When we voted on a theme for the last national conference, the choices came down to “Ephesians: Verse-by-Verse” and “Systematic Theology.”
Ephesians won by a nose.
I’ve always been a systematic theology guy. I have well over fifty such theologies in my office and more at home. I like thinking about the big picture and trying to understand how it all fits together. I believe coherence is a criterion of truth, and it’s easier to see if your beliefs cohere when you can put them in a system.
Even though there are many systematic theologies, I think we need another.
So far as I know, there is no explicitly Free Grace systematic theology. Yes, several are certainly Free Grace-friendly (e.g., Chafer, Ryrie, Baker, Cambron, Webb), but none are self-consciously Free Grace, and none were written in light of the Free Grace debates of the last 30 years.
So there’s a need.
Moreover, we need a systematic theology that is accessible to the common believer. Most people use these books for reference, not for daily use. What if a systematic theology was written in a devotional format? That’s what I’m thinking—take the next couple of years to write a 300-400 word devotional every day, to cover each division of systematic theology in a way my grandmother or sister or lawn-guy can understand and would give them a bird’s eye view of Christian theology.
I’ve been pondering the divisions within systematic theology. The standard few just won’t do. So I’ve made an expanded list. I’m not sure of the order yet, but here’s what I have so far:
- Bibliology (The Bible)
- Epistemology (Theory of Knowledge)
- Theology (God the Father)
- Christology (God the Son)
- Pneumatology (God the Holy Spirit)
- Angelology (Angels)
- Demonology (Fallen Spirits)
- Anthropology (Man)
- Hamartiology (Sin)
- Soteriology (Salvation)
- Misthology (Rewards)
- Israelology (Israel)
- Ecclesiology (The Church)
- Basileiology (The Theocratic Kingdom)
- Eschatology (The Last Things)
- Cosmology (Creation)
If I write a one-year devotional, some of these topics will take up an entire month to cover, and that’s only at an introductory level (e.g., Theology, Christology, Soteriology). Some will be half-months (Angelology). Hopefully by this time next year, if I work systematically, I’ll have something worth reading. But while I plan to be dogmatic about the subject, I don’t want to be too dogmatic about the deadline.
Phil
This sounds like a terrific idea!!
James
I will buy a copy or two. I’ve been searching for a free grace specific systematic theology book and, like you say, I can’t find one.
Leo Z
Pastor Shawn, I will be earnestly praying that God blesses and bring to fruition this ambitious (in a good sense) project of developing a much needed material in an ocean of resources where Free Grace (FG) friendly study materials of this kind are few and far between, and an explicitly avowed one from a FG perspective is virtually non-existent (as far as I know). Thank you for your heeding of God’s leading on this endeavor.
Looking forward to the finished product. May it be one that brings forth and elevates God’s truths, and bring Him much glory!
I am in continued prayer for you and GES!
Dan Coggins
I’m doing a message series now (up to angels) and this would be a great review for our people. I encourage you to do so post haste. (Do you need someone to proof read & give input? I’d like to help as one of several.)
Michael
Chafer is certainly NOT self-consciously Free Grace, and not written in light of the Free Grace debates of the last 30 years. Still, I’m skeptical that any modern writer can come close to his comprehensive eight volume work.p on Systematic Theology. While 1948 was a long time ago but you cannot believe that authors and men of God a century ago were not filled with the Spirit any less than they are today? If so, it would follow then then that those men of God in the past were not spiritually mature? Don’t think anyone believes that?
Timothy Grady
Hello Michael ,
Can you help me to understand what constitutes “men of God” ?
Thanks much.
Leo Z
Michael, no one is questioning the spiritual maturity or the degree of the Spirit filling of authors a century ago, earlier, or even of today. The point is that there exists scores of Systematic Theology materials that reflects a wide range of theological perspectives, but none is specifically written from a Free Grace Theology (FGT) view. Though this perspective has just been recently brought to the forefront of theological debates that has been waged for hundreds (if not thousands) of years, it is NOT a new teaching or revelation. Though the FG label is fairly new and the exposure of the FG movement recent, the roots of its teachings are biblical truth taught by The Lord Jesus Himself, by the apostles John, Peter, Paul, James and others as it is recorded in divinely inspired Scripture. Hence, FG assertions has been around for a while. Groups are labeled Calvinists, Arminians, et al, based on their adherence to a particular theological system. Some adherents and proponents of FGT have rightfully called themselves Biblicists. They as a group, need to have an arsenal of resources from which they can study and grow in the faith from a FG framework. This blog author’s desire to pen Systematic Theology materials specifically drawn from a FG Theology viewpoint is part of building that arsenal. I consider it to be a commendable endeavor worthy of encouragement and support.
Tim Amoroso
On evangelism,
I agree that it is wrong to think that if we didn’t share every detail to the person, we are responsible if they went to hell. This thinking is wrong because we don’t understand how God is using His Word to witness to unbelievers every day. This is something the Lord is beginning to open my eyes to. I am beginning to see it.
Reformation
Tim,
John 6:65 “And He said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to Me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
Timothy Grady
Hi Reformation,
Can you help us understand how anyone can have certainty- defined as the absence of doubt – that they have eternal life ?
Thanks much.
Reformed
Tim,
John 6:51 “I am the living bread that came down out of heaven; if anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread also which I will give for the life of the world is My flesh.” To eat of the bread of heaven is to believe that Christ died for our sins and rose again.
John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.”
Matthew 16:15-17 “He *said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are [a]the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 And Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Barjona, because flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.”
Timothy Grady
Thanks Reformed .
Where is it explicitly stated in scripture that believing Jesus “died for our sins , and rose again” – gives certainty of eternal life ?
I know many who believe that and yet are not certain they will persevere until death in sufficient faith and good deeds .
Leo Z
John 6:65 starts with “that is why I told you…” This statement is parallel to and a summary of Jesus’ discourse in John 6 on God’s drawing. You should not isolate this verse to proof text your doctrine of unconditional election.
The context of God’s drawing (6:44-45, 6:65) is about the revelatory ministry of God to the unsaved. The Father draws men to His Son, he teaches them His salvific truths (6:44-45) He reveals truth, in this case, through His Son. Truths about His plan of salvation. He says, the Spirit regenerates and the words that Jesus in the discourse are words that will give the hearers life, eternal life, if they believe, but some did not 6:63-64). No one comes (believes) to Jesus unless the Father reveals and teaches to them salvific truth first. That is “granting” grace (favor), He brings the saving message to all who were listening with the opportunity to believe. In this case, some did not believe (6:63).
John Bethea
Thank you, Shawn! I’m excited about your endeavor! I will pray for you and cheer you on, man! I intend to buy as near to the first copy as I can get, and then read it all the way through.