Chapter (12 ) Heaven on Earth -

My first "sermons" in 1974 and early 1975 did not have much content. They were basically my testimony of the work of the Spirit of how He made Himself so real to me. In those days I really didn't know too much, and there was so much to learn. FOLLOWING THE SPIRIT'S VOICE 

But during 1975 I heard the unmistakable voice of the Holy Spirit telling me that it was time to begin conducting weekly meetings in Toronto.
               He said, "Follow me. Hear My voice, and you will lead many to Christ."And so I began. On Monday nights we scheduled a series of services that would continue for the next five years. We started in a high school auditorium, and the crowds became so large we had to move to larger facilities. Hundreds and hundreds of people attended. The services were totally led by the Spirit, and I listened ever so closely to His voice. People were delivered from serious addictions. 
                  Families were reunited. We had" healing lines" and heard testimonies of miracles. But always, always, the services resulted in the salvation of lost souls. Then something happened. People began to receive miracles, deliverance, and healings right in their seats. No lines for "the laying on of hands." God began to do His work all across the auditorium—so freely that there was not time to hear all of the testimonies.The press began to take notice. On the front pages of the Toronto Star, the Toronto Globe and Mail, and other papers across Canada there were stories of the "Miracle Rallies" we were conducting.
                  In December 1976 the Globe and Mail sent a reporter to one of the services to describe in detail what was happening. He wrote of the healings and testimonies and ended the article by quoting me: "I'm not interested in building up Benny Hinn. I'm not and never will be. Jesus is the one. . . to be built up and exalted. We want to reach souls for the Lord Jesus. I want to see souls, souls, souls, souls, souls. People, do you understand that?"Under the headline, "Does Faith Healing Really Work?" the Toronto Star presented four case studies of people who had been healed in our services. 
                  He told about a shift worker at the GM plant in Oshawa who had cancer of the throat. "This week, following a checkup at the cancer clinic, he was told there is no trace of malignancy."He told the story of a Beaverton trucker: "A non church-goer, who had suffered from congestive heart failure and slight emphysema (a lung disease) for seven years, was persuaded by friends to attend a healing crusade. 'I went to the doctor three days later, and he told me he could find nothing wrong,' he says. 'God must have done it.'"What about their doctors? The reporter quoted one as saying, "Look, there are more things happening in this world than we know about."Television stations began to film documentaries on what God was doing. 
               The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC), Global TV, and the huge independent station in Toronto, Channel 9, produced specials. We ran our own weekly television program that was shown in prime time after 60 Minutes for a year and a half. A Yellow Cab in Pittsburgh Leaving the great city of Toronto in 1979 was not easy for me. It was where I had been saved, healed, and touched by the mighty Spirit of God. The press had nothing but good news to report about the ministry. But again, I promised to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost. I knew He wanted me to build a church and establish an international ministry.
        He had told me this years earlier, in1977. I remember exactly where it happened. I was back in Pittsburgh, riding in a big Yellow Cab when I had a conversation with the Spirit about it. About the ministry He said, "It will touch the world!"I wondered, "Where will it be? New York? Los Angeles?" But, you know, the Spirit has an amazing way of leading you. In July 1978 I traveled to Orlando, Florida, to speak for Pastor Roy Harthern. He told me about his daughter, Suzanne, who was attending Evangel College in Springfield, Missouri.
               Being single, my ears perked up.I invited myself back to spend Christmas with them, and Suzanne was home for the holidays. The first time I saw her, the Lord said, "That's your wife." Just like that! I felt it. And she did too. But I had to be sure so I began to ask God for "signs."I'd put out "fleeces." And every one of them was answered. I thought, "Is this just coincidence? Or does God really want me to marry this young lady?" Then I tried one last sign a rather difficult one.
             I was flying back to Orlando from San Jose, California, on January 1, 1979. I made a quick trip there to speak at a New Year's Eve service. On the plane I had a talk with God. I said, "If she really is to be my wife, have her say to me when I get back, 'I've made you a cheesecake.'" That was the toughest test I could think of. Suzanne met me at the Orlando airport, and the first words out of her mouth were, "Benny, I've made you a cheese cake." Then she said, "Don't expect too much. 
                I've never made a cheesecake before."We were engaged within two weeks and married later that year. As time passed, all signs pointed to Orlando, Florida, asthe place we would begin a worldwide ministry. With just a handful of people, the Orlando Christian Center was started in 1983. Now it touches the lives of thousands of people every week, plus a national television audience. He's Not a Promoter To be honest, I had no idea where the Spirit would lead my life when I began my relationship with Him. All I knew was that He was real and desired my fellowship .
                 He wanted to be my teacher and guide. But here is what I have come to know. The Holy Ghost will never promote Himself; He'll promote Jesus. He will never create the place of greatness just for Himself; He'll give the honor to the Lord . I've also learned that the Spirit is not the source of God's gifts. He is the one who helps you receive from the giver, who is God the Father. He's also the one who helps you receive God the Son as Savior and Lord. He gives you the power to speak. 
                  In fact, it's useless to attempt to proclaim God's Word without the Holy Ghost upon you. "Help Me! "When you say, "Holy Spirit, help me to know Jesus, "He will not disappoint you. He is always willing to help. Listen to what the psalmist says: "Do not cast me away from Your presence, and do not take Your Holy Spirit from me" (Ps. 51:11). Then, in the very next breath, he says, "Restore to me the joy of Your salvation; / And uphold me with Your generous Spirit" (v. 12). 
                 The Holy Ghost is willing. Anytime you say, "Help me," He says, "I will. "When you say, "Teach me," He says, "I'm ready."And when you say, "Help me to pray," He says, "Let's begin."He is right there, giving you the desire to pray. He is the urging behind the hunger to talk to the Father and to the Son. Paul wrote these powerful words: "Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God calls Jesus accursed, and no one can say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:3). When you sing "He is Lord" and mean it from your heart, it's proof that the Holy Ghost is within you. He's using you to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord to the whole world! The moment you confess the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ you have passed the test of the Spirit. 
              Scripture says, "By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the fleshis of God, and every Spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not from God" (1 John4:2-3). He says, "By this we know the Spirit of truth and the spirit of error" (v. 6).Your salvation is at the very heart of the work of the Holy Spirit. In fact, it is He that actually adopts you into God's family. 
             Paul writes, "For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption" (Rom. 8:14-15). And here is how you express it. By him "we cry out,' Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness, with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together" (vv. 15-17). Up for Adoption The Spirit looked at you and saw an orphan. He said, "I will adopt you." He's your Father. Why? Because He is the Spirit of the Father. 
                  Do you remember Dottie Rambo's song, "Holy Spirit, You Are Welcome in This Place"? She was inspired to write, "Omnipotent Father of mercy and grace." That's what the Spirit is. Without Him it is impossible to approach the Father. Paul tells you, "For through Him we both have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Eph. 2:18). Through whom? Through Jesus, both Jew and Gentile can approach God bythe Holy Ghost. But here's the most exciting part of all. 
                  The Bible says that the Holy Ghost has been given to you as a guarantee of eternal life. "Having believed, you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is the guarantee of inherit ance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory" (Eph. 1:13-14).There's no doubt about it. The Holy Spirit is preparing you for heaven. If you're convinced He's living inside, then you must never question whether you are born again. You must never question whether your home is heaven. And you must never question whether you will have eternal life. Let me put it this way. 
             If tomorrow morning you walk into a store and pick out some clothes and a pair of shoes but don't have all the money, you walk over to "layaway" and make a down payment toward the purchase. You say,"I'll pick it up next week." Your name is on the bill, and you take the receipt home. Then next week you pick up the purchased possession. That's exactly what Jesus did when He came and gave you the Holy Ghost. The only difference is that He paid the entire price on Calvary. 
              But here's what He says: "I paid for your life, but I'm also giving a down payment that guarantees it's mine." He sent the Holy Spirit. And if you have Him, you are on your way to glory. When Christ returns, He's going to pick you up and take you home. It's worth shouting about. You are a purchased possession of the Lord. That's why you can tell Satan to his ugly face, "Don't touch me. I'm a possession of Christ!"And don't be afraid to speak the Word. Kick him out, and He will flee from you. 
             You have the Holy Spirit. A "deposit" on your inheritance! Why was He given as a down payment? Paul says, "Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, 'Cursed is every one who hangs on a tree')" (Gal. 3:13). And then he wrote this marvelous truth: He redeemed us in order "that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith" (v. 14).Because Christ became a curse, the Spirit was given as promised. You Need Some Help From the moment you accept Jesus as Savior, it is the Spirit that gives you the will, the strength, and the desire too bey God and live the Christian life. 
            Without Him it is im possible. The apostle Peter tells you, "Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22). The reason people even Christians fail is that they depend on their own strength. You can't obey God by saying, "I'm going to do it by myself." How many times have you said, "I'm going to pray," but you didn't. Or "I'llread the Word," but you forgot. Why? Because you weredepending on your mind. You depended on the flesh, and itwill fail you continually. 
           He'll give you strength and life, but the Spirit will give you something else just as important. He'll give you rest. Isaiah said, As a beast goes down into the valley, And the Spirit of the LORD causes him to rest, So You lead Your people, To make Yourself a glorious name. (Isa. 63:14)Just after I began to preach the gospel, I met David Du Plessis. He was known as "Mr. Pentecost" as a result ofhis presentations of the Holy Spirit to world religious leaders. 
           He was a charismatic before anyone knew what the word meant. I was walking down the same hallway with this anointed man at a conference in Brockville, Ontario, when I summoned the courage to stop him and ask a question. I nervously asked him, "Dr. DuPlessis, how can I truly please God?"The old man, who is now with Jesus, stopped, put his brief case down, pointed his finger in my chest and pushed me against the wall. I certainly didn't expect that from afrail preacher. All I had said was, "How can I please God?"and he nailed me to the wall. Then he said two words that I have never forgotten. 
               He said: "Don't try!" He picked up his little case and walked on down the hall.I caught up with him and said, "Dr. DuPlessis, I don't understand."He calmly turned around and said, "Young man, it's not your ability. It's His ability in you." Then he said, "Goodnight," and walked into his room. As I walked into my room, I was still puzzled. I lay down on my bed and thought about those words. "It's notyour ability. 
               It's His ability in you."In that moment I hardly knew what to pray, but the Spirit began to unlock the truth of those words to me. How can I please God? By yielding! By not even trying. It was just as Mr. Pentecost said. The Holy Spirit will do the work. It's not my strength; it's His. Otherwise I would boast of my own accomplishments. God's Touch When you see Jesus face to face, you won't say, "Lord, look what I did." You'll say, "Lord, look what you did withthis wretched man." Start practicing it. 
              Open your arms wide and say, "Spirit of the living God, I want to live forJesus today. I give You my mind, my emotion, my will, my intellect, my lips, my mouth, my ears, and my eyes use them for the glory of God." When I wake up and pray that kind of prayer, the anointing floods me like an ocean at high tide. In the moment I totally surrender, God begins to flow through my ministry. Nothing less will do .
         I have often wondered why, in my own meetings, the Spirit directs me so often to pray for healing. And I have wondered why my ministry has been accompanied by people who fall under the power of the Holy Spirit. But when I look at the results of the meetings, I see that every manifestation of the Spirit is for one purpose: to bring people to Christ. It is a demonstration that God is alive, that He is still "moving" in the lives of people. 
         I have seen thousands of people literally fall under the power of the Spirit, and I believe that just a small touch of God's power is all they felt. But it demonstrates the awesome strength of the Almighty, and it draws people to the Savior. Being healed or even being "slain in the Spirit" is not a prerequisite for heaven. There is only one door Christ the Lord. Never take your attention from the purpose of the Spirit on earth. 
             He is the Spirit of the Father and the Spirit of the Son, leading people to confess that Christ is Lord. As I began my ministry I never ceased to be amazed at the power of the Holy Spirit. He's gentle, but He's powerful. The grass withers, the flower fades, Because the breath of the LORD blows upon it. Surely the people are grass. (Isa. 40:7)The Holy Ghost is not a weak personality. As both a young Christian and a new minister I often stood back and watched the Lord at work. I knew it wasn't me that was touching lives.
             It was the sovereignty of God and the operation of the Spirit. I just watched in amazement. But I don't think I've been as frightened in my life as that Sunday night in April 1975. There I was on the platform of a small pentecostal church on the west side of Toronto when my parents Costandi and Clemence walked in the door. My heart almost stopped, and I could feel the perspiration on my forehead. 
              My worst nightmare could not have matched this. I was petrified—too startled to laugh and too shocked to cry. What Must They Be Thinking? I had been preaching for five months, but my parents had no idea. The tension in our house over the Lord was bad enough without my breaking that news. But they saw an ad the pastor placed in the newspaper and walked into that little church. 
                  I couldn't even glance in their direction. But the moment I opened my mouth to preach, the anointing of the Holy Spirit filled that building. It was so strong. Words began flowing out of me like a river. I found myself factually "listening" to what the Spirit directed me to say. As I was finishing my message, I felt led to begin ministering to people who needed healing. I thought, "What must my mom and dad be thinking of all this?"
                  Then they stood up and walked out the back door."Jim," I said after the service, "you've got to pray!" Jim Poynter was with me on the plat form that night and knew the seriousness of the situation. I even thought of spending the night at his home to avoid the inevitable confrontation. Instead, I got into my car and began to drive the streets of Toronto. I thought, "If I get home in the middle of the night, my folks will be sleeping." It was just after two o'clock in the morning when I quietly parked in front of the house and turned off the ignition. I tiptoed up the steps and slowly unlocked the front door. I opened it and was startled by what I saw. 
                There in front of me, seated on the couch, were my mom and dad. I had been panic-stricken when I saw them walk into that church, but this was even worse. My knees began to tremble, and I looked for a place to sit down. My father was the first to speak and I listened in disbelief."Son," he softly said, "how can we become like you?"Was I hearing what I thought I was hearing? Was this the same man that had been so offended by my conversion? The father that had absolutely forbidden the name of "Jesus" to be spoken in our home?"We really want to know," he said.
                 "Tell us how we can have what you have."I looked at my dear mother and saw tears begin to fall down her beautiful cheeks. I couldn't contain my joy at that moment. I began to weep. And for the next hour of that unforgettable night I opened the Scripture and led my parents to the saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. My daddy said, "Benny, do you know what convinced me?" He told me that when I began preaching, he turned to my mother and said, "That's not your son. Your son can't talk! His God must be real." He didn't know that I had been totally healed of stuttering. The marvelous conversion of my parents allowed the Lord to literally sweep through the rest of the family. 
                  Henry showed up and got saved. My little brother Mike was born again. Then it happened to Chris. If you've ever heard about" household salvation," this was it! The Hinn home was transformed into "heaven on earth!" And the change was not temporary. It was apermanent work of the Spirit. Today Chris, Willie, Henry,Sammy, and Mike are totally involved in ministry. Mary and Rose are committed Christians and living for the Lord.And Benny? Well, you know what has happened to him. First Things First Just as the Holy Spirit touched my life and drew my parents to Christ, He wants the same for you.
               The greatest work of the Spirit is not to lead you into some heavenly ecstasy on earth. That may happen, but His purpose is to convict of sin and lead people to Jesus. As you have been reading this book you may have said, "That's for me! I want to have an exciting personal relationship with the Holy Spirit!" But are you ready for it? What happened to me the night the Spirit entered my bedroom was not the first step. It began much earlier. You've got to put first things first and touch every step on your spiritual ladder. My friend, if you have never asked Christ to come into your heart, now is the time. It's the most important step you will ever take. Right now, say: "Jesus, I confess that I am a sinner. 

                     I believe that You are the Son of God and that You shed your precious blood on the cross for me. Forgive meof my sin. Cleanse my heart from all unrighteousness. I thank You for saving me now. Amen. "If you have spoken that prayer from your heart, you are ready to begin a new life in the Spirit. And every day as you pray, read God's Word, and tell others of His love, you will sense God's exciting direction. 

I have come to the conclusion that I am totally dependent on the Holy Spirit. He's all I have. He's all you have. Jesus promised Him and God sent Him that you may have knowledge, power, communion, and fellowship. He will anoint you, help you, breathe on you, comfort you, give you rest, lead and guide you, help you pray, and so much more. He is waiting to begin a relationship with you that will change your life forever. But it's up to you to extend the invitation. When the sun comes up tomorrow, He will be longing to hear you say, 

"Good morning, Holy Spirit."

UK Christian Churches:::?

 An international think tank warned in a report that multiculturalism is 
feeding radical Islam in the U.K., pointing out that in the past couple of 
decades close to 500 Christian churches have closed in London 
alone while 423 mosques were built. "
British multiculturalists are feeding 
Islamic fundamentalism. 

 Above all, Londonistan, with its new 423 mosques, is built on the 
sad ruins of English Christianity," the Gatestone Institute argued
 in a report released Sunday. It pointed out that since 2001, 
as many as 500 churches in London of all denominations have 
been turned into private homes.
  At the same time, the number of Muslims has grown
 by almost a million. Statistics from the NatCen Social Research 
Institute showed that between 2012 and 2014, the number of 
Britons identifying as Anglicans fell from 21 to 17 percent of 
the population, representing a decrease of 1.7 million people. 

Data from British Social Attitudes surveys also showed that those 
without a religion in England and Wales now outnumber Christians. 
With the decline of Christianity, Britain has been "acquiring an increasingly 
Islamic face," the Gatestone institute warned as it looking at cities such 
as Birmingham, Bradford, Derby, Dewsbury, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, 
Luton, Manchester, Sheffield, Waltham Forest and Tower Hamlets. 

The institute noted that Birmingham, the second-largest British city,
 has hosted several jihadists who have orchestrated attacks and 
there have been petitions asking that British mosques be allowed 
to use their loudspeakers to call Muslims to prayer three times a day.
 Last month, five people were killed in London by a suspected 
Islamic State-linked terrorist. London's Muslim mayor, Sadiq Khan, 
vowed that the city will not cower before terrorism. 

Former UKIP leader Nigel Farage, meanwhile, suggested after 
the attack that multiculturalism is further dividing the U.K. 
instead of bringing it together. "The problem with multiculturalism is 
that it leads to divided communities. It's quite different to multi-racialism. 
That's fine, that can work very happily and extremely well. 

But we've finished up with very divided communities," he said. 
According to Gatestone, the number of Islamic sharia courts in 
London has been growing, with 100 of them now officially 
operating in the city. "
 These new courts are based on the rejection of the 
inviolability of human rights: the values of freedom and 
equality that are the basis of English Common Law," 
the think tank warned. 
It criticized figures such as Rowan Williams, 
the former Archbishop of Canterbury, and Chief Justice 
Lord Phillips, who have expressed sympathy toward such courts, 
by arguing that London's changing society is exposing 
people to greater terror dangers. "
The British cultural establishment is rapidly capitulating to 
Islamic fundamentalists in accepting their demands," it said. 
By Stoyan Zaimov, Christian Post Reporte

Muslims and Christians in Western Europe

A Comparison of Muslims and Christians in Western Europe 
 On the basis of an original survey among native Christians and
 Muslims of Turkish and Moroccan origin in Germany, France,
 the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria and Sweden, this paper 
investigates four research questions comparing native 
Christians to Muslim immigrants: 

 (1) the extent of religious fundamentalism; 
(2) its socio-economic determinants; 
(3) whether it can be distinguished from 
other indicators of religiosity; and 
(4) its relationship to hostility towards out-groups 
(homosexuals, Jews, the West, and Muslims). 

 The results indicate that religious fundamentalist attitudes are 
much more widespread among Sunnite Muslims than among 
native Christians, even after controlling for the different demographic 
and socio-economic compositions of these groups. 
Alevite Muslims from Turkey, by contrast, show low levels of 
fundamentalism, comparable to Christians. 
Among both Christians and Muslims, strong religiosity 
as such is not (among Christians) or only mildly 
(among Muslims) related to hostility towards out-gro...
 ( R. W. R. Koopmans)

Christianity in Netherlands

Christianity in NL Christianity is the most common and deep-rooted religion in the Netherlands. Here are the bullet points: Protestantism in the Netherlands
The origins of Protestantism in the Netherlands go back a long way:
• At the time of the Reformation, some Dutch Protestants followed
  the teachings of Martin Luther.
• Most, however, followed the more radical John Calvin of France
• Calvinism’s key characteristic was a belief in ‘predestination’.
 Predestination  means that some people are destined for a place
  in heaven, whilst others are simply not.
• Sobriety is also greatly favoured by Calvinists.
• Over the years, these ideas have evolved in the Netherlands, and
  different streams and communities of Protestantism have developed .
                                        Protestantism in NL Today 
• Today, Protestantism in the Netherlands is a lot more varied
• Most provinces in Holland are predominantly Protestant.
• The three main categories of modern-day Dutch Protestantism are:
1. ‘Nederlands Hervormd‘, or ‘Dutch Reformed’. 7% of the Dutch
   population are of this denomination.
2. ‘Protestantse Kerk in Nederland‘, or ‘Protestant Church in the Netherlands’.
   6% of Dutch people subscribe to this stream of Protestantism.
3. ‘Gereformeerd‘ , or ‘Reformed’. Just 3% of Dutch people are
   part of this branch of Protestantism.
4. There are other groups as well! Some examples are: Evangelical, Lutheran, Baptist, Apostolic, Pentecostal, the list goes on Catholicism in the Netherlands
• The southern provinces of Brabant and Limburg are predominantly.

 Catholic in the Netherlands 

• In the 1960s and 70s, the Dutch Catholic Church became extremely progressive • A series of subsequent, rather conservative, Popes has led to its
  being less so today.
• Still, a wide range of Catholic communities exist in the Netherlands
• Some parishes still use the Latin liturgy, whilst others are committed
  to the most modern ideas and practices. There are even Byzantine
  Catholic communities in some regions.
• There are more registered members of the Roman Catholic Church
  (4.2 million), than of the Protestant Church (1.7 million)
• Yet, only 17% of Catholics living in the Netherlands go to church
  regularly, compared to 22% of Protestants.
                                                         Islam in NL 
• There are approximately 850,000 practicing Muslims living in
   the Netherlands today.
• That means 5% of the Dutch population are Islamic.
• Islam has become one of the major religions in the Netherlands
• Mosques have been built in most larger Dutch cities, by communities
   of immigrants from Turkey, Morocco and Indonesia.
• The Dutch public is gradually learning more about Islam.
• Consequently, the people of the Netherlands are becoming more
   accommodating and respectful of, for example, pupils who are
   fasting for Ramadan.

Judaism in NL 

• Before and during the Second World War, when Hitler’s awful anti-
  Semitism took hold in Europe, many Jews came to the Netherlands.
• Unfortunately, the Netherlands was occupied during the war. Therefore,
  it was unable to be the safe haven the Jewish people had hoped it would be
• Still, there is currently a sizeable Jewish community in the Netherlands
• Around 35,000 Jews remain in the Holland.
• Their Jewish center is in Amsterdam, but Synagogues can be
  found in many other Dutch cities.

 Other Religions in the Netherlands .

Other religions that have smaller, but active, communities 

in the Netherlands include: 

                          • Hinduism • Buddhism • Baha’i • Jehovah’s Witness

Contemporary Theology

What is contemporary theology?"

            Contemporary theology is generally defined as a study of theology and theological trends from post-World War I to the present. Roughly covering the twentieth century to today, the major categories typically addressed by contemporary theology include fundamentalism, neo-orthodoxy, Pentecostalism, evangelicalism, neo-liberalism, Post-Vatican II Catholicism, Eastern Orthodox theology of the twentieth century, and the Charismatic Movement. 

              In addition to these larger categories, contemporary theology also deals with specialized areas such as liberation theology, feminist theology, and various ethnic theologies. With the wide variety of credos involved, few scholars would claim to serve as “experts” in contemporary theology. Rather, the trend is to specialize in one or more areas of contemporary theological research. A more recent branch of contemporary theology is the study of interfaith dialogue. 

            Historic Christian theology is compared with the worldviews of non-Christian belief systems as the basis for dialogue between different faiths. Recent pursuits have focused on the shared values between two or more faiths, such as the “Abrahamic Faiths” (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) or Eastern Religions (including Hinduism, Buddhism, and Christian movements such as the underground Chinese Church). 

                   Contemporary theology is primarily a field of academic scholarship. As such, it addresses intellectual challenges facing theology, including science, social issues, and religious practices. While many contemporary theologians share a Christian heritage, not all do. In fact, many agnostic or even atheist scholars have entered the field and are teaching their views regarding faith and belief in contemporary society. 

                     For the Bible-believing Christian, contemporary theology is important, as it traces the development of beliefs in recent history. However, it is critical to realize that contemporary theology often departs from traditional Christian theology when it evaluates faith in the context of various social movements or in comparison with other belief systems. 

                    Adhering to a biblical worldview is not usually the goal. Those who want to understand what God’s Word teaches on today’s important topics can find helpful information in a wide variety of contemporary theological materials. However, the Bible itself does not change. It is the standard of truth for the believer, both now and forever (2 Timothy 3:16-17). (Crd:gotquestion)

About Historical Theology.

What is historical theology?"

Historical theology is the study of the development and history of Christian doctrine. As its name implies, historical theology is a study of the development and formation of essential Christian doctrine throughout the history of the New Testament church period. 

                     Historical theology can also be defined as the study of how Christians during different historical periods have understood different theological subjects or topics such as the nature of God, the nature of Jesus Christ, the nature and work of the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of salvation, etc. The study of historical theology covers subjects such as the development of creeds and confessions, church councils, and heresies that have arisen and been dealt with throughout church history. 

                A historical theologian studies the development of the essential doctrines that separate Christianity from heresies and cults. Theologians often break down the study of historical theology into four main periods of time: 1) the Patristic Period from AD 100—400; 2) the Middle Ages and Renaissance from AD 500-1500; 3) the Reformation and Post-Reformation Periods from AD 1500-1750; and 4) the Modern Period from AD 1750 to the present day. 

                   The purpose of historical theology is to understand and describe the historical origin of the key doctrines of Christianity and to trace the development of these doctrines over time. It examines how people have understood different doctrines throughout history and attempts to understand the development of the doctrines, recognizing how changes within the church have affected different doctrines either for better or worse. Historical theology and church history are two different yet closely related and important subjects. 

                  It would be difficult, if not impossible, to understand church history without also understanding the history of doctrine that often led to different divisions and movements within church history. Understanding the history of theology and doctrine helps us to understand the history of Christianity since the first century and why there are so many different denominations. The basis for studying historical theology is found in the book of Acts. Luke records the beginning of the Christian Church as he continues toward his goal of giving an account of “all that Jesus began to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1). The work of Christ did not end with the final chapter of Acts. 

             Indeed, Christ is at work today in His church, and that can be seen through the study of historical theology and church history, both of which help us to understand how the biblical doctrines essential to the Christian faith have been recognized and proclaimed throughout church history. Paul warned the Ephesian elders in Acts 20:29–30 to expect “savage wolves” who would teach false doctrine. 

                It is through the study of historical theology that we see just how true Paul’s warning turned out to be, as we come to understand how the essential doctrines of the Christian faith have been attacked and defended throughout the more than 2,000 years of church history. Like any area of theology, historical theology is also sometimes used by liberal scholars and non-Christians to cast doubt upon or attack the essential doctrines of the Christian faith as simply being the concoctions of men instead of the divinely revealed biblical truth that they really are. 

                  One example of this is in the discussion of the triune nature of God. The historical theologian will study and trace the development of this doctrine throughout church history knowing that this truth is clearly revealed in Scripture, yet throughout church history there have been times when the doctrine came under attack and thus it was necessary for the church to define and defend the doctrine. 

               The truth of the doctrine comes directly from Scripture; however, the church’s understanding and proclamation of the doctrine has been clarified over the years, often in times when the nature of God had come under attack by those “savage wolves” that Paul warned would come. Some well-meaning but misguided Christians want to dismiss the importance of historical theology, citing the promise that Holy Spirit who indwells all born-again Christians will “guide us to all truth” (John 16:13). 

                   What these Christians fail to recognize is that Holy Spirit has indwelt Christians throughout church history, and it is Jesus Christ Himself who has given “some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:11–12). This includes not only those given in this generation but also those whom Christ ordained throughout church history. It is foolish to believe we have no need to learn from many gifted men that preceded us. A correct study and application of historical theology helps us recognize and learn from Christian teachers and leaders from centuries past. 

                    Through the study of church history and historical theology, the born-again Christian is encouraged to see how God has been at work throughout history. In it we see God’s sovereignty over all things displayed and the truth that God’s Word endures forever (Psalm 119:160). Studying historical theology is really nothing more than studying God at work. It also helps remind us of the ever-present spiritual battle between Satan and the truth of God’s Word. It shows us from history the many ways and forms that Satan uses to spread false doctrine in the church, just as Paul warned the Ephesian elders. 

                   The study of historical theology and church history also shows that the truth of God’s Word remains triumphant. As we understand the theological battles of the past, we can be better prepared to resist the errors that Satan will try to entice us with in the future. If pastors, churches, and Christians are not aware of church history and historical theology, then they will be more open to falling prey to the same type of false teachings that Satan has used in the past. Historical theology, when correctly understood and applied, does not diminish the authority or sufficiency of Scripture. Scripture alone is the standard in all matters of faith and practice. 

               It alone is inspired and inerrant. Scripture alone is our authority and guide, but historical theology can help us understand the many dangers of some “new teaching” or novel interpretation of Scripture. With over 2,000 years of church history and thousands if not millions of Christians preceding us, shouldn’t we be automatically wary of someone who claims to have a “new explanation” or interpretation of Scripture? 

               Finally, historical theology can remind us of the ever-present danger of interpreting Scripture in light of the cultural and philosophical assumptions of our times. We see this danger so much today as sin is being redefined as a sickness to be cured by drugs instead of a spiritual condition. We also see it as many denominations leave the clear teaching of Scripture and embrace the cultural acceptance of homosexuality as a lifestyle. 

              Historical theology is an important aspect of studying theology, but, like any other method of study, it is not without its dangers and pitfalls. The challenge for all Christians and for all students of theology is to not force our theological system on the Bible but to always make sure that our theology comes from the Scripture and not from some system that might be popular.

Systematic Theology

What is systematic theology?" 

“Systematic” refers to something being put into a system. Systematic theology is, therefore, the division of theology into systems that explain its various areas. For example, many books of the Bible give information about the angels. No one book gives all the information about the angels. Systematic theology takes all the information about angels from all the books of the Bible and organizes it into a system called angelology. 

                  That is what systematic theology is all about organizing the teachings of the Bible into categorical systems. Theology Proper or Paterology is the study of God the Father. Christology is the study of God the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Pneumatology is the study of God the Holy Spirit. Bibliology is the study of the Bible. Soteriology is the study of salvation.

                 Ecclesiology is the study of the church. Eschatology is the study of the end times. Angelology is the study of angels. Christian Demonology is the study of demons from a Christian perspective. Christian Anthropology is the study of humanity. Hamartiology is the study of sin. 

                  Systematic theology is an important tool in helping us to understand and teach the Bible in an organized manner. In addition to systematic theology, there are other ways that theology can be divided. Biblical theology is the study of a certain book (or books) of the Bible and emphasizing the different aspects of theology it focuses on. 

                    For example, the Gospel of John is very Christological since it focuses so much on the deity of Christ (John 1:1, 14; 8:58; 10:30; 20:28). Historical theology is the study of doctrines and how they have developed over the centuries of the Christian church. 

                 Dogmatic theology is the study of the doctrines of certain Christian groups that have systematized doctrine for example, Calvinistic theology and dispensational theology. Contemporary theology is the study of doctrines that have developed or come into focus in recent times. No matter what method of theology is studied, what is important is that theology is studied.

Biblical Theology

 What is Biblical Theology?

             Biblical theology is the study of the doctrines of the Bible, arranged according to their chronology and historical background. In contrast to systematic theology, which categorizes doctrine according to specific topics, biblical theology shows the unfolding of God’s revelation as it progressed through history. Biblical theology may seek to isolate and express the theological teachings of a specific portion of Scripture, such as the theology of the Pentateuch (first five books of the Old Testament) or the theology contained within John’s writings, etc.
                 Or it may focus on a particular period of time, such as the theology of the unified kingdom years. Another branch of biblical theology may study a particular motif or theme in the Bible: a study of “the remnant,” for example, might search out how that motif is introduced and developed throughout Scripture. Many credit J. P. Gabler, a German biblical scholar, with beginning the field of biblical theology. As he was being inaugurated to a professorship in 1787, Gabler called for a sharp distinction between dogmatic (systematic or doctrinal) theology and biblical theology.
                For Gabler, biblical theology must be strictly a historical study of what was believed and taught in the various periods of biblical history, independent of modern denominational, doctrinal, philosophical, or cultural considerations. In general, the principles that Gabler espoused were correct, and he influenced the development of biblical theology for many years to come. However, it should be noted that there is no such thing as a study of the Bible with complete objectivity.
                Every interpreter brings certain presuppositions to the task. These biases have considerable influence upon the process of interpreting the Scriptures. As a result, the field of biblical theology is checkered with every imaginable opinion and variation of what the Bible teaches. Biblical theology is utterly dependent upon the hermeneutics of the theologian. The methods employed in interpreting Scripture are crucially important to biblical theology.
               One’s biblical theology can be no better than the methods he uses to interpret Scripture. Here is a basic difference between systematic and biblical theology: systematic theology asks, “What does the Bible as a whole say about angels?” and then examines every passage that concerns angelic beings, draws conclusions, and organizes all the information into a body of truth called “angelology.” The final product is, from Genesis to Revelation, the totality of God’s revealed truth on the subject.
                      Biblical theology asks, “How did our understanding of angels
develop throughout biblical history?” and then starts with the Pentateuch’s teaching about angels and traces God’s progressive revelation of these

beings throughout Scripture. Along the way, the biblical theologian draws conclusions about how people’s thinking about angels may have changed as more and more truth was revealed. 

                          The conclusion of such a study is, of course, an understanding of what the Bible has to say about angels, but it also places that knowledge in the context of the “bigger picture” of God’s whole revelation. Biblical theology helps us see the Bible as a unified whole, rather than as a collection of unrelated doctrinal points

New Testament Theology vs Old Testament Theology.

What is New Testament theology?"

 New Testament theology is the study of what God has revealed about Himself in the New Testament. The system of New Testament theology takes the various truths that the New Testament books teach us about God and presents them in an organized fashion. 

               The New Testament discloses the coming of the Messiah predicted in the Old Testament (Isaiah 9), the rejection of the Messiah by Israel, the fulfillment of the Law, the birth of the New Testament church (the body of Christ), the church age, the gospel of Jesus Christ, and instructions for believers in Jesus Christ. The phrase new covenant (or new testament) was spoken by Christ at the Last Supper (Luke 22:20). Paul cited the new covenant as the substance of the ministry to which he was called (2 Corinthians 3:6). 

              The Old Testament is the record of the calling and history of the Jewish nation, and it contains the Mosaic Law, the Old Covenant to which Israel was bound for many years. The New Testament deals with the history and application of the Christ’s redemption from the Law (Galatians 4:4–5), a redemption He provided through His death on the cross (Ephesians 1:7). 

              Being the New Covenant, it supersedes the Old (Hebrews 8:6, 13). Theology is the study of the doctrines of the Bible, following the progressive revelation that God made to man from the beginning of time to the end of the book of Revelation. New Testament theology primarily deals with the study of Christology, ecclesiology, and soteriology. Plus, it furthers our understanding of eschatology, pneumatology, angelology, hamartiology, and other fields of doctrine. 

What is Old Testament theology?" 

 Old Testament theology is the study of what God has revealed about Himself in the Old Testament. The system of Old Testament theology takes the various truths that the Old Testament books teach us about God and presents them in an organized fashion. 

                God's revelation of Himself begins in Genesis 1:1: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." The presupposition of God and His creative work is something that all believers accept by faith and is emphasized throughout Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. 

             Old Testament theology is a rich and rewarding study of what God revealed of Himself, His character, His attributes, etc., in the Old Testament. The Old Testament focuses primarily on God's relationship with the Jews, starting with His call of Abraham in Genesis 12. He chose Israel and covenanted with them for the purpose of relaying His message to the world and ultimately bringing the Messiah to save us from our sin. 

           Through His relationship with the Jews, God blessed the entire world (Genesis 12:3). The Old Testament chronicles God's progressive revelation of Himself, specifically to His chosen people but also to those of Gentile heritage, in order that we might learn who He is and His plan in the world. 

                Into the very heart of the Old Testament is woven the idea of a covenant between God and man: the first was made with Adam and others with Noah, Abraham, the nation of Israel, and David. Old Testament theology is foundational to our understanding of God and His purposes in the world. 

            The seeds of the doctrines of substitutionary atonement, salvation, election, holiness, mercy, judgment, and forgiveness are all found in the Old Testament. A study of Old Testament theology includes a look at theology proper, anthropology, and eschatology, among other vital subjects.

"Theology proper / Paterology"( The study of God the Father.)

 Theology proper is the study of God and His attributes. Theology proper focuses on God the Father. Paterology comes from two Greek words which mean "father" and "word" - which combine to mean "the study of the Father." Theology proper answers several important questions about God: Does God exist? God exists and ultimately everyone knows that He exists. 
                   The very fact that some attempt so aggressively to disprove His existence is in fact an argument for His existence. What are the attributes of God? In the words of the hymn writer, “immortal, invisible, God only wise…most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, Victorious, thy great name we praise.” Knowing God’s attributes leads to glorifying and praising Him. 
                 What does the Bible teach about the Trinity? Though we can understand some facts about the relationship of the different persons of the Trinity to one another, ultimately, it is incomprehensible to the human mind. However, this does not mean it is not true or not based on the teachings of the Bible. Is God sovereign, or do we have a free will? When we talk about free will, we are usually concerned with the matter of salvation. 
                  Few are interested in whether we have the free will to choose salad or steak for our dinner tonight. Rather, we are troubled over who exactly is in control of our eternal destiny. Theology proper discusses God's omnipresence, omniscience, omnipotence, and eternality. It teaches us about who God is and what He does. 
                     Paterology focuses on how God the Father is distinct from God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. Only by knowing who God is and what He does can we properly relate to Him. Many people have unbiblical perceptions about God that affect how they understand Him. Some people see God as a brutal tyrant, with no love or grace. Other people see God as a loving friend, with no justice or anger. Both perceptions are equally incorrect. God is full of mercy, love, and grace - and at the same time righteous, holy, and just. God grants mercy and sends judgment. 
                  God punishes sin and forgives sin. God will grant believers entrance into Heaven and send unbelievers to Hell. Theology proper gives us a more complete understanding of who God is and what He does. Romans 11:33 is perhaps a good summary verse for theology proper / Paterology: "Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!" 

 "What is Christian Theology?" 

 The word “theology” comes from two Greek words meaning “God” and “word.” Combined, the word “theology” means “study of God.” Christian theology is the study of what the Bible teaches and what Christians believe. Many believers treat Christian theology as something that is dividing, something that should be avoided. In actuality, Christian theology should be uniting! 
               The Word of God teaches truth and we are to be united behind that truth. Yes, there are disagreements and disputes in Christian theology. Yes, there is freedom to disagree on the non-essentials of Christian theology. At the same time, there is much that Christians should be united over. A biblically-based Christian theology will enable us to better understand God, salvation, and our mission in this world. 
                For some, the word “theologian” conjures up images of crusty old men poring over dusty volumes of ancient texts in dimly-lit rooms, studying things completely removed from real life. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Second Timothy 3:16 tells us that all Scripture is inspired by God, literally God-breathed, and is indispensable to us because it makes us complete, lacking nothing. To be a theologian is to be one who seeks the face of God in order to encounter the creator of the universe and His Son, Jesus Christ, and embrace Him as Lord of our lives, so that He becomes the center of our desires, affections and knowledge. 
                 This intimacy spreads into all aspects of our lives thrilling us with its blessings, comforting us in times of loss, strengthening us in our weaknesses and upholding us to the end of our lives when we will see Him face to face. Scripture is God's story and the more we study His Word, the better we know Him. Below are the various categories of Christian theology. Understanding what the Bible says about the various areas of Christian theology is key to spiritual growth and effectiveness in the Christian life.

Christology(The study of the Person & work of Jesus Christ)

The word "Christology" comes from two Greek words meaning "Christ / Messiah" and "word" - which combine to mean "the study of Christ." Christology is the study of the Person and work of Jesus Christ. There are numerous important questions that Christology answers: Who is Jesus Christ? Almost every major religion teaches that Jesus was a prophet, or a good teacher, or a godly man. 
               The problem is, the Bible tells us that Jesus was infinitely more than a prophet, a good teacher, or a godly man. Is Jesus God? Did Jesus ever claim to be God? Although Jesus never uttered the words “I am God,” He made many other statements that can’t be properly interpreted to mean anything else. What is the hypostatic union? How can Jesus be both God and man at the same time? The Bible teaches that Jesus is both fully human and fully divine, that there is no mixture or dilution of either nature, and that He is one united Person, forever. 
               Why is the virgin birth so important? The virgin birth is a crucial biblical doctrine because it accounts for the circumvention of the transmission of the sin nature and allowed the eternal God to become a perfect man. What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of God? Jesus is not God’s Son in the sense of how we think of a father/son relationship. God did not get married and have a son. Jesus is God’s Son in the sense that He is God made manifest in human form (John 1:1,14). A Biblical understanding of Jesus Christ is crucial to our salvation.
                Many cults and world religions claim to believe in Jesus Christ. The problem is that they do not believe in the Jesus Christ presented in the Bible. That is why Christology is so important. It helps us to understand the significance of the deity of Christ. It demonstrates why Jesus is the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Christology teaches us that Jesus had to be man so that He could die - and had to be God so that His death would pay for our sins. It is perhaps the most important area of theology. Without a proper understanding of who Jesus Christ is and what He accomplished, all other areas of theology will be errant as well. 
                An in-depth study of Christology has incredible personal impact on the believer’s daily life. As we delve into the heart of Jesus, we begin to grasp the amazing concept that He, being fully Man and fully God, loves each of us with a never-ending love the extent of which is hard for us to imagine. The various titles and names of Christ in the Scriptures give insight into who He is and how He relates to us. 
                 He is our Good Shepherd, leading, protecting and caring for us as one of His own (John 10:11,14); He is the Light of the world, illuminating our pathway through a sometimes dark and uncertain world (John 8:12); He is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6), bringing tranquility into our tumultuous lives; and He is our Rock (1 Corinthians 10:4), the immovable and secure base who we can trust to keep us safe and secure in Him.

Pneumatology (The study of the Person & work of the Holy Spirit.)

 The word Pneumatology comes from two Greek words which mean "wind, air, spirit" and "word" - combining to mean "the study of the Holy Spirit." Pneumatology is the study of God the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity. It answers numerous important questions about the Holy Spirit: Who / what is the Holy Spirit? There are many misconceptions about the identity of the Holy Spirit. 
               Some view the Holy Spirit as a mystical force. Others understand the Holy Spirit as the impersonal power God makes available to followers of Christ. What does the Bible say about the identity of the Holy Spirit? When / How do we receive the Holy Spirit? This discussion is controversial because the ministries of the Holy Spirit are often confused. 
                The receiving / indwelling of the Spirit occurs at the moment of salvation. The filling of the Spirit is an ongoing process in the Christian life. What is the baptism of the Holy Spirit? The baptism of the Holy Spirit may be defined as that work whereby the Spirit of God places the believer into union with Christ and into union with other believers in the Body of Christ at the moment of salvation. How can I be filled with the Spirit? 
                 It is important to distinguish between the indwelling and filling of the Spirit. The permanent indwelling of the Spirit is not for a select few believers, but rather for all believers. This is in contrast to the commanded filling of the Spirit found in Ephesians 5:18. Are the miraculous gifts of the Spirit for today? This is not a question of can the Holy Spirit give someone a miraculous gift. The question is does the Holy Spirit still dispense the miraculous gifts today. 
                   Above all else, we entirely recognize that the Holy Spirit is free to dispense gifts according to His will (1 Corinthians 12:7-11). Many Christians have an unbiblical perception of the Holy Spirit. Some understand the Holy Spirit as a power or force given to us from God. This is not Biblical. Pneumatology teaches us that the Holy Spirit is a Person, with a mind, emotions, and will. The Holy Spirit is Jesus' "replacement" on earth (John 14:16-26; 15:26; 16:7). 
               The Holy Spirit is received at salvation (Romans 8:9) and is the permanent possession of every believer in Christ (Ephesians 1:13-14). Pneumatology helps us to understand these issues and recognize the Biblical roles of the Holy Spirit in our lives today. The study of Pneumatology is of immense benefit to the Christian. In the pages of Scripture, we come face to face with the third Person of the trinity, God himself in spirit, and we see His very personal and intimate ministry to us. 
                       Through Him, we come to know God’s love for us “because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5). To understand the ministry of the Holy Spirit is to find joy in His role as our Comforter (John 16:7; Acts 9:31) who not only helps and comforts us, but who comes to our rescue when our hearts are so burdened we cannot even pray for relief (Romans 8:26). 
                   When we pursue the knowledge of the Holy Spirit we find, to our great delight, that He not only lives within us, but He does so forever, never to leave or forsake us (John 14:16). All these truths are burned into our hearts when we study Pneumatology. A good summary verse for Pneumatology is John 16:8-11, "When He (the Holy Spirit) comes, He will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned."

Bibliology(The study of the Word of God.)

 Bibliology is the study of the Bible, the Word of God. The Bible is the inspired source of knowledge about God, Jesus Christ, salvation, and eternity. Without a proper view of the Bible, our views on these and other issues become clouded and distorted. Bibliology tells us what the Bible is. Common questions in Bibliology are: Is the Bible truly God's Word? 
                Our answer to this question will not only determine how we view the Bible and its importance to our lives, but also ultimately will have an eternal impact on us. What is the canon of Scripture? The basis of Christianity is found in the authority of Scripture. If we can't identify what is Scripture, then we can't properly distinguish any theological truth from error. 
                  What does it mean that the Bible is inspired? While there are different views as to what extent the Bible is inspired, there can be no doubt that the Bible itself claims that every word, in every part of the Bible, is inspired by God (1 Corinthians 2:12-13; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Does the Bible contain errors, contradictions, or discrepancies? If you read the Bible, at face value, without a preconceived bias for finding errors - you will find it to be a coherent, consistent, and relatively easy-to-understand book. 
                    Is there proof for the inspiration of the Bible? Among the proofs for the divine inspiration of the Bible are fulfilled prophecy, the unity of Scripture, and the support of archeological findings. Its most important proof, however, is in the lives of those who read it, believe it, and live according to its precepts. Bibliology teaches us that the Bible is inspired, meaning it is "breathed out" by God. A proper Bibliology holds to the inerrancy of Scripture that the Bible does not contain any errors, contradictions, or discrepancies. 
               A solid Bibliology helps us to understand how God used the personalities and styles of the human authors of Scripture and still produced His Word and exactly what He wanted to be said. Bibliology enables us to know why other books were excluded from the Bible. For the Christian, the Bible is life itself. Its pages are filled with the very Spirit of God, revealing His heart and mind to us. 
            What a wonderful and gracious God we have! He could have left us to struggle through life with no help at all, but He gave His Word to guide us, truly a "lamp to my feet and a light to my path" (Psalm 119:105). A key Scripture on Bibliology is 2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Soteriology(The study of salvation through Jesus Christ.)

 Soteriology is the study of the doctrine of salvation. Soteriology discusses how Christ's death secures the salvation of those who believe. It helps us to understand the doctrines of redemption, justification, sanctification, propitiation, and the substitutionary atonement. Some common questions in studying Soteriology are: Once saved always saved? Perhaps the most heart-wrenching fear some believers live with is that we can do something to lose our salvation. 
                 But the Bible speaks clearly about the eternality of our salvation and how we are preserved by the One who bought us with His blood. Is salvation by faith alone, or by faith plus works? Am I saved just by believing in Jesus, or do I have to believe in Jesus and do certain things? Is baptism required for salvation? What is baptismal regeneration? Baptismal regeneration is the belief that a person must be baptized in order to be saved. 
                 While baptism is an important step of obedience for a Christian, the Bible is clear that baptism is not a requirement for salvation. What is repentance and is it necessary for salvation? Biblical repentance is changing your mind about Jesus Christ and turning to God in faith for salvation (Acts 3:19). Turning from sin is not the definition of repentance, but it is one of the results of genuine, faith-based repentance towards the Lord Jesus Christ. 
                    What does it mean to be a born again Christian? The phrase "born again" literally means "born from above." It is an act of God whereby eternal life is imparted to the person who believes—a spiritual transformation. Other than Christology, Soteriology is the area where Christianity is the most different from the cults and other world religions. Understanding Biblical Soteriology will help us to know why salvation is by grace alone (Ephesians 2:8-9), through faith alone, in Jesus Christ alone. No other religion bases salvation on faith alone. 
                  Soteriology helps us to see why. A clear understanding of our salvation will provide a "peace that passes all understanding" (Philippians 4:7) because we come to know that He who can never fail is the means by which we were saved and the means by which we remain secure in our salvation. If we were responsible to save ourselves and keep ourselves saved, we would fail. 
                 Thank God that is not the case! Titus 3:5-8 is a tremendous summary of Soteriology, "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life."

Christian Anthropology(The study of the nature of humanity.)

 Anthropology is the study of humanity. Christian Anthropology is the study of humanity from a Christian / biblical perspective. It is primarily focused on the nature of humanity - how the immaterial and material aspects of man relate to each other. Here are some common questions in Christian Anthropology: What does it mean that man is made in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27)? The image of God refers to the immaterial part of man. 
               It is that which sets man apart from the animal world, fits him for the “dominion” God intended (Genesis 1:28), and enables him to commune with his Maker. It is a likeness mentally, morally, and socially. Do we have three parts or two parts? Are we body, soul, and spirit - or - body, soul-spirit? Human beings were intended to have a relationship with God, and as such, God created us with both material and immaterial aspects. 
                  The material aspects are obviously those that are tangible and only exist as long as the person is alive. The immaterial aspects are those which are intangible: soul, spirit, intellect, will, conscience, etc. These characteristics exist beyond the physical lifespan of the individual. What is the difference between the soul and spirit? It is important to understand that both refer to the immaterial part of man, but only the "spirit" refers to man's walk with God. The "soul" refers to man's walk in the world, both material and immaterial. 
                     What is the origin of the different races? The Bible does not explicitly give us the origin of the different "races" or skin colors of humanity. In actuality, there is only one race - the human race. Within the human race, there is vast diversity in skin color and other physical characteristics. Christian Anthropology deals with who we are and how we relate to God. Whether people are inherently good or inherently sinful is crucial in determining how our relationship with God can be restored. Whether the souls of human beings carry on after death determines in large part our view of our purpose in this world.
               Christian Anthropology helps us to understand ourselves from God's perspective. When we delve into this subject, we get a clearer understanding of our fallen nature, and this leads to a sense of wonder at the love of the Savior who saw our helpless state and went to the cross to redeem us. When we accept that sacrifice and receive it as our own, our natures are transformed by God who creates in us a completely new person (2 Corinthians 5:17). 
               It is this new person who can relate to Him as we should, as His adored children. A key verse on Christian Anthropology is Psalm 139:14, "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well." Crd:christianity.com/gotquestion/Chistianthoelogians

Hamartiology(The study of the nature and effects of sin.)

 Hamartiology is the study of sin. Hamartiology deals with how sin originated, how it affects humanity, and what it will result in after death. To sin essentially means to "miss the mark." We all miss God's mark of righteousness (Romans 3:23). Hamartiology, then, explains why we miss the mark, how we miss the mark, and the consequences of missing the mark.
            These are some important questions in Hamartiology: What is the definition of sin? Sin is described in the Bible as transgression of the law of God (1 John 3:4) and rebellion against God (Deuteronomy 9:7; Joshua 1:18). Did we all inherit sin from Adam and Eve? Romans 5:12 speaks to this, “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned.” Are all sins equal to God? There are degrees to sin some sins are worse than others.
               At the same time, in regards to both eternal consequences and salvation, all sins are the same. Each and every sin will lead to eternal condemnation (Romans 6:23). How can I know if something is a sin? There are things that the Bible specifically mentions and declares to be sin.
                    The more difficult issue is in determining what is sinful in areas that the Bible does not directly address. It might seem that studying a depressing subject like sin would be counter-productive for the Christian. After all, aren’t we saved from sin by the blood of Christ? Yes! But before we can understand salvation, we must first understand why we need salvation.
               That is where Hamartiology comes in. It explains that we are all sinners—by inheritance, by imputation, and by our own personal choice. It shows us why God must condemn us for our sins. Hamartiology points to the solution for sin the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
                 When we truly come to grips with our sinful natures, we begin to fathom the depth and breadth of the nature of our great God who, on the one hand, condemns sinners to hell in righteous judgment, then, on the other hand, satisfies His own requirement for perfection.
                Only when we understand the depth of sin can we understand the height of God’s love for sinners. A key Scripture on Hamartiology is Romans 3:23-24, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Angelology(The study of angels.)

Angelology is the study of angels. There are many unbiblical views of angels today. Some believe angels are human beings who have died. Others believe that angels are impersonal sources of power. Still others deny the existence of angels entirely. A biblical understanding of angelology will correct these false beliefs. Angelology tells us what the Bible says about angels. 
                 It is a study of how the angels relate to humanity and serve God's purposes. Here are some important issues in angelology: What does the Bible say about angels? Angels are an entirely different order of being from humans. Human beings do not become angels after they die. Angels will never become, and never were, human beings. 
                    God created the angels, just as He created humanity. Are angels male or female? The Bible does not necessarily support the gender of angels being male or female. Whenever gender is “assigned” to an angel in Scripture, it is male (Genesis 19:10,12; Revelation 7:2; 8:3; 10:7), and the only names assigned to angels are Michael and Gabriel, generally considered masculine names. 
                Do we have guardian angels? There is no doubt that good angels help protect believers, reveal information, guide people, and, in general, minister to God’s children. The difficult question is whether each person or each believer has an angel assigned to him/her. 
                  Who / What is the angel of the Lord? The precise identity of the “angel of the Lord” is not given in the Bible. However, there are many important "clues" as to his identity. What are cherubim? Are cherubs angels? Cherubim / cherubs are angelic beings involved in the worship and praise of God. In addition to singing God's praises, they also serve as a visible reminder of the majesty and glory of God and His abiding presence with His people. What are seraphim? 
             Are seraphs angels? Isaiah chapter 6 is the only place in the Bible that specifically mentions the seraphim. The seraphim ("fiery, burning ones") are angelic beings associated with the prophet Isaiah's vision of God in the temple. Angelology gives us God's perspective on angels. Angels are personal beings who worship and obey God. God sometimes sends angels to "interfere" in the course of humanity. 
               Angelology helps us to recognize the warfare that exists between God's angels and Satan and his demons. A proper understanding of angelology is very important. When we understand that angels are created beings, just as we are, we realize that worshipping or praying to angels robs God of the glory that belongs to Him alone. It was God, not angels, who sent His Son to die for us, who loves and cares for us, and who alone is worthy of our adoration.

Christian Demonology (The study of demons.)

Demonology is the study of demons. Christian demonology is the study of what the Bible teaches about demons. Closely related to angelology, Christian demonology teaches us about the demons, what they are and how they attack us. Satan and his demons are fallen angels, real personal beings who wage war against God, the holy angels, and humanity.
                Christian demonology helps us to be aware of Satan, his minions, and their evil schemes. Here are some important issues in Christian demonology: What does the Bible say about demons? The Bible indicates that the demons are fallen angels – angels who along with Satan rebelled against God. Satan and his demons now desire to deceive and destroy all those who follow and worship God. How, why, and when did Satan fall from heaven? Satan fell from heaven because of the sin of pride, which led to his rebellion against God.
               The actual time of his fall is not recorded in Scripture. It may have occurred outside time as we know it, that is, before the creation of time and space. Why did God allow some of the angels to sin? The angels who fell and became demons had a free-will choice to make – God did not force or encourage any of the angels to sin. They sinned of their own free will and therefore are worthy of God's eternal wrath. Can Christians be demon possessed? We strongly hold to the belief that a Christian cannot be possessed by a demon.
                    We believe there is a difference between being possessed by a demon, and being oppressed or influenced by a demon. Is there activity of demonic spirits in the world today? Considering the fact that Satan "walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour" (1 Peter 5:8) and knowing that he is not omnipresent, it is logical to assume that he would send his demons to do his work in this world.
                       Who or what were the Nephilim? The Nephilim ("fallen ones, giants") were the offspring of sexual relationships between the sons of God and daughters of men in Genesis 6:1-4. There is much debate over the identity of the "sons of God." Many people believe Satan and his demons are only personifications of evil. Christian demonology helps us to understand the nature of our spiritual enemy.
                  It teaches us how to resist and overcome the devil and his temptations. Praise God for the victory over darkness through our Lord Jesus Christ! While the Christian should not be obsessed with demonology, a clear understanding of demonology will help calm our fears, keep us watchful, and remind us to stay close to our Lord Jesus Christ.
                   We have the Holy Spirit living in our hearts, and "greater is He that is in us than he that is in the world" (1 John 4:4). A key Scripture related to Christian demonology is 2 Corinthians 11:14-15, "And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve."

Ecclesiology( the study of the nature and mission of the church)

Ecclesiology is the study of the church. 
The word Ecclesiology comes from two Greek words 
meaning "assembly" and "word" - combining to mean 
"the study of the church." The church is the assembly of 
believers who belong to God. Ecclesiology is crucial to understand 
God's purpose for believers in the world today. Some important issues in Ecclesiology are: What is the church? 

Many people today understand the church to be a building. 
This is not the biblical understanding of the church. The root meaning of “church” is not that of a building, but of people. What is the purpose of the church? According to Scripture, the purposes / activities of the church should be: 
(1) teaching Biblical doctrine, (2) providing a place of fellowship for believers, (3) observing the Lord’s supper, and (4) praying. 

What is the importance of Christian baptism? 
According to the Bible, Christian baptism is simply a step of obedience,
 a public proclamation of one’s faith in Christ alone for salvation. 
While baptism is not required for salvation, it is an act of 
obedience and faith evidence that salvation is a reality 
in a person’s life. 
 What is the importance of the Lord's Supper / Christian Communion? 
A study of the Lord’s Supper is a soul-stirring experience because of 
the depth of meaning that it portrays. It is an “acted out sermon,” remembering our Lord’s death and resurrection, and looking to the future for His return in glory. 
What does the Bible say about the form of church government? The Bible teaches that church leadership consists of a plurality of elders along with a group of deacons who serve as servants of the church. 

But it is not contrary to this plurality of elders to have one of these 
elders serving in the major “pastoral” role. Ecclesiology helps us to understand the role of the church and our role in the church. It teaches us about the ordinances of the church, how church leadership is to be chosen and structured, 
and what the church is to be doing in regards to believers 
(worship and discipleship) and unbelievers (ministry and evangelism).

A Biblical understanding of Ecclesiology would go a long way to correct 
many of the common problems in churches today. Above all, 
we must understand that the church is the Body of Christ and
 that each of us has a specific function and role within that body. 
A key Scripture on Ecclesiology is Acts 2:42,
 "They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and 
to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." 
(source:gotquestion)

Christian Eschatology (The study of the end times / last days.)

  Eschatology is the study of what the Bible says is going to happen in the end times. Many treat Eschatology as an area of theology to be avoided. Of course, Eschatology is not as crucial as Christology or Soteriology. That does not mean, though, that it is unimportant to a Biblical worldview. 
            How we understand Eschatology has an impact on how we should live our lives and what we are to expect to occur in God's plan. Some important issues in Eschatology are these: What is the Rapture? The word "rapture" does not occur in the Bible. The concept of the Rapture, though, is clearly taught in Scripture. 
              The Rapture of the church is the event in which God removes all believers from the earth in order to make way for His righteous judgment to be poured out on the earth during the Tribulation period. When is the Rapture going to occur in relation to the Tribulation? Will the Rapture occur before the Tribulation, at the middle of the Tribulation, or at the end of the Tribulation? What is the Second Coming and why is it important? Why is it so important for Jesus Christ to return? When is Christ going to return? 
             What will be the signs of Christ's return? Is the millennium literal or figurative? The fulfillment of many of God’s covenants and promises rest on a literal, physical, future kingdom. There is no solid basis to deny of literal understanding of the Millennial Kingdom and its duration being 1000 years. 
              Will the generation that saw Israel re-formed as a nation still be alive for the Second Coming? It is not Scriptural to teach that the generation that sees Israel become a nation will also see the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. This may be the case, but Scripture does not specifically say so. The Bible describes a terrible period of tribulation in Revelation chapters 6-18. 
              Will this Tribulation be preceded by the Rapture, will it conclude with the Rapture, or has it in fact already occurred? These different perspectives have a great impact on what we should be preparing ourselves for. Eschatology helps us to understand the Bible's prophetic passages and how to live our lives in response to what God is going to do in the end times. 
               There is a great deal of controversy in Eschatology, but that does not relieve us of our responsibility to study and understand what the Bible teaches about the end times. An understanding of Eschatology will eliminate many of the fears we have about the future. Our God is sovereign, He has a plan, and it will all unfold according to His perfect will and timing. 
                This is a great encouragement to those who are in Christ! A key verse on Eschatology is Titus 2:13: "we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."