A Summary Poem
Dedicated to Joey Rigney
The study of God is most crucial to know[1] (Importance of Systematic Theology)
And the change of the heart the result we pray follow[2] (Why Systematic Theology?)
Understanding to testify to all and our heart[3]
Is a fruit of our study that we long to impart (Why Systematic Theology?)
The Bible as God’s word though written through men[4] (Inspiration)
Every word perfect[5] (Inerrant), not affected by sin[6] (Infallible)
Binding on all hearts regardless of will[7] (Authoritative)
Sovereignly selected by recognition, not bestowal (Canon)
The perspicuous [8] (Clarity), vital [9] (Necessity) word of Christ, we must aim
To comprehend fully [10] (Man’s role in understanding), though all hope is in His name[11]
(God’s role in understanding)
As revealed by His Spirit[12], Eternal Love of The Three[13]
Holy Author and Image, All delighted that we
Should now share in the joy that They’ve known all along[14]
Father Leads[15], Christ submits[16], Spirit humble and strong[17]
God in Existence, Understanding and Will
All equal in essence, partial mystery reveal (Trinity)
All knowledge and control over present and past[18]
And future especially, working good that will last [19](Foreknowledge)
Nothing’s open for nothing is out of His hand [20](Open-theism)
Who both wills and too works all according to plan[21] (Sovereignty and Government)
Though He working in freedom, gives freedom to we
Such that He now works through us, glorious mystery [22](Concurrence)
He who promised His purposes to us will fulfill
Through the labors of he, who comes both to steal and to kill[23] (Preservation)
God ordaining the horrible evil He hates,
His good motives through all men, elect or reprobate[24] (Sovereignty)
We do now fear His freedom, like no other possess
Trusting logic is sure to cause all to transgress[25] (Freedom)
God chose us in Christ before the world was
His grace, glory and love both the effect and the cause[26] (Election)
Our Self-Sufficient Bowl of Joy, overflows into Light
Making all things to praise His Omnipotent might [27](Creation)
He spoke out of nothing, and all things came forth
He existing forever, He defining true north [28](Creation)
So the heavenly beings, both the good ones and bad
All existing to serve Him, former happy, latter sad [29](Angels and Demons)
In My Image I’ll make him, said God of the man,
He’ll be good, and thus like me, able to delight in the work of his hand[30]
(Man in God’s Image)
Equal value and dignity men and women each possess
Different roles and authority given, Christ-church photo manifest[31] (Gender Roles)
Death through Adam, our own representative head
Trading joy for glory that’s not real, lies instead [32](Sin)
Total impotence to please our Creator and Lord
In slavery, delighting to play the whore [33](Sin)
God and man in fullest hue
Christ the color, now offered to you [34](The Person of Christ)
Though two natures, He one both at the same time,
Taking on human nature, yet eternally divine [35](The Person of Christ)
Virgin-born and Spirit-conceived
Dual natures distinct, neither mixed nor achieved [36](The Person of Christ)
The perfectly righteous, crucified, risen Jesus
The firstfruits intercedes and guarantees He us [37](The Resurrection of Christ)
That we are and will be raised and seated in heaven
All our hope and our faith fixed on body resurrection[38] (The Resurrection of the Elect)
Delivered over for our transgression and sin,
Raised to life for our justification, He and we win[39] (The Resurrection of Christ)
His atonement is penal and substitutionary,
He bought my forgiveness, imputing His righteousness to me[40]
(The Nature of the Atonement)
Jesus dying to offer all forgiveness need not be diminished
His blood saving His sheep/bride/elect, “It is finished!”[41]
(The Extent of the Atonement)
[1] Phil. 3:10, Hosea 6:3, John 17:3, Matt.7:23
[2] Eph.1:18-19a, Acts 26:18
[3] 1 Peter 3:15, 2 Cor.13:5, John 13:35, John 15:8-11, Col. 1:9-10
[4] 2 Tim.3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21
[5] Prov. 30:5, Ps. 119:89-90, Num. 23:19
[6] John 17:17, Prov. 30:5, Ps. 12:6, Ps. 18:30
[7] Heb. 4:12-13
[8] 1 Cor.2:6-16
[9] Rom. 16:25-27, Eph. 3:1-12, 1 Cor. 2:7,14-16
[10] 2 Tim.2:15, John 17:17, Hosea 6:3, Phil. 2:12-13
[11] 1 Cor. 2:10-16, 2 Cor. 4:6
[12] John 16:13-15, John 14:16,17,26, 1 Cor. 2:10-16
[13] Rom. 5:5, 1 John 4:8,12,13,18, John 14:21,23, John 17:23
[14] Ps.16:11, John 16:22, John 17:13,24,26, Ps.21:6
[15] John 5:19-20, John 5-30-32, John 14:10,24, 1 Cor. 8:6, Rom. 11:36
[16] Matt. 26:39, John 5:30, Phil. 2:5-11, 2 Cor. 8:9, Matt. 20:28, John 10:18
[17] John 16:14, Zech. 4:6, 1 Peter 4:11, Eph. 3:16, 1 Cor. 12:11
[18] Eph. 1:11, Isa. 46:9-10, Ps. 24:1, Ps. 115:3, Dan. 4:35
[19] Rom. 8:28, Eph. 1:1, Gen. 18:25, Dan. 4:37, Ps. 118:1, Deut. 32:4, 1 John 1:5, Rom. 3:4
[20] Dan. 4:35, 1 Tim. 6:15-16, 1 Tim. 1:17, Isa. 42:8-9, Isa. 46:10, Ps. 135:6
[21] Dan. 4:35, Ps. 115:3, Eph. 1:11, Eph. 3:11, 1 Cor. 8:6, Ps. 33:11, Isa. 46:8, Job 42:2
[22] Phil. 2:12-13, Heb. 13:20-21, Prov. 20:24, Prov. 16:9
[23] Rom. 8:28-32, Prov. 16:4, Isa.54:16-17, John 10:10, Job 1:21
[24] Prov. 21:1, Gen. 45:5, Gen. 50:20, Isa. 10:5-7,12, Acts 2:22, Acts 4:27, Exod. 4:11,21, Lam. 3:38, Isa. 45:7
[25] Isa. 40:13-18, Exod. 33:19-20, Ps. 115:3, Rom. 11:34-35, Ps. 96:4, 1 Cor. 2:14, 1 Cor. 3:18-20
[26] Eph. 1:4, Rom. 9:16, Eph. 1:11, Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 8:29,30, 33, 2 Thes. 2:13, Rom. 11:5-6, 2 Tim. 1:8-9
[27] Acts 17:25-26, Gen. 1:3, Ps. 16:11, 2 Cor. 4:6, Isa. 48:9-11, Ps. 66:4, Ps. 86:9, Eph. 1:11
[28] Gen. 1:1, Exod. 3:14, Eph. 3:20, 1 Tim. 6:15-16, Gen. 1:1-3, John 14:6, John 17:17
[29] Heb. 1:14, Job 1:12, Job 2:6, Prov. 16:4, Col. 1:16, 1 Cor. 4:9
[30] Gen. 1:26-31
[31] Gal. 3:26-29, 1 Peter 3:7, Eph. 5:21-33, 1 Cor. 11:3,9, Rom. 5:12-19, 1 Cor. 15:22, Gen. 2:18, 23, 3:9
[32] Rom. 5:12-19, Eph. 2:1-3, Rom. 8:7-8, Gen. 3:1-7, 17-19, John 10:10, John 8:44
[33] Rom. 8:6-8, Rom. 6:23, Gal. 6:8, Hosea 4:10, 12-15, 18, 7:4
[34] Gal. 4:4, Luke 1:35, John 1:1-4, John 1:18, Heb. 1:3, John 16:30, Rev. 1:17-18, Col. 2:9, Heb. 2:14-17
[35] Heb. 4:15, Mark 4:35-41, Matt. 3:17, Rom. 1:4, Phil. 2:5-11, Gal. 4:4
[36] Gal. 4:4, Rom. 8:3, Luke 1:26-38, 1 Tim. 2:5, Heb. 4:15, John 1:1, John 18:37, Rom. 8:3, Ps. 2:6-9
[37] 2 Cor. 5:21, Acts 3:13-15, Heb. 4:15, Heb. 7:25-27, 1 Peter 2:22,24, 1 John 3:5, 1 Cor. 15:3-5, 20-28
[38] Eph. 2:4-7, Col. 2:12, Eph. 1:20, 1 Peter 1:3-5, 1 Peter 1:13, 1 Cor. 15:16-23, 42-49
[39] Rom. 4:25, Isa. 53:4-5, Rom. 5:6-8, Rom. 5:1, Rom. 8:32, Gal. 2:20-21, Eph. 5:2, Rom. 5:18, 2 Cor. 5:15
[40] 2 Cor. 5:21, Rom. 3:24-26, Isa. 53:6, 12, Gal. 3:13, 1 Peter 2:24, Heb. 2:17, 1 John 2:2, 1 John 4:10
[41] John 10:11, 15, Acts 10:43, 20:28, Rom. 8:32-34, Eph. 5:25, John 17:9, Rom. 5:8, Acts 2:38, John 6:37