Hainault Road Baptist Church:

In this last sermon in the series 'What We Believe' we review the main subject headings of Systematic Theology, including taking a last look at the '5 Points of Calvinism'. We note the connection between Theology and Church History, and remember some of the great theologians who have contributed to our understanding of the faith. We also see how Christianity is an intellectually credible faith; Christians are encouraged to study it as they are able. Timothy (and we !) are to work hard, to preach and to endure hardship for our faith. We are to keep our heads, to avoid godless 'myths' and to stick to sound doctrine. There are clear implications for our future growth and development.

Amid all the differing views and speculation that surrounds discussions about the End of the World, one central fact remains - that Jesus Christ will return. We look at this great doctrine in terms of its practical significance for the Christian: the coming Day of Judgement holds no fear for us, as the promises of God give Assurance of Salvation to all who have put their trust in Christ. We look at the last of the '5 Points of Calvinism' before echoing with Saint Paul 'Maranatha !' - 'Come quickly, Lord Jesus !'

The Christian Church is to be both EXtensive (trying to be outreach-minded) and INtensive (trying to deepen the faith of its members). To help us in the latter task, God has provided for us some 8 or 9 'Means of Grace', including 2 (or possibly 3) Sacraments. We look at each, and in particular detail at the two Sacraments of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.

We see that the church (both 'Militant' and 'Triumphant') is composed entirely of Christians who are both Priests and Saints ('Holy People'). Within each local church leadership is to provided by Overseers/Bishops, often described by the closely related terms Elders and Pastors/Shepherds. In two closely-linked passages we see how the theology of the church is developed as a very practical and necessary part of Christian life and witness.

We trace the development of the Christian Church from its Old Testament origins as the Lord's 'Treasured Possession' to its New Testament description as an EKKLESIA or 'gathered assembly' of believing Christians. We look at the implications of being in both the 'visible' and the 'invisible' church, note the five Biblical pictures of the church and consider the Nicene Creed's declaration of what we believe the church to be. In our passage we note how emphatically Jesus stated the church to be His, and founded not on any human individual, but on the Apostle Peter's confession of faith in Christ.

We look at the work of the Holy Spirit in calling Christians to Salvation and giving them Assurance. We then define 'Irresistible Grace' - the 4th of the '5 Points of Calvinism'. We next look at the Spirit's great work of Sanctification in the life of the Christian. Our Bible passage is all about Spiritual things ! We see that God gives to every Christian at least one spiritual gift to build up Christ's church. In that church Christians are to be 'saturated' with the Holy Spirit !

We see how the Bible describes the Holy Spirit as being a fully divine personal member of the Trinity. We discuss His description in the Nicene Creed as amended by the Council of Toledo. In our passage we note Jesus' use of the word PARACLETOS ('Comforter', 'Counselor' or 'Advocate'). We see how the Paraclete has both Power and Purpose to work for good in the world and in our lives.

The Atonement is an absolutely fundamental Christian doctrine. We define it and then illustrate it using four Biblical metaphors. We also explain 'Limited Atonement' - the third of the five points of Calvinism. We see how our New Testament text draws on an incident in the Old Testament, before considering the most well-known verse in the whole Bible. Finally we look at the practical application of the Atonement to our daily life.

A long and well-known quotation sets the tone of our message. We look at the evidence about the Life of Jesus - a Man Who was more than just a Man, with three scriptural roles - Prophet, Priest and King. Our passage highlights the great care taken in verifying the facts of Jesus' Life - so that we can have 'certainty' over what we have been taught.

We define what we mean by 'INCARNATION' - the idea that God the Son took on human flesh and became Jesus Christ. We see how this vitally important doctrine has been attacked down the centuries, but how the Bible upholds it as the miraculous appearing of God becoming a man.

Given the human race's state of Total Depravity it is unable to save itself. Salvation therefore, must be all from God, Who elects (or chooses for Himself) unconditionally those whom He will save. This Unconditional Election is the second of Calvin's Five Points. Although neither a popular nor easily explainable teaching, Unconditional Election does give to the believing Christian a deep sense of their own eternal security.

From the well-known story of Adam and Eve's disobedience to God in the Garden of Eden we consider the appalling impact on the human race of sin and its consequences. From being POSSE NON PECCARE ('Able not to sin') they were now NON POSSE NON PECCARE ('Not able not to sin') - a condition which still affects us all. The sermon defines the terms: 'The Fall', 'Original Sin' and 'Total Depravity' - the last being the first of John Calvin's famous 'Five Points of Calvinism'.

What we believe about ourselves is of enormous importance, not least in the modern age when life issues are never very far from front page headlines ! We look at the way in which God describes His creation of human beings in different language and in more detail than His other creations. We look at human make-up - are we bi-partite (body and soul) or tri-partite (body, soul and spirit) ? There is much to learn from the accounts of our own creation, not least in the relationships between the two human genders. Finally, we ponder why the paradise of the Garden of Eden has not endured ...

Having looked at the Existence, the Attributes and the Trinity of God, we conclude this section of our studies by looking at God's Activities - Creation and Providence. This passage in Hebrews helpfully brings together what we have learned about Authority, Creation, Providence and the Nature of God the Son before introducing us to our next main theme: - the great doctrine of Salvation.

Christians believe in the Doctrine of the Trinity, not because of a clear statement in the Bible, but because it may be inducted from many verses of Scripture. Hinted at in the Old Testament, 3 clear New Testament verses and an incident at Jesus' Baptism clearly link as One Being the three Persons of the Godhead. One of those three clear texts is commonly known as 'The Grace'; it paints a beautiful picture of the Trinity, and shows from where our key concepts of relationship and belonging have come.

We start by affirming the need for Christians to take on the intellectual challenge of studying Christianity, before looking at the Attributes of God. Our passage includes the famous Hebrew 'SEMA' - from it we learn that our God is Unique, but that - even here in the Old Testament - His Unity is taught as a Plural One-ness - a prefiguring of the New Testament revelation of the Trinity.

We all believe in the existence of God, even though the Bible assumes rather than proves it. We consider the more common alternatives - Atheism, Agnosticism, Polytheism and Pantheism, noting the shortcomings of each. We also look at the most frequently used arguments for the existence of God, before studying the first five verses of the Bible. Among the most profound sentences anywhere in Scripture, they clearly set out that God Is, and what God Says.

We see that God's Word is interpreted to us dynamically by the Holy Spirit. We look at God's General Revelation to us and His Special revelation through Jesus Christ and in the Scriptures. We look at how God inspired the Biblical authors to write the complete Canon of both the Old and New Testaments. In the first two stanzas of the acrostic Psalm 119 we see that God's Way is Good, and that God's Way is for us to Grow.

A key issue for Christians is to know just what is our ultimate authority. We look at the 'Catholic' and Liberal views, as well as the Evangelical view held by our church. In the Bible passage we see what Scripture is, and what Scripture is for.

We introduce a new series on Systematic Theology by looking at the importance of studying our faith and understanding what it is. In the incident on the Road to Emmaus we see from Jesus' Own teaching that the main point of Scripture is to point to Christ. We see also that the main need of the human heart is to hear about Christ.