In Praise of Our Good God and His Good Book

(Testimonies from students of the Systematic Theology Course on Theism at the Far Eastern Bible College, July-November 2007)

Every Christian is called to be a theologian and an evangelist to preach the gospel. This is precisely why we must study theology. Studying theology reaffirms our belief in God. He is our Creator and He is in ultimate control. TBH

I thank God that He has enabled me to attend the day class on Systematic Theology Part I: Theism. So often it has been the lack of faith on my part when I worry whether I can cope with the studies, the demands of my workplace and the needs of my family concurrently. However God spoke to me through these verses, “Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also” (Matt 6:19-21). “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt 6:33). “Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth” (Col 3:2). By putting God first, He has shown me that He is able to provide for all my needs and to help me overcome all my difficulties. The days pass so quickly that sometimes I wonder whether I can do all the things that are before me, but I praise God that without fail He has given me the grace sufficient for each day.” LKG

When I registered for “Systematic Theology: Theism,” I was not quite sure what I was in for. Theological terms like these are still relatively new to me. During the first lecture, I was told that studying theology was the study of God and knowing who God is. I told myself that I should on familiar ground since I have “studied” and “known” God for close to half a century. I soon realised I was in for many surprises because with each lecture there were so many things I did not know and I was given fresh insights into many “familiar” topics. All these have really been most enlightening and edifying because firstly, I have to unlearn some misconceptions; secondly, I now know and understand in much greater detail some things which I only had a hazy idea of, and most importantly, I was shown how to defend the Faith with sound arguments from the Word of God itself. LGM

I thank God for His providential care and great love for all His creatures. I thank God that I am special and precious in His sight, even the very hairs on my head are numbered. God cared for every single detail of my life. For instance, I was quite apprehensive as to whether I would be able to fulfil all the requirements of the courses that I am taking. I was worried that I would be neglecting my duties to my family while I take time to study. But God had taken care of my family and helped the children in their studies when I did not have the time to help them because of my own study workload. All the children did well in their examinations. God is no man’s debtor and He gives us much more than what we give to Him. All praise and glory to God! CFM

The need to know many things in the world has caused human beings to forget that there is a need to know God more. When I recall my days in school, I can see the way I used to concentrate on knowing more things of this world than knowing more about God. Even in Bible College, when I evaluate how much time I have spent in reading the Bible and even praying, I find that I have been concentrating much on my assignments. Hence, through this course I was greatly challenged especially when I look at the life of John Sung—he read his Bible 11 chapters a day and 13 chapters on the Lord’s Day. It is a reminder to me that, as I study God’s Word, I must seek first to know God more and more from the Holy Scriptures. AM

What struck me most about the difference between studying chemistry during my tertiary education and studying theology now is that I have an invisible Tutor, the Holy Spirit who teaches me all things (1 John 2:27). Truly theology is far above any branch of science; it is “metascience” requiring faith to behold the wondrous truths out of God’sWord. CYF

Knowing God requires a presuppositional and deductive approach, i.e., a priori reasoning where one has to believe in order to see and not vice versa. The evidential or inductive approach, i.e., a posteriori reasoning where one sees in order to believe cannot be used because all evidences and knowledge are not available. As I study Theism, I am reminded more and more of God’s mercy to man, because He has chosen to reveal Himself. If He did not choose to do it; there is no way man can find Him. Being educated in the biological sciences makes me more demanding in seeking logic and evidence in my faith at times. I did not realise how Theology is a “Metascience.” I am encouraged but also humbled by my ignorance. The premise is to start from the Bible— believe to see. STF

I have been using the NIV for some years but I never knew it was an unfaithful translation of God’s Word. I confess that I have been using it in ignorance. I have realised the importance of not only studying God’s Word but also studying God’s Word in a fundamental, Bible-based and God-honouring school. I thank the Lord for bringing me to FEBC where I can learn all these truths that were hidden from me. Since the KJV is a faithful translation of God’s Word and all the essential doctrines of Christianity are found, it is now my Bible. When I return to my country, I will reintroduce the use of it to my people. We should again return to the good old and faithful Bible, which is the Reformation Bible. By the grace of God, I promise to do what Paul said, “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also” (2 Tim 2:2). AK

One thing that helped me gauge whether a doctrine is of God or not was whether it glorifies God. A false doctrine will give man a negative view of God and diminish His Name. I came to realise that denying VPP would mean denying what God had promised in Pss 12:6-7, 100:5, Isa 59:21, Matt 5:18, 24:35, 1 Pet 1:23-25. All these Scripture references prove the doctrine of Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) of the Scriptures. In denying VPP, one is ultimately calling God a liar. I now feel burdened to share all I have learned regarding this to my church back home. Many are influenced to reject this doctrine by what other people have to say. However, I do so under the threat of being rejected and despised for it. But I am comforted and go in peace knowing that Paul says in Romans 8:31 is true, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” If the only thing I have learned at my time in FEBC is that VPP is a true doctrine of God, and I am able to share and convince others at home of my convictions, then I sincerely believe that my time at FEBC was worth all the personal pain and struggles I have endured. DC

I thank God that through the sure doctrine of the Verbal Plenary Inspiration (VPI) and the Verbal Plenary Preservation (VPP) of the Holy Scriptures, we can be sure that the Christian Church today has a 100% Perfect Bible without any mistake and error because God has promised to preserve forever His inspired words to the last jot and tittle (Matt 5:18, 24:35, 1 Pet 1:23-25). In these last days when VPP is being attacked, God is pleased and faithful to raise up His servants such as John W Burgon, Carl McIntire, Edward F Hills, David Otis Fuller, David Cloud, DA Waite, Ian Paisley, and the like, and godly institutions such as the International Council of Christian Churches (ICCC), the Dean Burgon Society, the Trinitarian Bible Society, the Bible League, the Far Eastern Bible College and the like to defend this holy doctrine which has so much to do with our faith in the one living and true God and His holy, infallible and inerrant words. SK

I agree with the lecturer that a missionary must go to the Bible College first to study the truths of God’s Word so that he may be well prepared and trained to go into the mission field. It is now my belief that a missionary not only must have a heart for missions, but must have the right and true understanding of the Word of God. This is necessary so that the missionary will not teach the wrong doctrines. I feel fortunate to have the chance to study God’s words and learn true doctrines at FEBC. DST

It is a blessing to study in FEBC. God has opened my spiritual heart and eyes. I pray that what I have learned from FEBC, including Systematic Theology, I can share to everyone, especially to my people in Nias. In my island, there are many Christians, but they are poor and uneducated. They are not only poor physically, but also poor spiritually. Many Christians in Nias are only nominal Christians. They do not have a firm foundation as a Christian and their lives are not Christlike. They need the truth. They need the Bread of Life from God to make them rich and educated spiritually. REL

In Korea, I attended a Presbyterian Church, but I received baptism in a Baptist Church. By attending the Presbyterian Church I accepted the Calvinistic faith and the Westminster doctrines. But I was just a nominal Christian and was not interested in theology. When I came to the Bible College, all the subjects were filled with the emphasis on the Bible being the Word of God 100% without error and mistakes. The lecturers stressed this in every lesson. With this I became more interested in theology. CHJ

I am very thankful for the numerous opportunities to study the Word of God at FEBC. Whether it is in time of rest, of peace and joy, or amidst troublous, and very painful moments in my life, God’s Word continues to shine through, and anchor me in the storms of life. His Truth unerring continues to tell me Who He is, what I am, and helps me to keep in step with my Saviour and God in my dailywalk with Him, to walk by faith, and not by sight. May the Lord be praised, and may the life that I live continue to bring Him only honour and glory to His great Name now and forever more. AH