Tillich, 1948. Chapter 15, "The Theologian (Part 1)"

Chapter 15, “The Theologian (Part 1)” pp. 118-121

1 Corinthians 12:1-11

The audience for this sermon was particularly a group of theology students. What makes a theologian? According to Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 it is the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit gives gifts, not simply abilities. The theologian, therefore, depends on the Spirit to give gifts. So in a very real way, being a theologian is being one who receives these gifts.

Being a theologian is not all that different from any other role in the Church. All Christians are those who receive God’s grace to confess Jesus as Lord. The theologian has a special gift and opportunity to express that faith in Jesus, considering all its implications.

The true theologian is not the person who is certain and without any doubts. A true theologian is full of doubt and wonder, asking Jesus again and again for acceptance. This is only grasped by the Holy Spirit.

Pieper, 1968. Chapter A3 "The Number of Religions in the World"

Chapter A3 “The Number of Religions in the World”

In essence, Pieper says, there are two religions in the world. There is that which seeks to be reconciled by man’s works and that which trusts in Jesus. In Matthew 28:19 Jesus gives his followers the command to disciple all nations. The gospel is seen as having exclusive claims and power. Compared to this our man-made philosophies desire to make all beliefs stand together.

Many define religion as having a common element of a personal relation between man and God. yet when viewed this way, the non-Christian religions approach God in fear, hoping for appeasement. This is a hopeless religion. A Christian, on the other hand, approaches God as a loving father, with the fear erased.

If religion is a common way of worship, we find Christian worship directed to God who has already shown grace. Again, there is no fear.

If religion is a striving for fulfillment, again Christianity is different. Fulfillment does not come through striving but through receiving.

Psychology also makes differentiations. The Christian has peace and confidence while others have fear and guilt.

Progressive theologians wish to remove a divine element from religion. To do this with Christianity effectively removes all that makes it distinct. It can be done with all religions dependent on works but not on that one which depends on faith.

Sermon for 1/12/14 "My Beloved Son" Matthew 3

Sermon: “My Beloved Son”

Baptism - a setting apart

We come for baptism, or are brought for baptism, and it’s at that time that the wonders begin

 Jesus, the glorious Son of God, the one in whom the Father is pleased, taking our sin upon himself

 Jesus, fulfilling all righteousness for us

 Jesus entering into the waters, water that would bring death, rising again

 Water, the water of life, something that we are mostly made of

In baptism Jesus was conformed into our death.

In baptism we are conformed into Jesus’ death.

What is it that begins then? The whole Christian life

 life following a Savior who won’t quit until all is accomplished

 life receiving the care that only Jesus can give, keeping our flame burning

 life bringing the Gospel to all nations - especially those people right here at home.

How will we grow in Christ during this time of epiphany, the time of realization of just what kind of Lord Jesus is?

 1) Attend church faithfully and expectantly, looking for God to work in our lives.

 2) Give generously, financially and in service.

 3) Enter into discussion of God’s Word with other believers.

 4) FAN - friends, associates, neighbors - invite to hear, believe, and live

 5) Take an active role in governing our church through the annual meeting. Pray ahead, ask how the Lord would have us reach our world.

 6) Above all, center our lives on Christ and His Word.

Jesus has come to be baptized. He has associated himself with our sin, with our need for forgiveness. And he has promised forgiveness and life to all who trust in him.

Pieper, 1968. "Religion in General"

Chapter A2 “Religion in General”

What does “religion” mean? Pieper distinguishes between the “heathen” who view it as man’s effort to appease a deity and a Christian view that in Christ God is reconciled due to the substitutionary atonement. For this reason, historic Christianity has not allowed for man’s contribution to his own salvation. Salvation by faith and salvation by works are diametrically opposed to one another.

Bridges, 2008. Chapter 7, "God's Sovereignty and Our Responsibility"

Chapter 7, “God’s Sovereignty and Our Responsibility” pp. 113-124

Bridges has cautioned us about discounting God’s wisdom or love. In this chapter he reminds us that God’s sovereignty does not function alone. We have a responsibility to live a prudent life. God uses means to accomplish his will.

One of the chief responsibilities we have is that of prayer. We may know and trust God’s sovereignty over conditions, but we don’t always know his plan for the future. This explains the prayers of people in the Bible. For instance, in Acts 4:24ff, the disciples pray that God will intervene so they can do what they believe to be God’s will. Trusting God encourages us to ask for his intervention.

Along with prayer, we use the legitimate means available to accomplish what is right. David fled from Saul. Paul worked to guard lives in Acts 27 even after he had a vision that everyone would survive. Nehemiah prayed and had his workers prepare to defend themselves. Prayer, counsel, and effort are often God’s means of showing his grace to his people.

Who is the one to accomplish everything? Psalm 127:1 says God is the one who builds the house. But he nowhere suggests that we stop doing our duty. We are finally dependent on God. Sometimes that dependence is more obvious, sometimes less obvious. But it is always there.

What about when we fail? God will still accomplish his purpose (Esther 4) but may do it without using us. We are responsible. God is sovereign. He works out the relationship between the two for his glory and his people’s good.

Pieper, 1968. Chapter A1, "Our Position"

This rather large volume is divided into some large sections and then subdivided into numbered chapters. Because of the length and because I need to work through the book in a relatively short period of time, I’ll be posting a summary of the small numbered chapters but more frequently than I normally would on any one work. The copy I have is a Kindle book. It does not have actual page numbers.

Part A - Prolegomena: The Nature and Character of Theology

Chapter A1 “Our Position”

The Scripture alone is God’s infallible word. It alone is normative and the source of doctrine.  This position has been disputed since about 1750 in Protestant theology. Modern Protestant theology is like Rome in assigning normative power elsewhere than Scripture.

Making our own opinion the judge is rebellion against God. Christ, the apostles, and Luther agreed that the Scripture was the norm, no matter what others might think.

Modern theology might rather trust a “Christian consciousness.” Meanwhile, conservative theology trusts that the Bible informs and norms our conscience. This biblical norm is a reality, as opposed to our attempts to seek the truth within ourselves.

The theologian needs to separate himself from his won opinions, seeking to find the Bible’s opinions. This act of being bound to Christ is freedom, as Jesus says in John 8:31-32.

The retreat from Scripture has led many to deny the vicarious atonement of Christ, which then strips the Christian message of its power and hope. It also leads to disunity of doctrine. The resulting chaos is only reversed by restoring the Bible as our foundation.

Francis Pieper, Christian Dogmatics

Francis Pieper. Christian Dogmatics: Volume 1. St. Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1968