A Beginning

Any system of theology has to begin somewhere. The very word 'theology', which means ' the study of God', gives the best beginning.

In the beginning God...read the first words of Genesis 1. Truly, the Bible asserts that He is before the beginning and will continue after the end of history has occurred (see Revelation 1:8- alpha and omega). There are many issues that must be addressed- first, can God be known? If He can be known, how is He known? Does He reveal Himself? Are we forced to develop our own strategies for discovering His nature?

To these questions we could add dozens if not hundreds of others. Many of these questions still produce massive books on a regular basis. Most of these questions are answered primarily by faith. Hebrews 11:6 indicates "and without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him."

So, first and most importantly the quest to know God is an issue of faith. Wayne Grudem writes "All persons everywhere have a deep, inner sense that God exists, that they are his creatures, and that he is their Creator" (Wayne Grudem, Systematic Theology [Grand Rapids: Zondervan Publishing House, 1994[ p. 141.)

One of the reasons I identify with the theological system labelled Calvinism is because Calvin preached an extrememly high view of God. In other words, as a system, Calvinism insists on emphasizing the transcendent nature of God in proper balance with His immanence. In other words other systems of theology - without intending to- exalt human beings to a position of prominence over God. Calvinism insists that God be treated as he is revealed in His Word and that human beings must respond to Him with reverence, awe, and worship.

The nature of God, the way He can be known and the difference knowing Him makes is for a later paper.

Steve