Systematic theology briefly explained is the organizing of the teachings ( doctrines ) of all the books of the bible into categorical systems. For example no one book of the bible gives all the information about God, but the many books of the bible reveals and support the doctrine of God, and so also with all other doctrines. There are literally seven pillars ( points ) in the systematic theology as there are seven literal days of creation recorded in the book of Genesis. But what is more astonishing than this is that the order of the book of Genesis is in the exact order of the systematic theology. Think this is by coincidence ? , definitely not ! So here are the seven pillars ( points ) of the systematic theology ; 1—THE GODHEAD : 2 – THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN : 3 – PROVIDENTIAL GRACE : 4 – PREVENIENT GRACE ( THE CALLING ) : 5 – RENEWING GRACE – JUSTIFICATION : 6 – IMPARTED GRACE – SANCTIFICATION, : and 7 – JUDICIAL GRACE – THE INVESTIGATIVE JUDGEMENT.
Let us now see how this is revealed in the physical creation as recorded in the book of Genesis:
1 – THE GODHEAD : Genesis 1 : 1 reads “ In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.”
Notice God is before all things, God is the first thesis, or first knowledge. “In the beginning God ……..” This is the first pillar in systematic theology ; and as God is One Divine Nature who reveals Himself to His creation in the three person offices of Father, Son and Holy Spirit so too the bible as one book reveals God in the very first book of the bible, in the very first chapter of the bible and the very first verse of the bible. First book, first chapter and first verse adds up to three as the three person offices of the One God. 1 John 5 : 7. , Deut. 6 : 4., Isaiah 48 : 12 , 13
2 – THE DEPRAVITY OF MAN ; The second pillar in systematic theology, : Genesis 1 : 2, ( first part ), “ And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep………” The words without form and void means, “ worthless, useless, uninhabitable ruin if left on it’s own, completely empty ”. So too is sinful man who is created from the dust of the earth. Man is depraved of God, he has no true knowledge of God and left on his own will only lead to ruin. In sin, man’s understanding of God is without form and void of the truth, it is full of superstition and chaos. As deep as you can go into man’s mind there is only darkness. Man cannot find God of himself, neither can any truth of God be found in man. Rom. 3 : 10 – 12, Isaiah 1 : 4 – 6 , Job 15 : 16 , Ps. 58 : 1 – 5 , Rom. 7 : 18 – 24.
3 PROVIDENTIAL GRACE : Genesis 1 : 2 the second part reads, “And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.” It is the Spirit of God who must bring organization to the mind of man. Only through the workings of the Holy Spirit can man have a right understanding of his depravity and seek salvation in Christ, The Plan of Salvation. John 16 : 13 + 14, Job 33 : 4 . As the Spirit moves upon the waters, which represents the word of God ( Eph. 5 : 26 ), so also must the Spirit move upon the word of God that we may understand the truth revealed and gain eternal life John 6 : 63. John 3 : 16 + 17, Rev. 13 : 8.
4 PREVENIENT GRACE – THE CALLING ; Genesis 1 : 3 – 8 “And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. And God called the light Day, and the darkness He called Night. .. ..………….” As the forth pillar in systematic theology is Prevenient – “The Calling ”, even so the forth action in the creation we see God “ calling “ the light Day and “ calling “ the darkness Night. God now calls man and offers to man His ( God’s ) Providential Grace that man may see himself as he really is, in darkness, and turn to the Light. God has separated darkness from light even as sin has separated man ( darkness ) from God ( Light ). Isaiah 59 : 1+2, Isaiah 55 : 6 – 9. Rom. 8 : 28, 1Thess. 5 : 24, John 1 : 3 – 7., 1 Pet. 2 : 9 , Rom. 2 : 4.
Six functions are manifested during the pillar of Prevenient Grace, they are ……………..
1 Temporary Removal Of The Carnal Mind ( not cleansing )
2 Nihilation – No values
3 Temporary Placing Of The Divine Mind – ( not conversion )
4 Conviction Of Sin And Of Righteousness
5 Repentance Rejection Of The Carnal Mind
6 Believing Acceptance Of The Divine Mind
As there are six functions in Prevenient Grace, so to as compared with the creation account of Genesis, there are six verses that reflect this fact Gen. 1 : 3 – 8 ; and not only that, but the last function is the believing acceptance of the Divine Mind, which we know is the mind of Christ , Phil 2 : 5 . Even Genesis 1 : 3 – 8 , as verse 8 is the number six in the set of verses, it ends with the second day. What is the significance of this ? . This shows the continued perfect harmony of the creation record with the systematic theology, you see the second day is reflective of Christ who is the second Person in the Godhead.
5 RENEWING GRACE – JUSTIFICATION ; Genesis 1 : 9 – 19 ……. “And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear : and it was so…………………..”
In justification when God pronounces that a man is made righteous ; it is so. Ps. 51 : 10 – 12, Titus 3 : 3 – 7, Eze. 36 : 24 – 27, Rom. 4 : 6 – 8. Genesis 1 : 16 states “ And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also “. The two great lights are representations of the old and new testament – the first and second witness. Ps. 119 : 105, 130, Rev. 12 : 1, Rev. 11 : 3 + 4.
6 IMPARTED GRACE – SANCTIFICATION ; Genesis 1 : 20 – 25 “ And God said let the waters bring forth abundantly.”……… As the waters bring forth abundantly so too is the word which is represented as water Eph. 5 : 26 to bring forth truth abundantly to the new man in Christ which is revealed through righteous works. Deut. 29 : 29 , 1 John 3 : 9 + 10, Matt. 13 : 8, Rom. 1 : 17 , Ja. 3 : 13, Heb. 13 : 20 – 21, 1 Thess. 4 : 3 — 12
7 JUDICIAL GRACE – THE JUDGMENT – Genesis 1 : 26 — 31 “ And God said let us make man in our own image ……………. And God saw everything that He had made, and, behold it was very good .” At the end of creation God reviews, make an investigation, so also God is to investigate the lives of all who have accepted Christ and as He sees His own image recreated in the new man He will pass the judgment well done ( very good ). 1 Pet. 4 : 17 , 2Pet. 1 : 4 , Matt. 25 : 21 , Rev. 14 : 6 + 7 , Rev. 11 : 19 , Heb. 8 : 1 + 2 , Rev. 20 : 11 – 15.
Gen. 2 : 1 – 3. At the conclusion of the investigative judgment Christ will return to save His saints and temporarily destroy the wicked. Then there will be a period of rest on the earth – a Sabbath of rest just as there was a Sabbath of rest at the end of creation ; only this Sabbath will be a rest of one thousand years. 1 Thess. 4 : 16 + 17 , Jer. 4 : 23 – 28 , Rev 20 : 1 – 10 , Isaiah 24 : 17 – 22.
Pro. 9 : 1 , Ps. 12 : 6.
Yours in Christ
brother Farouk Billy Karim
