Logic

Identifies the basic principles of correct thinking

The Basic Laws of Logical Thought

The Law of Identity

If a statement is true, then it is true

(ie: If something exists, then it exist)

The Law of Excluded Middle

A simple statement must be either true or false

(ie: Something must either exist or not exist)

The Law of Non-contradiction

A simple statement cannot be both true and false at the same time and in the same sense

(ie: Something cannot exist and not exist at the same time in the same way)

Kinds of Knowledge

Procedural (‘know how’): Skill or ability possessed

Experiential (‘know of’): Acquaintance with a person or object

Propositional (‘know that’): At minimum, a justified true belief

Belief

Refers to the mental stance of a person to a statement whereby they affirm it to be true

Objective Truth

That which accurately corresponds with absolute reality

i.e. It remains true independent of subjective perception (individual preferences, human emotions, and cultural practices)

(Note. However, a person’s belief is deemed objectively true if it affirms [ie. corresponds with] an objective truth)

Truth Claim

Any statement that (implicitly or explicitly) asserts to accurately describe an aspect of (external) reality

Reality

That which actually exist, as opposed to that which is only imaginary

God

A being who by virtue of His nature is perfect and necessary,

i.e. a personal*, optimally great, impeccably good, transcendently unique being that necessarily exists as prime reality - the foundation of being, knowledge, and moral goodness

*Personal: Immanently relational and possessing personhood (self-reflection and self-determination)

Attributes of God

Perfect Greatness

Self-existent, Self-sufficient, Eternal

All-powerful, All-present, All-knowing, All-wise

Unlimitable and Immaterial (Spirit)

Unchanging and unchangeable**

Sovereign

Perfect Goodness

Just and righteous

Truthful and Faithful

Loving, benevolent, merciful, gracious

Personal and relational

Holiness

Transcendently unique and majestic

Standard of Moral Purity

Most valuable, praiseworthy, trustworthy, and satisfying

Triune

**As an ontological and ethical attribute

Glory of God

Beauty and excellence of His manifold perfections and intrinsic, infinite worth

Roles of God

Eternal Creator/Sustainer and Owner

Cosmic King and Final Judge

Savior and True Friend

Rights of God

Absolute freedom to do all that accords with His nature

(ie. God has the right to be God)

Heaven

The realm or dimension where God’s glory and sovereign presence are most fully apparent, embraced, and cherished

The Kingdom of God

The permeation and full expansion of God’s sovereign presence in the temporospatial realm

Creatio prima

Refers to the primordial manifestation of divine will through the existence of the created order (or cosmos), particularly the temporospatial realm, creatio ex nihilo (‘out-of-nothing’)

Creatio secunda

Refers to the continued and immediate (direct) manifestation of divine will through the law of nature

Creatio tertia+

Refers to the mediated (indirect) manifestation of divine will through cultural norms and societal laws

+Modified from Wolters, A. Creation Regained: Biblical Basics for a Reformational Worldview

The Cultural Mandate

Refers to the divinely appointed task of civilization through human responsibility including the appropriate roles of marriage/family, labor, and rest

Key associated concepts: Development, Maturity, Productivity

Purpose of:

Creation

To serve as a forum for the display and enjoyment of the glory of God

Humanity

To appropriately value, praise, trust, and enjoy God thereby rightly displaying Him to be most valuable, praiseworthy, trustworthy, and satisfying

 (Praise: to joyfully acknowledge something’s value)

(True) Freedom

The ability and opportunity to joyfully do what one ought to (ie. should) do

The Nature of Human Freedom

The ability to do what one is most inclined to do in a given situation, in the absence of coercion

The World

Range or sphere of sociocultural influences that facilitate humanity’s sinfulness

Sin

Thought, desire, or behavior that rejects, disrespects, and attempts to devalue God by violating His rights, including His freedom to assign rights to His creation

(ie. God-given rights)

Consequences of sin

Legal: Guilt and Punishment

Relational: Alienation

Moral: Debt

Personal: Ruin and Futility

Sinner

Someone who, due to sin, is in a captive, deteriorating state characterized by guilt, moral debt, and alienation from God.

The Sinner’s Crisis

The possession of guilt and moral debt

The lack of true righteousness

(True) Righteousness

The quality of being in right standing (or justified) before God by the adequate achievement of His perfect moral standard

(Note. God’s own moral perfection is the standard of true righteousness)

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

It is the good news that:

God had come in the person of Jesus the promised Christ, lived a perfect (sinless) life, died on behalf of sinners, and was resurrected in victory - reigning as Lord - thereby preserving and displaying the infinite worth of His glory and providing salvation through His Spirit to those who are to joyfully trust in Him.

Nature of Jesus Christ

Both ‘God in the flesh’ & Human par-excellence

Roles of Jesus Christ

Eternal Creator/Sustainer and Owner`

Cosmic King and Final Judge`

Savior and True Friend`

Mediator and Advocate

`Note the parallel to the roles of God above

Salvation

The total redemptive work of God toward sinners whereby He liberates them from the penalty, power, and (ultimately) presence of sin and restores their union with Him by imparting eternal life

• Helpful concepts:

  • Redemption - Freedom regained from bondage

  • Reconciliation - Relationship repaired after damage

  • Restoration - Renewal of health/safety after illness/danger

  • Revitalization - Vitality/life returned after death

• It involves:

  • Election, (Effectual) Calling, Regeneration, Justification, Adoption, Sanctification, Preservation, and Glorification of the Saints

  • An appropriate response to God’s initiative in salvation: (Saving) Faith & Repentance

• It is acquired by grace through faith in Christ Jesus alone

The Essence of Salvation

Joyous, everlasting union and communion with Christ

The Essence of Condemnation

Misery and everlasting separation from God’s all-satisfying goodness

(Saving) Faith

Part of the dual, grace-enabled, appropriate response to God’s initiative in salvation that involves:

• An accurate understanding of the content of the Gospel

• Cognitive acknowledgment of the truth of the Gospel

• Trust in & personal reliance upon Jesus Christ as displayed in the Gospel

• Subsequent (and resultant) expressions of trust and commitment

Repentance

Part of the dual, grace-enabled, appropriate response to God’s initiative in salvation that involves a mental and volitional paradigm shift toward God-centeredness

Saints***

Redeemed sinners who, by the grace of God, are set apart for the display and enjoyment of His Glory

(Rightful) Children of God***

Those who possess the right of intimate fellowship with God as a result of their union with Christ Jesus

(True) Christians***

Those who joyfully acknowledge the Lordship of Christ, submitting to His rightful authority, and gladly trust Him as their Savior, as evidenced by their growing and enduring passion to faithfully follow Him in truth and righteousness

***Note. All three terms refer to those who will ultimately receive salvation through the Gospel.

The Goal of the Christian Life

To be Christ-like, i.e. spiritually mature and fully delightful to God, proclaiming and embodying Gospel truth cooperatively with fellow Christians

The Essence of the Christian Life

Divine grace-empowered, harmonious exultation at the Exaltation of Christ

The Key Characteristic of the Mature Christians

‘The Fear of the Lord’

A disposition of the soul whereby trust, love, obedience, and worship joyfully arise out of a reverential awe* of the person and works of God

*Note. Reverential awe - A potent mixture of respect, admiration, and amazement

The Church

The total collection of persons who are in union with Christ, communing in local congregations

Note. Composed of various peoples/ethnolinguistic groups

The Central Mission of the Church

To represent Christ and reflect His Glory by engaging in evangelism, discipleship, fellowship, corporate worship, and service

Worldview*

A commitment, a fundamental orientation of the heart, that can be expressed as a story or in set of presuppositions (assumptions which may be true, partial true, or entirely false) that we hold (consciously or subconsciously, consistently or inconsistently) about the basic constitution of reality, and that provides the foundation on which we live and move and have our being

*Sire J W. (2020). The Universe Next Door: A Basic Worldview Catalog, 6th Ed. InterVarsity Press

The Christian distinction:

Overview of the Christian Worldview

A complete worldview that is set forth as the narrative that most accurately depicts the history of reality and includes Creation, Fall, Redemption, and Restoration

[ie. Formed, Deformed, Reformed, and Transformed]

Creation

God, the eternal, personal Creator, purposefully created all things ‘ex nihilo, per verbum’, ie. analogously by commanding his ‘thoughts’ into existence. Of those things within His creation, he specially designed human beings, male and female, to: (I) Be responsible representatives within and faithful stewards over the rest of creation, respecting His sovereignty (II) Engage in diligent, meaningful, and creative work, modelling His excellence and beauty (III) Display a righteous and godly character, reflecting His holiness and (IV) Enjoy loving, trusting, and satisfying fellowship with Him, appropriately valuing Him above all else and flourishing cooperatively. As such, the human being possess intelligence [the capacity for reason and knowledge], morality [the capacity for recognizing and understanding good and evil], gregariousness [the capacity for desiring and engaging in community], creativity [the ability to imagine new things or to endow old things with new significance], and personality inclusive of the ability to relate to God and with one another as well as understand and consciously interact with the rest of the created order.

Fall

Humanity has deliberately rebelled against God, disregarding His right as Creator. As a result (of sin), our relationship with God, with each other, with nature, and within our own selves is fractured. Relative to its original design, all of creation has been, in some way, tarnished including human nature. There is a strong, albeit sometimes subtle tendency for anthropocentrism (human-centeredness) over theocentrism (God-centeredness) within our collective and individual thoughts, desires, and behaviors. Because of this, none of us are as good as we should be. We at times choose to do a good thing but, of our own efforts alone, we inevitably neglect the ultimate good. God is impeccably good; therefore, his unblemished justice demands that all wrongdoing be punished. Tragically, due to our sinfulness, we are all deserving of punishment and perpetual estrangement from Him, which is the essence of spiritual ruin.

Redemption

Yet, because God is impeccably good and possesses immense grace, He desires to lavish wrongdoers with undeserved love, mercy, and kindness. In His perfect wisdom and according to His grace, at the most appropriate time, He came in the person of Jesus the promised Christ, lived a perfect (sinless) life, died on behalf of sinners, and resurrected in victory - reigning as Lord - thereby preserving and displaying His infinite worth and providing salvation through His Spirit to those who are to joyfully trust in Him. As Savior of His redeemed people, Christ has: (I) Identified with them and entered into union with them (II) On their behalf, bore the guilt and just punishment of sin, satisfactorily paying their moral debt, and restored their relationship with God and (III) Effectively exposed and irreparably damaged the (spiritual, cultural, and volitional) obstacles that hindered His people from living life as designed by their Creator. Christ is the perfect embodiment of moral fidelity and stands as a model for His beloved people, as they passionately seek to follow Him in truth and holiness. As Lord of His redeemed people, He has empowered them and given them a mandate to: (I) Grow in faith and spiritual maturity (II) Live in loving fellowship with and service to each other (III) Remain in hopeful and joyous anticipation of His return when the early beginnings of restoration, now experienced, will be fully realized and (IV) Share and embody the truth of Gospel with others so that those who believe may enjoy salvation, fellowship, and hope as well.

Restoration

Upon His return, Christ will: (I) Resurrect those who died (II) Fully exercise His right as Universal Lord by permanently removing all residues of rebellion, thereby achieving ultimate, everlasting peace for His people and (III) Exercise His prerogative as final/ultimate judge to determine the adequacy of every person’s life and distribute a just and definitive verdict. Finally, following the complete restoration of true humanity is the restoration of the rest of creation (ie. new heaven and earth). In the final analysis, the end signifies a return to the beginning (In purpose but not in time). The redeemed human beings willingly and joyfully accept their God-given roles and rights and enjoy fellowship with Him, flourishing together forever.

Key Implications of the Christian Worldview

If the Christian worldview is true, then:

1. Life is purposeful, ie. It has real, ultimate meaning.

2. Creation is orderly, with discernable patterns and features of intelligent design, and is inclusive of both unity and diversity (ie. The existence of one and many).

3. Absolute moral obligations and values exist and all properly held rights are necessarily God-given.

4. All humans are moral beings, endowed with special dignity, significance, and abilities.

5. Because all of humanity is portrayed to have arisen from the God-ordained covenantal union between the first male and female human beings, this provides the context for the appropriate understanding of marriage, sexual identity, sexuality, family, and ethnicity.

6. Christian particularism is affirmed, ie. Salvation is by grace through faith in Jesus Christ alone. Therefore, the Gospel of Jesus Christ is the most important message imaginable and its content must be preserved vigorously, its meaning unpacked prudently, its proclamation performed extensively, accompanied by a visibly consistent lifestyle, and its sharing done gently and respectfully - expressing the truth in love.

7. The grace of God is the ‘fuel’ for the Christian life, from beginning to eternity.

8. Time is linear and there are no ‘do-overs’ in this life.

9. The ultimate goal of humanity is to appropriately value, praise, trust, and enjoy God thus rightly displaying Him to be most valuable, praiseworthy, trustworthy, and satisfying. Creation serves as a forum for that to occur.

Divine Providence*

Relating to the Creator-creation relation, it states that God continually oversees and directs all things pertaining to the created order in such a way that (1) He preserves in existence and provides for the needs of each aspect of the created order for as long as He purposes it to exist, and He protects all of his creation from any harm or destruction that stands outside His purposes for it (2) He governs and reigns supremely over (A) all of the activities and forces of nature and natural law, and (B) all of the affairs of his moral creatures, in all cases accomplishing in them and through them (at times by divine concurrence) his eternal purposes - yet in neither realm does he govern in such a manner that it violates the integrity of creaturely moral responsibility and volitional freedom to choose and act according to the moral agent’s strongest inclinations, nor does God’s exhaustive governance justly implicate the impeccable and infinitely holy moral character of God by making him either the author or the approver of evil.

Associated concepts include:

• Compatibility of Divine sovereignty and human freedom of inclination

• Asymmetrical Divine involvement of direct-causative relation to good and indirect-permissive relation to evil (ie. Good and evil are controlled in equal measure but in a different manner)

*Adapted from: Ware B.A. (2004). God’s Greater Glory: The Exalted God of Scripture and the Christian Faith. Crossway Books

Axiology

In Christian thought, natural entities of the temporospatial realm have both ‘structure’ and ‘direction’*. The term ‘good’ can be properly applied to both and is innate in regards to the ‘structure’ but variable in regards to the ‘direction’. The term ‘evil’ can only be properly applied to the ‘direction’. As such:

Good

(‘Direction’) Properly applied when the orientation of the subject corresponds with divine telos (purpose)

Evil

Refers to a distortion of good and is characterized by:

Deformity & brokenness

Dysfunction & rottenness

*Wolter. A. (2005). Creation Regained: Biblical Basic for a Reformational Worldview