I Need A Sign!

Pharisees Demand a Sign

Luke 11:24-26, 19-32

38 Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, “Teacher, we want to see a sign from You.”

39 But He answered and said to them, “An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and indeed a greater than Jonah is here. 42 The queen of the South will rise up in the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and indeed a greater than Solomon is here.

43 “When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44 Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45 Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Mormonism

The information that follows was recorded from The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter R. Martin.

Historical Perspective

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is unique among all the religious cults and sects active in the United States. The Mormons, as they are most commonly referred to, are divided into two major groups. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Utah, and The Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Missouri. In 1968, the Mormons number more than 2,600,000 adherents, own considerable stock in the agricultural and industrial wealth of America, and circle the earth in missionary activities, energetically rivaling evangelical Christianity. The first group makes its headquarters in Salt Lake City, Utah, and claims membership in excess of 2,000,000 as of January 1964. The Mormon Church has been characterized by thriftiness, zeal and an admirable missionary spirit, and even before the advent of World War II, it had more than 2,000 missionaries active on all mission fields of the world. The Mormons have have more than 15,000 "missionaries" active today, according to a statement published in 1964.
The Mormon Church practices to encourage its most promising young people, boys aged 20 and girls aged 23, to dedicate two years of their lives to missionary work on a self-supporting basis.
Membership in the Mormon Church now increases each year at an average rate of 25,000 "conversions"; and the Mormons have a birth rate of 36.6 per thousand, in contrast tot he average 24.9 birth rate of the United States. According to the teachings of the Mormon Church, Mormons are to preserve their bodies always in the best of health and are cautioned against the use of tobacco and alcohol, and even the drinking of tea, coffee, and Coca-Cola. Strongly insistent upon the Old Testament principle of tithing, the Mormon Church requires all members to meet the Biblical one-tenth, with the result that in 1960 the church budget exceeded $20,000,000, a tremendous figure for a comparatively small organization. With their heavy emphasis upon education (Brigham Young University alone boasts more than 10,000 students), the Mormons are moving ahead in their battle to out-evangelize evangelical Christianity.
Mormons are determined, zealous, missionary-minded people who have a practical religion of "good works" and tolerance. Each year they spend millions of dollars in the circulation of the teachings of their prophets, Joseph Smith, and Brigham Young, while converting any and all listeners regardless of church affiliation. In addition to their regular tithing fund, the Mormon Church also encourages what it terms "fast offerings." The unusual practice involves the giving up of two meals on the first Sunday of each month, the price of which is turned over to the church as a voluntary contribution to support and feed the poor. This averages to about $700,000 a year as a charity supplement to the poor.


Leaders

Mormon leaders have become powerful in almost all branches of American government, headed by former Secretary of Agriculture, Ezra Taft Benson, one of the Twelve Apostles who govern Mormon Church, U.S. Treasury Ivy Baker Priest, former president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Mariner S. Eccles, and Michigan Governor George Romney.
The Mormon Church also claims E. Lamar Buckner, President of Standard Oil of California. Far from being an organization with minor influence, the Mormons are indeed a potent force to be reckoned with, and few informed persons would be foolish enough to doubt this sphere of influence.


Church Organization

The organization and general administration of the Mormon Church is directed by the First Presidency, assisted by a Council of Twelve and a First Council of Seventy, consisting of seven men and presiding bishop with two counsellors. All authority resides in the Mormon "priesthood," established under the titles "Aaronic" (lesser) or "Melchizedek" (higher), to either one of which every male Mormon twelve years of age or over, belongs.
In their missionary program the Mormons continue to manifest great zeal. Missionaries are well trained in their dogmas and quote the Bible profusely. Thus it is that many true Christians have often unfortunately been literally quoted into silence by the clever disciples of Joseph Smith and Brigham Young, who flourish a pseudo-mastery of Scripture before the uninformed Christian's dazzled eyes and confuse him, sometimes beyond description.
Sad to say, however, the great majority of Mormons are in almost total ignorance of the shady historical and theological sources of their religion. They are openly shocked at times when the unglamourous and definitely unchristian background of the Mormon Church is revealed to them. This little known facet of Mormonism is "a side of the coin" which innumerable Mormon historians have for years either hidden from their people or glossed over in an attempt to suppress certain verifiable and damaging historical evidences.


Early Mormon History

The seeds of what was later to become the Mormon religion were incubated in the mind of one Joseph Smith, Jr., "The Prophet," better known to residents of Palmyra, New York, in 1816, as just plain "Joe Smith."
Joseph Smith, Dr., was a mystic, a man who spent most of his time digging for imaginary buried treasure (he was particularly addicted to Captain Kidd's legendary hoard!). Besides this failing he sometimes attempted to mint his own money, which at least once brought him into decided conflict with the local constabulary.
The mother, Lucy Smith, given as she was to extreme religious views and belief int he most trivial of superstitions, later in her life "authored" a book entitled Biographical Sketches of Joseph Smith and His Progenitors for Many Generations. When published by the Mormon Church in Liverpool, England, however, it incurred the enduring wrath of Brigham Young, the first successor to Smith, who brought about the suppression of the book on the grounds that "should it ever be deemed best to publish these sketches, it will not be done until they are carefully corrected."*
Mr.Smith, of course, was totally incapable of writing such a work, the "ghost writing" being done by a Mrs.Carey, who faithfully recorded what came to be known as "Mother Smith's History." Merely concerning Mrs.Smith's views of the prophet's home life, background and religious habits.
For Joseph Smith Jr. the year 1820 proved to be the real beginning of the prophet's call, for in that year he was allegedly the recipient of a marvelous vision in which God the Father and God the Son materialized and spoke to young Smith as he piously prayed in a neighbouring wood.
It is interesting to observe that Smith could not have been too much moved by the heavenly vision, for he shortly took up once again the habit of digging for treasure along with his father and brother, who were determined to unearth Captain Kidd's plunder by means of "peep stones," "divining rods," or just plain digging.
History informs us that the Smith clan never succeeded at these multitudinous attempts at treasure hunting.
In later years, the "prophet" greatly regretted these superstitious expeditions of his youth and even went on record as denying that he had ever been a money-digger. Said Prophet Smith on one such occasion: "In the month of October, 1825, I hired with an old gentleman by the name of Josiah Stoal who lived in Chenango County in the State of New York. He has heard something of a silver mine having been opened by the Spaniards in Harmony, Susquehanna County, State of Pennsylvania, and had, previous to my hiring with him, been digging in order, if possible, to discover the mine. After I went to live with him, he took me among the rest of his hands to dig for the silver mine, for which I continued to work for nearly a month without success in our undertaking. Finally I prevailed with the old gentlemen to cease digging for it. Hence arose the very prevalent story of my having been a money-digger."*
This eplanation may suffice to explain the prophet's treasure hunting fiascos to the faithful and tot he historically inept; but to those who have access to the facts, it is at once evident that Smith played recklessly, if no fast and loose, with the truth. In fact, it often appreared to be a perfect stranger to him. The main course for promoting skepticism where the veracity of the Prophet's explanation is concerned, however, is from no less an authority than Lucy Smith, his onw mother, who, in her account of the very same incident, wrote that "one, Mr. Stoal, came for Joseph on account of having heard that he possessed certain keys by whcih he could discern things invisible to the natural eye" (Linn, The Story of the Mormons, page 16.)
Futher evidence, in addition to Mrs. Smith's statement, proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the prophet was a confirmed "Peek Stone" addict, that he took par in an personally supervised numerous treasure-digging expeditions, and further that he claimed supernatural powers which allegedly aided him in these searches.
It should be remembered that Joseph Smith, Sr., in an interview, later published in the Historical Magazine of May, 1870, clearly stated that the prophet had been a Peek Stone enthusiast and treasure-digger in his youth, and, further he had also told fortunes and located lost objects by means of a "Peek Stone" and the alleged supernatural powers therein. Substantiating Joseph's father's account of his rather odd activities is the testimony of the Reverend Dr. John A. Clark after "exhaustive research" in the Smith family's own neighbourhood.
"Long before the idea of a Golden Bible entered the Smith's minds, in their excursions for money-digging . . . Joe used to be usually their guide, putting into a hat a peculiar stone he had through which he looked to decide where they should begin to dig" (Gleanings by the Way, page 225, 1842).

*Millenial Star, Vol. XIV, Supplement, page 6.


The Book of Mormon

Joseph Smith, Jr., in 1820, claimed a heavenly vision which, he said, singled him out as the Lord's anointed prophet for this dispensation, though it was not until 1823, with the appearance of the angel Moroni at the quaking Smith's bedside, that Joe began his relationship to the fabulous "golden plates," or what was to become the Book of Mormon.
The purpose of the Book of Mormon and its mission generally eludes Christian theologians, archeologists, and students of Anthropology because of the many difficulties which the book introduces in the light of already established facts.
A Mormon's explanation of the purpose of "the Book of Mormon is another witness to the same affect" of the Bible "for the truth," and "the Bible's historical dealings" and "providences of God with man upon the eastern continent."*
For the Mormons, the Bible predicts the Book of Mormon; the Book of Mormon interprets Old Testament prophecy and it claims to be part of the new covenant to Israel. It is also supposed to be "another witness" to the truth of the Christian Gospel. It is unfortunate for the Mormons that this witness is so often found in conflict with the Biblical revelation, as we shall see.

*The Book of Mormon by R. S. Salyards, Sr., page 13.


Acknowledgement: This should be efficient and enough for you to ever reject the Mormon faith. There are just too many errors, anachronisms, contradictions, plagiarisms (25,000 words from the King James Version), that in fact, have caused the Mormons no end of embarrassment for many years.
For anymore information about Mormonism, or Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watch Tower, Seventh-Day Adventism, Zen Buddhism, the Black Muslim Cult, Spritism, and many other cults of the world, go pick up the book The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter R. Martin. Also, find Martin's hermeneutics on "how to read the Bible, the right way."


Reference: The Kingdom of the Cults by Walter R. Martin

Bibliography by Moody

The information that follows was recorded from The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns.

Bibliography: Doctrine of The Bible

The English word bible is derived from the Greek word biblion, which means "book" or roll." The name comes from byblos, which denoted the papyrus plant that grew in marshes or river banks, primarily alone the Nile. Writing materials was made from the papyrus plant by cutting the pith of the plant in one foot strips and setting it in the sun to dry. The strips were then laid in a criss-cross fashion similar to the way plywood is constructed today. The horizontal rows were smoother and became the writing surface. Sections of these strips were glued together for form a scroll up to thirty feet in length.
Eventually, the plural form biblia was used by Latin-speaking Christians to denote all the books of the Old and New Testaments.

The word translated "Scripture" comes from the Greek word graphe, which simply means "writing." In the Old Testament this writing was recognized as carrying great authority (e.g. 2 Kings 14:6, 2 Chron. 23:18; Ezra 3:2; Neh. 10:34). The "writings" of the Old Testament were eventually collected into three groups called the Law, Prophets, and Writings (or Psalms), and Scriptures—were formally combined into the Old Testament canon.
In the New Testament the Greek verb grapho is used about ninety times in reference to the bible, while the noun form graphe is used about fifty-one times int he New Testament, almost exclusively of the Holy Scriptures. In the New Testament the designations vary: "the Scriptures," designating collectively all the parts of Scripture (e.g. Matt. 21:42; 22:29; 26:54; Luke 24:27, 32, 45; John 5:39; Rom. 14:4; 2 Peter 3:16) or individual parts of the Scriptures (Mark 12:10; 15:28; John 13:18; 19:24, 36; Acts 1:16; 8:35; Rom. 11:2; 2 Tim. 3:16); "the Scripture says," fairly synonymous with quoting God (e.g. Rom. 4:3; 9:17; 10:11; Gal. 4:30; 1 Tim. 5:18). They are also termed "Holy Scriptures" (Rom. 1:2) and the Sacred Writings" (Greek hiera grammata, 2 Tim. 3:15). The classic passage, 2 Timothy 3:16 stresses that these writings are not ordinary writings but at in fact "God-breathed," and as such they are authoritative and without error in all that they teach.

Divine Origin of The Bible

Claim of The Bible

There are many evidences that the Bible is an entirely unique book, quite unlike any other work. The unique claims within the Bible itself bear witness to tis unusual character. Some thirty-eight hundred times the Bible declares, "God said," or "Thus says the Lord" (e.g. Ex. 4:1; 20:1; Lev. 4:1; recognize that the things he was writing were the Lord's commandments (1 Cor. 14:37), and they were acknowledged as such by the believers (1 Thess. 2:13). Peter proclaimed the certainty of the Scriptures and the necessity of heeding the unalterable and certain Word of God (2 Pet. 1:16-21). John too recognized that his teaching was form God; to reject his teaching was to reject God (1 John 4:6).
In response to those who would reject the above-mentioned argument, it should be noted that the writers who made those claims for the Scripture were trustworthy men who defended the integrity of the Scripture at great personal sacrifice. Jeremiah received his message directly form the Lord (Jer. 11:1-3), even his family rejected him (Jer. 11:21); even his family rejected him (Jer. 12:6). Counterfeit prophets were readily recognized (Jer. 23:21, 32; 28:1-17). However, the Bible's claims should not be understood as arguing in a circle or by circular reasoning. The testimony of reliable witnesses—particularly of Jesus, but also of others such as Moses, Joshua, David, Daniel, and Nehemiah in the Old Testament, and John and Paul in the New Testament—affirmed the authority and verbal inspiration of the Holy Scriptures.


Continuity of The Bible

The divine origin of the Bible is further seen in considering the continuity of its teaching despite the unusual nature of its composition. It stands distinct from other religious writings. For example, the Islamic Koran was compiled by and individual, Zaid ibn Thabit, under the guidance of Mohammed's father-in-law, Abu Bekr. Additionally, in A.D. 650, a group of Arab scholars produced a unified version and destroyed all variant copies to preserve the unity of the Koran. By contrast, the Bible came from some forty different authors from diverse vocations in life. For instance, among the writers of Scripture were Moses, a political leader; Joshua, a military leader; David, a shepard; Solomon, a king; Amos, a herdsman and fruit pincher; Daniel, a prime minister; Matthew, a tax collector; Luke, a medical doctor; Paul, a rabbi; and Peter, a fisherman.
Moreover, the Bible was not only written by a diversity of authors, but also in different locations and under a variety of circumstances. In fact, it was written on three continents: Europe, Asia, and Africa. Paul wrote from a Roman prison was well as from the city of Corinth—both in Europe; Jeremiah (and perhaps Moses) wrote from Egypt in Africa; most of the other books were written in Asia. Moses probably wrote in the desert, David composed his Psalms in the countryside, Solomon contemplated the Proverbs in the royal courts, John wrote as a banished person on the island of Patmos, and Paul wrote five books from prison.
It is apparent that many of the writers did not know of the other writers of Scripture and were unfamiliar with the other writings, inasmuch as the writers wrote over a period of more than fifteen hundred years, yet the Bible is a marvellous, unified whole. There are no contradictions or inconsistencies within its pages. The Holy Spirit is the unifier of the sixty-six books, determining its harmonious consistency. In unity these books teach the triunity of God, the deity of Jesus Christ, the personality of the Holy Spirit, the fall and depravity of man, as well as salvation by grace. It quickly becomes apparent that no human being(s) would have orchestrated the harmony of the teachings of the Scripture. The divine authorship of the Bible is the only answer.

Divine Revelation of The Bible

Definition of Revelation

The word revelation is derived form the Greek word apokalupsis, which means "disclosure" or "unveiling." Hence, revelation signifies God unveiling Himself to mankind. The fact that revelation has occurred renders theology possible; had God not revealed Himself there could be no accurate or propositional statements about God. Romans 16:25 and Luke 2:32 indicate that God has unveiled Himself in the Person of Jesus Christ. That is the epitome of God's revelation.


General Revelation

General revelation, although not adequate to procure salvation, is nonetheless an important antecedent to salvation. General revelation is God revealing certain truths and aspects about His nature to all humanity, which revelation is essential and preliminary to God's special revelation.
God's revelation in nature is perhaps the most prominent demonstration of general revelation. Pslam 19:1-6 affirms His revelation to the human race in the heavens as well as on earth.
Romans 1:18-21 further develops the concept of general revelation. The "invisible attributes," "eternal power," and "divine nature" of God have been "clearly seen" (v. 20). The human race is rendered guilty and without excuse through God's revelation of Himself in nature. This revelation gives mankind an awareness of God but is of itself inadequate to provide salvation (cf. also Job 12:7-9, Psalm 8:103, Isa. 40:12-14, Acts 14:15-17).
God has also revealed Himself to the human race through His providential control. It is through His providential goodness in supplying people sunshine and rain that enables them to live and function (Matt. 5:45; Acts 14:15-17). Paul reminds the people at Lystra that God's providential goodness was a witness to them (Acts 14:17). God's providential control is evident in His dealing with the nations. He disciplined His disobedient people of Israel (Deut. 28:15-68) but will also restore them (Deut. 30:1-10); He judged Egypt for sinning against Israel (Ex. 7-11); He raised the nations to power and also caused their demise (Dan. 2:21a, 31-43).
Further, God has revealed Himself through conscience. Romans 2:14-15 indicates God has placed intuitional knowledge concerning Himself within the heart of man. "Man intuitively knows not only that God values goodness and abhors(loathes) evil but also that he is ultimately accountable to such a righteous Power."* While the Jews will be judged according to the written law, Gentiles, who do not have the written Law, will be judged according to an unwritten law, the law of conscience written on their hearts. Moreover, Paul says the conscience acts as a legal prosecutor (v. 15). "Conscience may be regarded as an inner monitor, or the voice of God in the soul, that passes judgment on man's response to the moral law within."*

*Bruce A. Demarest


Special Revelation

Special revelation involves a narrower focus than general revelation and is restricted to Jesus Christ and the Scriptures. Of course, all that is known of Christ is through the Scriptures; therefore, it can be said that special revelation is restricted to the Scriptures.
Special revelation has been necessitated because of man's sinful estate through the Fall. In order to restore fallen humanity to fellowship with Himself it was essential that God reveal the way of salvation and reconciliation, hence, the essence of special revelation centers on the Person of Jesus Christ. He is displayed as the One who has explained the Father (John 1:18). Although, in the past people have not seen God, "Jesus has now given a full account of the Father."* Jesus declared that both His words (John 6:63) and His works (John 5:36) demonstrated that He revealed the Father—and both His words and His works are accurately recorded in Scripture. Hebrews 1:3 indicates Christ is the "radiance of (God's) glory and the exact representation of His nature." The first phrase reveals that Christ is the precise reproduction of the Father. Jesus Christ has fully revealed the Father to a sinful humanity and through His redemption has enabled mankind to be restored to fellowship with God.
Because the Bible is God-breathed (2 Tim. 3:16) and written by men carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Pet. 1:21), the Bible is entirely reliable and accurate in its portrayal of Jesus Christ.

Interpretation of The Bible

Several important principles are basic in the interpretation of Scripture.


Literal Interpretation

Literal interpretation means the words and sentences of Scripture are understood in their normal meaning—the ways that words are understood in normal communication. It is a literal or normal meaning of words that is the basis of communication. Biblically there is a precedence for interpreting the New Testament literally. Old Testament prophecies like Psalm 22, Isaiah 7:14; 53:1-12, Micah 5:2 have all been fulfilled literally.


Grammatical Relationships

Because we acknowledge the verbal (words) and plenary (full) inspiration of Scripture it is incumbent on us to pay attention to the words of Scripture. Grammatical relationships are important to study because words stand in relationship to each other; therefore, it is necessary to study verb tenses, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and laws of structure.


Historical Context

The historical context is important as a framework form which to interpret the Scriptures. Every book of Scripture was written in a historical context that should be understood in order to help interpret the book accurately.


Literal Context

Interpreting in context involves three main steps.
Study the immediate context. The immediate context should be carefully studied; several paragraphs preceding and following the passage should be studied.
Study the more remote context. The major segment of the book (usually 2-3 chaps.) in which the passage occurs should be studied.
Consider the context of the entire book. The emphasis of the entire book should be studied.
The subject of interpretation is a major subject in itself and vitally important to the correct understanding of Scripture.

*Leon Morris


Reference: The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns, Pages 154-159, 175-176.

Systematic Theology by Moody

The information that follows was recorded from The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns.

Systematic Theology

The term theology is derived from the Greek theos, meaning "God," and logos, meaning "word" or discourse"; hence, "discourse about God." The word systematic comes from the Greek verb sunistano, which means "to stand together" or "to organize"; hence, systematic theology emphasizes the systematization of theology. Lewis Sperry Chafer provides a suitable definition of systematic theology: "Systematic Theology may be defined as the collecting, scientifically arranging, comparing, exhibiting, and defending of all facts from any and every source concerning God and His works."
In an alternate definition, Charles Hodge defines theology as "the science of the facts of divine revelation so far as those facts concern the nature of God and our relation to Him, as His creatures, as sinners, and as the subjects of redemption. All these facts, as just remarked, are in the Bible."
Hodge restricts his definition about systematic theology to information gained from the Bible alone.
Millard Erickson provides a good comprehensive definition of theology as "that discipline which strives to give a coherent statement of the doctrines of the Christian faith, based primarily upon the Scriptures, placed in the context of culture in general, worded in a contemporary idiom, and related to issues of life."

As a result of systematic theology, beliefs of the Christian faith. The Bible was not written in a doctrinal outline; hence, it is important to systematize the parts of the Bible to understand the doctrinal emphasis of the entire Bible.


As an Apologetic for Christianity

Systematic theology enables Christians to defend their beliefs rationally against opponents and antagonists of faith. Early in the Christian church believers used their systematized beliefs to address opponents and unbelievers. This is perhaps even more important today with the emergence of humanism, Communism, cults, and Eastern religions. The systematized doctrines of the Christian faith must be researched, delineated, and presented as a defense of historic Christianity.


As a Means of Maturity for Christians

Systematic theology is an assertion of Christian truth; these same truths are essential to the maturity of believers (2 Tim. 3:16-17). Paul's writings make it clear that doctrine (theology) is foundational to Christian maturity, inasmuch as Paul normally builds a doctrinal foundation in his epistles (e.g. Eph. 1-3) before he exhorts believers to live correctly (e.g. Eph. 4-6). Also many Christians have faithfully attended church services for decades and yet have little understanding of the major doctrines of the Christian faith. Yet a knowledge of correct doctrine is important in Christian maturity; moreover, it protects the believer from error (cf. 1 John 4:1, 6; Jude 4).


Inspiration and Innerancy of Scripture

No adequate theology is possible without a belief in the inspiration and inerrancy of Scripture. If this doctrine is abandoned, reason becomes the source of authority and reason sits in judgment upon the text of Scripture.


Application of Proper Hermeneutical Principles

The application of hermeneutical principles will reinforce objectivity, forcing the interpreter to set aside biases and extremes.


Scientific Approach

Theology should be scientific, in the sense of employing the general arts, culture, and biblical languages in drawing theological conclusions.


Objectivity

Theology must be based on inductive research and conclusions, not deductive reasoning. The theologian must approach the Scripture with a tabula rasa, an open mind, allowing the Scripture to speak for itself without forming prejudicial opinions about what the Scripture should say.


Progressive Revelation

Although both the Old and New Testaments are inspired, it is a canon of interpretation that revelation is progressive. Therefore, in formulating truths about God and His dealing with man, the New Testament has priority over the Old Testament.


Illumination

Even while applying proper hermeneutics and methodology, there is a divine element to understanding God's truth. The believer is aided by the Holy Spirit's ministry of illumination in guiding the believer to an understanding of divine truth (1 Cor. 2:11-13).
Illumination can be defines as "the ministry of the Holy Spirit whereby He enlightens those who are in a right relationship with Him to comprehend the written Word of God."


Recognition of Human Limitations

While employing a proper methodology, the student must nonetheless recognize the limitations of finite beings. Man will never be able totally to comprehend God. He must be satisfied with limited knowledge.


Sources of Systematic Theology

Scriptures provide a primary source of theology in their revelation of God and man's relationship to Him. If God has revealed Himself (and He has), and if that self-revelation is accurately encoded in the sixty-six books of Scripture (and it is), then the Scriptures are the primary source of man's knowledge of God.
Nature is also a primary source of a knowledge of God (Ps. 19). Nature, in its harmonious revelation, is a constant witness concerning God's attributes, eternal power, and divine nature (Rom. 1:20).

Tradition, in spite of its fallibility, is important in understanding affirmations about the Christian faith. What individuals, churches, and denominations have taught is a necessary consideration in formulating theological statements.
Reason, as guided by the Holy Spirit, is also a source of theology. Reason, however, must submit to the supernatural, rather than attempting to define it.


Reference: The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Enns, Pages 147-151.

The Bible Contains

A Servant's Heart

Today I was helping my mother bring garbage to the dump, afterward she asked if I could move some firewood to the sauna from the shed. She said I can do it now or later. I was a little hesitant because I was planning on going into town do do my own errands. She asked, “Why not do it now? We have the trailer and the van, and you can use it now.” So I said, okay. As I finished my work, I had to ask myself, I know I don't like labour work, but if I were a servant of God, couldn't I serve others better, wouldn't that make me be a better worker? Is it just because I don't like labour work? How can I better serve others? I want to be a good servant, so why is it so hard?

The Heart of a Servant
Couldn't we serve God better by the way we serve others? How can we work better for our sovereign King? Ask the Lord how you can be a better servant. Ask Him to show you how to better serve others for His Kingdom.

100th Post! Where Are The Men and Women of God?

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