Do you have a solid knowledge of the gospel? How would you explain it in your own words?
I will be honest, when I first went to Bible college, I had no idea what I was doing. I was not raised with an extensive knowledge of the Bible, and I was not a born-again Christian. Similar to most Americans, I saw myself as a Christian because I celebrated Christmas, and I didn't believe in any other form of religion. However, once I went to Bible college, all of this changed and helped me study theology in a way that has left a lasting impact on my life. It is often cliché to say, but if I can do it, you can do it, and there is no exception, even when it comes to Bible college or simply learning more about theology.
Most of my peers had grown up in church, and they knew all the right answers to various questions. However, I was coming from ground zero with no knowledge of the Bible outside of Noah and the Ark. If I'm being completely honest, when the Bible professor had us write about the "Millennial" during my first semester, I thought he was referring to the generation of the Millennials, and I wrote my entire research paper on the Millennial generation rather than the thousand-year reign of Christ. Therefore, no matter where you are starting from, know that you can learn theology. In truth, it is a necessity to be knowledgeable about the Scriptures, and we should not overlook the privilege to study the Word.
All Scripture Is Useful
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
The Bible is our ultimate guidebook to life, growth, and knowledge. Consistently ignoring the Bible leads to trouble. If we never take time to study the Bible, how can we expect to be knowledgeable about theology? Rather than being knowledgeable, we will be lost in the study of theology. Not to mention, we will also become an easy target for Satan and his schemes.
By studying the Bible, we will be putting on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18). Within the full armor of God, we will be protected from the attacks of the devil. However, if we are not learning about God from the Bible, we will not be ready when the enemy attacks. If we have a thorough knowledge of the Bible, we won’t have to worry about lies, heresies, and falsehoods because we will be able to see through them.
This is why it is absolutely necessary to be knowledgeable about theology. Knowledge of the Bible protects us and equips us with what we need to walk through this dark world. It is true that Jesus protects us and guards us, but we also don’t need to be lacking in our own training. The love and devotion we have for the Lord should propel us to learn more about the Lord, study the Word, and be knowledgeable about theology.
Challenge Questions:
-Do you feel you are knowledgeable about theology? If not, how can you improve your knowledge?
-What things can you remove from your life to have more time to study the Bible?
-Is there anyone in your life who is knowledgeable about theology? Do you think you could study the Bible with them?
Prayer: “Dear Lord, I want to increase my knowledge of Your Word. Help me study Your Word daily, go the extra mile, and apply Your teachings in my life. Equip my heart to put on the full armor of God and to continue to strengthen my knowledge of You every day. In Your Name, I pray, Amen.”
The Importance of Understanding the Gospel
“If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9).
Within theology, we have major fields of study, such as soteriology. This is the study of salvation. Biblically speaking, the only way to receive salvation is by grace through faith in Christ alone. As Paul says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). The only way to obtain salvation is by placing faith in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.
If someone does not believe this, they cannot receive salvation. This is why it is crucial for Christians to be knowledgeable about theology. A proper understanding of theology teaches us about salvation, what it means, and how we can help others learn about the gospel. If we have weak knowledge of the material at hand, we will not be able to help ourselves, nor will we be able to help others. If we are truly going to walk in accordance with the Lord and love Him with all of our hearts, we are going to have to make the decision to study the Word.
Challenge Questions:
-Do you have a solid knowledge of the gospel? How would you explain it in your own words?
-Have you taken time to study soteriology? Why or why not?
-If someone asked you how they can be saved, what would you say?
Prayer: “Dear God, the pivotal part of the Christian walk is the gospel, and I want to be as knowledgeable about it as I can. I praise You, and I thank You. Amen.”
The Divinity of Christ
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (John 1:1).
If there is something that most Christians are not knowledgeable about and not educating others about, it is the divinity of Christ. How many times have you heard someone separate God from Jesus? Often, we hear people refer to the Father as God, but not Jesus. This is incorrect because the Father and Jesus are one (John 10:30). The Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are all equal because they are God.
Not that they are three gods, but rather one God in three distinct persons. This can be hard for some individuals to understand; however, with time and study, this can make more sense to individuals. Jesus’ divinity has been debated by numerous people throughout time, yet we see His divinity throughout the Bible. Jesus declares His divinity over the course of His seven “I am” statements (John 6:35, 8:12, 8:58, 10:7-9, 10:11-14, 11:25, 14:6, 15:1-5).
By stating these “I am statements,” the Lord is clearly informing His listeners, disciples, and the Pharisees that He is God. Sadly, the divinity of Christ is lost on many individuals today and they don’t view Him as being equal to the Father. If a person is knowledgeable about theology, they will be equipped in the study of the Lord and know how to convey false teachings. Moreover, the well-trained scholar won’t doubt or question Jesus’ divinity because through their extensive studying, they know that Jesus is indeed God in the flesh.
Challenge Questions:
-Do you struggle with believing in the divinity of Christ? If so, what can you do to educate yourself more in the Word?
-Read each of Jesus’ seven “I am” statements. Which one(s) do you think are most compelling for His divinity?
-Once you have a deep understanding of the Bible, how can you help others learn more about Jesus and His divinity?
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, please help me to educate myself more about You. Give me the motivation and eager desire to learn more about theology each day. You are God ,and You deserve to be studied. I wouldn’t be here without You. Use me to do Your will and help others to know You. Thank You, Lord, Amen.”
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