Foreword by Pastor Oge C.

Ogwe

Simplified Fundamentals of
Systematic Theology

A practical workbook with practice quizzes for Christians who are new
to theology

Lekan Olayinka
Table of Content

Foreword
Introduction
1. Basics of Systematic Theology
2. Theology Proper or Paterology
3. Theological Anthropology
4. Hamartiology
5. Christology
6. Soteriology
7. Pneumatology
8. Ecclesiology
9. Eschatology
 Foreword

Proverbs 25:2 KJVS

It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search
out a matter.

To contemplate the divine is the highest honor of the mortal. What God
conceals about himself, kings must search out, for this is the whole
purpose of man; to seek the face of God and know his divine touch. From
typologies and symbolisms in the letters and writings of Moses to the
parables in the teachings of Jesus, across different time eras and in
different methodologies, God has revealed himself through clues that man
is honored to search out and piece together.

The New Testament is in the Old Testament concealed and the Old
Testament is in the New Testament revealed. We now live in a dispensation
of revelation, where the revelation of God is not scarce. From the
exegetical writings of the apostle Paul to the poetic writings of John the
Beloved, so much about God is revealed and so much about God can be
seen. This encourages us to pursue the knowledge of the divine and it
dares us to know God. That’s what this body of work is all about. The
pursuit of the divine.

Many times, the window to a deep spiritual experience begins with rich
intellectual stimulation. However, the end of intellectual exercises of this
fashion must be worship and wonder. Where like The Apostle Thomas, we
cry “The lord of me, the God of me”. Where like Paul we behold the
goodness of God and we exclaim “That I may know him!” For truly, the
more we know him, the more we want to know him.
I reckon that there may be many points to be denigrated and conversed
upon in this body of work. I expect that you may have many things you do
not agree with in this document. That’s fine. However, I advise that you do
your best to not allow the distraction to draw your attention from the person
of Jesus; for that’s who we have truly come here to seek.

In John 5:39, Our lord said that the Pharisees searched the scriptures
thinking that the experience of eternal life could be gleaned solely from
intellectually engaging with scriptures. He further commented on the fact
that they had forgotten that scriptures testify of him. If I may be bold to
announce to you that theology points to Jesus. Every pursuit of God would
begin and end in Jesus! That’s what the author of this body of work hopes
you leave with a revelation of Jesus. So like Paul, let me leave you with this
prayer:

I pray for you, that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,
may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of
him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know
what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his
inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power
to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
Which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead and set him
at his right hand in the heavenly places,
Amen.

Oge C Ogwe
Pastor, Circle Church Global
 Introduction

Many Christians find theology intimidating, and I completely empathize with

that sentiment. The intricacies of theological concepts can be
overwhelming, with terminology that seems unnecessarily complex.
Consequently, many individuals prefer to engage directly with the Bible
rather than navigate the intricate systems of theology.

However, avoiding theology should not be considered a justifiable reason to

neglect its study. Theological understanding is crucial for Christians, as it
serves as the foundation of their faith. Without a grasp of fundamental
theological principles, one's comprehension of the Bible remains
incomplete and skeletal.

While you may feel confident in your understanding of scripture, this

confidence may be tested when confronted with complex issues within
Christianity. In such instances, a more systematic knowledge of the Bible
becomes indispensable.

Consider, for example, the question of whether believers can go to hell.

Without a comprehensive understanding of what the entire Bible
communicates on this matter, providing a meaningful answer becomes
challenging.

This underscores the importance of theology. It provides the framework for

connecting all aspects of the Bible, revealing the interrelated nature of its
teachings. In my personal view, a thorough knowledge of these
connections cannot be solely achieved through individual reflection.

Motivated by this conviction, I have crafted a simple workbook on the

fundamentals of Christian theology. It presents the basics in a concise and
easily understandable manner, catering to laypersons seeking clarity.

The book is structured like a course, with each lesson divided into modules.
To reinforce learning, practice quizzes are included at the end of each
module. This course has benefited thousands of individuals, transforming
their understanding of God. The lessons are thoughtfully arranged for
optimal comprehension. I recommend having a notepad and pen on hand
to jot down key insights as you progress.

I am genuinely excited about the transformation you will undergo as you

engage with this material. Are you ready? Let's embark on this journey
together!
 Welcome to the First Lesson
Title: Basics of Systematic Theology

In this lesson, we will explore in a layman's way:

What systematic theology is

The Five "S" of Systematic Theology

Why we need to study theology

Relevance of revelation and scripture in theology

Forms and sources of revelation

So are you ready? Let's dive in!

What is systematic theology? We will give a long definition first, then break
it down.

Systematic theology is the coherent and comprehensive study of

everything we know about God, His creation, and His relationship with us
using the Bible as the ultimate source of authority alongside other extra
sources, in an understandable way to the contemporary audience for the
building of God's people and God's glory. Let's break it down.

Five key things in that rather long definition can help you understand it.
They are the five "S" of systematic theology:
Subject Matter

The subject matter of systematic theology is God, His creation, and His
relationship with us. That means when we study theology, what we are
looking for is who God is, and what He wants with us.

Sources

The sources of theology are church history, nature, and the Bible as the
ultimate authority. These are the major sources from which we draw
theology.

So the works of church leaders, the majesty of creation, and the written
word of God are the sources of theology.

Structure

The structure of theology is coherent and comprehensive. Coherent means

it's arranged in the right order. E.g. The study of sin comes before
salvation. Comprehensive means it covers everything about God.
Everything.

Setting

The setting of ST must be understandable and applicable to the

contemporary audience being taught. This means the way theology was
taught in the 15th century can't be the same as it was in 2023.

Satisfaction

Satisfaction means the purpose of theology. The satisfaction of theology is

that God's people grow in God to the praise of His holy name.

There you have it. That's systematic theology in a nutshell!

Quick Recap

Systematic Theology is the study of everything we know about God.

The sources of this knowledge are church history, creation, and the Bible.

The focus of it is God, His creation, and His relationship with us.

The structure of theology is coherent and comprehensive.

The setting of this knowledge must be understandable and applicable to

contemporary audiences.

Its satisfaction is to strengthen God's people to God's glory.

Practice Quiz

How many S(s) of systematic theology are there?

Which of the S of Systematic theology deals with its understandability and

relevance to contemporary audiences?

Which of the “S” deals with avenues from which we get the knowledge of
theology?

Congrats! You’ve completed the 1st module.

 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module Two of Basics of Systematic Theology

Title: Why We Study Theology

One minister is famously quoted saying, "I love flowers but hate botany."
He said this to say he loves the Bible but hates theology. Truth is many
Christians are like this.

This is understandable. Theology may be a bit much at times, but we

seriously need it. Here are the four major reasons why we need theology:

To get the full scope of the Bible

Systematic theology helps us see the Bible from a comprehensive vantage

point. We can know what a chapter is saying, but there are 1,189 chapters
in the Bible. What is the ONE thing they are all saying? Systematic
theology helps us know what ALL scripture says.

Interpretative Guide

Systematic theology helps us interpret the Bible accurately to reflect what

each author of the book was trying to say when he wrote it. This way we
don't interpret the Bible to make it contradict itself.

E.g. In the Old Testament, you sacrificed an animal for the atonement of
your sin. Now we've interpreted that act to be a pointer to Christ's
atonement on the cross.

By knowing the full scope of the Bible, we rightly interpreted that act. This is
why systematic theology is important.

Religious Pluralism
The world is full of many religions now. That's not even the problem. The
problem is they are advocating a common ground for all religions. A form of
tolerance where all of them are blended to form one tolerable unit.

Why is this a problem? If this happens the essence of the Christian faith as
the one true religion is removed. Systematic theology is important so we
can fully understand our faith, and clearly distinguish it from other religions
of the world.

This is perhaps the most important reason for systematic theology.

Head, Heart, Hand, Habitat

The knowledge of God must start in our head. This is knowledge. Then
goes to our hearts. That's shaping our person. Then our hands. This is
changing our day-to-day life. Then our habitat. This is affecting our
surroundings.

Systematic Theology is so arranged in its delivery that it presents the

knowledge of God to us in this beautiful order. There are many other
reasons why you need to understand theology as a Christian. But these are
the cardinal ones.

There you have it! All four reasons for studying systematic theology.

Quick Recap

We study theology because it helps us:

See the full scope of the whole Bible.

Interpret the bible accurately lest we contradict it.

Differentiate Christianity from other religions of the world.

Internalize the transformative knowledge of God wholly.

Practice Quiz

How many reasons are there for studying theology?

Which are the first 2 reasons?

Which of the reasons deals with how we internalize the knowledge of God?

Congrats! You have completed the 2nd module.

 MODULE 3

Welcome to Module 3 of Basics of Systematic Theology

Title: The Significance of Revelation in Theology

You remember that systematic theology is all we know about God and His
relationship with us. Now, how did we come by that knowledge? This is
revelation. Revelation simply means to uncover something. Imagine you
got a birthday present.

You then get home only to see it wrapped. You are told you can't unwrap it
till 10 P.M. When 10 P.M. hits and you open it, that is revelation. The same
thing God did. He revealed Himself to us. How?

Let's see Ps. 19 v 1-4

“The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display His
craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they
make him known. They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never
heard. Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to
all the world. God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.”

The Bible shows here that the inaudible wonders of creations reveal God's
glory. God chose that He would be known, and be uncovered. We can
claim to know God because He revealed Himself to the world. This is how
revelation is significant to systematic theology.

Another verse that shows this is Rom. 1 v 20, where creation reveals God's
nature and power:

“For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal
power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from
what has been made so that people are without excuse.”

Another verse that established that we only know God because He

revealed Himself:
Matt.11:25-27

“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and
earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding
and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”

So, God revealed Himself is how we know Him.

There you have it. The significance of revelation in theology.

Quick Recap

Revelation is how we know all we know about God.

God chose to reveal Himself to us, otherwise, we wouldn't know.

Creation reveals God's power and His nature.

Congrats! You have completed module 3.

 MODULE 4

Welcome to Module 4 of Basics of Systematic Theology

Module title: Sources of Revelation

We established that God chose to reveal Himself to the world. There are
two types of revelation:

General revelation

Specific revelation

General revelation

This is simply God's knowledge that's accessible to everyone in the world.

This is mainly God's power and wisdom. The avenues for this revelation
are creation and conscience.

You don't have to be a Christian to have general revelation. Nature points

to His power. Human conscience also points us to God in our moral
actions. However, it isn't sustainable to know God, as even conscience can
be eroded by sin.

So, general revelation is general knowledge of God's power known to all.

Its sources are nature and the human conscience.

Specific Revelation

These are the special things about God that aren't accessible to everyone
in knowledge, only selected people. An example is the trinity of God. This is
a knowledge known to believers. Another one is the Holy Spirit and His
acts in people. Here are the sources-
Encounters

We have a special revelation of God through encounters. A good example

is Abraham. What he knows about God, His covenant, etc. Noah
encountered God, Moses did, etc. This is the first source of specific
revelation.

Mighty Acts

Miracles that God has done in the Bible reveal His person to us. E.g.
dividing the Red Sea.

Propositional revelation

This means revelations about God are conveyed through document

mediums, like the Bible.

Incarnation

Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God! He combines the encounter, as in

Him we encountered God physically. He adds the mighty act, as it is a
mighty act that the Word became flesh. He adds the propositional, as God
now speaks to us in His Son - Heb. 1:1.

There you have it! The sources of revelation.

Quick Recap

There are two types of revelations.

They are both general and specific.

General is available to all through nature and conscience.

Specific is available to some through encounters, mighty acts, scripture,

and incarnation.

Incarnation is the ultimate revelation.

Practice Quiz

How many types of revelations are there?

What are the two sources of general revelation?

What are the four sources of specific revelation?

Congrats! You’ve completed module 4.

 MODULE 5

Welcome to Module 5 of Basics of Systematic Theology

Title: Inspiration and Inerrancy of Scripture

Remember from the five S of systematic theology we said scripture is the

ultimate source of theology. What makes scripture that authoritative?

It is because it is the breath of God. The Bible is God's breath. This is the
doctrine of inspiration. The Greek word is theopneustia meaning
God-breathed - 2 Tim. 3 v 16-17.

Another verse for inspiration is 2 Pet. 1 v 20-21:

"Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private

interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men
of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit."

So scripture was written under the inspiration of God. There are two ways
to understand inspiration:

Divine Dictation or Verbal Inspiration

This view asserts that the sacred texts are directly dictated by God to the
human authors. The human writers serve as passive instruments,
essentially taking down the words of God without any personal influence or
interpretation.

Beliefs about divine dictation

The texts are considered inerrant, free from any errors or contradictions, as
they are the literal words of God.
The human authors are seen as instruments used by God, and their
individual styles and personalities are often considered secondary to the
divine message.

Dynamic or Conceptual Inspiration

This view acknowledges that human authors were actively involved in the
writing process, and God inspired the concepts, thoughts, or ideas rather
than dictating specific words. The writers' unique personalities, cultural
contexts, and writing styles are taken into account.

Beliefs about dynamic inspiration

While the inspiration is still attributed to God, there is an understanding that

the human authors played a more active role in expressing divine truths in
their own words and cultural context.

The potential for minor errors or cultural influences in the text is

acknowledged, but the overall message is considered divinely inspired.

This brings us to inerrancy. The belief that the Bible is without error in
all its content.

If it's indeed theospneustia, then it is inerrant, which means without error.

And infallible, that is incapable of making mistakes. But there's an issue
with this position. How inerrant is the Bible? Is it totally flawless both in
structure and meaning?

The Bible contains, in fact, grammatical inconsistencies, exaggerations,

etc. For example, when Jesus says to cut off your right hand if it makes you
sin, that's a stylistic exaggeration.

This is why many hold that the inerrancy of the Bible is about the concepts,
thoughts, intentions, and truths of the Bible being without error.
There you have it! The inspiration and inerrancy of scripture concerning
theology!

Quick Recap

Scripture is the ultimate authority for theology.

Scripture is God-breathed. God inspired it.

If God inspired it, then it can't be with error, or capable of contradiction.

God moved the writers who wrote it in their own words.

The scripture is inerrant in thought, concept, and intentions.

Practice Quiz

What is the Greek word for "God's breath"?

How many types of inspiration do we have?

Congrats! This is the end of the basics of systematic theology. The next is
Theology Proper.
 Welcome to the Second Lesson
Title: Paterology or Theology Proper

This is the study of God Himself. Do you remember when you were young
and you asked where God came from? Paterology answers questions like
these about the nature of God, His unique attributes, and His relationship
with the created world.

This lesson has four modules:

Why study paterology?

Transcendence and Immanence of His Nature
Communicable and Incommunicable nature of His attributes
Types of His Communicable Attributes

Ready? Let’s go!

Why study Theology Proper? Why study God? We study Theology Proper
because God created us to know Him. This is called the Summum Bonum
in theology which is Latin for Greatest Good. God wants us to know Him
and this is the ultimate goal of life.

This is communicated in Jere. 9 v 23-24:

“This is what the LORD says: ‘Don’t let the wise boast in their wisdom, or
the powerful boast in their power, or the rich boast in their riches, But those
who wish to boast should boast in this alone: that they truly KNOW me and
UNDERSTAND that I am the LORD who demonstrates unfailing love and
who brings justice and righteousness to the earth, and that I delight in
these things. I, the LORD, have spoken!”

This is it! We know God is the only thing to glory in. There are two ways to
know God according to this verse:
Knowing the Lord
Understanding the Lord

The Hebrew for “Know” is the same word that describes the intimacy
between a husband and wife. This is the level of knowing that God requires
of us.
Understanding, on the other hand, means to accurately know the details of
something. This is where theology proper comes in. We therefore must
fellowship with God as disciples praying, fasting, and reading the word; we
must also theologically understand the nature of God.

This is the balance of knowing God as a believer. Hence, theology proper

or paterology is essential for every believer to know.

Congrats! You have completed module one.

Practice Quiz

What is known as the Greatest Good?

What are the two balanced ways we must know God as believers?
Which verse of the Bible is the need for paterology enshrined?
 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 2 of Theology Proper

Title: Transcendence and Immanence of God’s Nature

In this module, we will learn about the nature of God. His nature refers to
how He is and relates to us. His nature is divided into two types:

Transcendental
Immanent

Transcendental means God exists above and outside the material and
physical world. This means God isn’t bound by any physical conditions that
limit the created world. God is powerful, and immensely so. He is far
beyond our comprehension. We cannot comprehend Him. God dwells in
unapproachable light.

Transcendence often implies that God is transcendent in terms of His

attributes, knowledge, and power, and He is not confined by the limitations
of time and space.

This perspective holds that God is the ultimate source of all existence, and
the world is His creation.

Key points about transcendence

God is separate from the created world.

God's attributes are beyond human comprehension.
God is not bound by time or space.
God is the ultimate source of all that exists.

Immanence, on the other hand, means God is at the same time with us in
the material world.
He comes down to relate with us in our human affairs. He is intimately
known in the natural world. Though God is beyond time and space, He is
still in time and space with us.

This is why we can feel God’s presence, hear His voice, and know His will.

Key points about immanence

God is intimately connected with the world.

God's presence can be experienced within creation.
God's actions are observable in the natural world.
God's immanence is often associated with His providence and involvement
in human lives.

The Balance of Transcendence and Immanence

A tendency to overemphasize one of these two forms of God’s nature over

the other exists among Christians. If we exalt transcendence over
immanence, then God becomes a distant Supreme Being who isn’t
approachable or known. This is what happens in Islam.

The Muslim God is not known, doesn’t speak to His people, and His
followers call themselves his slaves. They deny Jesus is God to date
because they claim a divine powerful God can’t be flesh.

On the other hand, if we exalt Immanence, God’s intimate relationship with

us, over transcendence; then we run the risk of de-deifying God and
reducing His supreme essence to over-simplified humanness.

This is why some Christians refer to God sometimes as their “boyfriend”, or

why we politicize Jesus or make Him a mere teacher of moral principles
and not the God He is.
We must balance the two forms of His nature to accurately know Him.
There you have it! The two forms of His nature.

Quick Recap

God’s nature can be seen in two forms.

God is both transcendent and immanent.
Transcendence means He is beyond and outside the physical world.
Immanent means He is intimate with us materially.
We must balance both forms as extremity towards one distorts the
knowledge of God’s nature.

Practice Quiz

The two forms of God’s nature are?

What is the meaning of transcendence?
What is the meaning of immanence?

Congrats! You have now finished the second module.

 MODULE 3
Welcome to Module 3 of the Theology Proper
Title: Attributes of God

We learned in the previous module that God is transcendental. What

makes Him such? This is what we will learn in this module. Ready? Let’s
go! God’s attributes exist in two forms. They are:

Incommunicable attributes
Communicable attributes

Communicability here isn’t about communication. It’s about transfer. Just

like diseases can be communicable. Covid was communicable. It means if
you have it, you can transfer it to another person.

God’s incommunicable attributes are His qualities that we can’t share with
Him. He alone possesses them. These are what make Him alone God.
They are:

Self-Existence

This is also called aseity. This means God exists in and by Himself. No one
gave Him life. He is. Such profound knowledge! If God isn’t self-existing,
then He wouldn’t be God.
If someone else gave Him life, He would be dependent on that being.

But no one did. So when did He start existing? He exists. No beginning or

end. Ex. 3:14 makes this clear when God told Moses He is the I AM. We
don’t share this attribute of God. We have a beginning.

Self-Sufficiency
This means God possesses all the Godly qualities that make Him God. Be
it love, peace, joy, glory, wisdom, power, etc. This means God was never
lacking anything at any point.
He was never lonely so He had to create us. No. He is self-sufficient.

Acts 17:25 makes this clear, “And he is not served by human hands as if he
needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and
everything else.”

Infinity

Infinity means limitless. What can limit God? Space? Time? Money?
Fatigue? Sickness? Nothing. God is always there. Ps. 145-7 “Great is our
Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit.”

Omnipresence
This is such a marvelous attribute of God. This means God isn’t bound by
either time or space. God cannot be limited by time if He created what we
know as time.

God fills the universe. It’s in God we move and live. So God is everywhere
at every time. No one is like that. Acts 17:28 “For in Him we live and move
and exist as even some of your own poets have said, 'For we also are His
children.'”

Immutability

This means God cannot change. This immutability is in God’s essence and
His ethical commitment to us. The former means God cannot change in the
things that make Him God.

Qualities like holiness, goodness, power, love etc. This is called ontological
immutability.
Ontology means ‘of being’. This is called necessary immutability. The
second one is ethical immutability. This is not necessary, but contingent on
God making an ethical commitment to us. Once He does, He doesn’t
change. If God made a promise, He would fulfill it.

James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming
down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow
due to change.”

This is the end of part 1 of module 3.

Quick Recap

God’s attributes are communicable and incommunicable.

Communicable ones can be shared with us.
Incommunicable ones are exclusive to Him, we can’t share it.
God’s incommunicable attributes are self-existence, self-sufficiency, infinity,
omnipresence, and immutability.

Practice Quiz

God’s attributes come in how many forms?

How many attributes of God are incommunicable?
Which attribute of God means He cannot change?
Which attribute of God means He is everywhere all at once?
 Welcome to Part II of Module 3 of Theology Proper

We will now continue with the categories of the communicable attributes of

God.
There are three categories:

Intellectual attributes
Moral attributes
Attributes of His Rulership

Intellectual Attributes
God’s intellectual attribute is His omniscience. This refers to God’s power to
know everything from the past, present, and future. And we can share this
in some measures with Him as He has given us His holy spirit who is God,
and can search out all things, even the deep things of God.

This doesn’t mean we are God or omniscient like Him. But as He wills, He
can enable us to tap into this attribute of Him for specific purposes at times.

Moral Attributes
God’s moral attributes are quite interesting. They are divided into two
categories:

His Goodness - this covers His love, grace, and mercy.

His Holiness - this covers His righteousness and justice.

This is interesting about God because all these qualities must have equal
expression as God is immutable. So, while God is loving, He is also just.
Justice means God punishing or rewarding us based on the perfect law He
gave us to live by.

This answers many points about the deaths done by God as judgments in
the Old Testament that many atheists bring against the Bible. Well, God is
righteous. That means He perfectly conforms to His moral standards in
words, actions, and thoughts.

While He is loving, merciful, and gracious; He is also holy. Holiness means

God is unmeasurably separated from created reality, be it in heaven or
earth. So He is far from impurity and can administer justice on it.

This seemingly conflicting nature of God’s love and holiness found the
perfect balance in Jesus. God gave Jesus a sacrifice out of love for the
world (John 3:16), but He was also PLEASED to pour out His wrath on
Jesus as the atone for our sins to satisfy His just nature. We share this
nature with God because we are required to have His goodness and
holiness.

Attributes of His Rulership

There are two distinct rulership attributes of God:

His omnipotence
His sovereignty

Omnipotence
This means there’s nothing God cannot do. Absolutely nothing! Jere. 32:27
Behold, I am the LORD, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for
me? But some ask whether God can lie if He can do anything. Well, He
can’t. If He is capable of lying, He is less powerful and unfit to be God.

We are not omnipotent, that would be heretic to say. But God who is can
sometimes give us access into this ability to do things on His behalf only
Him can do.

We humans are imperfect, that’s why we can lie. But we cannot necessarily
cannot lie because He is God. We can share these attributes by the
workings of the holy spirit in us. This is why God can perform miracles
through our hands.
His Sovereignty

This means God plans and carries out His perfect will completely as He
knows best and does so without any failure or defeat. Dan. 4: 34-35
Nebuchadnezzar affirmed publicly that the God of the Hebrew boys is
sovereign, and no one can stop His will. This is so profound about God.
Nothing can stop His will. Nothing. He does what He likes.

We also share this attribute with Him in some measure as we can move in
God’s will through the leading of the Holy Spirit in us. But we are not
sovereign. We are under God’s authority.

There you have it! God’s communicable attributes.

Quick Recap

God’s communicable attributes are in three categories:

Intellectual attributes
Moral attributes
Attributes of His Rulership
His intellectual attribute is His omniscience.
His moral attributes are His goodness and holiness.
God’s goodness and holiness must be expressed.
His attributes of rulership are His sovereignty and omnipotence.
Sovereignty means nothing can stop His plans, omnipotence means He is
all-powerful.
 Welcome to the Third Lesson
Title: Theological Anthropology

This is the systematic theology study of the origin of humans concerning

God as revealed in scripture. This is important for us to know as we would
know what our purpose is if we knew where we come from. This lesson has
four modules:

General Theology of humanity as created by God

The Structure of Humans
Transmission of the Soul
Image of God

Ready? Let’s go!

General Theology of Humanity as created by God

There are fundamental things we need to know about humanity in relation

to God:

1. God is ultimate. We are dependent on Him. This means we are

nothing significant in ourselves. God is the Supreme One.
2. Humanity owes God obedience, loyalty, and worship. This means
humans at their very essence owe God reverence. It’s not a choice,
it’s an obligation.
3. Humans were created by God, good and sinless. So sin is not the
expression of our humanity, no. It is the defilement of it. We were
created perfect.
4. Humanity is invested with moral freedom and responsibility. This
means we have the choice to make moral choices and be
accountable for those. Animals don’t have that.
 5. There's equality between the sexes, but differentiation in their
purpose. This means that males are not superior to females, but they
have different functions.

This is the overview of the theology of humanity. God created humans. And
we must live only unto Him.

The Structure of Humans

The structure of humans deals with our constitution as humans. There are
three views on this:

Monism

A monistic view of the structure of humans means we have only one

essence- the body. Other parts like the soul and spirit are mere expressions
of the physical.

However, the Bible negates this. Luke 23:43 Jesus told the thief at His right
hand, “Tonight you will dine with me in Paradise.”

Their bodies were in the grave dead, but Jesus still referred to their two
persons as being in paradise. This shows that humans are not just one
constituent in their being.

Dichotomy

This view says we have just two constituents: body and soul. It claims the
soul and spirit were sometimes used interchangeably in the Bible.
However, Job 32:8 invalidates this. It says, “There’s a spirit in man…” Not
the soul or body, a spirit.

Trichotomy

This is the common view of the human constitution. It says humans have a
body, soul, and spirit.
1 Thess. 5:23 affirms this - “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify
you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept
blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

These are the views of the human structure. The trichotomist view is the
most scriptural one.

There you have it! General theology of humanity and the structure of
humans.

Quick Recap

God is the ultimate. We are dependent on Him.

We owe God obedience, loyalty, and worship.
Humanity was created sinless.
The monist view claims humans are just bodies alone.
The dichotomist view claims humans are body and soul.
The trichotomist view claims humans are body, soul, and spirit.
The Bible disproves the first two and affirms the last.

Practice Quiz

The first general theology of humans to God is about God’s supremacy and
human dependency. Yes or No?
Which view on human structure claims we are just two constituents?
Which view on human structure claims we are three constituents?

Congrats! You have successfully completed module 1 of the Theological

Anthropology lesson.
 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 2 Theological Anthropology

Title: The Transmission of the Soul

We’ve established that humans are spirit, soul, and body. The soul is what
makes us persons. But how do we get the soul? Where does it come from?
There are two views that explain it:

The Creationist View

Says the soul is implanted by God at the point of conception. That the baby
is formed, and God puts the soul. There are various issues around this as
people are divided on the point at which the ensoulment happens: at
conception, or when the baby draws its first breath.

Some people believe the former, and some believe the latter. But both
believe ensoulment happens after conception.

The Traducian View

Says the soul is transferred from the parents to the offspring. It claims
ensoulment happens at the point of conception through the parents. The
biblical backing to this is the story of Abraham paying tithe to Melchizedek.
Bible comments that Levite was paying tithe too because He was in the loin
of Abraham at the point.

So they claim the soul is transmitted through the parent to the offspring.
The transmission of the soul is important for Christians to know. We can
accurately understand the transference of sins that way. Traducianists
claim Jesus was born sinless because His mortal conception was
fatherless. So the sin from Adam couldn’t be passed onto Him.
Now we will go to the Image of God

This concept is very central to Christian theology. What does it really

mean? God made humans in His own image. The term image of God is a
technical term that’s not defined in scripture. Just stated. So before we
know its implications, let’s examine what it means. There are three types of
understandings for it:

Structural Understanding

This says humans being the Image of God means we share structural
attributes with God. God has a mind, we have a mind too. This says this is
the meaning of Imago Dei.

Relational Understanding

This says we are the image of God in the way we relate with other people.
Its proponent claims the Bible said, “Male and female created He them…,”
so we become imago dei when we relate with each other.

Functional Understanding

This says the image of God means we act on behalf of God. Since God
charged Adam and Eve to rule the earth after declaring them the image of
God, this has to be the meaning.

But what does it truly mean? Well, studies in the literature of the ancient
Middle East show people were familiar with the term a lot. It means that a
deity chooses a person. It then puts a part of itself in that person. After that,
the person can rule on behalf of that deity. The person then becomes the
Image of that deity.

The same was true for Adam and Eve. God breathed into them. Then they
were charged to administer creation as God would.
Hence, the Image of God means acting on behalf of God, and this is what
we are meant to do as Images of God. To administer on His behalf!

There you have it! You have completed the lesson Theological
Anthropology.

Quick Recap

How is the human soul transmitted?

Is it at conception directly from God? That’s creationist.
Is it transferred from the parents at conception? That’s traducian.
Image of God means acting on behalf of God on earth.
This is the functional understanding.

Practice Quiz

How many views explain soul transmission?

How many understandings of the image of God are there?
Which Image of God's understanding states we are to act on behalf of
God?

Congrats again! The next lesson is Hamartiology, the theological study of

sin and the fall of man. See you then!
 Welcome to the Fourth Lesson
Title: Hamartiology, the Theological Study of Sin

This lesson has 4 modules:

The nature of sin

Various forms of sin
Theories of the Origin of sin

Ready? Let’s go!

Why do we need to study sin? We do because we must understand what

Jesus delivered us from. So what is sin?

The Essence of Sin

Sin is the urge to be independent of God. When humans who owe loyalty
and obedience to God want to live, think, and act apart from God’s
authority, sin happens.

This urge for independence expresses itself in 3 forms. These are the
broad categories under which all sins fall:

The hedonist urge or lust of the flesh

This is the urge that drives us to satisfy every fleshly desire. Fornication is
an example of this. Eve fell for this when she saw that the tree was good
for food after instructions not to eat from it.

The covetous urge

This is the desire that comes from sight. When we look at things we don’t
own and develop a strong urge to get it all cost, this is the covetous urge.
Satan tried to get Jesus to sin with this by showing Him all the kingdoms of
the earth.
The Prideful Urge

This is self-exaltation. This urge drives us to give glory to ourselves and not
God. Satan tried to do this with Jesus when He asked Him to test God by
jumping so angels would pick Him up.

If Jesus had done that to show truly angels would pick Him, He would have
done that out of self-desire. A sin.

Total Depravity
This is another essence of sin. It explains that the fall and the introduction
of sin corrupted every part of our being- body, spirit, soul. So sin corrupted
every aspect of humans. Rom. 1 v 20, Gala. 5 v 16-17.

Total Inability

This explains how sin rendered us incapable of doing anything good for
God. Because we are fallen, nothing we did or do can be pleasing in God’s
sight. Although, we can still do good towards others, but not to God- Rom.
8-5, Jh. 15:5, Heb. 11:6.

There you have it! The nature of sin.

Practice Quiz

How many urges of sinful independence are there?

Which of them deals with bodily desire?
Which essence of sin makes us unable to please God?

Congrats! You’ve finished module 1.

 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 2 of Hamartiology

Title: Various Forms of Sin

Remember that all our members fell into the depravity of sin? This means
sin now lives in our bodies. It manifests itself in several ways. These are
the forms of sin. They are:

Sins of commission

This is doing what you are not meant to do. E.g. breaking the 10
commandments.

Sins of omission

This is not doing what you are meant to do. James 4:17 “Anyone, then,
who knows the right thing to do yet fails to do it, is guilty of sin.” The Bible
says to rejoice always. We would be sinning by omission if we didn’t.

Outward actions

These are sins we do outwardly like stealing, murder, fornication, etc.

Inward attitude

These are the sins of attitudes we harbor inside us like hate, jealousy,
bitterness, anger, etc.

Conscious rebellion

This is deliberately going against what God commands- Num. 15 v 30-31.

Ignorance sin
This is sinning without knowing we are committing a sin, or not being aware
of its sinfulness.

Greater and lesser sins

1 Corin. 6:17 suggests that the sin of sexual immorality which is against the
body is weightier than other sins outside the body.

System or social manifestation of sin

This is sin manifesting itself in the structures of human society. It is of two

types:

Good structures - this is when a good structure is used for evil - police
brutality.
Bad structures - these are deliberate institutions being used for evil -
Racist laws, apartheid, etc.

There you have it! The various forms of sin.

 MODULE 3

Welcome to Module 3 of the Hamartiology Course

Title: The Original Sin

How does sin get to a person? The urge to have independence from God,
how do we have it?
This is the emphasis of original sin. The origin of sin. There are two
theories that attempt to explain it:

The Federal or Representative Theory

This says sin is passed on to us from Adam as he was the representative

or head of the human race. Same with Jesus, He is the head of the spirit
race, so His righteousness is passed to us.

The Realist of Augustinian View

This states sin is passed through sexual reproduction. This is similar to the
Traducian view of the transmission of the soul. It says sin resides in the
loins of humans and it’s then passed onto the offspring.

This view says it’s the reason Jesus was born sinless as He had no father
in His conception, so the sin of Adam couldn’t be passed unto Him.

There you have it! You have now learned about:

What sin is
The various essences of sins
The forms of sin
The origin of sin
Quick Recap

Sin is the urge to be independent from God.

The urge can be hedonist, covetous, or prideful.
Sin rendered us totally depraved and morally unable to please God.
Sin has several forms based on how it manifests itself in our lives.
Sin came through one man, Adam.

Practice Quiz

There are 8 various forms of sin, yes or no?

Which form of sin deals with our inner attitudes?
Which form of sin deals with our intentional disobedience to God?
Which form of sin manifests itself in the structures of human society?

Congrats! You have now completed the Hamartiology course.

 Welcome to the Fourth Lesson
Title: Christology - the Person and the Work of Christ

This lesson has five modules:

The Existence of Christ: pre-incarnate and Incarnate

The Deity of Christ
The Humanity of Christ
The Kenosis Doctrine
The Impeccability of Christ

Ready? Let’s go!

What is Christology and why is it important? Christology is the theological

study of the person and work of Christ. It seeks to establish His being God
and being man at the same time. And also lay out what He came to do, His
atoning work.

It is important to study it because the most threatening attack Christianity

can face is the one that strips Jesus either of His divine status or human
status. This is why Islam made sure it copied almost everything from the
bible except the divinity of Jesus in order to counter the faith.

Let’s dive into the existence of Christ. It is in two forms: the pre-incarnate
and incarnate.

The Preincarnate

This means Jesus existed before He came to the world as human. This
means we cannot say Jesus is a created being, He has always been. Here
are scriptures that confirm that:

Isa. 40:3 - A voice of one calling: “In the wilderness prepare the way for the
LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God.”
Matt. 3 shows John was the voice calling in the wilderness, and whose path
did he make straight? Jesus. So, Jesus is the God in this Isaiah verse.

Jere. 23: 5-6: “The days are coming,” declares the Lord, “when I will raise
up for David a righteous Branch…This is the name by which he will be
called: The Lord Our Righteous Savior.”

The word LORD is the word Yahweh. Jesus is called Yahweh, God, in the
Old Testament before He became incarnate.

Jh. 17:5 - Jesus prayed, “And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with
the glory I had with you before the world began.”

Jesus confirmed He was with God before the world began, and that He
shared glory with God. Only God shares glory with God.

This is the systematic teaching on the pre-incarnate Christ. Before He was

born, He was.

The Incarnate Christ

The incarnation of Christ talks about His entrance into the physical world in
human form. It is from the Latin “Incanatio” meaning “to become flesh”.

Why did Jesus become flesh? He did to fulfill three different functions:

The Prophet
God speaks to us in Jesus. He is the prophet greater than Moses.

The Priest
He is the high priest that took away our sin, greater than the Levitical priest.

The King
Jesus became flesh because He will rule the world physically as King with
an everlasting kingdom. He will rule the throne of David.

So this is the incarnate Jesus, and the reason He became flesh was that
through Him God would be revealed, through Him sin is paid for, and He
reigns.

There you have it! You now know two forms of the incarnation of Jesus.

Quick Recap

Jesus was pre-incarnate

He was not created
He was with the Father at the beginning
Incarnation means to become flesh
Jesus incarnated to function as the prophet, priest, and king

Practice Quiz

Jesus is a created being, Yes or No?

What is the word for something becoming flesh?
What is the Latin word for incarnation?
How many functions did the incarnate Christ come to fulfill?

Congrats! See you in two hours for the second module of the lesson.

MODULE 2
 Welcome Module 2 of Christology
Title: The Deity of Christ

Why do we need to study the deity of Christ? Jesus is the center of

Christianity. Kill 1 billion Christians today, Christianity would still go on and
thrive. But claim Jesus isn’t God, then we are in trouble.

This is why we must establish the deity of Jesus that He is God. There are
five parameters by which a deity is established. They are:

Names of God
Attributes of God
Works of God
Worship of God
Jesus’ self-testimony that He is God

Names of God

The first point that establishes Jesus being God is that the name of God
was used to refer to Him. “Theos”, the Greek word for God, was used to
refer to Him.

1 Jh. 5:20 - “We also know that the Son of God has come and has given us
understanding, so that we may know him who is true. And we are in him
who is true by being in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and
eternal life.” Jesus is called the true God and eternal life.”

Heb. 1:8 - “But of the Son, he says, "Your throne, O God, is forever and
ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.” God refers
to Jesus as “God.”

Titus: 2:13 - “While we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.”
2 Pet. 1:1 - “Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those
who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have
received a faith as precious as ours.”

These and many other verses across the Bible confirm Jesus is indeed
God, as He is called by the name Theos, God.

It is beneficial that you memorize these verses, so you can defend those
who challenge the divinity of Jesus.

The Attributes of God

Remember the incommunicable attributes of God? Those that cannot be

shared with us but exclusively are God’s? Jesus has them. This confirms
He is God-
Eternity
Jesus has always been. He was not created-

Reve. 1:8: “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”
says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still
to come—the Almighty One.”

Jesus testified that He is eternal.

Immutability

This means Jesus cannot change, just like God. Heb. 13:8 - “Jesus Christ
the same yesterday, and today, and forever.”

Omnipotence

This means Jesus can do anything like God. Jh. 5:19 - “Very truly I tell you,
the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father
doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
Phili. 3:21 - “He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them into
glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring
everything under his control.”

Works of God

The works that only God can do were attributed to Jesus-

Creation

Colo. 1:16 “For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on
earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or
authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.”

Jh. 1-3 “ Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made
that has been made.”

Giving Eternal Life

Jh. 10-28 “And I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish,
neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.”

1 Jh. 2:25 “And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal
life.”

Forgiveness

Colo. 1:14 “Who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.”
Mk. 2:5 “When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son,
your sins are forgiven.”

Worship

Jesus was worshiped the way God is in the Bible

Matth. 28:9 “And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they
came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him.”

Math. 2:11 the three wise men worshiped Jesus

Heb. 1:6 “And when he brought his supreme Son into the world, God said,
“Let all of God's angels worship him.”

Phili. 2:9 - “that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth”

Christ’s Own Claim that He is God

Jh. 10:30 I and the Father are One

Jh. 5:17 Christ was glorified with God in the beginning
Mk. 14-61 Jesus told the high priest He was the Son of God

Jesus claims He was God severally in the Bible.

There you have it! The deity of Christ.

Quick Recap

Jesus is God.
There are 5 parameters that established His deity in the Bible.
Name of God, attributes of God, works of God, worship, Jesus’ claims.
Jesus was called God.
Jesus did the works of God.
Jesus has the attributes of God.
Jesus was worshiped.
Jesus claimed He was God.

Practice Quiz

How many parameters are used to establish the deity of Christ?

Which parametre deals with what Jesus does?
Which parametre deals with Jesus being called God?
 MODULE 3
Welcome Module 3 of Christology
Title: The Humanity of Christ

Why do we have to study and establish that Jesus was human?

It is important that He was human. Islam denies His deity, but many other
movements and religions affirm His divinity but deny that He was human.
So why did Jesus have to be fully God and fully man?

He had to be God so that the price He paid with His blood would be of
infinite value. He had to be human so that He could live the life that we
couldn’t live unto God. Verses of scripture that affirms His humanity:

Isa. 7:14 “Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will
conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.” This verse
confirms Jesus was a “son”. Human.

Isa. 9:5 “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government
shall be upon his shoulder.” Jesus is born as a child.

Luke 2:52 “And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature and favor with God
and man.” This verse says Jesus grew up in wisdom. It means He was a
child that grew.

This is evidence that Jesus was not only God, but He was also fully
Human. Fully God and fully man. There you have it! The humanity of Christ
was established.

There you have it! The humanity of Christ.

 MODULE 4

Welcome to the 4th Module of Christology

Title: The Kenosis Doctrine

The kenosis doctrine is the explanation of how Christ “emptied” Himself of

being God and took up the form of man.

Phili. 2:6-8 “Who, though he was in the FORM of God, did not count
equality with God a thing to be grasped, but EMPTIED himself, by taking
the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.”

The first part of the verse established He was God. The word form is the
Greek “morphe”. It doesn’t mean He looked like God, morphe means the
very essence of something. So Jesus was in the very form of God.

But He then emptied Himself of being God to be human. Does this mean
He stopped being God? No. The phrase is ekenosis, it means He took up
something on Himself to become Human, not like He removed something.

Theologians call it subtraction by addition. Jesus is God, and He took up

the form of Human to be man. Not that He stopped being God, He put on
Himself the form of human.

This is how Jesus was fully God while He was fully human. There you have
it! The kenosis doctrine.

Quick Recap

Jesus was in the morphe of God

Jesus didn’t stop being God
Jesus “emptied” Himself not by pouring out his divine nature but by taking
on Himself the human nature.
There you have it! The impeccability of Christ.
 MODULE 5

Welcome to Module 5 of Christology Lesson

Title: The Impeccability of Christ

What is impeccability? Impeccability refers to the concept of being

incapable of sinning or being completely free from moral imperfections.
This means a will so strong it can’t be tempted or seduced by sin or evil.

Jesus has such will. So He was without sin. Verses that established His
impeccability:

Heb. 9:14 “How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the
eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God…”

1 Jh. 3:5 “You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there
is no sin.”

So Jesus did not sin, though He was tempted in every way like us. But
there’s a problem, if the incarnate Jesus couldn't sin because God cannot
sin, why was His temptation important?

Well, there’s a difference between Jesus could not sin and Jesus DID NOT
sin. Jesus could not sin because He is God, and God cannot sin, He is
holy. But Jesus was in the flesh too, His human nature had to be subjected
to the will of God.

So Jesus chose not to sin by devoting to the life of prayer, fasting, and the
word of God. This was how He lived above sin, and how we must fashion
our lives too. This is the doctrine of impeccability.

Congrats! You have now completed the Christology lesson! You now know:

The existence of Christ as pre-incarnate and incarnate

Christ had always been God, but came into history as fully God and fully
man
His deity because He is God
His humanity because He is human
How He took up the human form to become man
His impeccability and how He couldn’t sin and did not sin
 Welcome to Lesson 4 Pt. II
Title: Christology - the Work of Christ

In this lesson we will discuss the work of Christ.

Jesus was sent to the world to atone for our sins, reconcile us to God, and
make us the sons of God. This work is divided into three major categories-

The past works of Christ

The present works of Christ
The future works of Christ

We will explore all this in this lesson. The lesson has three modules:

The past work of Christ - the atonement

● Sacrifice
● Substitution
● Redemption
● Propitiation
● Expiation
● Reconciliation

The present and future works of Christ-

● Mediation

The Future Work of Christ

● Judge and King

Ready? Let’s go!

The past work of Christ is atonement. Atonement in systematic theology

refers to the process through which humans are reconciled with God due to
the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ.
This has 6 basic aspects that form the whole atonement work-

Sacrifice

Jesus is the sacrifice for our sins. Jh. 1:29 “The next day he saw Jesus
coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away
the sin of the world!”

Why did Jesus have to be a sacrifice? Because God had commanded that
without the shedding of blood there can’t be forgiveness of sin Heb. 9:22.
In the Old Testament, people brought the animals to be killed to pay for
their sins, but here, God brought His own lamb to pay for the sins of the
world. Such love!

The goats sacrificed in the OT for the sins of people did not take away the
sins. Heb. 10-4, “It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take
away sins.”

Only the blood of Christ did. Why? Because we sinned against an eternal
God, an eternal sacrifice must be offered for the payment of that sin.

And that sacrifice must be sinless. Hence, a sinless and eternal Jesus.

Substitution

Jesus didn’t just lay down His life as a sacrifice. He did as a substitutionary
sacrifice.
This means He paid the price of death in our place! This is the theory of
penal. That He substituted Himself to bear our penalty.

Gen. 22 was the first clear pointer to the fact that substitutionary atonement
was possible.
When God commanded Abraham to sacrifice Isaac, he was about to when
God stopped him, and asked him to kill the ram INSTEAD of Isaac.
So Isaac was meant to die, but the ram died in his place. This was a type
pointing to Christ’s work for us. Another OT type was the passover night in
Egypt. In Ex. 12, God sent the angel of death to kill the firstborns of Egypt.

But God also instructed them to kill a lamb, and put the blood on their
doorpost. The angel of death passed over them because the lamb had
substituted the firstborns in death.

Isa. 53- 4:6 captured Christ’s substitution perfectly:

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering, yet we considered him
punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our
transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that
brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed.”

Right here! He died our death, bore our pain, paid our sins.

Rom. 5-6: “For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the
ungodly.”
Mk. 10:45: “For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to
serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus came to give His life for many. The “for” there is “ante” in Greek. It
means in place of.

Redemption

Redemption simply means to buy. The Greek is aggarazzo, from the word
agora which means market. So, Jesus purchased us from the bondage of
sin through His blood. We were sold to sin and death, and the freedom
from those came at the price of Christ’s blood.

Rev. 5:9-10 “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals,
because you were slain,and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.” We were
bought at a price, so we must live our lives to Jesus who purchased us.

Propitiation

Propitiation means to appease or satisfy the wrath of a deity. Pay attention

here. God’s judgment was against us. His wrath was to be poured on us for
our sins. But because Jesus became our substitutionary sacrifice, God
poured His wrath on Him, and He was satisfied.

Rom. 3:25
“God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This
was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he
had passed over former sins.”

God didn’t forgive the sins of the Old Testament, He only passed them
over. In Christ now, God was pleased to pour His wrath on Jesus. He is the
propitiation of our sins.

Expiation

Expiation means we are no longer liable to pay for the punishment of our
sins. This is incredible! Jesus’ sacrifice has pleased God, now we are free,
and justified. We don’t need to die for our sins anymore. 1 Corin. 5:17-
“Now, If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation.”

Reconciliation

This means Jesus through His atoning sacrifice brought us back to God.
We were hostile towards God. But His blood brought us back to Him.

Rom. 3:25 “If while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the
death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be
saved by his life.”
The reconciliation is both vertical and horizontal. Vertically, it brought us
back to God. Horizontally it brought us all back together so there’s no
discrimination in humanity as to who is qualified for the gift of salvation.

There you have it! The aspects of the atonement of Christ.

Quick Recap
Atonement is the act by which Jesus reconciled us back to God through His
death and resurrection.
Jesus was our sacrifice.
Sacrifice is needed for the forgiveness of sins.
The sacrifice was substitutionary.
Redemption means to be bought back.
Jesus redeemed us by His blood.
Propitiation means God is satisfied by Jesus’ atonement.
Expiation means we are no longer liable to pay for our sins.
Reconciliation means we are now brought back to God again.

Practice Quiz

How many aspects of the atonement are there?

Which aspect of the atonement explains how Jesus died in our stead?
Which aspect of the atonement explains how we are now at peace with
God again?
Which aspect of the atonement explains how we were bought back from
sin?

Congrats! You have finished the first module.

 MODULE 2

Welcome to the 2nd Module of Christology - Pt.2

Title: The Present Works of Christ

The last class we dealt with the past works of Christ. Now we will talk about
His present and future works. Christ is currently our mediator to God. He is
taking us to the Father and the Father to us.

He is interceding for us- Rom. 8:34

He is always praying for us- Heb. 7:35
He is currently reigning over everything- 1 Corin. 5:28

Future Works

In the coming ends of time Jesus will come as the Judge of the world, both
for believers and unbelievers - Jh. 5:22-27, 2 Corin. 5:10, Rev. 20:11-15.

He will also come as the Everlasting King- Reve. 19-15. God made a
covenant with David that he will have a son forever on his throne.

This the future works of Christ. Congrats! You have finished the Christology
course!Now you understand the pre-incarnation, incarnation, deity,
humanity, and the atoning works of Christ. Please hold on firmly to this
knowledge, it is essential to your faith.
 Welcome to Lesson 5
Title: Pneumatology - The Study of the Person and the Works of the
Holy Spirit

This course has five modules-

The personhood of the holy spirit

The divinity of the holy spirit
The works of the holy spirit in the Old Testament
The works of the holy spirit in the life of Jesus
The Holy Spirit and the church

Ready? Let’s go!

Why do we need to study the holy spirit? We need to because many

believers primarily have a wrong conception of His nature. Some say He’s
a wind, some say He is a force, some say He is a feeling etc.

But that is incorrect. The holy spirit is God.He is a person. But how do we
know He is a person?
The Bible establishes His personhood. There are three angles from which
His personhood is established- attributes of a person, acts of a person,
Being treated as a person.

Attributes of a Person

The holy spirit has the three key attributes of a person as seen in scripture.

Intellect

The holy spirit KNOWS the thoughts of God. 1 Corin. 2:11 “For who knows
a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way
no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”
Emotions

The holy spirit can be griefed. He has emotions as a person. Eph.4:30 “And
do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day
of redemption.”

Will

The holy spirit has a will. He can decide to do things. “All these are
empowered by one and the same Spirit, who apportions to each one
individually as he wills.” 1 Cor. 12:11.

All these are the attributes of a person. So the possession of these three
attributes confirms the personhood of the holy spirit. Additionally, all the
fruits of the spirit- love, kindness, peace, gentleness etc. are things human
beings possess. This is the foundational scriptural basis for the
personhood of the holy spirit.

Acts of a Person

The holy spirit all through scripture did things a person would do. Here are
some things He did:

He bears witness

Jh.15:26 “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the
Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify
about me.”

He leads

Rom. 8:14 “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of
God.”
He intercedes

Rom. 8:27 “And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit,
because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will
of God.”

Treated as a Person

The holy spirit was treated as a person in scripture.

He can be lied to - Acts 5:3, Ananaias lied to the holy spirit

He can be resisted - Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked people! Your hearts and
ears are still uncircumcised. You are just like your ancestors: You always
resist the Holy Spirit!”

He can be blasphemed - Math 12:21 - “And so I tell you, every kind of sin
and slander can be forgiven, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be
forgiven.”

He can be insulted - Heb. 10:29 “How much more severely do you think
someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God
underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant
that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

These are some of the ways He was treated as a person in the bible. This
is a systematic proof from scripture that the holy spirit indeed is a person,
and not a feeling or force.

There you have it! The personhood of the holy spirit.

Quick Recap

We study pneumatology to know the true nature of the holy spirit.

The holy spirit is not a force or feeling, He is a person.
He has the three attributes of a person - will, intellect, emotions.
He acted like a person.
He was treated like a person.

Practice Quiz

The study of the holy spirit is called?

How many foundational personhood attributes does the holy spirit
possess?
Mention one action of the holy spirit that makes Him a person
 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 2 of Pneumatology

Title: The Divinity of the Holy Spirit

In the last class we learnt that the holy spirit is a person. Now we need to
see how the holy spirit is actually God. Remember the Trinity has God the
Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

There are three ways scripture established the divinity of the spirit- the
names of God, the attributes of God, and the works of God.

Names of God

The holy spirit was called God in the bible. Acts 5:3 - 4:

“Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that
you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the
money you received for the land?
Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the
money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You
have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Peter clearly called the holy spirit God here. Ananaias lied to the holy spirit
who is God.

1 Corin. 3:17
“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is
liberty.”

1 Corin. 3:16
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in
you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy that person.”
Here Paul says the holy spirit dwells in God’s temple. Only God dwells in
God’s temple.
This is referential to the Old Testament temple where God alone dwelt and
no one could approach save the priest. These are some of the examples
that show the holy spirit is God.

The Attributes of God

The holy spirit, like Jesus, possesses attributes only God possesses. They
are:

Eternal - the holy spirit is eternal like God - Heb. 9:14

Omniscience - the holy spirit knows all things as He knows the mind of
God - 1 Corin 2:10
Omnipresence - the holy spirit is at all places at all times - Ps. 139:7
“Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?”
Omnipotence - the holy can do all things

The works of God

The holy spirit did things only God can do:

Creation - Gen 1:2
The spirit sanctifies - 1 Pet. 1:2
Resurrection - the spirit raised Jesus from the dead Rom. 8:11

These are the concepts from scripture that establish the divinity of the holy
spirit.

Lastly we will quickly talk about something called Triadic Verses.

Triadic Verses
These are verses from scripture that captures the three distinct persons of
the trinity and presents them equally in the same verse.

These verses reflect the trinity:

Math. 28:17 “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them
in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

This verse indicates that there’s ONE name. One name for the three
distinct persons of the Father, the Son, the Holy Spirit. One God, three
persons.

2 corin. 13:14
Paul gave a benediction to the church here. This is like saying “God be with
you.” So, Paul’s way of saying “God be with you” is mentioning the three
persons of the Trinity.

This further proves the truth of the spirit being God. There you have it! The
divinity of the holy spirit.

Quick Recap

The holy spirit is God

He has the attributes of God
He was called the names of God
He did the works of God
He is included in the Triadic verses

Quiz

How many ways did scripture establish the divinity of the spirit?
How many triadic verses are there?
Mention one attribute of God the spirit shares

Congrats! You have completed this module.

 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 3 of Pneumatology

Title: The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament

The holy spirit isn’t a concept introduced in the New Testament. He was
present all over the Old Testament. However, the activities of the holy spirit
in the Old Testament were different from those of the New Testament.

The word for “holy spirit” in the OT is ruach hakodesh. Ruach means wind.
The word appeared more than 300x in the OT. The spirit was described to
have come upon people in the OT. But the spirit never came upon
everyone like He does now. It came on a select few people-

Rulers
Judges
Prophets
Craftspeople

The holy ghost came on them to enable them to perform specific tasks for
God. A prime example is Num. 11 where God took the spirit upon Moses
and put it on 70 leaders from among the Israelites to assist Moses in
administering the people.

The spirit came on them for specific functions. The OT also prophesied
about the coming of the spirit. The holy spirit coming on all believers today
was captured in the OT:

Isa. 44:3 “I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and My blessing
on your offspring.”
Ez. 36:25 “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will
cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.”

These are some verses that pre-established the coming of the spirit on all
flesh as we have it today.
The Holy Spirit in the Life and Ministry of Jesus

The incarnate Jesus could not have done anything without the holy spirit.
He was filled with the holy spirit, which was why He was able to fulfill His
earthly ministry.

Heb 9:13 “For by the power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to
God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.”

Isa. 11:1 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to

proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for
the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free.”

Isa. 61:1 “The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD
has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to
bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and
release from darkness for the prisoners.”

It is clear from scripture now that the ministry of Jesus was made possible
by the holy spirit. And this is true for us believers today.

Jesus’ Miracles

Jesus performed His supernatural ministry with the help of the spirit. Peter
testified that God enabled Him to do miracles- Acts. 2-22.
God anointed Him with power and the holy ghost - Acts. 10-38.

It is by the help of the spirit that we are able to dispense the power of God.

The Holy Spirit and the Church

The church, the body of Christ, is born by the spirit. We are members of the
body of Christ through the holy spirit received at new birth. The spirit was
given to the church at Pentecost. So the spirit helps us to do two main
things-

Empowers us to bear witness of the gospel for Christ - Acts. 2:38, Peter
called for repentance after the spirit had come upon them in the Upper
Room. It is by the holy spirit today that we can bear witness of the gospel.

Gives ministry in service to the saints - Eph. 4. All the five ministries-
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, teachers are all given to the saints
by the spirit. There you have it! The person and work of the holy spirit. See
you next week Soteriology, the study of salvation.

There you have it! You have completed the Pneumatology lesson!
 Welcome to Lesson 6
Title: Soteriology- The Study of Salvation

In this lesson we will learn about every aspect that makes up what we call
salvation. This is important because salvation is the reason for the
atonement, the work of Christ. Many things will become clearer such as the
issue of eternal salvation and whether a believer can lose salvation.

The lesson has three modules:

Election, Calling, Regeneration

Conversion, Justification, Adoption
Sanctification, Perseverance, Glorification

Ready? Let’s go!

Let's start by simply understanding what salvation means. Watchman Nee

said it simply means translation from one world to the other. Going from the
kingdom of darkness to light, from death to life, from condemnation to
justification.

In studying salvation, the concept of the Ordo Salutis is used. This is Latin
for “Order of Salvation”.

This is the logical order through which everything that happened in

salvation happened. Salvation is one whole event, but with several aspects.
They are:

Election
Calling
Regeneration
Conversion
Justification
Adoption
Sanctification
Perseverance
Glorification

These make up all the aspects of salvation. And we will explore each of
them now.

Election, Calling, Regeneration

Election

The doctrine of election means God, before the creation of the world,
predestined some people to come to the experience of salvation, to be
made the children of God.
This has its background in how God chose Israel out of all nations of the
world to be His chosen people.

Deut. 7:6 “For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD
your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on the face of the earth to
be his people.”

Eph. 1:4-5 “ For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to
sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—”

This doctrine of election means God chose us who are Christians today
and those who will be before the world began. He predestined us to be
sons of God.

Ehp. 1:45 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to
sonship.”

So if God chose some people to be saved, how does that work? How did
the election process happen?
There are two views to this- the conditional election and unconditional
election

Conditional Election

This says God foresaw before the creation of the world those who would
believe the gospel and then chose those people to be the elect. This is the
Armenian view.

For illustration, God saw that in 2023 Folakemi would be preached to and
will ask Jesus, then God chose her to be part of the elect. Verse this view
uses to back up their claim:

Rm. 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image
of his Son.

1 Pet. 1:2
Who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,
through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.

They claim God foreknew they would accept salvation. This is called
Foreseen Faith. God foresaw the faith of Folakemi and then chose her to
be part of the elect.

Unconditional Election

This says God chose the elect out of His sovereign will.Not based on
whether we would accept the gospel or not. To the Arminian, we accepted
the gospel, then God chose us.
But to the Calvnist view, this one, God chose us, then we accepted the
gospel. This is why it is unconditional election. There’s no conditional for
God choosing us.
Verses for the Calvinist view:

Romans 9:11-13
“Though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or
bad—in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because
of works but because of him who calls—she was told, 'The older will serve
the younger.' As it is written, 'Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.’

Ehp. 1:45 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be
holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to
sonship.”

These are the two views about election.

But the takeaway from this lesson is, election is a concept believed by the
church. A select people were chosen by God to come to the faith.

There you have it! The doctrine of election.

Quick Recap

God predestined some select people to come to the faith

This is called the doctrine of election
Election is either conditional or unconditional
Conditional is the Armenian view
Unconditional is the Calvinist view

Practice Quiz

The teaching that God chose some people to come to the experience of
salvation is called?
How many views on election are there?
Which view states that salvation depends on what we do?
COngrats! See you in two hours for the next module- Calling
 MODULE 2
Welcome Module 2 of Soteriology
Title: Calling and Regeneration

Calling is the second on the Ordo Salutis. Calling is the process by which
God calls us to the salvation He predestined us for. There are two types of
this calling:

The General Call

The Effectual Call

The General Call states that God calls everyone on earth to salvation. This
means the gospel is for everybody.

Isa. 45:22 “Turn to me and be saved, all you ends of the earth; for I am
God, and there is no other.”

Isa. 55:1 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who
have no money, come, buy and eat!”

Matt. 11:28
“Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you
rest. ... Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.”

These verses indicate the General Call and how it includes everybody.

The Effectual Call

This means God is the one who causes the one to whom the call is sent to
answer the call. Hence, the effect. That the call causes an effect in the
hearer to come to salvation.

The reasoning is that we can’t decide to come to salvation on our own, as

we have been corrupted through sin, and can’t do any good towards God.
This is called moral inability. Our inability to do anything good to God, like
repenting and accepting His life.

Verses that support this are:

Rm. 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those
who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

1 Cor. 1:9 “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of
his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”

1 Cor. 1:24 “But to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

Rm. 9:23 “He does this to make the riches of his glory shine even brighter
on those to whom he shows mercy, who were prepared in advance for
glory.”

This is the doctrine of the Effectual Call.

Those who lean towards conditional election often believe the General Call
idea. So they claim salvation reaches to anyone, but they can exercise their
freewill to decline. God’s grace can be resisted here.

While unconditional electionists believe God had already chosen His elect,
and the effectual call brings them to salvation. So God’s grace can’t be
resisted.

Regeneration

Regeneration is the third on the ordo salutis. Regeneration simply means

having a new life. We were dead to sin, but now alive to Christ by receiving
Him as our Lord and savior. So, being born again is regeneration.
Jh. 1:13 “They are reborn—not with a physical birth resulting from human
passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.”

Jh. 3:3 “Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee,
Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Titus 3:5 “He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done,
but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth
and new life through the Holy Spirit.”

This is incredible knowledge! Regeneration confirms our death and new

life. It means anything we were legally bound by, because we died and now
new people, we are not liable to that anymore. We are the sons of God
because we are now born of God, by the spirit.

There you have it! The doctrine of calling and regeneration.

Quick Recap

Calling is how God brings us to salvation.

There’s a general call to the whole world.
There’s an effectual call to specific individuals.
Regeneration is the process by which we become new living beings by the
spirit.

Quiz

How many types of calling are there?

Which type of calling goes to the whole world?
Which type of calling goes to specific individuals?
By what means are we sons of God?

Congrats! You’ve completed the module.

 MODULE 3

Welcome to Module 3 of Soteriology Lesson

Title: Conversion, Justification, Adoption

Conversion

After election, calling, regeneration, the next is conversion. Conversion is

the act of returning to GOd and accepting His new life. It has two parts:

Faith
Repentance

Faith is believing in God using our mind and intellect. 2 Tim. 1:12 “...which
is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have
believed.” We believed that Jesus died for our sins and He is capable of
saving us.”

Repentance means turning from sin to God. Closely associated with

repentance is turning. We turn from something to another thing. We turn
from our previous life of sin to God’s mercy.

2 Cor. 7:9 “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed
to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might
receive damage by us in nothing.“ The Corinthian sorrowed unto
repentance. They turned from their sins unto God.

Justification

Justification is the pronouncement of our righteousness before God. Such a

beautiful thing. That we stand before God and there’s no judgment on us
because we are now justified before Him.
This is possible because Jesus died for our sins, giving us forgiveness of
sin. And now that we are in Him, His righteousness is inputted into us, so
we are justified before God.

Our sins were inputted into Jesus and He duly paid for them, then His
righteousness was duly inputted into us and we now stand justified before
God. Rm. 5:1 “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we
have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Justification gave us peace with God, not judgemental wrath.

Adoption

Adoption means we are now children of God. We were in sin. God called us
to salvation, He regenerated us, led us to repentance, justified us through
faith in His Son, now He made us His children.

Rom. 8:15 -16

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear
again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to
sonship.”

1 Jh. 3:1
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be
called children of God! And that is what we are!”

There you have it! Conversion, Justification, Adoption.

Quick Recap

Conversion is the act of turning to God

It involves faith and repentance
Justification is the pronouncement of our righteousness by faith in Jesus
Adoption is the act of being sons of God by the Spirit
Quiz

The act of turning from sin to God is called?

How many aspects of conversion are there?
The pronouncement of our righteousness before God is called?
 Welcome to the last Module of Soteriology

Title: Sanctification, Perseverance, Glorification

Sanctification means we have been set apart to God as holy. It further

means our gradual conformity to the image of Christ by the act of the holy
ghost in us. There are two forms of sanctification:

Positional Sanctification

This means we are holy as we are children of God. God’s holy people who
have been called to be children of God in Christ. So, because of our
position as the children of God, we are holy to Him. This is positional
sanctification.

Progressive Sanctification

This is the on-going activities of the holy spirit in partnership with the
cooperation of the believer to be more like Christ. After the positional one,
there’s a progressive one.

So though we were made holy in Christ at regeneration, we must still

submit to the holy ghost to keep us being sanctified till Jesus comes. That’s
progressive sanctification. A believer must not embrace the positional and
leave the progressive. It is dangerous to do so.

Perseverance

The doctrine of perseverance states that those who are truly saved must
persevere in the faith. That means they must not fall away. This
perseverance involves our human input with God to ensure we walk in the
ways of sanctification. There are two views on perseverance. The Calvinist
and the Arminian.

The Calvinist View

This holds that our perseverance is empowered by the workings of God

through us to persevere till the end.

Phil. 1:6
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it
on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.”

1 Thess. 5:23
“Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your
whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord
Jesus Christ.”

1 Cor. 1:8
“Who will sustain you to the end, guiltless on the day of our Lord Jesus
Christ. He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be free from all
blame on the day when our Lord Jesus Christ returns.”

The Calvinist view holds that since God is the One working in us, we will
persevere till the end. So salvation is eternally secure.

The Arminian View

This holds that believers can exercise free will and decide to abandon the
faith. It holds that believers can fall away if they deliberately rebel against
the ways of God.

Colo. 1:23
“If you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from
the hope held out in the gospel.”
Hebrews 2:1-3
"Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest
we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to
be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just
retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It
was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who
heard..."

Hebrews 6:4
"For it is impossible, in the case of those who have once been enlightened,
who have tasted the heavenly gift, and have shared in the Holy Spirit, and
have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the age to
come, and then have fallen away, to restore them again to repentance,
since they are crucifying once again the Son of God to their own harm and
holding him up to contempt."

The verses above, to the Arminian, establish that a believer may choose to
leave the faith, hence lose salvation and bear wrath. These are the two
views on perseverance.

Glorification

Glorification, in Christian theology, is the final stage in the process of

salvation. It is the culmination of the believer's journey, following
justification, sanctification, and perseverance.

Glorification represents the ultimate transformation of the believer into the

likeness of Christ and the full realization of their salvation. Here are key
aspects of the concept of glorification:

Transformation into Christ's Likeness

Glorification involves the complete and perfect transformation of the

believer into the likeness of Christ. This transformation encompasses both
the spiritual and physical aspects of the believer.
Resurrection and Immortality

The doctrine of glorification is often associated with the resurrection of the

dead. Believers are believed to receive glorified, immortal bodies, free from
the limitations, weaknesses, and corruption of their earthly bodies.

Freedom from Sin and Suffering

In glorification, believers experience complete freedom from the presence

and effects of sin. This includes freedom from physical ailments, emotional
pain, and all forms of suffering. The believer's glorified state is marked by
perfection and purity.

Union with Christ

Glorification is seen as the final step in the believer's union with Christ. It is
the consummation of the relationship between Christ and the believer,
where believers fully share in the glory of Christ.

Eternal Fellowship with God

Glorification marks the beginning of the believer's eternal fellowship with

God. Believers enter into the joy of the Lord and experience the fullness of
His presence in a way that surpasses their earthly experience. Several
biblical passages contribute to the understanding of glorification, including:

Phili. 3:20-21 "But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a

Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like
his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things
to himself."

1 Corin. 15:51-52 "Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but
we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last
trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised
imperishable, and we shall be changed."
Glorification is a future event that Christians eagerly anticipate, and it is a
central aspect of the Christian hope and eschatological understanding.

There you have it! You have now completed the Soteriology course!

You started by:

Understanding what soteriology means

Then what salvation means
Then the ordo salutis, the order of salvation
Then election, calling, regeneration
Then conversion, justification, adoption
Then sanctification, perseverance, and glorification
 Welcome to the Lesson 7
Title: Ecclesiology

This lesson has four modules:

The Universal and Local Church

Metaphors of the Church
Local Congregations and Offices
Organizational Structures of the Local Church
Church Baptism and The Lord’s Supper

The word church derives from the Greek word ekklesia. It comes from ek, a
preposition, which refers to “out of” and kaleo, which means, “to call.” So
the ekklesia is the “called out people.”

That is a marvelous way to think of the church. We have been called out of
darkness into light. This means that the first defining trait of any church is
different from the world. The word church is used in two ways in the Bible.

The first refers to the catholic church, meaning universal. The second is the
local church. The universal church is the general body of Christ we have all
been redeemed into. All believers belong here. The universal church
supersedes the local church.

This means the things found in the universal church must be seen in the
local church. There are six elements of the universal church:

Christ is Lord of the Church

Matt.16:18
“And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and
the powers of death shall not prevail against it.”

The church exists under the Lordship of Christ. Metaphors such as the
Body of Christ, the bride of Christ, and the building with Christ as the
cornerstone highlight His central role in governing, leading, and providing
for the church.

So the first element of any true church is the acknowledgment of the Lord
of Christ, not the Lordship of any movement, ideology, or person.

The Church is Formed by the Spirit

Acts 2 - The Pentecost Event, The church's inception occurred in Acts 2

when the Spirit empowered the disciples, enabling them to witness the
gospel.So the second element of the global church is the indwelling and
outpouring of the holy spirit in the gathering.
They must display both the fruit and the power of the spirit.Even though the
church possesses the Spirit, the Spirit's goal is to glorify Christ, pointing to
the centrality of Christ in the Spirit-filled community.

Jew and Gentile United

Gala. 3:28, Eph. 2, 3

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is
neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Unlike the Old
Testament, where Gentiles needed to adhere to Jewish practices to
worship with Israel, in Christ, Jews and Gentiles are united in one body.

This unity transcends ethnic and national distinctions. Salvation unites

everyone saved into Christ. No discrimination as long as new birth is in
place.

Community of the New Covenant

The Old Covenant has passed away, replaced by the New Covenant.
Under the New Covenant, the Spirit has put the law in our hearts, making
us a holy and obedient people. Members of the universal church have the
law of God in their heart by the Spirit.
Testifying Community

Acts 1:8
But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and
ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in
Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. The universal church
testifies through gospel sharing, preaching, instruction, ordinances
(baptism and the Lord's Supper), and even church discipline. The church
seeks purity, manifesting the commitment to holiness.

Worshipping Community

Corporate Worship: Worship extends beyond Sunday singing; it

encompasses prayer, preaching, and expressing praise and adoration to
God. The church worships individually and corporately. By understanding
these defining elements, we grasp the ideal and identity of the universal
church, providing a foundation for examining the nature of local churches.

There you have it! The basics of ecclesiology.

Quick Recap

The word for church is Ekklesia.

It comes from two words: ek and kaleo.
Ek means “out of” and kaleo means “to call”.
The church is the called out ones.
The church is both universal and local.
There are six elements that define the universal church.

Quiz

What is the Greek word that the word church came from?
Mention the two forms of the church in the NT
How many elements define the universal church?
Congrats! You have completed the first module.
 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 2 of Ecclesiology

Title: Metaphors of the Church

In this module, we delve into the rich metaphors for the church presented in
the New Testament.
These metaphors provide profound insights into the nature and relationship
of the church to Christ. With these metaphors, we would see the church in
the clear light that the scripture intends to see it in.

It will enable us to effectively assess what a true church is. There are four
metaphors for the church in the NT:

The Body of Christ

Eph. 4:15 -16

“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every
respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”

The body metaphor illustrates Christ's headship, indicating His authority

and rulership over the church. This metaphor emphasizes both the church's
dependence on Christ and the interdependence of believers within the
body.

Every member, with unique gifts, contributes to the growth and well-being
of the entire body. This means the church must be directed ONLY by Jesus,
and we can only grow to maturity by contributing our different gifts and
graces together.

The Bride of Christ

2 Corin.11:2
“For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to
one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.”

The metaphor of the church as the bride highlights the intimate relationship
between Christ and the church. Marriage, according to Eph. 5, serves as
an analogy for Christ and the church.

The church is betrothed to Christ, called to be pure and devoted,

anticipating the future marriage supper of the Lamb. This means we must
be true to the doctrinal foundations of the church till Jesus comes back,
And not other ideologies.

The Church as a Building

Eph. 2:19-22
Foundation and Cornerstone:
Christ is portrayed as the cornerstone and foundation of the church.
Believers, represented as living stones, are interconnected to form a
spiritual house. Christ, rejected by many, is the essential cornerstone,
setting the direction for the church.

The apostles and prophets contribute to this foundation, ensuring the

church's growth into a holy temple. This means that it is by Christ at the
center that the church stands. The moment Jesus isn’t at the center
anymore, the church ceases.

The Church as Christ’s Flock

Hebrews 13:20
“Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant
brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the
sheep.”

Shepherd and Sheep Relationship:

Christ is depicted as the good shepherd who lays down His life for the
sheep. The church, portrayed as Christ’s flock, is called to hear His voice
and follow. The shepherd's role involves caring, protecting, and guiding the
sheep.

This metaphor emphasizes the simplicity of obediently following Christ's

voice while highlighting His commitment to safeguard and provide for His
flock.

There you have it! The metaphors of the church.

Quick Recap

There are four metaphors for the church.

The Body indicates Christ is the Lord and Head of the church.
The Building indicates that the church doesn’t stand without Jesus at the
center.
The Bride indicates that we must be pure to the Lord.
The Sheep indicates that we must obey Jesus without questions.

Quiz

How many metaphors are there for the church?

Which metaphor mandates us to be holy to God?
Which metaphor makes Christ the center of the church?

Congrats! You have completed the second module.

 MODULE 3

Welcome to Module 3 of Ecclesiology

Title:Organizational Structures of the Church

In this module, we will explore the various organizational structures

adopted by local churches throughout history.

Three primary structures—

Episcopalianism
Presbyterianism
Congregationalism

These have shaped the governance of local congregations. While the New
Testament doesn't prescribe a specific structure, it provides principles that
inform these organizational models.

Episcopalianism

Church governance by bishops (episkopoi). This is the model where a

bishop or a group of bishops administer authority over a group of churches
in a region.

Examples:

United Methodist Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Roman

Catholic Church. This model emerged early in the church's history due to
controversies and persecution, providing centralized leadership.

While practical for times of instability, caution is needed not to replace the
apostolic role with bishops, as seen in the New Testament.

Presbyterianism
Church governance by presbyters, representatives acting as a governing
body.

Example:
Modeled after Acts 15, where a council provided guidance to multiple
churches.

Resembles a republican form of government with selected representatives

making decisions for the collective group. Acts 15 might not definitively
support a Presbyterian form, and individual churches remain responsible
for implementing decisions.

Congregationalism

This is church governance by local members, each congregation having

autonomy. Common in Baptist and Congregationalist churches.
Each church operates independently, making decisions without external
influence. Decision-Making can involve democratic processes like voting,
emphasizing the central idea of local church autonomy.

Acts 6 and Acts 13 show the whole church involved in decision-making.

Matthew 18 highlights the role of the entire congregation in church in
settling disputes. It should be noted that we cannot conclude that a system
of government is the right one.

The NT didn’t specifically prescribe a pattern, but we can make inferences

from the principles stated about church governance there. There you have
it! The organizational structures of the church.

Quick Recap

There are three organization structures of the church.

Episcopalism is rule by bishops over a number of churches in a region.
Presbyterianism is rule by a select group of elders.
Congregationalism is the rule by the church itself, who may then decide to
elect local elders to administer governance.
There’s no one right model, but the NT principles can guide us to decide.

Practice Quiz

How many organizational structures do we have for the church from the
NT?
Which structure rules using a group of bishops?
Is there a right structure? Yes or No?

Congrats! You have finished the 3rd module.

 Welcome to the Last Module of Ecclesiology
Title: Church Baptism and The Lord’s Supper

In this module, we will explore the gospel ordinances observed by local

churches—baptism and The Lord’s Supper. These ordinances serve as
visible expressions of the transformative work of Christ and are central to
the life of the church.

Despite variations in interpretation, they unite believers in their shared

experience of God's grace. Let us look at them both.

Baptism

Baptism is hotly debated amongst churches about its relevance to us

believers. Some say it’s essential, others say it is not. But let’s see what
Jesus and the apostles say.

Mk. 16:16
“He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth
shall be
condemned.”

Acts 2:38
“And Peter said unto them, Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in
the name of Jesus Christ unto the remission of your sins; and ye shall
receive the gift of the Holy
Spirit.”

Acts 22:16
“And now why tarriest thou? arise, and be baptized, and wash away thy
sins, calling
on his name.”
I Pet. 3:20-21
“Or are ye ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him through
baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from the dead through the
glory of the Father, so we also might walk in newness of life.”

Rom. 6:3-4
“Having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with
him through faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.”

These statements by Jesus and the apostles clearly connect being saved
to baptism. Why? Because it is one thing to have eternal life and another to
be saved. It appears the outward affirmation of having eternal life is
baptism.

Salvation means translation from a world to another. Baptism is telling the

world openly that I am no longer part of you. It is very symbolic of being
dead to sin and coming alive in Christ.
Christ and the apostles emphasized it, we must too.

Types of Baptism

Infant Baptism (Paedobaptism)

Connected with Old Testament circumcision, signifying membership in the

believing community. Held by Roman Catholics.

Believers' Baptism

Baptism is for believers only, symbolizing death and resurrection with

Christ. Baptists emphasize immersion as a preferred mode.
 The Lord’s Supper

The Lord’s Supper is an essential ordinance of the Lord to serve as a

constant reminder of our unity with Him, and how it is through Him that we
have our life. It is very important for the church to do this. The Lord
commanded it, we must adhere to it. There are four views to it:

Transubstantiation (Roman Catholic)

The substance of bread and wine is replaced with the substance of Christ's
body and blood. No biblical support.

Consubstantiation (Lutheran)

Christ's body and blood are present with the substance of bread and wine.

Reformed View

Christ is spiritually present, and believers partake of Him spiritually. The

focus is on grace being granted through the sacrament.

Memorial View (Baptist/Zwinglian)

The Lord's Supper is a memorial, emphasizing remembrance of Christ's

death and resurrection.

Elements symbolize these events; spiritual renewal is through reflection,

not the physical elements.

Regardless of views, the ordinances emphasize the symbolic

representation of spiritual truths.

And despite differing views, believers share a common faith despite

nuanced differences in interpreting and practicing gospel ordinances.
There you have it! Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.

Quick Recap

Baptism is an ordinance of the Lord, it must be obeyed.

Baptism is linked to being saved, it completes salvation.
The Lord’s Supper is a spiritually symbolic ordinance.
Despite differing views, we must all still be united as one.

Quiz

What is baptism linked to?

How many types of baptism are there?
How many views of the Lord’s Supper do we have?
Which of the views suggests it is the physical body and blood of the Lord
that’s been taken?

Congrats! You have completed Ecclesiology!

 Welcome to the Last Lesson
Title: Eschatology

This course has five modules:

Meaning and value of studying eschatology

Intermediate state
Views on millennialism
Views on tribulation
Views on final judgment and eternal state

Eschatology—the study of what is last or discourse concerning what comes

last. Eschatology addresses the future, examining biblical prophecies, and
understanding the already fulfilled and the not-yet-realized aspects of God's
plan.

As we delve into this study, we will also discover the value of eschatology in
shaping our understanding of God's cosmic purposes and guiding our
Christian walk.

The Meaning of Eschatology

The term is derived from two Greek words—eschatos (last) and logos
(word or discourse). Eschatology is the study of what is last or discourse
concerning what comes last.

Four Essential Things About Eschatology

Temporal Perspective

Scripture contains prophecies about the end times, some of which have
been fulfilled partially.
The "already, not yet" eschatology view acknowledges that certain last
things are already happening while anticipating more to come.

Scriptural Fulfillment

Prophetic statements like the pouring out of the Spirit in the latter days
demonstrate the ongoing fulfillment of eschatological elements.

Hebrews 6 hints at believers experiencing "the powers of the age to come"

in the present.

Focus on the "Not Yet", While recognizing the present fulfillment, this study
will primarily focus on aspects of biblical teaching related to the "not
yet"—future events and their anticipation.

Common Ground
Essential eschatological beliefs include the physical and bodily return of
Christ, final judgment, and the existence of heaven and hell.

Areas of Disagreement

Despite core agreements, differences exist on specific details and timing,

fostering healthy theological discussions within the Christian community.

Value of Studying Eschatology

Understanding God’s Cosmic Purposes

God's plan for the consummation of all things has existed since the
beginning. Eschatology reveals that God is purposefully accomplishing His
predetermined plan.
Gives us Hope

Recognizing God's ultimate victory provides believers with hope. Despite

current challenges, Christians can trust that God will triumph over evil,
instilling confidence in the future.

Gives us Endurance

Awareness that this world is temporary allows believers to endure trials with
faithfulness. The transient nature of life encourages enduring affliction and
persecution, understanding that heaven awaits.

Helps us Reassess our Values

Eschatology prompts a reevaluation of values, emphasizing the eternal

over the transient. Christians shift focus from worldly pursuits to Christ, the
gospel, and eternal life.

Motivation for Holiness

Understanding the transient nature of life motivates Christians to live holy
lives, aligning their conduct with their true identity as God's holy people.
The world will be judged in fire and everything in it. This makes Christians
know not to live for this world, but for God.

Motivation for Witness

Recognizing the urgency of the present and the reality of judgment

motivates believers to actively witness and share the gospel with others.

Motivation for Worship

Studying eschatology helps believers feel a strong sense of worship. This

is because they reflect on the powerful and victorious God revealed in the
fulfillment of His planned history.
There you have it! The basics of eschatology.

Quick Recap

Eschatology helps us learn about the last things.

There are four principles around eschatology:
It deals with things already planned but not completely revealed.
It deals with the fulfillment of the last things.
Bodily return of Jesus, final judgment, and existence of heaven and hell are
the common grounds of agreement.
The values of studying eschatology are:

Knowing God’s ultimate plan

Motivation for hope
Motivation for endurance
Motivation for value assessment
Motivation for holiness
Motivation for witness
Motivation for worship

Practice Quiz

Eschatology is from which two Greek words?

How many principles are around it?
Motivation for endurance and hope are two values of eschatology, yes or
no?

Congrats! You have completed module 1.

 MODULE 2

Welcome to Module 2 Eschatology

Title: Intermediate State

Introduction

In this module, we explore the concept of the Intermediate State, focusing

on the state of existence after physical death. When we die, what is the
next thing that happens to us before the coming of Christ and the final
judgment?

We will explore that intermediate state for the unbeliever and the believer.

Unbelievers

Anticipating Torment

Unbelievers can expect to experience torment and punishment immediately

upon physical death, awaiting the final judgment. Passages like 2 Peter 2:9
emphasize that the unrighteous are consciously under punishment,
indicating an ongoing experience.

"The Lord knows how to rescue the godly from temptation and to keep the
unrighteous under punishment awaiting the day of judgment." (2 Peter 2:9)

Also, the Luke 16 Parable:

The parable of the rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 illustrates the
intermediate state, revealing conscious torment and a fixed separation
between places of torment and blessing:

"He cried out and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send
Lazarus to dip the end of his finger in water and cool my tongue, for I am in
anguish in this flame.'" (Luke 16:24)

This scene by Jesus establishes that the state of the unbeliever is

intermediate. That means the world has not ended, as he requested this
relative be warned.

Ultimate Destiny Secured

Our ultimate destiny is established at the point of physical death, with

Hebrews 9:27 affirming that after death comes judgment.

"And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes
judgment." Hebrews 9:27

Believers

Conscious Joyous Existence

Believers also experience conscious existence in the intermediate state,

but the quality of life is dramatically different. Scriptural passages like Luke
23:42- 43 and Phili. 1:21-23 depicts believers' anticipation of joyous
communion with Christ after physical death.

"And he said, 'Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.'
And he said to him, 'Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in
paradise.’" Luke 23:42-43
"For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." Phili. 1:21

2 Corin. 5:6-8 reinforces the prospect for believers, highlighting the joy of
being absent from the body and present with the Lord.

"So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in
the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes,
we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and
at home with the Lord." 2 Corin. 5:6

Hope

While the intermediate state is a joyous reality, believers' ultimate hope lies
in the return of Christ and the resurrection to the fullness of God's
promises.

Understanding the Intermediate State provides crucial insights into what

awaits both unbelievers and believers after death. For unbelievers, it
involves torment and anticipation of final judgment, while believers look
forward to a joyous communion with Christ. However, the ultimate hope for
believers rests in the return of Christ and the resurrection to the fullness of
God's promises.
 MODULE 3

Welcome to Module 3 of Eschatology

Title: Millennialism

Remember Eschatology is the study of the last things. In Reve. 20 v 1-6,

Bible describes a period of 1,000 years that Christ will rule for:

Verse 4
“And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto
them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of
Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast,
neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in
their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.”

So, before the final judgment a thousand year reign occurs. The question
now is how does this millennial reign come? There are some four views to
it:

Postmillennialism
Amillennialism
Historic premillennialism
Dispensational premillennialism

Postmillennialism

The belief that, through the spread of the gospel, the world will gradually
become better, leading to a golden age of peace and righteousness before
Christ's return.

They support their claim using Matthew 28:18-20 where Jesus

commissioned the disciples to make disciples of the whole world. That the
spread of the gospel to the world will make it better before Christ comes
after the millennial years created by the gospel filling the world.
Amillennialism

The belief that the 1,000 years mentioned in Revelation 20 is not a literal
earthly reign but symbolizes the entire church age, during which Christ
spiritually reigns over believers.

They use 2 Peter 3:8-9 as their support:

"But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as
a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. The Lord is not slow
to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance."

They claim that Christ ruling over our lives now is the millennial reign. So
there’s no actual 1,000 years of Christ’s physical reign.

Hence, amillennialism. No millennium.

Historic Premillennialism

The belief that Christ's second coming will precede a literal 1,000-year
period of peace on Earth, and believers will experience this reign alongside
Christ.

Reve. 20:4-6
"Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority
to judge was committed. Also, I saw the souls of those who had been
beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those
who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its
mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with
Christ for a thousand years."

This view goes to the scriptural source of millennialism itself. I believe this
view to be the most acceptable, as the early church held on to this view.
Dispensational Premillennialism

Similar to historic premillennialism but with a focus on distinct

dispensations in God's plan, often involving a pre-tribulation rapture of
believers.

1 Thess 4:16-17
"For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with
the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And
the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be
caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and
so we will always be with the Lord."

This verse highlights Jesus will come and claim the believers in a rapturous
extraction before the tribulation comes on earth. After which He would
come and reign for a thousand years.

There you have it! Millennialism and the several views on it!

Quick Recap

Millennialism refers to the 1,000 - year rule of Christ before the final
judgment.
There are four views to it.
Postmillennialism - we are living in the millennium, then Jesus will come
after.
Amillennialism - there’s no literal 1,000 years. It’s spiritual
Historic premillennialism - Jesus will appear before the millennial reign
Dispensational premillennialism - Jesus will come before the tribulation,
then will rule for a thousand years.

Quiz

How many views are around millennialism?

Which view considers the thousand years spiritual and not literal?
Which view considers it as though we are living it now?

Congrats! You have completed Millennialism.

 MODULE 4

Welcome to Module 4 Eschatology

Title: Views on Tribulation

The tribulation is a significant time in the future, according to some beliefs.

It's a period of really tough times, described in the Bible. People often
connect it with seven years of challenges before Jesus establishes his rule
on Earth. During this time, there will be lots of troubles, global changes,
and God's judgments as part of a big plan leading to Jesus taking charge.

Views on Tribulation

Mid-tribulation Rapture

Church rapture happens at the midpoint of the tribulation, coinciding with

the onset of God's wrath.

Scriptural Connection

Links the seventh trumpet in Revelation to 1 Corinthians 15, signaling the

moment of rapture.

1 Corin.15:51-52
"Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be
changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet."

Post-tribulation Rapture

End-of-Tribulation Event: advocates for the church enduring the entire

tribulation, with the rapture occurring at its conclusion.
Draws insight from 2 Thess. 2, suggesting that Paul's message implies
enduring tribulation rather than escaping it.

2 Thess 2:3
"Let no one deceive you in any way. For that day will not come unless the
rebellion comes first, and the man of lawlessness is revealed..."

Pre-tribulation Rapture

Rapture Before Tribulation: posits that the church is raptured prior to the
commencement of the tribulation period. Points to the exemption of the
church from God's wrath, the imminency doctrine, and considerations for
the millennium.

Reve. 3:10
"Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you
from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who
dwell on the earth."
Understanding the diversity in views on the tribulation, particularly within
premillennialism, highlights the complexity of eschatological discussions.
While disagreements persist, the importance lies in maintaining love and
charity amid differing convictions, recognizing that certain details
intentionally remain unclear in Scripture.

The various perspectives demonstrate the richness of biblical interpretation

and the need for humility in approaching these matters.

There you have it! Views on tribulation.

 Welcome to the last module of Eschatology
Title: Final Judgement and Eternal State

In this module, we'll uncover what the Bible says about the final judgment
and the eternal destinations of believers and unbelievers. We will study
final judgment as this is the penultimate before the last eschatological
timeline before the New Heaven and New Earth.

Final Judgment

The Bible is clear that there will be a final judgment for everyone. Passages
like Psalm 96:13, Ecclesiastes 12:14, and Matthew 25:31-46 tell us that
God will judge the world in righteousness.

Psalm 96:13
"Before the Lord, for he comes, for he comes to judge the earth. He will
judge the world in righteousness, and the peoples in his faithfulness."

Eccl. 12:14
"For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing,
whether good or evil."

Matt. 25:31-46
"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then
he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations,
and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the
sheep from the goats..."

So final judgment is the fate of everybody. There are two judgments.

Judgment for Believers

Judgment for Unbelievers
Judgment for Believers

Even those who believe in Jesus will face a judgment seat. This is the
Judgement Seat of Christ. 2 Corin. 5:10 and Romans 14:11-12 talk about
believers being accountable for their actions.

2 Corin. 5:10
"For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each
one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether
good or evil."

Romans 14:11-12
"For it is written, 'As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and
every tongue shall confess to God.' So then each of us will give an account
of ourselves to God."

Judgment for Unbelievers

People who reject God's love and choose to live without Him will face
judgment. This is Judgement at the White Throne. Verses like
Matt.13:39-42 and Reve. 20:11-15 describe this as a separation from God
with consequences.

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Go away from me! You will be
punished forever. That punishment is prepared for the devil and his
angels." Matt. 25:41

Eternal State

After the final judgment, the judged are confined to an eternal state. There
are two biblically recognised. Hell and Heaven.
Hell

Jesus often spoke about hell, describing it as a place of separation from

God. Passages like Matt. 5:22, Matt. 10:28, and Matthew 25:41 show us
how seriously Jesus took this.

Reve. 14:9-11
Revelation paints a vivid picture of hell's permanence, where those who
reject God face eternal suffering.

"The smoke from their burning goes up forever and ever. There is no rest,
day or night, for those who worship the beast and its image or for anyone
who receives the mark of its name." Reve. 14:11

Heaven

The Bible gives us glimpses of heaven in passages like Isaiah 65:17-25,

John 14:1-3, and Reve. 21 and 22. It's described as a place of joy, no more
pain, and endless delight in God's presence.

Isaiah 65:17-25
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth, and the former things
shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice
forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy, and
her people to be a gladness. I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my
people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of
distress."

John 14:1-3
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my
Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told
you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a
place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am
you may be also."
Revelation 21:1-4
"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the
first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy
city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a
bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne
saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with
them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as
their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be
no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for
the former things have passed away.'"

Heaven is depicted as a place where tears are wiped away, and there's no
more suffering. It's a beautiful place where believers will experience the
fullness of joy.

"He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death
or sadness. There will be no more crying or pain. Things are no longer the
way they used to be." Reve. 21:4

Exploring what the Bible says about final judgment and heaven helps us
understand the choices we make in life. Heaven offers hope and joy, while
hell serves as a serious warning. Let's live faithfully and share the good
news with others so they can experience the joy of heaven too.

There you have it! Final Judgment and Eternal State.

Quick Recap

Final judgment is the penultimate event in the eschatological timeline.

Eternal state is the last event.
Everyone will be judged.
Believers and unbelievers will be judged.
Heaven and hell are the final eternal states of the judged.

Practice Quiz
What is the penultimate event of the eschatological timeline?
How many judgments do we have?
How many eternal states do we have?
Will everyone be judged?

Congrats! You have finished all the courses of the Fundamentals of

Christian Theology Course!

I congratulate you for reaching this point! Studying theology is essential,

but that doesn’t exclude the fact that it is mentally demanding.

But you have persevered as a tested workman seeking the truth. What I
have presented to you here is standard fundamental theology. But it is only
the foundation. Although a very solid foundation to build your Christian
knowledge on, more study is still required.

Search the internet, buy books, study and learn more. You will indeed grow
in God’s knowledge. God bless you.

Do you have any inquiries? Feel free to reach me here:

Phone: +2349039757771
Email: olayinkaolalekan65@gmail.com
Twitter: @lekan_olayinka1
Instagram: @lekan_olayinka1
 About the Author

Lekan Olayinka is the founder of Spiricoco Ng, a Christian digital

organization that offers spiritual growth materials for believers seeking to
deepen their relationship with God. He is a dedicated gospel teacher,
committed to assisting as many Christians as possible in attaining a
comprehensive understanding of God. Professionally, he serves as a
Career Coach, aiding individuals in discovering their passions and talents.