. His divine nature enabled Him to bear the wrath of God on our behalf. By reason of His virgin birth, again the lack of sin nature, but also gave Him the judicial right to pay the penalty for our sins in our place.
Our security rests in the very double nature of our Savior. The grace of our loving Lord is all sufficient because He was and is all sufficient for the task of saving and sustaining all those He bought and brought to Himself. Praise be to the God-man, Jesus the Christ, our Savior and Lord.

Question 26: How did Christ, being the Son of God, become man?

Answer: Christ, the Son of God became man by taking to himself a true body and a reasonable soul. He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit in the womb of the Virgin Mary, and was born of her, yet without sin.

Hebrew 2:14, 4:14, 7:26; Matthew 26:38; Luke 2:52; John 1:14, 12:27; Luke 1:31,35; Colossians 2:9

  1. This heresy is called Docetism which many Gnostics held to.

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Federal Headship

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Consequences, Faith, Forgiveness, General, Grace, Judgment, Salvation, theology, Work of Jesus, tagged , , , , , , on April 27, 2025| 1 Comment »

“In Adam all die,” (1), the Scripture says. It is a matter of federal headship, one representing many, and in this case all. It doesn’t seem fair that I should die for someone else’s sin, but I don’t want fair, because then we would all be in a world of hurt (2). I want grace. Therefore, I am thankful for federal headship, because you and I, brothers and sisters in Christ, are counted alive spiritually and will one day be glorified because of the salvific work of one man, our federal head, Christ Jesus. And that goes for anyone who believes in the Lord Jesus (3), “for whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (4)

Besides all of this accusation of the unfairness of God in applying Adam’s federal headship, it matters little for judgment ultimately, since each and every one of us has committed very own multiple sins, except the perfect God-man, Jesus, the Anointed One (Christ, Messiah) of God. Each of us is guilty in his own right and accountable before God.

Question 20: Did all mankind fall in Adam’s first sin?
Answer: All mankind, descending from Adam by ordinary generation, sinned in him, and fell with him in his first sin.
1 Corinthians 15:21-22; Romans 5:12, 18-19.

Question 21: Into what condition did the fall bring mankind?
Answer: The fall brought mankind into a condition of sin and misery.
Psalm 51:5; Romans 5:18-19; 7:18; Isaiah 53:6; 64:6; John 3:6-7; Ephesians 2:1-3; 1 Corinthians 2:14.

  1. 1 Corinthians 15:22
  2. Hell
  3. Acts 16:31
  4. Romans 10:13

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Declared and Done

Posted in Baptist Catechism, God Thoughts, theology, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 19, 2025| Leave a Comment »

Our two catechism questions for today are like two sides of the same coin. What God decrees, He accomplishes; nothing accomplished is outside of His decree; both proceed from His will. Because of this connection, His decree and accomplishment through creation and providential care are so inseparable that they are hard to talk about separately. Consider Psalm 115:3: “But our God is in the heavens; He does whatever He pleases.” What He “does” is create and providentially guide, and what He “pleases” is His decree proceeding forth from His will, which cannot be overcome or questioned (1).

It is good to mention the Christian definition of providence. Rather than being an impersonal hand of an absentee manager as the Agnostics (notably Deists) and nominal Christians fancy it, providence is the care, control, and rule of an involved, benevolent Father God. Being a giver of good gifts (James 1:17) and “righteous in all His ways” (Psalm 145:17), He is not fickle, changeable, vindictive, or trifling. He is good. Foreordain is a word meaning simply to “appoint or decree beforehand.” (2) Certainly, He is an omnipotent and omniscient God to be able to pull off what He decrees (3). All glory be to Him.

Question 11: What are the decrees of God?
Answer: The decrees of God are his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby for his own glory, he has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.
Ephesians 1:11; Romans 11:36; Daniel 4:35; Isaiah 46:10; Psalm 115:3; Amos 3:6.

Question 12: How does God execute his decrees?
Answer: God executes his decrees in the works of creation and providence.
Genesis 1:1; Revelation 4:11; Matthew 5:45; 6:26; Acts 14:17: Proverbs 16:9, 33; 19:21; 20:24; 21:1, 31

  1. Job 42:2
  2. https://www.bing.com/search?q=define+foreordain&FORM=DCTSRC
  3. all powerful and all knowing

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3 in 1

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Faith, God Thoughts, theology, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 11, 2025| Leave a Comment »

3 in 1 Multipurpose Oil (1) was as much an assumed part of a household when I was growing up as toast for breakfast. Its ability to “clean, lubricate, and protect” (1b) was as multi-purposed as Jell-O and Duct Tape (2). But all of these examples are uses rather than essentials of existence.

Deuteronomy 6:4, called the Shema (“to hear”) in Hebrew, says, “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord is one!” It does not merely say that there is one God, but it also communicates that God is a unity, one in essence. However, 2 Corinthians 13:14 says, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with you all,” and all are declared to be God in various places. How can there be one God who has three parts?

In reality, He doesn’t have three parts which is heresy (3). Instead, God is three persons, one in essence. Language and logic cannot fully explain or grasp triune God, three in one. It is true, the Bible teaches both the trinity and unity (4) of God in both the Old and New Testaments, and therefore, we believe it and declare it.

Thus, the catechism asks…

Question 9: Are there more Gods than one?

Answer: There is only one living and true God.

Deuteronomy 6:4, Jeremiah 10:10, Psalm 96:4-5.

Question 10: How many persons are there in the Godhead?

Answer: There are three persons in the Godhead: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; and these three are one God, the same in essence, equal in power and glory.

1 Corinthians 2:11, 8:6; John 1:1, 10:30, 14:9, 20:28; Acts 5:3-4, Matthew 28:19, 2 Corinthians 13:14, Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 1:3,8.

  1. a) https://www.fohbc.org/PDF_Files/3-In-One_Oil_CMunsey.pdf and b) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-in-One_Oil
  2. a) https://www.kraftheinz.com/jell-o/recipes and b) https://allusesof.com/electricity/19-uses-of-duct-tape/#:~:text=19%20uses%20of%20duct%20tape%201%201.%20Remove,Squeeze%20Toothpaste%20in%20their%20tube.%20…%20More%20items
  3. Either polytheism or modalism
  4. Though some skeptic will immediately point out that the words trinity and unity appear nowhere in the Scriptures, being labels for concepts clearly taught.

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Epistemology

Posted in Assurance, Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Faith, General, God Thoughts, Questioning, theology, Truth, Work of the Holy Spirit, tagged , , , , , , , , , on November 27, 2024| Leave a Comment »

How do we know? How do we know we know?

I would like to propose a definition of “know”: to perceive and be convinced of truth. Since truth is what is in accordance with fact or reality rather than what is thought to be, knowing something that is not true is not knowing but believing something to be true that isn’t. This definition of truth accepts that truth is an absolute, not a perception or belief apart from reality.

So, back to the question: How do we know? How do we know that what we believe and claim to be true is in fact true? Not being omniscient, we must rely on (believe, hold presuppositions) sources of truth. Evidence for the truthfulness of a source is important. There are two types of evidence: internal and external. Question 5 of the Baptist Catechism gives both concerning the Christian’s source of truth.

Question 5: How do we know that the Bible is the Word of God?

Answer: The Bible evidences itself to be God’s Word by the heavenliness of its doctrine, the unity of its parts, and its power to convert sinners and to edify saints. But only the Spirit of God can make us willing to agree and submit to the Bible as the Word of God.

The internal evidences are “heavenliness of its doctrine” and “the unity of its parts”. The former points to its high view of God and accurate view of man. The latter demonstrates its internal consistency even in the light of 40 authors in 66 books over 1500 years.

The external evidences are its “power to convert sinners” and “[power] to edify saints”. Lives are changed. This is the reason that personal testimony is so important and persuasive. The Bible is not just a set of facts and rules. It is a life-giving change agent. Other external evidences such as scientific discoveries, archaeology, logical arguments, historical confirmations, and answers to prayer, are useful, removing barriers to open-minded skeptics, but the Word of God opened to us by the Spirit of God is our only solid, unchangeable, ruling source of truth and knowledge.

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Infallible

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Doctrine, Experience, Faith, General, theology, tagged , , , , , , , on November 22, 2024| Leave a Comment »

Can you think of anything infallible? There are certainly things that are trustworthy and consistent, but only two things are truly infallible, God and His Word.

Question 4: What is the Word of God?
Answer: The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments, being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice.
2 Peter 1:21; 2 Timothy 3:16, 17; Isaiah 8:20; Matthew 5:17- 18; 1 Corinthians 2:13; Psalm 19:7-8.

Contained in a limited 66 books of Old and New Testament as witnessed by internal evidence (1), these were then confirmed by the church fathers and counsels as the whole of the Bible, the Word of God (2).

This communication from God is most narrowly declared to be the “only infallible rule”. Only is quite the exclusive word and declaration. Cannot experience or conscience or reason or observation or evidence also be used? These may only be used as they agree with and confirm what the Word of God says, but all of these other rules are fallible. They do not hold a candle to the brightness in trustworthiness of God’s Word. We must submit to this Bible as our rule, our guide, our instructor and manager, the very words from our King.

To what part of life does the Scripture apply? It should have full reign over “faith and practice”, belief and conduct, which includes perspective, intention, speech, emotion (3) Right practice arises from right belief and right belief arises from right teaching which arises from truth which arises from the Word of God. If you base your faith and practice on any other foundation, you will be led astray and ruined.

God’s Word is declared to be truth by Jesus: “Your Word is truth.” (John 17:17b) The source of God’s Word is the inspiration of God resting upon the biblical authors (2 Timothy 3:16), directed or moved by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:20-21).

In a world awash with truth claims from Empiricism to Historicity to Existentialism to Spiritism, the Bible stands out by boldly claiming to have an exclusive corner on truth. Jesus, as its author and defender, claims Himself to be “the way, the truth, and the life, no one comes to the Father except through Him.” (John 14:6) All other truths, for the devout follower of Christ, are considered true to the extent that they line up with the Word of God.

May our practical (actual lived out) theology grow in alignment to our stated (what we argue for) theology.

  1. “Thus says the Lord”, 2 Peter 3:14-16, “The word of the Lord came to me saying”, John 5:37, 12:49, etc
  2. https://www.historyinthebible.com/supplementary_pages/church_fathers.html, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Development_of_the_New_Testament_canon
  3. In all of this list, our ability to perfectly align our faith and practice to God’s Word is beyond our capabilities, and no more so that in our short-term emotional responses, but we can do as David did, pour out our woes and come around to declaring God’s goodness, righteousness, and provision.

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First Things

Posted in Baptist Catechism, Blessing, General, God Thoughts, theology on November 17, 2024| Leave a Comment »

As we began the catechism questions in the worship service, The Catechism starts off with questions of highest import.

Question 1: Who is the first and best of beings? Answer: God is the first and best of beings.
Isaiah 44:6; Psalm 8:1; 96:4; 97:9, 1 Samuel 2:2

First has more than one meaning. Chronologically it means first in time, or in this case, eternity. Additionally, it means first in position, rank, or accomplishment, as it says in Isaiah 44:6-7a: “Thus says the Lord, the King of Israel and his Redeemer, the Lord of hosts: ‘I am the first and I am the last, and there is no God besides Me. Who is like Me? Let him proclaim and declare it…”

He is best: “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth, who have displayed Your splendor above the heavens!” (Psalm 8:1) Being best of beings extends far beyond power and glory. “There is no one holy like the Lord…” (2 Samuel 2:2a) Holy is so unreachable and unfathomable to us. We can better understand and appreciate a best being who “…is righteous in all His ways and kind in all His deeds.” (Psalm 145:17)

He is best at being best, that is, He is best at any and all areas of which you may think.

Question2: What is the chief end of man? Answer: Man’s chief end is to glorify God and to enjoy him forever. 1 Corinthians 10:31; Psalm 16:11, 37:4, 73:25-26; Isaiah 43:7

What is our purpose for existing, our reason to remain alive, the goal around which we should center our lives? The answer given is twofold when the question asks for just one. I think that they are really one answer given from two perspectives, God’s and ours. Enjoying God, while obviously a great benefit to us, is the ultimate way to glorify God. Our passion of enjoyment of Him communicates more solidly than words that He is valuable and worthy of my attention, worship, witness, relationship, obedience, and our whole life. The more I cherish and desire Him, the more He is glorified. Therefore, do not look at your belief in God as a responsibility to be fulfilled but a relationship to be sought out.

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“R” Theology

Posted in Doctrine, General, Obedience, Piety, Sanctification, theology, tagged , , , , on November 11, 2023| Leave a Comment »

The elder preached from Nehemiah 8 last Sunday. Ezra read the book of the Law to all Israel. They and we need it regularly read and preached to us because we dismiss or diminish its authority and efficaciousness (1) in our lives. He further pointed out that this passage is very frequently used to promote and instruct on expositional preaching. To read, explain, and exhort with the Word is the pattern for expository preaching. The passage also speaks of God’s people’s 1) need of the Word, 2) requiring the leadership to read the Word, 3) requirement to obey the Word, 4) need to speak with a unified voice from preachers, teachers, to all church members and parents on the truth of the Word, 5) need to understand the Word, and 6) response to the Word.

It was on the sixth point that my mind started musing as he unpacked it. In good preacher language, he proceeded to alliterate the process of God returning His people to Himself in “r’s”. The “r’s” caught my attention for two reasons. Firstly, I have been ruminating on the very idea for quite some time. Secondly, he said one minor thing that I disagreed with based on that rumination, namely that rejoicing is the endpoint. To be fair, when I asked him about it afterwards, he agreed with me, saying that it was effectively an intermediate endpoint since he could not preach the whole of Nehemiah in one sermon. So, his sermon helped me to complete the following diagram which had a few holes beforehand.

A continuing reverence for God and His Word will not prevent the need for repentance but it will reduce the depth of repentance needed as you keep short accounts and avoid presumptuous, chronic, and devastating sins. Also, as regular disclaimer for my diagrams, this is not the only way God may draw you back to Himself. It may be in a different order with additional or less steps. These are merely major signposts of restoration (2). Without spoiling the diagram by over-explanation, I offer this one clarification. One, saved or unsaved, may recognize (3) the message of revelation to their heart but not repent. He/she may never or just delay repentance as he/she resists the work of the Holy Spirit. So with all of the steps, the time across the arrows may vary greatly. May God bless us as we seek to draw nearer to the burning center (4) of His presence.

  1. efficaciousness- successful in producing a desired or intended result; effectiveness- the degree to which something is successful in producing a desired result; success
  2. That could have been the title!
  3. We call it conviction (of sin).
  4. Allusion to “The Burning Center” by John Piper

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Overflows from the Heart

"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart…" Matthew 15:18

CreatorWorship

Pointing to the One who made, saved, and sustains