The team discusses God's incommunicable and communicable attributes as laid out in the Baptist Catechism question #7: What is God? God is a Spirit, infinite, eternal, and unchangeable in His being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth. Subscribe to our podcast!
Dale and Drew discuss the Trinitarian nature of the Christian faith and life. They look at a definition of the Trinity, explain the progressive revelation of this doctrine, and look at several key Scriptures in both Old and New Testaments. Show Notes: "The Trinitarian Nature of the Christian Faith and Life" (post by Drew) ... Continue Reading →
We continue our series, "Pattern of Sound Words," addressing the subject of the Old and New Testaments as the word of God and the only certain rule of faith and obedience. Show Notes: Canon Revisited (book by Michael Kruger) Subscribe to our podcast!
Dale and Drew joined Justin and Brandon on Two Thieves Podcast to discuss 1689 Federalism (aka, Baptist Covenant Theology). Subscribe to our podcast!
We address the misguided understanding that many Christians have regarding God's will for their lives. The will of God is not some mystical concept that is discerned through signs and subjective feelings. Rather, the Bible is full of principles, wisdom, and instruction regarding God's will for us. Subscribe to our podcast!
We discuss how "the light of nature in man and the works of God plainly declare there is a God; but His word and Spirit only do it fully and effectually for the salvation of sinners." Show Notes: Ep. #19 Baptist Catechism Q1: Who Is the First and Chiefest Being? Ep. #21 Baptist Catechism Q2:... Continue Reading →
We start by discussing how God manifests his glory in and through his creation, then move into the focal point of our discussion as found in Genesis 3 (especially vv. 15 and 21). This theme of God's glory in salvation through judgment is a central theme that unfolds throughout the Scriptures, culminating in the cross... Continue Reading →
We continue with our series, Pattern of Sound Words, where we go through the Baptist Catechism. In this episode we discuss Q/A #2: "Ought everyone to believe there is a God? Everyone ought to believe there is a God; and it is their great sin and folly who do not." Show Notes: "Thankfulness and Prayer... Continue Reading →
We discuss how Christ's resurrection ensures our regeneration, justification, and future resurrection. We also discuss the moral implications of Christ's resurrection for our lives. Subscribe to our podcast!
We kick off a new series called "Pattern of Sound Words". In this series we are walking through each Q/A of the Baptist Catechism. These will be shorter episodes but will serve to ground listeners in a systematic understanding of Bible doctrine. In this episode, we discuss the first Q/A, "Who is the first and... Continue Reading →
We discuss one of the fundamental truths about God - he is simple in his being. This does not mean that God is easy to understand. Rather, "[it] means that He is not composed of different parts, and also that His being and attributes are one" (Berkhof). This doctrinal matter is so important that it... Continue Reading →
We discuss the biblical mandate of fathers leading their families in the discipline of family worship. We likewise discuss the various ways we have approached family worship and are honest with our shortcomings in this area. Show Notes: Family-Driven Faith (book by Voddie Baucham) Family Shepherds (book by Voddie Baucham) Family Worship (book by Donald... Continue Reading →
Shane Morris, of Breakpoint (the Chuck Colson Center), joins us to discuss why Reformed theology has had such an influence in the Church, especially upon young men. Show Notes: What Is Reformed Theology? (book by R.C. Sproul) Subscribe to our podcast!
We briefly define the various eschatological views and then get into the importance of having a gospel-centered eschatology and addressing those who differ from our eschatological perspective with charity and understanding. Oh, and Drew couldn't resist inserting brief arguments for the Amillennial perspective. Show Notes: The End Times Made Simple and More End Times Made... Continue Reading →
It is with great pleasure that I make available to my reading audience this interview with pastor Sean Cole. You can listen to Sean’s podcast, Understanding Christianity, and watch his video sermons here. 1) Tell us a little about yourself: How you came to Christ; Where you went to school; What your favorite subject was/is;... Continue Reading →
We discuss the recent Ligonier Conference on the theme of Awakening. We discuss some of the emphases in the sessions and then take a quick tour of awakenings in the Bible, especially the book of Acts. Show Notes: Ligonier Conference: Awakening (2018) Dispatches from the Front (DVD's with Tim Keesee) "This My Soul" (song by... Continue Reading →
Theme: The gospel of the kingdom expands throughout the world as King Jesus had foretold. The book of Acts is a very special book in the New Testament. It is a historical narrative that supplies us with background information for the epistles. It serves as a bridge, so to speak, from the Gospel accounts (Matthew-John)... Continue Reading →
We answer the question, "What is the gospel?," by walking through a biblical framework, one that the apostles themselves utilized in their evangelistic messages: God, man, Christ, and response. Show Notes: What Is the Gospel? (book by Greg Gilbert) "Gospel Pillars: God, Man, Christ, Response" (post by Drew) The Gospel (page) Subscribe to our... Continue Reading →
The gospel is the good news about what God has done in and through Jesus Christ to reconcile sinners to himself. The following framework, what I like to call “gospel pillars,” presents doctrinal truths by which we may rightly understand and receive the promises and blessings of the gospel. While the section on Christ consists... Continue Reading →
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable... Continue Reading →
We discuss the very important and foundational doctrine of Scripture, focusing on its inspiration and ultimate authority.
What do we mean when we say that God is sovereign? It is true that God’s sovereignty speaks to God’s kingship over creation. However, some would attempt to define God’s kingship by first defining the kingship of men. They use the pattern of an earthly king to influence and inform their understanding of God’s kingship,... Continue Reading →
We discuss the various virtues Paul exhorts Christians to "put on" in Colossians 3:12-14, of which love serves as the binding principle. We also discuss the importance of rooting these exhortations in the gospel, as Paul is careful to do. Show Notes: "Bound Together in Love" (post by Dale) Subscribe to our podcast!
We progress through a two-column table in Will Metzger's book, Tell the Truth, where he contrasts a man-centered and a God-centered approach to evangelism under four categories: view of God, view of humanity, view of Christ, and view of response to Christ. Show Notes: Tell the Truth (book by Will Metzger) Approaches to Evangelism (pdf... Continue Reading →
Listen to Drew read this article: The first three chapters of Genesis lay the foundation for the rest of the unfolding of Scripture. It is only right to expect, therefore, that this theological foundation of God’s glory in salvation through judgment, if it is indeed central to the Bible, will be evident on its... Continue Reading →
Chris Centola, from Confessional Collective, joins us to discuss the nature and importance of biblical theology. Show Notes: "Book Review: What Is Biblical Theology? (by James M. Hamilton, Jr.)" (review by Drew) The Temple and the Church's Mission (book by G.K. Beale) According to Plan (book by Graeme Goldsworthy) God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment... Continue Reading →
Biblical theology is theology that is biblical, right? While that’s certainly a way in which biblical theology can, and often is, utilized, that is not what is particularly in mind here. Don’t get me wrong, biblical theology as a discipline, as related to systematic and historical theology, certainly seeks to be biblical. But there’s more... Continue Reading →
Doctrinal Overview The Christian faith is fundamentally a trinitarian faith. In other words, the doctrine of the Trinity is absolutely fundamental and central to our faith and life. So, just what is the doctrine of the Trinity? The doctrine of the Trinity is the teaching that there is only one God who eternally exists in... Continue Reading →
We discuss the concept of revelation in general then move into a fuller discussion of general and special revelation. We also touch on the related issues of exclusivism vs. inclusivism and cessationism. Show Notes: "Must They Hear?: A Case for Exclusivism (Contra Inclusivism)" (article by Drew) To Be Continued? Are the Miraculous Gifts for Today?... Continue Reading →
The Roman Catholic Church officially teaches that Mary is the example, model, hope, and forerunner of the Church. This heretical teaching, which ascribes to Mary things that the Holy Scriptures only ascribe to Jesus Christ, can be seen in the following quotes from the Catechism of the Catholic Church (First Image Books edition published 1995):... Continue Reading →
In the Bible, God has provided for us what I like to call his "three greats". An understanding of these "greats" helps us to think through the relationship between the law, the gospel, and the Church's mission. So, let us look briefly at these "greats". 1. The Great Commandment We find this "great" in... Continue Reading →
Dale and Drew kick off their systematic theology series titled "Evenings with Berkhof" where they base their discussion on Berkhof's Summary of Christian Doctrine. They discuss the nature, seat, and origin of religion, noting how religion is not a dirty word, is defined by God's self-revelation, and is rooted in the image of God in man.... Continue Reading →
Series Links: Christ for Us: Prophet, Priest, and King Jesus as Prophet We come now to the priestly office of Jesus. Being that we have already considered his prophetic office, let us briefly note the distinctions between the two. Again, I quote Berkhof: The Bible makes a broad but important distinction between a prophet and... Continue Reading →
"[Christ] perfectly met both the penal and the preceptive requirements of God's law. The passive obedience refers to the former and the active obedience to the latter. Christ's obedience was vicarious in the bearing of the full judgment of God upon sin, and it was vicarious in the full discharge of the demands of righteousness. His obedience becomes the... Continue Reading →
We have pastor Sean Cole on to discuss the theological emphases and historical roots of Traditional Soteriology in the Southern Baptist Convention. Show Notes: Traditional Theology & the SBC (e-book by Tom Ascol) "The SBC 'Traditionalist' Stream" (article by Sean Cole) Understanding Christianity (Sean Cole's podcast) Emmanuel Baptist Church Colorado Christian University Subscribe to... Continue Reading →
What does God-glorifying and Christ-centered gospel ministry look like? Who better to consult than the apostle Paul, who was used mightily of God for the advancement of the gospel among the nations in the 1st Century. There are of course many passages in Scripture that we could consult for our answer to this question. However,... Continue Reading →
People are quick to accept Jesus when they have false ideas of who he is. Many like to think of him as a friendly teacher who simply advocated friendliness toward others. Some think of him as a failed political figure but with good motives. Others think of him as nothing more than a prophet. Still,... Continue Reading →
"And verily there is one spring and cause of the decay of religion in our day which we cannot but touch upon and earnestly urge a redress of, and that is the neglect of the worship of God in families by those to whom the charge and conduct of them is committed." - from the... Continue Reading →
Dale and Drew discuss the concept of church life as consisting of the ordinary means of grace (word, ordinances, prayer) and fellowship as based on Acts 2:41-42. They also interact with Q/A's from the Baptist Catechism on the means of grace. [Note: There's an instance where Drew refers to the Lord's Prayer but he meant to... Continue Reading →
"First [Christ] appeared as Prophet, teaching and preaching, then at the end of His life He offered His sacrifice as Priest in order after the resurrection to receive His reward and to reign as King." - Geeerhardus Vos (Reformed Dogmatics, vol. 3, 91.)
When we speak of marks of a church we are speaking of its various principles, characteristics, and practices, which work together to make it a healthy or sound church. So, we are answering the question, What does a healthy church, according to the Bible, look like? Acts 2:41-42 serves as a summary of important marks... Continue Reading →
Drew and Dale are pleased to have as their guest on this episode, Brandon Adams, who is well-recognized in Reformed Baptist circles for his research and writings on Baptist Covenant Theology (BCT). The following links will take you to articles he has written that go deeper into the subject matter discussed in this episode. Also... Continue Reading →
Series Links: Christ for Us: Prophet, Priest, and King. Jesus as Priest In considering the biblical evidence and theological significance of the Messianic offices of Jesus, we begin with his prophetic role, proceed to his priestly role, and conclude with his kingly role. This order is not arbitrary but reflects the exercise of Jesus’ earthly... Continue Reading →
Not According to Christ: “Calvinists deny Jesus came in the flesh and was like us in every respect. If you truly believed that, then you would have to affirm that Jesus was born in sin, since you believe we are born in sin (i.e. Original Sin; Total Depravity). Rather, we are born innocent, and like... Continue Reading →
"The cross of Christ, the climactic expression of the glory of God in salvation through judgment, is the turning point of the ages." - James M. Hamilton, Jr. God's Glory in Salvation through Judgment, 57
We will be starting a lengthy podcast series in the near future titled "Bible Doctrines". For this series, we will be using Louis Berkhof's Summary of Christian Doctrine as a structural guide. This resource will serve as a springboard for our biblical and theological discussion. This resource is a summarized version of his Manual of... Continue Reading →
“Can a person be saved by Christ if all they have is natural/general revelation and not the gospel?” First, definitions are in order. Inclusivism is the belief that general revelation (nature; the conscience of man) is sufficient to save, as God might judge man righteous based on what little faith they may have, despite that... Continue Reading →
"We can't truly understand the Scriptures if we don't understand the covenants God made with his people... The covenants are the backbone of the storyline of the Bible; they help us to unfold the biblical narrative... We can't grasp how the Scriptures fit together if we lack clarity about the covenants God made with his people."... Continue Reading →
In this episode, Drew and Dale look at Hebrews 3:1-6, discussing the glory of Christ as the Son of God and as the Prophet, Priest, and King of his people, his brethren. They also discuss the continuity of the Church, the house or people of God, under the Old and New Covenants. Subscribe to... Continue Reading →
"What is the glory of God? I would suggest that the glory of God is the weight of the majestic goodness of who God is, and the resulting name, or reputation, that he gains from his revelation of himself as Creator, Sustainer, Judge, and Redeemer, perfect in justice and mercy, loving-kindness and truth." - James... Continue Reading →
Ministering the word of God at an abortion mill, where preborn babies are being murdered and mothers and fathers may lash out in hatred toward you and the truth you proclaim, is an extremely challenging thing. Emotions are high and the enemy is fast at work. No matter what, however, we must remember why we... Continue Reading →
"Since biblical history occurs entirely within these [biblical] covenants, it is imperative to understand their nature and their role in order to correctly interpret the Scriptures. Consequently, covenant theology provides a context which allows for an understanding of the global structure of the plan of redemption by making the distinction between the parts and the... Continue Reading →
So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. - Acts 2:41-42 The apostle Peter had just finished preaching Christ and him crucified, resurrected, and enthroned. God... Continue Reading →
"The preaching of the Word (or, the Word preached) and the administration of the sacraments (or, the sacraments administered) are the means officially instituted in the Church, by which the Holy Spirit works and confirms faith in the hearts of men." - Louis Berkhof (Systematic Theology, 605)
When we think of Christ, we should think of him as the Anointed One, as that is what "Christ" means; it is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. As the Anointed One, we should think of him as Prophet, Priest, and King. It was, after all, these three offices in the Old Testament that received anointing... Continue Reading →
This post marks the start of According to Christ. For that reason, I figured it would be best to provide a brief discussion of the verse that serves as the basis of our name and to provide some insight into the purpose of this blog. Colossians 2:8 "See to it that no one takes you... Continue Reading →
