Westminster Question #4. What is God?
God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal and unchangeable, in his being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Archive for the 'Doctrine' Category
Do you realize that one of the most important statements about God is that He is light. John R.W. Stott says that no biblical statement is more comprehensive of God’s essential being than the 1 John 1:5 assertion that God is “light.” The idea that God is light carries a number of truths with it. First, God chooses to tell us about Himself. The God of Heaven and Earth does not dwell in shadows, but he discloses himself, again using Stott’s words, in perfect purity and utter majesty.”
The light that God shines does not simply tell us who God is — – but light from God allows us to walk. When we know Christ, the light that we find in God’s Word allows us to confidently move forward in life. We do not need to hesitate or be unsure.
The next time you notice light, think of the light. If you look west from Rockford and see a great sunset, remind yourself that God is light. In Him there is not even a trace of darkness. He does not dwell in shadows but He blazes a knowledge of himself into human history through His Creation and His Word. He gives us this light not simply that we can worship His excellence, but also that we can walk forward in life, that we may have right conduct.
In 325 Constantinople, modern day Instanbul, was seething with discussion. The buzz in the city was not about a sports team or about an election. People were talking about the doctrine of the Trinity. One church leader said, if in this city you ask someone for change, he will discuss with you whether God the Son is begotten or unbegotten. If you ask about the quality of the bread, you will receive the answer that ‘God the Father is greater, God the Son is less. . .”
So Constantine called a council of the Church in what is now modern day Turkey. When the Church leaders began to study the issues in a relatively short period of time they worked out the Nicean Creed and the doctrine of the Trinity. The debate was far from over. And, it continued over the years. But, because of Athanasius and other great leaders, the doctrine of the Trinity was summarized in a way that continues to serve the church now nearly 1700 years later.
So what is the doctrine of the Trinity? We can summarize it with two statements. (1) God is one in essence or being. (2) God is three persons.
Wayne Grudem wrote. “We may define the doctrine of the Trinity as follows: God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, and each person is fully God, and there is one God.”
The next time you hear some careless remark that the doctrine of the Trinity just developed out of political pressure, go out the web and google the phrase, “Nicene Creed.” Then time to read one of the greatest theological summaries in church history. It is a magnificent statement written in 325 that summarizes the bounds of what all Christians must believe about our Triune God.
First, sinning without intent is preferred to consciously doing the wrong thing. All sins are equally wrong, but all sins are not equally bad. A lustful thought is as wrong as adultery. Certainly adultery is worse.
Having said that, whether or not sin is wrong is a matter of how it accords with God. Neither people nor their intent define morality. God defines right and wrong.
Consider the concise definition of sin in the Westminster Shorter Catechism
Q. 14 – What is sin?
A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of the law of God.
So, we can sin by not doing what we ought (sins of omission) or by doing the wrong thing (commission). Either sort of sin can be unintentional. The question is not whether we meant to do it, but, rather, how it accords with the character of God.
Hence, we must know the Word of God! Psalm 119:9, “How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to the Word of God.”
Try reading through this question and answer twice. The first time read to get a feel for it. The second time read with rhythm and expression.
Q. 21 – What is true faith?
A. True faith is
not only a knowledge and conviction
that everything God reveals in his Word is true;
it is also a deep-rooted assurance,
created in me by the Holy Spirit through the gospel,
that, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ,
not only others, but I too,
have had my sins forgiven,
have been made forever right with God,
had have been granted salvation.
One of the most beautiful doctrinal statements ever written is the first question and answer of the Heidelberg catechism. Perhaps, read this aloud to your family at dinner time.
Heidelberg Question 1. What is thy only comfort in life and death?
Answer: That I with body and soul, both in life and death, (a) am not my own, (b) but belong unto my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ; (c) who, with his precious blood, has fully satisfied for all my sins, (d) and delivered me from all the power of the devil; (e) and so preserves me (f) that without the will of my heavenly Father, not a hair can fall from my head; (g) yea, that all things must be subservient to my salvation, (h) and therefore, by his Holy Spirit, He also assures me of eternal life, (i) and makes me sincerely willing and ready, henceforth, to live unto him. (j)
Heidelberg Question 129. What does that little word “Amen express”?
Answer: Amen means,
This is to be sure!
It is even more sure that God listens to my prayer, than that I really desire what I pray for.
Last Sunday, I stressed that a goal for our pulpit is to consider how sound doctrine shapes how we see life. It’s worth glancing at the sermon notes again to recall not only some of the definitions I gave so we could digest the passage, but also how this doctrine would shape our approach to different situations in life.
Always Be Connecting Sound Doctrine with Life and Experience, Pastor Chris Brauns, Romans 5:6-11, 3/27/11
But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). It’s not enough to teach sound doctrine. We must demonstrate how that doctrine fits with life.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: preach the Word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort with complete patience and teaching (2 Timothy 3:16-4:2). Scripture is good for something! It is profitable.
Terms: We cannot digest Romans 5:6-11 apart from reflecting on these terms.
Lostness / total depravity – Without Christ, all people are radically corrupted at the core of our being. We are dead in our transgressions (Eph 2:1-3, Titus 3:3, John 6:65). This does not mean all people are as bad as they could be. It does mean that we are completely and utterly unable to save ourselves. We need to be born again.
Blood – “The blood of Christ is the clear outward evidence that his life blood was poured out when he died a sacrificial death to pay for our redemption (Grudem, Larger Systematic, 579).” Grudem also quotes Leon Morris, “the blood of Christ means his death in its saving aspects.” See 1 Peter 1:18-19.
Justified- This is a legal term that means being declared righteous in Christ (Romans 5:1, 8:1).
Reconciled – To be brought back into fellowship with God through Christ (See 2 Corinthians 5:11-21).
Substitutionary atonement – The truth that Christ stood in the place of Christians and took upon himself the punishment we deserve.
Wrath of God – It is an oft repeated truth in the Bible that God will punish sin. John 3:36 stresses that whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him. Ephesians 2:3 says that, apart from Christ, we are “children of wrath.”
So how would this doctrine affect our approach to:
Parenting a small child – Our children are not born as blank moral slates . . .
Parenting an elementary age child – Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. We cannot just be “behavorists” as parents who raise well behaved children. We must evangelize them.
Being the victim of an horrific offense with an unrepentant offender–We can trust a just God for justice.
A major fight in your marriage- We ought to graciously forgive one another even as God forgave us.
Worship – “I will sing of my redeemer and his wondrous love for me, on the cruel cross he suffered, from the curse, to set me free.”
Facing the possibility of cancer -Whatever our lot, thou hast taught us to say, “It is well with my soul.:
Best selling author Rob Bell insists that the answer to questions about the reality of eternal hell is essentially “no.” But orthodox theology has long recognized the doctrine of eternal punishment and soberly answered “yes” to the question of whether or not there is eternal punishment.
My approach to deciding what to post about on my blog is simple. I ask myself if it will be helpful to the people in our flock. If the answer is “yes,” and I have the time, then I post about it.
Focusing on our church family means that I rarely post on theological controversies that are of interest to me, but not of any immediate pertinence to our congregation.
Which is to say that during the initial rounds of a recent controversy surrounding Rob Bell and his new book, Love Wins, I did not post about the controversy. However, now that Bell is being interviewed on major news networks, and his book is selling like wildfire, it is likely that his position will be considered by a number in our congregation and it deserves some attention here.
Briefly, the controversy is that Bell (see a promo video here) is espousing some sort of a universalist position (Bell rejects the label) in which he insinuates that most if not all are eventually redeemed regardless of whether or not they have professed faith in Christ.
Bell is extremely creative and talented as a communicator and he has a large following. His favorite method of teaching is to ask provocative questions without providing answers. As many have pointed out, Bell’s questions make a statement.
My encouragement to our church family is to not be deceived by Bell’s approach. Rather, if you find yourself wondering about the areas where he is persuading so many, then take the time to read reviews such as the ones listed below.
Al Mohler – Rob Bell and the Re-Emergence of Liberal Theology
Kevin DeYoung – God is Still Holy and What You Learned in Sunday School is Still True: A Review of Love Wins by Rob Bell
Russell Moore – The Blood Drained Gospel of Rob Bell
Jeremy Grinnell on Mike Wittmer’s blog – Justice Wins
Tony Reinke’s Readers Digest version of the debate
