God’s Prophet Isaiah

One of the main prophets and/or leaders in the Kansas City Prophets movement was Bob Jones (no relation to Bob Jones of Bob Jones University in South Carolina), the movement's visionary.  He was said to have been specially anointed with supernatural visions from the Lord and a prophetic gift.  However, he was quoted as saying that the general level of prophetic revelation in the movement's "prophets" had an accuracy level of about 65 percent.  He said some prophets were as low as 10 percent accurate, with some of the "most mature" prophets having a rating "approaching 85 percent to 95 percent." [1]

Deuteronomy 18:20-23 is the test of a prophet in the OT. A biblical prophet has an accuracy rate of 100 percent.

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The Imputation of righteousness is the only ground for justification

I hope the title of this article reveals the importance of the doctrine of imputation. Many conservative evangelicals pushed back on Evangelicals and Catholics Together in 1994. Charles Colson represented evangelicals and Richard John Neuhaus represented the Catholics. The gospel was watered down. “We affirm together that we are justified by grace through faith because of Christ.” (click to open). But the indispensable word "alone” was left out. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. R. C. Sproul wrote Justification by Faith Alone to correct this biblical error.

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Four Different Views on the Sign Gifts for Today

“When we speak of the biblical sign gifts, we are referring to miracles like speaking in tongues, visions, healing, raising the dead, and prophesying” (Got Questions) (click to open). There are three major periods of sign gifts or sign miracles. Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:22 noted that “the Jews require a sign.” This has been the history of unbelieving Israel.utterance" (Constitution of Assemblies of God [the largest Pentecostal denomination]).

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The Three Imputations

L.S. Chafer in his 1948 Systematic Theology said that “thirty-three stupendous works of God” took place the moment we trusted Christ as Savior  (Volume 3, 234-265). Justification and imputation are two of these supernatural works. Justification is a legal courtroom word where the judge declares the person either guilty or innocent whereas imputation is a business word.

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Cessationism verses Non-cessationism, Part One

Michael Horton, a reformed theologian is a cessationist. A cessationist believes the sign gifts such as healing, prophesying, and speaking in tongues ceased with the passing of the apostles and the closing of the canon of Scripture. Horton corrects Wayne Grudem another reformed theologian who is a non-cessationist. I am posting Horton’s refutation of Grudem in Part One. I will follow up in Part Two with a further explanation of the differences between cessationism and non-cessationism. Michael Horton Refutes Grudem's Continuing Gift of Prophecy in his article Reformed and Charismatic (click to open):

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The Canon and the Apocrypha

Michael Horton (2011) writes that most of the 27 books of the New Testament in the first century "were already widely recognized and employed regularly in public worship as divinely inspired. In fact, this was one criterion that was used for determining which texts were canonical" (p. 194). This is also why determining which books were inspired and canonical was important. The early believers wanted to know which books to read in their public worship services.

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The Apologetic Value of Natural Theology

Natural Theology was the reaction of William Paley (1743-1805) to Enlightenment’s skeptical David Hume (1711-1776) who denied all revelation, the teleological argument, and miracles. William Paley wrote Natural Theology and famously defended the teleological argument or the Design/Designer argument with the illustration of the watch found in the desert. Not all theologians believe Natural theology is valid. Michael Horton represents this group: “Our natural experience of God is itself an interpretation, and as the interpretation of our fallen hearts, it is corrupt. As soon  as we see a glimmering ember of divine truth we smother it, and this is why there can be no true natural theology, even though we are swimming in general revelation.”[1] This is the strong presuppositional view that many great theologian like Dr. John Whitcomb held to. I will argue that Scripture presents God using both evidentialist and presuppositional approach. For example, Paul in Acts 14 at Lystra first preached the gospel in 14:7 and then employed the teleological argument in 14:15-17.

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The Doctrine of Sin defends Penal Substitution (Part six)

Charles Ryrie showed the sinfulness of sinners by explaining the imputation of Adam’s sin directly to sinners and the inheritance of sin indirectly from Adam through the parents of each succeeding generation. Ryrie explained the difference:

Imputed sin is transmitted directly from Adam to each individual in every generation. Since I was in Adam, Adam’s sin was imputed to me directly, not through my parents and their parents. Imputed sin is an immediate imputation (that is, directly, not through mediators between Adam and me). This contrasts with how the inherited sin nature is transmitted. It comes to me from my parents, and theirs from their parents, and so on back to Adam. Inherited sin is a mediate transmission since it comes through all the mediators of generations between Adam and me.[1]

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Who is your favorite theologian and why?

I was once asked “Who is your favorite theologian and why?” Here was my answer. 

I have different theologians that I like and use for different reasons. I like Charles C. Ryrie’s Basic Theology for my Bible Doctrine and Systematic Theology students. Ryrie remarks that he did not write Basic Theology for the professional theologian. I find little that I disagree with in Ryrie’s Basic Theology. I know he is not as deep as other theologians but that was not his purpose in Basic Theology. He revealed his scholarship in other writings. He also helps me in communicating doctrines to church members who also are not professional theologians.

Paul Enn’s The Moody Handbook of Theology is also good for my purposes but he covers Biblical, Historical, Systematic, Dogmatic, and Contemporary Theology, which cuts back on the Bible doctrine content.

S. H. Strong (1836 -1921) was the leading Baptist theologian for about one hundred years. Millard Erickson (1932-) replaced him as the premier Baptist theologian.

I also like and use Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology to add depth to Ryrie. I like his coverage of the attributes of God. He also has a good argument for baptism by immersion. I disagree with Grudem on a number of issues. Grudem has two editions to his Systematic Theology. He changed some of his views in the second edition.

I like to read Michael Horton’s Christian Faith for even more depth than Ryrie and Grudem. Horton in some of his writings has a strong defense of cessationism and actually refutes Grudem’s continuing gift of prophecy which is powerful coming from a Reformed theologian.

I like Mike Stallard’s journal articles on dispensationalism, eschatology, and theological method (click to open).

Recently I have been reading Matthew Barrett at Credomag.com (click to open). He is the Systematic Theologian at Mid-Western Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Missouri. Barrett adds Historical Theology to Systematic Theology and addresses current issues in theology. Barrett in his podcast interviews contemporary theologians.

Coming back to Charles Ryrie, in his Dispensationalism in 1995, he gives a scholarly reply to progressive dispensationalism. In his Dispensationalism Today in 1965, he responded to Covenant Theology. Ryrie wrote 32 books which have sold over 1.5 million copies. His study Bible has sold 2.6 million copies. The Ryrie Study Bible, Balancing the Christian Life, and Basic Theology have been best sellers. I mention these facts to show the influence of Ryrie not only in Academia but among rank-and-file Christians who have benefited from his writings put on their level. Of course, he impacted Bible scholars by teaching Systematic theology and serving as dean of doctoral studies at Dallas Theological Seminary. His influence was broad and lasting.

 

The Trinity, Part Three

The ontological Trinity focuses on the relationship the Trinity has within the Triune God totally apart from the creation. A. H. Strong calls the ontological Trinity the “Social Trinity.” Ryrie refers to this relationship between the persons of Trinity the opera as intra or the inner works of the Trinity. Does Scripture speak of the relationship within the Trinity? In John 17:24 Jesus prayed to the Father concerning the love that God the Father had for the Son before the foundation of the world. This has to be so because “God is love” (1st John 4:8). There are three practical benefits from the ontological Trinity.

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Answers to Twenty-Five Advanced Salvation Quesions

Here is the first of twenty-five salvation questions answered:

1. What is Restorationism?

            Michael Horton stated that “the concept of universal restoration (apokatastasis) was taught by the ancient Gnostics.”[1] So Horton shows the similarity between restorationism and apokatastasis and universalism. Horton also calls apokatastasis and universal restoration inclusivism. Horton notes the conflicting views of Karl Barth on universal restoration. In one place in his Church Dogmatics, he writes “There is no one who does not participate in Christ in this turning to God... There is no one who is not raised and exalted with him to true humanity.” But for them, Barth insists, “The Church ought not to preach Apokatastasis.”[2]

            The difference between restorationism and universalism seems to be that restorationism emphasizes the restoration of even Satan and his demons. Horton refutes universal restoration. “Any notion of a final restoration of all spiritual beings, including Satan and his demonic forces, is dispelled by the clear teaching of Scripture that they will be destroyed.”[3] As argued under universalism, Satan, the antichrist, and the false prophets eternally perish according to Revelation 19:20 and 20:10. Origen, however, in his Apokatastasis also taught the restoration of Satan and his demons. So, it is difficult to find a clear distinction between restorationism and apokatastasis, and universalism.

            [1] Michael Horton. The Christian Faith: A Systematic Theology for Pilgrims On The Way (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2011), 976.

            [2] Karl Barth. Church Dogmatics, vol 4. 2, (New York: The Tower Building, 2010), 27.

            [3] Michael Horton. The Christian Faith, 981.

Who Is Your Favorite Theologian?

Like preachers, I have different theologian that I like and use for different reasons. Ryrie remarks that he did not write Basic Theology for the professional theologian. I find little that I disagree with in Ryrie’s Basic Theology. I know he is not as deep as other theologians but that was not his purpose in Basic Theology. He revealed his scholarship in other writings. He also helps me in communicating doctrines to my church members who also are not professional theologians.

Paul Enn’s The Moody Handbook of Theology is also good for my purposes but he covers Biblical, Historical, Systematic, Dogmatic, and Contemporary Theology, which cuts back on the Bible doctrine content.

I also like and use Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theology to add depth to Ryrie. I like his coverage of the attributes of God. He also has a good argument for baptism by immersion.

I like to read Michael Horton’s Christian Faith for even more depth than Ryrie and Grudem. Horton in some of his writings has a strong defense of cessationism and actually refutes Grudem’s continuing gift of prophecy which is significant coming from a Reformed theologian.

I like Mike Stallard’s journal articles on dispensationalism, eschatology, and theological method.

Coming back to Charles Ryrie, in his Dispensationalism in 1995, he gives a scholarly reply to progressive dispensationalism. In his Dispensationalism Today in 1965, he responded to Covenant Theology. Ryrie wrote 32 books which have sold over 1.5 million copies. His study Bible has sold 2.6 million copies. The Ryrie Study Bible, Balancing the Christian Life, and Basic Theology have been best sellers. I mention these facts to show the influence of Ryrie was not only in Academia but among rank and file Christians who have benefited from his writings put on their level. Of course, he impacted Bible scholars from teaching Systematic theology and serving as dean of doctoral studies at DTS. His influence was board and lasting.

 

God is Incomprehensible and at the same time Knowable!

When Muhammad Ali was the current reigning world heavy-weight champion boxer and at the height of his fame, he was on an airplane that was preparing to take off. The flight attendant came by and reminded him to fasten his seat belt. Ali said, “Superman don’t need a seat belt.” To which the quick-thinking flight attendant replied, “Superman don’t need an airplane, either.” Ali buckled his seat belt. Ali, you may remember, was famous for obnoxiously boasting, perhaps to intimidate his opponents, “I am the Greatest, I am the Greatest” (Charles Swindoll, Shedding Light on our Dark Side. Insight for Living, 1993, 85).

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Does God Reveal Himself to us Through an "Inner Light?"

John 1:9 is sometimes called 'the Quaker text,' because the early Quakers, based on the verse, believed that sufficient light was offered to every person" (David J. MacLeod. The Creation of the Universe by the Word: John 1:6-9. Bib Sac 160 July-Sept 2003: 305-320). Some Quakers refer to the “inner light” as an internal revelation if appropriately responded to can save. They use John 1:9 as the proof text: “[That] was the true Light, which lights every man that comes into the world.”

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