Key Doctrines of the Faith: Theology

by David Chadwick

Over the next few weeks, I am going to be handing you a different key each day. Each key represents one of the key doctrines of the Christian faith. These are the foundational principles and beliefs that guide us as followers of Jesus. I pray you use these keys to open up doors you may have never walked through before now. And as you do, I pray you will be strengthened and edified.

Following Jesus is not a one time decision. It’s a life of exploration, understanding, wisdom, knowledge, and discernment. We must grow in all of these things by spending time in worship, study of the Word, prayer, and time with other believers.

Today’s key: theology. Theology is the study of God and the revelation of himself.

One of the most important attributes of God is this: God created everything – from nothing (Genesis 1:1). “Ex nihilo” is the fancy Latin word that means “creation from nothing.”

Humans always create from something. For example, we need a tree to make a desk. We need metal to build a car. We need rocks to build a stone wall. Not God. He created everything from nothing.

This is such a strong argument for the existence of God. You simply can’t make something from nothing unless you’re the Almighty One.

In turn, if God exists and he is the Creator, then we must believe that he is sovereign over all including history, this world, and everything to come. It means that his providence guides everything. It also means he is working everything together for our good and his glory (which is called the Providence of God—Genesis 50:20, Romans 8:28).

We can trust God wholeheartedly when things don’t go well, knowing he is working to knit, form and fashion every piece of history into a beautiful tapestry that displays his grace!