Talks with Dad Rod

Ted asks about what it means when Christians repeat sins that they've already repented of. Rod talks about the concept of repentance in the passive voice, in which case our repentance is a gift as well, and how sinners can discover the real depth of their sin through the law and the true extent of God's forgiveness for sinners, in part through absolution, over and over and over. The Gospel is for...

Ted asks about struggling with how often and how frequently he sins. Rod talks about how sinners are truly 'stuck' in their sinful condition, and that we are truly condemnable under the law. But also, how God is SO gracious that—through His Son Who was sent to die to save sinners—He has no limitation on how repetitively He forgives us of our sin, even as Christians, even ones committed consciously...

Ted asks about the possibility of Lutherans delivering hard-hitting sermons. Rod talks about what Lutheran pastors are called to do, contrasts that with what can be preached in other churches, and discusses the differences between the law and the Gospel and what Scripture calls preachers to deliver to Christian believers. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the struggle with the effects of sin in our lives, even though we have been forgiven of those sins in and through Christ. Rod talks about how hard the struggle can be, in part because it's not the same concern as receiving God's forgiveness. Rod also again tells us the story of his car accident and his dad when he was young, and how sometimes we can have miraculous grace modeled for...

Ted asks about the idea of reaping rewards for our good works in this life. Rod talks about holding to Solus Christus (Christ Alone), and not adding to that, recognizing that Christ's dying does the saving, and nothing from the sinner, and how the book of Galatians addresses those who are tempted to add to Christ's death and resurrection as though they weren't sufficient. SHOW NOTES: Support the s...

Ted asks about where Lutherans are in relationship to Roman Catholicism and other denominations. Rod talks about a number of different denominations, particularly in relation to Roman Catholicism, and what makes Lutherans unique among the set. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the idea that God communicates directly with us in these days after Jesus came to us. Rod mentions a verse in Jude, "contend earnestly for the faith that was once for all time handed down to the saints", and talks about that idea vs. "the yearning of God to talk to me", which is our yearning for direct revelation from God separately from His word in Scripture. SHOW NOTES: Support th...

Ted asks about 'failing' in the Christian faith and seeming to sometimes get worse. Rod talks about American pragmatism and how we tend to measure our faith and the status of our salvation by measuring how close we're getting to achieving perfection, and contrasts that with the Christian life focused on Jesus Christ instead of ourselves. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the concept of 'blind faith', having faith in something with little to no evidence to support it. Rod talks about how the idea is alien to the Christian faith, and why it's important that the Biblical understanding of Christianity makes it possible to argue for it being true, making Christianity stand out among other religions. SHOW NOTES: https://shop.1517.org/products/sensible-chr...

Ted asks about how the state of my faith, and particularly struggling with doubt, affects God's willingness to forgive me, a sinner. Rod talks about God's promises connected to the Lord's Supper and baptism, and how He grants His forgiveness even while we're doubting, which is our natural (fallen) condition. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the possibility of deriving spiritual help from the things we touch, smell and taste. Rod talks about the idea that Christians are betting their salvation on the death of a particular Man at a particular place and time and the actual blood that flowed from His body, and the assurance and consolation we can receive from that Object of our faith, outside of ourselves. SHOW NOTES: Supp...

Ted asks about struggling with sin in the Christian faith and what it could mean, even eventually. Rod talks about St. Paul and what he says about the Christian life in Romans, and what the reality is regarding 'progress' or 'growth' in one's faith, out of the Reformation, in spite of what our fears tempt us to believe. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about struggling with feelings of our faith in Jesus Christ getting weaker. Rod talks about how easy it is to get mired in feelings which don't reflect the unchanging nature of the Object of that faith, and the factual truth of it, and what we can look to for assurance to remind us that the Author of our faith is not ourselves. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the cynical question posed by Pontius Pilate prior to Jesus' crucifixion. Rod talks about how Christianity is unique in a number of ways, one critical one being what the incarnation of God in Jesus Christ reveals about God to us physically, that He made Himself knowable, and the proof of His amazing claims takes place at Jesus' resurrection, witnessed by hundreds. SHOW NOTES: https:...

Ted asks about what it means that Jesus' disciples did as Jesus foretold and scattered, coming to the idea of 'backsliding' in our present day. Rod talks about whether the believer is hearing the Gospel preached to them FOR them, and was baptized, and is going to receive the Lord's Supper, which is where we are absolved and receive Christ's forgiveness. Christ rescues you at your worst. SHOW NOTES...

Ted asks about what it means that Christianity is falsifiable. Rod talks about what it means that certain claimed events can be tested to be true or not, and how we can know Christianity is one of the most testable claims in human history, that we are able to verify whether the Christian claims are factually accurate or not. SHOW NOTES: https://shop.1517.org/products/sensible-christianity-mp3 Supp...

Ted asks about the concept of dying to sin and how much is needed for salvation. Rod talks about how Scripture talks about the necessity of dying to our sinful selves, the realities of what sinners are incapable of doing, and offers the Good News for those who struggle which is Jesus Christ crucified for sinners. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks his dad about his experiences while he studied under Dr. H.C. Leupold. Rod talks about what the man was like and tells a couple particular stories from his time with him. SHOW NOTES: Books by H. C. Leupold - https://www.amazon.com/s?i=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AH.+C.+Leupold Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the idea that we need to cleanse ourselves and be 'pure' enough to approach the altar to receive Christ's forgiveness. Rod talks about the truth of our sinful state and the reality of how we sinners come to Him for His gifts at His altar, and what good news there is for us to focus on before and after, even imperfectly. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about forgiveness vs struggling with showing up at church. Rod talks about what God created the church for, what He gives us sinners there and why that's important, yet still recognizing why that is a struggle for some whose experiences in church have pushed them away. Dad uses the word "oblique": diverging from a given straight line or course; not straight or direct, as a course. SHOW NO...

Ted asks if the history of Bible translations means that we can't know what the original text actually said. Rod talks about the history of historical texts in general, particularly the classics, the great wealth of supporting information behind Christianity, and what present day scholars are able to do with original texts. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about what God meant when He spoke of David being a man after His own heart. Rod talks about the kinds of rough material God prefers to work with, from the beginning of creation, and how far He is willing to go to save those He loves even while we are sinning against Him. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about the real condition of the believing sinner and what he or she needs. Rod talks about the Christian faith vs. moral improvement and a true view of the sinner, that their condition is 'dying', not imperfect-and-needs-fixing. What is a pastor called to deliver to dying sinners? SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about noticing how children reflect their parents' sins back at them. Rod talks about the necessity of understanding the truth of the human condition, the depth of our sin, and how that affects our view of the value of the Good News of the Gospel. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate

Ted asks about why we sinners always seem to need something new and get bored in the worship service so easily. Rod talks about what a liturgical service is, that it is pulled directly from Scripture, and what God's word, used in a liturgical setting, delivers to sinners. SHOW NOTES: Support the show - https://www.1517.org/donate