A FOUNDATION FOR FAITH - Virtual Theological …

1 1A FOUNDATION for FAITH A n Introductory study of Systematic Theology With References ToThe Baptist Confession of FAITH of 1689byStanford E. Murrell, For other FOUNDATION can no man lay thanthat is laid, which is Jesus 1 Corinthians 3:112A FOUNDATION FOR FAITHT able of ContentsPreface to the study of Systematic TheologyPart ITheology Proper: The study of GodIntroductionA Confession of FaithDefinition of TheologyTheology is UniversalChapter 1 The Method of TheologyThe Speculative MethodThe Mysticism MethodThe Inductive MethodChapter 2 The Source of TheologyFive Kinds of TheologyNatural TheologyRevealed (Biblical) TheologyDogmatic TheologyPractical TheologyTheology ProperChapter 3 Can God Be Known?The Biblical DeclarationThe Argument of the Agnostics A Response to AgnosticismThe Distinction between Apprehension and ComprehensionCan God Be Defined?Chapter 4 Arguments for the Existence of GodThe Ontological ArgumentEvaluation of the Ontological ArgumentThe Cosmological ArgumentResistance to ReasonA Reasonable ResponseThe Teleological ArgumentObjection to the Teleological ArgumentThe Moral ArgumentThe Historical Argument3 Chapter 5 Anti-Theistic Theories Atheism Polytheism Materialism Objections To Materialism Pantheism The Pain Of Pantheism The Promises Of GodChapter 6 Anti-Christian Theories Deism History of Deism Objections to Deism Rationalism A Challenge to Rationalism Pessimism The Doctrine of A Finite God Your God Is Too SmallChapter 7 The Nature Of God The Oneness of God The Personality of GodGod CreatesGod EliminatesGod Furnishes what is Needed to Sustain LifeGod ExaltsGod LovesGod Is ConcernedGod Answers PrayersGod HatesGod Repents Objections to the Personality of God Knowing What Is Known The Substance of God The Attributes of

2 GodOmnipresenceInfinitudeEternalityImmut abilitySovereigntyTranscendenceImmanence A Trinity of Persons Proof of the Trinity4 Denial of The TrinityArianismSem-ArianismSabellianismU nitarianism Defenders Of The FaithJustine MartyrIranaeusClement Of AlexandriaTertullianHyppolytusOrigen The Tri-Unity The Relation between Father, Son, And Holy Spirit The Value of the Doctrine of the Trinity The Holy Spirit The Spirit Is A PersonChapter 8 The Decrees Of God A Confession of FAITH : God Has A Purpose A Distinction In The Divine Decree The Decree of GodGod Has Decreed the General Course Of HistoryGod Has Decreed Particular EventsGod Has Decreed the Salvation Of SinnersGod Has Decreed the Evil That Men DoGod Has Decreed All Accidental EventsGod Has Decreed the Means As Well As the End of All Things The Order of The DecreesSupralapsarianInfralapsarian God's Decree Makes Foreknowledge Possible The Decree In Reference To Free Agency Additional ArgumentsChapter 9 The Works Of God A Confession of FAITH Creation Three Possible Explanations of Creation Creation and Evolution The Sad State of the Theistic Evolutionist Remarks On Evolution In General Providence Is Creation Continual?

3 5 The Extent Of Divine ProvidenceGod Governs the Physical UniverseGod Governs the Animal CreationGod Governs the Events of Human HistoryGod Governs the Lives of IndividualsGod Governs the Smallest Details of LifeGod Governs the Fortuitous EventsGod Governs the Free Actions of MenGod Governs the Sinful Actions of Men God Is Not the Author of Sin Why Sin is Allowed in the Saints The Purpose of Sin in the Unsaved Definition of A Miracle Classification of Miracles Are Miracles Probable Or Improbable? A World Without Miracles Miracles Are Instructive When and Where Do Miracles Occur? Objections By Rationalism And Modernism The Silence of the Skeptics Special Arguments for MiraclesPart IIBibliology: The study of the BibleChapter 10 The Scriptures A Confession of FAITH Definition of Bibliology The Books of the Bible A Revelation from God The Bible: A Book That Can Be Believed Great Belief Is Not Bibliolatry A Day of Divine Discovery The Harmony of the Bible The Bible Reveals One Story The Essential Unity in the Scriptural Narrative The Centrality of Christ Liberal Theology and The Lord of Glory Responding to the RationalistsChapter 11 Our God Breathed Book: The Bible The Inspiration of Scriptures Negative Theories of Divine Inspiration Plenary And Verbal Inspiration6 Inspiration and Inerrancy The Autographs What Do the Scriptures Say as to their Own Inerrancy?

4 Old Testament Claims to Divine Inspiration The New Testament Affirms the Inspiration of the Old Testament The Inspiration of the New Testament Proof Of Inspiration from General Consideration The Testimony of Jesus Christ Christ s Appeal to the Scriptures Inspiration and the Prophets What About the Various Readings? The Dead Sea Scrolls The Septuagint The Authority of the Scriptures The Perspicuity (Clearness) Of Scriptures Is Formal Education Necessary to Understand The Bible? The Church Fathers Were The Apostles Deceived?Part IIIA nthropology: The study Of ManChapter 12 The Origin Of Man A Confession of FAITH A Definition of Anthropology The Soul is not a Divine Emanation The Soul is not a Form of God The Soul is not the Product of Spontaneous Generation The Soul Cannot Accounted For By Evolution What is the Soul? Rational Objections to Evolution The Great Gaps The Insufficiency of Time The Sterility of Birds The Remains of Men The Discrepancies between Kingdoms The Law of Entropy The Lack of Visual Evidence The Logical Impossibility of the Evolutionary Process A Theory of Recapitulation The Recapitulation Theory Does Not Matter The Harm of Change The Fossils Say No!

5 Questions Raised By the Theory Of Evolution7 Chapter 13 The Origin Of The Soul How Does the Soul Come Into Existence? Traducianism Arguments from Scripture for Traducianism The Case for Creationism The Critics of Creationism Summary EvaluationChapter 14 The Nature Of Man Dichotomy: A Division between Soul and Body Scriptural Evidence of Dichotomy The Trichotomy Theory: Body, Soul, And Spirit Arguments Against the Trichotomous Theory Three Main Theories as to Free Agency Fatalism Self-determination Free Agency The Relation of Free Will to RegenerationChapter 15 The Original State Of Man From the Hand of God The Soul Was Created in the Image Of God How Did God Create Man? A Selected View of Man s Original StateThe Pelagian Doctrine of Man's Original State Chapter 16 The Covenant Of Works What Is A Covenant? The Doctrine Defined The Scriptural Evidence For A Covenant of Works A Representative for Posterity ProbationChapter 17 The Fall Of Man Was There A Fall?

6 Two Difficulties Observations The Effects of the Fall Degeneracy And Death A Federal Representative Imputation of Sin The Federal and Natural Headship of Adam The Theory of Direct Divine Efficiency Objections to A Federal Representation The Theory of Physical Depravity Objections to the Idea of Physical Depravity8 Chapter 18 The Relation Of Adam's Sin To Posterity The Fact of Sin is Proved by the Bible The Fact of Sin is Proved by Consciousness The Fact of Sin is Proved by Casual Observation The Fact of Sin is Proved by the Need For Laws The Fact of Sin is Proved in Literature Definitions of Sin A Biblical Definition of Sin What Sin Is Not Original Sin The Scriptures and Original Sin The Universality of Sin Personal Experience with Sin The Nature and Effect of Original Sin The Consequences and Characterization of Sin Total Depravity The Pelagian View of Sin The Semi-Pelagian View of Sin The Arminian Doctrine of Sin Remarks On Arminianism Arminianism and The Nature of Original Sin Synergism and SalvationChapter 19 Total Inability A Confession of FAITH Various Views of Inability The Pelagian View The Semi-Pelagian View The Augustinian / Reformed View What Inability Is Not The Meaning of the Doctrine of Inability Scriptural Evidence of Inability What Can Man Do In The Process Of Salvation?

7 Objections Answered Against the Doctrine of Innate InabilityPart IVSoteriology: The study of SalvationChapter 20 Salvation and The Sovereign Definition Six Presuppositions of Soteriology The Fall of Man The Order of the Decrees The Infralapsarian ViewThe Supralapsarian View9 Election Precedes Salvation The Covenant of Redemption Evidence that Such A Covenant Was Made The Covenant of Grace The Doctrine of Election The Extent of the Elective Decree Various Views of the Nature and Ground of Election Conditional ElectionElection is Personal Election is to FAITH and Good Works Limiting Election The Doctrine of a Definite Redemption Is Election Based upon Foreseen FAITH and Works? Election and the Weak But Who Will Come? Free Will Is Not Sufficient To Save Redemption: Accomplished And Applied Human Responsibility for Sin The Results of Election The Difficulties of Election Answers to Arguments against Election The Signs of Election Election is of God Election Does Not Rest In Man Election Demands a Sovereign Savior The Hope That Is Found In Election The Great Mystery of Election The Transcending Thoughts of God The Purpose of Election If Men Are Not Saved The Ground of Election Election and Reprobation Summary of the Doctrine of Election A Confession of FAITH .

8 The Doctrine of Predestination Scriptural Evidence for PredestinationChapter 21 The Historical Background Of Redemption The Desire of the Ages The Typology of Rite and Rituals Preparation through Prophecy10 Chapter 22 Then Came the Redeemer A Confession of FAITH The Incarnation The Pre-existence of Christ and His Incarnation Simply Set Forth The Days of Humiliation The Virgin Birth Rejection of the Virgin Birth Proof of the Virgin Birth The Person of Christ The Deity of Christ Jesus Claimed to be Divine The Apostles Taught That Jesus Was Divine The Confession of Others Concerning Christ s Deity The Sacred Titles of God Applied to Christ Prove His DivinityThe Works of Christ Prove His Deity The Personal Influence of Christ in the World Asserts His Deity The Authority that has Been Entrusted to Christ Proves His Deity Personal Proof of the Deity of Christ The Humanity of Christ The Personality of Christ The Distinction of Two Natures The Hypo-static Union: The Union of the Two Natures in One Person Summary Thoughts Christ s Sinlessness (Impeccability) Errors As to the Person of Christ Denial of His Humanity Denial of His DivinityThe Arians The Apollinarians The Nestorians The Eutychians The Doctrine Of KenosisThe SociniansThe Jehovah Witnesses A Confession of FAITH : The Mediatorial Offices Of ChristThe Mediatorial Office of Christ: Prophet The Mediatorial Office of Christ: Priest The Mediatorial Office of Christ.

9 KingChapter 23 The Atonement The Importance of the Doctrine Terms DefinedAtonementGuiltExpiationPropitiati on11 VicariousReconciliationImputation The Two-fold Work of the Atonement The Atonement Expresses both Divine Justice and Love The Atonement and the Trinity The Main Features of the Atonement The Atonement was Sacrificial The Atonement was Expiatory The Atonement was Efficacious The Atonement was Vicarious Old Testament Scriptures New Testament Scriptures The Atonement and the Law Arminianism and the Atonement Summary of the Remonstrance The Atonement is Propitiatory and Conciliatory Summary Objections to the Atonement Atonement and the Sovereignty of God Moral Reformation Is Not Enough The Majesty and Mercy of God Theories of the Atonement The Moral Influence TheoryThe Ransom TheoryThe Legal Theory From Theory to Truth: Scriptural Satisfaction Part VPneumatology: The study the Holy SpiritChapter 24A Holy Spirit Definition The Holy Spirit and Salvation What Is Effectual Calling?

10 Chapter 25 The Greatness Of Grace Grace Defined Grace Distinguished12 Common Grace Prevenient Sufficient Grace Efficacious Grace Habitual GraceCheap GraceCostly GraceChapter 26 Characteristics of the Holy Spirit The Personality of the SpiritThe Holy Spirit of God Has A MindThe Holy Spirit of God Has A WillThe Holy Spirit of God ProhibitsThe Holy Spirit of God GuidesThe Holy Spirit of God SpeaksThe Holy Spirit of God Has EmotionsThe Holy Spirit Can Be Grieved Various Ministries of the Holy SpiritThe Holy Spirit Restrains Evil through SanctificationThe Holy Spirit Instructs In RighteousnessThe Holy Spirit Awakens the Sin Saturated SoulThe Holy Spirit ConvictsThe Holy Spirit Convinces the SinnerThe Holy Spirit RevealsThe Holy Spirit Regenerates the SoulThe Holy Spirit Sanctifies Each Child of GodChapter 27 The Work Of Salvation The Word and Salvation The Effect of Common Grace The Resistance of the Heart to Common GraceChapter 28 Finding FAITH in the Family of God The Usage of the Word FAITH There is An Objective FaithThere is A Subjective FAITH FAITH Defined FAITH Distinguished Historical FAITH Temporary FAITH Saving FAITH The Relation of FAITH to Knowledge FAITH In Relation To Salvation FAITH Is the Instrumental Cause of Justification13 Chapter 29A Crisis Of The Heart A Confession of FAITH Conversion.