This work represents a journey of nearly a quarter century of collaboration and cooperation to bring forth this living document of systematic theology. Our collaborators hold the highest academic credentials for higher education but are also practitioners. They have been preachers, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, as well as classroom professors. Following the convictions of Dr. Dennis F. Kinlaw, published in his book, Let's Start with Jesus, these theologians are convinced that our Christology should shape all the rest of the study and the Trinitarian implications of that doctrine should mark the entire work of their investigation into Christian doctrine. It is in that light that we offer this work to the church.

The goal of the Trinity in the creation of humanity was fellowship with persons in his image. As salvation restored that image, we see the emergence of the church as the Bride of Christ. Ultimately, God's purpose is to be realized in the City of God and the wedding supper of the Lamb. This final volume of the work studies the nature of the church and the final consummation of God's work. As in the previous volumes the involvement of all three persons of the Godhead will be prominent.

This volume of the larger work focuses on those doctrines relating to salvation. The need for salvation is addressed in the chapter on sin: hamartiology; the nature of salvation is treated in the chapter on soteriology; and the question of the intended breadth of salvation is covered in the chapter on predestination. Because this systematic theology is written from the Wesleyan perspective, the good news of perfect love finds a prominent place in the presented understanding of salvation. The Trinitarian focus can be seen as the work of Father, Son, and Spirit in salvation.

The first two volumes of this work thoroughly explored the trinitarian understanding of God that is a necessary corollary of the divinity of Christ. The present volume studies doctrines that undergird and flow from that previous work, including cosmology, bibliology, pneumatology, and anthropology. To a significant extent it is the Spirit who provides the common thread through creation, biblical revelation, and humanity. Throughout the book the doctrine of the Trinity will be a cohesive thread.

The first section of almost all systematic theologies is the doctrine of God. That is not the case with the present effort. The writing team became convinced that Christian theology must begin with Jesus, because it is through him that God is best known. With that foundation laid, it is then possible to move on to a broader understanding of the Godhead and the trinitarian relationships that characterize the Christian understanding of God. The present volume represents that further move. In these pages the interrelationships of Father, Son, and Spirit are penetratingly explored. This title is also available on Kindle here.

What makes the Christian doctrine of God unique? It is the idea that God became incarnate in Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus Christ is "the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation" (Col. 1:15). Thus, if we are to understand God correctly, we must begin our investigation with Jesus. It is in fulfillment of that vision that the present systematic theology begins with Christology.