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A Biblical Framework for Facing the Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual Challenges of the 21 st Century. Charles A. Clough January 21-23, 2005 Hosted by West Houston Bible Church. YES! ancient monotheism ancient Israel Bible Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature God || man | nature
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A Biblical Framework for Facing the Intellectual,Moral and Spiritual Challengesof the 21st Century Charles A. Clough January 21-23, 2005 Hosted by West Houston Bible Church
YES! ancient monotheism ancient Israel Bible Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature God || man | nature everlasting distinctions PERSONAL SOVEREIGN ultimate responsibility NO! ancient myths eastern religions western philosophy modern theology Continuity of Being nature > gods > man transmutation / evolution IMPERSONAL FATE / CHANCE ultimate victimization Shall I Bow To My Creator?
UNBELIEF SWALLOWING UP A BIT OF THE WORD OF GOD Unbelief reinterpreting the Word of God within its own categories A portion of the Word of God presented to unbelief
CHRISTOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY MODALISM JESUS CHRIST WHOLLY GOD DISTINCT FROM THE FATHER TRINITY UNITARIANISM SOLITARY MONOTHEISM
THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ENVELOPMENTAL STRATEGY THROUGH CHURCH GROWTH IN THE WORD OF GOD CONTINUITY OF BEING NT CANON > signs/wonders IDEALISTIC LOGIC TRINITY & PERSON OF CHRIST ARBITRARY JUSTICE CROSS: SATISFACTION OF DIVINE JUSTICE HUMAN MERIT JUSTIFICATION: SOLA FIDE DIVINE STATE-SAVIOR ECCLESIOLOGY & ESCHATOLOGY “NATURAL” HISTORY UNIVERSAL HISTORY: CREATIONISM
. WHERE DOES INFORMATION RESIDE ? . . - - - . . . in symbols or in the minds that interpret the symbols?
GOD’S STANDARD MEANING B’s idea A’s idea Audible words Do A and B’ ideas impute to the audible words the same God-given meaning?
GOD’S STANDARD MEANING B’s idea A’s idea Audible words
CLARIFYING MEANING UNDER “HOSTILE” CONDITIONS CONTRAST: Truth vs. Vanity (arbitrary foundation, self-contradictory) [Doctrinal & Categorical Aspect] RANGE of MEANING: Revealed Facts vs. Fog (avoidance of facts) [Exegetical & Historical/Scientific Aspect] CONTEXT: God’s Plan vs. Various Pagan Religion/Philosophies (thousands with common base) [Worldview Aspect]
“You can’t say anything about anything without saying something about everything”
“KNOWLEDGE” OR “FAITH” ? “I believe that. . .” or “I know that. . .” Julian Huxley: “I believe firmly that the scientific method, although slow and never claiming to lead to complete truth, is the only method which. . .will give satisfactory foundation for beliefs” “We quite assuredly at present know nothing beyond this world and natural experience.” REALITY APPEARANCE
“We don’t know anything for sure, except that the Bible can’t be true.”
YES! ancient monotheism ancient Israel Bible Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature God || man | nature everlasting distinctions PERSONAL SOVEREIGN ultimate responsibility NO! ancient myths eastern religions western philosophy modern theology Continuity of Being nature > gods > man transmutation / evolution IMPERSONAL FATE / CHANCE ultimate victimization Shall I Bow To My Creator?
UNBELIEF SWALLOWING UP A BIT OF THE WORD OF GOD Unbelief reinterpreting the Word of God within its own categories A portion of the Word of God presented to unbelief
Creation Fall Flood Covenant Call of Abraham Exodus Mt. Sinai Conquest & Settlement Rise and Reign of David Golden Era of Solomon Division & Decline of Kgdm Fall of Kgdm & Exile Restoration. . . . . God, man, nature Evil, suffering Judgment / Salvation God, man, nature Election, Justification, Faith Judgment / Salvation Revelation, Inspiration, Canon Sanctification Sanctification Sanctification Sanctification Sanctification, Religion Canon, prayer. . . . KEY EVENTS & DOCTRINAL IMAGES
The FRAMEWORK guides one in STRATEGICALLY MANEUVERING against unbelief by exploiting DIMENSIONS of MEANING. It thus exposes areas needing REPENTANCE in order to stimulate strong Biblical FAITH
THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION God Man Nature FALL Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation FLOOD God COVENANT Man Nature
YES! ancient monotheism ancient Israel Bible Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature God || man | nature everlasting distinctions PERSONAL SOVEREIGN ultimate responsibility NO! ancient myths eastern religions western philosophy modern theology Continuity of Being nature > gods > man transmutation / evolution IMPERSONAL FATE / CHANCE ultimate victimization Shall I Bow To My Creator?
THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION God Man Nature FALL Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation FLOOD God COVENANT Man Nature
Who Has the REAL “Evil Problem”? Christian: Good/Evil Mix is “Abnormal” & Temporary Good 8 8 Creator: Good Good | | | creation: Evil Evil J Cr F Pagan: Good/Evil Mix is Forever “Normal” Good 8 8 Evil
THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION God Man Nature FALL Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation FLOOD God COVENANT Man Nature
THE DISRUPTIVE KINGDOM CALL OF ABRAHAM Election Justification Faith Judgment / Salvation EXODUS (Blood Atonement) MT. SINAI Revelation Inspiration Canonicity CONQUEST & SETTLEMENT Sanctification RISE & REIGN OF DAVID Sanctification (Confession & Restoration)
Who Has the REAL “Evil Problem”? Christian: Good/Evil Mix is “Abnormal” & Temporary Good 8 8 Creator: Good Good | | | creation: Evil Evil J Cr F Pagan: Good/Evil Mix is Forever “Normal” Good 8 8 Evil
THE DISRUPTIVE KINGDOM CALL OF ABRAHAM Election Justification Faith Judgment / Salvation EXODUS (Blood Atonement) MT. SINAI Revelation Inspiration Canonicity CONQUEST & SETTLEMENT Sanctification RISE & REIGN OF DAVID Sanctification (Confession & Restoration)
THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION God Man Nature FALL Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation FLOOD God COVENANT Man Nature
THE DISRUPTIVE KINGDOM CALL OF ABRAHAM Election Justification Faith Judgment / Salvation EXODUS (Blood Atonement) MT. SINAI Revelation Inspiration Canonicity CONQUEST & SETTLEMENT Sanctification RISE & REIGN OF DAVID Sanctification (Confession & Restoration)
THE KING’S DISCIPLINE GOLDEN ERA OF SOLOMON Sanctification (Growth & Wisdom) KINGDOM DIVIDED Sanctification (Chastening & Repentance) Sanctification (Chastening,Repentance, & Final Cleansing) KINGDOMS IN DECLINE EXILE Sanctification (Separation) Revelation / Inspiration (Apocalyptic Literature) Canonicity (Preservation of the Text); Prayer; Eschatology (premillennialism) RESTORATION
EXILED JEWS’ WORLD INFLUENCE?? ( from 600 B.C. to 500 B.C.) Judaism (from Babylon) Philosophy (via Egypt?) Zoroasterianism (Persia) Taoism (China) Jainism (India) Confucianism (China) Buddhism (via India) Vedanta Monism (India) ( All anti-supernatural and ethically focused )
THE KING’S DISCIPLINE GOLDEN ERA OF SOLOMON Sanctification (Growth & Wisdom) KINGDOM DIVIDED Sanctification (Chastening & Repentance) Sanctification (Chastening,Repentance, & Final Cleansing) KINGDOMS IN DECLINE EXILE Sanctification (Separation) Revelation / Inspiration (Apocalyptic Literature) Canonicity (Preservation of the Text); Prayer; Eschatology (premillennialism) RESTORATION
THE KING AS CREATOR & CREATURE BIRTH Hypostatic Union Kenosis Impeccability Infallibility LIFE Substitutionary Blood Atonement DEATH Glorification RESURRECTION
THE KING AS CREATOR & CREATURE BIRTH Hypostatic Union Kenosis Impeccability Infallibility LIFE Substitutionary Blood Atonement DEATH Glorification RESURRECTION
Who Has the REAL “Evil Problem”? Christian: Good/Evil Mix is “Abnormal” & Temporary Good 8 8 Creator: Good Good | | | creation: Evil Evil J Cr F Pagan: Good/Evil Mix is Forever “Normal” Good 8 8 Evil
THE KING’S QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN Judgment / Salvation (Last days begin) ASCENSION & SESSION Person & Work of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification PENTECOST Dispensations (Israelology & Ecclesiology) EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH Historical Theology (doctrinal clarification) MATURING OF THE CHURCH DESTINY OF THE CHURCH Eschatology (Rapture, Bema, Return)
OT Image Source Accomplishment of the Session Accomplishments Still Awaited Daniel 7 Christ given kingly authority to rule over all nations; comes face-to-face with the Father Judgment of nations; acquisition of a kingdom people; evil powers set aside Psalm 2 Christ given kingly authority to rule over all nations by a decree of the Father Subduing of the nations; nations given opportunity to bow to Christ’s authority before they are forced to; Christ not sitting on David’s throne at physical Mt. Zion Psalm 110 Christ given both kingly and priestly authority to rule over all nations; sits at the Father’s right hand Enemies not yet defeated OT Imagery of the Session of the Son
Name of the Doctrine Content of the Doctrine Satan’s Possible Appeal Refuted Substitutionary Blood Atonement All grace is grounded upon total restitutionary satisfaction of God’s just demands against sin There is no unavoidable contradiction between God’s holiness and His acceptance of sinful creatures covered legally by the SBA Imputation God credits Christ’s righteousness to the account of those who believe The righteousness that is credited is that of Christ whose credentials have been accepted permanently at the Father’s Throne. The King Individually Qualified
THE KING’S QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN Judgment / Salvation (Last days begin) ASCENSION & SESSION Person & Work of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification PENTECOST Dispensations (Israelology & Ecclesiology) EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH Historical Theology (doctrinal clarification) MATURING OF THE CHURCH DESTINY OF THE CHURCH Eschatology (Rapture, Bema, Return)
Name of the Doctrine Content of the Doctrine Satan’s Possible Appeal Refuted Substitutionary Blood Atonement All grace is grounded upon total restitutionary satisfaction of God’s just demands against sin There is no unavoidable contradiction between God’s holiness and His acceptance of sinful creatures covered legally by the SBA Imputation God credits Christ’s righteousness to the account of those who believe The righteousness that is credited is that of Christ whose credentials have been accepted permanently at the Father’s Throne. The King’s Body Becoming Qualified
THE KING’S QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN Judgment / Salvation (Last days begin) ASCENSION & SESSION Person & Work of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification PENTECOST Dispensations (Israelology & Ecclesiology) EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH Historical Theology (doctrinal clarification) MATURING OF THE CHURCH DESTINY OF THE CHURCH Eschatology (Rapture, Bema, Return)
Fully The King and His Body Qualified to Begin the Kingdom of God on Earth “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation And have made us kings and priests to our God And we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9-10
UNBELIEF FORCED INTO A CONTRAST IN MANY AREAS SIMULTANEOUSLY Unbelief challenged in each of its categories needed to reinterpret the Word of God A portion of the Word of God presented to unbelief as part of a network