THEOLOGICAL FOUNDATIONS

COURSE GUIDE

DOCTRINE OF GOD

THE EXISTENCE OF GOD

How do we know that God exists? The answer can be given in two parts: First, all people have an inner sense of God (Ecclesiastes 3:11). Second, we believe the evidence that is found in Scripture and in nature (Romans 1:18-20).

THE nature of GoD

We believe in one God eternally existing as one essence and three distinct persons: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, each of whom is fully God, yet there is one God (Matthew 28:19,1 Corinthians 12:4-6, 2 Corinthians 13:14).

The doctrine of the Trinity can be summarized in seven statements: There is only one God. The Father is God. The Son is God. The Holy Spirit is God. The Father is not the Son. The Son is not the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not the Father.

Attributes of God

God is not like anything: He is one of a kind, and there is nothing, really, to compare Him to (Isaiah 40:25). How do we describe God? What is true about Him? What kind of God is He?

DOCTRINE OF CHRIST (CHRISTOLOGY)

Fully God, fully man

We believe Jesus Christ to be the virgin-born Son of God, who, as a human being on earth, died for the sins of the world, was buried, rose again, and ascended to the Father.

The virgin birth made possible the uniting of full deity and full humanity in one person. This was the means God used to send his Son (John 3:16; Galatians 4:4) into the world as a man. If we think for a moment of other possible ways in which Christ might have come to the earth, none of them would so clearly unite humanity and deity in one person.

Human weakness AND limitations

Jesus had a human body (Luke 2:7, John 4:6), mind (Luke 2:52, John 13:32), and soul (John 12:27) with weaknesses, limitations, and temptations, just like us (Hebrews 4:15).

Sinlessness

Though the New Testament clearly affirms that Jesus was fully human, just as we are, it also affirms that Jesus was different in one important respect: He was without sin, and He never committed sin during his lifetime (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22).

DOCTRINE OF HUMANITY

CREATION OF MAN

God did not need to create man, yet He created us for His own glory (Isaiah 43:7, Ephesians 1:11-12).
Man’s purpose is to glorify God (Psalm 16:11, Psalm 73:25-26).
Man was created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 1 Corinthians 15:49, Genesis 9:6).

Sin OF MAN

Sin is any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature (Matthew 5:22, 5:28, Galatians 5:20).
Sin originated with man, not with God (Romans 5:12, Genesis 3:1-19, James 1:13).

We are counted guilty because of Adam’s sin (Romans 5:12-14). In addition to the legal guilt that God imputes to us because of Adam’s sin, we also inherit a sinful nature because of Adam’s sin (Psalm 51:5, Ephesians 2:3).

In terms of our legal standing before God, any one sin, even what may seem to be a very small one, makes us legally guilty before God, and therefore worthy of eternal punishment (Romans 5:16). While this is true, we also know that some sins have more harmful consequences in our lives, in the lives of others, and in terms of our personal relationship to God as Father (John 19:11).

When Christians sin, our legal standing with God is unchanged (Romans 8:1), but our fellowship with God is disrupted, and our life is damaged (Ephesians 4:30).

The primary reason for the punishment for sin is that God is showing Himself to be a righteous judge over all and justice is being done in his universe (Romans 3:25-26).

THE FIVE SOLAS

Sola Scriptura (“Scripture alone”)

The Bible alone is our highest authority (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

Sola Gratia (“grace alone”)

We are saved by the grace of God alone (Romans 6:14).

Sola Fide (“faith alone”)

We are saved through faith alone in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Solus Christus (“Christ alone”)

Jesus Christ alone is our Lord, Savior, and King (John 14:6).

Soli Deo Gloria (“to the glory of God alone”)

We live for the glory of God alone (Psalm 19:1).

SOURCES + FURTHER STUDY

OVERALL THEOLOGY

Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem (Buy on Amazon)

Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem (Buy on Amazon)

Two resources that we recommend when studying and researching: desiringgod.org and thegospelcoalition.org

THE NATURE OF GOD

Explaining the Trinity to a Seven-Year-Old (thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/justin-taylor/explaining-the-trinity-to-a-seven-year-old)

ATTRIBUTES OF GOD

None Like Him: 10 Ways God is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing) by Jen Wilkin (Buy on Amazon)

DOCTRINE OF HUMANITY

Human Dignity Is Not a Political Platform by Tina Boesch (thegospelcoalition.org/reviews/dignity-revolution)

The Gospel Coalition Course: What is Man? (thegospelcoalition.org/course/what-is-man)

FIVE SOLAS

Are the Five Solas Biblical? (equip.sbts.edu/article/five-solas-biblical)

Why The Reformation Remains Relevant After 500 Years (desiringgod.org/interviews/why-the-reformation-remains-relevant-after-500-years)