by William S. Plumer
in ePub, .mobi & .pdf formats
Biblical Doctrine, Plainly Stated
This book is a brief and simple introduction to many areas of theology. William Plumer brings the reader through many different topics like the Word of God, the attributes of God, Christ, repentance, justification and sanctification, along with many others.
I. The word THEOLOGY means a discourse concerning God. The word itself is not found in the Scriptures. We have there "the word of God," "good doctrine," "sound doctrine," "form of doctrine," "doctrine of God," "doctrine of Christ," "form of sound words," "the Scriptures," and such like phrases. Theology is divinity, as a theologian is a divine. Theology treats of the being and perfections of God, of his relations to us, his purposes towards us, his promises made to us, his will concerning us, and the right way of pleasing him.
II. We cannot learn theology from other sources, than those which God himself opens to our minds. These are the volume of nature and the volume of revelation. The volume of nature is made up of all God's works. What we learn from it is called Natural Theology. In studying God's works we make use of our reason and of all true science, searching out all that we may know. Natural Theology is the foundation of all true religion. David says, "The heavens tell of the glory of God. The skies display his marvelous craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known. They speak without a sound or a word; their voice is silent in the skies; yet their message has gone out to all the earth, and their words to all the world." Psalm 19:1-4.
Paul says, "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." Romans 1:19-20. The Psalmist says, "Great are the works of the Lord; they are pondered by all who delight in them." Psalms 111:2. Many parts of Scripture say a great deal about God's works of creation and providence.
III. The other volume from which we learn theology is the Bible. This is the very word of God. 1 Thess. 2:13. It is the word of the living God, that abides forever. 1 Pet. 1:23. In this volume God makes himself known to us in a new and special manner for our salvation. It draws out at length many of the lessons of natural theology, and tells us very clearly many things which nature taught us but dimly. Its peculiar glory is that it teaches the way of salvation to sinners. What we thus learn is called Revealed Theology.
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Table of Contents
1. Theology
2. Reason and Revelation
3. Divine Truth Excellent, though often Mysterious
4. Short Explanations of Some Terms
5. The Word of God
6. Names and Titles of God
7. The Attributes of God
8. The Trinity
9. Creation
10. Providence
11. Man a Sinner
12. Though man is a Sinner, yet he may be Saved
13. Christ the Son of God and the Son of Man
14. Christ the Mediator
15. Christ a Prophet, Priest, and King
16. The Glory of Christ in his Offices
17. Men must accept Christ and believe the Gospel
18. Repentance
19. A Change of Heart
20. Justification
21. Sanctification
22. Prayer
23. God's Law
24. God's Law—Second Table
25. A Profession of Religion
26. How Saints are kept
27. Death
28. The Resurrection
29. The Judgment
30. Heaven
31. Hell
32. How To Use The Bible