Theocast

Latest Episodes:

I Come to the Garden Alone? Jul 06, 2022

Show notes

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 is inherently corporate, how devotion is church-shaped, and how the corporate realities of the gathered church drive our private lives.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin give some of their perspective on personal time of Bible reading and prayer. What are healthier ways to approach these things? How does the corporate life of the church help us devotional lives?

Resources:
Our episode on "How Not to Read Your Bible"
Our episode "Have We Missed the Point of Church?"
Our episode on "Leaving Pietism"
Our episode on "Your Sanctification Is Not for You?"
Our "Dazed and Confused" episode on Hebrews 12:1-14

Prayer Requires Righteousness Jun 29, 2022

Show notes

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--and more in today's podcast.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin talk about positional and personal righteousness. And, the guys go in on pietism and revivalism, in particular, as to how these things have resulted in confusion and have hindered us in approaching God.

Resources:
Our episode on "Do John Piper and Doug Wilson Obscure Faith Alone?"
Our episode "Self + Righteousness = Rubbish (Are You Struggling With It?)"
Our episode on "Why the Gospel Terrifies Christians"
Our episodes on Lordship Salvation
Jon's two sermons on Faith and Healing

Prayer for Healing Jun 22, 2022

Show notes

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 consider these questions and more.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin talk in more depth about interpreting the Bible. They consider tools that help us interpret the Bible, as well as how we should approach debated passages.

Resources:
Our episode on James 2
Our episode "Dying with Dignity"
Our episode on "There Will Be Weakness"
Jon's two sermons on Faith and Healing

The Self-Validation Project Jun 15, 2022

Show notes

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 would've been happy to save in the first place. In this episode, Jon and Justin talk about how the Christian life is a project of self-validation for many.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin continue to consider how a lot of teaching today communicates that the Christian life is a project of validating ourselves as legitimate. The guys talk about the effects of unhealthy introspection, as well as better motivations for Christian living.

Resources:
Our episode on James 2 "Faith Without Works Is Dead"
Our episode on "How Pietism Ruins Good Works"
Our episode on "Leaving Pietism"

Is the Law Relevant Today? Jun 08, 2022

Show notes

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 confessional, Reformed understanding of the threefold division of the moral, ceremonial, and judicial law is very helpful for our understanding.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin consider the fourth commandment in depth regarding the Sabbath day. There is some division of opinion--even amongst Reformed types--as to what observance of the Lord's Day should look like. The distinction between the moral and ceremonial law is a factor, as is one's understanding of covenant theology.

Resources:
Our first episode in this series on Law & Gospel Distinction
Our second episode in this series on The Three Uses of the Law
Our first episode in a series on Covenant Theology
Our first of three episodes on Implications of Covenant Theology

Intro to Three Uses of the Law Jun 01, 2022

Show notes

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 guide for our living in Christ. Without these uses in view, we are prone to make all kinds of errors in our application and understanding of God's law.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin consider how the uses of the law are often collapsed in our day and the resulting fallout of this confusion. In contending for the uses of the law, we are simply seeking to use the law lawfully (1 Timothy 1:8).

Resources:

First episode in this series: "Intro to Law and Gospel Distinction"
Our episode on "What Must I Do to Be Saved?"
Our episode on "John Piper on Holiness"
Our episode on "Following Jesus Is Not the Gospel"
Our episode on "Faith Without Works is Dead: James 2"

Intro to Law and Gospel Distinction May 25, 2022

Show notes

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 doctrine and consider why it is so important.

Semper Reformanda: Jon and Justin consider how covenant theology and law/gospel distinction complement one another in a Reformed theological framework. The guys talk about how useful these tools are for rightly understanding the Scriptures.

Resources:
Our episode on "What Must I Do to Be Saved?"
Our episode on "Are You a Legalist or an Antinomian?"
Our episode on "The Law, the Gospel, and Sanctification"

Stop Trying to Make Sense of Suffering May 18, 2022

Show notes

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 Kingdoms
Our episode on "The Quest for Religious Experience"

Gospel Power for the Weary May 11, 2022

Show notes

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

John Piper on Holiness May 04, 2022

Show notes

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/

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