DOCTRINE OF GOD
Throughout History there have been four classic philosophical arguments proposed concerning the existence of God (Remember, these are man thoughts and, unlike Divinely-Inspired Scripture, are not foolproof).
1. Cosmological Argument:
• Premise 1 – Everything that began to exist has to have had a first cause (Beginning).
• Science, History, and Philosophy all validate this fact.
• Premise 2 – The Universe began to exist.
• The impossibility of an actual infinite number of things.
• Premise 1 - An infinite number of things cannot exist.
• Premise 2 - A beginning-less series of events in time entails an infinite number of things (time).
• Premise 3 - Therefore, a beginning-less series of events cannot exist.
• Premise 3 – Therefore, God is the only logical cause of the universe.
• Only a first cause with the abilities and properties of God is capable of being a first cause.
• Common Atheistic Response – “What caused God?”
• The cosmological argument clearly sates that everything that began to exist had to have a first cause.
• The first cause by definition is an uncaused caused that had to be present in order for everything to exist.
• The universe is both temporal and material therefore implying the need for a first cause. God is both eternal and immaterial therefore capable of being the first cause.
2. Teleological Argument
• Premise 1 - All design implies that there is a designer.
The impossibility of random order or unguided purpose.
• A watch in a field or a turtle on a fence.
• Premise 2 - The universe/ creation provides evidence of being designed.
• Trees/ Humans; Complexity of the human body.
• Premise 3 - Therefore God is the only logical designer of the universe.
• God’s infinite wisdom/ knowledge and power.
• Common Atheistic response – What about aids, Tsunamis, and suffering?
• Number 1 – all worldviews (even atheism) has to answer the problem of pain. At least with Theism (Christianity) we see the origin and purpose of pain.
• Number 2 – If there is no God, how do you know that things like death (due to aids or tsunamis) or suffering is wrong or evil?
3. Contingency/ Ontological Argument
• Premise 1 – In order to explain everything else, there must be an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent being.
• Premise 2 – God is the greatest being that can be conceived/ Imagined – omniscient, omnipotence, and omnipresent.
• Premise 3 – Therefore, God must exist.
• Common Atheistic Response – I can think of unicorns or the flying spaghetti monster from outer space; but that does not mean they exist.
• Number 1 - Unicorns and the flying spaghetti monster are not contingency (necessary) beings.
• Number 2 - God is the greatest thing you can imagine – not just something that could be imagined
4. Moral Argument for the existence of God
• Premise 1 – Objective moral values cannot exist apart from an objective moral law-giver.
• The must be an ultimate authority that reveals right and wrong.
• Premise 2 – Objective moral values do exist.
• C.S. Lewis’s illustration of “Oughtness”.
• Premise 3 – Therefore, there is an objective moral law – giver.
Common Atheistic response.
• Herd instinct – we do what is best for the herd; whatever benefits the greatest amount of people.
• “I am an atheist, but I still am a moral person”
• Through evolution we have adopted a set of rules that just make life better. We have just learned it from our ancestors.
• Number 1, all of these arguments only explain why you are moral, not where the morality came from.
• Number 2, all these arguments do not explain the objectivity of moral law. Morality becomes subjective.
Note: These arguments are from Human wisdom and are to be used only to supplement Biblical truth; not to replace it!
Throughout History there have been four classic philosophical arguments proposed concerning the existence of God (Remember, these are man thoughts and, unlike Divinely-Inspired Scripture, are not foolproof).
1. Cosmological Argument:
• Premise 1 – Everything that began to exist has to have had a first cause (Beginning).
• Science, History, and Philosophy all validate this fact.
• Premise 2 – The Universe began to exist.
• The impossibility of an actual infinite number of things.
• Premise 1 - An infinite number of things cannot exist.
• Premise 2 - A beginning-less series of events in time entails an infinite number of things (time).
• Premise 3 - Therefore, a beginning-less series of events cannot exist.
• Premise 3 – Therefore, God is the only logical cause of the universe.
• Only a first cause with the abilities and properties of God is capable of being a first cause.
• Common Atheistic Response – “What caused God?”
• The cosmological argument clearly sates that everything that began to exist had to have a first cause.
• The first cause by definition is an uncaused caused that had to be present in order for everything to exist.
• The universe is both temporal and material therefore implying the need for a first cause. God is both eternal and immaterial therefore capable of being the first cause.
2. Teleological Argument
• Premise 1 - All design implies that there is a designer.
The impossibility of random order or unguided purpose.
• A watch in a field or a turtle on a fence.
• Premise 2 - The universe/ creation provides evidence of being designed.
• Trees/ Humans; Complexity of the human body.
• Premise 3 - Therefore God is the only logical designer of the universe.
• God’s infinite wisdom/ knowledge and power.
• Common Atheistic response – What about aids, Tsunamis, and suffering?
• Number 1 – all worldviews (even atheism) has to answer the problem of pain. At least with Theism (Christianity) we see the origin and purpose of pain.
• Number 2 – If there is no God, how do you know that things like death (due to aids or tsunamis) or suffering is wrong or evil?
3. Contingency/ Ontological Argument
• Premise 1 – In order to explain everything else, there must be an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent being.
• Premise 2 – God is the greatest being that can be conceived/ Imagined – omniscient, omnipotence, and omnipresent.
• Premise 3 – Therefore, God must exist.
• Common Atheistic Response – I can think of unicorns or the flying spaghetti monster from outer space; but that does not mean they exist.
• Number 1 - Unicorns and the flying spaghetti monster are not contingency (necessary) beings.
• Number 2 - God is the greatest thing you can imagine – not just something that could be imagined
4. Moral Argument for the existence of God
• Premise 1 – Objective moral values cannot exist apart from an objective moral law-giver.
• The must be an ultimate authority that reveals right and wrong.
• Premise 2 – Objective moral values do exist.
• C.S. Lewis’s illustration of “Oughtness”.
• Premise 3 – Therefore, there is an objective moral law – giver.
Common Atheistic response.
• Herd instinct – we do what is best for the herd; whatever benefits the greatest amount of people.
• “I am an atheist, but I still am a moral person”
• Through evolution we have adopted a set of rules that just make life better. We have just learned it from our ancestors.
• Number 1, all of these arguments only explain why you are moral, not where the morality came from.
• Number 2, all these arguments do not explain the objectivity of moral law. Morality becomes subjective.
Note: These arguments are from Human wisdom and are to be used only to supplement Biblical truth; not to replace it!
THIS WEEK'S ANSWER to where does the Bible say that Hell is eternal, that people will spend eternity there?
ANSWER: “These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (II Thessalonians 1.9).
ANSWER: “These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” (II Thessalonians 1.9).
HERE IS TODAY'S QUESTION: Is Jesus God? Did Jesus ever claim to be God? Click HERE to get your answer from gotquestions.org
CHRISTOLOGY: Doctrine of Christ
Humanity and Deity of Christ
Jesus Christ was - and is - Fully God and Fully Man in one person.
o Christ’ birth (Matthew 1:20-25); Jesus being born of woman (Humanity) by the working of the Holy Spirit (Deity). This frees Jesus from “inherited” sin that all fathers pass down to their children.
o Jesus had a human body.
§ Jesus was born as a baby (Luke 2:7), grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40/ 2:52), got tired (John 4:6), got thirsty (John 19:28), got hungry (Matthew 4:2), and he literally died (Luke 23:46).
§ Jesus physically rose from the dead (Luke 24:39); just like all believers will do one day (a resurrected and perfected body). Jesus is in His perfected human body to this day in heaven, like we will one day (Revelation 5:6/ John 1:29).
o Jesus had a human mind.
§ Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52); not that Jesus as a baby was thinking “only 30 more years of this and I can begin my ministry….”
o Jesus had human emotions.
§ Jesus proclaimed that His soul was troubled (John 12:27), He experienced sorrow concerning His upcoming death (Matthew 26:38), He was amazed by the faith of the centurion (Matthew 8:10), He wept over the loss of Lazarus (John 11:35).
§ Jesus faced every trial and temptation that a human could face and yet remained sinless (Hebrews 4:15).
He was "so human" that people of His days on earth saw Jesus as a man and not the Messiah He claimed to be (Matthew 13:53-58).
The major difference between Jesus’ humanity and our humanity was that Jesus was sinless as a human – not just because He was God. Just as Adam and Eve were created sinless in the Garden of Eden, so was Jesus. However, unlike Adam and Eve who choose to listen to the voice of another, Jesus remained perfectly obedient to His Father.
Christ’s Deity is affirmed countless times throughout the New Testament:
1. Jesus Christ is referred to as “God” (Theos).
a. John 1:1; 1:18; 20:28
b. Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:18; 2 Peter 1:1
2. Jesus is referred to as “Lord” (Kyrios); This can and is used in reference to the creator and sustainer of the heavens and the earth. It literally means Omnipotent God in Greek.
a. Luke 2:11 – The angels referred to the birth of Jesus as the birth of “Christ the Lord”.
b. Matthew 3:3 – John’s proclamation was to prepare the “Way of the Lord”; John Lord exclaims that Jesus was the son of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
c. I Corinthians 8:6; 12:3 – “One Lord, Jesus Christ”.
d. Hebrews 1:10-12 – “You, Lord, founded the earth in the beginning.”
e. Revelation 19:16 – Christ is referred to as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
3. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah Abraham longed to see and the one the Jews were waiting for (John 8:57-58).
a. Exodus 3:14 – God makes the statement “I Am”; Jesus Constantly used this statement in reference to himself – “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”
b. Revelation 22:13 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega”
4. Jesus referred to Himself as “The son of man” – a fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy.
a. Daniel 7:13-14/ Matthew 26:64
5. Jesus possessed the attributes that only God could possess.
Omnipotence
a. Matthew 8:26-27 – Jesus calmed the storm.
b. Matthew 14:19 – Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes
c. John 2:1-11 – Jesus changed the water into wine
Omniscience
a. Mark 2:8 - Jesus knew people’s thoughts.
b. John 1:48 – Jesus saw Nathaniel under the fig tree.
c. John 21:17 – Peter confessed that Jesus knew everything.
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Humanity and Deity of Christ
Jesus Christ was - and is - Fully God and Fully Man in one person.
o Christ’ birth (Matthew 1:20-25); Jesus being born of woman (Humanity) by the working of the Holy Spirit (Deity). This frees Jesus from “inherited” sin that all fathers pass down to their children.
o Jesus had a human body.
§ Jesus was born as a baby (Luke 2:7), grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:40/ 2:52), got tired (John 4:6), got thirsty (John 19:28), got hungry (Matthew 4:2), and he literally died (Luke 23:46).
§ Jesus physically rose from the dead (Luke 24:39); just like all believers will do one day (a resurrected and perfected body). Jesus is in His perfected human body to this day in heaven, like we will one day (Revelation 5:6/ John 1:29).
o Jesus had a human mind.
§ Jesus increased in wisdom (Luke 2:52); not that Jesus as a baby was thinking “only 30 more years of this and I can begin my ministry….”
o Jesus had human emotions.
§ Jesus proclaimed that His soul was troubled (John 12:27), He experienced sorrow concerning His upcoming death (Matthew 26:38), He was amazed by the faith of the centurion (Matthew 8:10), He wept over the loss of Lazarus (John 11:35).
§ Jesus faced every trial and temptation that a human could face and yet remained sinless (Hebrews 4:15).
He was "so human" that people of His days on earth saw Jesus as a man and not the Messiah He claimed to be (Matthew 13:53-58).
The major difference between Jesus’ humanity and our humanity was that Jesus was sinless as a human – not just because He was God. Just as Adam and Eve were created sinless in the Garden of Eden, so was Jesus. However, unlike Adam and Eve who choose to listen to the voice of another, Jesus remained perfectly obedient to His Father.
- Luke 4 – Jesus resisted every temptation of Satan.
- Hebrews 4:15 – Jesus was tempted in every way; yet without sin.
- Jesus was tempted in every way and yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).
- God cannot be tempted with evil (James 1:13).
- Jesus was fully human in every way; Jesus was fully God in every way.
- Jesus (as a complete man) serves as our representative and was obedient for us where Adam failed (Luke 4:1-13 vs. Genesis 2:15-3:7/ Romans 5:18-19).
- Jesus (as a complete man) was our substitutionary sacrifice. If Jesus had not been completely human he could not have adequately died in our place (Hebrews 2:14-17).
- Jesus is our mediator. Jesus bridges the separation between a fallen humanity and a Holy God (I Timothy 2:5); He is our high priest who appeals to God on our behalf (Hebrews 2:18; 4:15-16).
- Jesus is in the process of bringing restoration to the created order that man corrupted by sin (He was the Adam that Adam was supposed to be – Hebrews 2:7-9).
Christ’s Deity is affirmed countless times throughout the New Testament:
1. Jesus Christ is referred to as “God” (Theos).
a. John 1:1; 1:18; 20:28
b. Romans 9:5; Titus 2:13; Hebrews 1:18; 2 Peter 1:1
2. Jesus is referred to as “Lord” (Kyrios); This can and is used in reference to the creator and sustainer of the heavens and the earth. It literally means Omnipotent God in Greek.
a. Luke 2:11 – The angels referred to the birth of Jesus as the birth of “Christ the Lord”.
b. Matthew 3:3 – John’s proclamation was to prepare the “Way of the Lord”; John Lord exclaims that Jesus was the son of God who came to take away the sins of the world.
c. I Corinthians 8:6; 12:3 – “One Lord, Jesus Christ”.
d. Hebrews 1:10-12 – “You, Lord, founded the earth in the beginning.”
e. Revelation 19:16 – Christ is referred to as King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
3. Jesus claimed to be the Messiah Abraham longed to see and the one the Jews were waiting for (John 8:57-58).
a. Exodus 3:14 – God makes the statement “I Am”; Jesus Constantly used this statement in reference to himself – “I am the way, the truth, and the life…”
b. Revelation 22:13 – “I am the Alpha and the Omega”
4. Jesus referred to Himself as “The son of man” – a fulfillment of Messianic Prophecy.
a. Daniel 7:13-14/ Matthew 26:64
5. Jesus possessed the attributes that only God could possess.
Omnipotence
a. Matthew 8:26-27 – Jesus calmed the storm.
b. Matthew 14:19 – Jesus multiplied the loaves and the fishes
c. John 2:1-11 – Jesus changed the water into wine
Omniscience
a. Mark 2:8 - Jesus knew people’s thoughts.
b. John 1:48 – Jesus saw Nathaniel under the fig tree.
c. John 21:17 – Peter confessed that Jesus knew everything.
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Hamartiology
( Greek: ἁμαρτία, hamartia, "missing the mark, error" and -λογια, -logia, "study")
James 1:14
ἐξέλκω in hunting and fishing as game is lured from its hiding place
δελεάζω to bait, catch by a bait
New International Version
but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed.
New Living Translation
Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away.
English Standard Version
But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire.
Berean Study Bible
But each one is tempted when by his own evil desires he is lured away and enticed.
THE NATURE OF SIN
A. The Modern View of Sin.
1. Society Calls It Indiscretion.
2. Scholars Label It Ignorance.
3. Evolutionists Say it is the Trait of the Beast.
4. Christian Scientists Teach It Is the Absence From Good.
5. The Fleshly Man Excuses It As Amiable Weakness.
6. The New Theologians Declare It Is Merely Selfishness.
B. The Biblical View of Sin. 1. Sin Is Missing the Mark. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23).See also Romans 5:12. Sin means “to miss the divine aim of God.”
2. Sin Is Transgression. “Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law” (I John 3:4). Transgression of the law may be deliberate or unintentional. Either is sin. There was sin before the law, but there was no transgression. See Numbers 4:15; Joshua 7:11, 15; Isaiah 24:5; Daniel 9:11; Hosea 6:7; 8:1.
3. Sin Is Bending of That Which Is Right. “Righteous” means straight. Sin is the bending of that which was once straight. “David spake unto the LORD when he saw the angel that smote the people, and said, Lo, I have sinned, and have done wickedly: but these sheep, what have they done? let thine hand, I pray thee, be against me, and against my father’s house” (II Sam. 24:17). See also Romans 1:18; 6:13; II Thessalonians 2:12; II Peter 2:15; I John 5:17.
4. Sin Is Rebellion Against God. “Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth: for the LORD hath spoken, I have nourished and brought up children and they have rebelled against me” (Is. 1:2). See also II Thessalonians 2:4, 8.
5. Sin Is a Debt. “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt. 6:12). See also Luke 11:4. The words “duty” (Luke 17:10), “ought” (John 13:14) and “bound” (II Thess. 2:13) are all from the same Greek word denoting debt.
6. Sin Is Disobedience. Sin is a lack of response to God. “In time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience” (Eph. 2:2). See also Ephesians 5:6; John 3:36, R. V.
7. Sin Is a Deviation From God’s Requirement. This means a fall; every offense against God is a fall. Sin is always a fall that hurts. “If ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you” (Matt. 6:14). See also Galatians 6:1; Romans 5:15-20.
8. Sin Is Unbelief. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son” (I John 5:10).
9. Sin Is Impiety, or Ungodliness. “To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieththe ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Rom. 4:5). “When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6). See also I Timothy 1:9; I Peter 4:18; II Peter 2:5, 7; Jude 4, 15.
10. Sin Is Iniquity. By this we mean a wrong doing to the moral order of the universe. “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they that do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God” (Gal. 5:19-21). See also Colossians 3:5-9; Mark 7:19, 20.
C. The Scriptural Statement of Sin.
“All unrighteousness is sin: and there is a sin not unto death” (I John 5:17). See also I John 3:4;Proverbs 14:21; 21:4; 24:9; Romans 3:23; 6:23; I Samuel 15:23; Jeremiah 3:25; 14:7; James 2:9; 4:17; Romans 14:23.
D. The Theological Definitions of Sin.
1. Sin is the transgression of, or lack of conforming to the law of God.
2. Sin is deficiency of love to God and man.
3. Sin is preference of self to God.
4. Sin is insubordination.
5. Sin is lack of conformity with God or His moral law in act, disposition, or state.
Source: Bible Broadcasting Network "Doctrine of Sin"
http://www.bbnradio.org/wcm4/bbnmedia/Resources/Books/WTBTDetails/tabid/611/View/Chapter/ItemID/162/Default.aspx
Doctrine of the Bible
I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
What Does God’s Word Say about Itself?
• The Bible contains several major characteristics that make it distinct from all other literature:
1. All Scripture is Authoritative - This means that the words of scripture are the words of God. Therefore to obey or disobey the Bible is the same as obeying or disobeying God.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is “God-breathed”. Its authority comes from the ultimate source of authority – Our Creator and Sustainer.
2. All Scripture is Inerrant – This means that the words of scripture do not confirm anything that is contrary to the fact (it is not wrong).
Matthew 24:35; Proverbs 30:5 – “all of God’s words prove to be true…”
3. All Scripture is Understandable (Clear) – This means that the Bible is written in such a way that it’s teaching are able to be understood by all.
Duet. 6:6-7; Psalms 119:130 – There is no “special” knowledge required in order to understand what God is communicating.
It should be noted that there are parts of scripture that are difficult to understand.
It should also be noted that it is possible for individuals to misunderstand the truth being communicated.
• Luke 24:25
Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to understand the truth of God communicated to us in His word.
4. All Scripture is Necessary – This means that the Bible is required to understand the gospel, maintain our spiritual life, and knowing God’s will.
It should be noted that the Bible is not necessary to know of the existence of God, certain attributes of God’s character, or God’s moral law.
Romans 10:13-17 – How can they believe unless someone explains it to them.
Deuteronomy 8:3 “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” God word is necessary for our spiritual growth.
5. All scripture is sufficient – This means that the Bible contains everything that God intended to share with mankind about Himself, life, salvation, and how to maintain a relationship with Him.
The Bible contains all we need to know!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 God’s word is given to us so that we may be complete.
I. The Scriptures
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.
What Does God’s Word Say about Itself?
• The Bible contains several major characteristics that make it distinct from all other literature:
1. All Scripture is Authoritative - This means that the words of scripture are the words of God. Therefore to obey or disobey the Bible is the same as obeying or disobeying God.
2 Timothy 3:16 – All scripture is “God-breathed”. Its authority comes from the ultimate source of authority – Our Creator and Sustainer.
2. All Scripture is Inerrant – This means that the words of scripture do not confirm anything that is contrary to the fact (it is not wrong).
Matthew 24:35; Proverbs 30:5 – “all of God’s words prove to be true…”
3. All Scripture is Understandable (Clear) – This means that the Bible is written in such a way that it’s teaching are able to be understood by all.
Duet. 6:6-7; Psalms 119:130 – There is no “special” knowledge required in order to understand what God is communicating.
It should be noted that there are parts of scripture that are difficult to understand.
It should also be noted that it is possible for individuals to misunderstand the truth being communicated.
• Luke 24:25
Ultimately, it is the Holy Spirit that helps us to understand the truth of God communicated to us in His word.
4. All Scripture is Necessary – This means that the Bible is required to understand the gospel, maintain our spiritual life, and knowing God’s will.
It should be noted that the Bible is not necessary to know of the existence of God, certain attributes of God’s character, or God’s moral law.
Romans 10:13-17 – How can they believe unless someone explains it to them.
Deuteronomy 8:3 “man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” God word is necessary for our spiritual growth.
5. All scripture is sufficient – This means that the Bible contains everything that God intended to share with mankind about Himself, life, salvation, and how to maintain a relationship with Him.
The Bible contains all we need to know!
2 Timothy 3:16-17 God’s word is given to us so that we may be complete.
Doctrine of Satanology
1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” - 1 Timothy 4:1
This doctrine states that, as we see in the Bible, the Devil has a personality and intentionally brought about the downfall of man, and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Verses that show these statements are found in Gen 3:1-15; Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; John 13:2.
Next to the Godhead, no other personage in the Scriptures is given as much coverage as the devil. Why study him at all - isn't that giving him too much credit? Well, the Bible says to know about him so we will not be “ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor 2:11).
1. His personality.
He has a will (Is 14:13-14), knowledge (Job 1:9-10), and is capable of performing acts (Job 2:7), figuring things out (Job 1:9-11), and wanting worship (Matt 4:2).
2. His beginning.
God created Lucifer, which means “the morning star”. Lucifer, out of his own free will became Satan, which means “opponent, arch enemy, adversary”. Ez 28:12-19 gives us a picture of the devil's existence before his fall. Is 14:12-17 describes his fall which came from pride and selfishness. In 1 Tim 3:6 Paul describes Satan's fall as “being lifted up with pride”.
3. Names of the Devil.
1. Lucifer Is 14:12 - Morning star
2. Satan Job 1:6 Opponent, arch enemy, adversary
3. Devil Matt 4:5 Accuser, slanderer
4. Serpent Rev 12:9
5. Dragon Rev 12:9
6. Beelzebub Matt 12:24 Dung god, lord of the flies
7. Belial 2 Cor 6:15 Worthless, destruction, wickedness
8. Tempter Matt 4:3
9. Wicked one Matt 13:19
10. Evil one Jas 4:11
11. Prince of this world Jn 12:31
12.Prince of the power of the air Eph 2:2
13. God of this world 2 Cor 4:4
14. The accuser Rev 12:10
15. Angel of light 2 Cor 11:14
16. Murderer John 8:44
17. Father of lies John 8:44
18. Roaring lion 1 Pet 5:8
19. Abaddon/Apollyon Rev 9:11 Destroyer
Satan goes down, hard.
1. He was taken from his lofty position, (Is 14:12-14).
2. He was put under a curse in the Garden of Eden, (Gen 3:14-15).
3. He couldn't top Christ in the wilderness, (Matt 4:3-10).
4. He was defeated on the cross by Jesus, (Rom 16:20).
The devil's final place.
1. He will be confined to the Bottomless Pit for 1000 years,
(Revelation 20:1-3).
2. He will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity, (Rev 20:10).
Conclusion
1. The devil has great power but only God is omnipotent.
2. The devil has a lot of knowledge but only God is omniscient.
3. The devil has a huge network of demons but he is limited to where he can be at one time, only God is omnipresent.
4. The devil's power is still subject to the will of God, (Is 1:10; Job 2:4-6; Luke 22:31; 2 Cor 12:7-9).
5. We need to resist the devil, (James 4:7).
6. We need to remember that Jesus is interceding on our behalf, (Heb 7:25; Luke 22:31,32).
7. We need to be vigilant, aware of the devil's plans, (1 Peter 5:8).
8. We need to deny the devil any foothold in our lives, (Eph 4:27).
9. We need to understand that God has given us everything we need to stand in the spiritual warfare against the schemes of the devil, (Eph 6:10-18).
10. When the Enemy becomes “the accuser of the brethren” reminding us of our past, then we need to stand up in God's authority and remind him of his future.
At the end of it all, we win and he loses.
Oh, yeah.
===================================================================================
1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
“The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons.” - 1 Timothy 4:1
This doctrine states that, as we see in the Bible, the Devil has a personality and intentionally brought about the downfall of man, and now seeks to destroy the faith of every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ. Verses that show these statements are found in Gen 3:1-15; Matt 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13; James 4:7; 1 Peter 5:8; John 13:2.
Next to the Godhead, no other personage in the Scriptures is given as much coverage as the devil. Why study him at all - isn't that giving him too much credit? Well, the Bible says to know about him so we will not be “ignorant of his devices” (2 Cor 2:11).
1. His personality.
He has a will (Is 14:13-14), knowledge (Job 1:9-10), and is capable of performing acts (Job 2:7), figuring things out (Job 1:9-11), and wanting worship (Matt 4:2).
2. His beginning.
God created Lucifer, which means “the morning star”. Lucifer, out of his own free will became Satan, which means “opponent, arch enemy, adversary”. Ez 28:12-19 gives us a picture of the devil's existence before his fall. Is 14:12-17 describes his fall which came from pride and selfishness. In 1 Tim 3:6 Paul describes Satan's fall as “being lifted up with pride”.
3. Names of the Devil.
1. Lucifer Is 14:12 - Morning star
2. Satan Job 1:6 Opponent, arch enemy, adversary
3. Devil Matt 4:5 Accuser, slanderer
4. Serpent Rev 12:9
5. Dragon Rev 12:9
6. Beelzebub Matt 12:24 Dung god, lord of the flies
7. Belial 2 Cor 6:15 Worthless, destruction, wickedness
8. Tempter Matt 4:3
9. Wicked one Matt 13:19
10. Evil one Jas 4:11
11. Prince of this world Jn 12:31
12.Prince of the power of the air Eph 2:2
13. God of this world 2 Cor 4:4
14. The accuser Rev 12:10
15. Angel of light 2 Cor 11:14
16. Murderer John 8:44
17. Father of lies John 8:44
18. Roaring lion 1 Pet 5:8
19. Abaddon/Apollyon Rev 9:11 Destroyer
Satan goes down, hard.
1. He was taken from his lofty position, (Is 14:12-14).
2. He was put under a curse in the Garden of Eden, (Gen 3:14-15).
3. He couldn't top Christ in the wilderness, (Matt 4:3-10).
4. He was defeated on the cross by Jesus, (Rom 16:20).
The devil's final place.
1. He will be confined to the Bottomless Pit for 1000 years,
(Revelation 20:1-3).
2. He will be cast into the Lake of Fire for eternity, (Rev 20:10).
Conclusion
1. The devil has great power but only God is omnipotent.
2. The devil has a lot of knowledge but only God is omniscient.
3. The devil has a huge network of demons but he is limited to where he can be at one time, only God is omnipresent.
4. The devil's power is still subject to the will of God, (Is 1:10; Job 2:4-6; Luke 22:31; 2 Cor 12:7-9).
5. We need to resist the devil, (James 4:7).
6. We need to remember that Jesus is interceding on our behalf, (Heb 7:25; Luke 22:31,32).
7. We need to be vigilant, aware of the devil's plans, (1 Peter 5:8).
8. We need to deny the devil any foothold in our lives, (Eph 4:27).
9. We need to understand that God has given us everything we need to stand in the spiritual warfare against the schemes of the devil, (Eph 6:10-18).
10. When the Enemy becomes “the accuser of the brethren” reminding us of our past, then we need to stand up in God's authority and remind him of his future.
At the end of it all, we win and he loses.
Oh, yeah.
===================================================================================
Doctrine of God
The Existence of God – How do we know that God exists?
• All people have an inner sense of God (something bigger themselves) – Romans 1:19-21.
• This inner sense of God is placed within humanity by God.
i. This means that even the most avid, die-hard atheist has a sense of God’s existence; they just choose to reject or pretend they don’t believe that sense.
• However, there is a willful rejection of this truth – Romans 1:25
i. Psalms 14:1; 53:1 – “The fool says in his heart that there is no God."
ii. Psalms 10:3-4 – “There is no God; the deceived say there is no God.”
• The question is why? Why does man want to so desperately deny that there is a God?
Answer: God = Accountability ... if there is no God there is no one to hold us accountable for the action we commit.
Here are some of the many names of God which give us an idea of who He is. Click here:
THE NAMES OF GOD as found in the study site BlueLetterBible.org
Let's take a look at some of God's attributes as found in this fine study at Bible.org. Clikc here to go to the study and answer the questions in the section "III. The Classification of Attributes of God". Click on this link:
https://bible.org/seriespage/50-theology-doctrine-god
• As believers, our awareness of God increases when we are in a growing relationship with Him – Romans 8:15-17
• We have evidence from creation and the Word of God.
• The evidence from creation is called General Revelation. Man can look at the created order around Him and know that there is a creator – Romans 1:18-20.
i. The greatest example of this is mankind itself; Man was created in the image of God – Gen 1:26.
ii. Psalms 19:1-2 – “The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands….”
iii. Man can look at the design and complexity of creation and know that there is a divine designer behind it all.
• The evidence from God’s Word is called Special Revelation. Man can look into the Divinely-Inspired Word of God and know that there is a creator. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the Bible automatically assumes the existence of God.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Existence of God – How do we know that God exists?
• All people have an inner sense of God (something bigger themselves) – Romans 1:19-21.
• This inner sense of God is placed within humanity by God.
i. This means that even the most avid, die-hard atheist has a sense of God’s existence; they just choose to reject or pretend they don’t believe that sense.
• However, there is a willful rejection of this truth – Romans 1:25
i. Psalms 14:1; 53:1 – “The fool says in his heart that there is no God."
ii. Psalms 10:3-4 – “There is no God; the deceived say there is no God.”
• The question is why? Why does man want to so desperately deny that there is a God?
Answer: God = Accountability ... if there is no God there is no one to hold us accountable for the action we commit.
Here are some of the many names of God which give us an idea of who He is. Click here:
THE NAMES OF GOD as found in the study site BlueLetterBible.org
Let's take a look at some of God's attributes as found in this fine study at Bible.org. Clikc here to go to the study and answer the questions in the section "III. The Classification of Attributes of God". Click on this link:
https://bible.org/seriespage/50-theology-doctrine-god
• As believers, our awareness of God increases when we are in a growing relationship with Him – Romans 8:15-17
• We have evidence from creation and the Word of God.
• The evidence from creation is called General Revelation. Man can look at the created order around Him and know that there is a creator – Romans 1:18-20.
i. The greatest example of this is mankind itself; Man was created in the image of God – Gen 1:26.
ii. Psalms 19:1-2 – “The heavens declare the glory of God and the skies proclaim the work of His hands….”
iii. Man can look at the design and complexity of creation and know that there is a divine designer behind it all.
• The evidence from God’s Word is called Special Revelation. Man can look into the Divinely-Inspired Word of God and know that there is a creator. From Genesis 1:1 to Revelation 22:21, the Bible automatically assumes the existence of God.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"THIS IS AN "OPEN iPAD TEST". You are working on your own. If your iPad is not working, better use your phone or find a working iPad... YOU ARE TO WORK ALONE. NO TALKING.
Follow these instructions carefully. At the end of the class hour hand in your completed paper to the teacher.
A. GET OUT PAPER. Put your full name: First,Middle, Last on the top line.
B. Second line: Put your Period # and if you know your first name in Greek, write it out.
C. This is open book (really, all of it is on your iPad in your Dictionary, so use your notes or your Bible app) so you can look up the answers. THIS IS A TEST - IT IS WORTH 100 POINTS.
D. Write clearly. If I cannot read your handwriting, you will not get credit.
E. Number 1 to 33. Answer the following questions.
1. In Exodus 20:13, God gave mankind the Commandment, '___________________________'.
2. The word KILL is (rat-shahk) and literally means “_________________________________.”
3. TRANSLATE THIS SENTENCE: οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν __________________________________.
4. FILL IN BOTH BLANKS: In Newsweek’s November 28, _____ (name the year) issue an article titled “In Search of the Sacred” observed that “20% of Americans have had a revelation from God in the last year, and ____% have seen or sensed the presence of an angel”
5. ANGELS are referred to ______ times in the Bible , ____ times in the Old Testament and ____ times in the New Testament.
6. The Hebrew word for angel is _________, and the Greek word is _______. Both words mean “________________”
7. Hebrews 1:6 - Further, when he brings his first-born into this world of men, he says: 'Let all the angels of God __________ him'.
8. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are in ___________ gender.
9. Michael the archangel is likely the head of all the holy angels, and his name means "___________________________________?"
10. Gabriel is one of the principal messengers of God, his name meaning "____________________"
11. Some angels are designated as "__________," which are living creatures who defend God's holiness from any defilement of sin (Genesis 3:24)
12. God is omnipresent. What does that mean? ______________________________________
13. What does the word DOCTRINE mean? ____________________________
14. What does the word OBJECTIVE mean? _____________________________
15. What does the word SUBJECTIVE mean? _____________________________
16. What does it mean when we talk about the DEITY of Christ? _________________________
17. Anytime you see FIRE in the Bible, what does it mean? Two words: _________ ___________
18. What does the number 40 stand for in the Bible? _________________
19. In what book and chapter do you find the Ten Commandments? ________________
20. In what book and chapter do you read about Jesus Himself telling you how to get to Heaven? _____________________
21. Any time you see GOLD in the Bible, what does it mean? _______________________
22. Any time you see a HORN in the Bible, what does it stand for? ________________________
23. TRANSLATE THIS SENTENCE: žἘν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος
24. Name TWO things in Revelation 21:4 that will NOT be in Heaven: _________ __________
25. John saw TWO new things in Revelation 21:1. What were the two new things? _____ _______
26. 2 Cor. 5:6-8 tells us how fast we will get to Heaven when we die. Look it up and write out what it says on the speed of getting to Heaven: _________________________________
27. Ouranology is the study of _____________________________.
28. Define AGNOSTIC: ______________________________
29. Define ATHEIST: _________________________________
30. Under the names of God, what does the name ADONAI mean? _______________________
31. Where can I read some Old Testament prophecies that tell about Jesus and His suffering on the cross? __________________
32. When did David live? Approximately what year BC? __________________
33. What types of capital punishment were in David’s time? Name all three. ________________
Follow these instructions carefully. At the end of the class hour hand in your completed paper to the teacher.
A. GET OUT PAPER. Put your full name: First,Middle, Last on the top line.
B. Second line: Put your Period # and if you know your first name in Greek, write it out.
C. This is open book (really, all of it is on your iPad in your Dictionary, so use your notes or your Bible app) so you can look up the answers. THIS IS A TEST - IT IS WORTH 100 POINTS.
D. Write clearly. If I cannot read your handwriting, you will not get credit.
E. Number 1 to 33. Answer the following questions.
1. In Exodus 20:13, God gave mankind the Commandment, '___________________________'.
2. The word KILL is (rat-shahk) and literally means “_________________________________.”
3. TRANSLATE THIS SENTENCE: οὗτος ἦν ἐν ἀρχῇ πρὸς τὸν θεόν __________________________________.
4. FILL IN BOTH BLANKS: In Newsweek’s November 28, _____ (name the year) issue an article titled “In Search of the Sacred” observed that “20% of Americans have had a revelation from God in the last year, and ____% have seen or sensed the presence of an angel”
5. ANGELS are referred to ______ times in the Bible , ____ times in the Old Testament and ____ times in the New Testament.
6. The Hebrew word for angel is _________, and the Greek word is _______. Both words mean “________________”
7. Hebrews 1:6 - Further, when he brings his first-born into this world of men, he says: 'Let all the angels of God __________ him'.
8. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are in ___________ gender.
9. Michael the archangel is likely the head of all the holy angels, and his name means "___________________________________?"
10. Gabriel is one of the principal messengers of God, his name meaning "____________________"
11. Some angels are designated as "__________," which are living creatures who defend God's holiness from any defilement of sin (Genesis 3:24)
12. God is omnipresent. What does that mean? ______________________________________
13. What does the word DOCTRINE mean? ____________________________
14. What does the word OBJECTIVE mean? _____________________________
15. What does the word SUBJECTIVE mean? _____________________________
16. What does it mean when we talk about the DEITY of Christ? _________________________
17. Anytime you see FIRE in the Bible, what does it mean? Two words: _________ ___________
18. What does the number 40 stand for in the Bible? _________________
19. In what book and chapter do you find the Ten Commandments? ________________
20. In what book and chapter do you read about Jesus Himself telling you how to get to Heaven? _____________________
21. Any time you see GOLD in the Bible, what does it mean? _______________________
22. Any time you see a HORN in the Bible, what does it stand for? ________________________
23. TRANSLATE THIS SENTENCE: žἘν ἀρχῇ ἦν ὁ λόγος
24. Name TWO things in Revelation 21:4 that will NOT be in Heaven: _________ __________
25. John saw TWO new things in Revelation 21:1. What were the two new things? _____ _______
26. 2 Cor. 5:6-8 tells us how fast we will get to Heaven when we die. Look it up and write out what it says on the speed of getting to Heaven: _________________________________
27. Ouranology is the study of _____________________________.
28. Define AGNOSTIC: ______________________________
29. Define ATHEIST: _________________________________
30. Under the names of God, what does the name ADONAI mean? _______________________
31. Where can I read some Old Testament prophecies that tell about Jesus and His suffering on the cross? __________________
32. When did David live? Approximately what year BC? __________________
33. What types of capital punishment were in David’s time? Name all three. ________________
The bulk of our doctrinal study below gives credit to studies from Wayne Gruden's Systematic Theology.
As we get started, here are some words you will need to know:
doctrine
objective
subjective
absolute
relative
deity
difference between an atheist and an agnostic
-------------------------------------------------------------
As we get started, here are some words you will need to know:
doctrine
objective
subjective
absolute
relative
deity
difference between an atheist and an agnostic
-------------------------------------------------------------
Doctrine of the Holy Spirit (also known as Pneumatology)
Excellent study by Greg Herrick
The term pneumatology comes from two Greek words, namely, pneuma meaning “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit” (used of the Holy Spirit) and logos meaning “word,” “matter,” or “thing.” ... “pneumatology” refers to the study of the biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
The Personhood of the Holy Spirit
The personality (and therefore “personhood”) of the Holy Spirit has been denied by certain groups throughout the history of the church. Some point out that the noun for “spirit” in the NT is pneuma which is neuter and, therefore, the spirit is correctly referred to as “it” rather than “he.” In keeping with this idea, some refer to it [him] as “God’s active force,” almost in a Gnostic sense of an emanation from the one, true God. Before we look at the Biblical evidence, it is important to point out that there is no necessary connection in Koine Greek between grammatical gender and personal gender so it is simply false to say that since the Greek noun pneuma is neuter the spirit must be an “it.”
It is important, then, to see what the Scriptures say about his personhood, i.e., is he really a person, albeit divine? This is especially so in a culture moving more toward New Age thinking and pantheism. The Holy Spirit is not the “god” within us which we possess via our own natures, nor is he some amorphous feeling or “active force.” All these views denigrate him and rightly deserve rejection.
There are several lines of evidence in the NT which argue for the personality of the Holy Spirit. First, Jesus said he would send “another” in his place (John 14:16). The word for another is allos in Greek and refers to another just like Jesus. It is reasonable to conclude from this that the Spirit is a person since Jesus is clearly a person. Further, Jesus referred to him as a parakletos (enabler, encourager, comforter, etc.) which requires that he be a person since the functions of a parakletos are personal; Jesus functioned as a parakletos to the disciples.
Second, the fact that the Spirit makes choices (1 Cor 12:11), teaches (John 14:26), guides (John 16:13), reveals Jesus (John 16:14), convicts (John 16:8), seals believers (2 Cor 1:21-22), can be grieved (Eph 4:30), blasphemed (Matt 12:31), possesses a rational mind (Rom 8:26-27; 1 Cor 2:11-13), can be lied to (Acts 5:3-4), quenched (1 Thess 5:19), resisted (Acts 7:51), and on numerous occasions is distinguished from, yet directly linked with the Father and the Son as co-worker and co-recipient of worship, argues definitively for his personhood (Matt 28:19-20; 2 Cor 13:14).16
The Deity of the Holy Spirit
As we noted above, the Holy Spirit is distinguished from, yet closely related to, the Father and the Son—and that on an equal basis. He receives the worship due the Father and the Son (2 Cor 13:14) and does divine works, including inspiring Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21; Matt 19:4-5), regenerating hearts (Titus 3:5), and creating, sustaining, and giving life to all things (Gen 1:2; Job 26:13; 34:14-15; Psalm 104:29-30). He is said to be eternal (Heb 9:14; only God is eternal), omniscient (1 Cor 2:10-11), and is actually referred to as God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19-20). There is very little room for doubt; clearly the Holy Spirit is divine.
Scriptural Metaphors for the Holy Spirit
Scripture uses several important metaphorical expressions to refer to the Spirit, his sovereign character and his inscrutable, yet manifested workings. For example, Jesus referred to him as a wind—a metaphor which seems to underline the inscrutable nature of his moving in the hearts of people to give them life and bring them to faith (John 3:8).
In connection with his personal and glorious ministry to people, Jesus referred to him as water in John 7:37-39. This symbol portrays the Spirit as the One who can fulfill the deepest longings of the heart to know God, i.e., to enjoy eternal life (John 4:14; 17:3). As such, the metaphor speaks of promised messianic blessing and the presence of the kingdom in a new and powerful way (Isa 12:3; 32:15; 44:3; Ezek 39:29; Zech 14:16-18; Joel 2:28-32; Sukk 5:55a).
In Matthew 3:16 (cf. Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32) the text refers to the Spirit descending out of heaven as a dove. The symbol of the “dove” probably represents the beginning of an age of blessing and the end of judgment or perhaps it symbolizes the beginning of a new creation through the work of the promised, Spirit-empowered Davidic messiah.17
Another metaphor for the Spirit is clothing (Acts 1:8). This idea involves being dressed by another person so that one is characterized by this new clothing. In the case of the Spirit, it refers to his gift of power to us so that we might live consistent with the gospel as we boldly preach it throughout the entire world.
The Spirit is also referred to as a guarantee or pledge of the Christian’s glorification (Eph 1:14; 2 Cor 1:21-22). In this case, the present gift of the Spirit is the guarantee that the totality of what has been promised to us will someday be fulfilled (Rom 8:30). BAGD (the standard Greek lexicon used in NT studies) refers to the “Spirit” in these passages as the “first installment, deposit, down payment, [or] pledge, that pays a part of the purchase price in advance, and so secures a legal claim to the article in question, or makes a contract valid.”18
Closely related to the idea of the Spirit as “pledge” is the Spirit as seal or the One with whom Christians are sealed by God. In 2 Cor 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14, 4:30, Christians are said to be “sealed” by the Spirit of God. A “seal” in the ancient world referred to a “mark (with a seal) as a means of identification so that the mark which denotes ownership also carries with it the protection of the owner (see Rev 7:3)…This forms a basis for understanding the symbolic expression which speaks of those who enter the Christian fellowship as being sealed with or by the Holy Spirit.”19 Thus the “sealing” of the Spirit speaks to the divine ownership of the Christian which translates into security and protection. This does not mean that the Christian will never sin or be chastened by God (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 12:1-11), but it does mean that God will never abandon them, neither in this life or the one to come (cf. Rom 8:38-39). We will discuss this more under “Soteriology” or “Salvation” below.
The Pentecost Spirit is also likened to tongues of fire in Acts 2:3. Fire represents the holy presence of God, as for example, in Exodus 3:2-5 and the “burning bush.” One might also recall the pillar of fire (Exod 13:21-22), the fire on Mount Sinai (Exod 24:17) and the fire associated with the wilderness tabernacle (Exod 40:36-38).20 In all these cases, the holiness of God is paramount. Now, recall that the Christian’s election is unto holiness and Christlikeness (Rom 8:29; Eph 1:4) and so the Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts to make this transformation a reality (2 Cor 3:18).
The Work of the Holy Spirit in Revelation
The apostle Peter makes it clear that the Holy Spirit was responsible for the production of the OT scriptures (i.e., graphes) by carrying men along as they freely wrote God’s message. Paul likewise asserts the Holy Spirit’s involvement in the production of sacred Scripture (2 Tim 3:16—theopneustos). When we go to the OT we see this phenomenon in several places, not the least of which is the clear example of Ezekiel 2:2: “As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and raised me to my feet and I heard him speaking to me” (see also 8:4; 11:1, 24). Other examples of the Spirit speaking to people include Balaam (Num 24:2) and Saul (1 Samuel 10:6, 10). Also, Jesus said that David spoke by the Holy Spirit (Matt 22:43; cf. Acts 2:30).21
There is not a great deal of discussion in either testament regarding the relationship between the Spirit and men during the production of Scripture. Peter uses the analogy of the wind filling the sails of a ship. So we may infer from this that the Spirit took the initiative and directed the work, but in no way suppressed the personalities, including the emotional and intellectual input, of the human authors. In fact, it appears that he used all of this (and more), for the spiritual/emotional/ethical experience of David writing lyric poetry (in the Psalms, for example) was not the same as Paul’s experience in writing 1 Thessalonians or Ezra’s experience in writing the book after his name or John writing Revelation. The fact that we have an intimate involvement of the Spirit of God with the writers of Scripture speaks not to mechanical dictation or even conceptual inspiration (cf. Gal 3:16), but instead to a divine-human concurrence (1 Cor 2:12-13).
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The work of the Spirit in the OT is much broader than just the production of Scripture, as important as that is. The Spirit was involved in creating the cosmos (Gen 1:2; Job 26:13). He is currently intricately involved in sustaining creation (Psa 104:29-30) and will someday, in a period of enormous divine blessing, completely renew it. The nature of the Spirit’s present ministry testifies to this future work (Isa 32:15; Rom 8:18-27).
The Holy Spirit came upon certain people to impart wisdom and practical skills, strength and ability. He did this during the building of the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and all the tabernacle’s furnishings (Exod 31:1-11). He was also the strength and guidance behind the building of the temple (Zech 4:6).
The Spirit was involved in the administration of the nation of Israel by giving gifts of administration and wisdom (Gen 41:38; Num 11:25; Deut 34:9). He also raised up national leaders during the dismal period of the Judges. He gave strength, courage, capability in war, and leadership abilities to several people (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 14:19). Later on he anointed Saul, David, and Solomon for leadership by giving them strength and ability to prophesy, but in the case of Saul, the Spirit subsequently withdrew because of his disobedience (1 Sam 10:10; 16:13).
The Holy Spirit was also involved in the regeneration (Ezek 36:26-28), instruction, and sanctification of Israel in the OT (Nehemiah 9:20; Psa 51:11; 143:10; Isa 63:10). It is also said that he will produce righteousness and justice among the people of God in the messianic age (Isa 11:2-5; 32:15-20).22
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ
The Holy Spirit was involved in the birth of Christ, with the result that Christ, while fully human, was completely sinless (Matt 1:18; Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit was also involved in Christ’s anointing for messianic service (i.e., at his baptism [Luke 3:21-22]), filled him during his temptations (Luke 4:1; John 3:34), and revealed the timing and nature of the beginning of that ministry (Luke 4:14, 18). The Holy Spirit was also responsible for Christ’s ability to perform miracles and cast out demons (Matt 12:28). He was also involved in both the death of Christ as well as his resurrection (Heb 9:14; Rom 1:4; 8:11). Further, perhaps the best interpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-20 is that the pre-incarnate Christ preached via the Spirit through the mouth of Noah to the wicked back in the days before the flood.23
Link: http://bible.org/seriespage/pneumatology-holy-spirit
16 Some scholars attempt to argue for the personality of the Spirit by pointing out that in Ephesians 1:14 the relative pronoun “who” is masculine in the Greek text and not the expected neuter (i.e., to agree with pneuma). But there is a difficult textual variant here, i.e., the neuter relative pronoun, and it is exceedingly difficult to determine with great confidence which was original. The point is that not much weight should be placed on this passage. Also, some argue that the demonstrative pronoun in John 16:14 is masculine and refers back to the “spirit” in 16:13. The masculine pronoun, then, used in reference to the Spirit, demonstrates his personality. This argument, too, is precarious at best.
17 See Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1-13, Word Biblical Commentary, ed. David A. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker, vol. 33a (Dallas: Word, 1993), in loc.
18 BAGD, s.v. ajrrabwn.
19 BAGD, s.v. sfragivzw.
20 Others argue that “oil” is a type or symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. It represents the power, cleansing, and illuminating work of the Spirit. See Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989).
21 See Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985), 867.
22 This summary of the work of the Holy Spirit in the OT relies heavily on the work of Erickson, Christian Theology, 866-69. See also Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 4th ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941), 95-99; and especially James I. Packer, “Holy Spirit,” in New Dictionary of Theology, ed. Sinclair B. Ferguson, David F. Wright, and J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1988), 316-19.
23 See Buist M. Fanning, “A Theology of Peter and Jude,” A Biblical Theology of the New Testament, ed. Roy B. Zuck and Darrell L. Bock (Chicago: Moody, 1994), 448-50.
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Excellent study by Greg Herrick
The term pneumatology comes from two Greek words, namely, pneuma meaning “wind,” “breath,” or “spirit” (used of the Holy Spirit) and logos meaning “word,” “matter,” or “thing.” ... “pneumatology” refers to the study of the biblical doctrine of the Holy Spirit.
The Personhood of the Holy Spirit
The personality (and therefore “personhood”) of the Holy Spirit has been denied by certain groups throughout the history of the church. Some point out that the noun for “spirit” in the NT is pneuma which is neuter and, therefore, the spirit is correctly referred to as “it” rather than “he.” In keeping with this idea, some refer to it [him] as “God’s active force,” almost in a Gnostic sense of an emanation from the one, true God. Before we look at the Biblical evidence, it is important to point out that there is no necessary connection in Koine Greek between grammatical gender and personal gender so it is simply false to say that since the Greek noun pneuma is neuter the spirit must be an “it.”
It is important, then, to see what the Scriptures say about his personhood, i.e., is he really a person, albeit divine? This is especially so in a culture moving more toward New Age thinking and pantheism. The Holy Spirit is not the “god” within us which we possess via our own natures, nor is he some amorphous feeling or “active force.” All these views denigrate him and rightly deserve rejection.
There are several lines of evidence in the NT which argue for the personality of the Holy Spirit. First, Jesus said he would send “another” in his place (John 14:16). The word for another is allos in Greek and refers to another just like Jesus. It is reasonable to conclude from this that the Spirit is a person since Jesus is clearly a person. Further, Jesus referred to him as a parakletos (enabler, encourager, comforter, etc.) which requires that he be a person since the functions of a parakletos are personal; Jesus functioned as a parakletos to the disciples.
Second, the fact that the Spirit makes choices (1 Cor 12:11), teaches (John 14:26), guides (John 16:13), reveals Jesus (John 16:14), convicts (John 16:8), seals believers (2 Cor 1:21-22), can be grieved (Eph 4:30), blasphemed (Matt 12:31), possesses a rational mind (Rom 8:26-27; 1 Cor 2:11-13), can be lied to (Acts 5:3-4), quenched (1 Thess 5:19), resisted (Acts 7:51), and on numerous occasions is distinguished from, yet directly linked with the Father and the Son as co-worker and co-recipient of worship, argues definitively for his personhood (Matt 28:19-20; 2 Cor 13:14).16
The Deity of the Holy Spirit
As we noted above, the Holy Spirit is distinguished from, yet closely related to, the Father and the Son—and that on an equal basis. He receives the worship due the Father and the Son (2 Cor 13:14) and does divine works, including inspiring Scripture (2 Peter 1:20-21; Matt 19:4-5), regenerating hearts (Titus 3:5), and creating, sustaining, and giving life to all things (Gen 1:2; Job 26:13; 34:14-15; Psalm 104:29-30). He is said to be eternal (Heb 9:14; only God is eternal), omniscient (1 Cor 2:10-11), and is actually referred to as God (Acts 5:3-4; 1 Cor 3:16; 6:19-20). There is very little room for doubt; clearly the Holy Spirit is divine.
Scriptural Metaphors for the Holy Spirit
Scripture uses several important metaphorical expressions to refer to the Spirit, his sovereign character and his inscrutable, yet manifested workings. For example, Jesus referred to him as a wind—a metaphor which seems to underline the inscrutable nature of his moving in the hearts of people to give them life and bring them to faith (John 3:8).
In connection with his personal and glorious ministry to people, Jesus referred to him as water in John 7:37-39. This symbol portrays the Spirit as the One who can fulfill the deepest longings of the heart to know God, i.e., to enjoy eternal life (John 4:14; 17:3). As such, the metaphor speaks of promised messianic blessing and the presence of the kingdom in a new and powerful way (Isa 12:3; 32:15; 44:3; Ezek 39:29; Zech 14:16-18; Joel 2:28-32; Sukk 5:55a).
In Matthew 3:16 (cf. Mark 1:10; Luke 3:22; John 1:32) the text refers to the Spirit descending out of heaven as a dove. The symbol of the “dove” probably represents the beginning of an age of blessing and the end of judgment or perhaps it symbolizes the beginning of a new creation through the work of the promised, Spirit-empowered Davidic messiah.17
Another metaphor for the Spirit is clothing (Acts 1:8). This idea involves being dressed by another person so that one is characterized by this new clothing. In the case of the Spirit, it refers to his gift of power to us so that we might live consistent with the gospel as we boldly preach it throughout the entire world.
The Spirit is also referred to as a guarantee or pledge of the Christian’s glorification (Eph 1:14; 2 Cor 1:21-22). In this case, the present gift of the Spirit is the guarantee that the totality of what has been promised to us will someday be fulfilled (Rom 8:30). BAGD (the standard Greek lexicon used in NT studies) refers to the “Spirit” in these passages as the “first installment, deposit, down payment, [or] pledge, that pays a part of the purchase price in advance, and so secures a legal claim to the article in question, or makes a contract valid.”18
Closely related to the idea of the Spirit as “pledge” is the Spirit as seal or the One with whom Christians are sealed by God. In 2 Cor 1:22 and Ephesians 1:14, 4:30, Christians are said to be “sealed” by the Spirit of God. A “seal” in the ancient world referred to a “mark (with a seal) as a means of identification so that the mark which denotes ownership also carries with it the protection of the owner (see Rev 7:3)…This forms a basis for understanding the symbolic expression which speaks of those who enter the Christian fellowship as being sealed with or by the Holy Spirit.”19 Thus the “sealing” of the Spirit speaks to the divine ownership of the Christian which translates into security and protection. This does not mean that the Christian will never sin or be chastened by God (1 John 1:9; Hebrews 12:1-11), but it does mean that God will never abandon them, neither in this life or the one to come (cf. Rom 8:38-39). We will discuss this more under “Soteriology” or “Salvation” below.
The Pentecost Spirit is also likened to tongues of fire in Acts 2:3. Fire represents the holy presence of God, as for example, in Exodus 3:2-5 and the “burning bush.” One might also recall the pillar of fire (Exod 13:21-22), the fire on Mount Sinai (Exod 24:17) and the fire associated with the wilderness tabernacle (Exod 40:36-38).20 In all these cases, the holiness of God is paramount. Now, recall that the Christian’s election is unto holiness and Christlikeness (Rom 8:29; Eph 1:4) and so the Spirit has taken up residence in our hearts to make this transformation a reality (2 Cor 3:18).
The Work of the Holy Spirit in Revelation
The apostle Peter makes it clear that the Holy Spirit was responsible for the production of the OT scriptures (i.e., graphes) by carrying men along as they freely wrote God’s message. Paul likewise asserts the Holy Spirit’s involvement in the production of sacred Scripture (2 Tim 3:16—theopneustos). When we go to the OT we see this phenomenon in several places, not the least of which is the clear example of Ezekiel 2:2: “As he spoke to me, the Spirit entered me and raised me to my feet and I heard him speaking to me” (see also 8:4; 11:1, 24). Other examples of the Spirit speaking to people include Balaam (Num 24:2) and Saul (1 Samuel 10:6, 10). Also, Jesus said that David spoke by the Holy Spirit (Matt 22:43; cf. Acts 2:30).21
There is not a great deal of discussion in either testament regarding the relationship between the Spirit and men during the production of Scripture. Peter uses the analogy of the wind filling the sails of a ship. So we may infer from this that the Spirit took the initiative and directed the work, but in no way suppressed the personalities, including the emotional and intellectual input, of the human authors. In fact, it appears that he used all of this (and more), for the spiritual/emotional/ethical experience of David writing lyric poetry (in the Psalms, for example) was not the same as Paul’s experience in writing 1 Thessalonians or Ezra’s experience in writing the book after his name or John writing Revelation. The fact that we have an intimate involvement of the Spirit of God with the writers of Scripture speaks not to mechanical dictation or even conceptual inspiration (cf. Gal 3:16), but instead to a divine-human concurrence (1 Cor 2:12-13).
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament
The work of the Spirit in the OT is much broader than just the production of Scripture, as important as that is. The Spirit was involved in creating the cosmos (Gen 1:2; Job 26:13). He is currently intricately involved in sustaining creation (Psa 104:29-30) and will someday, in a period of enormous divine blessing, completely renew it. The nature of the Spirit’s present ministry testifies to this future work (Isa 32:15; Rom 8:18-27).
The Holy Spirit came upon certain people to impart wisdom and practical skills, strength and ability. He did this during the building of the tabernacle, the ark of the covenant, and all the tabernacle’s furnishings (Exod 31:1-11). He was also the strength and guidance behind the building of the temple (Zech 4:6).
The Spirit was involved in the administration of the nation of Israel by giving gifts of administration and wisdom (Gen 41:38; Num 11:25; Deut 34:9). He also raised up national leaders during the dismal period of the Judges. He gave strength, courage, capability in war, and leadership abilities to several people (Judges 3:10; 6:34; 14:19). Later on he anointed Saul, David, and Solomon for leadership by giving them strength and ability to prophesy, but in the case of Saul, the Spirit subsequently withdrew because of his disobedience (1 Sam 10:10; 16:13).
The Holy Spirit was also involved in the regeneration (Ezek 36:26-28), instruction, and sanctification of Israel in the OT (Nehemiah 9:20; Psa 51:11; 143:10; Isa 63:10). It is also said that he will produce righteousness and justice among the people of God in the messianic age (Isa 11:2-5; 32:15-20).22
The Work of the Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ
The Holy Spirit was involved in the birth of Christ, with the result that Christ, while fully human, was completely sinless (Matt 1:18; Luke 1:35). The Holy Spirit was also involved in Christ’s anointing for messianic service (i.e., at his baptism [Luke 3:21-22]), filled him during his temptations (Luke 4:1; John 3:34), and revealed the timing and nature of the beginning of that ministry (Luke 4:14, 18). The Holy Spirit was also responsible for Christ’s ability to perform miracles and cast out demons (Matt 12:28). He was also involved in both the death of Christ as well as his resurrection (Heb 9:14; Rom 1:4; 8:11). Further, perhaps the best interpretation of 1 Peter 3:18-20 is that the pre-incarnate Christ preached via the Spirit through the mouth of Noah to the wicked back in the days before the flood.23
Link: http://bible.org/seriespage/pneumatology-holy-spirit
16 Some scholars attempt to argue for the personality of the Spirit by pointing out that in Ephesians 1:14 the relative pronoun “who” is masculine in the Greek text and not the expected neuter (i.e., to agree with pneuma). But there is a difficult textual variant here, i.e., the neuter relative pronoun, and it is exceedingly difficult to determine with great confidence which was original. The point is that not much weight should be placed on this passage. Also, some argue that the demonstrative pronoun in John 16:14 is masculine and refers back to the “spirit” in 16:13. The masculine pronoun, then, used in reference to the Spirit, demonstrates his personality. This argument, too, is precarious at best.
17 See Donald A. Hagner, Matthew 1-13, Word Biblical Commentary, ed. David A. Hubbard and Glenn W. Barker, vol. 33a (Dallas: Word, 1993), in loc.
18 BAGD, s.v. ajrrabwn.
19 BAGD, s.v. sfragivzw.
20 Others argue that “oil” is a type or symbol of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. It represents the power, cleansing, and illuminating work of the Spirit. See Paul Enns, The Moody Handbook of Theology (Chicago: Moody Press, 1989).
21 See Millard J. Erickson, Christian Theology (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1985), 867.
22 This summary of the work of the Holy Spirit in the OT relies heavily on the work of Erickson, Christian Theology, 866-69. See also Louis Berkhof, Systematic Theology, 4th ed. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1941), 95-99; and especially James I. Packer, “Holy Spirit,” in New Dictionary of Theology, ed. Sinclair B. Ferguson, David F. Wright, and J. I. Packer (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1988), 316-19.
23 See Buist M. Fanning, “A Theology of Peter and Jude,” A Biblical Theology of the New Testament, ed. Roy B. Zuck and Darrell L. Bock (Chicago: Moody, 1994), 448-50.
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