This is the home of Reformed Forum’s podcasts—Christ-centered, confessionally Reformed conversations and teaching shaped by redemptive-historical theology. Warm, accessible, and theologically rigorous, our shows aim to equip the global Church toward maturity in Christ—helping listeners trace the unfolding story of redemption in Scripture and find trusted guides along the way.
Seeing the Truth (Chapter 9)
Sep 06, 2023
Show notes
This lesson is part of the course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 1–10), taught by James J. Cassidy.
This course is an overview of the Gospel of John. It is geared toward adults and could be used in a Sunday school class or in a Bible study. As an overview, the course will leave most details uncovered. However, its purpose is to give students key themes in John’s Gospel (e.g., truth) which will help them in their interpretation of the book as a whole. In addition, the material is intended to be edifying, showing the centrality of Christ in all of Scripture. With this course, students will—by God’s grace—be made to grow in the knowledge of who Jesus is and what he came to do. This, in turn, will equip students to share Christ more clearly and effectively with others.
Jim Cassidy is the pastor of South Austin Presbyterian Church. He graduated in 2014 from Westminster Theological Seminary with the Ph.D in systematic theology writing on the theology of Karl Barth. He is the author of God’s Time For Us: Barth on the Reconciliation of Eternity and Time in Jesus Christ (Lexham Press).
View the course and its accompanying materials at https://reformedforum.org/courses/the-gospel-of-john-a-study-in-the-truth-chapters-1-10/
Mentioned in this episode:
Christ the Center 1000
Christ the Center 1000
[Introduction to the Westminster Shorter Catechism] Q/A 15
Sep 04, 2023
Show notes
This is an audio podcast of "Introduction to the Westminster Shorter Catechism," taught by Dr. James J. Cassidy. Videos of each lesson including Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org.
If you're excited about this theology and want to enable people around the world to watch and listen to these free resources, please visit https://reformedforum.org/donate to provide your support.
Q. 15. What was the sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created? A. The sin whereby our first parents fell from the estate wherein they were created was their eating the forbidden fruit.
Mentioned in this episode:
Christ the Center 1000
Christ the Center 1000
Exitus and Reditus in the Theology of Thomas Aquinas
Sep 01, 2023
Show notes
We welcome Dr. Lane Tipton back to the studio on the heels of teaching a new course on the theology of Thomas Aquinas. In this course, Dr. Tipton aims to provide an in-depth understanding of Thomas Aquinas’s trinitarian theology, emphasizing that his entire body of work is governed by the concept of exitus (departure) and reditus (return) in the context of divine and human processions.
In the course, Dr. Tipton analyzes primary texts such as the Summa Theologiae and the Summa Contra Gentiles, as well as works by notable Thomistic scholars such as Gilles Emery and Dominic Legge as he dives into the trinitarian structure of Aquinas’s theology, focusing on the eternal and temporal processions of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and their implications on topics like Christology and sacramentology. This trinitarian framework forms the backbone of Aquinas’s theological system, affecting every doctrinal topic it touches, from the nature of God to the ultimate end of human beings. Tipton contends that understanding Aquinas’s Trinitarian framework is key to grasping his theological system as a whole. The course aims not only to provide a nuanced understanding of Aquinas’s theology but also to offer a Reformed critique and alternative.
The Exitus-Reditus Structure
The exitus-reditus structure serves as the central framework for understanding the theology of Thomas Aquinas. In this structure, “exitus” refers to the process of departure or emanation, while “reditus” signifies return. This dyad is a governing principle not only in Aquinas’s understanding of the Trinity but also in his complete theological system.
In terms of the Trinity, the Son and the Holy Spirit emanate from the Father in “exitus,” and then return to the Father in “reditus.” This trinitarian procession is considered the foundational cause for the existence and return of all creatures. The divine persons’ internal processions serve as the model and cause for the external processions of rational creatures.
In relation to rational creatures, “exitus” refers to their creation and departure from God. God is seen as the efficient cause from whom all things emanate. “Reditus,” on the other hand, signifies the creatures’ return to God, drawn towards their ultimate end—participation in divine beatitude or happiness. This return can be understood at two levels: natural and supernatural. On the natural level, creatures return to God according to their inherent abilities. On the supernatural level, they are elevated through grace to participate in the divine essence itself, surpassing their natural capacities.
The exitus-reditus structure thus provides a coherent, systematic framework that integrates every aspect of Aquinas’s theology, from the doctrine of God to the doctrines of creation, grace, and eschatology.
Chapters
00:00:07 Introduction
00:01:40 General Thoughts about the Course
00:08:01 The Primacy of the Father in Thomas
00:14:57 Calvin on the Son at Autotheos
00:24:44 Modes of Subsistence and Absolute Personality
00:32:37 Rock, Paper, Scissors, and Absolute Personality
00:40:35 The Eucharist and the Beatific Vision
00:47:29 Contemporary Evangelical Retrievals of Thomas
The True Light of the World (Chapter 8)
Aug 30, 2023
Show notes
This lesson is part of the course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 1–10), taught by James J. Cassidy.
This course is an overview of the Gospel of John. It is geared toward adults and could be used in a Sunday school class or in a Bible study. As an overview, the course will leave most details uncovered. However, its purpose is to give students key themes in John’s Gospel (e.g., truth) which will help them in their interpretation of the book as a whole. In addition, the material is intended to be edifying, showing the centrality of Christ in all of Scripture. With this course, students will—by God’s grace—be made to grow in the knowledge of who Jesus is and what he came to do. This, in turn, will equip students to share Christ more clearly and effectively with others.
Jim Cassidy is the pastor of South Austin Presbyterian Church. He graduated in 2014 from Westminster Theological Seminary with the Ph.D in systematic theology writing on the theology of Karl Barth. He is the author of God’s Time For Us: Barth on the Reconciliation of Eternity and Time in Jesus Christ (Lexham Press).
View the course and its accompanying materials at https://reformedforum.org/courses/the-gospel-of-john-a-study-in-the-truth-chapters-1-10/
Mentioned in this episode:
Christ the Center 1000
Christ the Center 1000
Genesis 32:1–12 — Preparing for Conflict
Aug 30, 2023
Show notes
As Jacob continues toward Canaan in obedience to God’s call, he comes up against another significant obstacle: Esau is coming to meet him Genesis 32:1–12—preparing for conflict with a small army. Jacob’s reliance upon God’s covenant promises, and his humble prayer, are models for today’s Christians. We may pray with confidence as did Jacob, for the reality of those promises are even greater for us through Jesus Christ.
Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Common Operation of the Holy Spirit: Common Grace
Aug 29, 2023
Show notes
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We begin a new section entitled, “The Doctrine of the Application of the Work of Redemption.” However, before getting to the work of the Spirit in applying salvation to believers, Berkhof discusses the common operation of the Holy Spirit.
[Introduction to the Westminster Shorter Catechism] Q/A 14
Aug 28, 2023
Show notes
This is an audio podcast of "Introduction to the Westminster Shorter Catechism," taught by Dr. James J. Cassidy. Videos of each lesson including Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org.
If you're excited about this theology and want to enable people around the world to watch and listen to these free resources, please visit https://reformedforum.org/donate to provide your support.
Q. 14. What is sin? A. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God.
Mentioned in this episode:
Christ the Center 1000
Christ the Center 1000
The Communion of the Saints
Aug 25, 2023
Show notes
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. A. Craig Troxel, Robert G. den Dulk Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Seminary California. Dr. Troxel delves into his thought-provoking chapter on the communion of the saints from Theology for Ministry, a festschrift for Dr. Sinclair Ferguson.
What does it mean to build a spiritual community within the church? How can pastors cultivate a culture of love, service, and mutual respect, reflecting the Spirit-endowed riches of Christ’s gifts and graces? Dr. Troxel explores these profound questions, emphasizing the “one another” commands, the forms of mutual service, and the essential role of love in the life of the church.
Dr. Troxel also sheds light on the transformative power of worship and the vital role of the Spirit of God in animating the hearts of God’s people. He concludes with a compelling vision of the communion of the saints as more than just a gathering of individuals—it’s a sacred communion of those set apart for divine privileges and consecrated purposes.
Whether you’re a pastor, theologian, or simply someone seeking to deepen your understanding of community within the Christian faith, this episode offers rich insights and practical wisdom. Join us for a conversation that touches the very heart of what it means to be part of the body of Christ.
Summary of Christian Doctrine: The Atonement Through Christ, Part 2
Aug 23, 2023
Show notes
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss Louis Berkhof’s little book, Summary of Christian Doctrine. We conclude our discussion of chapter 17, “The Atonement Through Christ.”
The Living Water that Heals (Chapter 7)
Aug 23, 2023
Show notes
This lesson is part of the course, The Gospel of John: A Study in the Truth (Chapters 1–10), taught by James J. Cassidy.
This course is an overview of the Gospel of John. It is geared toward adults and could be used in a Sunday school class or in a Bible study. As an overview, the course will leave most details uncovered. However, its purpose is to give students key themes in John’s Gospel (e.g., truth) which will help them in their interpretation of the book as a whole. In addition, the material is intended to be edifying, showing the centrality of Christ in all of Scripture. With this course, students will—by God’s grace—be made to grow in the knowledge of who Jesus is and what he came to do. This, in turn, will equip students to share Christ more clearly and effectively with others.
Jim Cassidy is the pastor of South Austin Presbyterian Church. He graduated in 2014 from Westminster Theological Seminary with the Ph.D in systematic theology writing on the theology of Karl Barth. He is the author of God’s Time For Us: Barth on the Reconciliation of Eternity and Time in Jesus Christ (Lexham Press).
View the course and its accompanying materials at https://reformedforum.org/courses/the-gospel-of-john-a-study-in-the-truth-chapters-1-10/
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