Study Materials   
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Systematic Theology
The Rev. Louis B. Tiscione

Knowing God and Knowing Man

“And this is eternal life, that they know You the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.”
John 17:3


What you know about God really matters!

 

I.             Why should we study God systematically, what is systematic theology?

a.     Systematic Theology comes out of the Bible. It is not imposed on the Bible.                            
i.    Acts 20:18-28, Paul taught the whole counsel of God.

1.    How God has revealed Himself

2.    How God has established requirements for Man to have a relationship with Him.

                                          ii.    The basis of Systematic Theology is the Bible (Biblical Theology/sound exegesis).

                                        iii.    Looking at Theology systematically allows us to ask questions like:

1.    Who is God?

2.    Who are we?

3.    How has God revealed Himself?

4.    How did God communicate to man?

5.    What is the Trinity?

6.    What is Faith and Repentance?

7.    What is salvation?

8.    Who is the Father?

9.    Who is Jesus?

10.  Who is the Holy Spirit?

                                        iv.    Looking at Theology systematically guards against pitting one place Scripture against
another.  
               

b.    Systematic Theology has been done throughout the history of the church

c.     Systematic Theology “connects the dots” of God’s self-revelation so that we may construct a Biblical Worldview, seeing reality through the lens of God’s word.

d.    Some excellent Systematic Theology References:

                                          i.    The Institutes of the Christian Religion, John Calvin

                                         ii.    Systematic Theology, Charles Hodge

                                        iii.    Integrative Theology, Lewis & Demarest

                                        iv.    The Principles of Theology, Griffith Thomas

                                         v.    Systematic Theology and Biblical Theology, D.A.Carson

                                        vi.    Current Issues in Biblical Theology, D.A.Carson

                                       vii.    The Marriage of Biblical & Systematic Theology, Dr. Vern Sheridan Poythress

                                      viii.    Systematic Theology, Wayne Grudem

                                        ix.    Kinds of Biblical Theology, Vern Sheridan Poythress

e.    A suggested definition of Systematic Theology: “Systematic Theology not only derives coherent doctrines from the entirety of written revelation but also systematically relates them to each other in developing a comprehensive world view and way of life.” P.23, Vol. 1, Integrative Theology, Lewis & Demarest

II.            Who is God?

a.     Genesis 1 – ex nihilo – out of nothing

b.    Exodus 3 – “I Am Who I Am”

c.     Exodus 20 – The Ten Commandments

d.    John 1:1-18 – “the Word of God is God”

e.    Matthew 28:19, “The Father, The Son and The Holy Spirit” – The Trinity

f.      WSC Q/A 4: “What is God?”      God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable, in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.

                                          i.    God is a Spirit, John 4:24

                                         ii.    God is infinite, Job 11:7

                                        iii.    God is eternal, Psalm 90:2

                                        iv.    God is unchangeable, James 1:17 in His:

1.    Being, Exodus 3:14

2.    Wisdom, Psalm 147:5

3.    Power, Revelation 4:8

4.    Holiness, Revelation 15:4

5.    Justice, Goodness, and Truth, Exodus 34:6

 

     III.          How do we know God?

a.     General Revelation – Creation

b.    Special Revelation – The Bible

IV.           The Nature of Man

a.     In the Garden, before the FALL

b.    After the Fall

V.            Sin

a.     The doctrine of Original Sin

b.    “Missing the mark of God’s righteousness”, the sin we do…

VI.           Salvation (Soteriology)

a.     God’s plan of Salvation

b.    God’s means of Salvation

c.     The Doctrines of Salvation

                                          i.    God’s Effectual Call

                                         ii.    Regeneration

                                        iii.    Conversion

                                        iv.    Justification

                                         v.    Adoption

                                        vi.    Sanctification

                                       vii.    Glorification

d.    The Doctrines of Grace

                                          i.    Total Depravity

                                         ii.    Unconditional Election

                                        iii.    Limited Atonement

                                        iv.    Irresistible Grace

                                         v.    Perseverance of the Saints

VII.         Jesus Christ, The “Only Begotten One”

a.     Jesus Christ as Prophet

b.    Jesus Christ as Priest

c.     Jesus Christ as King

VIII.       The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

a.     God’s revelation of the person of the Holy Spirit

b.    The Holy Spirit’s work

                                          i.    Regeneration

                                         ii.    Imputation

c.     The Holy Spirit’s work of sanctification

IX.           The Doctrine of the Church

a.     The Body of Christ

b.    The Visible and Invisible Church

c.     The Marks of the True Church

d.    The Reformation

                                          i.    Doctrinal Statements of the Reformation

1.    39 Articles of Religion

2.    The Westminster Standards

                                         ii.    Protestant Branches

                                        iii.    The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA)

X.            The Doctrine of Scripture

a.     Inerrancy, Infallibility, Verbal Plenary Inspiration

b.    The Principles of Biblical Interpretation

                                          i.    The Biblical Principle (Historical/Grammatical Principle)

                                         ii.    The Literal Principle


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                                                  Weatherford Presbyterian Church, PCA
                                                                             204 South Main Street
                                                                           Weatherford, TX  76086
                                                                                  (817) 598-1277

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                                                                           Wednesday - 6:00 pm