Theocast

Often in the church, we try to figure out exactly what God is doing when we are going through difficult things. Simply put, we shouldn't do that. The secret things belong to the Lord, and we are not privy to the counsel of God when it comes to our suffering. In today's episode, Jon and Justin aim to point out things that God has clearly revealed and promised to us in his Word. We do have an unshakable hope in the Lord Jesus Christ, and this is what we cling to--in the midst of joy or pain. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue the conversation on suffering by considering less-than-good ways suffering is talked about and dealt with in the church. We have a gentle, patient, and merciful Savior. This should inform how we interact with one another in the midst of pain. Resources:Our episode on "There Will Be Weakness"Our episode on Two KingdomsOur episode on "The Quest for Religious Experience"

In today's episode, Jon and Justin aim to have a pastoral conversation with two groups of people in view. First, those who are beat down and weary, who are seeking to find rest. And second, those who have found rest in Christ but still wrestle with what that rest means for their Christian lives. Where does the power for sanctification come from? What do we do now that we know Christ has done everything for our salvation? Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin have a fun conversation about Jesus, calming down, assessing ourselves honestly, looking to God's Word, and loving our brothers and sisters. Resources: Our episode on "How Pietism Ruins Good Works" https://youtu.be/19OhlchARt0 Our episode on "Your Sanctification Is Not for You?" https://youtu.be/nfDuTYz3pnA Our episode on "Have We Missed the Point of Church?" https://youtu.be/JLHz0Cgga4s Our episode on "What Is--and Is Not--the Gospel" https://youtu.be/NmrZA951WYU  

In this episode, Jon and Justin discuss a message recently given by John Piper on Christ's death and the holiness of the believer. The guys interact with clips from the message and seek to consider it from a biblical, confessional, and Reformed perspective. At Theocast, we are in complete agreement that Christ's work has secured the holiness of the saints. Significant things to consider along these lines are: union with Christ; the active obedience of Christ; the relationship of justification and sanctification; and the proper way to preach the law and the gospel. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue the conversation on the holiness of believers. The guys consider better--and more biblical--ways to pursue and instill holiness in the church. Resources:Our episode on Hebrews 12 https://theocast.org/dazed-and-confused-hebrews-121-14-and-holiness/Our episode on "Your Sanctification Is Not for You" https://theocast.org/your-sanctification-is-not-for-you/Our episode on "Piper and Wilson Obscuring the Gospel" https://theocast.org/do-john-piper-and-doug-wilson-obscure-faith-alone/

Following Jesus is not the gospel. There are a number of things that are fruits of regeneration and fruits of the gospel that are not the gospel. Biblically speaking, the gospel has nothing to do with us whatsoever. The gospel is completely about the person and work of Jesus Christ, our substitute and mediator. Jon and Justin talk about the fruit of the gospel, the order of salvation, and justification from a confessional, reformed perspective. Semper Reformanda: The guys talk about the legitimacy of using confessions and of critiquing the doctrine of notable figures. Then, they go into more depth on some of the ways justification is under assault in our day. Resources:Our episode on "What must I do to be saved?"Our episode on Take up your crossOur episode on biblicismOur episode on how pietism ruins good works

We believe that all of the Bible--from Genesis to Revelation--is a testimony about Jesus. We believe there is law and gospel in the Old and New Testaments. These convictions are historical, confessional, Reformed convictions. Yet, many in our day get very nervous about seeing Christ in all of the Bible and of understanding the Scriptures in terms of law and gospel. Our fear is that, at the end of it, well-meaning people discourage the saints from seeing Christ for them in all of the Scriptures. Jon and Justin talk about this on today's episode. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue to talk (passionately) about the tendency of many to remove Jesus from many passages of the Bible. Then the guys talk about how effective the heralding of Christ actually is. Resources: Introduction to Covenant Theology: https://youtu.be/iCfzmujnlHo Desiring God Article: https://www.desiringgod.org/messages/exposition-or-imposition The Master's Seminary Article: https://blog.tms.edu/is-christ-in-every-verse Grace To You Article: https://www.gty.org/library/articles/A235/reexamining-the-eternal-sonship-of-christ #reformedtheology #preachingChrist #theocast

Jon and Justin talk about the start of a new network of confessional Baptist churches, called the Grace Reformed Network. The guys explain the need for the network, as well as the theological positions of the network. If you'd like to learn more, please visit gracereformednetwork.org Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin talk more personally about what led to starting the Grace Reformed Network and the need for more confessional churches.

We are often made to think that the Christian life is one where we move from triumph to triumph--and from spiritual experience to spiritual experience. But that is not reality. It is not the promise of the Scripture. This side of the resurrection, we are learning to trust Christ in the midst of weakness and the battle against the flesh. We are learning to depend more upon grace. It is not a bad thing for us to come to a place where we know Christ is all we have. The guys consider all of this in today's episode. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin answer listener questions on Two Kingdoms doctrine and also on views of eschatology as it relates to the redemptive-historical framework of Scripture. Resources:Our episode on triumphalismOur episode on Two KingdomsOur episode eschatology (Left Behind?) FREE EBOOK Theocast.org/primer

Jon and Justin seek to answer the question, "What must I do to be saved?" This is a question that was posed to Jesus at numerous points. The apostles also addressed this question repeatedly. The guys consider two parables from the Lord Jesus: the Good Samaritan and the Rich Young Man; and also a passage from the apostle Paul: Romans 2:6-13. Reformed categories of law and gospel are essential if we are going to rightly understand these passages. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin consider how obedience is talked about in a context where law and gospel are confused. The guys talk about so much of what is preached is effectively easy-listening legalism and prosperity theology. Resources:Our episode on What Is-and Is Not-the Gospel?Our episode on Law/Gospel DistinctionOur episode on Why the Gospel Terrifies Christians

Do John Piper and Doug Wilson Obscure Faith Alone? Here is how we approach this question in today's episode. Every generation has to come to grips with the gospel. The imputation of the righteousness of Christ to sinners--as our whole and only righteousness--has often been under assault in the history of the church. It is in our day in the form of the Federal Vision and the teaching of final justification. Jon and Justin engage with both of these errors today in an effort to clarify and defend the heart of the gospel, which is the righteousness of Christ counted to sinners. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin go into more depth on the Federal Vision and then contend for the importance of confessions of faith, as well as the safety provided by a sound theological framework. Resources:Podcasts from Mid-America Reformed Seminary on Federal VisionR. Scott Clark on Federal VisionOur episode on final justification (live from CA)Our episode on how the gospel terrifies Christians

Repentance is a threatening word for many in the church. It shouldn't be. Repentance is often taught and discussed in a way that is unhelpful. In this episode, Jon and Justin consider repentance from a biblical and Reformed perspective. God is the one who repents us. Repentance, at its heart, is an agreement with God and a siding with God against our sin. The turning we do in repentance is always a turning to Christ. And, it is possible to be repentant even in the midst of ongoing sin. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue to talk about repentance and ways in which discussion of the topic typically goes off the rails. Rather than weaponizing repentance and sanctification, there is a better way. Resources:Our episodes on Lordship SalvationA Critique of Lordship SalvationWhy I left Lordship SalvationOur episodes on CalvinismOur episode on how pietism ruins good works