Welcome to this series, but with shorter and fewer posts than Theology 101: The Basics.
Introduction to Concise Theology
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Category Archives: CONCISE THEOLOGY
The Bible: Basics
The Bible is the foundation of our faith and morals and precepts and our spiritual life itself.
General and Special Revelations and Moral Law
Moral law is essential for society to function, and the Christian needs it too, for guidance. Some people might be able to perceive it by the world around them (general revelation), but the Bible is the clearest guide (special revelation).
1 The Trinity: The Basics
The Bible teaches us the Trinity: Three persons (The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit) are contained within one God (monotheism). This post includes tables of Scriptures and the attributes and the works of the Trinity.
2 The Trinity: Questions and Answers
Let’s see if we can answer many questions and objections.
3 Scriptures on the Trinity
The Scriptures thoroughly support the doctrine of the Trinity.
God the Father
Who is God, really? Let’s find out what the Scriptures teach.
One Hundred and Fifty-One Biblical Descriptions of God
The entire Bible is about God.
Creation
This post is theological and biblical, not scientific.
Providence of God
God oversees and preserves his creation, particularly you and me.
1 Miracles: The Basics
Miracles mean that God intervenes in his own creation. He owns it, so it does not violate any natural law when he works a miracle, as if he were an outsider. He merely introduces a new situation.
2 Miracles: Warning! Discernment Needed!
God works miracles. but so does Satan. How do we tell the difference? We need to be forewarned and discerning.
1 Angels: The Basics
Who are they? What do they do? Do they appear to people? How do we avoid false teachings about them?
2 Angels: Questions and Answers
Let’s see if we can answer them
1 Satan and Demons: The Basics
When do we become obsessed with them, and when do we pretend they do not exist? Where’s the balance? Most importantly, what does the Bible say about them?
2 Satan and Demons: Questions and Answers
Let’s see if we can answer them.
The Kingdom of God
The kingdom of God has invaded our realm. What does this invasion look like? What is the kingdom?
Biblical Covenants
Out of his great love, God reaches out to sinful, rebellious humanity with commitments and promises and agreements, called covenants.
Humanity: The Basics
What does the Bible say about mankind and womankind? What is the image of God? Are we a dichotomy (bipartite) or a trichotomy (tripartite)?
Sin: The Basics
It is the human condition. It causes both physical and spiritual death, unless we find the solution in Christ.
1 The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God
It is wonderful and edifying to look at the panorama of his life, from his eternal past to his brief life on earth, to his eternal future.
2 The Deity and the Humanity of the Son of God: Scriptures
This post mostly uses the question-and answer format, for easier understanding. He was both God and man, during his life here.
3 Three Offices of Christ
Knowing them lets understand more deeply who he is.
1 The Holy Spirit: The Basics
He is the third person of the Trinity, not an impersonal force. He shares the Father’s and the Son’s divine natures. This post has a table of Scriptures revealing his activity among people and in heaven, and two more tables of the attributes shared by the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit and their works.
2 The Spirit in the Old Testament
The Spirit was doing active ministry on Old Testament people, particularly on those whose hearts were committed to God. But the Spirit’s work was incomplete, compared to his work in God’s New Covenant people. At the end, this post has the totals for the number of times the Spirit appears in the Old Testament, according to the genres of the Torah, the history books, wisdom literature and the prophets.
3 The Holy Spirit in the Life of Christ
Jesus is the Anointed One, the Christ (Greek) and the Messiah (Hebrew). The Holy Spirit anointed him for service and ministry. But the Spirit also guided other people during the infancy narratives.
4 The Holy Spirit in the Life of the Believer and the Church
Let’s discover together how the Spirit works in your life and in the church as a whole, biblically speaking. At the very end, this post has the totals for the number of times the Spirit appears in the New Testament, in the four Gospels, Acts, epistles, and the Revelation.
Salvation: The Basics
In this post we briefly define these generous offers from God: salvation, redemption, reconciliation, the atonement, grace, the gospel, repentance and faith, forgiveness, justification, imputation, and regeneration. All of these important offers are rooted in and centered on Christ. Good for a quick review.
1 Sanctification: The Basics
Sanctification is a lifelong process. How is it done? Who does it? Included in this post is a table featuring the differences between legal justification and sanctification.
2 Disciples Are Filled and Empowered with the Spirit
In Concise Theology, discipleship is another term for sanctification. We need more empowerments and infillings of the Spirit for an inward holy life (deeper sanctification) and outward ministry. After all, the Spirit filled Peter three times (Acts 2:1-4; 4:8, 31). This is a paradigm for us today.
3 Disciples Persist in Christ
Christians can persist in their relationship with the Lord, by God’s grace and his indwelling Holy Spirit. They remain Christians. They must also do what all disciples do, to maintain their walk with God. This post has a list of ten characteristics of a healthy disciple.
4 Disciples Pray
Prayer is a powerful tool to deepen our sanctification.
5 Disciples Speak and Command with Faith and Authority
Yes, Jesus really did teach his disciples to speak to obstacles and command them to be uprooted and thrown into the sea. He taught them to pray in faith and with authority–his authority. But he also taught them that God answers those specialized prayers, according to his will. Are these prayers the same as decreeing? Old Fashioned Bible study here.
6 Disciples Have a New Identity in Christ
We are a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17), yet many disciples struggle with their identity in Christ. It is about grace, of course, but also discipleship, learning who they are in Christ.
1 The Church: Basics
What is the church? How does it live in community? What does the church do? Who are its members? How big or small was it in the NT? Where did it meet? In this post I also briefly look at modern church structure and the NT roles of overseers, pastors, and elders and other leaders.
2 The Church: Structure and Leadership
What is the right size of the church? What does the New Testament say about the leadership structure?
3 The Church: Healthy and Unhealthy Signs
How do you know when to stay or leave a church? How do you know when your church remains heathy, and when does it cross lines to become unhealthy? What is a revival, and what is Revivalism?
1 Eschatology: The Basics
Eschatology means the study of the end times. But things get complicated with all the theories. Let’s break it down.
2 Final Judgment
God’s judgment scares people, and in a sense they are right. Reverential awe and fear are appropriate. But there is a solution for them to escape a negative judgment.
3 Heaven
What does the Bible teach about it? What does the Bible say about the intermediate state?
4 Hell
The teaching is in the Bible, but the doctrine is not very popular today.
5 Final Victory of God and New Creation
God wins. And those who belong to him get to share in his victory. We win too. But who loses?
Conclusion to Concise Theology
It has been a joy and privilege to write this series. As a student of theology, I learned and have grown a lot and am still learning and growing. Let’s conclude by focusing on how Concise Theology is purposed to help the church and every reader.
Dr. Jim's Essential Bible Teaching 