Theocast

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 Just...

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...

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. Semper...

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.

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 t...

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 clarit...

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 r...

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...

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 compa...

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.,...

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...

In this short update, Jon and Justin announce Everyday Grace! A new daily short form podcast that features the pastoral work of the hosts as well as highlights from previous episodes of Theocast to help encourage listeners in Christ every day!

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...

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. Sadl...

The sacrament of baptism was given to us by God as a means of His grace. Baptism is about our union with Christ. It is a sign of being grafted into him in his life, death, and resurrection. It is a sign of the remission of our sins. It is a sign of God's promise to keep us unto salvation. Sadly, this is not how baptism is typically talked about in the church. What happened? Why is it not talked ab...

In today's episode, the guys talk about God's will. Many Christians agonize over the will of God for their lives. Is there a secret will of God that we are called to discern? Can we make decisions that put us outside the will of God? Has God spoken to what His will is for our lives? Jon and Justin consider these things and more. Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue the conversation on the wi...

The title for today's episode comes from a 20th century hymn. That hymn is illustrative of the common mindset in the evangelical church--that the real stuff of the Christian life happens when we are alone. Is that what the New Testament teaches? How is it that we grow in the faith? How is it that we become mature in Christ? Jon and Justin consider these questions and discuss how the Christian life...

This is the second of at least two episodes from James 5. In James 5:16, the apostle writes that the prayer of a righteous person is effective. This raises the question: is righteousness required for prayer? If so, what kind of righteousness is James talking about? He gives the example of Elijah and how effective his prayers were. How are we to understand that? Jon and Justin discuss all of this--...

This is the first of at least two episodes from James 5. In James 5:14, the apostle writes that if a person is sick he should have the elders of the church anoint him and pray for him. Then he says that the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. How are we to understand this? What kind of healing is in view? What is the prayer of faith? Jon and Justin consid...

In the church, we can struggle to rightly understand and apply the grace of God in Christ. We know we need grace on the front end of salvation, but then, once in, we flip to an economy of merit. And now, we're just collecting stars and earning cookies. It is as though we think that through our working we can retroactively vindicate God's saving of us and turn ourselves into the kind of people God...

In this third of three episodes on God's law, Jon and Justin talk about the threefold division of the law. This conversation is important for anyone who has ever wondered what to make of all the laws God gave to Israel in the Old Testament. What is binding for us today? What is not? What do some of these obscure sounding commands have to do with us in the new covenant era? In short, the confession...

In this second of three episodes on God's law, Jon and Justin talk about the three uses of the law. In considering the three uses of the law, we are essentially answering the question, "Why did God give the law?" The first use of the law is to show us our sin and drive us to Christ. The second use is to teach all men right and wrong--and to restrain our corruption. The third use is to serve as the...

In this first of three episodes on God's law, Jon and Justin talk about the distinction between the law and the gospel. The law and the gospel are both contained in the Old and New Testaments, respectively. The law and the gospel are distinct and ought not be mixed--and, yet, they are complementary in God's economy of salvation. The guys introduce the listener to this historically Reformed doctrin...

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 unshak...

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 every...