Reymond’s “Systematic Theology,” Doctrine of the Church & TBN, Pentecostals, Liberals, Emergents and Evangelicals, 805-820

1. Reymond’s “Systematic Theology,” the nature and foundation of the church and miscellaneous after-thoughts (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson), 805-820.

2. TBN, Pentecostals, Arminians, Liberals, Emergents, and Contemporary Evangelicals. Do they have a doctrine of the church? We believe there’s not much doctrine amongst many of them. Why? They have no ear or connection to the church’s history, theologians, confessions, liturgies, and hymns. A good doctrine of the church would dispel the Dispensationalism of John Hagee and Rod Parsley. It would also correct the Anabaptist error of exclusion of children from the Church.

3. The “Assembly in the Old Testament.” Multiplied references of “qahal,” the “assembly” or the “congregation.” Assembly under Moses at the Tent of Meeting plus varied references to the Festal Days of Passover, Pentecost, and Feast of Ingathering/Day of Atonement. Numerous special days are called: Joshua summoning the nation for covenant renewal as well as the “whole assembly of Israel” for the liturgical rehearsal of the covenant obligations on Mt. Ebal (Josh.8.30ff). Other special occasions are listed.

4. “Assembly in the New Testament.” A useful footote, page 830, no. 13, is worthy replication. Figures for the Church of Christ. An appreciation here brings an understanding of the covenant of grace, baptism for infants, anti-dispensationalism, respect for church history, liturgies, confessions, and writers, along with the "profound distrust" of moderns thinking "they have arrived."

(1) One flock Jn.10.16
(2) The body of Christ 1 Cor.12.27; Eph.1.23; Col.1.18
(3) The temple of God 1 Cor. 3.16; 2 Cor.6.16; Eph.2.21-22; 2 Thes.2.4
(4) The new Jerusalem Heb.12.22
(5) The heavenly Jerusalem Rev.21.2
(6) The pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim.3.15
(7) The salt of the earth Mt.5.13;
(8) The light of the world Mt. 5.14
(9) A letter from Christ 2 Cor. 3.2-3
(10) Branches of the vine John 15.5
(11) The olive tree Rom.11.13-24
(12) God’s field 1 Cor.3.9
(13) God’s building 1 Cor.3.9
(14) The elect lady 3 Jn. 1
(15) The wife or bride of Christ Eph.5.22-31
(16) Wearers of the wedding garment Mt.22.1-14; Rev. 19.7
(17) Fellow citizens of the saints Eph.2.19
(18) God’s house Eph.2.19
(19) Strangers in the world 1 Pet.1.1; 2.11; Heb.11.13
(20) Ambassadors 2 Cor. 5.18-21
(21) The people of God 1 Pet.2.9-10
(22) A chosen race 1 Pet. 2.9
(23) A holy nation 1 Pet.2.9
(24) A royal priesthood 1 Pet.2.9
(25) The circumcision Phil.3.3-11
(26) Abraham’s sons Gal.3.29; Rom.4.16
(27) The tabernacle of David Acts 15.16
(28) The Remnant Rom. 9.27; 11.5-7
(29) Israel Gal. 6.15-16
(30) God’s elect Rom. Rom.8.33
(31) The faithful in Christ Jesus Eph.1.1
(32) A new creation 2 Cor.5.17
(33) A new man Col.3.10
(34) The kingdom of God (or of heaven) Mt. 13
(35) Disciples Mt.28.19
(36) The Way Acts 9.2; 19.9, 23; 22.4; 24.14,22
(37) Slaves of God, of Christ, and of righteousness Rom.6.18, 22
(38) Sons of God Rom.8.14
(39) The brotherhood 1 Pet. 2.17; 5.9
(40) Christians Acts 12.26

5. Reymond spends several pages on Mt. 16.16-18 and thoroughly dispels the Papistic claim to Petrine supremacy. Calvin does the same in Book IV of the Institutes, a blistering blast against Petrine arrogance. Reymond levels 15 excellent questions that Roman apologists must face exegetically.

6. On Mt. 16.16-18, the famed statement on the entablature beneath and around the dome of St. Peter's (Vatican), we get this well known citation from a Roman Archbishop, Peter Richard Kenrick. These ideas were to be read as a paper... delivered at Vatican One, 1870, but objectors were silenced. Cardinal Dollinger was silenced also. See Philip Schaff, “Creeds of Christendom.” Here’s Kenrick as cited by the great Anglican divine, W. H. Griffith Thomas, in “The Principles of Theology: The Thirty-nine Articles” (London: Longmans, Green, 1930), 470-471 .

20% of the church fathers supported the Romanist read of Mt.16.16-18. There was not consensus fidelium on the matter. Rome's been in the "duping business" like the Pentecostals.

(1) The church was built upon Peter in his person. 17 church writers. (Normally called “church fathers” but we call them “writers.”)
(2) The church was built on all the apostles. 8 church writers.
(3) The church would be built upon the “same profession of faith” that Peter uttered, to wit, “You are Messiah [the Christ], the Son of the Living God.” 44 church fathers, among the best and most representative, including Chrysostom, Gregory of Nyssa, Isidore of Pelusium, Hilary, Theodoret, Theophanes, Theopylact, John of Damascus and Augustine.
(4) The church would be built on Jesus Christ. 16 fathers or church writers.
(5) The church would be built upon the faithful themselves as living stones. Very few with no numbers given.

7. TBN, Pentecostals, Arminians, Liberals, Emergents, and Contemporary Evangelicals. Do they have a doctrine of the church? We believe there’s not much doctrine amongst many of them. Why? They have no ear or connection to the church’s history, theologians, confessions, liturgies, and hymns. A good doctrine of the church would dispel the Dispensationalism of John Hagee and Rod Parsley. It would also correct the Anabaptist error of exclusion of children from the Church.

Pentecostals think they are the beginning of a new church with 1st, 2nd and 3rd Waves. That’s how TBN billed and advertised themselves recently. The doctrinal statement of the Assemblies of God is an illustration of arrogance, ignorance and Cowboy Yahoo-ism.

Reymond’s “Systematic Theology” and the facts of revelation

1. Reymond’s Systematic Theology and the "facts of revelation" (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 1998), 3-10.

2. As an additional set amplifying on Reymond, we post Dr. R.C. Sproul’s video-cast at: http://www.ligonier.org/rym/broadcasts/video/his-word-truth/?format=video

3. The facts of revelation. God revealed Himself “at many time and in various ways” (Heb.1.1-2) . The OT uses, “the word of Yahweh” scores of times. “The law of Yahweh” occurs also which means “divine authoritative communication.” Galah, a revelatory word, means the “removal of obstacles to perception.” Yadah, in the causative stem, means “reveal” or “make known.” God made known Himself, His attributes, glory, works and words.

4. Pre-patriarchal period, Gen.1.-11. God spoke directly and propositionally to Adam.

5. Patriarch period. Gen.12-50. Theophanies. Varied texts are posted. By the way, throughout, God speaks in recognizable language, not babblings like Pentecostalists assert.

6. Mosaic period. The burning bush (Ex.3) and other visions (Nu.22.20). Moses was repeatedly told to write things down.

7. Conquest under Joshua. Mosaic words inscripturated and were authoritative. A few more Theophanies. Texts given.

8. Age of Prophets, Samuel to Malachi. Samuel inscripturated the Word of the Lord. Samuel organizes guilds of prophets to instruct Israel in the Word of God. They studies the written Word of God, kept a record of Israel’s history, and preserved their own writings.

9. United kingdom under David. God spoke to David and Solomon. 73 Psalms by David. 2 by Solomon. Texts given.

10. Divided kingdom. Various prophets.

11. They were all instructed to put these revelations to writing.

12. Summary:

a. God reveals Himself in the history of redemption.
b. Redemptive history is structured by several covenants.
c. Redemptive revelation is progressive.
d. Revelations came by theophanies, dreams and visions. The NT will call it the “law and prophets” Lk.16.16, inter alia.
e. Public reading, teaching and exposition of the Word of God followed inscripturation. This was to keep the Word of God before the people.

13. As we ponder this theme, it is this scribe's view that the doctrine of Scripture is under very open attack. Should we be surprised?

14. "Modern Reformation" is dealing with this subject, Scripture, throughout the year in its publication. Available through http://www.whitehorseinn.org/. We commend Martin Chemnitz's Examination of the Council of Trent, 3-Vol (Concordia Press).

“Reymond’s Systematic Theology,” (xxv-xxxvi), the necessity of systematic theology, TBN, Emergents, Liberals, Contemporary Evangelicals

Also posted on our Facebook Wall entitled “Exposing the False Prophets—Reformation Christians Against TBN” found at: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=308173344359

1. “Reymond’s Systematic Theology,” the necessity of systematic theology and miscellaneous afterthoughts with help from his “Systematic Theology“ (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers), xxv-xxxvi.

2. Is theology important and necessary?

3. Our reference point for wider inquiry is certainly ourselves, but also TBN, Pentecostalists, Emergents, Liberals, Arminians, Church Growthers, and Contemporary Evangelicals. Here’s a few takes from TBN-ers, although the question applies across the other venues.

3. Paul Crouch’s view at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-zOymSa3Hg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hFWi26Mz78&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5h45PayJio&feature=related

4. Benny Hinn:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8bDzqZLSx0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HynY1vffoeM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x4yFHQ7Ih6k&feature=related

5. Todd Bentley
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9iS5a7Fico4&feature=related

6. Kenneth Copeland and Kenneth Hagin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzw1rowl0So

7. These can be multiplied. See the 750 “links” to the left near the bottom at:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=308173344359

8. Let talk about theology. So much for the TBN-theologians above (tongue in cheek). Here are some reasons to do theology.

(1) Christ’s own theological method. Luke 4.16-21, details and deductions after Scripture lection in synagogue service. Lk.24.27, 44-47. “Beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, He explained to them what said in all the Scriptures concerning Himself.” Many more texts could be said.

(2) The church’s mandate to disciple the nations. Mt.28.18-20. The evangelistic mandate requires teaching for the Great Commission.

(3) The Apostolic Model. The Gospel writers were writers and men of words and teaching. Paul wasted no time after his baptism “to prove” to Jews in the synagogues that Jesus was the Son of God and Christ. (Acts.2.39). Other texts throughout Acts reveals the same: synagogues, market-places, houses, the lecture hall at Tyrannus in Ephesus, Mars Hill at Athens and elsewhere. Paul’s epistle to the Romans is a study in theology. Ten times Paul asks, “What shall we then say?” Then he addresses the question with Scripture and deductions (Rom.3.5, 9; 4.1; 6.1, 15; 7.7; 8.31; 9.14, 30; 11.17). Reading, thinking, explaining, speaking, teaching and writing was the Apostolic Model, rooted in the Old Testament.

(4) The Activity of the New Testament Church. 2 Thes.2.15-- “the traditions.” Rom.6.17-- “the pattern of doctrine.” Jude 3-- “the faith once delivered to the saints.” I Tim.6.20-- “the deposit.” And the “faithful sayings” of Paul’s pastoral letters--1 Tim.1.15; 3.1; 4.7; 2 Tim.2.11-13; Tit.3.4-8. Also, the church of Jerusalem at work in an apostolic council, Acts 15. There was a substantial body of theology by the end of Paul's life. The first three Gospels were penned most likely before St. Paul died.

9. Theology, as Reymond notes, should been comprehensive (covering all loci), coherent, contextual (including modern issues), conversant (with exegesis, history), conversational (understandable “in” the church “for” the pew, not just academia), confessional (“confessing the faith” and teaching youths similarly), conservative (repulsing reductionisms), critical and correlative.

10. Specific affections and the state of the mind in doing theology: reverence, readiness to see God’s kingdom and the unity of the biblical covenants as an hermeneutical key, appreciation of theological heritage (Reformed for Reymond, but we would add Anglican and Lutheran), perseverance in the task, respect for others in history (confessions, writers), awe, soberness, joy, meekness, boldness in application, sincere concern for theology, evangelism, and catechesis, humility and attended by prayer.

11. Our concerns are: TBN, Pentecostalists, Emergents, Liberals, Arminians, Church Growthers, and Contemporary Evangelicals. Also, our concern should be ourselves and the true churches of Christ bearing the marks of true churches.

12. Theology is not doctrinal “doo doo” as Grouch, Sr., of TBN called it. It is necessary and required.

In closing, we pray:

“Blessed Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning; Grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy holy Word, we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.”

Book of Common Prayer, Second Sunday in Advent.