Today, it seems like if you are not suffering from some kind of ailment or cancer, you know someone who is or have had a family member or friend who has died because of it. It is a painful experience to watch someone lose their life and wither away. At times, our faith is crushed, and our assurance is called into question. Where is Jesus in all of this suffering?
We have the privilege of hosting a special guest, Mike Abendroth, who has recently written a book about this experience from his own perspective. We know this will be encouraging for you. If you get an opportunity to purchase the book, we highly recommend it!
There Is No Power in the Law
Some of you are probably really concerned about this title, thinking we've gone too far. Well, we're here to defend not ourselves, but to show you from Scripture that all power remains in Christ and Him crucified. The law is only here to guide or convict us. We're going to talk about the different uses of the law, but the law is powerless to save and powerless to sanctify. Let us prove it to you from Scripture.
What Does America Need?
People often criticize us here at Theocast, saying that we are not concerned about society, the culture in which we live, or even the country of which we are citizens. So today, Jon and Justin are going to address that. We're going to discuss the gospel and what the Lord is doing in building His church. How do all of these things affect our perspectives on society, culture, and the countries in which we live? We hope that this is encouraging and clarifying for you.
Psalm 1 Is NOT About You
One of the most famous Psalms that nearly everyone reads is Psalm 1. Jon and Justin want to highlight the distinction between the law and the gospel in Psalm 1, showing that it is not about how God blesses those who obey Him. Psalm 1 is not about you! You don't appear until Psalm 2, and that is where the gospel is!
Missing the Gospel in John 3
In listening to a lot of preaching today, it's clear that it's possible to talk about the gospel or even about the work of God without actually getting around to preaching the gospel itself—preaching Jesus Christ for sinners. This can happen with any number of passages, but today Jon and Justin are going to have a conversation about a well-known text: the interchange between Jesus and Nicodemus from John chapter three. There's a lot of truly epic content in this passage, including the sovereign grace of God, the work of God, and regeneration in the new birth. Unfortunately, the gospel message within this passage—the Son of Man being lifted up for us—is often not talked about enough. We hope this discussion is encouraging and clarifying for you.
The Old Testament Preaches the Gospel
Many Christians struggle with reading and understanding the Old Testament. They know it's supposed to be about Jesus, and they've read the New Testament, but they're just disconnected from the Old. Today's podcast is our attempt to give you reasons why you should read your Old Testament. By doing so, you will see the wonder and glory it defines for us, which leads us to Christ and His grace.
What Happened to Freedom in the Gospel?
Jesus said that those whom the Son sets free are free indeed. But maybe you're listening to this podcast and thinking, "I don't really feel free." There may be reasons for that. The gospel is marvelous and wonderful, and it has many facets. At times, certain aspects aren't discussed as much. The forgiveness of sins, absolution from guilt, and the imputation of Christ's righteousness are wonderful truths. Additionally, we have been set free from the kingdom of darkness and from the evil one. Today on the podcast, Jon and Justin have a conversation about that freedom and how it is an essential part of the gospel message.
Can Christians Struggle with PTSD? (w/ 1517)
Recently, Christian social media has been ablaze with the topic of mental illness and whether or not it is a real thing. In particular, diagnoses such as ADHD, PTSD, and OCD. We thought we would lend our voices to this discussion from a theological lens, analyzing the implications of the fall of Adam, a world of suffering, and compassion for our fellow man. For today’s discussion, Jon and Justin are joined by Scott Keith and Chad Bird of 1517! We hope and pray you find this conversation encouraging!
A Conversation Between Baptists and Anglicans
What do Baptists and Anglicans have in common? Jon and Justin recently had the opportunity to be on the Doth Protest podcast with our friends James and Drew, who are Anglican. We discussed the Reformation, our backgrounds, what we believe, and what we have in common. In particular, the emphasis of the podcast centered around Jesus, God's grace, and the sufficiency of our Savior. We were encouraged by the conversation, and we trust that you will be too.
"Where Are You, God?"
Exhausted? Beat up? Suffering? Where are you, God? Why is this happening? Why can't I hear you? Why can't I feel your presence? For those who have these feelings and are exhausted, just needing a glimmer of hope, Justin and Jon have something for you today. We want to point you to Christ and His gospel.
Antinomianism (w/ The Pactum)
What is antinomianism? Are Jon and Justin, here at Theocast, antinomian? What about the law and the Christian life? Does the law have a place in the life of the believer? What about the difference between lordship salvation and antinomianism? Is it one or the other? Recently, Jon and Justin had an opportunity to discuss these topics—the uses of the law, union with Christ, and many other good subjects—with our friends over at The Pactum, Pat Abendroth and Mike Grimes. We hope this episode clarifies these issues for you and encourages you in your Christian life.
Anxiety and the Gospel
For those of us who are feeling anxious, depressed, dark, and discouraged, this is a conversation for you. How do we take what we feel and put it in the light of the gospel and the objective reality outside of ourselves? How do our feelings tend to adjust and change towards the truth of the gospel? We pray you find this conversation encouraging!