In this episode, Jon and Justin sit down with Kelsi Klembara of 1517 (host of “Outside Ourselves”). The guys talk personally about their own experiences in the church and how they came to grow in their understanding of Christ and the gospel. After that, the conversation centers on the clarity of the gospel but covers a number of topics, including trends in the contemporary church, half-gospels, the sacraments, and what’s going on with people in our generation.
Life under the sun is often brutally hard. We live in a world where we bury our children. Only an insane person would look around and say that everything is as it should be. So, what hope do we have? The hope is not for anything in this life or in this world. The hope is in the life–and the world–to come. Jon and Justin have a very personal and pastoral conversation about hope in the midst of heartbreak and pain. Jesus has promised us that he has gone to prepare a place for us and that he will bring us to be with him where he is. We take him at his word.
There are many believers who think that the longer they are Christians, the less they will sin. More than that, the battle against sin will get easier. But, if we’re honest, we all know sin remains–and that the battle rages on. Christians are, at the same time, saints and sinners. Today’s episode is a conversation amongst four pastors about how understanding the saint/sinner reality informs pastoral ministry, fosters real sanctification, and produces honesty and compassion in the church.
The events in Israel in recent days have sparked a lot of theological debate. Here at Theocast, we have gotten a number of questions from listeners. How should we think about the horrific terrorist attack on Israeli citizens and the turmoil that rages on? Are these events the fulfillment of end-time prophecy? What do these events mean for the mission of the church? Jon and Justin respond to these questions and more in today’s episode.
Today’s episode is a conversation amongst four pastors about how understanding the distinction between the law and the gospel changed their understanding of Scripture and their ministries. It is a very pastoral and personal conversation.
For far too many of us, baptism is about us. It is something we do. It is about our testimony. It is about our faithfulness to God. Or maybe, it’s a sentimental thing. But, biblically, baptism is God’s gift to us. It is a sign of our union with Jesus, of the remission of our sins, of our being raised to walk in newness of life, and of God’s pledge to keep us unto salvation. Baptism is a source of great comfort, encouragement, and strength for believers. If you’ve never thought about it this way, stay tuned to today’s episode.
For many people, “Reformed” means “Calvinism.” While Calvinism is certainly a piece of Reformed theology, Reformed theology is much more than Calvinism. In this conversation, Jon and Justin talk about the differences between the modern Calvinistic evangelical movement and the historic Reformed faith. The guys talk autobiographically and also aim to put words to the experiences of many Christians.
We often get the questions, “What does it mean to be Reformed?” and “What is Reformed theology? In today’s episode, Jon and Justin answer these questions by discussing five historical tenets of Reformed theology: covenant theology, Calvinism, confessionalism, ordinary means of grace, and the law/gospel distinction. (The guys sneak in one additional matter of doctrine at the end, as well.)
Pietism is something we have discussed many times over the years on Theocast. Four years into recording together, Jon and Justin pointedly revisit the topic in today’s episode. What is pietism? How would the guys explain it to someone visiting their respective churches? How does pietism affect the individual Christian? How does it affect churches and even corporate worship? And what about the church’s tendency to hitch its wagon to politics and social causes–does that have anything to do with pietism?
What is the armor of God? It is hard to put something on if you don’t first know what it is. Jon and Justin first help identify what Paul was using as the armor of God and then explain how the believers use the armor for their protection in their daily lives. The most important part of the armor is understanding what it protects, the acceptance of the believer before God.
If you want to make Christians feel badly about themselves, one question to ask is, “How is evangelism going?” Many Christians think the way to do evangelism is through things like street preaching, handing out tracts, or sharing the gospel with someone on an airplane. Those things are fine and good–but they may not be the main way to do evangelism according to the New Testament. In today’s episode, Jon and Justin talk about loving our neighbor and doing evangelism, as well as what to say when we have opportunities to speak of Christ.
Christians struggle. We are often weak. We often feel cold and apathetic–even toward the things of God. We battle discouragement. Many believers are afraid to admit these things are true, but most of us live here. Jon and Justin talk openly about all of this on today’s episode. Take heart, there is hope for the weak!
Does God really love me? If we’re honest, this is a question we all ask ourselves. Because of our sin, our consciences, and the assaults of the enemy, we often doubt whether God really does love us. Is he not frustrated, fed up, and displeased with us? Does God really delight to give us good gifts? Does he really delight to save us? Jon and Justin seek to answer these questions from Scripture in today’s episode.
In today’s episode, Jon and Justin talk about the accusations of Satan that often go undetected. We are conditioned to think that the evil one’s accusations look a certain way, but he is subtle and deceitful. Just by virtue of the fact that we live in the world (which is influenced by Satan), there are ways we think that cause us to question our legitimacy at every turn.
Does too much grace lead to sin? Quite the opposite, actually. It is the preaching of Christ that leads to repentance. The right division of the law and the gospel–and the heralding of the mercy and grace of God–produces repentance in the saints. These things build a culture in a local church where it is safe to confess real sin. All of this fosters real sanctification. Jon and Justin talk about this on today’s episode.
What is the gospel? Sadly, the answer many church-going people would give has a lot to do with us. This has left some self-righteous and proud. This has left many anxious and fearful. The gospel, however, is the message about what Jesus alone has secured for sinners: the forgiveness of sins, imputed righteousness, and an eternal inheritance.
Jon and Justin revisit the first episode they ever recorded together, “The Dark Side of Christianity.” If we are going to live honest and helpful lives in the church, we have to acknowledge that things often feel dark. Where does this darkness come from? It comes from the corruption of our flesh, and it comes from the work of the evil one. The guys talk about both in this episode.
In the church, we are to preach the gospel indiscriminately to all mankind. God is in the business of saving very sinful people, and if we’re honest, this can be hard for us. Alongside this, once we are saved into the church, we lock arms with other believers in order to live lives of faithfulness and holiness. Here is the rub: the church can be grossly misunderstood in both facets of its life–in both the free offer of Christ to sinners and in the practice of piety and discipline. Jon and Justin discuss all of this in today’s episode.
If you listen to many in the church today, you would think that the purpose of the Christian life is abstinence from sin. Is that really it? Jon and Justin talk about what we are called to in the Christian life. Because of what Jesus has done, because we have rest, because we have been filled, we now go and serve and love. What does it mean to live as an ambassador of the kingdom of Christ? Why is it that we should seek to be spent for the cause of Christ?
In today’s episode, Jon and Justin consider why it is that we can’t stop sinning. There has been debate about Romans 7 throughout the history of the church–as to whether Paul is writing as a Christian or not. (Disclaimer: It is our position that he is writing as a Christian.) The guys spend some time in the text of Romans 7 and then go on to consider the experience of sinner-saints in this fallen world. Truer words have never been written about the Christian experience than Romans 7.
