Concise Theology in Scripture

“The Heavens Declare the Glory of God…”

The Inspiration and Authority of Scripture

2 Timothy 3:16. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.”

Isaiah 40:8. “The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.”

Hebrews 4:12: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.”

2 Timothy 2:15. “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

All verses in this article are from the English Standard Version—ESV.

The Fallen Condition of Mankind

Romans 1: 18-21. “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.”

Jeremiah 17:9. “The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?

Psalm 51:5. “Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.”

1 Corinthians 2:14. “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.”

Salvation by Grace Alone

Ephesians 2: 8-10. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and not of yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Romans 9: 15-16. “What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, ‘I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. I will have compassion on whom I have compassion,’ It does not, therefore depend on man’s effort, but on God’s mercy.”

Through Faith Alone

Genesis 15:6. “Abraham believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.”

Romans 3:21-25. “But now a righteousness from God apart from the Law, has been made known, to which the Law and Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through Faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his Grace, through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement through Faith and blood.”

Galatians 2:16-17. “Know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by Faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our Faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by Faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified”

In Christ Alone

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

Acts 4:12. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name in heaven given to men which by we must be saved.”

1 Timothy 2:5. “For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.”

John 1:1-5. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”

The Sovereignty and Providence of God

Isaiah 46:9-10. “Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: ‘My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.”

Job 42:3. “I know you can do all things; no plan of yours can be thwarted.”

Psalm 135:6. “The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens, and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths.”

Isaiah 14: 24. “The Lord Almighty has sworn, ‘Surely as I have planned, so will it be, and as I have purposed, so it will stand.”

Genesis 50:20. In Egypt, Josephs tells his brothers: “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.”

Isaiah 40:23. “He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.”

Proverbs 16:9. “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps”

Proverbs 16:33. “The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.” [Casting lots was the ancient equivalent of rolling dice.] God is sovereign over everything!

Romans 8:28. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

Matthew 28:18. Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

God’s Personal and Constant Care and Attention to believers

The recent polling and analysis of American religion by Ligonier Ministries and Lifeway Research, The State of Theology 2025, indicated that the American public and even the approximately 60 percent who are affiliated with Christian churches “lack a firm grasp of the essential Christian Faith revealed in Scripture.”

Lifeway Research polling evidence of this is that 30 percent of 3,001 American adult respondents believed God was not concerned about their daily decisions and lives, and another 9 percent were unsure. Moreover, of those affiliated with Christian churches, 20 percent believed God was not concerned about their daily lives, and another 5 percent were unsure. However, 53 percent of Christian church affiliates strongly believe in God’s daily concern with their lives. Another 22 percent “somewhat’ agreed that God was concerned with their daily lives. Yet there is abundant proof in Scripture that God cares deeply about his people and his creation in detail.

Matthew 10: 29-31. “Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? And not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father. But even the hairs of your head are numbered. Fear not therefore; you are worth many sparrows.”

Jeremiah 29:11. “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare, and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

Philippians 4:6. “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

James 1:5. “If any of you seek wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him.”

Isaiah 41:10. “Fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will help you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Psalm 34 is filled with wisdom for the weary, suffering, and anxious:

Psalm 34: 7. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them.”

Psalm 34: 17-19. “When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivers them out of all.”

The Glory of God

Psalm 19:1 “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork”

Revelation 4:11“You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.

John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

“So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”—Isaiah 55:1.

Soli Deo Gloria.