When I was working towards my M.Div B.L. at seminary, my systematic theology (SYSTH 445 Fall 1995 TWTH 2:00 p.m.) professor asked us to write short ditties on certain topics of faith and practice in the Christian life. He wanted them short and sweet...kind of an elevator speech for what we believe. I offer these as introspection of who I was then and who I am becoming even today.

Baptism

Asserting that faith in Christ both requires and results in a death and burial to sin and resurrection to new life, immersion is the symbolic representation, given by Christ Himself, of a life lived by faith, in relationship with the Father and with the Son and with the Holy Spirit.

Christology and Hermeneutics

Having affirmed that theology is an interpretive matter, the next logical step is that Christology does affect theology. There is a dialogical relationship between the Scriptures and the Christology established by the Scriptures. The Scriptures are the primary source for the doctrine of Christ; yet, doctrine assists in the interpretation of scripture. Where scripture generates doctrine, doctrine interprets scripture. However, one must exercise caution and maintain hermeneutical humility so that tradition does not replace scripture or infringe upon the priesthood of every believer. For a practical example of how theology comes to be interpreted through Christology consider the cross and resurrection. Since Jesus is both God and Man, at the cross and resurrection both God and Man were present. The implications for theology are that God is one who suffers with His people, who has experienced the finitude of death, and who offers the reality of resurrection from the dead to those who faith Him and are found "in Christ." Hence, our Christology becomes the lens through which we interpret our Theology.

5 Images in the Cross

Battlefield: Sin has the ability to enslave and oppress, just like an enemy army during war-time. The cross (and resurrection) break the power of sin, just as D-Day and V-Day broke the power of Nazism in W.W.II. The decisive battle has been won and the war with sin will end soon.

Court of Law: The redemption found in the cross resounds with the justice and righteousness of God. Sin has violated the moral fabric of God's creation. Jesus by the cross and resurrection took away the guilt and power of sin. Being found "in Christ," one appropriates the righteousness of relationship with God.

Rehabilitation Clinic: Personal relationships shed a light on how the cross transforms human life. God is reconciling the world through Christ and offers the release of forgiveness. These two aspects of counseling find total redefinition in the cross which reveals the full extent of the love of God for humanity. The cross is at the center of our need!

Prison: The captivity that is felt as well as experienced in sin is very similar to the captivity of imprisonment. The futility of the human situation without the cross of Christ leaves one powerless and without purpose. However, the cross of Christ is God's power and desire to release the captive of sin from sin's realm of power. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free!

Hospital: The very word "salvation" bears the image and meaning of healing, but more importantly, it is a healing that encompasses the entire human experience. The cross demonstrates the healing transformation found only in the suffering of Christ. Moreover, God is involved in our healing process on a continual basis in Christ. Without being too simplistic, sin has become a sickness in humanity which destroys life and administers a horrible death; however, Jesus Christ on the cross took upon himself our infirmity and became the medicine for the sin of humanity! Jesus has become our wounded healer.

The Lord's Supper

The Lord's Supper is an act of obedience to Jesus Christ, symbolizing a disciple's faith in Christ to supply all his/her needs and his/her commitment to follow Jesus to the ends of the Earth.

My Millennial View

This issue is very difficult for me to discuss. As a Southern Baptist I am aware of the historical emphasis that has been placed upon the millennial focus of Revelation 20:1-10 in specific and the broader focus of the all of the text of Revelation. Having been given the task to choose one of the four main opinions (premillennialism, dispensational premillennialism, postmillennialism, and amillennialism), I must respectfully decide to not decide from among these four.

The position which I maintain has much in common with amillennialism; however, I do NOT believe that the text of Revelation has to interpreted to reflect a literal Millennium. The text of Revelation is highly symbolic apocalyptic literature which fits a genre of literature all but extinct in our culture. However, during the first and second centuries the Believers could not communicate openly without veiling the content in symbolic language. For the original hearer, the message of Revelation directly confronted the evils of the Roman Emperors by names which only the intended audience would know. Moreover, the text of Revelation also reminds the early believers that Christ has won the battle and some day WILL return to claim that which is his.

I hope that all who call Jesus Lord will be united in the truth of the Gospel that just as Jesus left in humility, he will someday return in glory. I hold this belief in opposition to the suggested four options, not because I can ignore Revelation and the rest of Scripture, but because I hold to its absolute authority in matters affecting my faith and my life. Therefore, I disagree with the appraisal of Hunt that the rejection of a "Millennium" results in difficulty in substantiating a claim to Biblical authority. I take the text so seriously that I must remember to whom it was originally written and the factors which influenced its writing. I take the text so seriously that I must act boldly where Scripture is relatively clear and act humbly where the text is highly interpretable.

NINE BIBLICAL TERMS RELATED TO CHRISTIAN LIFE ACCORDING TO HUNT

1) Justification: pardon and acceptance into the family of God
2) Regeneration: given a new heart, a new nature, and new purpose
3) Sanctification: set apart for God and growth in His grace
4) Forgiveness: full pardon and full acceptance
5) Adoption: assurance of acceptance with God and belonging in the His family
6) Reconciliation: sinner's cessation of rebellion against God, removal of enmity between God and the person, and joy of peace with God
7) Redemption: being ransomed from the kingdom of darkness to freedom in the Kingdom of God
8) Salvation: wholeness or health, God's gift of forgiveness and life in Christ, and everything else God is doing to bring about the Kingdom purposes in Christ
9) Eternal Life: life which is abundant, full, and endless found only in Christ or life in the Kingdom of God

ONE BIBLICAL THEME OF MY OWN RELATING TO CHRISTIAN LIFE

10) Renewal: made new again and reestablishment of right relationship with God and humanity (Ψ 51:10; Isaiah 40:31; 2 Corinthians 4:16; Romans 12:2)

Positive and Negative Reaction to the Statement: "There is no salvation outside of the Church"

Two Positive Statements:
1. Since the Church is the physical representation of the Body of Christ, salvation must result in participation with the Church.
2. Since Christian doctrine is the distinguishing factor of the Church from other groups, organizations, and religions, the proclamation of salvation is uniquely gifted to the Church.

Two Negative Statements:
1. The Church must be distinguished from the Kingdom of God; salvation is found in the Kingdom of God, the Church is the agent by which the Good News of the Kingdom of God Present is proclaimed.
2. The Church's reason for existence is to proclaim Jesus Christ, being charged with the potential to transform the world, in order that salvation may be found, not inside the Church, but outside in the world for everyone!

ORDO SALUTIS

The ordo salutis, or order of salvation, is an area of much debate and discussion. Christ's scholars appeal to the scriptures in an attempt to understand the process of salvation. My attempt to define an ordo salutis will follow the same pattern. However, instead of looking all about the scriptures for the various words used to describe salvation, I will make my appeal to the very heart of the message of Jesus. Jesus came preaching long ago, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!"

This simple message contains all there needs for salvation. The two ideas of repentance and faith are inseparable, yet distinguishable in the message of Jesus. To repent is to turn from self-centeredness to Christ-centeredness. To have faith in Christ and gain entrance into His Kingdom is to live a life of repentance. In Christian experience, repentance and faith occur simultaneously, and are therefore inseparable. Repentance and faith are not just "the prayer of salvation," they are the beginning and the continuing of the Christian life. Christians are never done repenting and faithing Christ.

So, what about all the other words mentioned in scripture, like: justification, regeneration, sanctification, forgiveness, adoption, reconciliation, redemption, salvation, eternal life, and renewal? The answer is clear from my reading of scripture and experience in life. All of these other terms are attributes which help to partially explain the mystery of repentance and faith. To establish a required pattern for salvation is to re-write the scriptures and ignore the simple ordo salutis of Jesus, "Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!" Paul says the same thing using different words, "For it is by grace you have been saved through faith. . . ." (Eph. 2:8) and "just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him" (Col. 2:6).

The Person of the Holy Spirit

As one considers the person of the Holy Spirit, the deity and personality of the Holy Spirit are focal. Just as the Father and the Son cannot be separated from their work, so the Holy Spirit cannot be removed from His work. However, how the Spirit relates both to the Divine and the Human is unique. Because the Scriptures present God as personal and intimate as well as holy and exalted, the Holy Spirit is no less personal or holy than the Father or the Son. The Spirit is ascribed actions which are personal in focus. Scripture speaks of Him as the One producing character, unity, and diversity in intimate ways both individually and collectively in the body of Christ. Moreover, Jesus refers to Him as the Paraclete, or "One called alongside." The work of the Holy Spirit clearly evidences His personality; One who is personally pointing people to an intimate relationship with the Father through the Son.

The Person of Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ is more than just a great teacher filed away in the annals of history. He is a living person who maintains identity in ways that often times seem paradoxical. Jesus was born into this world a homan infant male; yet, he was with God from eternity -- for he is λογος. Jesus Christ is a person of the Trinity who has always lived in perfect relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Jesus is neither one-third of God nor is he one-half of God and one-half human. Jesus is a whole person both in relation to the Trinity and in relation to his essence. The radical love of God was made manifest in Jesus Christ as he emptied himself and allowed God to reconcile the world through him. As a whole person, Jesus Christ was killed, with the implication that for three days λογος was dead. However, God made Jesus the first fruits of the resurrection when Jesus was bodily resurrected and bodily ascended back into the presence of God. Summarily, Jesus Christ bears the reality of paradox in wholeness as he is both one hundred percent God and one hundred percent human. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!