Why Theology is Important

I'm thankful to be back in AW Pink's small but mighty work entitled The Attributes of God. With Paul teaching through the attributes on Tuesday nights, our men's and women's studies are meeting during the week for more intimate discussion.

In the past, I've gravitated toward books more specifically designed for women in our small group summer studies, especially regarding Biblical Womanhood which is all but lost today. However, reading through Pink again I'm reminded how essential sound theology is in determining our perspective and world view.

What we think of God will drive how we live.

Pink makes a strong statement regarding the foreknowledge of God. He writes

"When the solemn and blessed subject of Divine foreordination is expounded, when God's eternal choice of certain ones to be conformed to the image of His Son is set forth, the Enemy sends along some man to argue that election is based upon knowledge of God, and this "foreknowledge" is interpreted to mean that God foresaw certain ones would be more pliable than others, that they would respond more readily to the strivings of the Spirit, and that because God knew they would believe, He, accordingly, predestinated them unto salvation. But such a statement is radically wrong. It repudiates the truth of total depravity, for it argues that there is something good in some men. It takes away the independency of God, for it makes His decrees rest upon what He discovers in the creature. It completely turns things upside down, for in saying God foresaw certain sinners would believe in Christ, and that because of this, He predestinated them unto salvation, is the very reverse of truth. Scripture affirms that God, in His high sovereignty, singled out certain ones to be recipients of His distinguishing favors (Acts 13:48), and therefore He determined to bestow upon them the gift of faith. False theology makes God's foreknowledge of our believing the cause of His election to salvation; whereas, God's election is the cause, and our believing in Christ is the effect." 

While I don't claim to understand the mystery of salvation, I do know it is all of God and none of me! This doctrine does not swell the man up in a self-righteous pride of being "chosen"; rather, it humbles the man who acknowledges that there is no ounce of goodness in their being that could make them right with God. It is truly grace, by a faith that was given as a gift.

Right theology drives our passions. We will be compelled to share the glorious truth of how Holy God sent perfect Christ to die for a sinner such as I. We will live humbly with our fellow man, knowing that only by God's grace do we enjoy any favors in this life. And, but by the grace of God, go I. This theology will drop us to our knees, weeping and washing our Saviour's feet like a whore. We will live in the world - but not of the world - because of the amazing sacrifice we have been bought with and kept.

Theology will change our marriages and our parenting. No longer will we demand perfect little saints, but will align ourselves with our sinful children acknowledging our desperate need for Christ with them. 

Get into God's attributes this summer. Be reminded and refreshed. This little book has a free download and free audio version. A small glimpse of life to come when the believer will spend eternity studying the facets of God's attributes for all eternity yet never coming to complete understanding of all He is!