All scripture is theology, but not all theology is scripture. Scripture is God-breathed; theology is man-breathed. In order for theology to be God-breathed it must be scripture. Saving faith will result from obeying what God said (Romans 10:17). What God said is found ONLY in the scriptures.
If you're going to teach/preach ('speak' - 1 Peter 4:11), use scripture, not theology. - theology is defined by scripture; scripture is not defined by theology. The Bible definition of theology: words to no profit that subverts the hearer, that will increase unto more ungodliness and will eat as a canker - 2 Timothy 2:14, 17. Strive not about such words, but rather, rightly apply God's theology (2 Timothy 2:15).
No amount of rightly dividing man's theology will transform it into God's theology. Theology 'twists' God's words (Acts 20:30). It makes a proselyte out of a disciple. All disciples are proselytes, but not all proselytes are disciples. The determining factor is the doctrine they have been subjected to.
When a sinner is taught theology, he becomes a proselyte. Scripture states that he is made twice as much a child of hell as his teacher (Matthew 23:15). He is not made free from his sin, but is yet a slave of sin because of the form of doctrine to which he was committed (Romans 6:17-18).
If scripture was delivered rather than theology, a sinner will call upon the name of the Lord as those in the book of Acts called. Scripture was delivered and obeyed from the heart in those recorded cases of conversions.
THE RESPONSE OF THE SINNER REVEALS THE DOCTRINE THAT WAS PREACHED TO HIM, FOR HE WILL RESPOND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TEACHING HE HEARD.
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10/26/2020
