Christian Doctrine Study Guide Teacher: Rev. Charles L. Johnson III Copyright 2010 All Rights Reserved

Transcription

1 Christian doctrine is vital to the life and growth of the believer. There are two important facets to the application of Christian doctrine: First, consolidation of spiritual faith, and second, energizing the spiritual life of the individual. The New Testament enforces teaching, knowledge, understanding, and certainty in matters of faith. Jesus said to the Jews on one occasion, "Search the scriptures: for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me." (St. John 5:39) The message of salvation, instruction in righteousness, and source of power toward maturity (perfection) is the Word of God. We are admonished to study, take heed to, and continue in the doctrine of the Word of God. Our understanding of Biblical doctrine and our ability to communicate the message of Christian doctrine will largely determine our ability to make disciples Of all men. It is important to also recognize false teachings, the doctrines of error. Our knowledge and understanding of Biblical doctrine will enable us to make the distinction between truth and error. 1

2 Basic Definitions 0f Doctrinal Terms The Christian Revelation - [Gk.] apokalypsis - the uncovering or unveiling of that which pertains to Christ. Faith - the ability given to man to believe and grasp the revelation of God and the blessings inherent in Him. The Faith - the sum of Christian teaching, the body of truth. Religion - the ordering of one s life, conduct, and character, reflecting one s beliefs. Theology - the study and description of the revelation of God. Biblical Theology - the use of close textual study and all possible aids to understand the Bible s original meaning. Dogmatic Theology - the use of various Biblical evidences to unify and systematize in order to show the interrelation between doctrines and shed light on a particular theme. Apologetic Theology - defends the faith against critical attack. Polemic Theology - refutes doctrinal error. Confession - the formal exposition of the official standards of belief of a particular denomination or tradition of the Church. Dogmatic - a form of confession that frequently uses concepts not explicitly expressed in the Bible in order to explain or vindicate the full implications of scattered Biblical Data. 2

3 I. Historical Considerations Our understanding of Christian doctrine has been influenced by the Early Church Fathers who came together during the first eight centuries of Church history to discuss the issues facing the Church. The consequences of these holy gatherings were the confessions of faith and creedal statements that define and classify churches. A. Nicaea - [325 A.D.] Arius, a priest of Alexandria, taught that Christ was not coequal and coeternal with God the Father, for the Father had created Him. This belief was referred to as Arianism. The council of Nicaea was called by Constantine, the first Christian Emperor of Rome, to refute Arianism. The statement of beliefs produced by the council at Nicaea was called The Nicene Creed. B. Constantinople I - [381 A.D.] Apollinarius, Bishop of Laodicea, taught that Christ was not fully human. Therefore, Christ was not tempted at all points like we are. Gregory of Nazianzus, Archbishop of Constantinople summoned the council to refute Apollinarianism. C. Ephesus - [431 A.D.] Nestorius, Bishop of Constantinople, taught that there were two persons joined in Christ. Cyril of Alexander, Bishop of Alexandria, refuted the heresy of Nestorianism. He sent a letter to Constantinople that included twelve anathemas. D. Chalcedon - [451 A.D.] Eutyches, an elderly monk of Constantinople, taught that there was only one nature in Christ (in relationship to the divinity and humanity of Christ). Flavian, the Archbishop of Constantinople, presided over the Council of Chalcedon. The council condemned Eutychianism, Apollinarianism, and Nestorianism. E. Chalcedon II - [553 A.D.] This council was summoned to deal further with Nestorianism. The specific works of three Nestorian theologians (Theodore of Mopsuestia, Theodoret of Cyrus, and Ibas of Edessa) were condemned. 3

4 F. Constantinople III - [680 A.D.] This council was summoned for further clarification of the Council of Chalcedon. II. Chief Theological Differences A. Protestant During the Reformation Period, certain churches broke away from the papacy of the Roman Catholic Church. These groups of churches affirm the Reformation principals of justification by faith alone, the priesthood of all believers, and the final authority of the Bible. B. Roman Catholic The group of churches that exist under papal obedience, believing in Papal infallibility, the necessity of keeping the seven sacraments, and a body of dogma that includes a veneration of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and transubstantiation (the belief that God changes the bread and wine into the actual body and blood of Christ, therefore making Jesus Christ the actual sacrifice on the altar). III. Fundamental Differences of Theology A. Ultimate Authority 1. Protestant - the Bible is the Word of God. 2. Roman Catholic - the Pope, tradition, and the Bible share equal authority. B. Priesthood and Sacrifice 1. Protestant - Christ is the High priest and sacrificed once. 2. Roman Catholic - Catholic priests are required to continually offer the sacrifice of Christ on the altar and minister the sacraments. C. Emphasis 1. Protestant - the finished work of Christ. 2. Roman Catholic - the continuing sacrifice of Christ. 4

5 IV. Chief Divisions of the Protestant Faith A. Lutheran Churches represented by the Augsburg Confession and the writings of Martin Luther. B. Reformed Churches represented by the Helvetic Confession and the writings of John Calvin. The Presbyterian Church is further represented by the Westminister Confession. C. Anglican Churches represented by the Thirty Nine Articles (containing both Reformed and Lutheran elements, but are Reformed regarding concerning the Sacraments). 1. Methodists 2. Baptists 3. Pentecostals V. Principals Underlying the Divisions A. Ultimate Authority 1. The Roman Catholic Position - the Roman Catholic Church 2. The Protestant (Evangelical) Position - the Bible 3. The Liberal Position - human reason B. Sovereignty 1. Augustinian and Calvinist - God is sovereign. 2. Arminian - man must cooperate with God and shares responsibility. 5

6 DOCTRINAL STATEMENT EXAMPLE I THE HOLY SCRIPTURES The Scriptures contained in the Old and New Testaments, are verbally inspired of God and are the revelation of God to man, the infallible rule of faith and conduct. II Timothy 3:15-17 I Thessalonians 2:13 II Peter 1:21 II THE ETERNAL GODHEAD The one true God has revealed Himself as the eternally self-existent I AM, the Creator of heaven and earth and the Redeemer of mankind. He has further revealed Himself as embodying the principals of relationship and association as Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. The Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost are never identical as to person; nor confused as to relation; nor divided in respect to the Godhead; nor opposed as to cooperation. The Son is in the Father and the Father is in the Son, as to relationship. The Son is with the Father and the Father is with the Son, as to fellowship. The Father is not from the Son, but the Son is from the Father, as to authority. The Holy Ghost is from the Father and the Son proceeding, as to nature, relationship, cooperation and authority. Hence, no person in the Godhead either exists or works separately or independently of the others. Deuteronomy 6:4 Isaiah 43:10-11 Matthew 28:19 Luke 3:22 II Corinthians 13:14 John 14:16-17 John 15:26 John 1:18 John 17:11, 21 John 5:17-30, 32, 37 John 8:

7 III THE DEITY OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST The Lord Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God. The Scriptures declare: 1. His virgin birth - Matthew 1:23; Luke 1:31, His sinless life - Hebrews 7:26; I Peter 2:22 3. His miracles - Acts 2:22; Acts 10:38 4. His substitutionary work on the cross - I Corinthians 15:3; II Corinthians 5:21 5. His bodily resurrection from the dead - Matthew 28:6; Luke 24:39; I Corinthians 15:4 6. His exaltation to the right hand of God - Acts 1:9, 11; Acts 2:33; Philippians 2:9-11; Hebrew 1:3 IV THE FALL OF MAN Man was created good and upright; for God said, "Let us make man in our image, after our likeness." However, man by voluntary transgression fell and thereby incurred not only physical death but also spiritual death, which is separation from God. Genesis 1:26, 27 Genesis 2:17 Genesis 3:6 Romans 5:12-19 V THE SALVATION OF MAN Man's only hope of redemption is through the shed blood of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 1. Conditions to Salvation A. Salvation is received through repentance toward God and faith toward the Lord Jesus Christ. B. By the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Ghost, being justified by grace through faith, man becomes an heir of God according to the hope of eternal life. 2. The Evidences of Salvation A. The inward evidence of salvation is the direct witness of the Spirit. B. The outward evidence to all men is a life of righteousness and true holiness. 7

8 Luke 24:47 John 3:3 Romans 8:16 Romans 10:13-15 Ephesians 2:8 Ephesians 4:24 Titus 2:11-12 VI JUSTIFICATION Man cannot be justified in the sight of God by his own strength, merits, or works, but rather is justified freely on the account of Christ through faith. Man is received into grace when he believes that his sins are remitted on account of Christ who made satisfaction for sins on our behalf by His death. Romans 5:1-2, 6-9 Romans 3:20-26 Galatians 2:16 Philippians 3:9 I Corinthians 1:30 II Corinthians 5:21 VII SANCTIFICATION Sanctification is an act of separation from that which is evil, and of declaration unto God. The Scriptures teach a life of holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. By the power of the Holy Ghost we are able to obey the command: Be ye holy, for I am holy. Sanctification is realized in the believer by recognizing his identification with Christ in His death and resurrection, and by faith reckoning daily upon the fact of that union, and by offering every faculty continually to the dominion of the Holy Spirit. Romans 6:1-11, 13 Romans 8:1-2, 13 Galatians 2:20 Romans 12:1-2 I Thessalonians 5:23 Hebrews 13:12 Hebrews 12:14 I Peter 1:

9 Philippians 2:12-13 I Peter 1:5 VIII THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST All believers are entitled to and should ardently expect and earnestly seek the promise of the Father, the baptism in the Holy Ghost and fire. This was the normal experience of all in the early Christian church. With it comes the endowment of power for life and service, the bestowment of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and their uses in the work of the ministry. This experience is distinct from and subsequent to the experience of the new birth. With the baptism in the Holy Ghost come such experiences as an overflowing fullness of the Spirit, a deepened reverence for God, an intensified consecration to God and dedication to His work, and a more active love for Christ, for His Word and for the lost. Matthew 3:11 Luke 24:49 Acts 1:4, 8 I Corinthians 12:1-31 Acts 8:12-17 Acts 10:44-46 Acts 11:14-16 Acts 15:7-9 Acts 19:1-6 John 7:37-39 Acts 4:8 Hebrews 12:28 Acts 2:42 Mark 16:17-20 Acts 2:4 IX THE CHURCH The Church is the Body of Christ, the habitation of God through the Spirit, with divine appointments for the fulfillment of her great commission. Each believer, born of the Spirit, is an integral part of the general assembly and Church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven. Ephesians 1:22-23 Ephesians 2:22 Hebrews 12:23 9

10 Hebrews 10:25 X THE ORDINANCES OF THE CHURCH There are two ordinances given by Christ to the Church: 1. Baptism in Water The ordinance of baptism by immersion is commanded in the Scriptures. All who repent and believe on Christ as Savior and Lord are to be baptized. Thus they declare to the world that they have died with Christ and that they also have been raised with Him to walk in newness of life. 2. Holy Communion The Lord's Supper, consisting of the elements, bread and the fruit of the vine, is the symbol expressing our sharing the divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ; a memorial of His suffering and death; and a prophesy of His second coming; and is enjoined by all believers until He comes. Matthew 28:19 Mark 16:16 Acts 10:47-48 Romans 6:4 II Peter 1:4 I Corinthians 11:23-26 XI THE TRANSLATION The resurrection of those who have fallen asleep in Christ and their translation, together with those who are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord, is the imminent and blessed hope of the Church. I Thessalonians 4:16-17 Romans 8:23 Titus 2:13 I Corinthians 15:

11 XII THE MILLENNIAL REIGN OF CHRIST The second coming of Christ includes the rapture of the saints, which is our blessed hope, followed by the visible return of Christ with His saints to reign on the earth for one thousand years. The millennial reign will bring the salvation of national Israel, and the establishment of universal peace. Zechariah 14:5 Matthew 24:27, 30 Revelation 1:7 Revelation 19:11-14 Revelation 20:1-6 Ezekiel 37:21-22 Zephaniah 3:19-20 Romans 11:26-27 Isaiah 11:6-9 Micah 4:3-4 Psalm 72:3-8 XIII THE FINAL JUDGMENT There will be a final judgment in which the wicked dead will be raised and judged according to their works. Whosoever is not found written in the Book of Life, together with the Devil and his angels, the Beast and the False Prophet, will be consigned to everlasting punishment in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death. Matthew 25:46 Mark 9:43-48 Revelation 19:20 Revelation 20:11-15 Revelation 21:8 XIV THE NEW HEAVENS AND THE NEW EARTH We, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness. II Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:22 11