02-25-2008, 04:12 AM
Lesson 1 – What is the Theology of Everything?
INTRO
Scientists around the world are diligently searching for a single formula that
would explain the mysteries of the universe. No one can be sure that there
is such a thing, but if it exists, it would be the DNA of our creation: a
simple little code that governs everything from galaxies to sub-atomic matter.
Scientists call this The Theory of Everything and they hope to discover it within a
few years. If they do discover it, it would be one of the greatest scientific
breakthroughs in history.
A discovery of even greater significance can be seen in the Bible and, like The
Theory of Everything, there is a verse of scripture that does provide us with a
single formula – a simple code, or a DNA if you will – that governs all things: and
not just the visible universe, but the invisible world of the spirit.
For purposes of our discussion and to differentiate it from The Theory of
Everything we refer to this as The Theology of Everything.
John 3:30 is the key that unlocks the mystery and gathers together all the truths,
revelations and teachings of scripture into one simple little statement. In the
authorized King James version of the Bible it contains just seven little words. Yet
within those seven little words we can see the Theology of Everything:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
The man who uttered these words was John the Baptist. Jesus said that John was
the greatest prophet – greater than Moses, greater than Elijah – even though John
did no miracles. So what made John the Baptist the greatest prophet? It was his
insight into the person of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose:
and this is why he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”.
John spoke those words in response to his disciples who complained that Jesus was
getting a larger following than he was. On the surface, of course, we could take
these words literally and simply interpret them in the context of John's deference to
Jesus. But, if we take the statement and apply it to ourselves, and make it personal,
it takes on a prophetic significance: Who must increase? Jesus must increase. Who
must decrease? You and I must decrease.
If we take these seven simple words and make them our confession, and
personalize them, and apply them to ourselves, then something dramatic happens.
We learn that everything past, present, and future can be explained by this. This
explains everything God has done, everything God is doing and everything God
will do. This explains everything God has said, everything God is saying and
everything God will say. And not only that, this explains everything you have gone
through, everything you are going through and everything you will go through.
Now is it really possible that seven little words – one tiny fragment of scripture –
can really answer all these questions? Yes... provided we discover the spiritual
principles behind John 3:30 and consider them in the context of the entire record of
scripture.
In our next lesson we'll discuss The First Universal Spiritual Principle.
QUIZ
Lesson 1 – What Is The Theology of Everything?
1. The Theory of Everything is best described as
a) a scientific explanation for everything in the universe
b) a religious explanation for everything in the Church
c) a medical explanation for everything wrong with you
2. The Theology of Everything is best described as
a) a religious explanation for everything in the Church
b) a simple way to explain God and His ways
c) a philosophy for merging all religions into one
3. Although The Theology of Everything is supported by many Scriptures, the single verse that
best describes it can be found in
a) John 3:16
b) Genesis 1:1
c) John 3:30
4. The “Seven Simple Words” that best describe The Theology of Everything is
a) We must stop and smell the roses.
b) Early to bed and early to rise.
c) He must increase, but I must decrease.
5. If we apply it to ourselves in a personal way, The Theology of Everything can help us better
understand
a) everything past, present, and future
b) what God has done, is doing, and will do
c) everything we have gone through and will go through
d) all the above
INTRO
Scientists around the world are diligently searching for a single formula that
would explain the mysteries of the universe. No one can be sure that there
is such a thing, but if it exists, it would be the DNA of our creation: a
simple little code that governs everything from galaxies to sub-atomic matter.
Scientists call this The Theory of Everything and they hope to discover it within a
few years. If they do discover it, it would be one of the greatest scientific
breakthroughs in history.
A discovery of even greater significance can be seen in the Bible and, like The
Theory of Everything, there is a verse of scripture that does provide us with a
single formula – a simple code, or a DNA if you will – that governs all things: and
not just the visible universe, but the invisible world of the spirit.
For purposes of our discussion and to differentiate it from The Theory of
Everything we refer to this as The Theology of Everything.
John 3:30 is the key that unlocks the mystery and gathers together all the truths,
revelations and teachings of scripture into one simple little statement. In the
authorized King James version of the Bible it contains just seven little words. Yet
within those seven little words we can see the Theology of Everything:
“He must increase, but I must decrease.”
The man who uttered these words was John the Baptist. Jesus said that John was
the greatest prophet – greater than Moses, greater than Elijah – even though John
did no miracles. So what made John the Baptist the greatest prophet? It was his
insight into the person of Jesus Christ as the fulfillment of God's eternal purpose:
and this is why he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”.
John spoke those words in response to his disciples who complained that Jesus was
getting a larger following than he was. On the surface, of course, we could take
these words literally and simply interpret them in the context of John's deference to
Jesus. But, if we take the statement and apply it to ourselves, and make it personal,
it takes on a prophetic significance: Who must increase? Jesus must increase. Who
must decrease? You and I must decrease.
If we take these seven simple words and make them our confession, and
personalize them, and apply them to ourselves, then something dramatic happens.
We learn that everything past, present, and future can be explained by this. This
explains everything God has done, everything God is doing and everything God
will do. This explains everything God has said, everything God is saying and
everything God will say. And not only that, this explains everything you have gone
through, everything you are going through and everything you will go through.
Now is it really possible that seven little words – one tiny fragment of scripture –
can really answer all these questions? Yes... provided we discover the spiritual
principles behind John 3:30 and consider them in the context of the entire record of
scripture.
In our next lesson we'll discuss The First Universal Spiritual Principle.
QUIZ
Lesson 1 – What Is The Theology of Everything?
1. The Theory of Everything is best described as
a) a scientific explanation for everything in the universe
b) a religious explanation for everything in the Church
c) a medical explanation for everything wrong with you
2. The Theology of Everything is best described as
a) a religious explanation for everything in the Church
b) a simple way to explain God and His ways
c) a philosophy for merging all religions into one
3. Although The Theology of Everything is supported by many Scriptures, the single verse that
best describes it can be found in
a) John 3:16
b) Genesis 1:1
c) John 3:30
4. The “Seven Simple Words” that best describe The Theology of Everything is
a) We must stop and smell the roses.
b) Early to bed and early to rise.
c) He must increase, but I must decrease.
5. If we apply it to ourselves in a personal way, The Theology of Everything can help us better
understand
a) everything past, present, and future
b) what God has done, is doing, and will do
c) everything we have gone through and will go through
d) all the above
