A
Foundation For Faith
An
Introductory Study Of Systematic Theology
With References To
by
Stanford E. Murrell, Th.D.
“For other foundation can no man lay than
that is laid, which is Jesus Chris..”
1 Corinthians 3:11
A FOUNDATION FOR FAITH
Table Of Contents
Preface To The Study Of Systematic Theology
Part I
Theology Proper: The Study Of God
A Confession Of Faith
Definition Of Theology
Theology Is Universal
Chapter 1 The Method Of Theology
The Speculative Method
The Mysticism Method
The Inductive Method
Chapter 2 The Source Of Theology
Five Kinds Of Theology
Natural Theology
Revealed (Biblical) Theology
Dogmatic Theology
Practical Theology
Theology Proper
Chapter 3 Can God Be Known?
The Biblical Declaration
The Argument Of The Agnostics
A Response To Agnosticism
The Distinction Between Apprehension And Comprehension
Can God Be Defined?
Chapter 4 Arguments For The Existence Of God
The Ontological Argument
Evaluation Of The Ontological Argument
The Cosmological Argument
Resistance To Reason
A Reasonable Response
The Teleological Argument
Objection To The Teleological Argument
The Moral Argument
The Historical Argument
Chapter 5 Anti-Theistic Theories
Atheism
Polytheism
Materialism
Objections To Materialism
Pantheism
The Pain Of Pantheism
The Promises Of God
Chapter 6 Anti-Christian Theories
Deism
History Of Deism
Objections To Deism
Rationalism
A Challenge To Rationalism
Pessimism
The Doctrine Of A Finite God
Your God Is Too Small
Chapter 7 The Nature Of God
The Oneness Of God
The Personality Of God
God Creates
God Eliminates
God Furnishes What Is Needed To Sustain Life
God Exalts
God Loves
God Is Concerned
God Answers Prayers
God Hates
God Repents
Objections To The Personality Of God
Knowing What Is Known
The Substance Of God
The Attributes Of God
Omnipresence
Infinitude
Eternality
Immutability
Sovereignty
Transcendence
Immanence
A Trinity Of Persons
Proof Of The Trinity
Denial Of The Trinity
Arianism
Sem-Arianism
Sabellianism
Unitarianism
Defenders Of The Faith
Justine Martyr
Iranaeus
Clement Of Alexandria
Tertullian
Hyppolytus
Origen
The Tri-Unity
The Relation Between Father, Son, And Holy Spirit
The Value Of The Doctrine Of The Trinity
The Holy Spirit
The Spirit Is A Person
Chapter 8 The Decrees Of God
A Confession Of Faith: God Has A Purpose
A Distinction In The Divine Decree
The Decree Of God
God Has Decreed The General Course Of History
God Has Decreed Particular Events
God Has Decreed The Salvation Of Sinners
God Has Decreed The Evil That Men Do
God Has Decreed All Accidental Events
God Has Decreed The Means As Well As The End Of All Things
The Order Of The Decrees
Supralapsarian
Infralapsarian
God's Decree Makes Foreknowledge Possible
The Decree In Reference To Free Agency
Additional Arguments
Chapter 9 The Works Of God
A Confession Of Faith
Creation
Three Possible Explanations Of Creation
Creation And Evolution
The Sad State Of The Theistic Evolutionist
Remarks On Evolution In General
Providence
Is Creation Continual?
The Extent Of Divine Providence
God Governs The Physical Universe
God Governs The Animal Creation
God Governs The Events Of Human History
God Governs The Lives Of Individuals
God Governs The Smallest Details Of Life
God Governs The Fortuitous Events
God Governs The Free Actions Of Men
God Governs The Sinful Actions Of Men
God Is Not The Author Of Sin
Why Sin Is Allowed In The Saints
The Purpose Of Sin In The Unsaved
Definition Of A Miracle
Classification Of Miracles
Are Miracles Probable Or Improbable?
A World Without Miracles
Miracles Are Instructive
When And Where Do Miracles Occur?
Objections By Rationalism And Modernism
The Silence Of The Skeptics
Special Arguments For Miracles
Part II
Bibliology: The Study Of The Bible
Chapter 10 The
Scriptures
A Confession Of Faith
Definition Of Bibliology
The Books Of The Bible
A Revelation From God
The Bible: A Book That Can Be Believed
Great Belief Is Not Bibliolatry
A Day Of Divine Discovery
The Harmony Of The Bible
The Bible Reveals One Story
The Essential Unity In The Scriptural Narrative
The Centrality Of Christ
Liberal Theology And The Lord Of Glory
Responding To The Rationalists
The Inspiration Of Scriptures
Negative Theories Of Divine Inspiration
Plenary And Verbal Inspiration
Inspiration And Inerrancy
The Autographs
What Do The Scriptures Say As To Their Own Inerrancy?
Old Testament Claims To Divine Inspiration
The New Testament Affirms The Inspiration Of The Old Testament
The Inspiration Of The New Testament
Proof Of Inspiration From General Consideration
The Testimony Of Jesus Christ
Christ’s Appeal To The Scriptures
Inspiration And The Prophets
What About The Various Readings?
The Dead Sea Scrolls
The Septuagint
The Authority Of The Scriptures
The Perspicuity (Clearness) Of Scriptures
Is Formal Education Necessary To Understand The Bible?
The Church Fathers
Were The Apostles Deceived?
Part III
Anthropology: The Study Of Man
Chapter 12 The Origin Of Man
A Confession Of Faith
A Definition Of Anthropology
The Soul Is Not A Divine Emanation
The Soul Is Not A Form Of God
The Soul Is Not The Product Of Spontaneous Generation
The Soul Cannot Accounted For By Evolution
What Is The Soul?
Rational Objections To Evolution
The Great Gaps
The Insufficiency Of Time
The Sterility Of Birds
The Remains Of Men
The Discrepancies Between Kingdoms
The Law Of Entropy
The Lack Of Visual Evidence
The Logical Impossibility Of The Evolutionary Process
A Theory Of Recapitulation
The Recapitulation Theory Does Not Matter
The Harm Of Change
The Fossils Say No!
Questions Raised By The Theory Of Evolution
Chapter 13 The Origin Of The Soul
How Does The Soul Come Into Existence?
Traducianism
Arguments From Scripture For Traducianism
The Case For Creationism
The Critics Of Creationism
Summary Evaluation
Chapter 14 The Nature Of Man
Dichotomy: A Division Between Soul And Body
Scriptural Evidence Of Dichotomy
The Trichotomy Theory: Body, Soul, And Spirit
Arguments Against The Trichotomous Theory
Three Main Theories As To Free Agency
Fatalism
Self-determination
Free Agency
The Relation Of Free Will To Regeneration
Chapter 15 The
Original State Of Man
From The Hand Of God
The Soul Was Created In The Image Of God
How Did God Create Man?
A Selected View Of Man’s Original State
The Pelagian Doctrine Of Man's Original State
Chapter 16 The Covenant Of Works
What Is A Covenant?
The Doctrine Defined
The Scriptural Evidence For A Covenant Of Works
A Representative For Posterity
Probation
Chapter 17 The
Fall Of Man
Was There A Fall?
Two Difficulties
Observations
The Effects Of The Fall—Degeneracy And Death
A Federal Representative
Imputation Of Sin
The Federal And Natural Headship Of Adam
The Theory Of Direct Divine Efficiency
Objections To A Federal Representation
The Theory Of Physical Depravity
Objections To The Idea Of Physical Depravity
Chapter 18 The Relation Of Adam's Sin To Posterity
The Fact Of Sin Is Proved By The Bible
The Fact Of Sin Is Proved By Consciousness
The Fact Of Sin Is Proved By Casual Observation
The Fact Of Sin Is Proved By The Need For Laws
The Fact Of Sin Is Proved In Literature
Definitions Of Sin
A Biblical Definition Of Sin
What Sin Is Not
Original Sin
The Scriptures And Original Sin
The Universality Of Sin
Personal Experience With Sin
The Nature And Effect Of Original Sin
The Consequences And Characterization Of Sin
Total Depravity
The Pelagian View Of Sin
The Semi-Pelagian View Of Sin
The Arminian Doctrine Of Sin
Remarks On Arminianism
Arminianism And The Nature Of Original Sin
Synergism And Salvation
A Confession Of Faith
Various Views Of Inability
The Pelagian View
The Semi-Pelagian View
The Augustinian / Reformed View
What Inability Is Not
The Meaning Of The Doctrine Of Inability
Scriptural Evidence Of Inability
What Can Man Do In The Process Of Salvation?
Objections Answered Against The Doctrine Of Innate Inability
Part IV
Soteriology: The Study Of
Salvation
Chapter 20 Salvation
And The Sovereign
Definition
Six Presuppositions Of Soteriology
The Fall Of Man
The Order Of The Decrees
The Infralapsarian View
The Supralapsarian View
Election Precedes Salvation
The Covenant Of Redemption
Evidence That Such A Covenant Was Made
The Covenant Of Grace
The Doctrine Of Election
The Extent Of The Elective Decree
Various Views Of The Nature And Ground Of Election
Conditional Election
Election Is Personal
Election Is To Faith And Good Works
Limiting Election
The Doctrine Of A Definite Redemption
Is Election Based Upon Foreseen Faith And Works?
Election And The Weak
But Who Will Come?
Free Will Is Not Sufficient To Save
Redemption: Accomplished And Applied
Human Responsibility For Sin
The Results Of Election
The Difficulties Of Election
Answers To Arguments Against Election
The Signs Of Election
Election Is Of God
Election Does Not Rest In Man
Election Demands A Sovereign Saviour
The Hope That Is Found In Election
The Great Mystery Of Election
The Transcending Thoughts Of God
The Purpose Of Election
If Men Are Not Saved
The Ground Of Election
Election And Reprobation
Summary Of The Doctrine Of Election
A Confession Of Faith: The Doctrine Of Predestination
Scriptural Evidence For Predestination
Chapter 21 The
Historical Background Of Redemption
The Desire Of The Ages
The Typology Of Rite And Rituals
Preparation Through Prophecy
Chapter 22 Then
Came The Redeemer
A Confession Of Faith
The Incarnation
The Pre-existence Of Christ And His Incarnation Simply Set Forth
The Days Of Humiliation
The Virgin Birth
Rejection Of The Virgin Birth
Proof Of The Virgin Birth
The Person Of Christ
The Deity Of Christ
Jesus Claimed To Be Divine
The Apostles Taught That Jesus Was Divine
The Confession Of Others Concerning Christ’s Deity
The Sacred Titles Of God Applied To Christ Prove His Divinity
The Works Of Christ Prove His Deity
The Personal Influence Of Christ In The World Asserts His Deity
The Authority That Has Been Entrusted To Christ Proves His Deity
Personal Proof Of The Deity Of Christ
The Humanity Of Christ
The Personality Of Christ
The Distinction Of Two Natures
The Hypo-static Union: The Union Of The Two Natures In One Person
Summary Thoughts
Christ’s Sinlessness (Impeccability)
Errors As To The Person Of Christ
Denial Of His Humanity
Denial Of His Divinity
The Arians
The Apollinarians
The Nestorians
The Eutychians
The Doctrine Of Kenosis
The Socinians
The Jehovah Witnesses
A Confession Of Faith: The Mediatorial Offices Of Christ
The Mediatorial Office Of Christ: Prophet
The Mediatorial Office Of Christ: Priest
The Mediatorial Office Of Christ: King
Chapter 23 The Atonement
The Importance Of The Doctrine
Terms Defined
Atonement
Guilt
Expiation
Propitiation
Vicarious
Reconciliation
Imputation
The Two-fold Work Of The Atonement
The Atonement Expresses Both Divine Justice And Love
The Atonement And The Trinity
The Main Features Of The Atonement
The Atonement Was Sacrificial
The Atonement Was Expiatory
The Atonement Was Efficacious
The Atonement Was Vicarious
Old Testament Scriptures
New Testament Scriptures
The Atonement And The Law
Arminianism And The Atonement
Summary Of The Remonstrance
The Atonement Is Propitiatory And Conciliatory
Summary
Objections To The Atonement
Atonement And The Sovereignty Of God
Moral Reformation Is Not Enough
The Majesty And Mercy Of God
Theories Of The Atonement
The Moral Influence Theory
The Ransom Theory
The Legal Theory
From Theory To Truth: Scriptural Satisfaction
Part V
Pneumatology: The Study The Holy Spirit
Chapter 24 A
Holy Spirit
Definition
The Holy Spirit And Salvation
What Is Effectual Calling?
Chapter 25 The Greatness Of Grace
Grace Defined
Grace Distinguished
Common Grace
Prevenient
Sufficient Grace
Efficacious Grace
Habitual Grace
Cheap Grace
Costly Grace
Chapter 26 Characteristics Of The Holy Spirit
The Personality Of The Spirit
The Holy Spirit Of God Has A Mind
The Holy Spirit Of God Has A Will
The Holy Spirit Of God Prohibits
The Holy Spirit Of God Guides
The Holy Spirit Of God Speaks
The Holy Spirit Of God Has Emotions
The Holy Spirit Can Be Grieved
Various Ministries Of The Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit Restrains Evil Through Sanctification
The Holy Spirit Instructs In Righteousness
The Holy Spirit Awakens The Sin Saturated Soul
The Holy Spirit Convicts
The Holy Spirit Convinces The Sinner
The Holy Spirit Reveals
The Holy Spirit Regenerates The Soul
The Holy Spirit Sanctifies Each Child Of God
The Word And Salvation
The Effect Of Common Grace
The Resistance Of The Heart To Common Grace
Chapter 28 Finding Faith In The Family Of God
The Usage Of The Word “Faith”
There Is An Objective Faith
There Is A Subjective Faith
Faith Defined
Faith Distinguished
Historical Faith
Temporary Faith
Saving Faith
The Relation Of Faith To Knowledge
Faith In Relation To Salvation
Faith Is The Instrumental Cause Of Justification
A Confession Of Faith
Conversion: Defined
Conversion Involves The Whole Person
A Conversion That Does Not Change
The Order Of Events In Salvation
The Cause Of Conversion
The Evidence Of Conversion
A Repentance That Needs To Be Repented Of
No Sin Too Great For The Grace Of God
Never Too Late
Chapter 30 A New Life
Begins
What Regeneration Is Not
Regeneration Is Not A New Faculty Added To The Soul
Regeneration Is Not A Moral Persuasion Of Sin
Regeneration Is Not The Co-operation Of The Human Power
With Divine Power
Regeneration Is Not Dependent On The Unity Of The Human
And The Divine Minds
What Regeneration Is
Regeneration Is The Instilling Of A Life Principle In The Soul
Regeneration Is The Illumination Of The Understanding
Regeneration Is The Elevation Of The Heart
Regeneration Is Absolutely Essential To Salvation
Regeneration Is Instantaneous
Regeneration Is Irresistible
Summary Statements On Regeneration
A Confession Of Faith: The Fact Of Justification
A Definition Of Justification
The Nature Of Justification
The Subjective View Of Justification
The Objective (Forensic)View Of Justification
Scriptural Proof Of Justification
New Testament Passages
Old Testament Passages
The Ground Of Justification
First Position
Second Position
Third Position
Fourth Position
Fifth Position
The Cause Of Justification
No Contradictions
The Results Of Justification
Remission Of Sin
Restoration To Favor With God
A Spiritual Renewal
Objections To Justification By Faith Alone
The Difference Between Justification And Sanctification
A Confession Of Faith
The Definition Of Sanctification
Sanctification: A Supernatural Work
Illustrations Of Sanctification
All Of Grace
How Is The Word Made Effectual To Salvation?
Is Man Co-operative In Sanctification?
The Effect Of Sanctification
Sanctification Is Perfected At Death
Perfectionism And The Pelagians
Perfectionism And John Wesley
An Appeal To The Scriptures
A Confession Of Faith
The Security Of The Believer
The Security Of The Believer And Election
The Security Of The Believer And Christ
The Security Of The Believer And Atonement
The Security Of The Believer And The Will
The Security Of The Believer Brings Peace
The Security Of The Believer Produces Humility
The Security Of The Believer Provides No License To Sin
Confidence In Salvation May Be Shaken By Sin
Objections To Eternal Security
Answers To The Objections
The Adoption Of The Believer
The Ordinances: Definitions
The Number Of The Ordinances
The Effectiveness Of The Ordinances
The Roman Catholic View
The Lutheran View
Conclusion
Concerning Baptism
The Mode Of Baptism
To Dip? Or, To Immerse?
The Proper Subjects Of Baptism
Part VI
Eschatology: The Study Of The Future
Chapter 35 The
Immortality Of The Soul
Definition Of Eschatology
Denials of Immortality
Atheism
Materialism
Pantheism
The Evidence For Immortality
Revealed Religion: Old Testament
Revealed Religion: New Testament
What About Conditional Immortality?
Chapter 36 The
State Of The Soul After Death
A Confession Of Faith
What Happens At Death?
The Benefits Of Death
Chapter 37 The
Resurrection Of The Body
A Confession Of Faith
There Will Be A Bodily Resurrection
Is Belief In The Resurrection Realistic?
The Resurrection Is Miraculous
The Resurrection Of Christ: Its Certainty
What About The Empty Tomb?
The Joy Of The Resurrection: The Blessings Of Belief
The Identification Of The Resurrection
It Is The Same Body That Dies
Chapter 38 A Place For Prophecy
Promises Of Prophecy To Keep
The Difficulty Of Prophecy
Before Jesus Comes
Characteristics Of Christ’s Second Coming
Events That Will Accompany The Second Coming Of Christ
Three Views Of The Future
A Summary Of Pre-Millennialism
Objections To Pre-Millennialism
A Summary Of Post-Millennialism
A Summary Of Amillennialism [Realized Millennialism]
The Second Coming Of Christ Is Historical
Chapter 39 Future Punishment
A Confession Of Faith
Universalism
The Punishment Of The Wicked
Restoration
Annihilation
Endless Punishment
Objection To The Doctrine Of Endless Punishment
Chapter 40 Our Eternal Home
Heaven Is A Real Place For Real People
Heaven Is A State Of Conscious Existence
The Blessedness Of The Saved
How Might We Get To Heaven?
A Glimpse Of Glory: Revelation 21 and 22