TheosGuy

I grew up in a church background that did not encourage Systematic Theology. From childhood to adulthood, I grew up in a denomination that relied on the catechism and the teachings of the church. From young adulthood I grew in the Lord in a church that stressed Biblical Theology. Somewhere along the way I became interested in Systematic Theology.

In April 2008 I attended the “Together for the Gospel” conference. The first speaker, Lingon Duncan, spoke on the importance of sound doctrine. During that talk he stated that Jesus and Paul did systematic theology, so why shouldn’t we. That caught my attention. Dr. Duncan then gave the scriptural evidence for his assertion. These were the Scriptures he gave, and I heartily agreed.

And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself…And they told about the things [that had happened] on the road, and how He was known to them in the breaking of bread. (Luke 24:27, 35 NKJV)

If it was good enough for Jesus, then I should be interested in it as well.

Tags: Christ, Theology

The following reading, The Name of Jesus in the Epistle to the Hebrews., is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

1. As Son of Man. “But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death” (Heb. 2:9).
2. As our High Priest. “We have a great High Priest, who is passed into the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God” (Heb. 4:14, and 6:20).
3. As our Surety. “By so much was Jesus made a Surety of a better testament” (Heb. 7:22).
4. As the Way into the holiest. “Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus” (Heb. 10:19).
5. As the Author of faith. “Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith” (Heb. 12:2).
6. As our Mediator. “And to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant” (Heb. 12:24)’
7. As our Sanctifier. “Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate” (Heb. 13:12).

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 236.

Tags: Christ, Marsh, Teaching Ideas, Theology

The following was adapted from F.E. Marsh’s 1000 Bible Study Outlines¹

In his letter to Timothy (1 Timothy 6:4-21), Paul gave three “F’s” to Timothy when he would set him on his guard. Look at them:

1. “Flee these things” (1Ti 6:4-11).
   1. Swelling of pride (R. Y.). “Puffed up.”
   2. Folly of ignorance.
   3. Dotage of questionings (margin, “sick”).
   4. “Strifes of words” (R.Y., “disputes”).
   5. Envy of jealousy.
   6. Strife of temper.
   7. Railings of incrimination.
   8. Surmisings of evil.
   9. Love of money.
2. “Follow after” (1Ti 6:6, 11).
   1. “Righteousness” of life.
   2. “Godliness” of character.
   3. “Faith” of devotion.
   4. “Love” of faithfulness.
   5. “Patience” of endurance.
   6. “Meekness” of manner.
   7. “Contentment” of thankfulness.
3. “Fight the good fight of faith” (R.V., “The faith”).
   1. By “a good profession” (1Ti 6:12).
   2. By keeping “this commandment” (1Ti 6:14).
   3. By charging the rich not to be “high-minded” (1Ti 6:17).
   4. By being “rich in good works” (1Ti 6:18).
   5. By laying “hold of eternal life” (1Ti 6:19).
   6. By keeping “the faith” of the Gospel (1Ti 6:20-21).
   7. By being “ready to sympathise” (margin, R.V., 1Ti 6:18).

1. 1000 Bible Study Outlines, Marsh, F.E., outline 349.

Tags: Christian Living, Marsh, Teaching Ideas

The following reading, Cleaving to Christ is adapted from F.E. Marsh’s, 500 Bible Readings.¹

Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.—Acts 11:23

The following seven ways will indicate how we can cleave to Christ:

1. By prayerful dependence upon Him (Phil 4:6).
2. By being taught by Him (Matt 11:29).
3. By ready response to His word (John 14:21).
4. By whole-hearted surrender to Him (Rom 12:1).
5. By separation from the ungodly (2 Cor 6:17).
6. By living a life of faith upon Him (Gal 2:20).
7. By waiting for Him (1 Thess 1:10).

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 51.

Tags: Christian Living, Marsh, Teaching Ideas

I have been reading Pastor Chuck Smith’s biography, Chuck Smith: A Memoir of Grace. Here is a quote that I particularly liked and one that I bear witness to from my own life.

It pleases God to guide our lives by continuously giving us directions rather than giving us a map. He is with us always and wants us to be listening always.

Tags: Living, Quotes

Often you will hear some Amillennialists say that they take the Bible literally. But when you start to ask questions, you find out that they mean something different than most non-amillennialists. When you start to quiz, you will find out that they do take certain parts of Scripture literally (in the historical-grammatical-literal sense). These parts of Scripture are:

• Non-prophetic portions of Scripture.
• The prophetic portions of Scripture that have already been literally fulfilled through the time of Christ’s earthly ministry.
• Scripture related to the final eternal state of man.

But there is one genre of Scripture that is not included in the above list. That genre is Scripture prophesying events after the ascension of Christ and before the eternal state. In other words, what is commonly called End Times Prophecy (e.g., the rapture, the tribulation, and the Millennial Kingdom).

So the issue becomes what method of interpretation do they apply to Scripture that is prophetic of a time after Christ’s earthly ministry. Well, they take them allegorically or as some would call it spiritualizing the scripture.

Once when speaking to an avid amillennialist regarding this, he took me to task telling me that they do not allegorize these scriptures, they merely treat them as metaphors. This person was an intelligent person and a thinker. Yet he failed to know his dictionary. Check out Merriam-Webster’s and you will find out that an allegory is merely a long metaphor. The Book of Revelation seems to be a bit long to call just a metaphor!

But then that is the whole point isn’t it. Do words mean what they mean, in their context! This type of interpretation is called the historical-grammatical-literal method of interpretation. Or are they some code that we have to figure out what they really mean? And who gets to be the judge of what they really mean? Sounds a bit Gnostic to me.

Well there are a few amillennialists that are honest to themselves, and us, about this. The following quotes from two amillennialists of the past which clearly acknowledge that premillennialism is the fruit of a historical-grammatical-literal method, and amillennialism is not.

Floyd Hamilton, an amillennialist, wrote:

Now we must frankly admit that a literal interpretation of the Old Testament prophecies gives us just such a picture of an earthly reign of the Messiah as the Premillennialist pictures…The Jews were looking for just such a kingdom as that expected by those premillennialists…¹

Oswald Allis, another amillennialist, wrote:

One of the most marked features of Premillennialism in all its forms is the emphasis which it places on the literal interpretation of Scripture.²

Here’s a quick question to ask. Do you believe in a literal earthly 7-year tribulational period prior to the Second Coming of Christ in glory. Amillennialists will say no. But the Scriptures define that seven year period in at least three different ways:

• Seven years (Daniel and Revelation)
• The Great Tribulation, which is the second half of the total tribulation, as 3-1/2 years (thereby meaning the entire tribulational period is twice that period, totalling 7 years. Those 3-1/2 years are described in three different ways:
  • three and 1/2 years (Dan 7:25; 12:7; Rev 12:14)
  • forty-two months (Rev 11:2; 13:5)
  • 1,260 days (Rev 11:3; 12:6)(remember the Biblical year is 360 days–as is most banking and financial interest calculations)

Well my question, is…how many different ways does the Holy Spirit have to tell us it is 3-1/2 years before we believe it! What is really interesting is that many (if not most) of the same amillennialists believe in a literal 6-day creation. Yet, there is more ambiguity in the original language over the Hebrew word translated day, than there is in the Greek words translated as noted above. I believe in both a literal 6-day creation, a literal 7-year tribulation and a literal 1,000 year Millennial Kingdom. God literally meant what He said, in both the beginning and at the end.

1. Hamilton, Floyed E., The Basis of the Millennial Faith. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1942), pp. 38-39

2. Allis, Oswald T., Prophecy and the Church. (London, James Clarke & Co., 1945), p.17

Tags: End Times, Premillennialism

The following reading, Salvation,
is adapted from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

What is comprehended in the most comprehensive word “salvation”? The following acrostic will indicate, in some small degree, Salvation.

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 335.

Tags: Marsh, Salvation, Teaching Ideas

The following reading, Christ, Our Life,
is from F.E. Marsh’s 500 Bible Readings¹.

There are many words and phrases that are peculiar to John; for
instance, the double “verily,” “excepts,” and “true” things. John’s
Gospel is peculiar in itself. Matthew shows us Christ as “King,”
Mark as the “Servant,” Luke as the “Man,” and John as the
“Life.” This may be traced right through John.

1. 500 Bible Readings, Marsh, F.E., (London: Marshall Brothers, 1897). Reading number 72.

Tags: Bible, Bibliology, Christ, Christian Living, Marsh, Teaching Ideas

Pre-tribulationists are just “escapists” is often the cry. Yes! In Luke 21:36 Jesus in fact admonishes us,

Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man. (Luke 21:36)

Jesus is telling us to pray to escape the tribulation, which He had just described. Why would He tell us to do this if in fact we could not escape it? He would not! So it is possible to escape the tribulation period.

Tags: End Times, Rapture

There are some who say that the rapture and the Second Coming in Glory (the Glorious Appearance) are the same event. They say the first half of the this same event is when He is coming for His saints (i.e., the rapture) and it happens halfway down from Heaven to earth. Then Christ continues, coming with His saints to the earth (i.e., the Glorious Appearance). This is to somehow explain away the different Scriptures that state He is coming with His saints and others that say He is coming for His saints.

However, this theory would seem to be refuted by Revelation 19. Revelation 19:14 tells us that Jesus’ Second Coming in Glory is accompanied by armies in fine white linen. Who are these armies? Revelation 19:8 states that the fine white linen is the righteous work of the saints. So these armies are the believers (both those who have slept and been raptured). Why does it have to be both sets of saints, because in Revelation 19:7-8, it tells us that this group of saints are the Bride of Christ.

This refutes the idea of just one event split in half, because the saints, who are the Bride of Christ, begin with Christ in heaven prior to the coming in glory. The saints are already with Christ in heaven, because the rapture occurred prior to the Second Coming in Glory.

Tags: End Times, Rapture