Thu, 27 December 2018
In this installment of #VosGroup, we turn to pages 198–199 of Vos’ book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider critical theories of prophetism. We extend and amplify the material in these pages more than usual by connecting Vos's teaching to the theology of Karl Barth and other modernist approaches. Broadly, the term can be associated with “instrument of revelation” and this is so important to note. For Vos, contra Barth, there is a direct, organic disclosure of God’s revealed truth in our calendar-time history. It is not in a distinct, third-time dimension that Barth calls Geschichte that “revelation” occurs. For Barth, revelation is Jesus Christ in a distinct time dimension, God’s third time for us, that “revelation” occurs. Revelation is Jesus Christ. The Scriptures, the prophets and calendar time history are not themselves revelation–they only point to revelation. Revelation is a “supra-historical” event in a time dimension altogether different from our calendar time. But Vos would say this is fundamentally wrong–it is a different religious conception of “revelation” altogether. God speaks directly to Adam in the Garden of Eden in terms of positive, special, verbal revelation. God’s voice can be heard, speaking with inerrant and inescapable authority, in Eden. It is this initial self-revelation from God, in the Garden of Eden, prior to the fall, that supplies us with our conception of revelation. God both acts and speaks in calendar time history, and that special is initially given to Adam under the covenant of works. God’s revelation in nature (image of God) is by divine design subordinate to God’s revelation in positive categories. In other words, Genesis 2:7 (image of God) and Genesis 2:15–17 (Covenant) demand the idea that God reveals himself with absolute authority and clarity directly in history. Vos says, “But the Reformed have always insisted upon it that at no point shall a recognition of the historical delivery and apprehension of truth be permitted to degenerate into a relativity of truth. The history remains a history of revelation. Its total product agrees absolutely in every respect with the sum of truth as it lies in the eternal mind and purpose of God." |
Tue, 25 December 2018
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Thu, 20 December 2018
Jeff Waddington speaks about the characteristics of natural and special revelation and their relationship to one another. Jeff recently delivered a lecture at Westminster Theological Seminary on the subject.
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Wed, 19 December 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob return to John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. In the section covered this week, we continue with Apollyon's confrontation of Christian in the Valley of Humiliation. With his words failing to persuade Christian to return to the City of Destruction, Apollyon rages and a glorious fight ensues. |
Thu, 13 December 2018
William Perkins (1558–1602), often called “the father of Puritanism,” was a master preacher and teacher of Reformed, experiential theology. Greg Salazar speaks about Perkins's works on predestination and his influence upon the Puritan and Reformed tradition. In speaking of predestination, we also cover related topics on Perkins's theology such as his Christology, his understanding of the ordo salutis, and even his views on Christian forms of memory recall. Dr. Salazar is Assistant Professor of Historical Theology for the PhD program at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Along with Dr. Joel Beeke, he has edited volume six of Perkins's works with Reformation Heritage Books.
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Wed, 12 December 2018
This week's episode of Theology Simply Profound brings Rob and Bob to Stage 4 of John Bunyan's, The Pilgrim's Progress. Here, moving on from the House Beautiful, Christian enters the Valley of Humiliation and is confronted by Apollyon where a war of words begins between the two. |
Thu, 6 December 2018
Cory Brock and Nathaniel Gray Sutanto speak about Herman Bavinck's Philosophy of Revelation (Hendrickson Publishers). Drs. Brock and Sutanto have edited a new annotated edition of Bavinck's Stone Lectures, which were delivered at Princeton in 1908. Other than his Reformed Dogmatics, this is Bavinck's most important work. We are blessed to welcome new editions and translations of these works. Along with James Eglinton, Brock and Sutanto are also editing Bavinck’s Christian Worldview, scheduled to be published by Crossway next year. Cory Brock is Minister of Young Adults and College at First Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Jackson, MS. He also serves on the faculty of Belhaven University teaching biblical studies. Nathaniel Gray Sutanto is Assistant Pastor at Covenant City Church in Jakarta, Indonesia.
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Wed, 5 December 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob take another walk through John Bunyan's, The Pilgrim's Progress. In this episode we discuss Christian's strong response to his falling asleep, as well as his conversations with Watchful, Discretion, Prudence, Piety, and Chastity. These are those he meets on the way to and in the house described as beautiful, a place of relief and security for pilgrims. |
Thu, 29 November 2018
Danny Olinger speaks about the life and thought of Geerhardus Vos. Richard B. Gaffin, Jr. has identified Vos as the father of Reformed biblical theology and we take the time to speak of his contribution and legacy. Rev. Olinger is General Secretary for the OPC Committee on Christian Education. He has written a tremendous biography of Vos, titled Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian. The book is published by Reformed Forum and available for purchase. |
Thu, 22 November 2018
Lane Keister speaks about features of Ezekiel 9–10 that help us understand the identity of the man of linen in the passage. Rev. Keister's article, "The Man in Linen: A New and Old Interpretation of Ezekiel 9–10" is published in issue 14 of the Confessional Presbyterian Journal (2018). Lane Keister is the pastor of Momence OPC in Momence, Illinois and a PhD student at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
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Tue, 20 November 2018
In this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound, the journey continues through The Pilgrim's Progress. Rob and Bob begin to discuss Stage 3 of Christian's journey from the Interpreter's House to the foot of the Cross and then along a difficult path eventually making his way to the Hill Difficulty. In this context, we come to matter concerning salvation, fear, doubt, and assurance. |
Thu, 15 November 2018
We continue our #VosGroup series in pages 194–197 of Vos' book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the biblical conception of prophetism. We discuss the Greek and pagan conceptions and their connection to contemporary modernist conceptions. Vos has in view here a Hellenic, and not New Testament, conception of the prophet. Some would seek to understand prophet as a foreteller, which brings into view predictive prophecy—a telling of a situation in advance of the actual occurrence of the situation. However, it is not proper to take the concept in this direction only. While there is a predictive element present in much of what the prophets communicate, it is better to take them as foretellers in a local sense. This means that prophet is one who speaks an oracle from God. It is a place in time where one speaks on behalf of God. However, the Greek terms, as it appears in a Hellenic, extra-biblical context, has a different connotation, and this is critical to grasp, that we must reject. That connotation is this: the prophet in this Greek conception is an interpreter of a fundamentally opaque, hidden utterance from god. Pythia (the name of the high priestess of the temple Apollo at Delphi), would be the interpreter of this fundamentally hidden oracle—a dark saying that needed a human interpreter in order to be rendered intelligible. The Greek prophet does not stand in a direct relation to the deity, as in the Old Testament prophet, who spoke, by inspiration, directly from God, a word from God. Rather than being a mouth-piece of the deity, as is the case with the Nabi, the prophet in the Old Testament sense of the term, the prophet in the Greek, Hellenic sense, is an interpreter of the deity’s oracle. The oracle comes from the Deity but requires interpretation, an interpretive act, from a prophet, to render that message intelligible or clear. The prophet, in this Hellenic conception, is therefore not one who speaks the words of the deity. Rather, he is one who intercepts a supra-rational, intrinsically opaque, communication from a deity. It is precisely this conception of the prophet that Vos sees being appropriated by the liberals of his day.
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Tue, 13 November 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their journey through John Bunyan's, The Pilgrim's Progress. From the Wicket Gate, Christian encounters Good Will and Interpreter whose house has many rooms. Interpreter leads Christian from one room to another explaining what Christian sees along the way in this second stage of our discussion of this classic book. |
Thu, 8 November 2018
The Westminster Larger Catechism, Question and Answer 154 describes the ordinary and outwards means of grace as the Word, sacraments, and prayer. We discuss these ordinary means and how they apply to the day-to-day ministry of the local church.
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Tue, 6 November 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, with some brief introductory remarks about reading fiction and allegory using J.R.R. Tolkien, Rob and Bob set out on a little journey of their own following Christian as he makes his way out of the City of Destruction toward the Wicket Gate with the help of Evangelist in this first stage our new discussion of John Bunyan's The Pilgrim's Progress. |
Thu, 1 November 2018
Glen Clary compares and contrasts the Reformation liturgies of Martin Bucer, John Calvin, and John Knox. Studying each of these helps us to understand the significance of worship reformed according to Scripture and focuses our attention upon worship in our present day. Further Reading
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Tue, 30 October 2018
The preacher should not preach in such a way that draws listeners to his own wisdom, but draws them to place their faith and trust in Christ alone as they witness his wisdom and power through the Word. |
Tue, 30 October 2018
On this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the life of John Bunyan as we begin a new series on his book, Pilgrim's Progress. |
Thu, 25 October 2018
Glen Clary and Camden Bucey discuss the apostle Paul's teaching in Romans 8:28–30. Paul speaks of the purpose of God's foreknowledge and predestination—leading to conformity to the image of Christ.
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Wed, 24 October 2018
Rev. Danny E. Olinger lectures on the connection Geerhardus Vos and J. Gresham Machen. This lesson was taught at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois as part of the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference. [embed]https://youtu.be/5fon82fe0u8[/embed] |
Mon, 22 October 2018
Camden Bucey delivers the concluding address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. [embed]https://youtu.be/TvmdnQyaAII[/embed] |
Sun, 21 October 2018
Glen Clary delivers a plenary address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Download the handouts. [embed]https://youtu.be/7KHYPVMhBWE[/embed] |
Thu, 18 October 2018
Dominic Legge, O. P. speaks about the deep connection between Thomas's Christology and his trinitarian theology. Dr. Legge is Assistant Professor of Systematic Theology and Director of the Thomistic Institute Pontifical Faculty of the Immaculate Conception at the Dominican House of Studies. He is the author of The Trinitarian Christology of St. Thomas Aquinas (Oxford University Press, 2017). https://youtu.be/vXK23papdC0 |
Wed, 17 October 2018
Jim Cassidy delivers a plenary address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Download the handout. [embed]https://youtu.be/k1Ih83fw4h4[/embed] |
Wed, 17 October 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the rest of God. Continuing in their series on Hebrews, Rob and Bob open up to Hebrews 3:7-4:13 to see how the Preacher makes us of Moses, the Exodus, Psalm 95, Joshua, the wilderness, and the land of Canaan, in order explain why the people of God must remain vigilant in their Christian walk whilst looking forward to the final day of rest all the while enjoying the rest already giving in Christ by faith in union with him. |
Tue, 16 October 2018
Jeff Waddington spoke at the fifth annual Reformed Forum Conference, which was held October 5–7, 2018 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. The theme of the conference was “Seeing God: The Deeper Protestant Conception.” The speakers addressed important theological challenges and controversies facing the contemporary Reformed church by exploring the theologies of Thomas Aquinas, Karl Barth, and Geerhardus Vos on the beatific vision and glorification of man. |
Mon, 15 October 2018
Lane Tipton delivers the first plenary address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Download the lecture notes to follow along. |
Sun, 14 October 2018
Camden Bucey delivers the opening and introductory address at the Reformed Forum 2018 Theology Conference at Hope Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Grayslake, Illinois. Watch on YouTube |
Thu, 11 October 2018
Dr. Whitney Gamble speaks about antinomianism and the Westminster Assembly. She has written Christ and the Law: Antinomianism at the Westminster Assembly, which is part of the Studies on the Westminster Assembly series published by Reformation Heritage Books. Dr. Gamble is associate professor of biblical and theological studies at Providence Christian College. She holds a PhD in historical and systematic theology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, a master of theological studies from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and a B.A. in biblical studies from Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania. Dr. Gamble is a frequent guest on The White Horse Inn podcast, speaking on issues ranging from the doctrine of justification to the theology of Christmas movies: https://www.whitehorseinn.org/host/whitney-gamble/ Her first book, Christ and the Law: Antinomianism at the Westminster Assembly, is forthcoming with Reformation Heritage Books. Along with seventy other leading scholars from around the world, she is contributing a chapter in the forthcoming multi-volume series, The History of Scottish Theology, published by Oxford University Press. https://www.historyscottishtheology.div.ed.ac.uk |
Wed, 10 October 2018
Hosea points to Jesus, who, as the new and final Israel, does not remain under the power of death forever. But Christ is raised from the dead in the vindicating power of the Spirit. Christ is our exodus—the one delivered from bondage to sin and death! His deliverance is our deliverance. As those who have been delivered in and through Christ, we are called to forget the names of our false gods and remember the name of the Lord who has delivered us from our previous slavemaster. |
Wed, 10 October 2018
On this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound, we repost an old episode on Reading Biographies. In this episode, Rob, Melodie, and Bob discuss the benefits of reading biographies and which ones may be helpful to read, both Christian and non-Christian. We also bring to your attention the new biography published by Reformed Forum, Geerhardus Vos: Reformed Biblical Theologian, Confessional Presbyterian, by Danny E. Olinger. |
Thu, 4 October 2018
We continue our #VosGroup series in pages 191–194 of Vos' book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the conception of prophecy in Scripture. |
Tue, 2 October 2018
In a startling episode of fear and worldliness we find the hope of the gospel. Learn how the person and work of Christ can be preached from what seems to be the most unlikely text.
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Tue, 2 October 2018
Hebrews has given us a greater understanding of the role of Christ in relation to the Old Testament. He is the ultimate king, the greater high priest, and the better prophet. He has been and made the final sacrifice and He has brought in the New Covenant making the Old Covenant obsolete. He is better than any angel or any other man. He is God Himself who is building His kingdom till the very last enemy is destroyed. What does this mean for us and our everyday lives? How are we to live in our homes, at work, and in the church? In what way is our worship connected with the Old Testament saints? We will discuss these and other questions in this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound. |
Thu, 27 September 2018
Ken Golden speaks about the Lord's Day throughout redemptive-history and what it means to seek our heavenly rest in Christ. In his book, Entering God's Rest: The Sabbath from Genesis to Revelation (Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, 2018), Rev. Golden seeks to move beyond a checklist of do's and don'ts to consider the deeper significance of finding our joy in the Lord. |
Wed, 26 September 2018
For this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the unity of the people of God as they continue to walk through portions of the letter to the Hebrews.
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Mon, 24 September 2018
Lot can not save himself—God has to do it. In his mercy he provides for Lot's salvation even through the destruction of the city of man, and in so doing provides for us a picture of Christ's saving work.
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Thu, 20 September 2018
Dr. Lawrence Feingold brings us a Catholic's perspective on Thomas Aquinas and the important connection between his doctrines of the Eucharist and the Beatific Vision. |
Tue, 18 September 2018
The mercy that the Lord shows initially will be undone in judgment. But there is grace, restoration, and redemption for those who repent and trust in Christ.
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Tue, 18 September 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob discuss the mysterious figure of Melchizedek found in Genesis 14 and referenced several times in the Letter to the Hebrews. In discussing Melchizedek, we are brought before the wonderful work of Christ as the Christian's Great High Priest by seeing the contrasts between the priesthood of Melchizedek and that of Aaron or the Levitical priesthood. By far, the Priesthood of Christ is superior to Aaron. |
Thu, 13 September 2018
Jim Cassidy previews his address at the 2018 Reformed Forum conference by speaking about Barth on the analogy of being and the analogy of faith and how his views relate to the theology of Thomas Aquinas. Jim and Camden also speak about Barth's views of natural theology and how they relate to the views of Cornelius Van Til. This is in response to recent remarks from Dr. Michael Allen on the Credo Magazine podcast (around minute 37). If you'd like to jump directly to that portion of our discussion, you can watch it on YouTube. [embed]https://youtu.be/JOzUuDDGIOU[/embed]
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Sun, 9 September 2018
Ryan Noha speaks about several rare books that have been added to our online store. |
Sat, 8 September 2018
Dan Ragusa introduces us to the theological method of Petrus Van Mastricht, Dutch Reformed theologian, who maintained consistent Reformed orthodoxy against Cartesian influences. Van Mastricht wrote a polemic against Balthasar Bekker, a critic of paganism but a proponent of Cartesianism. In his polemic, Van Mastricht addresses the issue of Scriptural authority, theological method, and the proper end toward which all theologians and philosophers must be directed: worship of the one, true, and living God. Dan Ragusa is a PhD student at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. [embed]https://youtu.be/RWAcoAh9jrY[/embed]
Readings
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Wed, 5 September 2018
Lot serves as a paradigm or picture of the salvation of sinners and judgment upon unbelievers. Sinners are not saved because they suddenly figure out God’s mercy and come running to him. They are saved because God does what they cannot do of their own accord.
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Tue, 4 September 2018
Rob and Bob continue our short series walking through portions of the Letter to the Hebrews interacting on occasion with dispensationalism's understanding of various passages and concepts found so prominently in this wonderful letter to the church of Jesus Christ. This week's episode Theology Simply Profound, we take a look at how the Preacher to the Hebrews interprets the Old Testament. |
Thu, 30 August 2018
Jeff Waddington previews his address for the 2018 Theology Conference. He speaks about Pseudo-Dionysius, a key influence upon Thomas Aquinas. Dionysius attempted to integrate neoplatonism with Christianity. The result was a Christianization of the great chain of being. Register for the upcoming conference. Reading List
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Thu, 23 August 2018
We discuss how a return to sola scriptura through confessional Reformed theology spares us from the errors of Roman Catholicism and modernism. Reformed covenant theology, broadly considered, is facing a crisis regarding what constitutes “reformed” theology. The situation currently is one of chaos and confusion. Some claim that the way forward is by way of retrieving the theology of Thomas Aquinas, the angelic doctor of the Roman Catholic church, in the service of a so-called “Reformed” apologetic. The line of this argument is that if you follow the Roman Catholic theology and method of Aquinas, you will arrive at Protestant conclusions. Others enlist Aquinas in conversation with the likes of John Webster and Karl Barth, in the interest of retrieving “catholic” tradition in the development of a reformed theological identity. Still others, outside of our reformed circles, are engaged in ecumenical dialogue between Thomas and Barth (Bruce McCormack and Thomas Joseph White’s Thomas Aquinas and Karl Barth: An Unofficial Dialogue, or Keith Johnson’s Karl Barth and the Analogia Entis, which helpfully to my mind points out the significant points of convergence between the two theologians). It is very much worth pointing out that Van Til virtually predicted this in advance in his sadly neglected but highly important work Confession of 1967, where he says, “If now we live in a dialogical age and if only the church as ecumenical can meet the needs of such an age, then surely the Roman Catholic too must learn to see this fact. As Martin Marty says, “If Protestants and Roman Catholics wish to make possible a creative coexistence, to enrich our pluralistic society, and to profit from each other’s separate histories, they will have to participate in dialogue.…” And what does such “dialogue” look like? Again, Van Til says, “It was Hans Urs von Balthasar who, more than anyone else, has helped Barth to see that Roman Catholicism also begins its theology from the Christ-Event. Roman Catholicism, says von Balthasar, does not believe in direct revelation any more than does Barth. To be sure, Rome does speak of “faith and works,” of “nature and grace,” of “reason and revelation.” But this “and” is not, as Barth thinks, fatal to the idea of the primacy of Christ and of faith in Christ. The whole discussion between Barth and the Roman Catholic position may therefore start from the idea that revelation is revelation in hiddenness. ”The difference between Barth and Roman Catholicism will therefore be not of principle but of degree” (Confession, 119). [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9xyz5RQhfQ[/embed] |
Wed, 22 August 2018
In Episode 57, we see that despite oncoming judgment, the passage underscores the deep relationship between God and Abraham. It is covenantal at its core.
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Tue, 21 August 2018
On this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob begin a short series walking through the Letter to the Hebrews interacting on occasion with dispensationalism's understanding of various passages and concepts found so prominently in this wonderful letter to the church of Jesus Christ. |
Thu, 16 August 2018
Darryl G. Hart, Distinguished Associate Professor of History at Hillsdale College, joins us to speak about his book, Still Protesting: Why the Reformation Matters (Reformation Heritage Books). This book addresses the divide between Protestants and Roman Catholics, considering some of the reasons that prompted the Reformation and the Counter-Reformation. It emerges particularly from the context of the increasing number of Protestants who convert to Roman Catholicism, and Hart's aim is to address some of the most frequent reasons given for abandoning Protestantism. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZG2G2j8LkdA[/embed]
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Tue, 14 August 2018
As most of our listeners are aware, Rob has been in the process of writing a book on dispensationalism. On today's episode of Theology Simply Profound Bob talks to Rob about his book entitled, Identifying the Seed, which will be published in early September 2018. Check out the book's Facebook page to find out more with updates about its publication.
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Thu, 9 August 2018
We continue our #VosGroup series in pages 187–190 of Vos' book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the word of God and prophetism. Prophetism is restricted to the word as its instrument. The prophetic ministry was a declarative, spiritual authority of one who speaks and writes in the words of Jehovah himself. There is the closest possible connection, then, between the prophetic office and the declaration of the Word of the Lord, as that Word is given by the superintending agency of the Spirit, who breathes out the prophetic Scriptures (cf. 1 Pet. 1:10–11; 2 Tim. 3:16). The effect of being restricted to the ministry of the Word of God was a heightening of the “spiritualizing” relation between Jehovah and Israel. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DFJ7eccK58[/embed]
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Tue, 7 August 2018
Here's the big pictures of 1 Corinthians 1 and 2, particularly focusing on the wisdom of God as the doctrinal and ethical antithesis to world, and an introduction to Paul's two-age eschatology.
Articles referenced in this episode: |
Tue, 7 August 2018
As an enjoyable way to close out our series on the doctrine of the atonement, this week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob will begin reading through an article by J. I. Packer in the book, The Glory of the Atonement, entitled "The Atonement in the Life of the Christian." (Part 2 reading) Many thanks to IVP for permission to make this article available in this format. Taken from The Glory of the Atonement edited by Charles E. Hill and Frank A. James III. Copyright (c) 2004 by by Charles E. Hill and Frank A. James III. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com
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Thu, 2 August 2018
Theologians often speak of regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit to bring someone to the new birth. But the Westminster Standards speak of effectual calling as the work of the Spirit to give people new hearts, enlightening their minds and renewing their wills. Are effectual calling and regeneration the same thing? If not, how do they relate? In this episode, we discuss the relationship between these two aspects of the ordo salutis.
Westminster Confession of Faith, Chapter 10: Of Effectual Calling1. All those whom God hath predestinated unto life, and those only, he is pleased, in his appointed and accepted time, effectually to call, by his Word and Spirit, out of that state of sin and death, in which they are by nature, to grace and salvation, by Jesus Christ; enlightening their minds spiritually and savingly to understand the things of God, taking away their heart of stone, and giving unto them a heart of flesh; renewing their wills, and, by his almighty power, determining them to that which is good, and effectually drawing them to Jesus Christ: yet so, as they come most freely, being made willing by his grace. 2. This effectual call is of God's free and special grace alone, not from anything at all foreseen in man, who is altogether passive therein, until, being quickened and renewed by the Holy Spirit, he is thereby enabled to answer this call, and to embrace the grace offered and conveyed in it. [embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iw5EiOWVhpI[/embed] |
Tue, 31 July 2018
As an enjoyable way to close out our series on the doctrine of the atonement, this week on Theology Simply Profound, Bob will begin reading through an article by J. I. Packer in the book, The Glory of the Atonement, entitled "The Atonement in the Life of the Christian." (Part 1 reading) Many thanks to IVP for permission to make this article available in this format. Taken from The Glory of the Atonement edited by Charles E. Hill and Frank A. James III. Copyright (c) 2004 by by Charles E. Hill and Frank A. James III. Used by permission of InterVarsity Press, P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515, USA. www.ivpress.com
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Thu, 26 July 2018
Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey speak about the relationship between the Old Covenant and New Covenant in the epistle to the Hebrews. Moses was a servant in God's house, but Jesus Christ is a faithful son. Christ is the mediator of a better covenant. But we should not conclude that these covenants are unrelated. Indeed, Moses was a servant in God's house, not a different house. The substance of the Old Covenant is Christ, and it was nothing less than his grace that was mediated to Old Covenant believers, though it was administered through promises, types, and sacrifices. We discuss the earthly things of Old Covenant worship and how they are shadows and copies of the heavenly reality to which Christ has brought his people.
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Tue, 24 July 2018
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming because, whilst tending to his arduous studies at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida, Rob had the privilege of sitting down with Cameron Cole to talk about his new book with Crossway, Therefore I Have Hope: 12 Truths That Comfort, Sustain, and Redeem in Tragedy. We hope you enjoy this interview on Theology Simply Profound. Cameron Cole (MA, Wake Forest University) serves as director of youth ministries at the Cathedral Church of the Advent in Birmingham, Alabama, and is the chairman of Rooted, a ministry dedicated to fostering gospel-centered student ministry.
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Mon, 23 July 2018
In the battle in which we must fight, Jesus is what we need, and Jesus is all we need.
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Thu, 19 July 2018
The impeccability of Christ is an important, though debated point. It involves not only the sinlessness of our savior, but whether it was possible for him to sin. As we consider the issue, we turn to F. W. Kremer’s article, “The Impeccability of the Lord Jesus Christ” published in Reformed Quarterly Review, Volume 26, April 1879. We discuss the tendency to consider Christ’s humanity independently of his divinity. It’s not merely that people recognize the natures are distinct, but that they implicitly acknowledge that his humanity can be abstracted from his divinity. In the abstract, we could acknowledge that Jesus’s human nature had the capability of sinning. For example, his body was physically capable of taking a sword and murdering someone. But we cannot consider Christ’s human nature in the abstract. He is the second person of the trinity who has assumed a true body and a reasonable soul. Sin involves a moral agent. Does the human nature of Christ constitute a full moral agent apart from the person of the son? This also raises serious issues regarding God’s decree. Throughout the episode, we maintain that if it was possible for Christ to sin, it was possible for Christ to fail. |
Tue, 17 July 2018
Genesis 18 provides a prototypical picture of the feast the believers have with their King in the heavenly places. It does so in the context of Sarah demonstrating an imperfect faith in a perfect Savior. |
Tue, 17 July 2018
On this episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their discussion on the doctrine of the atonement with a focus on the atonement through the covenant. Jesus says, "...this is the new covenant in my blood...." We'll explore this statement and many more.
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Thu, 12 July 2018
David Owen Filson joins us to speak about Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, theologian and former president of Wheaton College and Covenant College and Seminary. Buswell was involved with the early modernist-fundamentalist controversy and the founding of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, though he joined the Bible Presbyterian Church when it split with the fledgling OPC over premillennialism and teetotalism. He continued to be an interlocutor with members of the OPC and faculty at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. Interestingly, he coined the term "presuppositionalism" while debating with Cornelius Van Til over apologetic and theological method. Dr. Filson is teaching pastor of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee. He previously spoke on the subject in episode 316, January 17, 2014
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Tue, 10 July 2018
Hosea is made us of a series of cycles—of judgment and redemption. Here we begin looking at the first cycle of good news and redemption, as the prophet brings a word of good news.
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Tue, 10 July 2018
John Murray writes that the nature of union with Christ is both spiritual and mystical and that it is "the central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation." If this is the case, how is it so? How does the atonement, the cross of Christ, relate to this "central truth of the whole doctrine of salvation"? Rob and Bob discuss these things and more on this week's episode of Theology Simply Profound.
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Thu, 5 July 2018
We continue our #VosGroup series in pages 185–188 of Vos' book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the unfolding of God's plan as it moves from the period under Moses to that of the prophets. Prophetism marks an epochal movement in OT revelation. In other words, the “new happenings” of God’s mighty deeds in redemptive revelation bring enduring advancement toward consummation—each epoch builds upon and brings advancement to what has proceeded. The new feature is “the organization of the theocratic kingdom under a human ruler” (185). God is seeking to confer himself on a holy people through a holy king in a holy theocratic realm. As such, Prophetism is a “Kingdom-Producing Movement (186–187). This is a critical point to grasp: prophetism is attached to the advancement of the theocratic kingdom. Prophetism therefore has no independent significance. Its entire rationale grows out of the producing and advancement of the theocratic kingdom of Jehovah. This comes into even greater clarity as we recognize that the Word is the instrument of Prophetism (187–88). The essence, formally, of prophetism is that it “restricts” itself to the Word of God—the Word from the mouth of Jehovah. The Word of God “in reality did more than anything else towards the spiritualizing of the relation between Jehovah and Israel” (187). |
Tue, 3 July 2018
Here we seek to answer three questions: First, “What is the meaning of circumcision?” Second, “What is the purpose of circumcision? and third, “To whom is circumcision to be applied” We conclude that the sign of faith is to be applied to believers and their children.
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Tue, 3 July 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob once again discuss the doctrine of the atonement with emphasis upon the relationship between the atonement and adoption. What does adoption have to do with the atonement?
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Thu, 28 June 2018
Pierce Taylor Hibbs speaks about language and the Trinity. His book, The Trinity, Language, and Human Behavior: A Reformed Exposition of the Language Theory of Kenneth L. Pike is available in P&R Publishing's Reformed Academic Dissertations series. Hibbs describes Kenneth Pike's linguistic theory and compares it to the theology of Cornelius Van Til, demonstrating shared Trinitarian themes. Pierce Hibbs is the Assistant Director of the Theological English Department at Westminster Theological Seminary. He writes at wordsfortheologians.org.
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Tue, 26 June 2018
God re-names Sarai—again reflecting his covenant promise. And one essential characteristic of the covenant of promise is that covenant community will always be comprised of elect and non-elect. Inseparable from the covenant itself are the parties of the covenant.
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Tue, 26 June 2018
The fifth annual Reformed Forum Conference will be held October 5–7, 2018 at Hope OPC in Grayslake, Illinois. Our theme will be, “Seeing God: The Deeper Protestant Conception.” We will address important theological challenges and controversies facing the contemporary Reformed church by exploring the theologies of Thomas Aquinas, Karl Barth, and Geerhardus Vos on the beatific vision and glorification of man. The beatific vision captures the glorious reality believers will experience when Christ returns. “Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is” (1 John 3:2). This presents an important theological question: How shall we be like him? Is it by participating in the divine essence? Is it by being identified with God in a revelatory Christ-event? Does God change his being in some manner to accommodate this new relationship?
Reformed orthodoxy demands a deeper conception.Our conference theme may sound esoteric, but these are critically important matters facing the Church today as an age-old theological controversy is rising once again. We seek to present a clear thesis that Vos offers the biblical way forward between two forms of divine-human univocism. These are represented by consistent Thomism and modernist Barthianism. Ostensibly, these systems are diametrically opposed to one another, yet Vos’s insights will help demonstrate how Thomism and Barthianism eventually converge in what Cornelius Van Til termed the “Aristotle-Christ-Kant Synthesis.” Through the biblical doctrines of divine immutability, covenant, and the image of God, Vos demonstrates how God enters into a glorious communion bond with his people without deifying them or becoming a creature himself. We plan to devote several episodes of Christ the Center to this subject leading up to the conference and develop a pre-conference reading list for those who want to get the most out of their experience. We look forward to seeing you in October. Register Now |
Tue, 26 June 2018
On today's episode of Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their discussion about the doctrine of the atonement. Today we take a closer look at the concept of penal substitution. In doing so, we review some of the other theories of the atonement. But what does the Bible say about the nature of Christ's cross? What does it do? What is meant by penal substitution? Is it necessary? What biblical texts teach us about penal substitution?
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Thu, 21 June 2018
In this episode, we speak about the free offer of the gospel. The real point in dispute in connection with the free offer of the gospel is whether it can properly be said that God desires the salvation of all men. This issue was related to several theological controversies of the 1940s and stemming back decades earlier. Much of this particular issue comes the split of 1924 within the Christian Reformed Church which led to the formation of the Protestant Reformed Church under the leadership of Herman Hoeksema. For some, the antithesis is so absolutized that there can be no real transition from wrath to grace and no free offer of the gospel. Cornelius Van Til spoke of the antithesis as an ethical rather than metaphysical antithesis. In a letter to Jesse de Boer, he indicated that it was merely another way to speak of total depravity. As we walk through a study committee report delivered to the 15th General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, we are confronted with the great mystery of God's will and his infallible revelation to us in Scripture. Links
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Tue, 19 June 2018
Paul appeals to the believers at Corinth to be united, and admonishes them to abandon their factionalism. Paul reminds them that he did not do anything among them that would draw attention to himself, but rather he pointed them entirely away from himself and directed their attention and affection to Christ alone.
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Mon, 18 June 2018
This episode of Theology Simply Profound brings our reading of J. Gresham Machen's final three audio addresses to a close. This address, "The Bible and the Cross," would have aired on December 27, 1936. Machen would not finish this series of radio addresses on the atonement. Just five days later on January 1, 1937, he would succumb to pneumonia dying in the Lord. And so, this series closes so abruptly as life seems to do so very often. With the words, "Isn't the Reformed faith grand?" and "So thankful for active obedience of Christ. No hope without it," Machen departed in peace. |
Thu, 14 June 2018
The first paragraph of chapter twenty-nine in the Westminster Confession of Faith sets forth the institution of Lord’s Supper and the uses and ends for which it is designed:
In this episode, we discuss the five purposes of the Lord's Supper detailed in the confession:
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Mon, 11 June 2018
As the Abrahamic Covenant is expanded, it builds upon the revelation given in chapters 12 and 15. Through this everlasting covenant God will bring life to those who are dead in their sins. |
Fri, 8 June 2018
This week’s Theology Simply Profound provides another reading from the works of J. Gresham Machen. Since we’ve begun a series on the Biblical teaching of the atonement, Bob is reading Machen’s, “The Active Obedience of Christ.” This was delivered on December 20, 1936 as part of a series of radio addresses given shortly before Machen’s death on January 1, 1937. |
Thu, 7 June 2018
We continue our #VosGroup series in pages 175–182 of Vos' book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider ancestor worship and animism before moving to a summary of Part I of the entire book and specifically, revelation during the period of M |
Wed, 6 June 2018
Our situation calls for serious self-discipline because the days are evil, and joyful celebration because God has rescued us from that evil in Jesus Christ. |
Mon, 4 June 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob continue their new series of discussions on the doctrine of the atonement. In this episode we talk about the concept of redemption. What is redemption? What is the relationship between redemption and the wrath of God? What is the cost of redemption? How does redemption relate to the atonement? |
Wed, 30 May 2018
In this episode, we speak to David Woollin of Reformation Heritage Books about several new and exciting projects from the publisher. |
Wed, 30 May 2018
We speak with Dr. Stephen G. Myers about Ebenezer Erskine and the important events of Presbyterian history with which he was involved. |
Tue, 29 May 2018
Israel was called God's son—a status under threat here in Hosea—as graphically demonstrated in the naming of Hosea's children. God's pending divorce of Israel points to the only way for God's elect to be saved. The warnings in Hosea are for God's people today that we may examine ourselves to be sure we are in the faith. |
Thu, 24 May 2018
William Vandoodewaard speaks to us about Martin Bucer, John Knox, and the development of pastoral care during the Reformation. |
Wed, 23 May 2018
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Tue, 22 May 2018
With Rob nursing a cold, this week's Theology Simply Profound provides another reading from the works of J. Gresham Machen. Since we've begun a series on the Biblical teaching of the atonement, Bob is reading Machen's, "The Doctrine of the Atonement." This was from a series of radio addresses given shortly before Machen's death on January 1, 1937. |
Thu, 17 May 2018
Bill Dennison speaks about Karl Marx, leading us through his biography, influences, and his intellectual effects upon social and political history. |
Tue, 15 May 2018
We welcome Glen Clary as our newest panelist, as he opens Paul's eucharistic prayer concerning the church of God at Corinth. He centers it around the believer's union with Christ—the key to understanding Paul's gospel. |
Mon, 14 May 2018
This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob and Bob begin a new series of discussions on the topic of the atonement. In this episode we talk about the wrath of God and mankind's need for an escape from the wrath of God in the first place. Why an atonement? Why is there a need for an atonement? |
Thu, 10 May 2018
Jonathan Gibson and Mark Earngey speak about Reformation worship. Their new book Reformation Worship: Liturgies from the Past for the Present, is an irenic plea for the Church (and especially her ministers) to engage again in the two-millennia-old question: "How then shall we worship?" |
Wed, 9 May 2018
A remarkable picture of God's grace given to an undeserving Egyptian woman, is used by the apostle Paul as a divinely inspired allegory of the way in which God operates through the church today. |
Mon, 7 May 2018
The Rev. Brian L. De Jong, pastor of Grace Presbyterian Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, joins Bob and Rob this week on Theology Simply Profound to discuss his new book, Honoring the Elderly: A Christian's Duty to Aging Parents. Mr. De Jong explains the importance of thinking through difficult and complex issues related to how Christian are to honor their aging parents. |
Wed, 2 May 2018
Hebrews 6 has been a challenging passage to interpret for ages. What does it mean to fall away? What is the specific nature of the apostasy? Do majority interpretations do justice to all the features of the text? |
Tue, 1 May 2018
God has made his covenant with Abram, and now ratifies it through a solemn covenant ceremony that points to the supernatural character of the covenant's nature and its keeping. |
Mon, 30 April 2018
This episode of Theology Simply Profound brings our discussion of the Book of Acts to a close. Paul is under house arrest welcoming all who come to him "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance." We discuss Paul's arrival in Rome, his reception by the Jews, and his proclamation of the kingdom of God. Our apologies for the poor audio quality for the first 10 minutes or so...a few technical difficulties. |
Tue, 24 April 2018
The Book of Hosea opens up with a shocking command as God tells the prophet to "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom." Hosea's wife, Gomer, will serve as both type and anti-type. Listen as the book of Hosea points to the faithful bridegroom and calls the Christian to be a faithful bride. |
Tue, 24 April 2018
While at the Shepherds Conference Rob was able to talk with John Rawlinson from Banner of Truth. John talks about how Banner was an influence on his life from childhood. He introduces some great new books with authors such as Calvin, Ian Hamilton, Puritan paperbacks and Sinclair Ferguson’s new book, Some Pastors and Teachers. |
Tue, 24 April 2018
While at the Shepherds Conference Rob was able to talk with Matthew Robinson from Media Gratiae. They were able to discuss how Media Gratiae was started as well as a wonderful project centered on Martin Lloyd Jones, and an upcoming project concerning the Puritans. |
Tue, 24 April 2018
Camden Bucey and Jim Cassidy discuss Lamentations, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah. Camden recently wrote a 12-week study on the books for Crossway's Knowing the Bible series. |