Fundamental Christian Theology, Vol. 2

By Aaron Hills

Table of Contents

  Title Page
PART IV. -- CHRISTOLOGY
  CHAPTER I -- THE PERSON OF CHRIST
  I. Christianity the religion of a Divine Person. 1. Testimonies to Jesus. 2 The fullness of time. 3. Jesus related to all after time. II. Christ must be accounted for. 1. The four gospels. 2. A miraculous birth. A human life, yet unlike any other. A teacher. A miracle worker. Rose from the dead. III. Personality with both human and divine nature. Council of Chalcedon, 451 A. D. Athanasian Creed.
  CHAPTER II -- THE INCARNATION
  I. The Incarnation in Scripture. II. Effect on Personality. A new Consciousness. Union of two natures in a personal oneness-a Catholic doctrine. A mystery. III. 1. Christ Theanthropic. 2. Permanent Duality of Natures, 3. Communion of Attributes. 4. Divine facts ascribed to Christ as human; and human facts to him as Divine. S. A Theanthropic Christ necessary to the Atonement. 6. Sympathy of Christ.
  CHAPTER III -- ERRORS IN CHRISTOLOGY
  1. Docetae. 2. Ebionites. 3. Arianism. 4. Apollinarianism. S. Nestorianism. 6. Eutychianism. 7. Socinianism. 8. Lutheran Christology. 9. Kenotic Christology.
PART V. -- SOTERIOLOGY
  CHAPTER I -- FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF MORAL LAW AND GOVERNMENT
  I. Atonement a fact. God's problem how to safely forgive sinners. Moral interest of the universe involved. II, Atonement. Definition. III. The fact of Atonement. Christ saves by sacrifice of Himself. IV. Other confirming terms. I. Reconciliation. 2. Propitiation. 3. Redemption.
  CHAPTER II -- NECESSITY OF THE ATONEMENT
  1. God an Infinite Moral Governor over moral universe. 2. A race of sinners. 3. Cannot forgive without a substitute for the penalty. 4. Substitute must come from ruler himself. 5. Love of God provided the Atonement. 6. Atonement needed for the glory of God. 7. And happiness of universe. 8. And to furnish motives to repentance and faith. 9. To prevent sin. 10. To confirm people in holiness.
  CHAPTER III -- SALVATION WITHOUT ATONEMENT
  I. Universalist theory of Salvation through penalty. II. Sovereignty theory. III. Forgiveness on Repentance theory. IV. Other similar theories-Fraternal and Parental forgiveness.
  CHAPTER IV -- MORAL INFLUENCE THEORIES
  I. Doctrine of the Fathers. II. Moral Influence theory. 1. Christ as teacher. 2. The marturial theory.  3. The future life theory. 4. Self-sacrificing love theory. 5. Manifestation of God theory. Dr. Bushnell's two views. Comments on moral influence theory. Misses the real truth.
  CHAPTER V -- THE SATISFACTION OR PENAL THEORY
  The Calvinistic theory, Hodge: "The Atonement of Christ is a satisfaction to the vindictive justice of God." A cardinal feature of Calvinism. Divine justice must be satisfied by the substitutional punishment. Objections: 1. If Christ was punished for all, all penalty has been met. 2. But only the penalty of the elect has been met. 3. Sufficient for all but restricted to the few. 4. Compelled to explain away Scripture. 5. Christ's obedience must be imputed. Imputation irrational. 6. Misrepresents God. 7. And the true necessity of penalty. 8. Abstract justice or punitive justice can not be satisfied by death of Christ. 9. Suffering of Christ no punishment of sinner. 10. To escape difficulty they divide sinner's ill-desert into guilt and blameworthiness. A theological scheme to escape difficulty I 11. Abstract justice requires the punishment of the sinner, not some one else. 12. Merit of Christ cannot be transferred, or imputed. 13. Would constitute the elect always free from liability to punishment! 14. Elect born with the privilege of impunity in sin! 15. Theory contradicts the testimony of Holy Spirit in convicting. 16. Leads to Antinomianism. 17. Theory stands in the way of seeking holiness.
  CHAPTER VI -- THE GOVERNMENTAL THEORY
  Difficulty to pardon found in government of God. Theory originated with Grotius. Sin deserves penalty which must not be remitted except on safe rectoral grounds. Definition. 1. This theory gives due place to penalty. 2. Gives most effective moral influence. 3. There is much substitution, but substitution for penalty. 4. Gives a more exalted place to justice. 5. It offers as much and a higher kind of satisfaction. 6. Is in fullest harmony with righteousness of God. 7. Provides for the mighty forces of the Cross. 8. In full accord with terms- reconciliation, propitiation and redemption. 10. Will interpret all texts and contradict none. 11. Agrees with five colossal facts-all against the satisfaction theory.
  CHAPTER VII -- THE SUFFICIENCY AND EXTENT OF ATONEMENT
  I. Sufficiency of Atonement. II. Extent of the Atonement, for all mankind. Shown by the pleasure of the Father: the pleasure of the Son: and of the Spirit, and the Word. The common voice of Scripture. Calvinists cannot reconcile their theory with Scriptures, and with God's sincerity. Multiplied evidence for the universality of the Atonement.
  CHAPTER VIII -- OBJECTIONS ANSWERED. BENEFITS OF THE ATONEMENT
  I. Objections. 1. Makes God unmerciful. 2. Atonement unnecessary. 3. Unjust to punish innocent Christ. 4. It is incredible. 5. Atonement is demoralizing. 6. Christ died only for "His friends," "sheep," "His Church." 7. Folly to make a universal atonement. 8. It implies universal salvation. II. Benefits of the Atonement. 1. Unconditional benefits. 2. The conditional benefits.
  CHAPTER IX -- CALVINISM AND ARMINIANISM COMPARED
  Theistic Fatalism a proper name for Calvinism. A system of necessity. Arminianism the theology of freedom. Their issue on the following points: 1. Foreordination. 2. Divine Sovereignty. 3. Imputation of Adam's sin. 4. Reprobation. 5. Philosophical and volitional necessity. 6. Infant damnation. 7. Pagan damnation. 8. Doctrines of grace. 9. Justifying and saving faith. 10. Extent of Atonement and offer of salvation. 11. Basis of morality. The reaction from Calvinism produces Universalism and Unitarism. It stands in the way of holiness.
  CHAPTER X -- DOCTRINE OF ELECTION
  Calvinistic Teaching-In Chapter III, Confession of Faith. Also Effectual calling, Chapter X-The Methodist Doctrine of Election. I. Three kinds of election. 1. Men to fill offices. 2. Nations to religious privileges. 3. Individuals to salvation. II. Calvinistic election absurd. Reasons why it cannot be true, 1. It insults reason and blasphemes God! 2. Because of its evil influence. 3. Its variance with gospel invitations. 4. Special objections to "the fixed number of the saved." III. Texts which Calvinists use examined.-There is a perfect reason what God does.-Paul's argument concludes with "Whosoever gospel for all mankind," who will comply with conditions of election.
  CHAPTER XI -- REPENTANCE
  I. What precedes and induces repentance. II. What is the nature of repentance. III. The necessity of repentance. IV. The fruits of repentance.
  CHAPTER XII -- SAVING FAITH
  I What is evangelical faith? II. Is faith the gift of God or the act of men. III. Are there degrees of faith? IV. Contrast faith and unbelief.
  CHAPTER XIII -- JUSTIFICATION
  I. The nature of justification. H. What justification is not. III. The conditions of justification. Five different theories or schemes. IV. Results of justification, and how preserved.
  CHAPTER XIV -- CONVERSION OR REGENERATION
  I. Calvinistic notion that conversion is man's work and regeneration is God's work. Untenable. Sinners not morally helpless and passive in regeneration. II. What they are not. 1. No change of substance. 2. No new faculties. III What they are. Definitions. IV. Why regeneration is necessary. V. The agencies employed in regeneration. I. Holy Spirit. 2. The sinner. 3. Christians. I Truth. Providences. VI. Evidences of regeneration.
  CHAPTER XV -- ADOPTION AND WITNESS OF THE SPIRIT
  I Nature of Adoption. II. The witness of the Spirit. III. Witness of our own spirit. IV. Benefits of Adoption.
  CHAPTER XVI -- SANCTIFICATION
  I. God commands us to be sanctified. Definitions. II. Evidences that holiness is atainable. 1. Probability. 2. The Bible as a whole. 3. Bible description of possible experience of believers. 4. Purpose of life and death of Christ. 5. Continuous mediatorial work of Christ. 6. Holy Spirit as Sanctifier. 7. Commands to be holy. 8. Promises of God. 9. Prayers for sanctification. 10. What God is able to do for us. 11. Various assurances and exhortations. 12. Words of Jesus and Apostles to believers, 13. Testimony of God's word. 14. Witness of Spirit. Conclusion.
  CHAPTER XVII -- SANCTIFICATION, CONTINUED
  I. Christians under obligation to be sanctified. II. Conditions of receiving the blessing. 1. Conviction of want. 2. Repentance for not having received the blessing. 3. Feel its importance. 4. Believe it is for you. 5. Hunger and thirst for it. 6. Obedience. 7. Consecration. 8. Faith.
  CHAPTER XVIII -- OBJECTIONS TO SANCTIFICATION CONSIDERED
  I. Doctrinal and Philosophical objections. 1. Dr. Hodge's "It is impossible." 2. The Oberlin Philosophy. 1. Locates all sin of every kind in the will. 2. Each one is as good or bad as he can be. 3. Stands in the way of getting or teaching others sanctification. 4. Confounds consecration and sanctification. 5. Makes sanctification a matter of growth. 6. Rejects the idea of purification. 7. Rejects the idea of immediateness in sanctification. 8. Denies the second work of grace. 9. It is only development. 10. Denies that there are two works of grace. Effects. II. Perverted texts examined. III. Keswick and kindred teaching.
  CHAPTER XIX -- PERSEVERANCE OF THE SAINTS
  I. Eight arguments of Wesley. II. Bible continually warns saints, not against imaginary danger. III. Conditional sentences which inferentially teach possibility of fatal apostasy. IV. Scriptural cases of fatal apostasy.
  CHAPTER XX -- THE CHURCH AND ITS SACRAMENTS
  I. Of what the Church consists. 1. Fellowship and duty. 2. Church government. 3. How governed. Three polities. 4. Ordination of ministers. 5. Admission of members. 6. The ends of Church government. II. The Sacraments. Roman Catholic view. Protestant view. Essential elements.
  CHAPTER XXI -- BAPTISM
  I. Nature of Baptism. Obligatory. II. The mode. 1. Meaning of word. Testimony of Lexicons. 2. Old Testament. 3. New Testament. All cases examined. III. The import of Baptism. 1. Initiatory. 2. Mode of profession. 3. A sign. 4. A seal. IV. The subjects of Baptism.-1. Arguments in favor of infant baptism. 2. Scripture testimony. 3. Apostolic practice. 4. History of the Church.
  CHAPTER XXII -- THE LORD'S SUPPER
  I. The institution of the ordinance. II. Its perpetual obligation. III. Nature of Lord's Supper. IV. The proper communicants.
PART VI. -- ESCHATOLOGY
  CHAPTER I -- THE SECOND ADVENT AND THE MILLENNIUM
  Note (The Pre-millennial statement is presented by Rev. James B. Chapman, D. D., and the Post-millennial statement is by the author.) I. The second coming of Jesus pre-millennial. 1. The Scriptures teach that Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. 2. Believers mainly divided into two groups. 3. Jesus and the apostles described conditions to be found at the time of His coming. 4. Jesus a prophet, priest, and king, 5, The hope of His coming an encouragement to the church. 6. The pre-millennial coming of Christ brings it happy ending to bad conditions. II. The Post-millennial theory. 1. Definition of the theory. 2. Laws of interpretation. 3. Millennial texts examined. 4. Not two gospel dispensations. 5. Jesus spoke of His coming in four different senses. 6. How the millennium is to be brought about.
  CHAPTER II -- THE IMMORTALITY OF THE SOUL
  I. Teaching of Analogy. II. Argument from instinct of man. III. The voice of reason. IV. The voice of Scripture. - Teaching of Annihilationists.
  CHAPTER III -- THE INTERMEDIATE STATE
  I. Is there an intermediate place? II. Characteristics of the intermediate state.
  CHAPTER IV -- THE RESURRECTION
  1. The doctrine. II. Denied by several classes. III. Bible teaches it. IV. We do not know in what the identity of the resurrection body will consist. V The resurrection body.
  CHAPTER V -- THE JUDGMENT
  Opposed and rejected by different classes. I. The certainty of a general judgment. II. The solemn attendants of the judgment. The time, place, persons, principles. The Judge. The decision. The sequel.
  CHAPTER VI -- ETERNAL BLESSEDNESS OF THE RIGHTEOUS
  I. What the Scripture reveals. II. Heaven is a place. III. The location of heaven uncertain. IV. Its transcendent glory. V. The nature of its blessedness.
  CHAPTER VII -- ETERNAL PUNISHMENT
  I. Will there be future punishment at all? II. Scripture unmistakable. III What shall be the nature of this punishment? Awful figures of speech. IV punishment of the wicked endless. 1. Arguments of Universalism. Answers, Fairchild, Noah Porter, Joseph Cook, Randles. Whately. Dr. Austin Phelps. Wood. "Question not settled by reason."Fairchild and Miley. Scripture Revelation must decide. Its voice clear and certain. "What else could God do with sins.
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