Systematic Theology Lewis Sperry Chafer

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Vol 1
Preface
pages v,vi

It is no secret that the average minister is not now reading Systematic Theology, nor will such writings be found to occupy a prominent place in his library.

The present situation is not one of passing moment. As well might a medical doctor discard his books on anatomy and therapeutics as for the preacher to discard his books on Systematic Theology; and since doctrine is the bone structure of the body of revealed truth, the neglect of it must result in a message characterized by uncertainties, inaccuracies and immaturity...

To the preacher is committed a responsibility of surpassing import...

The preacher is called upon to deal with the things of God, the supernatural and eternal. His service is different from all others--different as to aims, different as to available forces and, of necessity, different as to adequate preparation.

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My thoughts:
What an accurate indictment of our post Christian, mammon centered, "Cultural Christian" society. I pray that the Lord will lead those who truly believe in the Word of God, the Bible as the ultimate source of life and godliness, and Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior away from all corrupt and false forms of religion.

Mammon:
material wealth or possessions especially as having a debasing influence <you cannot serve God and mammon — Matthew 6:24(Revised Standard Version)

Cultural Chrisitan (wikipedia)-
Cultural Christian is a broad term describing individuals who identify themselves as Christian, but who generally would not be described by other, more religious Christians, as active in their faith.

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page vi

A form of modern thinking tends to treat all matters of doctrine with contempt.

No substitute will ever be found for the knowledge of the Word of God. That Word alone deals with things eternal and infinite, and it alone has power to convert the soul and to develop a God-honoring spiritual life. There is a limitless yet hidden spiritual content within the Bible which contributes much to its supernatural character. This spiritual content is never discerned by the natural, or unregenerate man (1Cor. 2:14), even though he has attained to the highest degree of learning or ecclesiastical authority. The natural capacities of the human mind do not function in the realm of spiritual things. The divine message is presented "not in words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost theacheth, comparing spiritual things with spiritual" (1Cor 2:13), and the Spirit has been given to the regenerate that they might "know the things that are freely given to us of God."

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My thoughts:

This is the answer to all who espouse any other way to God. It is so simple and so difficult at the same time because of human pride, because man wants to be his own god.

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page vi

When on the ground of scholarship, unregenerate men have been permitted to dictate to the church what she shall believe, she has descended from her supernatual character to the level of a human institution, and it is safe to conclude that men are unregenerate who deny the only ground upon which a soul may be saved.

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My thoughts:

We see today what Chafer stated above in the mega- churches and small churches that have compromised the true gospel for "growth" or "sensitivity" or "purpose" or "special knowledge".

Nothing but a return to the Truth of the Word of God will help this country and this world. True believers must learn what the churches won't teach, whether it is by finding a Bible believing church or independent study if no good churches can be found.

In my immediate area I only know of 2 churches that don't have some level of apostasy or error brewing in its walls.

[A Berean]

:thumb:preach:hug Thank you for this added addition to add to the treasures you've already posted. It is Bookmarked :thumb.

[Timothy]

I've owned all of Chafer's works for years. What you posted reminded me of a section from C.R. Stam's book on dispensationalism.

Pastor Cornelius R. Stam from Things That Differ

...Is it any wonder that the Christian masses use the Bible merely for devotional reading and often neglect even that?... As a result, the vast majority of believers really understand very little of God's Word. They know the basic facts of salvation but seem quite satisfied to remain ignorant of precious truths which, if they but searched to find them, would make them workmen whom God could approve, not needing to be ashamed of their service for Him.

But rather than study to attain to a better understanding of the Word and become proficient in its use, many actually boast that they are satisfied with "the simple things"!

And this after all the earnest prayers of Paul that believers might have the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ (Eph. 1:17), that they might know what is theirs in Christ (Eph. 1:18-23) and comprehend the breadth and length and depth and height of it! (Eph. 3:18). This after all his labor and strife and conflict that they might have "the full assurance of understanding"! (Col. 1:28-2:2). This after all his prayers that they might "be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding" (Col. 1:9). This after his stern rebuke of those carnal babes to whom he could preach no more than Christ crucified; whom he had to feed with milk alone because they were not able to digest solid food! (I Cor. 2 and 3).

Slothful Christians often consider themselves quite spiritual merely because their emotions are easily aroused. They boast of their contentment with "the simple things" while they should be ashamed of their indifference to the written Word of God. They claim great devotion to God, yet neglect the one great means of knowing Him better. They profess fervent faith in Him, yet scarcely trouble to find out just what He has said. They do not, like David, meditate upon God's Word day and night nor, like the prophets, "enquire and search diligently" as to its true meaning.

The results of this attitude toward the Word are appalling, for such may trust Christ for salvation, but beyond this they exercise, in most cases, a blind, superstitious faith that cannot but dishonor God. Feelings are taken for facts and their own wishes for God's Word. They go into wrong paths, saying, "But I prayed very earnestly about it and now feel perfectly at peace." They say, "The Lord spoke to me," and refer to some feeling rather than to some passage of Scripture consistently applied. Thoughtlessly they say, "If it's in the Bible I believe it," yet as they read the Bible they take to themselves only what warms their hearts and leave the rest unapplied, not knowing exactly why.

But those who boast of their contentment with "the simple things" and oppose dispensational Bible study... have certainly missed the fact that all Scripture was given that the man of God might be perfectly fitted and fully equipped for his work (See II Tim. 3:17).

There is a great difference between the "child of God" and the "man of God" and no one who remains an infant in the truth can be approved as a workman for God or as a soldier of Jesus Christ, for the workmen God approves must know how to rightly divide the Word of truth and the soldiers He honors must know how to wield the Sword of the Spirit...

[Galoutofdixie]

Violet, :hug

Thank you! Lewis Sperry Chafer is truely one of the greats. I've learned so much from reading his writings and sermons over the past couple of years. Pure meat! Thank you for sharing this nugget with us. :thumb

Timothy, thank you too! :hug I've never read any of Stam's writting or sermons, but now I'll be on the look out for them. :nod

[Violet]

I've owned all of Chafer's works for years. What you posted reminded me of a section from C.R. Stam's book on dispensationalism.
Excellent post!
Thank you

[Violet]

:thumb:preach:hug Thank you for this added addition to add to the treasures you've already posted. It is Bookmarked :thumb.

What a great treasure Chafer's writings are.
Praise God

[Violet]

Violet, :hug

Thank you! Lewis Sperry Chafer is truely one of the greats. I've learned so much from reading his writings and sermons over the past couple of years. Pure meat! Thank you for sharing this nugget with us. :thumb

:hug
I am so glad the Lord showed me his writings.

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This information is of such excellent quality (and price) that I've just ordered a second set for my son.

And thank you to blitzkreig for recommending the OLD Scofield Study Bible (excellent resource as well)
:hat

Chafer Systematic Theology
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/product?item_no=2345&netp_id=159976&event=ESRCN&item_code=WW&show_all_cr=1#customer_reviews

Old Scofield Bible
http://www.christianbook.com/Christian/Books/easy_find?Ntk=keywords&Ntt=old+scofield&action=Search&N=0&Ne=0&event=ESRCN&nav_search=1&cms=1&Go.x=23&Go.y=8