The Southern Baptist Primer; Chapter 3 - God

Here is the third chapter of The Southern Baptist Primer. It is my comments on The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message article on God.

Chapter 3: God

The first section of Article II of The 2000 Baptist Faith and Message reads:
II. God
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures. To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience. The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, with distinct personal attributes, but without division of nature, essence, or being.

It is no coincidence that The 2000 BF&M follows up the study of Scriptures with the doctrine of God. The very idea of a divine revelation identifies the priority: God’s revelation of Himself to man. In this and the following 3 chapters I have taken the liberty to divide Article II down into its natural subheadings with a chapter on God, the Trinity, followed by a chapter on each member of the Trinity.

The study of God is, by definition, theology; anything having to do with understanding, knowing, or explaining God. There is no higher study available and nothing is ever more important to know. God tells the prophet Jeremiah that man should not presume to boast in what they are, have or do. Man’s only appropriate boast is that he knows who God is and what He is and what He does (Jeremiah 9:23-25). “For no intellectual pursuit will prove to be more rewarding ultimately than the acquisition of a knowledge of God and of His ways and works.” Without any reservations I believe that the current pragmatic state of the modern Baptist church is a direct reflection on our lazy participation in the study of God. Whether we speak of the current trend of membership turnover or lack of personal holiness within the body, what we are seeing is the result of decades of Oprahesque theological relativism. We need to come back to the foundations of our faith. We need to ask our fathers what those stones are for (Joshua 4). In 2000 AD, the Southern Baptist Convention voted to set the 18 stones of The 2000 BF&M before the world. The stone that symbolizes God is our focus in this chapter because it is the understanding or misunderstanding of the doctrine of God that has been the source for many heresies in history, both past and present.
A right conception of God is basic not only to systematic theology but to practical Christian living as well. It is to worship what the foundation is to the temple; where it is inadequate or out of plumb the whole structure must sooner or later collapse. I believe there is scarcely an error in doctrine or a failing in applying Christian ethics that cannot be traced finally to imperfect and ignoble thoughts about God.
As we proceed, we will come to see more clearly what Daniel Akin meant when he wrote that “Genesis 1:1 teaches us, ‘In the beginning God....’ Southern Baptists speak with one voice in giving affirmation to this proposition and all others in Holy Scripture that reveal to us the real and true truth about the God who has created us in his image, redeemed us through his Son and made us spiritually alive by his Spirit.” Let us look first at The 2000 B&M in regard to 5 descriptions about God that we need to understand.

There is one and only one living and true God.
He is unique. Webster’s definition: “being the only one; producing only one result; being without a like or equal.” This is one of the simplest and yet most profound statements in the entire The 2000 BF&M. We believe that there is one God. We believe that this one God is alive. We believe that He is the true God. The Bible is replete with this testimony:
 There is but one God and His name is YHWH. (Exodus 3:14; 15:11; Deuteronomy 4:35 & 39; 6:4; 32:39; 1 Kings 8:59-60; Psalm 86:10; Isaiah 43:10; 44:6; 45:14, 18, 21-22; 46:9; Mark 12:32; Romans 3:29-30; 1 Corinthians 8:4; Ephesians 4:4-6; 1 Timothy 2:5-6; James 2:19).
 YHWH is a living God (Deuteronomy 5:26; Joshua 3:10; 1 Samuel 17:26 & 36; 2 Kings 19:4 & 16; Psalm 42:2; 84:2; Isaiah 37:4 & 17; Jeremiah 10:10; 23:36; Daniel 6:20 & 26; Hosea 1:10; Matthew 16:16; 26:63; John 6:69; Romans 9:26; 2 Corinthians 3:3; 6:16; 1 Thessalonians 1:9; 1 Timothy 3:15; 4:10; 6:17; Hebrews 3:12; 9:14; 10:31; 12:22; Revelation 7:2).
 YHWH is the true God (1 Kings 18:36-37; 2 Chronicles 15:3; Jeremiah 10:10; Jonah 3:33; John 17:3; Romans 3:4; 2 Corinthians 1:18; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 15:3).
Nowhere is this statement proven in a more dramatic way than in the confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal. Elijah prays that God would show His glory so that the people would know His identity. Immediately following the powerful demonstration the people cry out “the Lord, He is God, the Lord, He is God.” (1 Kings 18:36-39). “This is not the only such contest reported in the Bible but it is certainly the most striking one.” God, YHWH, is this True God.
This statement is in desperate need of some cogent, concise, and concentrated defense in our culture. The rampant idolatry and the blatant blasphemy that passes for “modern” worship is an affront to this truth. One day the church will wake up to see that God is unique in His own being, not a god of our own understanding. This wake-up call will come when this God, this actual, historical, real, living Deity appears to demonstrate the trueness of His revelation in Christ. God help us all on that day.
Article II of The 2000 BF&M rejects atheism (the belief that there is no God) and polytheism (the belief in and worship of many gods) and it accepts the existence of only one God (monotheism).
...Holy Scripture teaches...that human beings do not need to have their Creator’s existence proven to them, because (1) He has revealed Himself to them through natural revelation (Psalm 19:1; Romans 1:19-20) and (2) they understand that revelation because it is clearly seen by them (Romans 1:20-21, 32; 2:14-15). Nevertheless, they neither glorify Him as God nor are they thankful to Him and are therefore without excuse before Him (Romans 1:26). And, far from being neutral, they are doing everything they can in their sinfulness, because it is their nature to do so, to suppress that knowledge, bringing God’s wrath down upon them as the result (Romans 1:18). All this means that there is no such thing among mankind as an actual atheist. There are only theists, some of whom claim to be atheists. But God’s Word declares that these “atheists” are not real atheists; they only attempt to live as though there is no God. But they know in their hearts that He is “there” and that He will some day judge them for their sin. As we have said, they are theists who hate, and attempt to do everything they can to suppress, their innate theism. These “practicing atheists” insist that the burden of proof lies with the theist to prove God’s existence to them. But the burden of proof actually is theirs to prove that the physical world is the only reality and that no supernatural spiritual being anywhere exists. This, of course, they cannot do. Thus their “atheism” is their unproven “grand assumption” – an assumption, by the way which they cannot consistently live!
Jeremiah 17:9 tells us of the deceitful tendencies of our dark hearts. Until we are brought to know and trust God for who He is based solely on what He has said in His Word, even our righteousness will be as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) and our worship shall be idolatry (1 Samuel 15:23; Isaiah 58:4).

He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe.
This section makes 2 distinctions: (1) God is a rational Being and (2) He is the highest of all Beings in every area of existence.
God is a rational, conscious Being
God does not reveal Himself as an impersonal entity. He is everywhere, represented as a personal Being who interacts with His creation in a loving and just way. This activity, while personal in its nature, demonstrates His intelligence through His control and governance and is spiritual in its realm. He exists, interacts, and relates to His creation in a personal relationship. In the Bible we see this in many areas. He is our
bridegroom (Isaiah 61:10), husband (Isaiah 54:5), father (Deuteronomy 32:6), judge and king (Isaiah 33:22), man of war (Exodus 15:3), builder and maker (Hebrews 11:10), shepherd (Psalm 23:1), physician (Exodus 15:26), and so forth. Furthermore, God is spoken of in terms of human actions such as knowing (Genesis 18:21), remembering (Genesis 8:1; Exodus 2:24), seeing (Genesis 1:10), hearing (Exodus 2:24), smelling (Genesis 8:21), tasting (Psalm 11:5), sitting (Psalm 9:7), rising (Psalm 68:1), walking (Leviticus 26:12), wiping away tears (Isaiah 25:8), and so forth.
These descriptions demonstrate God’s personality and his relationship to other intelligent, spiritual, and personal beings in such a way that He is to be understood as “the God who is there.” As God, though, He is not to be mistaken for a simple, created being. Even in His personality, He is still ultimate in every area.

God is the highest of all Beings in every area of existence
He is the Creator of the universe. The Bible clearly teaches that God, YHWH, is the sole Creator of the Universe. There is no evolutionary theory proposed in Scripture. He created everything and He alone is uncreated.
In the Old Testament:
 We see God as the One responsible for the Creation (Genesis 1:1; 25; 2:4; 6:6; 7:4; Deuteronomy 4:32; 2 Kings 19:15; Psalm 104:24).
 He created things completely, fully developed, and good (Genesis 1:20; 2:4, 7, 19).
 He created things according to His design (Genesis 1:24, 27; 5:1-2; Psalm 74:17; 89:47).
 He finished the creation in 6 literal days (Genesis 2:3; Exodus 20:11; 31:17).
 The Creator is the Holy One of Israel: YHWH (Isaiah 17:7; 54:5; 2 Chronicles 2:12; Isaiah 37:16; Jeremiah 32:17; 51:15; Hosea 8:14).
 The Creator needs to be obeyed (Genesis 6:7; Deuteronomy 32:6; Ecclesiastes 12:1; Isaiah 42:5; Ezekiel 21:30; Amos 4:13; Malachi 2:10).
 The Creator is worthy of praise (Job 36:3; Psalm 89:12; 95:6; 104:24, 25, 30; 146:6; 148:5, 7; 149:2).
 The act of Creation proves who is truly God (Isaiah 40:26, 28; 45:8, 12, 18; Jeremiah 10:12; 32:17; 51:15).
 The Creator owns His creatures (Isaiah 43:1, 7, 15).
 The Creator creates both well-being and calamity (Isaiah 45:7; 54:16; Proverbs 22:2).
 The Creator is still involved in His creation through judgment (Amos 5:8), through providence (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 115:15; 121:2; 124:8; 134:3; Proverbs 14:31; 17:5), and through protection (Isaiah 51:13).
 The Creator is separate from His creation (Isaiah 29:16) and does whatever He wants with it (Jeremiah 27:5).
 God created Satan (Ezekiel 28:13).
 This same Creator will make a new creation (Isaiah 44:24; 65:17-18; Jeremiah 33:2).
Perfection is not evolved, learned, or earned. It is created. It is given!
In the New Testament
 We see that Jesus believed that God was the Creator (Matthew 19:4; Mark 10:6-7; Mark 13:19).
 John believed that the world was created by the Word (John 1:1-3; John 1:10).
 Paul believed that the world was created and that it was good (Ephesians 3:9; 1 Timothy 4:3-4).
 The New Testament Christians believed that God is the Creator (Acts 4:24).
 Paul believed that the creation proved God’s existence and that people would bear God’s wrath for not believing this (Romans 1:20-25).
 The New Testament authors believed that Adam and Eve were real, historical people (Luke 3:3; Romans 5:14; 1 Corinthians 15:45; 1 Timothy 2:13; Jude 1:14).
 Jesus, Himself, is the Creator (Colossians 1:15, 16, & 23; Hebrews 1:2; Hebrews 1:10).
 The Creator must be feared and worshipped (Revelation 4:8, 9 & 11; Revelation 10:6; Revelation 14:7).
 The work that God does at the point of salvation is the same as that of the creation (2 Corinthians 4:6).
 The creation is a part of sharing the Good News (Acts 14:15; Acts 17:24 & 26).
 We must look for and forward to the New Creation (Romans 8:19-23; 2 Corinthians 5:17; Galatians 6:15; Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10).
 We must ¬¬believe God’s Word on this and now we must believe, have faith and trust in Him. This is how we are saved. This is the ultimate faith: trusting the very Word that brought the world into being! This faith is in the Faithful Creator (Hebrews 11:3; 1 Peter 4:19; 2 Peter 3:4).
God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He began it and will finish it. He designed it for His purpose and He will provide, protect, and judge it according to His righteous law. The historical God of Israel, the Living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has demonstrated His worth and His wisdom in His creation. This, we can see and it is all the proof we need to know that He is truly God. The Creator retains all ownership of His creation. He will never relinquish it or forego responsibility for it. His work of creation is not only limited to that which is good, He creates both the good and the bad. Even though He remains involved with His creation, He is totally and absolutely separate from it in His essential being. The entire work of Creation points to the time when the true God will destroy His original creation and replace it with a brand new one. “The Scriptures claim that since God is Creator, He must, of necessity, be the only true God. It’s an obvious conclusion: if God made everything, and is Himself not dependent upon anything else, then any other ‘god’ that might exist would be dependent upon Him and, therefore, would not be true deity.”
God is the Redeemer of the universe. As the great Creator, God takes the initiative to redeem His creation from the results of the Fall. He is the only Being who is able to bring about redemption because He is the only one unspoiled by sin. Redemption speaks of buying back or paying off, therefore according to His justice and holiness, the wages of sin must be paid (Romans 6:23). This is accomplished for His elect in the death of His Son on the cross (Ephesians 1:3-12). Scripture acknowledges God alone as the Redeemer (Exodus 15:13; Deuteronomy 7:8; 9:26; 13:5; 15:15; 21:8; 24:28; 2 Samuel 7:23; 1 Kings 1:29; 1 Chronicles 17:21; Nehemiah 1:10; Job 19:25; Psalm 19:14; 31:5; 71:23; 78:35; 103:19; 104:24; Proverbs 23:11; Isaiah 41:14; 43:14; 44:6, 24; 47:4; 48:17; 49:7, 26; 54:5, 8; 59:20; 60:16; 63:9 & 16; Jeremiah 50:34; Micah 6:4; Luke 1:68; Galatians 3:13; Colossians 1:14).
God is the Preserver of the universe. He, the Creator, has not left us to spin through space at the whim of fate or chance. He is constantly sustaining that which He created. This act of sustaining is carried over into every aspect of the universe. Whatever is happening, is happening because God is actively maintaining the universe in a constant state. “It is particularly important to note that God’s work of both ‘creating’ and ‘making’ all things had ceased; He would henceforth conserve and sustain what He had created and made, but these processes would be quite distinct from those He had used during creation week.” His preserving is noted in Hebrews 1:3 (also in Nehemiah 9:6; Matthew 10:29-30; Acts 17:28; Colossians 1:17; 2 Peter 3:7).
God is the Ruler of the universe. Scripture speaks clearly of this truth. There is anyone or anything that has more authority than YHWH according to the Word of God. He is the undisputed Ruler (Exodus 4:11; Leviticus 14:34; Numbers 11:23; 24:23; Deuteronomy 10:14; 32:39; Joshua 11:20; 1 Samuel 2:6-7; 2 Kings 19:25; 1 Chronicles 29:11-12; Nehemiah 9:6; Job 14:5; 12:7-25; 36:32; 41:11; 42:2; Psalm 33:8-11; 103:19; 105:25; 115:2-3; 135:4-6; 146:5-10; 147:4-6; 148:6; Proverbs 16:1, 4, 9, 33; 19:21; 20:12, 24; 21:1 & 30; Ecclesiastes 7:13-14; Isaiah 10:5; 14:24-27; 29:16; 37:26; 40; 41; 42:5; 45:5-7, 9; 46:6-10; 60:8; Jeremiah 1:23; 18:1-10; Lamentations 3:37-38; Daniel 4:34-35; Acts 2:23; 4:24-28; 17:24-31; 1 Timothy 1:17).
These descriptions of God are neither exhaustive nor are they complete and there is no way to separate them. As the Creator He alone is responsible for and capable to recreate it (or redeem it). He alone is capable of preserving the wonderful universe that He created. He alone does rule the universe that He created. These titles are also uniquely His: there are no co-creators, co-redeemers, co-preservers, or co-rulers. He is the Sovereign One.

God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections.
God is not limited by time. He is infinite. He is not subject to external determination and is boundless in what He is or does as the ultimate One. God, by very definition, is totally free to do as He pleases (Psalm 115:3 and 135:6). This exceeds all understanding and passes beyond our scope of comprehension.
This phrase separates His holiness from his other attributes. The other attributes, such as His beauty, kindness, mercy, love, wisdom, and even His generosity are simply labeled “other perfections.” It is His holiness that sets Him apart. The very word holy means set apart, unique, or pure and He is totally set apart from everything. He is totally other. “No images, no likenesses of Him are to be allowed, for such would create a connection that does not exist. He is Creator, everything else is created. He is infinite, everything else is finite.” He is unique; by definition there is none like Him (Isaiah 45:5-6). He is pure and purely God. There is nothing in Him that is anything other than God. He is Holy, Holy, Holy (Isaiah 6:3). He, alone, is the “set apart One.” This eliminates the existence of other beings with the same characteristics. He, alone, is holy, therefore He alone is God. God’s infinity surpasses anything and everything this world knows.
God is perfect. His perfections, themselves unlimited, are those qualities by which He demonstrates that He is without any fault or defect; flawless. He is honest (Hebrews 6:18; Titus 1:2), free (Psalm 115:3; 135:6; Isaiah 40:12-14), light (1 John 1:5), love (1 John 4:8, 16), good (Mark 10:18), and unchangeable (James 1:17). As humans we tend to see things from a flawed perspective. Hence we often define a perfect object with a negative. For example: without fault (negative) or defect (negative). So, in order for us to recognize perfection we must identify its lack of flaws. When we identify perfection in God we will positively acknowledge that there is nothing flawed and there is never any defect in Him. God’s perfection is the absolute, infinite perfection (Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 18:30; Matthew 5:48).
What if our small, finite, presence on this insignificant planet is contrasted with God’s massive essence? “Indeed, what could be more ludicrous in a vast and glorious universe like this than a human being, on the speck called earth, standing in front of a mirror trying to find significance in his own self-image?” The difference cannot be measured. The only proper response is to acknowledge His separateness (holiness) and fear His perfection. This is the suitable reaction for His creatures. This is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 1:7). This is true worship (Psalm 105).

God is all powerful
We must not over look this truth. I think that to take this for granted more often than not. What does this actually mean? It means that He is omnipotent; He has unlimited power. He is Almighty; He has unlimited authority and influence. “He is able to do all of His holy will.” This aspect of God relates to His position as Ruler of the Universe; He is the Sovereign. God has the power to do anything that is logically meaningful and wise. He has the ability to control and the authority to rule over all. “The relationship between control and authority is one between might and right. Control means that God has the power to direct the whole course of nature and history as he pleases. Authority means that he has the right to do that.” Scripture completely affirms God’s omnipotence. In creation God did not even begin to exercise His power. Job says that creation is but the outskirts of His ways, a small whisper (Job 26:14). The Lord tells Jeremiah that nothing is too hard for the Lord God (Jeremiah 32:26-27). Paul identifies God’s work of creation as a fundamental evidence of God’s eternal power and divine nature (Romans 1:19-20). God also demonstrates his power in the creation of new life through Sarah (Genesis 18:14), Rebekah (Genesis 25:21), Leah (Genesis 29:31, 30:17), Rachel (Genesis 30:22), Samson’s mother (Judges 13:3), Hannah (1 Samuel 1:19-20), King David’s mother (Psalm 139:13-16), Jeremiah’s mother (Jeremiah 1:4), and the virgin mother of Jesus (Luke 1:34-37). God’s has shown His awesome power throughout the history of His people in their deliverance (Exodus 14:21; Joshua 3:14-17; 2 Kings 19:35; 2 Chronicles 32:21), judgment (Numbers 3:4; 16:30-33; 2 Chronicles 36:17), and His providence (Exodus 16:4; 17:6; 1 Kings 18:41-46; 2 Kings 4:1-7; 2 Kings 7:1; Mark 6:41). In Job 38-41 God reveals Himself as the One who powerfully controls everything in His creation. In the Revelation of Jesus Christ to the Apostle John God is the Powerful One who will bring about His perfect plan. He will powerfully overcome His adversaries and reign in triumph over His new creation (Revelation 19:11-22:21). Make no mistake about it, God is the almighty One (Psalm 24:8; Jeremiah 32:17 & 27; Matthew 3:9; 19:26; 2 Corinthians 6:18; Ephesians 3:20; Revelation 1:8).

and all knowing;
God is omniscient. He knows everything. He has infinite awareness, understanding, insight, and complete knowledge. “God knows all that can be known or is knowable.” “God knows Himself and all things actual and possible in one simple (undivided) eternal act.” God’s knowledge surpasses anything that we can imagine. How could He not know everything? After all He Created and rules everything. He is unlimited, infinite.
This means that God is always fully aware of everything. If he should wish to tell us the number of grains of sand on the seashore or the number of stars in the sky, he would not have to count them all quickly like some kind of giant computer, nor would he have to call the number to mind because it was something he had not thought about for a time. Rather, he always knows all things at once. All of these facts and all other things that he knows are always fully present in his consciousness. He does not have to reason to conclusions or ponder carefully before he answers, for he knows the end from the beginning, and he never learns and never forgets anything.
God’s Comprehension of every knowable thing is an overwhelming doctrine. How could it not be? We can trust completely in God’s knowledge.

and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures.
God’s knowledge extends to all things (2 Chronicles 16:9; Job 28:24; 37:16; Psalm 90:4; 139; Isaiah 42:8-9; 46:9-10; 55:9; Jeremiah 29:11; Matthew 6:8; 10:29-30; Hebrews 4:13; 2 Peter 3:8; 1 John 3:20). There is theological discussion that has developed recently concerning whether God’s knowledge of the future is open (not bound by some form of determinism) or closed (comprehensively predetermined by God’s plan and decrees), Dr. Bruce Ware has presented a solid defense of the traditional view of God’s foreknowledge. The “open” view denies that God can know what “free” creatures will do. It teaches that the Bible presents God as one who figures things out as He goes along and that He will learn what the future becomes. One might then ask: Does He get things wrong? Does He second-guess his decisions? Is His counsel fallible? Ware writes:
‘Absolutely not,’ the church has said throughout history. And once again, Christian people must arise and say no to this proposal. The God of the Bible demonstrates the truthfulness of his own claim to deity by predicting the future with astonishing and mind-boggling precision. This foreknowledge of God encompasses both the immediate (the next word off my tongue) and the remote (what nations and kings will do centuries in the future). The God of the Bible does not face the future as we do – wondering what might happen. No, the true God knows and declares the end from the beginning, and he challenges anyone to prove him wrong.
Dr. Ware writes that “at the 1999 annual meetings of the Southern Baptist Convention a resolution was proposed and unanimously endorsed affirming that God does know all future contingencies, including all future free choices and actions.” This led to “a number of key changes” being “introduced to the previous (1963) edition [of The BF&M], one of which is the addition of a clear affirmation of God’s exhaustive foreknowledge….Clearly the SBC leadership and messengers see this issue as central enough to warrant a forthright declaration that defines the boundaries of this major denomination’s core beliefs.” Having sat under Dr. Ware’s instruction during this, time I have come to a much deeper appreciation for where Southern Baptists are moving theologically. As the ultimate, what else could God be?

To Him we owe the highest love, reverence, and obedience.
God is the utmost. This is important for us to note and never forget. God is great! He has done all of the work in our salvation and graciously gives us life. This should be our response or the default setting for all Christians. As the Supreme Being, the Sovereign Lord, He will receive worship by default.
Since the debt we have is eternal, we have an obligation to love God with everything we are. He is to be the object of our obsession. We are to hold Him and only Him in the highest esteem (Exodus 20:3-7). He is to be the object of our awe (Deuteronomy 6:5; Matthew 22:37). We must recognize His authority and acknowledge through our thoughts and our actions that He is…well…God (Psalm 19:14; 2 Corinthians 10:5). Our response to God is our worship and it must reflect who He is and what He has done in us (Proverbs 1:7; John 14:15, 21; Acts 5:11; 9:31; Romans 13:5; 2 Corinthians 5:11; 7:1; Ephesians 4:30; Philippians 2:12; 1 Timothy 1:5 & 19; 5:20; 2 Timothy 1:3; Hebrews 12:3-11; 1 Peter 1:17; 2:17; 3:16; 1 John 5:3).

The eternal triune God reveals Himself to us
as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
God is unified. The Scriptures reveal God in the form of three persons, each person having the same perfection and qualities of God and yet having distinct roles in the Godhead. “God is not divided into parts, yet we see different attributes of God emphasized at different times.” He is one what and three who’s. We need to “see here, for our comfort, a sweet agreement of all three persons: the Father gives a commission to Christ; the Spirit furnishes and sanctifies to it, and Christ himself executes the office of Mediator. Our redemption is founded upon the joint agreement of all three persons of the Trinity.” There is only one God, yet Scripture is clear that there are three persons who make up this one God. While neither the Old Testament nor the New Testament specifically mentions the Trinity as a doctrine, it is definitely revealed and assumed by the biblical teachings (Matthew 28:19; Mark 1:9-11; John 14:16-26; 15:26; 16:5-15; Romans 8:1-11; 1 Corinthians 12:3-6; 2 Corinthians 13:14; Ephesians 1:3-14; 2:18; 4:4-6; Galatians 4:4-6; 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14; Titus 3:4-6; 1 Peter 1:2; Jude 20-21).
The doctrine of the Trinity is fundamental to our faith. The very fact that God has existed from everlasting to everlasting in this complex, personal, intelligent, spiritual, gracious, committed, structured, complementary, loving and perfect union demonstrates His glory, wisdom, peace, love and power for all of our own relationships.

with distinct personal attributes,
but without division of nature, essence, or being.
In the following chapters we will pursue this section in much greater detail; defining the roles and the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity. The important thing to remember as we do this is that we never cause any form of division to develop in our thinking about the Trinity. While each member has differing roles, each is equal in essence. J.I. Packer, in the Introduction to Herman Witsius’ The Economy of the Covenants Between God and Man, writes that
Scripture is explicit in the fact that from eternity, in light of human sin foreseen, a specific agreement existed between the Father and the Son that they would exalt each other in the following way: the Father would honor the Son by sending Him to save lost sinners through a penal self-sacrifice leading to a cosmic reign in which the central activity would be the imparting to sinners through the Holy Spirit of the redemption he won for them; and the Son would honor the Father by becoming the Father’s love-gift to sinners and by leading them through the Spirit to trust, love, and glorify the Father on the model of His own obedience to the Father’s will.

Conclusion:
The Doctrine of God is both well known and much neglected. We all carry around many assumptions and opinions about God and yet fail to make the connection between the facts of God, revealed to us in Scriptures, and the reality of the presence of God. It is not enough to know about God, “even the demons know and they shudder” (James 2:19). We must react to the knowledge and believe what He says. We must trust and obey. We must reject everything that would contradict who and what He is and does. “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (2 Corinthians 10:5). J.L. Dagg, speaking about the duty of delighting in the will and works of God, says
if we loved the truth as we ought, we should experience equal delight in receiving it; and the careful investigation of it would be a source of pure and abiding pleasure. It would not suffice to employ our intellectual powers in the discussion of perplexing questions appertaining to religion, but we should find a rich feast in the truth that may be known and read by all. The man who indulges his skeptical doubts, and suffers himself to be detained by questions to no profit, is like one who, when a bountiful feast is spread before him, instead of enjoying the offered food, employs himself in examining a supposed flaw in the dish in which it is served. The glorious truths which are plainly revealed concerning God, and the things of God, are sufficient to enable everyone to delight himself in the Lord.
In the following chapters we will address the roles and the significance of each of the 3 Persons of the Godhead. As we move on to consider what, as Southern Baptists, we believe about God the Father, Son, and Spirit, let’s make an effort to delight in the meat of this doctrine.

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The Whole Bible Teaches that God Created!

Most evangelicals make the mistake of thinking that the Bible only speaks of God's work of creation in the first 11 chapters of Genesis. We often tend to foget that much of God's work and word is based upon who He has revealed Himself to be: the Maker of Heaven and Earth. What follows is a list of the many ways God's work of creation communicates His identity to us.

[The Old Testament has this to say about Creation:

1. The Bible presents God as the One responsible for the Creation. Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:25 And God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 2:4 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Genesis 6:6 And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart.
Genesis 7:4 For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days and forty nights, and every living thing that I have made I will blot out from the face of the ground."
Deuteronomy 4:32 "For ask now of the days that are past, which were before you, since the day that God created man on the earth, and ask from one end of heaven to the other, whether such a great thing as this has ever happened or was ever heard of.
2 Kings 19:15 And Hezekiah prayed before the LORD and said: "O LORD the God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.
Psalm 104:24 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.

He created things completely, fully developed, and good.
Genesis 1:20-21 And God said, "Let the waters swarm with swarms of living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the expanse of the heavens." So God created the great sea creatures and every living creature that moves, with which the waters swarm, according to their kinds, and every winged bird according to its kind. And God saw that it was good.
Genesis 2:4, 7, & 19 These are the generations of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.--- then the LORD God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.--- So out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name.

He created things according to His Design.
Genesis 1:24 &27 And God said, "Let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds- livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds." And it was so. --- So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.
Genesis 5:1-2 This is the book of the generations of Adam. When God created man, he made him in the likeness of God. Male and female he created them, and he blessed them and named them Man when they were created.
Psalm 74:17 You have fixed all the boundaries of the earth; you have made summer and winter.
Psalm 89:47 Remember how short my time is! For what vanity you have created all the children of man!

He finished the creation in 6 days. Genesis 2:3 So God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it God rested from all his work that he had done in creation. Exodus 20:11 For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Exodus 31:17 It is a sign forever between me and the people of Israel that in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.'"
2. The Creator is the Holy One of Israel: YHWH.
Isaiah 17:7 In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel.
Isaiah 54:5 For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called.
Hosea 8:14 For Israel has forgotten his Maker and built palaces, and Judah has multiplied fortified cities; so I will send a fire upon his cities, and it shall devour her strongholds.
2 Chronicles 2:12 Hiram also said, "Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, who made heaven and earth, who has given King David a wise son, who has discretion and understanding, who will build a temple for the LORD and a royal palace for himself.
Isaiah 37:16 "O LORD of hosts, God of Israel, who is enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.

3. The Creator needs to be obeyed.
Genesis 6:7 So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."
Deuteronomy 32:6 Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you?
Ecclesiastes 12:1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, "I have no pleasure in them";
Isaiah 42:5 Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people on it and spirit to those who walk in it:
Ezekiel 21:30 Return it to its sheath. In the place where you were created, in the land of your origin, I will judge you.
Amos 4:13 For behold, he who forms the mountains and creates the wind, and declares to man what is his thought, who makes the morning darkness, and treads on the heights of the earth- the LORD, the God of hosts, is his name!
Malachi 2:10 Have we not all one Father? Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning the covenant of our fathers?

4. The Creator is worthy of praise.
Job 36:3 I will get my knowledge from afar and ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
Psalm 89:12 The north and the south, you have created them; Tabor and Hermon joyously praise your name.
Psalm 95:6 Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!
Psalm 104:24-25, & 30 O LORD, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures.--- Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.--- When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
Psalm 146:6 who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever;
Psalm 148:5 & 7 Let them praise the name of the LORD! For he commanded and they were created.--- Praise the LORD from the earth, you great sea creatures and all deeps,
Psalm 149:2 Let Israel be glad in his Maker; let the children of Zion rejoice in their King!

5. The act of Creation proves who is truly God.
Isaiah 40:26 & 28 Lift up your eyes on high and see: who created these? He who brings out their host by number, calling them all by name, by the greatness of his might, and because he is strong in power not one is missing.--- Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 45:8, 12, & 18 "Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the LORD have created it.--- I made the earth and created man on it; it was my hands that stretched out the heavens, and I commanded all their host.--- For thus says the LORD, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): "I am the LORD, and there is no other.
Jeremiah 10:12 It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.
Jeremiah 32:17 'Ah, Lord GOD! It is you who has made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 51:15 "It is he who made the earth by his power, who established the world by his wisdom, and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

6. The Creator owns His creatures. (The very word ‘creatures’ reflects creation)
Isaiah 43:1, 7 & 15 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.---everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made."--- I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King."

7. The Creator creates both well-being and calamity.
Isaiah 45:7 I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things.
Isaiah 54:16 Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy;
Proverbs 22:2 The rich and the poor meet together; the LORD is the maker of them all.

8. The Creator is still involved in His Creation

Through judgment:
Amos 5:8 He who made the Pleiades and Orion, and turns deep darkness into the morning and darkens the day into night, who calls for the waters of the sea and pours them out on the surface of the earth, the LORD is his name;

Through providence:
Nehemiah 9:6 "You are the LORD, you alone. You have made heaven, the heaven of heavens, with all their host, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them; and you preserve all of them; and the host of heaven worships you.
Psalm 115:15 May you be blessed by the LORD, who made heaven and earth!
Psalm 121:2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 124:8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 134:3 May the LORD bless you from Zion, he who made heaven and earth!
Proverbs 14:31 Whoever oppresses a poor man insults his Maker, but he who is generous to the needy honors him.
Proverbs 17:5 Whoever mocks the poor insults his Maker; he who is glad at calamity will not go unpunished.

Through protection:
Isaiah 51:13 and have forgotten the LORD, your Maker, who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth, and you fear continually all the day because of the wrath of the oppressor, when he sets himself to destroy? And where is the wrath of the oppressor?

9. The Creator is separate from His creation.
Isaiah 29:16 You turn things upside down! Shall the potter be regarded as the clay, that the thing made should say of its maker, "He did not make me"; or the thing formed say of him who formed it, "He has no understanding"?

10. The Creator does whatever He wants with His creation.
Jeremiah 27:5 "It is I who by my great power and my outstretched arm have made the earth, with the men and animals that are on the earth, and I give it to whomever it seems right to me.

11. God created Satan. (Satan is powerful, created more powerful than we are, but not more powerful than the Creator!)
Ezekiel 28:13 & 15 You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were created they were prepared.--- You were blameless in your ways from the day you were created, till unrighteousness was found in you.

12. This same Creator will make a new Creation! Perfection is not evolved, learned, or earned. It is created. It is given!
Isaiah 44:24 Thus says the LORD, your Redeemer, who formed you from the womb: "I am the LORD, who made all things, who alone stretched out the heavens, who spread out the earth by myself,
Isaiah 65:17-18 "For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and her people to be a gladness.
Jeremiah 33:2 "Thus says the LORD who made the earth, the LORD who formed it to establish it- the LORD is his name:


The New Testament has this to say about Creation:

1. Jesus believed that God was the Creator.
Matthew 19:4 & 7 He answered, "Have you not read that he who created them from the beginning made them male and female, Mark 10:6 But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.'--- 'Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife,
Mark 13:19 For in those days there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be.

2. John believed that the world was created: by the Word!
John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
John 1:10 He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him.

3. Paul believed that the world was created and that it was good.
Ephesians 3:9 and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things,
1 Timothy 4:3-4 who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. --- For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving,

4. The New Testament Christians believed that God is the Creator!
Acts 4:24 And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, "Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them,

5. Paul believed that the creation proves God’s existence and that people would bear God’s wrath for not believing this! This is an important point. We are spending so much time on this issue because of the eternal implications.
Romans 1:20 & 25 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse. --- because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.

6. The New Testament authors believed that Adam and Eve were real, historical people.
Luke 3:38 the son of Enos, the son of Seth, the son of Adam, the son of God.
Romans 5:14 Yet death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those whose sinning was not like the transgression of Adam, who was a type of the one who was to come.
1 Corinthians 15:45 Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
1 Timothy 2:13 For Adam was formed first, then Eve;
Jude 1:14 It was also about these that Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, "Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,

7. Jesus, Himself, is the Creator. This is important because Jesus, the human didn’t come into existence until in the New Testament.
Colossians 1:15-16, & 23 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.--- For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him. --- if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.
Hebrews 1:2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
Hebrews 1:10 And, "You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands;

8. The Creator must be feared and worshiped!
Revelation 4:8-9 & 11 And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" --- And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, --- "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 10:6 and swore by him who lives forever and ever, who created heaven and what is in it, the earth and what is in it, and the sea and what is in it, that there would be no more delay,
Revelation 14:7 And he said with a loud voice, "Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of his judgment has come, and worship him who made heaven and earth, the sea and the springs of water."

9. The work that God does at the point of salvation is the same as that of the creation.
2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

10. The creation is a part of sharing the Good News!
Acts 14:15 "Men, why are you doing these things? We also are men, of like nature with you, and we bring you good news, that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.
Acts 17:24 & 26 The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, --- And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place,

11. We must look for and forward to the New Creation.
Romans 8:19-23 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Galatians 6:15 For neither circumcision counts for anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation.
Ephesians 4:24 and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Colossians 3:10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.

12. We must believe God’s Word on this and now we must believe, have faith, trust in Him. This is how we are saved. This is the ultimate faith: trusting the very Word that brought the world into being! This faith is in the Faithful Creator!
Hebrews 11:3 By faith we understand that the universe was created by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible.
1 Peter 4:19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.
2 Peter 3:4-5 They will say, "Where is the promise of his coming? For ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things are continuing as they were from the beginning of creation." For they deliberately overlook this fact, that the heavens existed long ago, and the earth was formed out of water and through water by the word of God,

God is the Creator of heaven and earth. He began it and will finish it. He designed it for His purpose and He will provide, protect, and judge it according to His righteous Law. The historical God of Israel, the Living God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob has demonstrated His worth and His wisdom in the creation. This we can see and is all the proof we need to know that He is truly God. The Creator retains all ownership of His creation. Never does He relinquish it or forego responsibility. His work of creation is not only limited to that which is good, He creates both the good and the bad. Even though He remains involved with His creation, He is totally and absolutely separate from it in His essential being. The entire work of Creation points to the time when the True God will destroy His original creation and replace it with a brand new one. Will you experience it this way? You say you believe but do you believe this? Have you obeyed? It is important! It is imperative! Have you worshiped this Creator?He is waiting!]

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The New Baptist Theology of the Christian Faith - Chapter 2; The Scriptures

[As I proceed with my commentary on the 2000 BF&M I will be posting the chapters on the blog in smaller segments. When I am finished with a chapter I will post it here in full. Please let me know what you think.]



[Chapter 2:

The Scriptures






Article I[1]of the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message reads:

The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
Exodus 24:4; Deuteronomy 4:1-2; 17:19; Joshua 8:34; Psalms 19:7-10; 119:11,89,105,140; Isaiah 34:16; 40:8; Jeremiah 15:16; 36:1-32; Matthew 5:17-18; 22:29; Luke 21:33; 24:44-46; John 5:39; 16:13-15; 17:17; Acts 2:16ff.; 17:11; Romans 15:4; 16:25-26; 2 Timothy 3:15-17; Hebrews 1:1-2; 4:12; 1 Peter 1:25; 2 Peter 1:19-21.

We are bombarded from all sides in every area of our lives with authorities that claim, rather they demand, our allegiance. In most cases these authorities have subtly but convincingly become the very foundation for every decision we make. Rather than thinking about how ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ something might be we tend to think about what such and such a person would think about it or more likely how it makes us feel. We tend to ignore, sometimes even willfully reject, any objective standard, replacing truth with our own desire for satisfaction. This antinomian (lawlessness) attitude has come to be the very bedrock for every single decision we have to make.
John Bright, in The Kingdom of God (pg 7-8) says that “it is unnecessary to furnish proof that there exists, even among Christians, a widespread biblical illiteracy, and gratuitous to deplore that fact as disastrous. Indeed, one might go so far as to say that Protestantism will not survive if steps cannot be taken to remedy it. We may not forget that the Protestant churches all began in a very biblical protest, have always claimed the Bible as the final source of authority, and have never allowed that any hierarchy may stand between the believer and that Bible to bar his way to it or to mediate its interpretation. Uprooted from the Bible we have no proper place to stand; we cannot, in fact, be Protestant. It is therefore no light thing that the Bible should have become so strange a book to the average churchgoer and (tell it not in Gath!) to many ministers as well.’[2]
Baptists have always held a high view of the Word of God. The Bible has always been our central authority. This is more than evident in many of the writings of prominent Baptist theologians. It is evident in our creeds and confessions. J.M. Pendleton writes in 1867 that “All who believe the Scriptures to be divinely inspired consider them the fountain of religious truth. The Bible contains the revelation of God to man. It is the supreme standard of faith and practice. Whatever conforms to this standard is right – whatever deviates from it is wrong. It is a duty incumbent upon all to ‘search the Scriptures’ and learn what they teach.”[3]
As Southern Baptists we have seen in the recent history of our convention that at this point in time we are most in need of a solid understanding of the doctrine of sola scriptura (Scripture alone). In view of the pragmatism that has taken hold on our churches what we need most of all is a return to the bedrock of our faith: The Truth of God’s Word! We have no hope apart from this revelation of God’s work through Christ on our behalf. We need to grasp the singular reality that God has given us His Word as the complete authority concerning His will here on earth. I will admit that there are many, many passages in the Bible that are difficult to understand. They require diligence of study and dependence upon God for any kind of illumination.
While I am not saying that the Bible contains exhaustive information on every single area of truth, nor that God only communicates truth through it, what I am saying is that ‘the protestant position...is that all things necessary for salvation and concerning faith and life are taught in the Bible clearly enough for the ordinary believer to find it there and understand.’[4] Before we neglect the precious beauty and power of the forest of the Word because we cannot see through some of the trees of the difficult passages, let us read and study with grateful hearts, rejoicing because He has not left us to wander alone! He has given us His Spirit to open our eyes! Let’s hold firm to this Word and follow as It guides us to life!
As we venture into our study of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message I have taken the liberty to break down the sections into more manageable segments. As much as I can I will work to keep the division as logical as possible.
In the following sections we will see that there are 8 things that we need to understand about the Scriptures:
I. The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man.
The Scriptures are a Canon.
Definition of canon: A rule or standard. ‘The term itself is a Greek word that referred to a staff or straight rod used as a means of measurement. The term soon came to mean a “rule” or “standard.” In the history of the Christian church the term came to be used with respect to the books that were judged to be the “standard” by which the church should live.’[5] ‘The word canon today refers to a “collection or list of books accepted as an authoritative rule of faith and practice.’[6]

The Bible is our Rule. It is our Standard for life:

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By guarding it according to your word. Psalm 119:9
I will never forget your precepts,
for by them you have given me life. Psalm 119:93

How did the Bible come to be as it is now? How can we know that it is God’s Word?

Process of the canon:
Because God did not simply drop the completed Bible out of heaven into the laps of those who have gone on before, we need to understand the process that He took to reveal Himself to His people. How did these specific books come to be recognized as the standard or ruler for the People of God? ‘The Scripture itself bears witness to the historical development of the canon.’[7] Hebrews 1:1-2 gives an indication of the process when it tells us that 'long ago, at many time and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son...' In the Old Testament God spoke to His people through men called prophets. These men recorded His Word and collected it so that the Coming One would be revealed. It is through this means that the promise of Christ came to the world. The New Testament even bears witness of this process. Paul says in Romans 1:2 that the gospel of God was 'promised beforehand through the prophets in the Holy Scriptures.' Peter testifies in 2 Peter 1:21 that 'men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Spirit.' In the following section we will see in greater detail the witness of the Old and New Testaments concerning this process.

The Old Testament bears witness to the process of the developing of the writings that were recognized as the standard of God; His Word:
† Everything began with the voice of God (Genesis 1:3).
† The first collection of the words of God are the Ten ‘Words’ (commandments)(Exodus 20:1ff; Deuteronomy 5ff). These were written by the finger of God (Exodus 31:18) hence they carry the full authority of God over His creation.
† The next collection of words were recorded by Moses and deposited in the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord so that it would be there for a witness against the Israelites (Deuteronomy 31:24-26: cf. Exodus 17:14, 24:4; 34:27; Numbers 33:2; Deuteronomy 31:22). Moses recorded the first five books of our canon.
† Joshua recorded what happened after Moses died (Joshua 24:26).
There are numerous other individuals who are listed as ‘writers’ of the Old Testament:
† The prophet Samuel in 1 Samuel 10:25.
† The prophet Nathan in 1 Chronicles 29:29.
† The prophet Isaiah in 2 Chronicles 26:22.
† The prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 30:2.

The Old Testament was cherished and protected by God and His People for many centuries.

The completed Canon (collection of authorized books) of the Old Testament is recognized early (as early as 250-200BC there is evidence that the Old Testament was recognized as a completed collection of the Words of God). This is seen in the writings of early Jewish historians. It is confirmed in the New Testament writings by the fact that ‘Jesus and the New Testament authors quote various parts of the Old Testament Scriptures as divinely authoritative over 295 times, but not once do they cite any statement from the books of the Apocrypha or any other writings as having divine authority.’[8]

The New Testament also bears witness to the process of the developing of the writings that were recognized as the standard of God; His Word:
We may summarize the concept of revelation in the New Testament age with six points: [9]
Jesus of Nazareth is revealed as True God and He spoke with authority. In the Gospels, Christ the incarnate Word, whom John announced as the Messiah of the Old Testament, claims to have supreme, ultimate, and absolute authority, the authority of the Lord God Himself (see Matthew 9:2; 11:27; 28:18; Luke 21:33).
Jesus of Nazareth authorizes His disciples to speak for Him. In the Gospels, Christ calls, equips, and sends out apostles to speak and act with His authority, and provides for their continuing authoritative witness (Luke 6:13; 9:1-6 [here they are assigned an “internship” in exercising this authority], John 14:25-2616:12-15; 17:20 [here they are assured that they need not rely on their memories for knowledge and accuracy; the Holy Spirit will aid them; here also, as church missionaries, they are to go forth as Christ’s “plenipotentatires,” having His authority]).
God continues to authenticate the message of the Apostles throughout Acts. In the New Testament age, following the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the apostles are authenticated as Christ’s authoritative representatives by the “marks of the apostle” (Acts 5:12; 2 Corinthians 12:12; Hebrews 2:4).
The message of the Apostles was considered the authority and was collected and studied by the church. The apostolic witness, which was in the first instance and for the most part oral, progressively culminated in the written apostolic tradition, which in turn became authoritative and normative in the church for faith and practice (1 Thessalonians 2:13; 5:27; 2 Thessalonians 2:15; 3:6, 14; 2 Corinthians 10:8; 13:10; Ephesians 3:1-4; Colossians 4:16; 1 John 1:1-4; 4:6; John 20:30-31).
The Church made no distinction between the Old Testament Scriptures and the Apostles writings. The Church received these apostolic writings as being on a par with the Old Testament Scriptures (explicitly stated in 1 Timothy 5:18 [see Luke 10:7]; 2 Peter 3:16; implicitly stated in 1 Thessalonians 5:27; Colossians 4:16; 1 Timothy 4:13; Revelation 1:3).
The New Testament writings were not authorized by the Church but were the authority of the Church. The postapostolic church did not “canonize’ the New Testament Scriptures but only declared that it had received them as authoritative and thus normative from the beginning as an inspired body of literature. The earliest list containing only the 27 New Testament books occurs in a letter of Athanasius, A.D. 367; the first council to affirm the 27 New Testament books was the Third Council of Carthage, A.D. 397.

The Church did not make the books of the New Testament canonical. ‘Ultimately it is the creative life of Jesus Christ, not the evangelists or the Church, that originates, controls and gives essential unity to the documents through which witness is borne to His achievement as the Messiah, the Son of God.’[10] The Church simply recognized which books were in fact "the rule of faith," i.e., the inspired Scriptures. The N.T. is therefore a collection of authoritative books rather than an authoritative collection of books.[11]

How then did the writings come about? How do we know that they are true?

Importance of inspiration:
The Bible is actually God speaking.
‘Our word inspired comes from a Latin root meaning, “to breathe in.” Unfortunately, that does not convey the true meaning of the Greek term for “inspired” that is used in Scripture. Actually the concept of breathing in is not found in 2 Timothy 3:16 (“All Scripture is inspired by God”). Reading this meaning in has misled many people about the true meaning of inspiration. They have assumed that God breathed some kind of divine life into the words of those who penned the original documents of Scripture. But the Greek term for inspiration is qeo,pneustoj (theopneustos), which means “God-breathed.” Literally the verse says, All Scripture is God-breathed” – that is, Scripture is not the words of man into which God puffed divine life. It is the very breath of God! Scripture is God Himself speaking.’[12] Even when one of His servants speaks in the power of God, His Word accomplishes It's task. 'When Peter said to the lame man, "in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up, and walk," the voice which spoke was Peter's, but the power which restored the ankle bones, was God's. The words, though Peter's, were spoken under divine influence, or the divine power would not have accompanied them.'[13]

Importance of revelation:
The Bible reveals something we cannot know on our own.
'Because all other means of knowledge are insufficient to bring men to holiness and happiness, God has been pleased, in pity to our race, to make known His will by special revelation. Besides His voice in conscience and in Nature, He utters His voice from heaven. This revelation was anciently made by prophets, who were commissioned to speak to men in His name, and afterwards by His Son from heaven. To us, in these latter days, He speaks in His written Word, the Bible, which is the perfect source of religious knowledge, and the infallible standard of religious truth.'[14]
‘There is something beyond our knowledge. Without God’s gracious revelation of it we are hopeless. It was a secret. God kept it to Himself. It was His eternal plan (Isaiah 6:9-10; Romans 11:7-10, 25ff). He kept it secluded for ages and generations. If it was concealed for ages that means it has been there over the years (ages) and throughout the relationship God had with His people (generations). Jesus, in Matthew 11:25 and Luke 10:21, speaks of this hiding. He showed it to His saints. He revealed it. Revelation has everything to do with Him and His will. We did not, nor could ever, 'figure it all out' and then make the connections. He had to open our eyes so that we could see! He showed it to us. Where? In His Word! (2 Peter 1:16ff; Titus 1:9). The whole idea of Revelation presupposes some kind of content already existent and a pre-existent Revealer.’[15]

II. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction.
The Scriptures are Consistent.
The Scriptures are a perfect treasure because of the author, subject, and integrity. Each of these gives the Word of God its uniqueness, vitality, power, and perfection. The Scriptures communicate a message that is entirely constant throughout. No part of the Bible contradicts any other. The Word that God has given us in His Revelation fits together perfectly within itself. Can you imagine the value of this treasure? Can you fathom the reality that God has spoken to you and has provided you with His perfect provision for His glory?

In the next 3 sections we will examine the Scripture's consistency:
III. It has God for its author,
The Scriptures are consistent because of their Maker.
Having God as its Maker connects the Scriptures securely to His Power. Throughout the Scriptures the Word of the Lord accomplishes what it sets out to. ‘The Bible makes it clear that the Word is not merely powerful; it is without peer. The Word of God creates (Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:9), controls (Psalm 147:15-18), persuades (Jeremiah 23:28-29), performs His purposes (Isaiah 55:10-11), and overrides human motives (Philippians 1:18).’[16]
The Scriptures consistently and comprehensively demonstrate that they claim divine authorship. ‘The Pentateuch (the first five books of the Old Testament) contains at least 680 claims to divine inspiration. Such claims are found 418 times in the historical books, 195 times in the poetic books, and 1307 times in the prophetic books. The New Testament contains more than 300 direct quotations and at least 1000 indirect references from the Old Testament, almost all of them declaring or implying that they were God’s own Word.’[17] The human author’s testimony is that they are recording the Word of God. ‘It is both remarkable and significant that, although most, if not all, of the human writers were aware they were recording Scripture and sometimes were overwhelmed by the truths God revealed to them, they exhibit a total lack of self-consciousness or apology, in the common sense of that word. Together, the biblical writers make some 4,000 claims to be writing God’s Word, yet they offer no defense for being employed by God in such an elevated function. Despite their realization of their own sinfulness and fallibility, they wrote with the utter confidence that they spoke for God and that His revelation itself is its own best and irrefutable defense.’[18]

IV. salvation for its end,
The Scriptures are consistent in their Message.
From the introduction to the conclusion God’s grace for His glory is the object of His Word. His grace is declared from Genesis to Revelation. The message of the Old Testament points to the salvation that God, by His grace, is preparing in Christ for His people. This message is fulfilled in the message of the good news found in the New Testament. Salvation is found in Christ and this is the Good News that the prophets prepared, the Lord fulfilled, the Apostles proclaimed, and the church expresses.

V. and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
The Scriptures are consistent in their Matter.

Definition of inerrancy:
It is not wrong in any area of history, science, geology, or faith.

‘To say that Scripture is truthful in everything it says is to say that it is “inerrant”; it (the Scripture) does not affirm anything that is contrary to fact.’[19] ‘Perhaps it has not been stated emphatically enough that nowhere in the Old Testament or in the New Testament does any writer give any hint of a tendency to distrust or consider slightly unreliable any other part of Scripture. Hundreds of texts encourage God’s people to trust Scripture completely, but no text encourages any doubt or even slight mistrust of Scripture. To rely on the “inerrancy” of every historical detail affirmed in Scripture is not to adopt a “twentieth-century view” of truth or error; it is to follow the teaching and practice of the biblical authors themselves. It is to adopt a biblical view of truth and error.’[20] Throughout the Bible the message is the same. It all points to the Glorious Majesty of the Work of Christ; Ephesians 1:3-12.

VI. Therefore, all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy.
The Scriptures are Compelling.

Definition of Infallible:
It cannot be wrong in any area of history, science, geology, or faith. ‘...Scripture will never lead us astray in what we are to believe or obey (“matters of faith and practice”).’[21]

Not only is the Word never in error (inerrant), the Word can never be in error. The Bible testifies to this in several ways.
1. God cannot lie or speak falsely (Titus 1:2; Hebrews 6:18; Numbers 23:19).
2. All the words in Scripture are completely true and without error in any part (Psalm 12:6; Proverbs 30:5).
3. God’s words are the ultimate standard of truth (John 17:17; John 14:6).[22]
4. God’s Word is alive and powerful, sustaining those who delight in it (Hebrews 4:12; Psalm 1:3).
VII. It reveals the principles by which God judges us, and therefore is, and will remain to the end of the world, the true center of Christian union, and the supreme standard by which all human conduct, creeds, and religious opinions should be tried.
The Scriptures are Correct.

This Book is Permanent.
As the one true Revelation of God, this book is the sole authority on God’s decrees, purpose, and desires. There is nothing that will ever be able to override its authority. That is not to say that we have no other authorities. Rather we have numerous authorities: parents (Exodus 20:12; Deuteronomy 5:16), governments (Romans 13:1-7; Titus 3:1), husbands (Ephesians 5:22-33), and employers. It is to say that none of these authorities, or any other, will ever have as much authority as the very Word of God recorded in the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.
As God’s Word the Scriptures are ‘the supreme judge by which all controversies of religion are to be determined, and all decrees of councils, doctrines of men, and private spirits, are to be examined, and in whose sentence we are to rest…’[23] As God’s revelation to men it gives us His purposes, requirements, and decrees. It is His Word (2 Timothy 3:16).

This Book Impacts the Church.
‘Many of the trends in the evangelical church today stem from a willful abandonment of the perspective reflected in Psalm 19. Because Christians have lost their commitment to the sufficiency of Scripture, they have embraced worldviews that are not truly biblical. That is why Christians are leaving the Word of God (the mind of Christ) in order to chase after all kinds of worldly ideas. Even though they claim to believe in the truthfulness of Scripture, they apparently do not believe the Word is sufficient to meet all their needs and those of the people they target. They demonstrate such a lack of faith because they have never really been noble like the Bereans, who daily searched the Scriptures (Acts 17:11). They have treated the Bible in a cursory way and have never enjoyed the power of its rich and profound truths. The church’s message must not be the Bible plus the world, but the message that the Bible alone is sufficient.
Too many people in evangelical churches and schools today simply assume that certain difficult problems they encounter are beyond the purview of Scripture. The real problem is that they are not really devoted to Scripture. They haven’t committed themselves to the daily reading and application of the Word of God. Thus they lack genuine discernment and biblical understanding. If they truly studied Scripture, they would know that it is the Christian’s one true source of spiritual strength and wisdom. It is the all-comprehensive resource God has given us for dealing with the issues of life. When Christians abandon that resource, it is no wonder that they struggle spiritually.’[24]

Testimonies for Authority:
† Jesus’ use of the Scriptures demonstrates their authority over all discussions: Matthew 15:1-9; Matthew 22:31; Luke 24:27.
† Luke, in Acts, demonstrates the Scripture’s authority over all discussions: 1:16ff (Peter and the disciples); 2:16ff, 3:18ff, 6:4 (Peter); 7 (Stephen); 8:35 (Phillip); 9:22 (Saul); 10:43 (Peter to Cornelius). In these passages the Scriptures are used as proof texts. It is obvious that a response is expected simply because of their authority.

One of the most telling problems in our churches today is not necessarily a lack of acknowledging the Scripture’s authority. The most telling problem is the lack of recognizing the Word’s sufficiency.
VIII. All Scripture is a testimony to Christ, who is Himself the focus of divine revelation.
The Scriptures are Christian.
From the beginning to the end the Scriptures point to the message and work of God in the man Jesus Christ. Everything in the Bible finds its accomplishment in Christ. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities- all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross (Colossians 1:15).
It is worth recognizing that the Old Testament looks forward to Christ in many ways. Notice the following prophecies of the coming Christ:
§ Seed of Woman; Genesis 3:15
§ Seed of Abraham; Genesis 12:1-3
§ Tribe of Judah; Genesis 49:10
§ House of David; 2 Samuel 7:14; Jeremiah 23:5; Psalm 132:11
§ Born of a Virgin; Isaiah 7:14
§ Born in Bethlehem; Micah 5:2
§ Prophet; Deuteronomy 18:18
§ Priest; Psalm 110
§ King; 2 Samuel 7:14, Psalm 2, Isaiah 9:6, Zechariah 9:9,
§ Suffering Servant; Psalm 22, Isaiah 53
§ Son of Man; Daniel 7:13-14

The prophecies mentioned above are directly fulfilled in the life and ministry of Christ. Whereas the Old Testament looked toward Christ, New Testament shows forth Christ:
§ Seed of Woman: Galatians 4:4; Luke 2:7
§ Seed of Abraham: Matthew 1:1; Luke 3:34; Galatians 3:16
§ Tribe of Judah: Luke 3:23, 33; Matthew 1:2; Hebrews 7:14
§ House of David: Luke 3:23, 31; Matthew 1:1, 9:27, 15:22, 20:30, 31, 21:9, 15, 22:41-46; Mark: 9:10, 10:47, 48; Luke 18:38, 39; Acts 13:22, 23; Revelation 22:16
§ Born of a Virgin: Matthew 1:18, 4, 25; Luke 1:26-35
§ Born in Bethlehem: Matthew 2:1, 4-8; John 7:42; Luke 2:4-7
§ Prophet: Matthew 21:11; Luke 7:16; John 4:19, 6:14, 7:40 (cf. Luke 9:35; Matthew 17:5; Mark 9:7)
§ Priest: Hebrews 3:1, 5:5-6
§ King: Matthew 27:37, 21:5; John 18:33-38
§ Suffering Servant: Matthew 27:12, 26, 31, 38; Luke 23:33; John 20:25;
§ Son of Man: Matthew 8:20; Acts 7:56; Revelation 1:13

Conclusion:
One of the most important things to remember, as we bring this chapter to a conclusion and prepare to look at the remainder of the 2000 Baptist Faith & Message, is that we do so with the understanding that all of the knowledge we have concerning the rest of this study is based wholly on the revelation of God in His Holy Word. This present chapter has served as the foundation for the rest of 2000 BF&M.
In their Contemporary Restatement of the Historic Baptist View of Scripture, L. Russ Bush and Tom Nettles make a very concise closing statement. They say that “the Bible is the ultimate arbiter of theological controversies. Scripture is the unique and only authoritative source of religious doctrines. The biblical worldview is to be accepted as the correct framework for evaluating and directing the philosophical enterprise, for interpreting history, for understanding the natural universe, and for establishing a valid decision-making process regarding ethical issues. Human reason and human opinion must submit to biblical authority because Scripture, all Scripture, and Scripture only mediates the divine mind to modern man. The word and the message of Scripture is the word and message of God. The Bible is the only basis for Christian unity in this age, and it will not be superceded until Christ Jesus returns personally in glory to consummate the kingdom of God.”[25]
[1] The Baptist Faith and Message, page 7
[2] John Bright, The Kingdom of God, page 7-8.
[3] J.M. Pendleton, Baptist Church Manual, page 41.
[4] Dr. W. Robert Godfrey, Sola Scriptura, page 3.
[5] Robert Stein, A Basic Guide to Interpreting the Bible; Playing by the Rules (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1994) page 63.
[6] Paul D. Wegner, The Journey from Texts to Translations; The Origin and Development of the Bible (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Books, 1999) page 101.
[7] Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology; An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994) page 54. I depended on this chapter of Grudem’s book very heavily for this section.
[8] Ibid, 57, Italics mine.
[9] Robert Reymond, A New Systematic Theology of the Christian Faith, page 10-11.
[10] William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark, page 7.
[11] Robert Stein, Lecture on the Canon of Scripture.
[12] John MacArthur, Charismatic Chaos, page59-60.
[13] J.L. Dagg, Manual of Theology, pages 22-23.
[14] J.L. Dagg, Manual of Theology, page 21.
[15] Stephen Morse’s comments on Colossians 1:26
[16] Bryan Chapell, Christ-centered Preaching, page 18-19.
[17] John MacArthur, II Timothy, 146.
[18] John MacArthur, II Timothy, 147.
[19] Grudem, Scripture and Truth, page 58.
[20] Wayne Grudem, Scripture and Truth, page 58-59.
[21] Wayne Grudem, Scripture and Truth, page 58.
[22] Grudem, Systematic Theology, page 83.
[23] Second London Confession, Chapter I section 10.
[24] John MacArthur, Think Biblically; Recovering a Biblical Worldview (Wheaton Illinois: Crossway Books, 2003) page 34.
[25] L. Russ Bush & Tom Nettles, Baptists and the Bible; Revised and Expanded (Nashville, Tennessee: Broadman & Holman: 1999) page 395-396.]

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Extended Memorization of Scripture

[When I read John Piper's book: When I Don't Desire God I was really challenged by a memorization process that he explained. So far I have memorized almost 7 chapters of Romans by following the simple process. If you are interested read the entire structure at First Baptist Durham's website. ]



[When you open that page click on the 'Writings' button on the left sidebar and then choose An Approach to the Extended Memorization of Scripture. When you do this for a week I promise you will be hooked! Thank You Dr. Davis Soli Deo Gloria! ]

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Puritans and the Modern Devotional Literature

This paper is an examination of the devotional aspect of Puritan writings in contrast to the devotional literature being published in the church today.


First I will discuss how devotional life today has been compartmentalized into it’s own little task in Christianity. Secondly, I will try and compare the focus on Scripture, man and sin, and the role of Christ and the Gospel. I will discuss how each one deals with the topic, and try and persuade that the Puritans are much more helpful to the Christian’s devotional life than the modern devotionals that are so prevalent in the modern church.

The modern day devotional literature that I will be speaking to is not necessarily all modern devotional literature. I am specifically talking about those little books that are so often used as gifts for graduation, and are so popular in most Christian bookstores today. There are literally hundreds of them to be found, with titles like Grace for the Moment, Friends are Friends Forever, Streams in the Desert, and God’s Little Devotional Book for Couples or parents, students, grandparents, etc. These books are often organized into daily readings that are made up of a little story, or in some cases a bible verse, although stories are more frequent, and some moral or ethical practice to focus on for the day.

The question might be asked, do people actually read those things? The answer, at least from my experience is, yes. Growing up in church, I knew people who loved these books. The Prayer of Jabez , written by Bruce Wilkinson is immensely popular today, and can be found in any Christian bookstore. Also, I work at a hotel, and see many traveling churchgoers with their little devotionals in their luggage. The question is, are these books as beneficial as they are popular? I think the Puritans would have quite a bit to say on this subject.

Before I can talk about what each is focused on in their writings, I have to discuss a few general things about the two types of literature. One major problem with the modern day devotionals is that they seem to be segregated into a separate category in Christian living. We have a devotional literature section in the bookstore. Anyone reading this paper automatically recognizes exactly what books I’m speaking of in my comparison. Also you almost certainly have been given several of these books, and probably have them on some bookshelf, or in a box in the attic somewhere.

In the church today, there is this idea that we have a devotional life separate from the rest of our life, and that’s what these little books are for. They help us focus in our quiet time. One can read devotional books, or one can read theological books, and so on and so on. Many think that they do not need to understand the doctrines of the bible, as long as they have their quiet time for five or ten minutes every day.

The Puritans do not write like this at all. They do not compartmentalize their devotional life away from their regular life, or their doctrinal life. Their entire life was devoted to Christ and His glory in their salvation. It seeps through all of their writings, and their preaching. All doctrines can and should be applied to daily living.

Now we must ask what these two types of literature are focused on ultimately. Here I will especially examine three areas that are crucial to our devotion to God. The first area is scripture. As Christians, Scripture is our ultimate authority, since it is the very Word of God, so it should be the major push behind our devotion. The second area is man. Where does man and his activity belong in this literature? Also, how is the sinfulness of man approached in this literature? The third and final area is Christ, and the gospel message. Naturally this should be at the center of the devotional life, because it is the most important thing to a Christian. With out it, we are simply being foolish (1 Cor. 15)

First, let us look at Scripture. In our modern day devotionals, scripture is not absent. No, it is often there, as one lone verse on a page attempting to make a statement. Scripture can also be used as the starting point of the daily devotional. A scripture is quoted, and then a moral is found in the scripture and that moral is made into a focus for the reader to try and do that day. For example, in God’s Little Devotional Book for Students , the devotional is begun by quoting a verse, and that verse is followed by an inspirational story of overcoming adversity. Sometimes, the verse introduces a bible story, about a character who did the right thing. The point is that there is no explanation of the verse. The context, meaning, and application of the verse are ignored. This is often the case but not always.

In another devotional, Bible Promises to Treasure for Graduates , (which also is available for parents, children, and others) there are simply verses that have been placed under topical headings. If one wanted to read about verses on happiness, there is a section that has many verses listed about being happy. Unfortunately, if some inquisitive soul went to examine the context of these verses, they will often find verses being used in a way not meant by the original author.

A third example is the immensely popular The Prayer of Jabez, in which there can be found the “key to a life of extraordinary favor with God.” Here, one verse found in 1 Chronicles is literally turned into a mantra to be repeated that will give you abundant glories in this life. Besides the fact that no one in all of church history ever caught onto this neat little trick, and that most definitely includes the Puritans, it rips this verse out of the context of scripture, which nowhere says the Christian’s life on earth will be easy (Look at Job, or I Peter 4:12). These are just three examples of the most popular ways of using scripture in these modern day devotionals. However, it seems that these methods are used more for inspiring, or making one feel good than actually teaching one true and biblical living.

So where are the Puritans when it comes to Scripture? How do they view the importance of Scripture in devotional life? John MacArthur writes in the introduction to Thomas Watson’s The Mischief of Sin, that “reading it reminded me once again how seriously the Puritans dealt with Scripture…and how wonderfully they could convey heavenly truth through the medium earthly language.” The Puritans doctrine was derived solely from Scripture, and all their teachings were based upon it. It was not something simply to encourage their souls, rather it was the only means by which their souls could have knowledge of God, and they treated it thus. J.I. Packer says this of the Puritan’s attitude toward the Bible: “his deepest conviction was that reverence for God means reverence for Scripture, and serving God means obeying Scripture. To his mind, therefore, no greater insult could be offered to the Creator than to neglect His written word.”

For example, the treatises written by Puritans are fraught with references to Scripture. Every assertion made by a Puritan was backed by Scripture, and founded in it. Oftentimes, a puritan would preach several sermons on one scripture, finding so much of value in it. Richard Sibbes, The Bruised Reed and Smoking Flax, is one such set of sermons all written on Matthew 12:20. There is also Thomas Shepherd’s “Parable of the Ten Virgins” written on Matthew 25.

When beginning this paper I chose this topic because the writings of the Puritans are so devotional. This is due mainly to their emphasis on Scripture and their emphasis on applying Scripture. Whereas many of the modern literature has a topic they want to put forward as the devotion for the day and they find Scriptures to support it, the Puritans take Scripture and try and explain it, and find the topic from the Scripture. This greatly adds to the power and depth of the Puritans.

I got many of the modern devotional books from friends who had them just sitting on their bookshelves and there was one word that I heard just about every time I asked for them. That word was “shallow.” “Oh, you mean those shallow devotionals.” My favorite was “Oh you’re talking about the Daily Crouton.,” rather than the daily bread. Shallow is a good description of these books. They merely skim the surface of Christian life, touching on the simplest topics, and never touching the sensitive areas where the Christian struggles. They do not take the time to deal with heavy issues because the Christian today does not have time to spend in the serious and deep aspects. The worst title I have read of one of these books is Five Meaningful Minutes a Day . Five minutes, that is all the time we have to give to God! How horrible, and almost damning is that! Can a Christian really only give five minutes to God, and still call God Lord of his life?

Besides having much more emphasis on Scripture in their teaching, it was also an essential part of their devotional life. It was, in fact, the core of their devotional life. I’ll finish this section on Scripture with a quote from a Puritan prayer, “O God of Truth, I thank thee for the Holy Scriptures, their precepts, promises, directions, light. In them I may learn more of Christ, be enabled to retain his truth and have grace to follow it.” And again: “keep me feeding in the pastures of thy strengthening word, searching Scripture to find thee there.”

There was a much deeper focus for them in their devotional life to Scripture than can be found in these modern day devotionals. In fact, when comparing the two, it seems as though modern day devotionals ignore the critical importance of scripture in favor of inspiring stories.

The second area of focus that I will examine is what man has to do with devotion. Here I will especially speak of the sinfulness of man. What does our sin have to do with the devotional life? Is it something we should be really concerned about? First I will let the Puritans have their say, because here they cannot be kept quiet.

To begin, when the Puritans spoke of man, they spoke of his inadequacies before a Holy God. “The heart of man is the greatest imposter and cheat in the world.” So says Matthew Mead, in The Almost Christian Discovered, a treatise on how close a man can come to being a Christian, and yet not truly be righteous in Christ. The Puritans were very concerned that Christians examine their lives, searching for the fruit of their salvation. If a Christian did not see that fruit, he would have very good biblical reason to doubt that he was believing in Christ. Mead argues that many who are saved go to heaven through many doubts of their salvation, while many go to hell certain, presumptuously, that they will get into heaven. But why should the Puritans say these kinds of things, for Mead is certainly not the only one who speaks like this. Richard Baxter chimes in with “Sin cuts the very sinews of this heavenly life. O Man! What a life do you lose? What daily delights do you sell for a vile lust?” Also Baxter says, “Continuing in any known sin is a grand impediment to a heavenly lifestyle.” Why do they say so much on sin?

The answer lies in my summation of Mead’s treatise. There are many who simply imagine that because they call themselves Christian and do many “Christian” things, they are Christians. However, if one has not given over every part of their life that they are aware of to Christ, and submitted it all to Him as Lord, they are not assured salvation. “Whoever says I know him, but does not keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him.” John 2:4.

One of the major Puritan concerns was that a Christian be sincere in living out their Christianity, and not be relying on a past conversion experience. G.A. Hemming states it this way in an article written for The Puritan Papers: “the puritans seldom concerned themselves with the moment, real or imagined, of a man’s turning to God; they were much more concerned with a man’s present state.” The Puritans were concerned about the souls of their congregations, and would rather a Christian be plagued with doubts of his salvation in this temporal life, and have eternal glory than live this life with a false assurance, never questioning their salvation, and go to hell because they did not devote their life to Christ.
A final example of this examination of sin can be found in the person of John Bunyan, the famous puritan author of Pilgrim’s Progress. In a former work of his, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Bunyan tells the spiritual autobiography of his long and hard struggle with sin. After initially recognizing that Christ was Savior, and all Bunyan must do is trust in him, John Bunyan spent many years in anguish because of the sinfulness of his life. Here was a man who knew more scripture than many seminary students today do, and who was preaching regularly. This man feared that he was too sinful for Christ to save! He writes after already spending a great deal of time proving his conviction of sin, and his only salvation is Christ, “now I’m further from conversion than ever before.”

John Bunyan realized just how serious sin was, and he believed he had committed too great a sin to be saved. To these men, sin was incredibly important because it had a real potential to separate men from salvation. John Owen wrote an entire treatise on how a believer may mortify, or kill, sin in their own lives. The Puritans realized that “the choicest believers, who are assuredly freed from the condemning power of sin, ought yet to make it their business all their days to mortify the indwelling power of sin.”

Now what about man, and sin in the Modern Day devotionals? Do they agree with the Puritans that one of the most important responsibilities of the believer is to constantly mortify sin? Well, this section will be fairly short because they just do not seem to talk about it too much.

A great example of this, or not so great depending on how you look at it, is Max Lucado’s little book Grace for the Moment. It’s a great title, which makes me imagine the believer’s recognition every moment of God’s wonderful grace in saving us from damnation because of our sin. However, in reading the introduction and first few pages of this book, I never saw the word sin, and never got the idea that God has saved us from former trespasses (Eph. 2:5). Instead I saw a focus on man’s actions, emotions, and life. God’s role in this is to help the Christians along like a father giving his children help. Lucado says in his introduction that “Because of Calvary, I’m free to choose. And so I choose.” But what is he free to choose? He’s free to choose a nice, peaceful, serene life. There is no mention of Christ’s death allowing us victory over sin.

Quite simply, the focus is on man’s actions, and abilities rather than on God. God helps man to live a better life, to be happy, and content. This is true, but without a little bit more explanation, it can be very deceiving. If this is not explained on the foundation of Christ’s saving work on the cross, it can be misleading. A Christian’s life is not always easy, and serene. It can be very tumultuous. However, we have a peace because we know that we cannot be condemned for our sins because Christ has died for them, and we are justified before God. To be fair, Max Lucado does mention sin. In fact, he even talks about hell, and the fact that some people are going there. However, it is so brief, and shallow it has almost no effect. There are simply some things that are key to devotional life that must be dealt with in the deep end of the pool, not in the kiddy pool.
Max Lucado’s book is not alone in the kiddy pool however. It is kept company by many others. The reason for this problem goes back to the compartmentalization of devotional literature. The goal of this literature is to encourage one in their spiritual life, using daily readings. The goal does not seem to be to teach and grow the Christian in his knowledge of God and Scriptural doctrines. This genre has simply neglected that there comes a time in our devotion to God, where we have to go much deeper than five minutes a day. We need to examine our lives, and see if we are under the control of any particular sins. Perhaps what the Christian should do is read a “deeper” book on sin, but read it devotionally. That is the wonderful thing about the Puritans.

The final area that will be dealt with is Christ and the Gospel. Obviously this is the most important thing to a Christian. Without the message of the Gospel that Jesus Christ has come to earth to die for the sins of His children, there is no Christianity. So is this most central doctrine treated as such by the two literary groups? Well, one of the hard things about this subject is depth, again. That is one of the major downfalls of the modern day devotionals. The devotionals of today just skim the surface of Christian doctrine, and that includes the Gospel message. There simply is not enough space in a short daily devotional designed to be finished in under fifteen minutes to plumb the depths of the Gospel and it’s effects on and relationship to our devotional life.

Our entire life should be founded upon the fact that we are saved by Christ, and Christ alone. We do everything we do as a Christian because of this fact. Do modern day devotionals at least reflect this? I do not think so. As we have already seen from a few of the examples in this paper, there is more emphasis on feeling good about your life. As is seen in Max Lucado’s book, he does recognize that it is because of Calvary that we are able to do this, but he does not explain the extent to which this should be applied in Christian living. Rather, he emphasizes how a person should act so they can feel good, and be content.

Although there seem to be many of these books that miss the central point of the Christian faith and revert to popular psychology to counsel the soul, that is not always the case. Some of these books do recognize that Christ is central to the Christian faith. For example, Streams in the Deserts asserts that you should “make him the source, the center, and the One who encompasses every delight of your soul.” We definitely should do this. Two questions that should be asked, and pondered upon in our devotional life are “how do we do this this?”, and “why should we?”

We should ask the why question first, and the modern day devotionals simply do not have the time to answer this. This literature has to assume quite a bit that it is probably better not to assume, like that the average Church-goer will take the time to familiarize themselves with the doctrines of salvation. Secondly, we should ask the how question. How should we apply this to our lives? Should we just simply focus on thanking God for everything he has done in our lives? While we should definitely do this, we should do even more. We should take this message out to the rest of the world (Matt. 28:18-20), and we should live a life that reflects our sanctification. We should be bearing the fruit of a Christian. We can simply go deeper and deeper into this, and begin to leave the devotional literature behind.

So now we need to see if the Puritans are able to keep up. I think they are definitely more helpful to us here. Not that some of the modern devotionals and Christian living books are not helpful, but they are not nearly as helpful as the Puritans. Why use a screwdriver when you can use a power drill? Or better yet, why eat a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when you can eat a seven course feast? The Puritans just go deeper, and also do a great job of helping us to realize how we should apply this in our lives.

My example in this section is found from Thomas Watson’s Body of Divinity. Watson explains the work of Christ through the covenantal scheme of Scripture. In other words, Watson, and the rest of the Puritans, view Scripture as laying out several different covenants of God. The first is the covenant of works, which was made with Adam, and Adam subsequently broke. This made all descendants of Adam culpable because of Adam’s guilt. We are condemned because of our inability to live up to this covenant. However, God has made a second covenant, a covenant of grace, where God has said he will be our God and we shall be his people. He does this through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Because Christ’s righteousness is imputed to us, we are made as righteous before God.

Watson explains Christ as the mediator of this covenant. He is “one that makes up the breach between two disagreeing parties.” Watson goes on to examine Christ’s prophetic, priestly, and kingly offices. As well, he deals with Christ’s humiliation in His incarnation, exaltation and his position as redeemer. There are two major benefits of Watson’s writings compared to modern devotionals. The first is in knowledge. Watson explains so much more. He understood that part of our devotion to Christ is simply knowing Christ, or having a good understanding of the doctrines of Christ. There is such helpfulness in just being familiar with Scripture, and the Christian doctrines. Many in our Church cringe at the word doctrine, because they have not been taught the importance of knowing Scripture. Watson, and the rest of the Puritans emphasize knowledge of God and His word in helping us in our lives.

Secondly, Watson has great application that stem from this knowledge. After each section, Watson has several “uses” for this knowledge. He explains what ways we can use this knowledge, applying it to our daily lives. These uses can range from information to comfort to exhortation. These are the nitty gritty practical reasons we should spend time studying these doctrines. Much of this is simply meditating on how these doctrines effect our lives, comforting or convicting us. Also, this includes how understanding these doctrines should inspire a Christian to live differently.

There is a lot more that can be said about what the Puritans believed about devotional life. I chose to use these three major areas because I thought they corresponded to three very important aspects of the devotional life. Scripture is so important because it is the only revelation we have from God today that is sufficient for salvation. Scripture should be our ultimate guide in devotions. It should be our source and fountain. We should also have a good idea of where man stands in the scheme of salvation. We should understand the reality of sin, and it’s affect on our lives. Finally we need to recognize the centrality of the Gospel in our devotional lives.

Basically, my point in this paper is that in at least these three areas, the Puritans are muc