Wednesday, January 17, 2007

A Summary Poem

What do we affirm?
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

Sunday, January 14, 2007

Picture Time (December 2006)

Finally a Pic of the Housemates! Thought you might enjoy a few pictures from the Christmas holidays as well!
I'm planning on coming to Texas for Sean Gould's wedding on January 27th, and then coming to Central Baptist on Sunday. Hope to see some of you there! May the joy of the presence of Christ be center of your life!
j










My new nephew, Hayden Evans, also known as "The Little Naked"












The Calcote and Evans Family Christmas photo!










The All Nations ESL Christmas Party Christmas Story Skit! Gabriel ("the purple fairy looking one") is announcing to shepherds ("the head-banded guys holding stuffed sheep") that Jesus has been born to Mary ("the Chinese girl who put on an immediate 12 inches in the belly")!