“INTRODUCTION TO SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY”

INTRO: In order to unlock the scriptures in God’s word we need some “keys”. Theo (means) God. Ology(means) study. Theology is the study of God’s word. The Bible says there will be NO self interpretation of the Bible. So we study God’s Word to see what He is saying to us.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

There are basically (5) Keys to understanding the Bible:

1.) Historically(the Bible is accurate in it’s history): Jewish history, Jesus and the early Church, King David and not King Saul.

2.) Biography: In the beginning God, Creation, Prophets.

3.) Analytically: Analyze the scriptures.

4.) Spiritually: The Bible is “ALIVE”. Typology, The Bible is God’s Treasure to us.

5.) Humbly: I will never know all the Holy Bible.

There are other things that we will learn about:

1.) The Pentateuch: The first five books, the books of Moses.

2.) The Decalogue: The 10 Commandments.

3.) The Torah: The Scrolls, They read from right to left, back to front.

There are actually 613 laws given to the Jewish people. The Robe of Jesus had a fringe. There would be 613 knots on such a fringe. The Jewish prayer shawl is still worn in Israel. It still has 613 knots on it’s fringe.

Mat 9:20  And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
Mat 9:21  For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.

This the garment of Jesus that this woman touch in this scripture.

I. The Definition: (The Ethnic Principle)

   1.) There are only three (3) groups of people in the Bible: Jew, Gentile, Christian.

   2.) Proof:

1Co 10:32  Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God:

   3.) The Number Three (3) teaches completion.

     a.) Three persons in the Godhead:

Mat 28:19  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

     b.) There are only three places: Heaven, Hell, and Earth.

     c.) There are only three groups of people. Jew, Gentile, Christian.

(There are rules of interpretation. We cannot take what God told the Jews and use it for the Church, nor the Gentiles for the Jews.) We must rightly divide the Bible.

2Ti 2:15  Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.

II.) The Explanation:

   1.) The Old Testament is basically for the Jews.

Joh 1:11  He came unto his own, and his own received him not.

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Php 3:5  Circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, an Hebrew of the Hebrews; as touching the law, a Pharisee;
 
   2.) Ecclesia = Church = Those that are CALLED OUT.

2Co 6:17  Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
2Co 6:18  And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.

   3.) Gentile = Heathen

Gal 2:9  And when James, Cephas, and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given unto me, they gave to me and Barnabas the right hands of fellowship; that we should go unto the heathen, and they unto the circumcision.

Gal 3:8  And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the heathen through faith, preached before the gospel unto Abraham, saying, In thee shall all nations be blessed.

The Apostle Peter wrote:

1Pe 2:9  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
1Pe 2:10  Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

And the Apostle Paul:

Tit 2:14  Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

III.) The Origin of the three groups:

   1.) Jew: Abram Isaac, Jacob (Israel). ” El = God, the people of God “.

Act 7:8  And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

   2.) Gentiles: Heathen

2Sa 22:44  Thou also hast delivered me from the strivings of my people, thou hast kept me to be head of the heathen: a people which I knew not shall serve me.

   3.) Church: Body of Christ

1Co 12:27  Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

Php 3:14  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

IV.) TERMONOLGY:

   1.) Glory= Shechinah Glory

Shechinah

A Chaldee word meaning resting-place, not found in Scripture, but used by the later Jews to designate the visible symbol of God’s presence in the tabernacle, and afterwards in Solomon’s temple. When the Lord led Israel out of Egypt, he went before them “in a pillar of a cloud.” This was the symbol of his presence with his people. For references made to it during the wilderness wanderings, see Exo_14:20; Exo_40:34-38; Lev_9:23, Lev_9:24; Num_14:10; Num_16:19, Num_16:42.

It is probable that after the entrance into Canaan this glory-cloud settled in the tabernacle upon the ark of the covenant in the most holy place. We have, however, no special reference to it till the consecration of the temple by Solomon, when it filled the whole house with its glory, so that the priests could not stand to minister (1Ki_8:10-13; 2Ch_5:13, 2Ch_5:14; 2Ch_7:1-3).

   2.) Covenant: A promise or Contract with God and IT IS UNBREAKABLE.

   3.) LAW: Moses 613 commandments.

Gal 3:24  Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith.
Gal 3:25  But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.
Gal 3:26  For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.

   4.) Adoption: (I’ve been adopted )

Eph 1:5  Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
Eph 1:6  To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

   5.) The Promises Of God:

Mal 3:6  For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.

We can believe God because He NEVER CHANGES.

   6.) FATHERS:

Act 7:8  And he gave him the covenant of circumcision: and so Abraham begat Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day; and Isaac begat Jacob; and Jacob begat the twelve patriarchs.

   7.) Oracles:

Rom 3:1  What advantage then hath the Jew? or what profit is there of circumcision?
Rom 3:2  Much every way: chiefly, because that unto them were committed the oracles of God.

   8.) Election: God has chosen me to be saved (predestined) to those that believe and conform to the image of His Son.

Eph 1:10  That in the dispensation of the fulness of times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven, and which are on earth; even in him:
Eph 1:11  In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will:
Eph 1:12  That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ.

Amen