A Biblical Vision - Introduction

The PCA was conceived out of a commitment to historical and conservative Biblical theology, often referred to as Reformed Theology.  This is the theology of the Protestant Reformation of the sixteenth century and also the theology of Jesus as we see in the Bible.  Biblical theology is inherently theocentric with a high emphasis on knowing and worshiping God.  It is also applicable to all people as God is building his kingdom in all the world.

Throughout the history of the Bible, the teachers and prophets of God called God's people back to God's Word.  It is the same today as the church needs to be renewed and reformed to the theology of the Bible.  Many Christians describe their faith through a doctrinal perspective, and others describe their faith primarily with a pragmatic emphasis.  God has created both the head and the heart, yet there is a priority on doctrine first, and application second, which is the pattern we see throughout Scripture.  To reverse or confuse the two is detrimental to the faith and we must not let either perspective become extreme.

The doctrines of Scripture are also essential in understanding God's will and inspiring and preserving the church in every generation.  But it is essential to have a theocentric perspective of the Bible as God is the One from whom we have our life and in whom we can have eternal life.  He is the One we must worship, and He is the One we must declare to all people in every walk of life.  We see some key verses that guide us in this theocentric perspective.

Ps.24:7-10, "Lift up your heads, O you gates!  And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!  And the King of glory shall come in.  Who is this King of glory?  The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle.  Lift up your heads, O you gates!  Lift up, you everlasting doors!  And the King of glory shall come in.  Who is the King of glory?  The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory."

Mt.15:3, 6, "He answered and said to them, Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition? ... Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition."

Mk.12:29-31, "Jesus answered him, The first of all the commandment is: Hear O Israel, the LORD our God, the LORD is one.  And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.  This is the first commandment.  And the second, like it, is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  There is no other commandment greater than these."

Jn.1:14, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

Jn.17:1-3, "Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: Father, the hour has come.  Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify Your, as You have given Him authority over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him.  And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent."

Ro.11:33-36, "Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!  For who has known the mind of the LORD?  Or who has become His counselor?  Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen."

Ep.4:4-6, 11-15, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all" ...

"And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints of the saints for the work of ministry for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head - Christ."

And from the Reformed heritage, we see the Scripture is to be the focus for all faith and practice.

WCF, Ch.1, Par. VI, "The whole counsel of God concerning all things necessary for his own glory, man's salvation, faith, and life, is either expressly set down in Scripture, or by good and necessary consequences may be deduced in Scripture: unto which nothing at any time may be added, whether by new revelations of the Spirit, or traditions of men."

The contemporary culture in our time however is progressively secularistic and this has affected the evangelical church dramatically.  In addition, our culture has degenerated drastically since the middle of the twentieth century, particularly in 1973 with the landmark decision of the Supreme Court as it legalized abortion on demand.  Again this year in 2015, we've experienced another landmark decision as the Supreme Court legalized homosexual marriage in our country.

Our courts have become more and more pragmatic to the culture as they have no regard for the Bible and the morality of God's law.  But the church must not adapt in the same way to the changing winds of culture over and against the Bible even if it becomes unpopular to do so.  We must not become pragmatic and conform to contemporary culture.

Good theology leads to good faith and Biblical theology brings vitality, purity, and peace to the church, and it brings reformation to our lives.  We must not just subscribe to these truths.  We must proclaim this theology that has preserved the church in ages past and is able to strengthen us to stand for Christ in our contemporary culture.  It is only this theology that can truly bring forgiveness and healing to the sin in our world, with redemption and restoration to God.

In the vertical spheres of faith, we must proclaim the truth in - Scripture, the Gospel, Preaching, the Church, and Worship.

In the horizontal spheres of faith, we need to promote - Discipleship, Family, Vocation, Missions, and Reformation.

In all doctrines we must proclaim the truth in grace with a genuine love for people because of the grace we have received.  But we must always put the priority upon Biblical theology over and above the pragmatism of contemporary culture.