Author: Theocast

I Just Believe the Bible

“I’m just saying what the Bible says.” “I just believe the Bible.” “That’s what the verse says.” Have you ever heard people say these things while contending for a theological position that sounds off to you? This practice has a name. It’s called biblicism. As Christians, we all want to be people of the Word. The question is whether we are handling the Word correctly. Many people through history have drawn false conclusions by “just reading the Bible” divorced from orthodox theological frameworks. Jon and Justin have a conversation about all of this in today’s episode.

Fearful of Judgement?

“It is Christ who will sit on the judgment seat. At that point, all of his sheep will be gathered in. The dead will be raised, and all humanity will stand before Christ, and he will judge the world in righteousness. And the only ones who will stand in the judgment are those who have obeyed the law perfectly.”

How Do Christians Protect Each Other?

“I know you do this at your church. I do it at my church. I tell people our confession is to protect you from me. And to protect me from you. So that neither of us will abuse each other because we have sinful tendencies to do so.”

Why Should We Obey?

“As to living underneath grace, why should we obey? Well, it protects the body of Christ from unnecessary suffering. You ever read Paul’s angry letters, like to the Corinthians? They are suffering unnecessary struggles because they aren’t, they’re not, uh, repenting of sin. It’s like, look, y’all, you’re going to suffer enough in life.”

The “Prove Yourself” Gospel

It is Reformation Week. And here at Theocast, in the tradition of the Reformation, we always seek to clarify the gospel. When we do, people respond in somewhat predictable ways. “Well, you do believe that Christians are required to obey, right?” “Obedience is required for salvation.” Are these questions indicative of misunderstanding? How should we respond to these kinds of questions? Jon and Justin double down on union with Christ by faith in today’s episode.

Where Can We Find True Rest?

“And Christ’s invitation to us is this: come to me all who labor and are heavy laden and I’ll give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

What is the Christian Life All About?

“The gospel doesn’t say God’s done his part and now it’s up to you to, to do yours. The gospel says God loves you in Christ fully and completely, loves you, forgives you, makes you- makes you his own. You are free. Uh, you’re free from doing all the shoulds and ought to’s and shalts and shalt nots in order to please God, because he’s already pleased with you in Christ.”

What Does It Mean to be Christian?

“Christians are not people who are really good at keeping rules. Christians are not people who have it all figured out. Christians are not people who have it all together. Christians are people who have taken refuge under the wings of Christ. It’s what we are. It is that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

How to Protect the Church

“The confessions guard that news and they guard that, that presentation of Jesus: his person rightly understood, his work rightly understood. And that is the thing that will protect the church.”

Have We Missed the Point of 1 John? (Part 2)

In today’s episode, the second of two episodes on 1 John, the guys consider some specific passages from the letter that are often used to unsettle Christians and cause them to question their standing in Christ. 1 John 2:3 and surrounding, as well as 1 John 3:4-10, are discussed. How should we understand John’s words on keeping the commandments and making a practice of sinning? Should these verses produce fear and doubt?

Where Can We Find Healing?

“You know what is the greatest comfort I take at times? I just pray for you. All right, Lord, I got nothing. They’re a mess. I’m a mess. And you’re powerful. Will you please come heal us? And he doesn’t mean physically. He means our soul, our spirit, because our spirit is at war with our flesh.”

What is Your Calling Now?

“What is our calling now? In short, it’s to be faithful. It’s to work, and by work I don’t just simply mean vocation. I mean work in the building of God’s kingdom: to serve, to give of ourselves for the good of our brethren, the good of our sisters, the good of our neighbor. It’s to use what God has given us all for the building up of the body of Christ.”

Struggling with Obedience?

“And it- when you don’t use Jesus’ obedience as the ground of your glorification, basically, Justin, this is what you’re arguing for is that your sanctification is what guarantees your glorification. That is not true. The Holy Spirit is the one who is sanctifying us.”

How to Find Strength in Suffering

“There have probably been times you’ve sat in my sermons and not had the energy to listen. No judgment here. I grew up a pastor’s kid. I did the same thing. The last thing I want you to do is walk out of here and not hear what James says. If you find yourself at the end, you’re not alone.”

Struggling with Temptation?

“This is Hebrews two, Hebrews five. God himself in human flesh did that. He was tempted in every way that we are. And while we were still weak, while we were ungodly and his enemies, he died for us. He was made to be sin even though he knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. He did that.”

Have We Missed the Point of 1 John? (Part 1)

At Theocast, we get as many questions about 1 John as we do any book in the Bible. It is often a book that has been used to cause Christians to question whether they are really legitimate. But is that the reason John wrote the letter? In today’s episode, the first of two episodes on 1 John, Jon and Justin give an overview of the letter and discuss the purpose for which the apostle wrote it.