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Westminster Confession of Faith 29.6: That doctrine which maintains a change of the substance of bread and wine, into the substance of Christ's body and blood (commonly called transubstantiation) by consecration of a priest, or by any other way, is repugnant, not to Scripture alone, but even to common sense and reason; overthroweth the nature … More Episode 29.6: Transubstantiation

Where do we find the biblical instruction set the elements of the Lord’s Supper apart? Can you explain the difference between transubstantiation, consubstantiation, and the Reformed view? Are there any teachings that deny the presence of Christ in the Supper? What’s the relationship between the sign and the things signified? What pastoral application is found … More Episode 29.5: Sign and Thing Signified

How does this paragraph fit within the chapter? What is the background justification Rome has used for private masses? Why did Protestants stand against them? What about the denial of the cup? What about worshiping the elements? What do you pastorally do about shut-ins? Should every communicant take both elements? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, … More Episode 29.4: Abuses of the Lord’s Supper

Can you briefly describe how you administer the Lord’s Supper? Why should ministers administer the sacrament? How are each of the actions mentioned here biblical? Why do churches use grape juice? Are things not listed here that can be done? Why are both elements given to participants? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, and our guest … More Episode 29.3 Sacramental Actions

After a slight break — due to the demands of the pastoral ministry — we’re back in the Jerusalem Chamber for an interview with Rev. Dr. Richard Gaffin Jr. on his booklet No Adam, No Gospel. Dr. Gaffin is an ordained minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, and was a former professor of Biblical and … More Special Episode: Interview with Richard Gaffin Jr.

Can you outline for our listeners some of what the Roman Catholic Church teaches regarding their doctrine and practice of Mass? What are the historical precursors to Mass? Why is the Lord’s Supper only for the living? Can you elaborate on the qualities of Christ’s death present in this paragraph? Why is the sacrifice of … More Episode 29.2: The Roman Mass

Why is it important to remember that Christ instituted the Lord’s Supper? What’s the significance that it was instituted on the night he was betrayed? Why is it important that this supper is to be observed until Christ’s return? Why do we need a memorial of Christ’s death? How is the supper a seal of … More Episode 29.1: What is the Lord’s Supper?

Can you give us a quick summary of baptism as a sacrament? What is important about the word “administration”? What’s being refuted by the word “once”? What’s the spiritual significance of “once”? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 28.7: The sacrament of baptism is but once to be administered to any … More Episode 28.7: One Baptism

What is the logic of this paragraph in relation to the rest of the chapter? How does this view differ from Rome? How do we balance this with what the Bible says elsewhere about baptism “saving” you? If baptism a means of grace what this paragraph say about the conferring of that grace? What pastoral … More Episode 28.6: Time of Baptism’s Efficacy

What does it mean to “contemn” something, and who contemns baptism? What about neglect? Why is this a great sin? In what other ways to people have a low view of baptism? What’s the relationship between baptism and regeneration? What’s the risk of having too high a view? What pastoral help can you bring from … More Episode 28.5: Too Low and High A View of Baptism

How do we know that those who profess faith should be baptized? Why is “obedience” to Christ important too? What connection is there between baptism and church membership? What is the Bible’s teaching on infant membership in the church? What are erroneous views of infant baptism? What objections are there to infant baptism? How did … More Episode 28.4: Who Should Be Baptized?

Why is the mode of baptism important? Who might disagree that baptism is for the church today? What movement is this paragraph addressing? What is some of the biblical language translated as “baptism” or “baptize”? What does the mode of baptism signify? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 28.3: Dipping of … More Episode 28.3: The Mode of Baptism

Is the element of water necessary to baptism? Rome includes other things with their water in baptism is that appropriate? What does water represent in the Bible? What is meant and why is baptism into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit? Why can only a minister of the gospel administer … More Episode 28.2: The Manner of Baptism

What are the historical roots to water baptism? Did the Old Testament have any precursors to baptism? When did Christ ordain baptism? What about the baptism of John? Where do we see that baptism is a solemn admission into the visible church? How is it a sign and seal of our ingrafting into Christ, regeneration, … More Episode 28.1: Defining Baptism

How does our covenant theology help inform the continuity and discontinuity between the Old and New Testaments? How are the Old Testament sacraments the same in “substance” and what does that mean? Can you give some examples of Old Testament sacraments and show how they were instituted by God and signified and sealed Jesus Christ … More Episode 27.5: Old Testament Sacraments

Why the need to qualify that there’s only two sacraments? Are there any who say there’s less than two? What’s the relationship between this paragraph and the former one? What do we need to understand in order to get the point of a “lawfully ordained minister”? What impact did this paragraph have on the Covenanters? … More Episode 27.4: Only Two Sacraments

Can you address the errors of grace being conferred through the sacraments by the power within them, the piety or intention of the administrator? What biblical wisdom is there in making these distinctions? Is there evidence that one can be an unbeliever and receive the sacraments? Are there proof texts against this? What is the … More Episode 27.3: Grace Exhibited and Conferred

Can you remind our listeners what a “sign” and “seal” are? What is meant by the “thing signified”? How is this sacramental union representative and instrumental? What are the grounds for the union? Can you give examples of the way each is attribute to the other? What happens if we conflate the sign and the … More Episode 27.2: The Sign and the Thing Signified

Where does the word “sacrament” come from? How are sacraments “signs”? Why the qualifier “holy”? How are sacraments “seals”? Why is it important that they’re immediately instituted by God? What are other popular views of the sacraments? What do the sacraments accomplish? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 27.1: Sacraments are … More Episode 27.1: What is a Sacrament?

What is the spectrum of belief regarding divinization? What do we get wrong about partaking in the divine nature? How is this wrong thinking blasphemous? What is some of the communal living being described here? How do we know the Bible permits the owning of private property? How would communalism rob us of a significant … More Episode 26.3: What Communion Is Not

What is significant about the words “saints by profession”? What biblical passages and imagery is used to explain the communion of saints? How does a biblical understanding of the communion of saints differ from the Roman Catholic view? How does worship help us maintain a “holy fellowship”? What is some of the New Testament’s “spiritual … More Episode 26.2: Fellowship With One Another

Why place this chapter here? What’s the significance of the name “saints”? This is one of the first places where we read of “union with Christ,” what is that? How do we have fellowship with Jesus in his graces, sufferings, death, resurrection, and glory? Why is our union with each other one of love? How … More Episode 26.1: Union and Communion

Why does this paragraph repeat the claim that Christ is the only Head of the Church? What is the biblical significance of Christ’s Headship over the church? What is the Roman Catholic doctrine on the Pope? Are there any others who make the claims that the Pope does? Why are these claims contrary to Scripture? … More Episode 25.6: Antichrist

How would we distinguish between “mixture” and “error”? How does this inform someone who discovers they disagree with something in the church? What hope should we have from the expression “under heaven”? What churches is the Westminster Assembly referring to that have become “synagogues of Satan”? How do we mark out and measure degeneration? What … More Episode 25.5: The Mixed Church

How as the church been more or less visible in history? Why should this visibility problem be an encouragement to the Christian? How does the WCF change the older language of “true” or “false” church? What defines more or less pure? What are some New Testament examples of less pure churches? How have the marks … More Episode 25.4: The Purity of the Church

Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle are joined by Dr. John Bower to discuss his newest book The Confession of Faith: A Critical Text and Introduction. Dr. John Bower is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology, at Northeast Ohio Medical University and adjunct professor of Church History at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary. He … More Special Episode: Interview with Dr. John Bower

What is the distinction between invisible and invisible? What is the significance that Christ has given his church these things? What is meant by: a) ministry, b) oracles, and c) ordinances? What dual purpose has Christ given these things for? How doe these things gather the saints? How do they perfect? What encouragement can you … More Episode 25.3: Gathering and Perfecting

What is the distinction between the invisible and visible church? Where do you see this distinction in the Bible? What’s the distinction between the church under the law and under the gospel? How do we understand “profess the true religion”? Why are children part of the visible church? How is the church to be understood … More Episode 25.2: The Visible Church

What does the word “catholic” mean here? What perspective is immediately gained when we think of the church as “invisible”? What’s the relationship between election and membership in the invisible church? What is important about Christ being Head of the church? What benefits do we discover in considering the church as the Bride and Body … More Episode 25:1: The Invisible Church

What is wilful desertion? What times of desertion are not meant in the WCF? What does desertion look like? Is physical abuse desertion? Why is this paragraph needed today? What are some of the arguments used to justify divorce in today’s culture? Do you think there’s gray areas in certain scenarios for divorce? How is … More Episode 24.6: Wilful Desertion

Can you biblically define “adultery” and “fornication”? What is a “contract,” and is there any relevance in this first sentence to us in a contemporary society? What might this paragraph say to the intent of marriage? Why is adultery after marriage lawful grounds for divorce? How far does “adultery” extend? Why is it that only … More Episode 24.5: Adultery and Divorce

How does this paragraph relate to the previous one? What does “consanguinity” and “affinity” mean? How do we deal with the idea of incest when it comes to the children of Adam and Eve? Where does the Bible specifically address the laws of consanguinity and affinity? How do we know incest laws aren’t only for … More Episode 24.4: Relational Bounds of Marriage

How does this paragraph treat marriage as a creation ordinance? Is this paragraph confronting Roman Catholicism? What is meant by “all sorts of people”? What does “with judgment to give their consent” mean, and why is it important? Why are Christians to marry only in the Lord? Why can we not marry anyone we love? … More Episode 24.3: The Moral Bounds of Marriage

How do you think most people would answer the question about God’s design for marriage? Does the chapter’s ordering reflect anything historically or polemically? What is meant by “mutual help”? What does that look like? What is “legitimate issue”? How can Christians help support non-Christians in the area of marriage? Does God ordinarily build his … More Episode 24.2: The Purposes of Marriage

  Why do you think the WCF doesn’t begin this chapter with a definition of marriage? Can you provide a definition of marriage? How do we know, from the Bible or nature, that marriage is to be between a man and a woman? How relevant is this in today’s culture? Why does the WCF emphasize … More Episode 24.1: The Parties of Marriage

Why is a paragraph like this needed in a confession of faith? Why should we pray for our civil leaders? How do we “honor” their persons? What does “for conscience’s sake” mean? In Romans 13 whose “wrath” is being spoke of: Team Nathan (magistrates) or Team Kyle (God’s)? Excursus: should we obey the speed limit? … More Episode 23.4: Honoring the Magistrate

What’s the American context for the edits to this paragraph? Historically, how has the civil magistrate assumed the responsibility of the keys of the kingdom? Does the civil magistrate have a right to determine things around worship? How might the magistrate need to take order? What does that mean? What’s with all the punctuation? Is … More Episode 23.3: The Magistrate’s Religious Duty

What error is this paragraph seeking to oppose? What are qualifications for the civil magistrate? Can you define and biblically defend “maintaining piety,” “justice,” and “peace”? What defines “good” and “evil” in the context of Romans 13? How does “according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth” come into the theonomy debate? If you had … More Episode 23.2: The Christian Magistrate

Why is it good/necessary for a confession of “faith” to include a chapter on the civil government? How would you define God’s “lordship” and “kingship”? How does God exercise his lordship immediately? What does the word “ordained” mean here in this chapter? Do you think God has ordained all civil magistrates? What are the appointed … More Episode 23.1: The God Ordained Civil Magistrate

Why is the statement “No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God”? Why can’t we vow to something that would hinder our duty to God? Why must vows be within our ability to perform? Why is the promise of God necessary? Can you explain the Popish monastical vows? Why are … More Episode 22.7: Superstitious Vows

Who should we make a vow to, and why is this important? What is the voluntary nature of a vow and what consequence does that have for those who make vows? How are the activities we vow to limited? How is making a vow not manipulating God? What kinds of things do we vow to? … More Episode 22.6: An Acceptable Vow

What does it mean that a vow is of “like nature” with a promissory oath? What is the difference between an oath and a vow? Can you give examples from the Bible about vows? What is a “social vow”? Can a vow be made to something the Bible requires? Can a vow be made to … More Episode 22.5: What is a Vow?

What is the practical relevance of this chapter? How does one determine the “plain and common sense of the words” of an oath? What does this tell us about the care and caution of writing an oath? What is equivocation and why is it sinful? Where do we see examples of equivocation? Why should an … More Episode 22.4: The Meaning of an Oath

Can you remind us what an oath is? Why is swearing an oath “weighty” and “solemn”? How do you know if you’re making an oath according to the truth? Why does an oath need to be “good and just”? Why does one need to “believe” the oath to be true? Why did those American Presbyterians … More Episode 22.3: Taking an Oath

Why is the only proper way to make an oath to swear in the name of God? How does one make an oath with holy fear and reverence? Why should they not be made rashly? What else do people swear by? What are appropriate times to make an oath? Why can lawful authorities impose an … More Episode 22.2: How to Make an Oath

  What is an “oath” and what is a “vow,” what are the differences between the two? Why does this chapter occur between the chapter on the Sabbath and the civil magistrate? How is oath taking consistent with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5? What are “just occasions”? How does God “witness and judge” the truth … More Episode 22.1: Lawful Oaths

What does it mean to “keep holy unto the Lord”? How do you prepare your heart for the Sabbath? What does this paragraph have to say to the first part of the command: work six days? Why do we rest from our works, words, and thoughts? What is meant by “recreations” and do we really … More Episode 21.8: Sanctifying the Lord’s Day

What is the “law of nature”? How is it being used here in this paragraph? Where do we find the Sabbath command in the Bible? Can you explain: positive, moral, and perpetual? What does the Confession mean when it says “binding all men in all ages”? What significance did the Sabbath have in the old … More Episode 21.7: The Lord’s Day

How did people approach God in worship during the different times of the Old Testament? Why were the Israelites to perform worship toward Jerusalem? Where does Jesus change the centrality of temple worship in the new covenant? What Old Testament passages does Jesus use to anticipate the change in worship? What is meant by family … More Episode 21.6: Spirit and Truth

How is the Bible to be read? Who is supposed to publicly read the Bible? What is the Reformed doctrine of preaching? How should we listen to the preaching of the Word? What does singing “Psalms” mean? Can a case be made that the Assembly believed in exclusive Psalmody? What are the sacraments? Is anything … More Episode 21.5: The Parts of Worship

Why the emphasis on prayer? Is there a difference between praying the will of God and praying for things lawful? Why should we pray for all sorts of men? Why shouldn’t we pray for the dead? Who does that? What is the sin that leads to death? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle … More Episode 21.4: Lawful Prayer