Imperishable Inheritance

I have decided to write down where my studies of theology have led me other the last 2 years (1.5 as a believer). This is more for me to look back on and proclaim, "why did I believe that?" Even though this list is broken up in a systematic form, it certainly doesn't exclude conclusion made by historical, practical, and biblical theology (the latter being the one that has influenced me the most recently). I still have seminary to go! There is still so much to learn.

I know no one is going to read this so I have refrained from explaining all the terms; but if you have a question about what one means just ask in the comments.

God (Theology/Christology/Pneumatology)

God is triune expressed in three persons sharing the same essence: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God is omniscent, omnipresent, omnipotent, and transcendant yet personal.

Jesus Christ is the incarnate, pre-existent second person of the Trinity. He lived for 33.5 years fulfilling the righteousness required by God's Law for sinners. He possesed the characteristic of the Hypostatic Union where He had both a divine and human nature that were "conjoined but not confused." He was arrested, tried, and crucified only to resurrect three days later. He now sits at the right hand of the Father interceding and awaiting the final judgement.

The Holy Spirit is the regenerative agent to God's elect, and He preserves them until glorification. He also inspired the Biblical writers.

Salvation (Soteriology)

Predestination is unconditional, individual, and supralapsarian. This also includes the decree concerning the actions and outcome of the created order. The sinner is brought near to God through justification by faith alone, by grace alone, in Christ alone. Justification includes imputation which is the transfer of the righteousness of Christ to the sinner. The believer will perservere the end through the Holy Spirit. The atonement of Christ was definite and substitutionary for those the Father gave to Him (the elect). The work of prevenient grace is particular and not universal.

Covenants (Israel and the Church)

The Church is the "true Israel." Gentiles are heirs to the Abrahamic Covenant which was brought by Christ. The land promised to Abraham was fufilled in essence, during the reign of Solomon. The true "eternal blessing" promised to Abraham was the eternal state to which the Old Covenant and New Covenant believers will partake. The Holy Spirit worked as a regenerative agent in the Old Covenant but didn't indwell until the New Covenant.

The dichotomy of law/gospel are completely antithetical as espoused by the Apostle Paul. The Mosaic Law was abolished with the advent of Christ. New Covenant believers are bound by the commands on the New Covenant gospels and epistles. The Mosaic Law only pointed toward Christ, and was not meant to serve as (a) a means of salvation and (b) unchanging Law bound on believers of both covenants. I believe that dispensationlists have to much differentiation between the covenants, and the classical covenant theologians have too little. My position is labeled by the popular title New Covenant Theology.

Church (Ecclessiology)

The word ecclesia is used in two senses: the body that Christ died for containing all the believers of both the new/old covenants, and the local, visible congregations. The local congregations should follow the regulative principle (that worship is limited to NT commands), a plurality of elders model, should administer baptism, the Lord's Supper, and church discipline. Baptism is only to given to those who have an outward profession of faith, in the name of "the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit," and by complete immersion. I would describe myself as a "moderate cessationist" regarding the gifts. Gifts such as healing, prophetic utterances, and future-oriented prophecy are gone, but I have a hard time justify the complete cessation of gifts based solely on the Biblical account. However, historical theology definetly leans towards a cessationist view.

Bibliology/Hermeneutics (Bible/Intepretation)

The Christian scriptures serve as the total means of faith and authority. I favor the Critical Text formulated by Westcott and Hort in the 19th century. I have high doubts on the validity of the Textus Receptus (behind the KJV/NKJV). I believe the the "analogy of faith" is the best means to intepret Scripture. That is, scripture inteprets scripture, and it is best to intepret the Old Testament through the New. Also, intepretation varies from literal to figurative based on the surrounding context.

Man (Anthropology)

Man is born totally depraved from the historic fall and Adam as our federal representative. Man consists of two parts: body and soul. Man's freedom is compatible with God's meticolous sovereignty (not in a libertarian sense).

Last Things (Eschatology)

I am persuaded by an Amillenial eschatology, but I'm still working this one out. The New Covenant believers are under the now/not yet inaugurated eschatology. I still have to settle many issues in this area.

Apologetics

Who cares? Just share the gospel! Seriously, I am persuaded by a presuppositional apologetic, but I always dialogue in the classical method. Basically, I think all five have good points (evidential really is the most Biblical), but reformed epistemology has many weaknesses (besides the sensus divinitatus).