Tactics of the Accuser (Part 1)

Today’s episode is the first of two on the tactics of the accuser, Satan, the ancient serpent who is the devil. Spiritual warfare is real, and as C. S. Lewis wrote, Christians tend to either hardly consider the devil’s power or obsess over his power and activity. Neither of these perspectives are helpful or biblical. Jon and Justin consider this and then talk at length about perhaps the first of Satan’s tactics against the saints: accusation. He seeks to rob us of the peace, rest, and hope that is ours in Christ. He seeks to cause us to question whether God is really our Father and whether Christ is really our savior.

The Danger of Denying Works (w/ Pat Abendroth)

On today’s episode, Jon and Justin are again joined by Pat Abendroth, pastor of Omaha Bible Church and cohost of The Pactum. In the second of two conversations on the covenant of works, the guys consider the implications of the covenant works. Does it really matter if one affirms the covenant of works? What are the dangers of denying it? In particular, the guys focus on how an understanding of the covenant of works relates to our understanding of the work of Christ, the gospel, and assurance of salvation.

Is the Covenant of Works in the Bible? (w/ Pat Abendroth)

On today’s episode, Jon and Justin are joined by Pat Abendroth, pastor of Omaha Bible Church and cohost of The Pactum. In the first of two conversations on the covenant of works, the guys answer the question, “Is the covenant of works really in the Bible?” The guys seek to make a case for the legitimacy of the covenant of works from the Scripture and begin to venture into the significance of affirming (or denying) it.

Stop Watching “The Chosen”

“The Chosen” is a phenomenon in our day. Many people watch it. Many people are passionate about it. It is a polarizing show. Is it a good thing to watch “The Chosen”? Is it wrong to watch it? In today’s episode, Jon and Justin aim to have a conversation that goes underneath the specific questions about “The Chosen” and gets to the real issues pertaining to the sufficiency of Scripture, how we are to worship God, the second commandment, and the quest for illegitimate religious experience.

The Doctrine Most Missing in the Church

A video was released by One Passion Ministries in which Steve Lawson answered the question, “What doctrine is most missing in churches today?” His answer was the doctrine of regeneration. While that sounds good, where he went with it was concerning. In the video, Dr. Lawson said that justification by faith alone in Christ alone is, in a sense, just paperwork in heaven–and that it does nothing to change your life. What do we make of that? How should we respond? Jon and Justin have that conversation on today’s episode.

The Spirit Will Lead You into All Truth

Many Christians in our day are convinced that they can grow in understanding and reach a better knowledge of the truth on their own. The perspective is, “I have the Bible. I have the Holy Spirit. I’m good to go.” After all Jesus says the Holy Spirit will lead the disciples into all truth when he comes. That’s true. But how does he do this? Jon and Justin examine the Scriptures–that the Holy Spirit inspired–to see how we are grown in our knowledge of the truth.

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.

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.

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?

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.

Authority Gone Wrong

Fallen human beings have always had issues with authority. And, in a fallen world, authority is often abused. All of this is true in our day–even in the church. In today’s episode, Jon and Justin have a conversation about authority, how it can be used well, and how it can be abused. The guys give some particular time to discussing how not to abuse pastoral authority. That part might surprise you.

My Personal Relationship with Jesus? (w/ Chad Bird)

On today’s podcast, Jon and Justin have Chad Bird on to discuss the ideology of having a personal relationship with Jesus. Where does this ideology and language come from? Is it helpful? Is it biblical? The guys consider these things and then move on to discuss the fact that the Christian life is inherently corporate and our Christian devotion is church-shaped. Why do we need the church? What is the point of the corporate gathering? (Hint: this has everything to do with our need for Jesus to minister to us and give us his gifts.)

Easy-Listening Legalism

Jon and Justin follow up on the conversation last week about smuggling works into faith. Today’s episode is a little different than the norm. The guys critique teaching from John Piper, John MacArthur, and Doug Wilson on the relationship between faith and works. Multiple excerpts and quotes are cited, all of which are available in the show notes. The reason for this episode is to defend the clarity of the gospel–that we are saved by Christ alone and receive his merits by faith alone, apart from any works we could ever do.

Smuggling Works into Faith (with Mike Abendroth)

Jon and Justin are joined by Mike Abendroth, pastor of Bethlehem Bible Church and host of No Compromise Radio. The guys have a conversation about faith–and, in particular, how works are often smuggled into faith in the evangelical church. How do we appropriately define saving faith? How do we understand the relationship between faith and works? Why is it that obedience, love, and good works are regularly woven into the definition of faith?

I’ve Never Known Love Like This

We all tend to buy into the world’s definition of love. We view love as transactional. And, if we’re honest, love is really about our self-gratification. This understanding of love robs us of true joy in our relationships and it robs us of peace before God. The love of God for us is unconditional, sacrificial, and steadfast. We know what love is by looking to God’s love for us. And we love because he first loved us. If we understand these things better, our relationships with one another in the church and in our homes will profit. Jon and Justin talk about these things in today’s episode.

Hard to Forgive

In a fallen world, we sin against others–and we will be sinned against. Sometimes, we are sinned against in ways that are indescribably painful. In today’s episode, Jon and Justin talk about forgiveness. It can be hard to forgive those who wrong us. And, yet, the teaching of the Scripture is clear. We are to forgive those who sin against us, as God in Christ has forgiven us. The guys have a compassionate and pastoral conversation about these matters.

Church, Discernment, and Purity Culture

In today’s episode, the guys have a conversation about a very sensitive but important topic: sexuality. Over recent years and decades, there have been various approaches to how to handle issues of sexuality in the church. Jon and Justin talk honestly about their concerns regarding crass and crude language that is used to talk about sex–and the abuses of pastoral authority that often occur (e.g., Doug Wilson and Mark Driscoll). The guys also discuss their concerns with purity culture (Joshua Harris comes up here) and the very negative ways sex is portrayed in that kind of setting. There is a better and more biblical approach.

When Two Baptists and Two Presbyterians Walk into a Podcast…

Jon and Justin recently had the opportunity to be guests on the Guilt Grace Gratitude podcast. In this episode, two Baptists and two Presbyterians talk about confessionalism and the local church. The conversation is wide-ranging, including: confessions of faith, the objective work of Christ and his sufficiency, the law and the gospel, the ordinary means of grace, the mission of the church and the point of the Lord’s Day gathering, the sacraments, the effects of revivalism and pietism, and much more.

What Happened to Preaching?

The guys continue the series on the means of grace by discussing preaching. What has happened to the preaching of the word of Christ? Jon and Justin begin by distinguishing preaching from teaching. Then, they consider the preaching event. It is an event. (Live streams and sermon audio is not preaching.) The guys conclude with a lengthy discussion on the content of preaching. Preaching is to extol and herald the person and work of Christ in the place of sinners, and preaching requires the right dividing of law and gospel.

What Happened to Communion?

The sacrament of communion was given to us by God as a means of His grace. In the Lord’s Supper, Jesus is really and spiritually present to minister to us. We are confirmed in the faith and in all the benefits of Christ’s death. We are nourished, sustained, and strengthened through receiving the bread and the cup. In other words, the Table is for our assurance and for our growth in the faith. Sadly, this is not how communion is typically talked about in the church. What happened? Why is it not talked about this way? In today’s episode Jon and Justin have a theological, historical, and biblical conversation about communion as a means of grace.