Perfect Theology

Do you like to study theology?  Most people I know do not.  Some people scoff at the term.  But do you know what it really means?  Theology is simply the study of God.  The secular world adds their own twist to the definition, and unfortunately it carries a negative connotation with many people.  But the word theology is derived from two Greek words: theos (God) and logos (word).

I'd like to think that the Christian world has a high view of theology and promotes a positive connotation of the subject in the secular world.  Sadly, this is not always the case.  Recently, I've seen it argued by believers that perfect theology is required for salvation.  So, I thought I'd turn to the Word of God check the validity of their argument.  Let's take a look at some key salvation verses:

Romans 10:9-10  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. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved.

Acts 16:31  Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved

Ephesians 2:8-9  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.  

John 3:16  For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. 

John 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." 

All of the verses above come from the New Testament.  Some were spoken by Jesus, some by Paul, and nearly all of them were written to the masses.  But John 3:16 is unique, because Jesus spoke these words personally to Nicodemus who was a Pharisee and knew the Law of God well.  Nicodemus was a bit confused about what was necessary for salvation, so Jesus explained it clearly to him.  What is really interesting throughout all these verses is that neither Jesus nor Paul demanded perfect theology.  Instead, the requirements for salvation were merely to understand that Jesus is the pathway and no one else has the ability to save us from our sins - not even ourselves.  We cannot trust anyone or anything outside of Christ.  Instead we have to have a change of mind and believe (which implies trust) that Jesus is the only Way to salvation. 

It isn't terribly complicated, is it?  Does that mean we shouldn't study God?  We shouldn't strive to know Him better?  We shouldn't read our Bibles?  No.  We should do all of these things, but neither our actions nor our intelligence save us. 

I still want to be perfect.  I still want to understand God and His Word as best I can.  But I recognize that I am imperfect.  I will never be able to attain perfect theology nor teach the Bible perfectly.  I want to, but I cannot.  I am always open to correction and ask God to continually teach me.  And if God offers me grace in my walk with Him, we should offer the same grace to fellow believers.

There is no intellectual quiz to enter heaven.  You do not have to be smart enough, articulate enough, good enough.  In fact, we cannot be.  We also should not be condemning others to hell because they do not meet the standard of theological perfection.  The only requirement for salvation is outlined in the versus above.  God desires for us to know Truth and spread the Gospel.  But we all fail, and He is there to correct, instruct, and encourage us along the way.   We must speak Truth in love (Ephesians 4:15), and let us strongly encourage one another in the faith.  As Paul wrote:

Hebrews 3:13  But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called “today,” that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.