A Biblical Framework for Facing the Intellectual, Moral and Spiritual Challenges of the 21 st Century Charles A. Clough January 21-23, 2005 Hosted by West Houston Bible Church

Shall I Bow To My Creator? YES! –ancient monotheism –ancient Israel –Bible –Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature –God || man | nature –everlasting distinctions PERSONAL SOVEREIGN –ultimate responsibility NO! –ancient myths –eastern religions –western philosophy –modern theology Continuity of Being –nature > gods > man –transmutation / evolution IMPERSONAL FATE / CHANCE –ultimate victimization

UNBELIEF SWALLOWING UP A BIT OF THE WORD OF GOD A portion of the Word of God presented to unbelief Unbelief reinterpreting the Word of God within its own categories

CHRISTOLOGICAL CONTROVERSY MODALISM UNITARIANISM JESUS CHRIST WHOLLY GOD DISTINCT FROM THE FATHER TRINITY SOLITARY MONOTHEISM

NT CANON > signs/wonders TRINITY & PERSON OF CHRIST CROSS: SATISFACTION OF DIVINE JUSTICE JUSTIFICATION: SOLA FIDE ECCLESIOLOGY & ESCHATOLOGY UNIVERSAL HISTORY: CREATIONISM CONTINUITY OF BEING IDEALISTIC LOGIC ARBITRARY JUSTICE HUMAN MERIT DIVINE STATE-SAVIOR “NATURAL” HISTORY THE HOLY SPIRIT’S ENVELOPMENTAL STRATEGY THROUGH CHURCH GROWTH IN THE WORD OF GOD

WHERE DOES INFORMATION RESIDE ? in symbols or in the minds that interpret the symbols?

Audible words GOD’S STANDARD MEANING Do A and B’ ideas impute to the audible words the same God- given meaning? A’s idea B’s idea

A’s idea B’s idea GOD’S STANDARD MEANING Audible words

CLARIFYING MEANING UNDER “HOSTILE” CONDITIONS CONTRAST: Truth vs. Vanity (arbitrary foundation, self- contradictory) [Doctrinal & Categorical Aspect] RANGE of MEANING RANGE of MEANING: Revealed Facts vs. Fog (avoidance of facts) [Exegetical & Historical/Scientific Aspect] CONTEXT CONTEXT: God’s Plan vs. Various Pagan Religion/Philosophies (thousands with common base) [Worldview Aspect]

“You can’t say anything about anything without saying something about everything”

“KNOWLEDGE” OR “FAITH” ? “I believe that...” or “I know that...” Julian Huxley: “I believe firmly that the scientific method, although slow and never claiming to lead to complete truth, is the only method which...will give satisfactory foundation for beliefs” “We quite assuredly at present know nothing beyond this world and natural experience.” REALITY APPEARANCE

“We don’t know anything for sure, except that the Bible can’t be true.”

Shall I Bow To My Creator? YES! –ancient monotheism –ancient Israel –Bible –Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature –God || man | nature –everlasting distinctions PERSONAL SOVEREIGN –ultimate responsibility NO! –ancient myths –eastern religions –western philosophy –modern theology Continuity of Being –nature > gods > man –transmutation / evolution IMPERSONAL FATE / CHANCE –ultimate victimization

UNBELIEF SWALLOWING UP A BIT OF THE WORD OF GOD A portion of the Word of God presented to unbelief Unbelief reinterpreting the Word of God within its own categories

KEY EVENTS & DOCTRINAL IMAGES Creation Fall Flood Covenant Call of Abraham Exodus Mt. Sinai Conquest & Settlement Rise and Reign of David Golden Era of Solomon Division & Decline of Kgdm Fall of Kgdm & Exile Restoration..... God, man, nature Evil, suffering Judgment / Salvation God, man, nature Election, Justification, Faith Judgment / Salvation Revelation, Inspiration, Canon Sanctification Sanctification, Religion Canon, prayer....

? ALL POSSIBLE FACTS  PLAN OF GOD

The FRAMEWORK guides one in STRATEGICALLY MANEUVERING against unbelief by exploiting DIMENSIONS of MEANING. It thus exposes areas needing REPENTANCE in order to stimulate strong Biblical FAITH

THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION FALL FLOOD COVENANT God Man Nature Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation God Man Nature

Shall I Bow To My Creator? YES! –ancient monotheism –ancient Israel –Bible –Fundamentalism CREATOR/creature –God || man | nature –everlasting distinctions PERSONAL SOVEREIGN –ultimate responsibility NO! –ancient myths –eastern religions –western philosophy –modern theology Continuity of Being –nature > gods > man –transmutation / evolution IMPERSONAL FATE / CHANCE –ultimate victimization

THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION FALL FLOOD COVENANT God Man Nature Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation God Man Nature

Who Has the REAL “Evil Problem”? Christian: Pagan: Good Evi l 8 8 Good/Evil Mix is Forever “Normal” Good/Evil Mix is “Abnormal” & Temporary Creator: creation: 8 8 Good ||| Evil Good Evil CrF J

THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION FALL FLOOD COVENANT God Man Nature Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation God Man Nature

THE DISRUPTIVE KINGDOM CALL OF ABRAHAM EXODUS MT. SINAI CONQUEST & SETTLEMENT RISE & REIGN OF DAVID Election Justification Faith Judgment / Salvation (Blood Atonement) Revelation Inspiration Canonicity Sanctification (Confession & Restoration)

Who Has the REAL “Evil Problem”? Christian: Pagan: Good Evi l 8 8 Good/Evil Mix is Forever “Normal” Good/Evil Mix is “Abnormal” & Temporary Creator: creation: 8 8 Good ||| Evil Good Evil CrF J

THE DISRUPTIVE KINGDOM CALL OF ABRAHAM EXODUS MT. SINAI CONQUEST & SETTLEMENT RISE & REIGN OF DAVID Election Justification Faith Judgment / Salvation (Blood Atonement) Revelation Inspiration Canonicity Sanctification (Confession & Restoration)

THE BURIED FOUNDATION CREATION FALL FLOOD COVENANT God Man Nature Evil & Suffering Judgment / Salvation God Man Nature

THE DISRUPTIVE KINGDOM CALL OF ABRAHAM EXODUS MT. SINAI CONQUEST & SETTLEMENT RISE & REIGN OF DAVID Election Justification Faith Judgment / Salvation (Blood Atonement) Revelation Inspiration Canonicity Sanctification (Confession & Restoration)

THE KING’S DISCIPLINE GOLDEN ERA OF SOLOMON KINGDOM DIVIDED KINGDOMS IN DECLINE EXILE RESTORATION Sanctification (Growth & Wisdom) Sanctification (Chastening & Repentance) Sanctification (Chastening,Repentance, & Final Cleansing) Sanctification (Separation) Revelation / Inspiration (Apocalyptic Literature) Canonicity (Preservation of the Text); Prayer; Eschatology (premillennialism)

EXILED JEWS’ WORLD INFLUENCE?? ( from 600 B.C. to 500 B.C.) Philosophy (via Egypt?) Judaism (from Babylon) Zoroasterianism (Persia)Taoism (China) Jainism (India)Confucianism (China) Buddhism (via India) Vedanta Monism (India) ( All anti-supernatural and ethically focused )

THE KING’S DISCIPLINE GOLDEN ERA OF SOLOMON KINGDOM DIVIDED KINGDOMS IN DECLINE EXILE RESTORATION Sanctification (Growth & Wisdom) Sanctification (Chastening & Repentance) Sanctification (Chastening,Repentance, & Final Cleansing) Sanctification (Separation) Revelation / Inspiration (Apocalyptic Literature) Canonicity (Preservation of the Text); Prayer; Eschatology (premillennialism)

THE KING AS CREATOR & CREATURE BIRT H Hypostatic Union LIFE Kenosis Impeccability Infallibility DEATH Substitutionary Blood Atonement RESURRECTION Glorification

THE KING AS CREATOR & CREATURE BIRT H Hypostatic Union LIFE Kenosis Impeccability Infallibility DEATH Substitutionary Blood Atonement RESURRECTION Glorification

Who Has the REAL “Evil Problem”? Christian: Pagan: Good Evi l 8 8 Good/Evil Mix is Forever “Normal” Good/Evil Mix is “Abnormal” & Temporary Creator: creation: 8 8 Good ||| Evil Good Evil CrF J

THE KING’S QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN ASCENSION & SESSION PENTECOST EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH MATURING OF THE CHURCH DESTINY OF THE CHURCH Judgment / Salvation (Last days begin) Person & Work of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification Dispensations (Israelology & Ecclesiology) Historical Theology (doctrinal clarification) Eschatology (Rapture, Bema, Return)

OT Image Source Accomplishment of the Session Accomplishments Still Awaited Daniel 7 Christ given kingly authority to rule over all nations; comes face-to- face with the Father Judgment of nations; acquisition of a kingdom people; evil powers set aside Psalm 2 Christ given kingly authority to rule over all nations by a decree of the Father Subduing of the nations; nations given opportunity to bow to Christ’s authority before they are forced to; Christ not sitting on David’s throne at physical Mt. Zion Psalm 110 Christ given both kingly and priestly authority to rule over all nations; sits at the Father’s right hand Enemies not yet defeated OT Imagery of the Session of the Son

Name of the Doctrine Content of the Doctrine Satan’s Possible Appeal Refuted Substitutionary Blood Atonement All grace is grounded upon total restitutionary satisfaction of God’s just demands against sin There is no unavoidable contradiction between God’s holiness and His acceptance of sinful creatures covered legally by the SBA Imputation God credits Christ’s righteousness to the account of those who believe The righteousness that is credited is that of Christ whose credentials have been accepted permanently at the Father’s Throne. The King Individually Qualified

THE KING’S QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN ASCENSION & SESSION PENTECOST EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH MATURING OF THE CHURCH DESTINY OF THE CHURCH Judgment / Salvation (Last days begin) Person & Work of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification Dispensations (Israelology & Ecclesiology) Historical Theology (doctrinal clarification) Eschatology (Rapture, Bema, Return)

Name of the Doctrine Content of the Doctrine Satan’s Possible Appeal Refuted Substitutionary Blood Atonement All grace is grounded upon total restitutionary satisfaction of God’s just demands against sin There is no unavoidable contradiction between God’s holiness and His acceptance of sinful creatures covered legally by the SBA Imputation God credits Christ’s righteousness to the account of those who believe The righteousness that is credited is that of Christ whose credentials have been accepted permanently at the Father’s Throne. The King’s Body Becoming Qualified

THE KING’S QUALIFYING CAMPAIGN ASCENSION & SESSION PENTECOST EMERGENCE OF THE CHURCH MATURING OF THE CHURCH DESTINY OF THE CHURCH Judgment / Salvation (Last days begin) Person & Work of the Holy Spirit; Sanctification Dispensations (Israelology & Ecclesiology) Historical Theology (doctrinal clarification) Eschatology (Rapture, Bema, Return)

“You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals; For you were slain, and have redeemed us to God by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation And have made us kings and priests to our God And we shall reign on the earth.” Rev. 5:9-10 Fully The King and His Body Qualified to Begin the Kingdom of God on Earth

UNBELIEF FORCED INTO A CONTRAST IN MANY AREAS SIMULTANEOUSLY A portion of the Word of God presented to unbelief as part of a network Unbelief challenged in each of its categories needed to reinterpret the Word of God

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