CH 2 - THE DOCTRINE OF THE WORD OF GOD

What does the bible say the Word of God is?
- the Son of God
- In the beginning was the Word, the Word was with God, and the Word was God
- the Word became flesh and dwelt among us
A decree of God is a word of God that causes something to happen. i.e; God said "let there be light"
1. God even spoke directly to Adam "And the Lord God commanded the man, saying; "You may eat freely of every tree of the harden; but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you shall no eat."
What do you think the world would be like if Adam and Eve had never eaten from the tree of knowledge?
2. God speaks through prophets, human language by ordinary human beings, but are still completely God's words with authority and truthfulness. Deuteronomy 18 God says to Moses "I will raise up for them a prophet like you...and I will put my words in his mouth.." and God also told Jeremiah, "Behold, I have put my words in your mouth.."
3. Not only does God speak words of decree, through personal address, and through the lips of ordinary humans, but He also speaks in written form. Up on the Mount Sinai, after God had spoken to Moses, he gave Moses two tablets of stone "written with the finger of God" and God even said to Jermiah, "Write in a book all the words that I have spoken to you." It's important to remember that God speaking through ordinary human beings does not diminish the authority of God's words as His own in any way. Why write down God's words?
1. There is a more accurate preservation of God's words for many more generations.
2. There is an opportunity for repeated inspection of God's words which permit careful study and discussion, which leads to better understanding and more complete obedience.
3. God's words in writing are accessible to many more people than they are when preserved through memory and oral repetition.
The focus of this study, however, is God's Word in written form, the Bible.
The other two forms of the Words of God are not as suitable for this study of the Word of God. We do not hear God's words of decree or God's personal address, which are uncommon, and God's words spoken through human lips ceased when the New Testament was completed. So, we will study God's words, written in the Bible. Psalm 1:2 "The man is blessed who meditates on God's law day and night." God said to Joshua, "This book of the law shall not depart out of your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success."  Joshua 1:8.

GRUDEM - PREFACE- CHAPTER 1- INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

I thank God for giving me this desire in my heart to read this book. I have a plan to read it front to back, every page and I pray God gives me understanding and knowledge, and application.

Systematic theology answers the question, "What does the whole bible teach us today?" It's a collective understanding of various topics and what we believe. It is NOT historical, philosophical, or apologetics, (providing a defense of the truthfulness of the Christian faith for the purpose of convincing the unbelievers) yet it is closely related. It answers "What does the bible teach us today about prayer?" - The Bible says that everyone who believes in Jesus Christ will be saved. - A DOCTRINE is what the whole bible teaches us today about some particular topic. i.e., the doctrine of the Word of God, or the doctrine of the Church.

Christian ethics, on the other hand- are what God wants us to do and what attitudes he wants us to have, compared to systematic theology, being what God wants us to BELIEVE and to KNOW. Theology tells us how we should THINK while ethics tells us how we should LIVE.

I'm reading this book believing that the bible is true and it is our only absolute standard of truth and that God is the Creator of heaven and earth and all things in them. I'm studying this so that I will be enabled to teach myself and others what the whole bible says, to overcome wrong ideas, to help me be able to make better decisions, and to help me grow as a follower of Jesus Christ. I pray that you give me wisdom and understanding of scripture God. Psalm 119:18 "Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things our of your law." God's words are not only true individually but also together as a whole. "For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be the glory forever. Amen." Romans 11:36.

O for a thousand tongues to sing
My great Redeemer's praise,
The glories of my God and King,
The triumphs of His grace.

Psalm 50

I approach you Jesus, and God you love me despite me.
Have mercy on me oh God
- Approach God based on WHO HE IS, not on my merits. God is mercy and love
Psalm 51:1-12
-Approach God HUMBLY, honestly, in light of who God is. I can't clear my transgressions, my iniquities, my sins, blot out my transgressions oh God. I'm wrong.
- Approach God with faith, with confidence of what He's already done for me.
YOU ARE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS.
It wasn't our performance that forgave us, it was Christ's.
"Have mercy on me, O God, 
according to your unfailing love; 
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions. 
Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin." 
Psalm 51:1-2

God,
I'm turning 25 years old in just 5 days. Right now in life I'm getting back into playing soccer, pick up and amateur league, with hope to getting into semi-pro again. I'm planning on pursuing a physical therapy aide job for experience and preparing myself for my next step in my life and in my career. I'm saving money and starting payments on my student loans. I'm praying that this passion to read your word and pursue you God stays fervent. Please help me God. Help me to spend more time in your presence. Prepare my soul to have conversation with you God.
"Create in me a pure heart, O God, 
and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 
Do not cast me from your presence 
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
Restore to me the joy of your salvation 
and grant me a willing spirit, to 
sustain me." 
Psalm 50:10-12
Thank you God. Thank you for my ten fingers and my ten toes. Thank you for the ability to swallow. Thank you for the ability to blink. Thank you for my veins being strong enough to pump blood throughout my body. Thank you for the hair on my head and thank you for my hands and feet. Thank you for loving me God. Thank you for your breath in my lungs. Amen.
YOUR LOVE IS STRONG