My Theology

Primary Beliefs:


Monotheism - I believe that there is only one true God as revealed by the holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments.

Humankind - I believe that all of humankind is corrupt and inherently sinful.

Jesus Christ - I believe that Jesus came to Earth as both fully human and fully God to redeem His people. He is the only way to God.

The Cross - I believe that Jesus died on the cross to make atonement for the sins of His people and to be the propitiation for the sins of the world.

Resurrection - I believe that Jesus was raised from the dead after three days in the tomb. He is no longer dead but alive and because of this there is hope.

God as Creator - I believe that God created the world and every living thing and He gave it all a purpose. He made male and female in His image.

Trinity - I believe that God is three persons but one essence. He is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

The Return of Christ - Though the day and hour are known by no one, only the Father, Jesus will return to the Earth and judge the whole world. He will establish His kingdom and reign as King.


Other Theological Beliefs:


Total Depravity - All of humankind is depraved and sinful. "As it is written, 'There are none righteous, not even one; there is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God.'" (Romans 3:10-11)

Unconditional Election - God chooses those He will save according to His will and not to any kind of merit of the individual.

Limited Atonement - Jesus died only for the elect (those He has chosen.) The atonement was sufficient for all but was not extended to all.

Irresistible Grace - When God calls the elect to salvation, they cannot resist. By the work of the Holy Spirit the elect are "pulled" towards God and they are saved by His grace.

Perseverance of the Saints - Salvation cannot be lost; salvation is eternally secure.


My Critique of the Articles of Faith
(as found in Criswell College's catalog) 


III. MAN
"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." 


I have an issue with the wording of "free choice." It seems to imply that man could have chosen not to sin when man was already predestined to sin. I think "choice" would have sufficed because from the perspective of man we do have a choice. However, "free choice" seems to put too much emphasis on that the choice was free when in fact that choice had already been decided. 


X. LAST THINGS
"According to His promise, Jesus Christ will return personally and visibly in glory to the earth; the dead in Christ will rise first, then we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. After the judgments of God upon this sinful world in the Great Tribulation, Jesus our Lord will come with his saints to establish His millennial kingdom. 


I can't say that I agree or disagree with this timeline of events. I am unsure of how these things will transpire and I'm not sure I hold to the pre-trib, pre-mill view.