Baptist Doctrine is a course of study in the great doctrines of the faith.

1. THE OBJECTIVES OF THE COURSE

   A. General Objectives.

   1. To introduce the student to the field of systematic theology.

   2. To give the student a general understanding of the doctrines of the
   Word of God.

   B. Specific Objectives.

   1. To enable the student to use the Bible skillfully through a sound
   understanding of basic doctrine.

   2. To effect [....]

   3. To see [....]

   4. To prepare [....]

   5. To acquaint [....]

   6. To stimulate [....]

2. REQUIRED TEXT

   A. "Landmarks Of Baptist Doctrine" by Pastor Robert J. Sargent

   B. "Elemental Theology" by E. H. B. [CB]
   [....]   (1977)

   [...]

Like all books written by men, it is not infallible.   In fact there are
several points to be aware of concerning this particular theology:
*   It corrects the Word of God (A.V. 1611) in many places.
*   It teaches the "Gap Theory" of Creation.
*   It teaches some of the doctrines of John Calvin.
*   It teaches the "Universal Church" concept.   (The student
     is asked to ignore chapter 8.)

3. THE GRADING OF THE COURSE

4. DEFINITION OF TERMS

   1. Doctrine.
      The word "doctrine" is derived from the Latin "docere," meaning "to
      teach."

      The Greek word translated "doctrine" in the Bible is "didaskalian" (from
      whence we get our English word, didactic), meaning "teaching."

      Thus "doctrine" may be defined as "teaching," in particular, BIBLE
      TEACHING.

   2. Theology.
      The word "theology" is derived from two Greek words, "theos" ("God")
      and "logos" ("expression, rational expression.")

      Thus defined, Theology is the "science of God."

   3. Dogma.
      The word "dogma" is a Greek word which means "tenet," or "to think."

      Dogma and Doctrine are often used interchangeably, but dogma is best
      applied to "church" beliefs.

   4. Creed.
      The word "creed" comes from the Latin "credo," meaning "I believe."   It
      refers to one's personal beliefs about something.

   5. Doctrine, Theology, Dogma, And Creed Distinguished.
      Although often used interchangeably, there are nuances of meaning for
      each of the words:

1. Doctrine, Dogma, And Creed are the FRUIT of Theology.
   Theology asks, "Why?"--Doctrine states "What!"
   [...]
2. Doctrine, Dogma, And Creed are fruits from different standpoints.
   Doctrine = what the BIBLE teaches
   Dogma = what the CHURCH teaches
   Creed = what I believe
5. THE AREAS OF THEOLOGICAL STUDY

   Theology has many branches, the major ones being:

   A. Ethnic Theology -- Comparative religion

   B. Exegetical Theology -- Biblical languages, criticism, etc.

   C. Biblical Theology -- Progressive study of the Bible

   D. Systematic Theology -- Doctrinal study of the Bible

   E. Practical Theology -- Church order, Pastoral, Evangelism, etc.

   F. Historical Theology -- Archaeology, Life Of Christ, Church
                                             History, etc.

6. SYSTEMATIC THEOLOGY

   [...] These groups are:

   A. Bibliology -- The Doctrine of the Scriptures

   B. Theology Proper -- The Doctrine of God

   C. Christology -- The Doctrine of Christ

   D. Pneumatology -- The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

   E. Anthropology -- The Doctrine of Man

F. Hamartiology -- The Doctrine of Sin

G. Soteriology -- The Doctrine of Salvation

H. Ecclesiology -- The Doctrine of the Church

I. Angelology -- The Doctrine of Angels and Satan

J. Eschatology -- The Doctrine of Last Things

7. THE SCHOOLS OF THEOLOGY

   [...]

   Some of the common standpoints in Theology are:

   A. Roman Catholic Theology.
   [...]

   B. Conservative Protestant Theology.
   [...] based upon "historic" beliefs and doctrine.

   C. Liberal Protestant Theology.
   [...]

   D. Reformed Protestant Theology.
   [...]

   E. Arminian Protestant Theology.
   [...]

   F. Neo-Orthodox Theology.
   [...]

   G. New Evangelicalism.
   [...]

H. Fundamentalist Theology.
[...]   Its greatest failing is that it overlooks the
doctrine of the [local] Church.

I. Bible-Believing Theology.
This is the theology of believing what the Bible says--in all things.   It ought
to be the stand of every Baptist.

8. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BAPTIST DOCTRINE AND
   OTHER DOCTRINE
   [...]

   Some of the more obvious ones are:

   * Infant sprinkling
   * Baptismal regeneration
   * State-Church system
   * Hierarchical form of church government
   * Transubstantiation or Consubstantiation
   * Formalism and ritualism

9. THE IMPORTANCE OF DOCTRINE

   A study of Doctrine is extremely important for the following reasons:

   A. It Is A Command Of God.
        II Timothy 2:15

   B. It Is Required Of Preachers.
        Titus 1:9

C. It Is Required Of All Believers.
     I Peter 3:15

D. It Is Sorely Needed In These Days.
     I Timothy 4:1; II Timothy 3:1-5, 13,14; 4:2,3; Jude 3

E. It Produces Men Of God.
     I Corinthians 16:13

F. It Molds Character.
     Proverbs 23:7

10. SOME RULES OF DOCTRINE

    1. "If the plain sense makes common sense, seek no other sense lest it
       all becomes nonsense."

    2. "[...]"

    3. "Make sure you major on the majors--don't major on the minors."

    4. "To know things as they are is better than to believe things as they
       seem."

By "essence" we mean [...]

1. THE ESSENCE OF GOD REVEALED IN JOHN 4:24

   A. God Is Life.
   John 4:24

   1. What Is Life?

   2. Other Scriptures Declare God Is Life.
   John 5:26; Jeremiah 10:10; Acts 14:15.

   3. Comparative Examples Show God To Be Living.
   [...]
   Compare Jeremiah 10:10-16 with Habbakuk 2:18-20.

   B. God Is Spirit. (vs. Materialism)
   The context of John 4:24 aids the understanding this Scripture.   The
   woman of Samaria was actually asking where God was to be
   found--Jerusalem or Gerizim?   [...]

Page 93

1. What Does This Involve?

   a. God Is Incorporeal (without body)--Luke 24:39

   b. God is Invisible (not seen)--Colossians 1:15; I Timothy 1:17
   See also: Romans 1:20; I Timothy 6:16.

   c. God is Unlimited (not contained)-- Psalm 139:7

2. Some Difficulties To Be Explained.

   a. [...]
   (Hebrews 1:10), (Psalm 8:3), (II Chronicles 16:9;
   Isaiah 59:1), (Numbers 11:23), (Deuteronomy 33:27),
   etc.

   b. [...], yet John 1:18 says
   no man can see God.

3. What Does This Mean?
   John 4:24 means that God is not apprehended through our senses (as
   per Charismatics), but by our spirit.

   a. In Spirit [...]
   John 4:20,21; Acts 7:48; 17:24,25.

   b. In Truth [...]
   John 4:22; 17:17; I John 4:6; Isaiah 8:20.

4. Other Scriptures Declare God To Be Immaterial.
   [...]
   See: Deuteronomy 4:15-20,23.
3. God Is A Person. (vs. Pantheism)

   [...]

   Personality involves 3 things:

   a. Intellect--power of thinking.   "I KNOW." e.g. Exodus 3:7.

   b. Sensibility--power of feeling.   "I FEEL." e.g. Exodus 2:24,25.

   c. Volition--power of willing.   "I WILL" e.g. Exodus 3:17.

God has Personality because:

1. He Has Personal Names.
          See Unit 2, Lecture 6.   Exodus 3:14; Psalm 23:1; Judges 6:24

2. He Is Contrasted With "Dead" Idols.
See Jeremiah 10:10-16.

3. He Is Addressed By Personal Pronouns.
e.g. John 17:3; Psalm 16:1,2.

4. He Has The Characteristics Of Personality.

a. Grief.
Genesis 6:6

b. Anger.
I Kings 11:9

c. Jealousy.
Deuteronomy 6:15

d. Love.
Revelation 3:19

e. Hatred.
Proverbs 6:16

5. God is the "I AM" and the "I WILL".
Exodus 3:14--
Exodus 6:6-8--

6. He Has A Personal Relationship To The Universe.

a. He created it.
This shows interest.

b. He sustains it--Hebrews 1:3; Colossians 1:17.
This shows concern.

7. He Has A Personal Relationship With Man.
[...]

e.g. In salvation--a Father/child relationship.

2. THE NATURE OF GOD--HIS UNITY
   (vs. Polytheism, Dualism, Tritheism)

   1. The Meaning Of The "Unity" Of God.
      By this we mean a "unity of essence"--not personality.

Page 95

[...]

2. Scriptures Declares The Unity Of God.

3. Scriptural Use Of The Word "One".
3. THE NATURE OF GOD--THE TRINITY
   (vs. Unitarianism)