Theocast

Latest Episodes:

Smuggling Works into Faith (with Mike Abendroth) Sep 21, 2022

Show notes

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 regularly woven into the definition of faith?

Semper Reformanda: Jon, Justin, and Mike talk more pointedly about Federal Vision, Lordship Salvation, final justification, and biblicism. What do all of these have in common? They all, in various ways, smuggle works into faith.

Resources:

No Compromise Radio Hosts

What is the Law?

Our episode: “Intro to Law and Gospel Distinction”

Our episode: “Why I Left Lordship Salvation”

Mike Abendroth’s Article: “My Pilgrimage from ‘Lordship’ to Law/Gospel”

Our episode: “Do John Piper and Doug Wilson Obscure Faith Alone?”

Mike Abendroth’s Book: “Gospel Assurance”

Our episode: “A Critique of Lordship Salvation - Part 2”

Mike Abendroth’s “Law & Gospel” Series on American Gospel

I've Never Known Love Like This Sep 14, 2022

Show notes

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 he first loved us. If we understand these things better, our relationships with one another in the church and in our homes will profit. Jon and Justin talk about these things in today's episode.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue the conversation on love by talking about the necessity of the means of grace in the church. That's right. If you're wondering how these things are connected, give the episode a listen.

Resources:
Jon's Sermon on Relationships, Dating, and God’s Love

Hard to Forgive Sep 07, 2022

Show notes

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 compassionate and pastoral conversation about these matters.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin talk more about forgiveness, the clarity of the Scripture on the matter, and how this is obscured in our day. The guys finish with thoughts about how forgiveness cannot be based upon our assessment of the quality of another person's repentance.

Resources:
Our episode on "Repenting of Our Repentance"

Ask Theocast on "What if I'm struggling to forgive? Can I still have assurance?"

Church, Discernment, and Purity Culture Aug 31, 2022

Show notes

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., Doug Wilson and Mark Driscoll). The guys also discuss their concerns with purity culture (Joshua Harris comes up here) and the very negative ways sex is portrayed in that kind of setting. There is a better and more biblical approach.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin talk more about abuses of pastoral authority that occur in the church when it comes to sex in marriage. Then, the guys talk about how we often try to use outside means to address a heart-level problem.

Resources:

Sexuality, Acceptance, and the Gospel

When Two Baptists and Two Presbyterians Walk into a Podcast... Aug 24, 2022

Show notes

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 point of the Lord's Day gathering, the sacraments, the effects of revivalism and pietism, and much more.

Resources:

Guilt Grace Gratitude Podcast

Our episode on Confessionalism

What is Reformed Theology?

Everyday Grace - New Podcast Announcement! Aug 08, 2022

Show notes

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!

What Happened to Preaching? Aug 03, 2022

Show notes

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 and herald the person and work of Christ in the place of sinners, and preaching requires the right dividing of law and gospel.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin talk about some of the critiques that are raised against Christ-centered, redemptive-historical preaching, along with the false dichotomy introduced between grammatical-historical and redemptive-historical approaches to exegesis. (Warning: It's a passionate discussion.)

Resources:
Our episode on "Introduction to Law/Gospel Distinction"
Our series on Covenant Theology
Our episode on "Is Your Theological System Any Good?"
Our episode on "Legal Preaching"
Our episode on "Christ-Centered Preaching"

What Happened to Communion? Jul 27, 2022

Show notes

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. Sadly, this is not how communion is typically talked about in the church. What happened? Why is it not talked about this way? In today's episode Jon and Justin have a theological, historical, and biblical conversation about communion as a means of grace.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin discuss Reformed worship--and communion as a part of that. In addition, the guys give some thoughts regarding churches that do not observe communion regularly.

Resources:
Our episode on "What Happened to Baptism?"
Our episode on "The Resting Heart Rate of the Christian Life"
Ask Theocast on "What Are the Means of Grace?"
1689 LBC 30.1
"Truth We Can Touch" by Tim Chester
Barcellos's book on the Lord's Supper

What Happened to Baptism? Jul 20, 2022

Show notes

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 about this way? In today's episode Jon and Justin have a theological, historical, and biblical conversation about baptism as a means of grace.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue to discuss baptism as a sign of our union with Christ. In particular, the guys consider how pietism, revivalism, and Arminianism have affected how many have understood union with Christ--and thereby, baptism.

Resources:
Our episodes on Lordship Salvation
Our episode "The Resting Heart Rate of the Christian Life"
Our episode on "Leaving Pietism"

God's Will Hunting Jul 13, 2022

Show notes

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 will of God. What do we say to people who fear they have ruined their lives through a past sin?

Resources:
Our episode on "Mercy for Those Who Doubt"
Our episode "What is Biblicism? Why Is It dangerous?"
Our episode on "Leaving Pietism"