Faith and Knowledge

Universality of Sin



For as by one man's disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous. (Romans 5:19)


Paul’s assertion that many were made sinners through the disobedience of Adam,

interprets the passage to mean that all are made liable to punishment and death.



The idea transmitted to guilt ,a central feature of Augustine’s doctrine original  sin.

Total depravity

It also called absolute inability, radical corruption, total corruption, or Augustinianism.

It is a theological doctrine that derives from the Augustinian concept of original sin.

Fallen man is utterly unable to choose to follow God or choose to accept salvation as it is offered.

Theology term : Human Nature


God created Adam and Eve in His image(Gen 1:27)and God saw them that he had made, and it was very good.(Gen 1:31)


God gave them breath.(Heb 12:23)

But they ate fruit in the middle of Eden which God didn’t permit to eat.

So, they committed to sin against God(Gen 3)they became sinners who cannot save themselves and please God.

They are totally depravity. But, God sent to his only one son, he died on cross instead of us.(John 3:16)

so, whoever believes in God They can recover image of God.

God regenerates people through Holy Spirit.(Roman 9:29, 2 Cor 5:18)


Therefore, we can recover image of God through Jesus Christ.


Reference
We believe that man was created in the image of God (Gen 1:27) but fell into sin and is therefore lost and only through regeneration by the Holy Spirit can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation. Only the grace of God can bring man into His holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God. The sacredness of human personality is evident in that God created man in His own image, and in that Christ died for man; therefore, every person of every race possesses full dignity and is worthy of respect and Christian love.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
After God had made all other creatures, He created man, male and female (Ge 1:27), with reasonable and immortal souls (Ge 2:7), endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after His own image (Ge 1:26); having the law of God written in their hearts (Ro 2:14), and power to fulfil it (Ecc 7:29); and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change (Ge 3:6). Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command, not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Ge 2:17); which while they kept, they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures (1:26).



Class noteGod alone is the Creator, and everything else is creature.
Man was given higher dignity than any other creatures
Man was given dominion all the rest of the earth
God made Adam by miraculous act from dirt, and the dirt did not come alive until God breathed in the breath to make him man.
God also made the woman by a miraculous act in Gen 2:21-22.
We are made to serve him, not the reverse. He is Lord and we are by nature his servants.
We reflect God in our knowledge, righteousness, and holiness. (Eph 4:24, Col 3:9-10)
Sinful human beings are still in the image of God. (Gen 9:6, Ja 3:9)
Sinful human beings have ‘marred and distorted’ the image (Calvin, Rm 9:29, Col 3:10)
Christ replaced Adam as the head of the human race (1Co 15:22, 49, Rm 5:12-21) → This is the metaphysical basis for our sanctification
Christ himself is the image of God in a preeminent way (Heb 1:3, 2Co 4:4, Col 1:15, 1Co 15:49) → Seeing Christ we know what God intended for Adam to be
Holy Spirit remakes us in the image of Christ (Col 3:10, Rm 8:29, 2Co 3:18)
We have the breath of life (soul/ spirit) God breathed into Adam → 1) Rather than as distinct elements of our nature, spirit and soul in Scripture are usually interchangeable (1Th 5:23, Heb 12:23, Ja 2:26, 1Pt 3:19, Rev 6:9-10, 20:4)/ 2) The word soul or spirit can refer to a person’s existence apart from the body (Mt 26:41, 27:50, Lk 24:39, Jn 19:30, 1Co 2:11, 7:34, 2Co 7:1)

Systematic Theology : Personal Doctrinal Statements



1) Trinity
Def.) The doctrine that God eternally exists as three persons, Father, Son,
         and Holy Spirit and each person is fully God, and there is one God
       I believe in the eternal Triune God (Is 57:15; Rom 16:26; Heb 9:14; 13:8):
    o God is one being (Dt 6:4-5; Ex 15:11; Is 45:5-6; 45:21-22; 1 Tm 2:5;
         Rom 3:30; 1 Cor 8:6; Jas 2:19) and three persons, the Father, the Son, and
         the Holy Spirit.
    o The Father is God (Gn 1:1); Jesus is God (Jn 1:1-4; 20:28; Heb 1:10;
          Rom 9:5) and the Holy Spirit is God (Mt 28:19; Acts 5:34; Ps 139:7-8;
          1 Cor 2:10-11).
    o The Son is not the Father (Jn 1:1-2), and he advocates to the Father (1 Jn 2:1)
    o The Holy Sirit is not the Father, and he also intercedes to him (Rom 8:27)
    o The Holy Spirit is not the Son, but came after his ascension (Jn 16:7), and
         teaches the disciples (Jn 14:16). The Holy Spirit is not just a force but a
         person with intelligence (Jn 14:26; 15:26; Rom 8:16), will (Acts 16:7;
        1 Cor 12:11), and sffection (Is 63:10; Eph 4:30)

2) Human Nature
       I believe that man was created in the image of God (Gen 1:27), and God created
       man as male and female by miraculous act (Gen 2:7, 21-22, 5:2). So they were
       goo when created. But Man sinned against God by his own choice and brought
       sin into the human race (Gen 3). Only the grace of God can bring man into His
       holy fellowship and enable man to fulfill the creative purpose of God through
       regeneration by the Holy Spirit, who remakes us in the image of Christ (Col 3:10,
       Rm 8:29, 2Co 3:18).


3) SinDef.) Any failure to conform to the moral law of God in act, attitude, or nature
        I believe that man was created in the image of God but fell into sin and is
        therefore lost .
             o Adam and Eve commit sin by eating forbidden fruit (Gen 3:6)  They fell
         from our original righteousness and communion, with God(7:29,Rom 3:23)
         and so became dead in sin. (Gen 2:17)
       o So all men are counted guilty because of their sin (Rom 5:12).



4) Work of Christ      I believe that Jesus occupies three main offices: Prophet, Priest, and King and he
      fulfills these three offices perfectly.
     o As prophet, he reveals God to us and speaks God’s word to us.(Deut. 18:15-
        18, Matt. 16:14, John 4:19,Heb.1:1-2)
     o As priest, Jesus offered a perfect sacrifice for sin (Heb.4:14,9:24,9:26,10:4)
        and continually brings us near to God.(Heb.6:19-20,Luke 23:45,Heb.10:19-
        22) and prays for us.(Heb.7:25, Rom.8:34,Acts 25:24, Rom.11:2)
     o As king, Jesus rules over the church and over the universe as well.(Matt.2:2,
        John 18:36, Matt.4:17,23;12:28,26:64,2 Thes.1:7-10;Rev.19:11-16,Phil.2:10)


5) SalvationDef.) Salvation involves the redemption of the whole man, and is offered freely to all who accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, who by His own blood obtained eternal redemption for the believer.
      
       I believe that the blood of Jesus Christ and His resurrection provide the only
       ground for justification and salvation for all who believe, and thus become
       children of God by the Holy Spirit.
      o The blood of Jesus Christ (Gal 4:4-5; 1Ti 2:6; Ro 4:25) and His resurrection
         (1Pe 1:3-4; Heb 1:14, 6:12) provide the only ground for justification and
         salvation for all who believe.
      o Salvation comes through trusting Jesus, not by trying to earn our salvation
         through good works. (Gal 2:16)



6) Covenant
Def.) An unchangeable, divinely imposed legal agreement between God and man that stipulates the conditions of their relationship.
       I believe that God made covenant of works with man (Gen 26:3;28:15; 31:3;
       Ex 3:12) wherein life was promised to Adam and in him to his posterity, upon
       condition of perfect and personal obedience (Hosea 6:7;Rom 10:5;Gen 2:17;
       Gal 3:10) but after his fall, God made covenant of grace with man wherein He
       freely offers unto sinners life and salvation by Jesus Christ; requiring of faith in
       Him, that they may be saved, and promising to give eternal life (Gal 3:21;
       Gen 3:15; Rom 3:20; Isa 42:6; Mk 16:15; John 3:16; Rom 10:6; Gal 3:11).



7) ChurchDef.) The community of all true believers for all time.
       I believe that the church is the one (1 Cor. 12:11; Eph. 2:18, 4:3-4), holy
       (Heb. 2:11; 1 Pet. 1:15-16; John 17:17-19) universal (Mark 16:15; Gal 3:28;
       Matt. 28:20), and apostolic (Act. 2:42; 2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 1:6) community of
       all true believers for all time. I believe that Jesus Christ is the Lord and head of
       the Church, and that every local church has the right under Christ to decide and
       govern its own affairs. (Matt. 16:19; Eph. 3:10-11)



8) SacramentsI believe that the Sacrament is a church service or rite which was held to have been instituted by Jesus Christ himself (Mt 28:19; Mk 16:16; LK 22:19; 1 Cor 11:23, 25-26). In Protestant teaching, a ceremony or rite that the church observes as a sign of God’s grace and as one means by which those who are already justified receive God’s continuing grace in their lives. The two Protestant sacraments are baptism and the Lord’s Supper.



9) WorshipDef.) The activity of glorifying God in his presence with our voices and hearts.
       I believe that worship is the proper response to who God is, and it is our duty and
       privilege to bow before Him with adoration, reverence and awe. God alone is
       worthy of our worship. Worship is to the Father and Son through the Holy Spirit.
           o Worship is our proper response to who God is (1 Chr 16:29, Heb 12:29,
              Ps 96:4-8, Ps 95:6, Ps 150:6, Ps 61:8, Is 12:5, Ac 3:8-9).
           o Worship is our duty and privilege. (1 Chr 16:29, Ps 96:8)
           o God alone is worthy, there shall be no other God before Him. (Ex 34:14,
              2 Sam 22:4, Ex 20:3-5, Is 45:5, 21-23)



10) EschatologyDef.) The section of Christian theology dealing with the “last things,” especially the ideas of resurrection, hell, the last judgment, and eternal life.
       I believe in the return of Christ (Act 1:11; Rev. 1:7; Mt 16:27) and the final
       judgment of all men. (Acts 17:31; Matt. 11:36; Heb. 9:27; Rom 14:10, 12;
      1Chr 4:5; 2Tim 4:1)

Preaching_Num 27:16-18_Calling from God


Today, I want to share with you about ‘Calling from God.’

I have had leadership experience the army training camp for recruits. I had just became a soldier, the platoon commander already appointed one recruit to be a leader of my platoon. This guy was a Yonsei University student, very smart, handsome, got a good feature but he was too selfish. So every member didn’t like him. After 2 weeks later, we gathered in one place, in order to receive training. The training was rifle disassembly and assembly. Now I recall at that time, I don’t know how it happened to me. It was amazing and merciful time. I did it faster. It must be God’s plan for me. And then the commander of my platoon said to me, “Congratulation! Now you are the new leader of the recruits.” So, suddenly I became a leader. They knew already I am a Christian, so I can’t be nasty to them. It means that I had to treat carefully all of my duty as a Christian. I knew that they are watching me. During 6 weeks, I tried best as I can. And finally I understand that why God called me to be a leader of my platoon. Last day of our training, one guy confessed to me he want to be a Christian and he want to go to the church because me. For this reason, God wants to me serving others. If I was not a leader, probably I spend too much time grumbling about everything.
I believe it must be God’s will. (God’s purpose)


In the Bible Numbers chapter 27, the Israel was staying in the plains of Moab, God called Moses to go up to Mount Abarim. Moses not enter the land of Canaan because of his disobedience, he will die like his brother Aaron. He failed to show God’s holiness before the Israel. Moses and Aaron weren't permitted to enter the Promised Land with the new generation. Moses asked God to appoint a new leader.

v.16 "Let the Lord the God of the spirits of all flesh, appoint a man over the congregation 17 who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be as sheep that have no shepherd." (Num 27:16-18)
And God called Joshua’s name.
Why did God called Joshua as a leader?

I. God called Joshua to lead his people into the promised land. God chose Joshua as a new shepherd of Israel.
Joshua was the spirit is in him. God anointed him by the Holy Spirit. He followed God wholeheartedly. And God gave him Moses’ magisterial authority. God called Joshua as a leader of Israel. God chose Joshua to lead Israel enter into the promised land, Canaan.
Under Joshua's leadership, the nation worked together to defeat the pagan nations in Canaan and then establish the nation of Israel. He finished the purpose of God. To complete the salvation history, God is looking for his faithful servants. What about Jesus? Jesus also called people to follow him. And he wanted to accomplish God’s will. God calls Jesus for a purpose of his salvation.
What about you? If you are a Christian, it means you are forgiven from all your sin through Jesus Christ, God definitely called you. Why did God choose you?

II. God calls you to lead his people into the kingdom of heaven.
God always called his people in the bible. Every moment, God said, “Follow me! Abraham, follow me! Isaac, Jacob, Moses and Joshua follow me!”
And Jesus called his disciples, “Come, follow me and I will make you fishers of men."(Mt. 4:19)
And then Jesus invites you into His Great Commission "as disciples, to make disciples":
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”(Mt 28:19-20)

Serving in the Kingdom of God is not just for special people. It’s for everyone. We have one primary calling in life …to follow Jesus Christ. Jesus calls his followers to serve others. God wants to you to lead his people enter into the kingdom of heaven.



Conclusion: God called you for the purpose of his salvation. Wherever you are, God wants you to have an effect on other people. If you are a Christian, you must live as a disciple of Jesus. Since God calls you to follow Jesus. If we are disciples, we must go and make disciples. This is the rule of kingdom of heaven. If you want to follow Jesus more closely, take your time for a moment. As soon as you get home tonight, write down a small card: “God called me for a purpose of his salvation” and stick that card in your Bible. Every time you see that card, it’ll remind you that salvation is the purpose for which you’ve been called. And I hope when you’re reminded of that, that you’ll say a little prayer asking God to help you fulfill his purpose for your life every day.
“The kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”(Mt. 11:12)

Christian philosophy recommended Books


Theology. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1992.
* William Placher. Readings in the History of Christian Theology. Vols.1 and 2. Philadelphia: Westminster Press, 1988.

Aristotle, The Basic Works of Aristotle (NY: Random House, 1941). ed., Richard McKeon.
Ayer, A. J., Philosophy in the Twentieth Century (NY: Random House, 1984).
Edwards, Paul, ed., The Encyclopedia of Philosophy (NY: Macmillan, 1967). 8 vols.
Gadamer, Hans-Georg, Truth and Method (NY: Crossroad, 1982).
Heidegger, Martin, Being and Time (NY: Harper, 1962).
Hume, David, An Inquiry Concerning Human Understanding (NY: Liberal Arts Press, 1955).
James, William, Essays in Pragmatism (NY: Hafner, 1948, 1955).
Kant, Immanuel, Critique of Pure Reason, Abridged and Translated by Norman Kemp Smith (NY:
Random House, 1958).
Kierkegaard, Soren, Concluding Unscientific Postscript (Princeton: Princeton UP, 1941, 1968).
Leibniz, G. W., Selections (NY: Scribner’s, 1951).
Locke, John, An Essay Concerning Human Understanding (NY: Dover, 1959). 2 vols.
Nietzsche, Friedrich, The Birth of Tragedy and the Genealogy of Morals (Garden City: Doubleday,
1956).
Pascal, Blaise, Pensees (NY: Dutton, 1956).
Plato, Plato: The Collected Dialogues, ed. Edith Hamilton and Huntington Cairns (Princeton:
Princeton Univ. Press, 1961).
Pojman, Louis P., Classics of Philosophy (texts, with introductions) (NY: Oxford University Press,
1998).
Russell, Bertrand, The Basic Writings of Bertrand Russell (NY: Simon and Schuster, 1961). Spinoza,
Selections (NY: Scribner’s, 1930).
Wittgenstein L., Philosophical Investigations (NY: Macmillan, 1953, 1968).

Systematic Theology
        
Group Assignment Question


1. Trinity

2. Human Nature
Q: what is difference between God created human and other things? And first situation before falling sin
3. Sin
Q: what do do you think when is first origin of sin?
4. Work of Christ
Q: How about including the Sacrifice Jesus offered Himself for our sins as a Priest?
As king, what part Jesus rule over?
5. Salvation
Q:how do we become children of God?

6. Covenant
Q: what is chacter of covenant?

7. Church
Q: what is definition of church?

8. Sacraments
Q: definition of sacrament

9. Worship
Q: how do we worship God?

10. Eschatology
Q: good





Group Assignment Question
1. Trinity

2. Human Nature
Q: what do you think first orgin of Sin? Effect of Satan and adam’s choice?

3. Sin
Q: Not much to add or modify
4. Work of Christ
Q: As king how Jesus rule over the church when he came to earth?
5. Salvation
Q: Not much to add or modify…

6. Covenant
Q: what is difference between old covenant and new covenant?

7. Church
Q: Not much to add or modify…

8. Sacraments
Q: materials of sacrament? detail explain
9. Worship
Q: Why we worship God?

10. Eschatology
Q: what happen when Jesus come again?

The Problem of Evil

Theologian: Augustine of Hippo, Philosopher: Plotinus,


1. Background
- Augustine failed to have the answer of the origin of evil from Cicero, Manichaeism.
- He tried to use the Neo-Platonic doctrine to explain the problem of evil.


2. Augustine’s explanation of the problem of Evil
a. The nature of evil; The evil is a privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.
b. The origin of evil: Augustine pointed that the free choice of the will is the reason of human being’s committing sin and suffering


3. The Premises to get to the solution
-‘God is all-good and all-powerful.
-The whole creation is good; “God created good creatures.” (Conf. 7, 5, 7)


4. Influence of Neo-Platonism on Augustine’s Theodicy
a. Understanding of God and evil in Neo-Platonism
-The Supreme Being, the ultimate One, is in one of its aspects the God; and evil has no place or part in it.Augustine: The nature of evil; the evil is privation of all good, so the evil is absolutely nothing.
b. Hierarchical system of Plotinus and Augustine’s adoption:-Plotinus system begins with the One, the supreme transcendent principle, which is immaterial and impersonal. The One is the ground of all being and source of all values.  there proceeded by emanation Mind (nous)the next is the World Soul(psyche)the lowest level; Nature (Evangelical dictionary of theology, p. 821)
Augustine: “all natures, then, inasmuch as they are, and have therefore a rank and species of their own, and a kind of internal harmony, are certainly good” (City of God)



5. Evaluation
- The “privation” theory is not satisfactory. If God created all and governs all things, the privations as well as the actualities are within his plan.
-Augustine rejects the ancient Platonic, neo-Platonic, Gnostic and Manichaean prejudice against matter and lays the foundation for Christian naturalism that rejoices in this world which God created in His bountiful goodness.

Genesis 1:31: “God saw all that had made, and it was very good” 
“But you had not yet ‘lightened my darkness’ (Psalms 17:29)”-Confession, 7. 1.2.