'Demus Dialogue, Finale'
Notes
Transcript
The Need for Sound Theology
The Need for Sound Theology
Peanuts Cartoon
Lucy and Linus staring at the rain, she’s worried about destruction
He reiterates God’s promise to Noah, no more destruction
She’s relieved; Linus replies, “Sound theology has a way of doing that.” ;
In a time of mass chaos and uncertainty, we need sound theology
Without sound theology, there is no true comfort, no true hope
Without the sound theology, it’s all vacant, vapid verbiage!
With that in mind we work here to reinforce the foundations of such theology
Basic doctrines of the faith
Another Reminder
Another Reminder
We tend to overlook some things in well known passages
Particularly those we may have learned as a child; John 3:16 is often the first memorized
It surely stands alone
Many people have come to Christ by putting their name in that “whoever” spot in this verse
Keep in mind the context—Nicodemus the Pharisee…God loving the WHOLE WORLD might have shocked his senses a bit!
The concept that WHOEVER believes would have included those dirty Gentile—us!
Nerdy Notes
Nerdy Notes
Dialogue or summary by John? Either way, inspired Word
The type of love is agapao—the highest form of love, as in God toward man
The so is manner, not amount (though amount may be implied)
>refers back to the manner of the coming death, being “lifted up”
Only—other translations only begotten; term means singular; only-born-one
Though all believers are children of God, Jesus is singular
Our understanding of begotten may lead to error—problem is our understanding of the term—not Biblical inspiration
Jesus is God; Son of God; co-eternal with God; one person of the Trinity—another topic for another day
Perishing in this context is eternal, not just temporal—polar opposite of gaining eternal life, entering Kingdom
There is a theme of light/darkness running through this Gospel
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Darkness brings condemnation; cannot get away from this
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Main Idea: Our Singular Light in a Sin-Darkened Word—Jesus Christ
Main Idea: Our Singular Light in a Sin-Darkened Word—Jesus Christ
Love
Love
Must include His sense of justice
No need of mercy, grace, light, if there was not godly justice
Penalty was set for sin shortly after creation
Death
A just God must exact the payment for the sin
He loved in such a way that he provided the price—His only Son, who would be lifted up on a tree; before being exalted to His place beside the Father
Liberty
Liberty
Free from condemnation if we trust Him (ref. Ro. 8:1, above)
Frees us from that penalty of sin; also the power of sin; ultimately the presence of sin
Without trusting we are condemned already
We must believe on the name…involves character, reputation...
Liberty does not grant us license to sin—dangerous
Light
Light
It’s all a battle between darkness and light
We could make a case that the first battle between light and darkness was in Genesis.
Darkness was upon the face of the deep, and God said
Let there be light. And there was light
Light always defeats darkness; e.g. lighting one candle in a dark room
Jesus is the Light of the World
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.
So, if light is given to everyone, why is anyone condemned?
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil.
It is a decision they make
We want to ask why
For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed.
Does v. 21 mean that people who do good works are saved by them?
NO!
If they do what is true—all for the right reasons, God will bring them to the light
Related to the matter of diligently seeking from last week
But…what about…<insert favorite hypothetical here>?
All have equal opportunity
Romans 1 gives explanation
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
God’s light—Jesus—has shone into all parts of the world in creation itself
But man has rejected it
Even aboriginal religions that seem to honor some sort of master being/creator have evil embedded in them
Lives
Lives
How do our lives incorporate the love, liberty and the light?
Why do we continually preach the Gospel to an audience of presumably saved people?
We are, by nature, sin-darkened
Even as believers—solid, long-standing believers—we tend to run home to the darkness
We take our eyes of the light—wallow in self-pity and doubt; fear; bitterness; anger; hatred; gossip...
Nothing new here
The heart is deceitful above all things,
and desperately sick;
who can understand it?
The answer to that question is God
The solution to the problem of a deceitful and sick heart (sin-darkened heart) is the Light of the World
If we have experienced the love of God, trusted in His Son Jesus Christ
Placed our faith in His finished work on the cross
We then have the liberty to live without condemnation
If no condemnation why do we have any fear? Death cannot harm us
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.
We can live in the Light
No reason to run home to that sin-darkened state
If we walk in light, not in darkness we will avoid evil, returning to doubt and uncertainty can lead to sin
Litmus Test
Litmus Test
Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.
Word for obey relates to faithlessness
If we are faithful—believing—we are obedient
Not obedient=not faithful=not believing
Good theology—back to our illustration of Lucy and Linus—produces peace
Our lesson in good theology here relates fully to the triumph of light over darkness
How are we living…a choice to be made...
Living in the light, remaining in darkness
“Come to the Light, ‘tis shining for thee
Sweetly the Light has dawned upon me
Once I was blind; now I can see
The Light of the World is Jesus
Are You a “Whoever?”
Are You a “Whoever?”
I’m one of those folks who put my name in the whoever—whosoever (KJV)
A Sept. Sunday in 1961, I was
If you haven’t done that, do so today
If you’ve slipped back or feel yourself slipping back, it’s time to go back to basic sound theology. Return to the light—repent of your doubts, fears…whatever
Look at the light