Doctrines 2 and 3 Flashcards
What is Doctrine 2?
We believe that there is only one God, who is infinitely perfect, the Creator, Preserver, and Governor of all things, and who is the only proper object of religious worship.
What is Doctrine 3?
We believe that there are three persons in the Godhead – the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost, undivided in essence and co-equal in power and glory.
What is monotheism?
The belief in One God; a belief shared by Jews, Muslims and Christians.
What is meant by ‘Infinitely Perfect?’
God is perfect is all aspects. In holiness, love, wisdom, and power.
Since God is creator, how do we view creation and why?
It is commonly observed that , according to Scripture God is Creator by virtue of divine speech…”
“It is entirely fitting for a narrative approach to theology that God is a God who speaks-and whose speaking initiates the very universe
“We are here because God brought us into being…Everything we see in the world was created by God and belongs to God…The universe reflects the wisdom, power and majesty of the God who brought it into being.
What is meant by ‘Governor of all things?’
God has not ceased his creative activity…God is creatively sustaining his creation…bringing his world to the fullness he intends for it.
He does not just create and then ignore…. not deism.
GOVERNOR, according to the Strong’s Concordance means: to go before, to be a leader, the leader in speech, chief spokesman, to have authority over, to command, have rule over, a prince, one of regal power, controlling in counsel, overseers or leaders of the churches
What does it mean that God is ‘the only proper object of religious worship?’
“Christian worship is our wholehearted response to the God who is eternally in community, living and acting, relating to his creation…Worship begins when God makes himself known to us through his presence and his word
Not idolatry…. worship of false gods. our Lord is the only true God and therefore should be our only focus in worship.
“For the Creator to create human beings in the divine image and likeness is, according to the creation narrative, ___________________________________________ Lodahl p 70
….God’s great venture into the risk of relationship.
For we are created to be God’s image, to reflect God’s glory and love, to represent God on planet earth.
Describe the Trinity Diagram.
God is Father, Son, Holy Spirit.
The Father is NOT the Son or the Holy Spirit.
The Son is NOT the Father or the Holy Spirit.
The Holy Spirit is NOT the Son or the Father.
According to Wesley we were created to:
It is interesting that John Wesley…wrote that God created human beings “to exist and to love.” To exist means, literally, to “stand forth,” which implies a sense of identity, an awareness of agency and responsibility.”
According to Genesis we are answerable to:
“The Genesis narrative suggests that we are answerable for our relations to God (“Where are you?”), to one another (“Where is your brother?”), and to the rest of the creaturely realm…”fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over [it]”…
“…we are to tend it, to care for it, to be God’s representatives within it, representing the loving character of the Creator to the creation. And we are all the while answerable to the Creator for how we tend to it.” (Lodahl, Pg. 73)
Irenaeus – God refuses to redeem creation by force, he redeems it by persuasion; Explain
“The great second-century theologian Irenaeus…
insisted that even though sin tyrannizes us with a kind of violent greed, God refuses to redeem creation “by force. God instead redeems us “by persuasion, as it is fitting for God to receive what he wishes by gentleness and not by force.”
“Irenaeus continues: “So neither was the standard of what is just infringed nor did the ancient creation of God perish.”
“The apparent meaning…it would not be just or fair in accordance with God’s intention in creation simply to change the rules and force compliance upon the world.”… “Similarly, another second-century Christian writer insisted that God “willed to save man by persuasion, not by compulsion, for compulsion is not God’s way of working.” (Lodahl, Pg. 83)
What does it mean that the trinity is ‘co-equal in power and glory?’
There is not a hierarchy.
Distinct, but not divided.
Explain how the persons of the trinity are related to one another in love.
They share a common inner life and purpose and demonstrate the true nature of love.
Unit is of an essence
Know the Trinitarian Heresies
MODALISM – The belief that the one God projects himself in three ways or modes. This is caused by the impulse to avoid the idea of three gods but results in the loss of the relationship between three.”
TRI-THEISM – The belief that the three persons have different characteristics, desires and objectives. This arises from the impulse to protect the integrity and identity of the three persons but results in the loss of the oneness of God’s attitude and action.”
SUBORDINATIONISM – The belief that the Father is eternally superior to the Son and the Spirt. Causes of this may include a projection of a society’s hierarchical structure, or a desire to equate the Father with other monotheistic deities.” (HD, Pg. 67)
“POLYTHEISM – Belief in many gods…
DEISM – The belief that God is a remote First Cause who brought the universe into being but left it to run as a machine. This is contrary to the scriptural doctrine of God’s involvement with his creation.
PANTHEISM – The belief that God and creation are one without distinction. Pantheistic teachings are prevalent in many New Age movements, who’s subtlety and diversity can cause confusion.
NEW AGE – An umbrella name for many forms of neo-paganism that combine the mysticism and spiritism of some eastern religions and ancient mythologies, with the belief in the unlimited potential of human beings to determine their own destiny.” (HD, Pg. 68)
