Quotes from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“I do not believe that God intended the study of theology to be dry and boring. Theology is the study of God and all his works! Theology is meant to be LIVED and PRAYED and SUNG! All of the great doctrinal writings of the Bible (such as Paul's epistle to the Romans) are full of praise to God and personal application to life.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“I am convinced that there is an urgent need in the church today for much greater understanding of Christian doctrine, or systematic theology. Not only pastors and teachers need to understand theology in greater depth -- the WHOLE CHURCH does as well. One day by God's grace we may have churches full of Christians who can discuss, apply and LIVE the doctrinal teachings of the Bible as readily as they can discuss the details of their own jobs or hobbies - or the fortunes of their favorite sports team or television program.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“But this analogy with the members of the Trinity is very important for another reason, it warns us against thinking that union with Christ will ever swallow up our individual personalities. Even though the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have perfect and eternal unity, yet they remain distinct persons. In the same way, even though someday we shall attain perfect unity with other believers and with Christ, yet we shall forever remain distinct persons as well, with our own individual gifts, abilities, interests, responsibilities, circles of personal relationships , preferences and desires”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“I think that ultimately we will attain much more depth of understanding of Scripture when we are able to study it in the company of a great number of scholars who all begin with the conviction that the Bible is completely true and absolutely authoritative.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Defining systematic theology to include "what the whole Bible TEACHES US today" implies that application to life is a necessary part of the proper pursuit of systematic theology. Thus a doctrine under consideration is seen in terms of its practical value for living the Christian life. Nowhere in Scripture do we find doctrine studied for its own sake or in isolation from life.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Do Christians in fact eagerly long for Christ’s return? The more Christians are caught up in enjoying the good things of this life, and the more they neglect genuine Christian fellowship and their personal relationship with Christ, the less they will long for his return.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“I believe that there is still much hope for the church to attain deeper and purer doctrinal understanding, and to overcome old barriers, even those that have persisted for centuries. Jesus is at work perfecting his church "that He might present the church to Himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish" (Eph. 5:27), and He has given gifts to equip the church "until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God" (Eph. 4:13). Though the past history of the church may discourage us, these Scriptures remain true, and we should not abandon hope of greater agreement...In this book I have not hesitated to raise again some of the old differences in the hope that, in some cases at least, a fresh look at Scripture may provoke a new examination of these doctrines and may perhaps prompt some movement not just toward greater understanding and tolerance of other viewpoints, but even toward greater doctrinal consensus in the church.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Neither Jesus nor Paul nor John point to activity in the church or miracles as evidence of regeneration. They rather point to character traits in life. In fact, immediately after the verses quoted above Jesus warns that on the day of judgment many will say to him, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?” But he will declare to them, “I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers” (Matt. 7:22–23). Prophecy, exorcism, and many miracles and mighty works in Jesus’ name (to say nothing of other kinds of intensive church activity in the strength of the flesh over perhaps decades of a person’s life) do not provide convincing evidence that a person is truly born again. Apparently all these can be produced in the natural man or woman’s own strength, or even with the help of the evil one. But genuine love for God and his people, heartfelt obedience to his commands, and the Christlike character traits that Paul calls the fruit of the Spirit, demonstrated consistently over a period of time in a person’s life, simply cannot be produced by Satan or by the natural man or woman working in his or her own strength. These can only come about by the Spirit of God working within and giving us new life.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“brings some blessings to unbelieving people. Jesus tells us, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt. 5:44), and since there is no restriction in the context simply to pray for their salvation, and since the command to pray for our persecutors is coupled with a command to love them, it seems reasonable to conclude that God intends to answer our prayers even for our persecutors with regard to many areas of life.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“It is healthy for us spiritually when we settle in our hearts the fact that God deserves all honor and glory from his creation, and that it is right for him to seek this honor.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“The sufficiency of Scripture means that Scripture contained all the words of God He intended His people to have at each stage of redemptive history, and that it now contains everything we need God to tell us for salvation, for trusting Him perfectly, and for obeying Him perfectly.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“This is somewhat of the word which he now speaks unto you: Why will ye die? why will ye perish? why will ye not have compassion on your own souls? Can your hearts endure, or can your hands be strong, in the day of wrath that is approaching? . . . Look unto me, and be saved; come unto me, and I will ease you of all sins, sorrows, fears, burdens, and give rest to your souls. Come, I entreat you; lay aside all procrastinations, all delays; put me off no more; eternity lies at the door . . . do not so hate me as that you will rather perish than accept of deliverance by me.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“because sin distorts people’s perception of reality, they do not recognize Scripture for what it really is. Therefore it requires the work of the Holy Spirit, overcoming the effects of sin, to enable us to be persuaded that the Bible is indeed the Word of God and that the claims it makes for itself are true.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“When we realize that God is the perfection of all that we long for or desire, that he is the summation of everything beautiful or desirable, then we realize that the greatest joy of the life to come will be that we “shall see his face.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“For this reason, Christ had to live a life of perfect obedience to God in order to earn righteousness for us. He had to obey the law for his whole life on our behalf so that the positive merits of his perfect obedience would be counted for us. Sometimes this is called Christ’s “active obedience,” while his suffering and dying for our sins is called his “passive obedience.”3”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Similar evidence is found in Malachi, when the Lord says, “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the LORD of hosts. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears?” (Mal. 3:1–2). Here again the one speaking (“the LORD of hosts”) distinguishes himself from “the Lord whom you seek,” suggesting two separate persons, both of whom can be called “Lord.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“The Role of the Holy Spirit in Our Praying. In Romans 8:26–27 Paul says: Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words. And he who searches the hearts of men knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. Interpreters differ on whether the “sighs too deep for words” are the sighs the Holy Spirit himself makes or our own sighs and groans in prayer, which the Holy Spirit makes into effective prayer before God. It seems more likely that the “sighs” or “groans” here are our groans. When Paul says, “The Spirit helps us in our weakness” (v. 26), the word translated “helps” (Gk. sunantilambanomai) is the same word used in Luke 10:40, where Martha wants Mary to come and help her. The word does not indicate that the Holy Spirit prays instead of us, but that the Holy Spirit takes part with us and makes our weak prayers effective.7 Thus, such sighing or groaning in prayer is best understood to be sighs or groans which we utter, expressing the desires of our heart and spirit, which the Holy Spirit”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Romans 3:25 tells us that God put forward Christ as a “propitiation” (NASB) a word that means “a sacrifice that bears God’s wrath to the end and in so doing changes God’s wrath toward us into favor.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“how small a whisper do we hear of him! But the thunder of his power who can understand?” (Job 26:14;”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Some have objected that if Jesus did not sin, then he was not truly human, for all humans sin. But those making that objection simply fail to realize that human beings are now in an abnormal situation. God did not create us sinful, but holy and righteous. Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden before they sinned were truly human, and we now, though human, do not match the pattern that God intends for us when our full, sinless humanity is restored.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“So the phrase “not discerning the body” means “not understanding the unity and interdependence of people in the church, which is the body of Christ.” It means not taking thought for our brothers and sisters when we come to the Lord’s Supper,”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“The major teachings of the Bible about itself can be classified into four characteristics (sometimes termed attributes): (1) the authority of Scripture; (2) the clarity of Scripture; (3) the necessity of Scripture; and (4) the sufficiency of Scripture.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“If it is by the Spirit of God that I cast out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you” (Matt. 12:28).”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Our ultimate conviction that the words of the Bible are God’s words comes only when the Holy Spirit speaks in and through the words of the Bible to our hearts and gives us an inner assurance that these are the words of our Creator speaking to us.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Leon Morris can say, “Faith, for John, is an activity which takes men right out of themselves and makes them one with Christ.” He understands the Greek phrase pisteuō eis to be a significant indication that New Testament faith is not just intellectual assent but includes a “moral element of personal trust.” 2”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“the words of Scripture are “self-attesting.” They cannot be “proved” to be God’s words by appeal to any higher authority. For if an appeal to some higher authority (say, historical accuracy or logical consistency) were used to prove that the Bible is God’s Word, then the Bible itself would not be our highest or absolute authority: it would be subordinate in authority to the thing to which we appealed to prove it to be God’s Word.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Aunque esta definición incluye la palabra acuerdo a fin de mostrar que hay dos partes, Dios y el hombre, que deben entrar en las estipulaciones de esas relaciones, la frase «divinamente impuesto» aparece también para mostrar que el hombre nunca puede negociar con Dios o cambiar los términos del pacto. Él solo puede aceptar las obligaciones del pacto o rechazarlas. Probablemente por esta razón los traductores griegos del Antiguo Testamento (de la traducción conocida como la Septuaginta), y, siguiéndolos a ellos, los autores del Nuevo Testamento, no usaron la palabra griega común que denotaba contratos o acuerdos en los que ambas partes eran iguales (syntheke), sino que más bien eligieron una palabra menos común, diadsékh, que hace hincapié en que las provisiones del pacto fueron establecidas solo por una de las partes. (De hecho, la palabra diadsékh”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Gratitude of mind for the favorable outcome of things, patience in adversity, and also incredible freedom from worry about the future all necessarily follow upon this knowledge. . . . Ignorance of providence is the ultimate of all miseries; the highest blessedness lies in the knowledge of it.60”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“Although they never can fall from the state of justification, yet they may, by their sins, fall under God’s fatherly displeasure, and not have the light of His countenance restored unto them, until they humble themselves, confess their sins, beg pardon, and renew their faith and repentance.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

“O send thy Spirit, Lord, now unto me, That he may touch mine eyes, and make me see: Show me the truth concealed within thy Word, And in thy Book revealed I see the Lord.”
― Wayne A. Grudem, quote from Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine

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