Systematic Theology, Second Edition: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

6. A Sense of the Urgent Need for Greater Doctrinal Understanding in the Whole Church. I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology.

Holiness is essential to the correct knowledge of divine things and the great security from error. . . . Wherever you find vital piety, there you find the doctrines of the fall, of depravity, of regeneration, of atonement, and of the deity of Jesus Christ. . . . Keep your hearts with all diligence, for out of them are the issues of life. . . . Holi

systematic theology is any study that answers the question, “What does the whole Bible teach us today?” about any given topic.1

Psalm 119:18, “Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law,” so we should pray and seek God’s help in understanding his Word. Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 2:14 that “the natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually

A major doctrine is one that has a significant impact on our thinking about other doctrines, or that has a significant impact on how we live the Christian life. A minor doctrine is one that has very little impact on how we think about other doctrines, and very little impact on how we live the Christian life.

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).