Podcast appearances and mentions of Charles Hodge

In 1868 Pope Pius IX issued a call to those who, in his words, 'glory in the name of Christian, yet do not profess the true faith of Christ, nor hold to and follow the Communion of the Catholic Church.' He wanted them to submit to and join with the Catholic church, and hoped that the forthcoming First Vatican Council would catalyse this. Grasping the need for a concise and clear response, grounded in the biblical teaching recovered by the Reformers, Princeton theologian Charles Hodge penned a letter on behalf of the two General Assemblies of the Presbyterian Church in the USA. His explanation of the non-attendance of Protestant clergy at 'Vatican I' is helpful to us as the Pope and the Catholic Church once again loom large in the headlines.   Featured Resources: – Charles Hodge, 'Letter to Pope Pius IX', as re-published in the Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 415 (April 1998). – W. Robert Godfrey, 'The Lutheran–Roman Catholic Joint Declaration', Banner of Truth Magazine, Issue 436 (January 2000).   Materials Referenced: Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification: The Lutheran World Federation and the Roman Catholic Church The Joint Declaration on the Doctrine of Justification in Confessional Lutheran Perspective (The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod)   Banner Resources on Justification: Buchanan, James, The Doctrine of Justification (Clothbound, 520 pages) Roberts, Maurice, Finding Peace with God: Justification Explained (Booklet, 40 pages) Traill, Robert, Justification Vindicated (Puritan Paperback, 96 pages) Venema, Cornelis P., Getting the Gospel Right: Assessing the Reformation and New Perspectives on Paul (Paperback, 112 pages) Venema, Cornelis P., The Gospel of Free Acceptance in Christ: An Assessment of the Reformation and the New Perspective on Paul (Clothbound, 352 pages)   Banner Resources on Catholicism and its Claims: Bennett, Richard, Catholicism: East of Eden (Catholicism for the 21st Century) (Paperback, 336 pages) Bennett, Richard, Far from Rome Near to God: Testimonies of Fifty Converted Catholic Priests (Paperback, 360) Pollitt, H. J., The Inter-Faith Movement: The New Age Enters the Church (Paperback, 224 pages) Webster, William, Salvation, the Bible & Roman Catholicism (Paperback, 184 pages) Webster, William, The Church of Rome at the Bar of History (Paperback, 256 pages)   Explore the work of the Banner of Truth: www.banneroftruth.org Subscribe to the Magazine (print/digital/both): www.banneroftruth.org/magazine Leave us your feedback or a testimony: www.speakpipe.com/magazinepodcast

In this episode Ronald Davis shares his powerful story of overcoming abuse and finding healing through prayer. Ronald discusses his tumultuous first marriage, the deep impact of his relationship with God, and how intense prayer and faith led him to forgiveness and restoration. Diana and Ronald also explore the challenges men face in abusive relationships and the often inadequate support from religious communities. Ronald introduces his book, 'Thy Kingdom Come,' which delves into the transformative power of prayer and its role in personal and spiritual growth. 00:00 Sponsor Message: 7 5 3 Academy 00:48 Introduction to the Podcast 01:22 Diana's New Camera and Podcast Updates 02:26 Introducing Today's Guest: Ronald Davis 06:43 Ronald Davis' Background and Journey 08:04 Ronald's Early Life and Spiritual Awakening 10:59 Understanding Prayer and Its Importance 12:40 Ronald's First Marriage and Struggles 17:02 Healing and Restoration Through Prayer 21:12 Challenges Faced by Male Abuse Survivors 25:27 The Church's Role in Addressing Abuse 27:54 Conclusion and Next Episode Teaser   Thy Kingdom Come: The Purpose and Power of Prayer thykingdomcomebook.com   Bio:  Ronald Davis has been preaching the Gospel since his teenage years, driven by a deep passion for spreading the message of the Kingdom of God. With decades of ministry experience, he is known for his dynamic teaching and unwavering commitment to advancing God's Kingdom on earth. As the founder of Kingdom Truth Global, Apostle Davis equips believers worldwide with biblical truths, empowering them to live out their faith and walk in their God-given purpose. His life's mission is to see lives transformed by the power of the Kingdom and to raise up leaders who will impact the world for Christ.  Website: https://dswministries.org Email: diana@dswministries.org Subscribe to the podcast: https://dswministries.org/subscribe-to-podcast/ Social media links: Join our Private Wounds of the Faithful FB Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1603903730020136 Twitter: https://twitter.com/DswMinistries YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxgIpWVQCmjqog0PMK4khDw/playlists Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dswministries/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DSW-Ministries-230135337033879 Keep in touch with me! Email subscribe to get my handpicked list of the best resources for abuse survivors! https://thoughtful-composer-4268.ck.page #abuse #trauma Affiliate links: Our Sponsor: 753 Academy: https://www.753academy.com/ Can't travel to The Holy Land right now? The next best thing is Walking The Bible Lands! Get a free video sample of the Bible lands here! https://www.walkingthebiblelands.com/a/18410/hN8u6LQP An easy way to help my ministry: https://dswministries.org/product/buy-me-a-cup-of-tea/ A donation link: https://dswministries.org/donate/   Ronald Davis Part One [00:00:00] Welcome to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast, brought to you by DSW Ministries. Your host is singer songwriter, speaker and domestic violence advocate, Diana Winkler. She is passionate about helping survivors in the church heal from domestic violence and abuse and trauma. This podcast is not a substitute for professional counseling or qualified medical help. Now here is Diana. Hi everyone. How are you today? I'm glad that you're here with me for those that are watching on YouTube. I have a new camera today. Um, My old one, kind of, bit the dust and just got a new one. So hope I'm looking good for you guys. It's definitely high definition for sure. You could see my face very [00:01:00] clearly, probably too clearly. I could see my flaws, imperfections, whatnot. But hey, I'm an authentic person. There's no filters on here. I. Yes, this is my skin. I've not done any work to it. No Botox, nothing like that. It's just me. I don't use AI for very much at all for the podcast. I I just started using it for maybe summarizing show notes, but that's pretty much it. But anyway, that's what's new here on the show. I do have a great guest for you today. Those of you that have been listening for a long time on the podcast, we've had Shayna Rattler back on episode six. Yeah, that was second season, talking about what is a God shift. Well, she contacted [00:02:00] me and said her husband has written a new book about prayer and that she asked if I would have him on the podcast. So me and Shana had such a great time that I was happy to have her husband Ronald Davis on the show. He is a survivor of abuse from, looks like his first wife. I. His journey in prayer helped him to heal and prepare him for what God had next for him. So we're gonna be talking about his upbringing and his ministry. Of course, his story of abuse and how prayer played a big part in his recovery, and that's something that we all need more of is prayer. Such a touchy topic for a survivor to talk. We're a survivor because we were going through this [00:03:00] transition of going through all this abuse and coming out of it, and. Abuse always affects our relationship with God, especially our communication with God. Many of us are on the couch or we're not really sure about where do I stand on the subject of my faith? And that's okay. That's what the podcast is for, is we talk about these topics and we wrestle together for the answers. What does the Bible say about prayer? How does God feel about us? He wants to communicate with us and fellowship with us, and yes, we are asking for things with prayer, but we're also sometimes just sitting and listening and it's hard after you've been through an abusive. Relationship or you're still in one, it's hard to hear God's voice in the midst [00:04:00] of the noise around you. So we're gonna definitely talk that out today. So, Ronald's book is called Thy Kingdom Come, the Purpose and Power of Prayer, and you can purchase that on Amazon. I am gonna include the link in the show notes, of course. So I'll read what the book's about here. In this book, Ronald Davis takes you on a transformative journey into the heart of God's kingdom and the undeniable role of prayer in unlocking its power. This book is more than just a guide. It is a called a Deeper Intimacy with God, a rediscovery of identity, and an invitation to experience the fullness of his purpose for your life. Through insightful revelation and biblical reference, you'll explore the different dimensions of prayer and how to communicate with God effectively. Learn the key stages [00:05:00] of personal and spiritual transformation that align you with God's will. Understand the foundational connection between knowing your identity in Christ and walking in kingdom power. Discover the life-changing impact of intimacy with God on every area of your life. Whether you're a new believer or a seasoned leader, thy kingdom come, will empower you to deepen your relationship with God and live out his kingdom purpose in every aspect of your life. Embrace the power of prayer. Embrace the purpose of the kingdom. Let your life be a reflection of his glory. All right, sounds pretty good. so enjoy my conversation with Ronald Davis, I'm so excited to welcome Ronald Davis on the show. Thank you for coming on [00:06:00] today. Oh, you're, you're welcome. I definitely an honor to be here. I appreciate you having me. So I was saying to the audience before you came on that. You are Shayna Rattler Davis's husband. So when she reached out, it was very exciting that you wrote a book about prayer and that you'd like to come on the show. So any friend of Shayna is a friend of mine. So you said you were only married for five months? So far? Yes. Alright. How did you guys meet? Well, believe it or not a mutual mentor of ours he reached out to me one day and he said he said he wanted to introduce me to someone. He said, he thought about her about a year or so ago before he called me. He said, when he thought of her, he thought of me, but he knew at that time that I wasn't. By the leadership of the Holy Spirit. He just knew it wasn't time yet. So after a year or so, and what's funny is during that year I was in a deep [00:07:00] consecration and fasting before the Lord and seeking God. So after the year of that is when he called me and, he felt like it was now that time to make that introduction. And once we met it, we've just been inseparable ever since. Oh, that sounds fun. Now I'd like to get into a little bit about your history, your ministry how you were raised. Were you raised in a Christian home? I was. I was raised in a Christian home. But I was also raised in a very low income area. So it was two different worlds I was exposed to. My mom kept us in church, I got home to a father that was strung out on crack cocaine. And I had older brothers and siblings that were also contributors of drugs. So I was like, I lived in a house in an environment of, drugs and fighting and, just being exposed to gangs and that lifestyle, that street lifestyle, that, the hood lifestyle where people would refer to it as but my [00:08:00] mom put us in church, so we knew all the Bible stories, we used to receive prophecies as children. I remember receiving a prophecy that I was gonna be a preacher, my mom would threw it at my face at times. But when I was acting a fool and I wanted to do my own thing, but now look, I'm now writing books and glorifying Jesus many years later. But yeah, so that's kind of short version of my my household coming up. When did you meet the Lord? So I became serious about my relationship with God when I was about 16 years old, so from the time of, I'd say about 12, my mom stopped making us go to church, and I got more involved in like, as a young person in streets, sinning , using drugs, trying to sell drugs, trying to, adapt this lifestyle that I was, that was around me. I was, I was never a good fit for it, though, I'll be honest. I'd do wrong and feel bad, it just wasn't a good fit for me. I always knew my whole life that I was different. I remember having the gun put to my face and and I was about 14, 15 years old. And if there was ever a time ever heard [00:09:00] the first time I ever heard the voice of God, it was that day I could hear as clear as day, you can't die. I got work for you to do. Mm. And I wasn't even saved at the time, but that moment stuck with me to, to this very day. So I knew the hand of God was on my life, maybe 'cause of the upbringing in church. But I always knew God's hand was on my life, but I just thought it would be later in life that I would serve the Lord. But at 16, I went to a revival. Well, just before I turned 16, I went to the revival and I seen people being healed. I seen children giving their lives to Christ, and the message was powerful, and the man of God was amazing. And I wanted to be a part of what the Lord was doing. So, I, did antar call and I gave my life to Christ. And my life changed. People in my, my neighborhood saw me change. My school seen me change, so I went to being this bad kid in school to being the kid who was preaching in the hallways, telling people about Jesus. So it was a wonderful experience. I mean, and it's been a journey like everyone else, after we get saved, even that's sometimes when the story really begins, [00:10:00] right. Yeah. I love hearing people's stories of how they came to Christ. They're all different in yours is, exception. When you came to Christ when was the first time you actually understood the concept of prayer? I mean, talking to God, was that a natural thing for you or a foreign concept? Well, we've always taught, prayer in, in, in the church, but they didn't teach prayer like I know prayer now. They taught us we should pray. Mm-hmm. But they didn't really model prayer. I didn't know the way of consistent prayer. I didn't know the way of long prayer. So I would say my little daily prayers and as a young believer, just a level of zeal and hunger that we have for God. So we spend a lot more time, praying, even not praying as much as I do now, but I, what I thought prayer was, I did it to the best of my ability, but more so for me, I was given to the word of the Lord, like my first few years of salvation. I would read the [00:11:00] Bible for hours. That was my way of communing with God. This, studying the scriptures. So, by the time I was 18 years old, I was reading Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge. I was like, I was going deep in theology and breaking down the, historical background of the text. So before I was even 20, you would think I had went to seminary and I never did. I just was so deep in the word. So that was the journey that God took me first. He, it's almost like he wanted me to get that word foundation. And then, my journey into prayer as far as the place of prayer that I'm in now is, was relatively later in life. So from that point, I have that book, that systematic theology book. It's wonderful. Had I had that through Bible college. So, definitely got a lot of meat in that book. I still have it on my shelf. I do know that you were married before to your first wife. Tell us as much as you're comfortable [00:12:00] with what happened there? How did you meet her and what was the relationship like with her? Absolutely. So, that's a long story. I would give you the short version of it, oh yeah. Whatever you wanna do. I met my wife, in the church community, so we known each other from church. We served each other, we served each other in ministry. We took a liking to each other. I was really strong in the word, strong in theology. She had a strong prophetic gift and it seemed like we were just a good fit, the things that I would be studying, she would know by intuition. Like she just know by prophetically. And I said very gifted. And then, I was very rich in the word, but I wouldn't consider myself like as prophetic as I am now, and so, make a long story short, when we kind of took a liking to each other and we decided to get married, that's when the journey really began where I realized that you can have extremely gifted [00:13:00] people. But hurt people, hurt people. That's not just a cliche. It is actually true when the people have deeply rooted issues. It's hard for them to be loved, and it's hard for them to love. So, we had went through a season, when I first, I remember the first encounter where we got into an argument, a disagreement. And before you know it, somebody's throwing a blow. I mean, got punched in my face and I was in shock because this, this woman of God, this person I've just married, who I was so excited about, I think so highly of, lost control. So, and when the things ,first stuff like this start happening, obviously you're in shock, but then because we're Christians, we try to be forgiving as much as possible. Now we're in this marriage, we don't believe in divorce. So you figure, okay, I'm gonna love her through her pain, and many people think this, I'm gonna love them through it, but in all actuality, it's like, if two people get some serious help. You can't love them through it. It just sets the stage for [00:14:00] continuous abuse later. ' you know what? You may not want it, but if you tolerate it over time, what happens is now you'll begin to see yourself unconsciously as one that's worthy of such behavior. You know what I'm saying? Because what tells me that you feel like it's okay is because you stay. And I'll come back to that point later. But anyway, make a long story short, there was physical abuse, there was emotional abuse, there was psychological spiritual abuse. There was a lot of different things going on. And I'm not by any means trying to paint the picture that I was perfect in this marriage. 'cause I wasn't. Right. Right. I was developing, I wasn't as secure. In my prayer life as I am now. So I was doing a lot mm-hmm. Religiously, I was doing a lot trying to figure it out. I was doing a lot in the name of trying to love a person through it. I went through seven years of a marriage and I can't remember nine months of, 90 [00:15:00] days of consecutive peace. Yeah. I understand that. It was hard. Every, me too, it was just so hard. And as much as you prayed, as much as you tried to get through it, it's like it was always something, something just was never, it was never good enough. So after that, after everything we went through and the different financial hardship, that was the only source of income. There's a lot. I don't gimme the short version of the story, but there was a lot that I suffered. There was a lot that she suffered. There was a lot that we went through together trying to make it work and it got to the point which eventually we separated due to financial hardship. And in that separation. She blocked. I was blocked. I couldn't see my daughter. Blocked me on that, all the emails. And one thing I noticed about certain people with abusive personalities is they like to cut off all ties of communication. It's one of the ways that they inflict harm, whether they're doing it intentionally or not. It's that narcissistic personality is one of the ways that inflicts arm, they now feel like you're gonna suffer. [00:16:00] I'm gonna withdraw my presence from you. And it makes you feel less valued because not you feel like you were the one done wrong, and then they're treating you as if you were the one that treated them the way you felt like you've been treated. You know what I'm saying? Right, exactly. So in that, during that time of separation with no communication, I was able to find myself, I was able to see like, what is it about me that made it okay? Because even if it was, if this was gonna ever work, it wasn't gonna work like this. It wasn't gonna work. Yeah. So after all of that. Not having access to my daughter coming out of that relationship, coming out of that marriage. I was broken. I didn't really want to do ministry anymore 'cause we was doing ministry together. I didn't wanna do ministry more, I still wanted, God, I just didn't want ministry. So I was like, God, I needed to go through this process of healing. So I stopped, going live on Facebook. I stopped ministering, and I just began to shut down and just start working. And I went away for away from my, where I was [00:17:00] staying, went back home, felt like I needed to restore relationships, strengthened relationships back home that would, that would have been strained because of my relationship in this other marriage. So during that time, somebody invited me to preach one of my friends, and they didn't realize that's where my healing process started. Because it's like once I, wow. Once I started preaching and I saw God use me even in my brokenness. It's like I realized that, okay, like I still, this is what I'm here for. And I began to seek God in worship, began to see God in prayer, but still not at the level that I needed to. And there was many times on this period of time, I really felt like I hated her. I felt like, and then it was times where I couldn't see my daughter, so I felt that was really making me feel like a hater. And after all of that, when I went on a deep consecration, after some time had passed, we ain't talking a while, but artist society, you know what, I'm [00:18:00] not gonna date. I filed for divorce. We ended up separated with divorce. She signed, and I still, it was a gap in time when I actually first started seeing my daughter, but I really began to seek God and has left that whole situation in his hands. I began to cry to the Lord. I mean, I would fast and I would pray. I would pray from 10 to 3:00 AM in the morning. I sometimes I would pray 5, 6, 7 hours straight, just praying and seeking God, laying before him. And it was during that period of time that God really began to deal with me. He began to heal me. Like I would spend hours cry. I didn't know you could cry. That many got tears. And it wasn't all tears of sadness. It was tears of restoration. It was tears. It was tears of joy. It was like a cleansing, it was deep, and God was reminding me that I am his child. He is reminding me of who I am in spite of what I've been through. And I think the biggest challenge sometimes is to not identify yourself with your pain. Not identify yourself with a disappointment. [00:19:00] Because how another person treats you doesn't mean that's who you are. That just means how they treated you. So, but in that process of seeking God, God begins to restore me. And in that process of restoration, I was able to truly, to forgive from my heart. Because what God did is he took me back to the time that she was a child and begin to show me what it felt like to be an abandoned child. What it felt like to be an abused child, what it felt like to go through different foster care systems and nobody coming to your rescue. So he began to show me, he says, don't take it personal. She's hurting. And at that given moment, I cried with a deep cry and I began to like really just forgive. And it was that journey of forgiveness in complete, in, in wholeness that God was taking me through. That was preparing me for what was coming. So I won't let you jump in 'cause I don't want to talk too much. If you have any questions. Anything like that. No, I think you're saying your story very [00:20:00] eloquently hitting a lot of points that I can relate to. And I think, I mentioned to you that we have male listeners on the podcast that are survivors, that are listening is as well as the women. And they're just starting to get exposure that men do suffer from abuse also. Mm-hmm. How did you feel as a man going through abuse? You touched a little bit in general, but as a man did you get any kind of pushback from your community, your friends, your church about, oh, well, men don't get abused. You're the man of the house. You're supposed to be in charge, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. What was that like? Well, the, the thing about most abusive relationships is you're in isolation. Yes, you're in isolation to protect your own image and also because you also want to protect the image of the person you trying to keep. Especially when you're in [00:21:00] ministry, you don't want people to see her in the light of her flaws. You try to keep people seeing her in the light of her, her gifts and her, her calling, right? So in a lot of times what happens when you're a part of an abusive relationship of any kind, there's an isolation. There's a pulling away from those who love you. You're not telling everybody your situation, even if they seen some of it from a distance. They don't know if it's continuing or not, because you're not sharing that information. And most men, we don't like to talk, we don't like to tell people what we're going through. We kind of go through it ourselves. Meanwhile, we're feeling broken. We're feeling devalued. We're feeling disrespected. We're feeling unworthy, and no matter how anointed we are, no matter how handsome we are, when you go through something like that, it makes you feel like less. And the man you feel, you feel like your manhood has been taken from you, and you, what happens is when you're dealing with a certain personality, if you're not careful, you will lose your voice. And one of the [00:22:00] last things that you can ever do and still re expect respect from a woman, for a man, is to lose your voice. Because if you lose your voice, you no longer lead . So, and to keep the peace sometime, we'll keep silent. So I did get a whole lot, I mean, some family members who knew what I got went through. I mean, my best friend, he was like, bro, I don't even know why he went back type thing. Like he was like, he was on this, I should have ended it a long time ago. Like he was, he had a different perspective on it all together, but other than that, but there wasn't much from that perspective as far as a lot of pushback from the community or, or, negative talk because a lot of people didn't know the extent of what I was going through to after, even to this day, a lot of people still don't know the extent. They just know my marriage didn't work, yeah. I was in full-time ministry with my ex who was my main abuser. And the same thing, I put on the mask. I'm in [00:23:00] ministry, I have to have it all together. I need to protect my reputation. Even, the church's reputation and. I didn't like the way I was treated. The church denomination I was in, devalued women and their their contributions and it was, submit. And that's the only role you have is to do what you're told. And when I wanted to get out, the church told me I couldn't. That is why I stayed and put up with it because the church said, well, you're gonna get excommunicated, you're gonna lose your ministry. You're gonna lose your friends and you're gonna have to start all over again. And that's exactly what happened. But I left because I couldn't take it anymore. I'm like, I don't care anymore. I'm, I'm getting out. Yeah. There's only so much you can stomach and then you wake up one day, it's like, I, can't live like this anymore. And God. I know [00:24:00] you're up there. I haven't been praying for a few years now because I don't think you're listening and but I'm getting out and taking the consequences of whatever happens if they shun me or kick me out for being divorced, so be it. I'll find another ministry. Well, I was like you, I didn't wanna go back into ministry either. My ministry now is very different than church planting that I was doing before. But yeah. So I can relate to a lot of the things that you were saying. Some some parallel there. I think the church has done a disservice. For the most part, the religious community has done a disservice when it comes to matters like this. And believe it or not, we protect the abuser more than we protect the person that's being abused. And this whole idea of, just work it out, work it out, work it out, and they're not understanding the full weight of what's going on. Like when [00:25:00] people have that, and I believe in deliverance, but I truly believe one of the hardest spirits to get rid of is that narcissistic, abusive personality that grows out a orphan spirit. Because that spirit oftentimes is the people are so far gone that even though they're conscious of what they're doing to you, they don't actually see themselves as being a bad person. Right. You're making me lose control. You're pushing me to this point. Mm-hmm. And, and a of times they're very intellectual, they're very gifted. They're, and people, they're likable, to the average person. So people are like, yeah, you just gotta work it out. I mean, every marriage have tough problems. No, I am being abused. I am being manipulated. I am being controlled. God did not create us to be controlled. This is why we always end up feeling some level of depression or a level of unsettling in our belly. Anytime you're under control, because it's not, you're not wired to function that [00:26:00] way, and it's just a matter of time that our, that dominion in us just ride and say, I can't take no more. I gotta get, because I know that, oh, God did not design me to be in control. Unfortunately, we have the enemy sometimes arranged marriages. Mm-hmm. I destinies and then he used religion to keep you in it. You can't get your divorce. You can't. So he'll use scriptures to kind of keep you in something that he's the author of. Because God is not the author of abuse. God is not the author of confusion. God is not the author of disrespect. If my husband is not good and perfect for me, he didn't come from God. I gotta have that. I have to know the word and be confident enough in the word to know that every good and perfect gift comes from above. I don't care how gifted, I don't care how anointed they appear. I don't care how intellectual they may be. If they're abusing me, they're manipulating me, controlling me. That was not from God. Yes, exactly. [00:27:00] Something I give myself, I'm not gonna say God gave me this person. well folks, this is a great place to stop our conversation. I know you want to hear more on prayer and how actually to commune better with God. So be sure to be with us next time on The Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. I wish you a great week. God bless you, and we'll see you next time. Bye for now. Thank you for listening to the Wounds of the Faithful Podcast. If this episode has been helpful to you, please hit the subscribe button and tell a friend. You could connect with us at DSW Ministries dot org where you'll find our blog, along with our Facebook, Twitter, and our YouTube channel links. Hope to see you next week.  

Systematic Theology (1872-1873)Hodge in his Systematic Theology defends the orthodox position that the Scriptures – given by divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit – are both infallible (not capable of error) and inerrant (without error). The implications of this doctrine are very significant in regards to the authority by which Christians are to be governed in matters of faith and practice.

The Princetonian: Charles Hodge || Josh King by Meridian Church

This podcast is built on a very simple conviction: in order to be faithful in the present, we must be rooted in the past. The old paths of Presbyterianism in the 18th and 19th century have much to teach us about the path we walk today.In weekly 30 minute episodes, we will reflect on the lives and works of figures such as Archibald Alexander, B.M. Palmer, and Charles Hodge. We will consider enduring themes–prayer, Christian experience, and the church–matters of eternal significance for the people of God until Christ returns.

What is saving faith? Today, Stephen Nichols looks to Charles Hodge's teaching on Galatians 2:20, exploring how true faith rests in Christ alone, trusts in His love, and clings to His atoning work for our salvation. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/charles-hodge-what-is-saving-faith/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

What is systematic theology? Today, Stephen Nichols delves into Charles Hodge's definition of theology as a science, reflecting on how Hodge arranged biblical truths in a harmonious system while emphasizing the necessity of the Holy Spirit. Read the transcript: https://ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutes-in-church-history-with-stephen-nichols/charles-hodge-what-is-systematic-theology/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://donate.ligonier.org/ Explore all of our podcasts: https://www.ligonier.org/podcasts

Thank you for catching up with us! This is the sermon Worship: What Is Worship? Spirit and Truth - Rev. Roberto Chaple and Charles Hodge. If you'd like to watch our full worship experience live, visit our Online Campus, go to findnewhope.online.church We're live Sundays at 9:00 am EST for our Traditional Service, at 11:00 am EST for our Modern service. Replays happen throughout the week! Watch the sermon and more here: https://www.findnewhope.com/archive Donate via PayPal to support the podcasts and the Technical Arts Ministry of New Hope! https://goo.gl/o2a9oU Subscribe to our New Hope Sunday Sermon Podcast on: * Apple Podcasts - https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/new-hope-umc-sunday-sermon-podcast/id1093524425?mt=2 * Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/2habfMJ6S8jirQnpimNwHg?si=nKlvpZRrQYKnsJSJc6Du3Q) * Stitcher Radio - http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=87782&refid=stpr) * Subscribe on Android - http://subscribeonandroid.com/findnewhopesunday.libsyn.com/rss * Google Play - https://play.google.com/music/m/Ijonx62ajd5qwxv3qgxkizdqnva?t=New_Hope_UMC_Sunday_Sermon_Podcast) * YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFZw6j-ZlY45HU-m-lQ5XYuphsrbeJMsk Connect with New Hope: * Website: http://www.findnewhope.com/ * Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/findnewhopefl * Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/findnewhope

This episode is about John 8:58 "Before Abraham was, I AM". I argue that this is a mistranslation and that Jesus is not making a claim to deity. I show that this passage does not support pre-existence or the deity of Christ but is perfectly compatible with a Biblical Unitarian perspective. I mention Melito of Sardis, Justin Martyr, John Chrysostom, John Calvin, Jordan Peterson, Kathy Newman, 2 Corinthians 3:4-18, John 3:14, Romans 12:4-5, John 6 Bread of Life, John 3 you must be born again, Nicodemus, John 4 The Samaritan Woman at the well, Prologue of John 1, John 9 healing of the blind man, Moses lifting up the serpent, BB Warfield, Charles Hodge, Exodus 3:13-15, Matthew 14:26 Jesus walking on water with Peter, John 20:30-3, Matthew 26:63-68, John 10:27-36 I and the Father are one, and many others as well. Dr. Dustin Smith (  @BiblicalUnitarianPodcast  ) series on theme of misunderstanding : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AUNLO9Zm83o

¿Qué hizo Charles Hodge cuando descubrió que sus estudiantes de seminario no podían leer en latín? En este episodio de 5 Minutos en la Historia de la Iglesia, Stephen Nichols nos habla de la teología sistemática en tres volúmenes de Hodge. Lee la transcripción: https://es.ligonier.org/podcasts/5-minutos-en-la-historia-de-la-iglesia-con-stephen-nichols/charles-hodge-y-su-libro Una iniciativa de Ministerios Ligonier apoyada por donantes. Haz tu donativo: https://gift.ligonier.org/1119/spanish-outreach

Apologists Who Emphasize Revelation After covering a couple of apologetic methods that are very similar, are there any that are really that different? Well, entering into the ring is Reformed Apologetics aka Presuppositionalism. Over the next four episodes, we'll cover this one pretty extensively. First of all, well because we like it and are proponents of it. Second, because of how often misunderstood it is and the need to clarify is still needed. Those covered today are John Calvin, Thomas Reed, and Charles Hodge. Timeline: 00:00 - Introduction 03:04 - Clarification On The Book & Video Content 05:24 - Overview Of Reformed Apologetics Presuppositionalism 07:47 - John Calvin's Apologetic 12:27 - The Noetic Effects Of Sin In Apologetics 15:19 - Humanity Is Without Excuse For Unbelief 20:20 - Theistic Proofs Are Of Marginal Value 22:07 - Two Uses Of Theistic Arguments For Calvin 24:19 - Modern Roots Of The Reformed Apologetics Movement 24:54 - Thomas Reed & Common Sense Reformed Apologetics 33:30 - Charles Hodge & Presupposing Fact Finders 40:45 - Proper Role Of Reason For Hodge 41:56 - Conclusion BOOK LINKS: Faith Has Its Reasons By Kenneth Boa & Robert M. Bowman Jr. Kindle Paperback Logos

Pastor Adam BrownTEXT: Romans 5:1-5BIG IDEA: The Gospel of Jesus Christ brings true hope for the sinner, the sufferer, and the saint.OUTLINE: 1. Hope for the Sinner (vs. 1-2) 2. Hope for the Sufferer (vs. 3-4) 3. Hope for the Saint (v. 5)RESOURCES: ESV Study Bible; NIV Biblical Theology Study Bible by D.A. Carson; Romans (Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament) by Thomas R. Schreiner; Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary: Exalting Jesus in Romans by Tony Merida; Men Made New by John R.W. Stott; Romans, The Crossway Classic Commentaries by Charles Hodge; Romans: An Expositional Commentary by R.C. Sproul; Romans: Righteousness from Heaven (Preaching the Word) by R. Kent Hughes

Eternal Life      John wrote, “whoever believes will in Him have eternal life” (John 3:15), and “God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). And Jesus pointed others to Himself, saying, “For this is the will of My Father, that everyone who beholds the Son and believes in Him will have eternal life, and I Myself will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40), and “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes has eternal life” (John 6:47; cf., 10:28). Jesus, when saying the believer “has” eternal life in John 6:47, used the Greek verb echō (ἔχω – to have or possess), which is in the present tense, meaning it's a right-now-truth. That is, eternal life is what the believer possesses at the moment of faith in Christ. This eternal life is connected with being in a relationship with Jesus Christ. John wrote, “God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has the life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have the life” (1 John 5:11-12).      We should also understand that eternal life does not merely refer to our unending existence in which we spend eternity with God in heaven, but that there's a qualitative dimension to it. Jesus said, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly” (John 10:10), and “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). Merrill C. Tenney states, “Eternal, the new life God gives, refers not solely to the duration of existence but also to the quality of life as contrasted with futility. It is a deepening and growing experience. It can never be exhausted in any measurable span of time, but it introduces a totally new quality of life.”[1] In its entirety, eternal life is a free gift offered by God to those who trust in Christ as Savior (John 3:16; Eph 2:8-9), an experience to be enjoyed now (John 10:10), and a future reward for a life of sacrifice (Luke 18:29-30). As we advance spiritually in our walk with the Lord by learning His Word (2 Tim 2:15; 3:16-17; 1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18), being filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18), walking obediently by faith (2 Cor 5:7; Heb 10:38; 11:6), praying often (Eph 6:18; 1 Th 5:17), developing an attitude of gratitude (Eph 5:20; 1 Th 5:18), fellowshipping with other believers (Acts 2:42; Heb 10:25), engaging in worship (Eph 5:19; Heb 13:15), and allowing trials to shape us spiritually (Jam 1:2-4), we will experience what Paul told Timothy, when he instructed him to “take hold of the eternal life to which you were called” (1 Tim 6:12). This is the quality of life of believers who, in time, operate with positive volition toward God as their divine Parent and obey His directives to advance to spiritual maturity. Wiersbe notes, “We have ‘eternal life' and need to take hold of it and let it work in our experience.”[2] MacDonald adds, “He is to lay hold on eternal life. This does not mean that he is to strive for salvation. That is already his possession. But here the thought is to live out in daily practice the eternal life which was already his.”[3] Joseph Dillow states: "Possessing eternal life is one thing in the sense of initial entrance, but “taking hold” of it is another. The former is static; the latter is dynamic. The former depends on God; the latter depends on us. The former comes through faith alone; “taking hold” requires faith plus “keeping commandments” (1 Timothy 6:14). Those who are rich in this world and who give generously “will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life” (1 Timothy 6:19). Eternal life is not only the gift of regeneration; it is also “true life” that is cultivated by faith and acts of obedience."[4] Expiation      The doctrine of expiation is closely related to propitiation. Propitiation means satisfaction and refers to God the Father's approval of the death of Christ on behalf of sinners. Expiation emphasizes the removal of sin, as well as its guilt and punishment. Because God is holy and just, sin is an offense that demands His punishment. According to John Stott, God's wrath refers to “His steady, unrelenting, unremitting, uncompromising antagonism to evil in all its forms and manifestations.”[5] By means of the penal substitutionary atoning death of Jesus, God's wrath is satisfied concerning His righteous demands for our sin, and when we turn to Christ as Savior, all our sins are forgiven (Eph 1:7), and we are reconciled to God (Rom 5:10; 2 Cor 5:18-20). Jesus is “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29), and we know “He appeared in order to take away sins” (1 John 3:5), and that Jesus “released us from our sins by His blood” (Rev 1:5). Bruce Demarest states, “the focus of propitiation is Godward—Christ's sacrifice pays the penalty of sin so as to appease God's wrath. But the focus of expiation is humanward—Christ's sacrifice removes the stain of sin and the sinner's liability to suffer sin's punishment.”[6] Charles Hodge adds, “Expiation and propitiation are correlative terms. The sinner, or his guilt is expiated; God, or justice, is propitiated.”[7]      Propitiation is a word that speaks to our relationship with the Father. He was angry with us prior to our coming to Jesus, as we were “enemies” of God (Rom 5:10), spiritually “dead” in our trespasses (Eph 2:1; cf., Col 2:13), and “children of wrath” (Eph 2:3). But now, because of the death of Christ, the Father accepts those who have trusted in Jesus as Savior, and has “forgiven us all our transgressions, having canceled out the certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us; and He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross” (Col 2:13b-14). Robert B. Thieme, Jr. states: "Expiation describes the work of Christ on the cross that canceled mankind's debt owed for the penalty of sin. Man's penalty for sin is spiritual death, total separation from God. This is the status of every human being at birth due to Adam's fall (Rom 6:23a; Eph 2:1). The penalty placed all fallen humanity hopelessly in debt to God and incapable of paying the obligation. The only one qualified to pay was Jesus Christ, the Lamb without sin. He “bore our sins in His body on the cross” and was judged by God the Father (1 Pet 2:24a; cf. Isa 53:6b). Jesus Christ Himself covered the cost of man's spiritual death and “canceled out the certificate of debt” (Col 2:14). As a result, every human being is released from obligation and free to accept or reject the grace gift of salvation."[8] Dr. Steven R. Cook     [1] Merrill C. Tenney, “John,” in The Expositor's Bible Commentary: John and Acts, ed. Frank E. Gaebelein, vol. 9 (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1981), 50. [2] Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 236. [3] William MacDonald, Believer's Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 2101. [4] Joseph C. Dillow, Final Destiny: The Future Reign of the Servant Kings, 4th Edition (Houston, TX: Grace Theology Press, 2018). [5] John R. W. Stott, The Cross of Christ (Downers Grove, IL: IVP Books, 2006), 171. [6] Bruce A. Demarest, The Cross and Salvation: The Doctrine of Salvation, Foundations of Evangelical Theology (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1997), 180. [7] Charles Hodge, Systematic Theology, vol. 2 (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997), 478. [8] Robert B. Thieme, Jr. “Expiation”,  Thieme's Bible Doctrine Dictionary, 94.

Sandi Miller tells of her amazing relationship with Elvis and her personal journey into the inner sanctum of the King. As one of the 'gate crew,' Sandi went from hanging around the front gate of the Los Angeles residence to sharing barbecues, movie nights and a lasting friendship with Elvis. Sandi also dated Charles Hodge, one of those closest to Elvis. Sandi was on stage for the 1968 television special and shares her memories of that plus learning of Elvis' passing.  Hosts Mark Andrew and Kevin Hillier take you inside the Kingdom with access to the people who were there when the legend was at his highest and lowest. Hear amazing Elvis stories from  staff, friends, fans, fellow musicians, promoters and some sources that will surprise.  Mark Andrew has been paying homage to Elvis in his live tribute shows for decades and Kevin has been playing Elvis songs on the radio for even longer. They are the perfect combination to bring Elvis to the fans, old and new.     contact us elvispresleypodcast@gmail.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A story about Lincoln sent me on a pursuit to learn more about this great man. What did Lincoln believe about God? Did he believe in the God of the Bible or a god who was distant and disinterested, as some might attest? I hope the findings encourage you in your pursuit of faithful living. 

This 100+ podcast is a discussion with author, speaker and podcaster David Moore about the key books and notable theologians of the 19th century.  Listen to a conversation about why we should read and where truth resides. Hear a list of the most influential 19th century people, including theologians Friedrich Schleiermacher, Charles Hodge, B.B. Warfield, and Abraham Kuyper. And learn why you should add Emily Dickinson's poetry, Abraham Lincoln's speeches, Nathaniel Hawthorne and Victor Hugo's novels and Frederick Douglass's Narrative of the life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave.

The Reformed tradition of Protestantism has arguably been the most influential form of Christianity in the history of the United States and can boast such important figures in the religious and cultural life of the nation as Johnathan Edwards, Charles Hodge and the brothers Richard and Reinhold Niebohr. Yet, despite a resurgence of interest in reformed theology in conservative evangelicalism in the past two decades, appreciation of its importance to the history of America more broadly is at a low ebb. In this episode of the HCA Podcast we are talking about the Reformed tradition of Christianity in America and asking, what is it? and why is it important for those of us who are interested in American history, society and culture? Todays guest, Dr. David Komline, who is here in Heidelberg on a Humboldt Fellowship working on a book project exploring the history of the Reformed tradition in America, is here to help answer these questions.

Archibald Alexander Hodge - The Day Changed and the Sabbath Preserved (1877) . . . In this short tract, published the year he arrived at Princeton Seminary to assist his father Charles Hodge in teaching systematic theology, A. A. Hodge sets forth a clear biblical, theological, and historical case that the Lord's Day is the Christian Sabbath day, in spite of the change from the seventh day of the week to the first day.

Article from the early days of The Biblical Repertory, Charles Hodge was just 32. The sermon was preached by Samuel Cox who was aiming at Old Calvinism's view of God's Sovereignty in Regeneration.

A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Regeneration - Critique of A Sermon From The New School Subtitle: The Narrated Puritan - T M S Speaker: Charles Hodge Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audio Book Date: 10/9/2022 Length: 31 min.

A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Regeneration - Critique of A Sermon From The New School Subtitle: The Narrated Puritan - T M S Speaker: Charles Hodge Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audio Book Date: 10/9/2022 Length: 31 min.

A new MP3 sermon from The Narrated Puritan is now available on SermonAudio with the following details: Title: Regeneration - Critique of A Sermon From The New School Subtitle: The Narrated Puritan - T M S Speaker: Charles Hodge Broadcaster: The Narrated Puritan Event: Audio Book Date: 10/9/2022 Length: 31 min.

A presentation titled “Re-evaluating Mark Noll, Scottish Common Sense Realism, and Charles Hodge” by Mark Hallman (Dallas Theological Seminary). This talk was delivered at the 2022 National Convivium hosted at Davenant House in Landrum, SC.

Chalee and Chelsea continue their study of Devoted: Great Men and their Godly Moms.  We discuss Charles Hodge and his mother, their difficult relationship, and how trying to maintain control over your children can irreparably harm your relationship and your witness with your sons. 

Before English textbooks were common in American higher education, many were written in Latin. On this episode of 5 Minutes in Church History, Dr. Stephen Nichols describes how Charles Hodge responded to linguistic shifts at Princeton by writing a three-volume work for his students. Read the transcript: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/hodges-systematic-theology/ A donor-supported outreach of Ligonier Ministries. Donate: https://www.5minutesinchurchhistory.com/donate/

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness."Chapters 4-7 in Romans are the key issues which face all believersIn Romans 3:21 and 3:28 Paul has stated God's position on how a man is saved and now in Romans 4:1-12 Paul uses two illustrations to prove it.Abraham, Issac, and Jacob were regarded by the Jews as not having sinned against God3 times Abraham is called God's friend:2 Chron 20:7, James 2:23 andIsaiah 41:8  "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend.Charles Hodge points out that Abraham was the centerpiece of the Jews position of righteousness by works. He was known to them as the father of faith. He was believed to have kept the whole law. They even believed that the Torah or the Jewish law had been given before the foundation of the world for Abraham's sake. 1. Abraham Justified by FaithV-1 John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham.v- 2 If Justified by works he has something to boast aboutEph 2:4-101Corinth 1:26-31The law was not given until the time of Moses...several hundred years later after Abraham's deathGal 3:1 7 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise.v-3 Abraham believed...Gen 26:3-6 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." 6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar.We know that Abraham lied twice about his wife SarahGenesis 20:2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah.Gen 12:13  "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." To Pharoah in EgyptGen 15:4-6  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.Accounted or imputed is a financial or legal word that means to take something that belongs to someone else and credit it to another's account. God took his own righteousness and credited it to Abraham as if it were his because Abraham believed. This word is used 9 times in chapter 4 alone.What did Abraham believe? 1.    Went out not knowing where he was going Hebrews 11:82.    Promise of a son even though he and Sarah were past childbearing age. 3.    All nations will be blessed through Abraham  Gen 12:34.    Promises in Gen 22:18 of a blessing through a single descendant; Not just a son, but Jesus ChristGal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises

Why is preaching not a sacrament? That's the question this week. Onsi and Colin talk about what Protestants mean by "means of grace", look closely at some different confessions, explore the Law-Gospel distinction, and meditate on the nature of salvation and union with Christ. NOTE: most books below are linked via Bookshop.org. Any purchases you make via these links give The Davenant Institute a 10% commission, and support local bookshops against chainstores/Amazon.Currently ReadingOnsi: Objections to Descartes' Meditations and Descartes' Replies by Rene Descartes  Colin: Eudemian Ethics by Aristotle Texts DiscussedWestminster Larger Catechism, Q.154-155"Article V. Law and Gospel" in the Book of Concord"Of the Sacraments" (Institutes 4.14) by John CalvinExplanation of the 95 Theses by Martin Luther"Charles Hodge, Wrong About and the Reformed Doctrine of the Eucharistic Presence" by Steven WedgeworthSpotlight"Old Aristotle, or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love Aquinas" - April Fellows Lecture, Thursday 8pm ET on Zoom

Romans 3:5 But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unjust who inflicts wrath? (I speak as a man.) 6 Certainly not! For then how will God judge the world? 7 For if the truth of God has increased through my lie to His glory, why am I also still judged as a sinner? 8 And why not say, "Let us do evil that good may come"? --as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just. In verses 3:5-8 Now Paul answers the objection that his teaching speaks against the holiness and purity of God's characterObjection 3  If our unrighteousness shows the righteousness of God then isn't it unjust for God to punish our sinV-5 demonstrates the righteousness of GodIf the unrighteousness of the Jews gave occasion for God to call the Gentiles then why are the Jews so blamed and criticizedJude 4 For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.The diamond is often laid on a black cloth to make it appear even more beautifulI speak as a man-- Paul is emphasizing the fact that this unbiblical train of thought comes from unregenerate or corrupt mindsV-6 Certainly not...If God condoned sin then He would have not right and fair way of Judging all menGenesis 18: 25 "Far be it from You to do such a thing as this, to slay the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous should be as the wicked; far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"Objection 4 If the truth of God's glory and faithfulness has increased through my lie or sin then why am I judged as a sinner…. Luke 7:47V-7 Charles Hodge --according to this reasoning, says Paul, the worse we are the better. For the more wicked we are, the more clearly will the mercy of God be seen in our pardonV-8 Unfortunately some had perverted the Gospel Paul preached. They argued that it not only provided a license to sin, but encouraged them to do so.This argument is called Antinomianism if we are saved by grace alone through faith alone, by Christ alone,  totally apart from works then why does it matter whether we live a righteous life or not. Isn't it good that we sin since God will be given even greater glory as our Savior? If you are a real Christian you will hate sin, and be angry when you and others sin. You will feel bad because you have sinned. Men will use any excuse to justify their sin1 John 4:8 He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.Exodus 34:7 "keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, by no means clearing the guilty,But Paul says that your sin is not justifiable in any way and God who is righteous and holy will judge itMark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.  hisloveministries.podbean.com

Charles Hodge's book -Justification by Faith Alone- - section on the Immutability of the law of God. -Greg Bahnsen's Confession regarding Creation

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Benjamin Breckinridge Warfield (1851–1921) was a prolific writer, accomplished scholar, and ranks as one of America's greatest theologians. After studying mathematics and science at Princeton University, he enrolled at Princeton Theological Seminary in 1873, where he was taught by Charles Hodge, in order to train for ministry as a Presbyterian minister. He later returned to America and taught at Western Theological Seminary (now Pittsburgh Theological Seminary). In all my podcasts I try to apply scripture to real-life experiences. And I expound on what I believe the scripture is trying to convey to us. We need to dig deep into God's Word to find out what life is all about, and how to live like God wants us to do and how to do it. Please go to this link for an introduction to my videos. https://youtu.be/1QGlmOknCOU Also, check out these links: https://youtu.be/ifbtZVJ6pqc https://hiawathabible.org/down-to-earth-but-heavenly-minded-podcast Links to more audio writings: https://www.facebook.com/Old-Authors-... https://hiawathabible.org/videos-audi...

Free Will: Fact or Misconception?    Do Calvinists believe in free will? Jonathan and James point to the Westminster Confession of Faith chapter 9 to help us tackle this turbulent topic. The Confession is very careful to qualify what it means for man to have free will while establishing the boundaries of human freedom.   What does it mean to be “bound,” or to experience the loss of free will? If we affirm that man is free, well…what is man free from? What is he free for? This mind-expanding conversation will help calibrate your thinking! Show Notes   ·  The Bondage of the Will by Martin Luther   We are glad to offer our listeners the opportunity to win a free copy of The Way of Life by Charles Hodge. Click to Register! The books are a generous gift from our friends at Banner of Truth.  

The third point of doctrine involved in this debate is the relation of faith and repentance. If the rudimental element of depravity is blindness of mind, and regeneration is primarily illumination, then faith should be defined as assent to gospel truth simply, and repentance should be defined as the consequence of saving faith, and invariably subsequent to it. To this last point Dr. Hodge would assent. But if our scheme is the true one, that depravity is rudimentally a perverted habitus of will accompanied by a consequent blinding of the mind, and regeneration is primarily an almighty revolution of the will resulting in illumination, then faith is a -receiving and resting upon Christ for salvation,- --with the heart man believeth unto righteousness,--

If you have bibles with you, I invite you to open them up with me to Hebrews 9:15-28. Hear now the word of the Lord. 15 Therefore he is the mediator of a new covenant, so that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance, since a death has occurred that redeems them from the transgressions committed under the first covenant. 16 For where a will is involved, the death of the one who made it must be established. 17 For a will takes effect only at death, since it is not in force as long as the one who made it is alive. 18 Therefore not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. 19 For when every commandment of the law had been declared by Moses to all the people, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water and scarlet wool and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, 20 saying, “This is the blood of the covenant that God commanded for you.” 21 And in the same way he sprinkled with the blood both the tent and all the vessels used in worship. 22 Indeed, under the law almost everything is purified with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins. 23 Thus it was necessary for the copies of the heavenly things to be purified with these rites, but the heavenly things themselves with better sacrifices than these. 24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. 25 Nor was it to offer himself repeatedly, as the high priest enters the holy places every year with blood not his own, 26 for then he would have had to suffer repeatedly since the foundation of the world. But as it is, he has appeared once for all at the end of the ages to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself. 27 And just as it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment, 28 so Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him. Hebrews 9:15-28, ESV One of the most precious doctrines, doctrines are referring to theological teachings that the church confesses, a theological teaching that we as Harvest Community profess, that Christians have professed for two thousand years, is a doctrine known as the penal substitutionary view of the atonement. Now you haven't heard that term before, you may assume that lies on the periphery of important Christian doctrine. In fact, the so-called penal substitutionary review of the atonement is no different doctrine of Christianity. In fact, it's the doctrine that lies at the heart of the gospel. So the basic question what are we saying when we refer happily the penal substitutionary view of the atonement? To affirm this doctrine, to break down the phraseology of it, is to say something very specific about the nature of Christ. In the particular it is to claim that when Christ died on the cross 2000 years ago, he first of all voluntarily died in our place. Hence, the word substitution. Then to pay the penalty for our sin by satisfying God's righteous requirements against sinners, hence penal, so that God's sinful people, you and I, could have peace and fellowship with God, hence, atonement. Now understand that this doctrine is predicated on a few assumptions. It's predicated on the assumption that we, as sinners who have rebelled against the holy God of the universe, deserve nothing less than the eternal wrath of God. When Christ entered into human history, he willingly took our place. He died in our place so that the punishment we rightly deserve for our sin was instead poured out to Jesus for all those who trusted him for salvation. This is indispensable. It's a thoroughly biblical doctrine, and we have to confess with every other Bible believing church. Yet, in some quarters over the last few decades, this doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement has sadly come under duress. Not because it's not a biblical doctrine. Again, it's a thorough biblical doctrine, but because it sounds far too harsh for many in our sanitized Western Conference. One theologian about 20 years ago or so who sadly rejects this doctrine, has characterized penal substitution as a teaching rooted in violence that imagines the cross as a form of cosmic child abuse, with the Father pouring out his wrath on the Son. Now there are a legion of problems with that kind of characterization, but the fact of the matter is that this very biblical doctrine that we know as penal substitutionary atonement assumes both a certain view of God, God's character, and a certain view of human sin and humanity, which is simply unpalatable to many people in our western context. You see, when we turn to the Bible, whether we're talking about the Old Testament or the New Testament, one thing we find all over the place is that the shedding of blood is really important and it's really pervasive. Now we could turn to Leviticus, for example, and read all about the various animals that had to be slaughtered. We could turn to Leviticus and read all about all of the various sacrifices that had to be offered, all the animals that had to be slaughtered, and all the blood that had to be poured out at the altar. Or on the other side of the Bible we could turn to Revelation and read about how, after the great harvest of the Earth, a veritable sea of blood as high as a horse's bridle that comprise an area of one hundred and eighty four square miles filled the earth. Now these ideas of sacrifice and the shedding of blood, the pinnacle of which is Christ penal substitutionary death on the cross are frankly a bit difficult for many in our modern world to accept even professing Christians. Yet, even if you rightly profess the doctrine of penal substitutionary atonement as biblical and necessary, which it most certainly is, perhaps all of this imagery of blood and sacrifice in the Bible raises the question for you. Why? Why was it necessary for blood to be spilled in a sacrificial system of the Old Testament? Ultimately, why was it necessary for Christ to die? After all, God is God, and if you wanted to forgive sin, why couldn't he just snap his fingers and forgive our sin? Why does God's wrath need to be satisfied, and why does all of this blood have to be shed? Well, fortunately, our passage this morning addresses many of these questions, and for all of the weedy details that we have to work through, its main point couldn't be simpler. That is Christ Jesus had to die. And that's our big idea this morning, Christ had to die. As we work through a passage, we're going to home in on three specific reasons for why Christ had to die. Now again, we might imagine if we were to answer this question in a vacuum, why did Christ have to die? A number of reasons we could give, but just sticking to the text. What we find are three specific reasons given to us in Hebrews by the author in this text for why Christ had to die. 1. Christ had to Die so that We Could Receive 2. Christ had to Die in Order to Represent Us in Heaven 3. Christ had to Die so that He Could Return Christ had to Die so that We Could Receive So first, Christ had to die so that we could receive. Now notice when our passage opens, our author reminds us of something that we've heard a number of times already in Hebrews, he says, right out of the gate that Christ is the mediator of the new covenant. Now to review because this is an important concept, a mediator is someone who stands between two parties. In this case, Jesus Christ, the eternal son of God, stands between God and mankind in order to represent us, the people of God, before God. So that we could draw boldly near to God, near to the throne of grace, unencumbered by the defilement of our sin. This is exactly the privilege that we have in the new covenant. Through Christ, we are invited as the people of God to draw near to God. We have the promise that when we lift up our prayers to the Lord in the name of Jesus Christ, that he hears our many prayers. Also that we sojourn this world with security and belonging in an otherwise insecure and lonely world, because Christ Jesus in the new covenant claims you and me and the church as his own. For all of these great blessings that we enjoy in the so-called new covenant, we learned that before any of that belong to us, before any of that was ours, that Christ Jesus had to spill his blood. The first thing we learned in our passage is that Christ had to spill his blood specifically for us to receive forgiveness of sins. The forgiveness of sins that all of us so desperately need. In order to give us the forgiveness promised in the new covenant, it was required that the mediator, Jesus Christ, spill his blood. But if you look further down in your text, if you're following along with me beginning in 18, we're going to skip around for just a second. Our author tells us that this concept of shedding of blood, which we read all about in the book of Hebrews, how Christ had to shed his blood. Well, we learned that in one sense, this was nothing new because the shedding of blood was characteristic of the so-called first covenant too. Now we've encountered this language of first covenant elsewhere in Hebrew, so you get that language here in verse 18. When our author talks about the first covenant, well, he doesn't view the covenant that God entered into with Israel all the way back towards the beginning of the Bible, all the way back in the Book of Exodus, which we sometimes call the covenant with Moses. Different names, but same covenant, first covenant, covenant with Moses same deal. In verses 19 through 22 of our passage our author reflects on a few chapters in the book of Exodus that tell us about what happened when this covenant with Moses, this first covenant, was ratified or inaugurated. Now, to give some brief biblical theology, we find that throughout the scripture, as God enters into a series of unified covenants with his people. It's a way of advancing his singular promises over time. A covenant is a way of securing a special relationship with a people, and the Lord enters into a series of these covenants with his people in the Bible. He enters into a special relationship with Abraham and his descendants, all the way back in Genesis chapter 12. He enters into a covenant with Moses and the nation of Israel, and that's the one that our author reflects upon as he looks back a few thousand years from when he writes. Then there was a covenant that came later with King David and his sons. With each of these covenant administrations, as we call them, there were formalizing events that accompanied the start of each of these covenants. In verses 19 through 22 of our passage, our author is reflecting on the formalizing event of the first covenant of the Mosaic covenant. Now, if we were to go back in the Book of Exodus, we would find that the formalization of this covenant when this Mosaic covenant, the first covenant actually began, happened right at the start of Exodus 19. Now, as the story goes, some 50 days after God miraculously delivered his people out of slavery and captivity and Egypt well, he gathered them to a certain place in the desert, a place we know as Mount Sinai. Through Moses, God had some really important things to say to Israel at Mount Sinai. First, he reminded them how he just saved them, 50 days earlier out of Egypt, all by himself. When they were laboring in Egypt for 400 years in slavery, the Lord stepped in when they did nothing to deserve it and pulled them out of slavery and captivity without them contributing a single thing to their salvation. Then he called them as his people, as his treasured possession to be his own and so to walk, according to his law. After the Lord issues these things, the people of Israel respond, This God seems pretty good to us, so all that the Lord has spoken, we're going to do it. We're going to do it, they say in Exodus 9:8. Well, following this enactment of the so-called first covenant, Moses, what does he do? Well, he goes up on a mountain, Mount Sinai, and he meets with God one on one. It's on Sinai that Moses received the Ten Commandments in Exodus 20, followed by a variety of other specific laws in Exodus 21 to 23. Then in Exodus 24, Moses descends down the mountain, he tells Israel all that God commanded for them, and then Israel responds once again with these ominous words. They say, "All the words that the Lord has spoken, we will do." Before the covenant was finally ratified, before it was finally stamped as the start of it, one more thing had to be done. The next morning, Moses wakes up early in the morning and he offers a number of sacrifices to the Lord. He builds an altar at the foot of Sinai. He offers oxen on it. He pours out animal blood on the altar and then he sprinkles blood on God's people and on the book of the law that was just received. Now this is the event that our author reflects upon in our passage in Hebrews and verses 19 through 20. It leaves us with the question I think why all the blood? Why was it necessary that this covenant ratifying ceremony be accompanied by so much blood? Well, the blood symbolized two really important things for God's people to understand. One reason was that the blood symbolized the penalty for breaking the covenant. Understand that God is holy and that God requires those who bear his name, Israel, be holy too. For God to be the perfect God of justice means that he can't just let lawbreaking and unholiness slide under the rug. Otherwise, he just wouldn't be the God of perfect justice. After all, we would never consider a judge to be just in our own day if he gave a criminal a free pass. Now we may quarrel from time to time over what might be a just sentence in any given situation. However if a judge failed to uphold the law at all in view of the clear guilt of a criminal, well, we probably wouldn't consider that person to be a just judge in the slightest. So too, with God. This is why God couldn't just ignore sin. His reputation depended upon it, because perfect justice requires that infractions against an infinitely holy God, be paid with life. This is what all the shed blood so vividly demonstrated. It demonstrated that sin is no light matter. That sin is an infraction against an infinite holy God. That sin requires that blood be shed. On the other hand, just as blood pictured quite potently, the penalty for breaking the covenant. Well, it also foreshadowed it looked forward to a provision, the provision that God would one day make for sinners in the person and work of Jesus Christ. The blood that was spilled at the start of the Covenant with Moses and throughout the long thousand year run of the Covenant of Moses may have been a stark reminder of judgment. It also pointed to the means of our salvation as well. Understand that it wouldn't take long for Israel after twice repeating that they would do everything that God commanded for them to break their end of the bargain. It's a pretty drastic way too. They transgressed God's perfect law, and every one of them as a result deserved to die a sinner's death. Though they violated their end of the deal and friends, though we violate our end of the bargain each and every day too, God wouldn't violate his end of the deal. After all, he bound himself to his people by way of covenant. In the fullness of time, he would send his son to be the perfect sacrifice, to do what the bloody sacrifices under the Mosaic Law could never do. That is bring about true and lasting forgiveness to sinners like you and me. The provision for sin that God's people under the Mosaic Covenant desperately needed and the provision for sin for our sin that we desperately need to be found only in Jesus Christ, our Lord, who died in order that we might live. Christ shed his blood in order to inaugurate a better covenant, the new covenant, a covenant that was better than the first one. In doing so, the sins of all of God's people past, present and future have been completely 100 percent forgiven for all those who put their trust in Jesus Christ. Just as Christ spilled his blood so that God could forgive, well, so too, we learn as we continue in our passage that he also spilled his blood so that he could give. Now, if you look at verses 16 through 17 in our passage and skipping back to the beginning again, our author gives us another important perspective on Christ's death. He relates Christ's death to that of a last will and testament. Now, many of you probably know what a will is. I'm sure some of you probably even have wills as well. In a will, we bequeath property and that property that belongs to us, we bequeathed to other people. Usually, it's other family members. We sometimes call those other family members or people who get some of our inheritance, heirs. They are heirs to the estate when what they will receive eventually one day is called an inheritance. Of course, we also know that heirs don't actually receive their inheritance ordinarily until the one who bequeathed them their inheritance dies. Well, this is the background in verses 16 through 17, when an author tells us that a will takes effect only at death. Only then is the inheritance actually released and distributed to the heirs. When Jesus Christ spilled his blood for you and me, we who belong to Christ, we who, as the Apostle Paul tells us, are heirs according to promise, we received an inheritance, too. That begs the question what is this promised eternal inheritance that we receive as a result of Christ shed blood and broken body? Well, there are various blessings that are part of this inheritance we receive. One theologian, Charles Hodge, mentions things like justification that is being forgiven of our sins and being declared righteous in God's sight. It includes reconciliation with God, that is being put in a right relationship with God once again. It also includes a title to eternal life, the hope of eternal life that we look forward to after death. We could also add to this list things like adoption that is becoming members of God's family as well. Above everything else, the chief blessing that binds all of these other blessings together is Jesus Christ himself. Because every other blessing bequeathed to us in the new covenant flows from the inheritance that is the person of Jesus Christ. Now, as a quick aside, I've been told that there are these certain vacation destinations around the world that are known as all-inclusive. I've never been to one before, but I'm told there are these magical places, typically an exotic or remote locations, where you pay one lump sum and when you arrive, you don't have to pay for anything else. Sounds kind of magical to me. All the food you could ever want is covered. Every activity or excursion you could ever want to do is covered. Transportation is covered, your room is covered. There's nothing, while you're there, that you have to pay for. Nothing that you have to go outside the all- inclusive to get. It's all at your fingertips and you shouldn't have to procure a credit card at any point in your stay. This is how our inheritance in Christ works, too. After all, the Apostle Peter tells us that his divine power has granted us all things, not just some things, not just most things, all things that pertain to life and godliness. The Apostle Paul tells us that in Christ are hidden all the treasures, not some of the treasures, not most of the treasures, all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Brothers and sisters Christ Jesus, who we receive as covenant members of the new covenant, is the whole package. When we identify with Christ through faith alone, he gives us everything that the God sized hole in the human heart could ever want. He gives us meaning and purpose so that we don't need to frantically look for it in our vocations. He gives us the kind of belonging and security that we could never find, even in our most intimate partners on Earth. He gives us forgiveness and rest from the toil and endlessly trying to make ourselves acceptable or worthy in his eyes or in the eyes of the world. Brothers and sisters Christ had to die so that we could receive and when we place our faith in Jesus Christ, well, that's exactly what happens. Boy, do we receive. The exhortation from this first point, then in one sense, it's quite simple. Put away your idols. Brothers and sisters stop hedging all your bets by claiming Christ on the one hand, but then chasing after so many other lovers, on the other hand. Look to the one who gives, look to the one who gives lavishly, look to the one who shed his blood to give, and who gives without us having to do a single thing other than faith alone to receive it. Look to Jesus Christ friends and be satisfied in the God who gives? Christ had to Die to Represent Us in Heaven So Christ had to die so that we could receive, that's our first point. But as we continue in our passage, we hear of a second reason for why Christ had to spill his blood and die on a cross as well. That is, second, Christ had to die in order to represent us in heaven. Now, there's a particularly powerful scene that unfolds later in the Bible, specifically in Revelation chapter five. There the Apostle John, who's peering into the Heavenly Holy of Holies, he sees the slain lamb, Jesus Christ, make his approach to the throne of God. To give a little bit of context after weeping in heaven, in despair that no one was found worthy in heaven to open this scroll and look into it, his eyes suddenly pivot when he sees the lamb of God, Jesus Christ, standing as a slain sacrifice. This lamb then makes his approach to the throne. He takes the scroll from the hand of God, and then all of the heavens erupt in a chorus of praise. Well, that event that John sees unfold in dramatic, symbolic fashion in heaven is the same event that our author now describes in verses 23 through 26 of our passage, albeit from a slightly different angle. Now, we've already heard in Hebrews that when Christ shed his blood, he ascended into the more perfect tent, that is into heaven itself. Remember, our author has made the argument a number of times in Hebrews already that the tabernacle, this mobile tent of worship in the Mosaic Covenant where all the Leviticus priests ministered and offered sacrifices. It was great, but it was only a copy or a blueprint. As carefully constructed and as outwardly ornate as this thing called the Tabernacle in the Old Covenant was, it was only ever supposed to be a replica of the genuine, heavenly tabernacle made without hands. Even though the earthly tabernacle was a replica, well, it was still a serious matter under the Covenant of Moses to draw near to God in it. If we were to go back to the Pentateuch, Exodus and Leviticus, we would see that the Levitical priests had to offer a lot of blood in this tabernacle. Day after day, year after year, they'd have to offer a blood upon blood upon blood to cover the sins of God's people. Blood was sprinkled everywhere. Even the priest's clothes were sprinkled in blood. By one account, over the entire life of the sacrificial system, which would have been close to about a thousand years, over one million animals were eventually sacrificed. That's a lot of blood. Again, all of this points to the fact that human sin is so serious that drawing near to God, even in a divinely instituted copy, because that's all the tabernacle was, required that all of that blood be spilled. Yet, as necessary as all that blood was to enter the copy, there's no chance in the world that it would have gotten you access into the real deal in heaven itself. This is why our author tells us that it was necessary, it had to happen, that the heavenly things would be purified with better sacrifices than the blood of bulls and goats in the old covenant. So what was this better sacrifice? Well, of course it was Jesus. It was Jesus himself who entered heaven after spilling his blood on the cross. Not by virtue of the blood of bulls and goats, but by virtue of his own sinless, undefined blood. Remember that scene that we just referenced a moment ago in Revelation five were the slain lamb made his approach to throne of God? Well, because of the nature of the sacrifice that Christ offered as the sinless eternal one, he was able to go where no one else, even the most morally upstanding person you could think of would ever dare to go. Yet, remarkably, when Christ entered into heaven after paying the debt that we could never pay, we read in our passage that he didn't do this for his sake alone. Our author tells us that he entered into heaven itself in, verse 24, now to appear in the presence of God. That's literally before the face of God. Here's the important phrase, "on our behalf." Understand that Christ didn't ascend into heaven in order to leave us in the rearview mirror. Christ didn't ascend to get away from us and all of the baggage that we bring to the table. Remember what Christ said in his parting words to his disciples in Matthew, 28? Well, he said, "I am with you always to the end of the age." By his spirit, friends, Christ is with us right now on Earth. In heaven the resurrected and ascended Christ represents us. He advocates for us and he invites us to lay our many prayers at the foot of his throne. There's a story from the Bible, which I think at this point is particularly instructive to illustrate all of this. Earlier in the Bible, in the life of Joseph, this can be found in the latter part of Genesis. We read a story about when Joseph had been unjustly imprisoned, that there was a glimmer of hope at one point during his time in prison when he met two fellow prisoners who were Pharaoh's chief cup bearer on the one hand and Pharaoh's chief baker on the other. Now these two people, the chief cup bearer and the chief baker, they were one day serving in the courts of the King of Egypt, pretty high up, and then, for whatever reason, they were thrown in prison where they were now sharing a cell with Joseph. As the story goes, and many of you probably know the story, is that one evening these two prisoners dreamed a dream, and when they awoke from their dream, they were disturbed and they were confounded by the dream symbolic nature. They had no idea what their dreams meant, but they suspected that they were probably pretty important. So one thing leads to another and in steps Joseph to interpret their dreams. First, he hears the chief cup bearer, relay all the details of his dream, and then Joseph tells him the good news that what his dream looks forward to is something that will happen. In three days' time, he will be released from prison and all things will be back to normal for the chief cup bearer. In just three days, he'd be vindicated. He'd be released from prison. He'd get to go, continue to work in the courts of the King of Egypt, Pharaoh, and all would be well for the good old chief cup bearer. After interpreting his dream, Joseph has a request for the chief cup bearer. You might know what he says. He says this, "Remember me when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh and so get me out of this house." The cup bearer is a well-connected man. He some of the closest access that you could get to somebody calling the shots in a kingdom. He's the chief cup bearer. He ministers in the courts of Pharaoh. So Joseph asks that he advocate on his behalf, when in three days' time he gets to go in and minister in Pharaoh's courts once again. What happens? Well, the narrative ends on a dull note when we read that when the chief cup bearer was released, he, "Did not remember Joseph, but forgot him." There was no one to advocate for Joseph's innocence, and as a result, he sat in the despair of prison for another two years. In stark contrast to this, the good news of the gospel is that in our guilt, there is one who has not forgotten us. Brothers and sisters, rest assured that Christ has not forgotten any of his people. Jesus Christ tells us as much in John's 6:39, when he declares to his disciples, "and this is the will of him who sent me that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me but raise it up in the last day." Therefore, we need not be overwhelmed by anxiety when we see the church under duress, possibly concerned with whether or not Jesus' church could ever endure the various onslaughts from the world she faces. We do not fear whether the escalating pool of secularism and worldliness is somehow overpowering Christ's hold on his church. As isolating him as life can sometimes feel for some of you, know that you have not slipped the mind of your advocate. Christ has ascended by virtue of his own perfect blood and from heaven he holds us fast and will by no means relinquish control of any of his saints, any of those who he has already claimed as his own. As we continue our text our author than roots, this security of ours even deeper when he tells us that unlike the Levitical priest who enter the tabernacle repeatedly, they went in and out year after year with bloody sacrifices in tow. Well, Christ, he doesn't need to enter heaven repeatedly. In fact, if this were the case, our author reasons, that would imply that Christ would have to suffer repeatedly since he'd be sacrificing himself over and over again too. Now the Levitical priest they had to offer sacrifices repeatedly, but for Christ, his blood was so effective that it was able to cover the sins of every Old Testament believer, every sin of every believer who has lived in a two thousand years since his first advent, and every sin of every believer yet to be born until the second advent. In heaven, our Lord Jesus sits enthroned. His work is done. Ss a result, he claims us as his own. This is why he had to shed his blood so that he could enter heaven and be our advocate in the heavenly places. That is what he does right now. Christ had to Die so that He Could Return Before we close out our study of this passage, we're then given implicitly one more reason for why Christ had to die. Third, Christ had to die so that he could return. Later in the Bible and this happens in Luke's gospel, when a priest named Zachariah enters the temple one evening to offer incense, well, we learn that there was a crowd while he was ministering in the holy place in the temple, there was a crowd outside the temple praying. Now, Luke doesn't tell us in that narrative what they prayed, and so we can't be certain. Jewish tradition suggests that when a crowd of people gathered outside the temple when the priest was inside, they prayed for God to accept the priest's offering. In the process, they waited expectantly for the priest's return. If the priests offered the right sacrifices, according to the law, that's what would happen. His offering would be accepted and then he would emerge out of the temple to the relief of the crowd of onlookers. In short, the return of the priest was what the people of God hoped for every single day as they waited outside the tabernacle and temple, prayerfully hoping that their sacrifice would be accepted. Likewise, the return of our great high priest, Jesus Christ, is what we anticipate too. Yet for us understand that there's no apprehension or doubt connected with his return. After all, if Christ offered the perfect sacrifice, which the scriptures loudly proclaim that he has, then we can trust that it's inevitable. It's guaranteed that Christ will one day emerge from the heavenly Holy of Holies to the praise of his people too. Now earlier in our text, back in verse 26, our author told us that Christ shed his blood for our salvation. Then he used this phrase, "at the end of the ages." Now that was two thousand years ago, right when Christ shed his blood. According to the New Testament, the time between Christ's first advent and his second is a time that's ubiquitously referred to as the last days. According to the New Testament, we're actually living in the last days right now. Now, of course, that doesn't mean that we know how many 24 hour days we have left until Christ comes again. That's not a call for us to try to wildly calculate when Christ is going to come again. It does mean that there is no more redemptive work that has to happen again until Christ returns. In God's economy the next best thing, the next big thing, rather that we anticipate as the people of God will believe it or not, it's not the next election. It's not the College Football National Championship, especially because Nebraska is not going to be in it. It's not so many of the things that we care so deeply about in this world. Now, of course, it's OK to care about those things. It's not bad to care about those things, but those just aren't the kind of things that should take the lead in shaping the most powerful affections that we have. These aren't the kind of things that that should inform the most important decisions we make in the world. Only Christ, and specifically the hope of Christ's second, advent, the hope of Christ appearing a second time should take pride of place in the life of the church in shaping how we walk in these last days. In summary, the promise that flows from the acceptance of Christ's perfect Blood in heaven is that he is going to come again. As we, as his people are call, we as his people wait for that. The New Testament calls us to wait expectantly for that day to arrive. Application Now on the one hand, implicit in that promise is the urgent call for any of you who really don't know Christ Jesus right now to identify with him by faith alone while there's still time. Now author already told us in verse 27 that you're going to die, you will die. You can't avoid it. After you die, our author tells us, comes judgment. Are you ready for that? If you're not, if you're not trusting in Christ right now, well, that the appeal would be to live expectantly right now by putting your trust in the only one who has done everything necessary to appease the wrath of God for his people. Don't trust in your knowledge to save you. Don't trust in your affluence to save you. Trust in Christ, who alone has the power to save all those he advocates for before the Father in heaven right now. On the other hand, even if you really do identify with Christ by faith alone right now, ask yourself, how am I expectantly waiting for his return right now? Are you harboring grudges and bitterness against your brothers and sisters in Christ or are you learning to forgive one another by pursuing reconciliation as much as it depends on yourself? Are you letting sin fester in your lives and assuming that because no one has seen it in its full ugliness and no one has called you out on it that it must not be a big deal? Or are you constantly learning to put to death that sin that belonged to your former life? The great high priest, Jesus Christ, shed his blood for you and for me. He had to so that we could be saved. He had to so that he could ascend to heaven and he had to so that he could come again. That's what we eagerly anticipate on this side of glory. But are you ready for that day? As we live on this side of glory secured by his blood and yet eagerly awaiting his return, well let me make this final appeal to us in closing. Church learned to be a non-anxious presence in this world. Now, I'm sure I never lived under the Mosaic Covenant so I can't guarantee, but I'm almost certain that it would have been a sight to behold to be an Israelite worshipper during the old covenant. To see the care that was taken in worship and everything from the construction of the place of worship, to all the bells and smells that surrounded the worship ceremony. I can imagine that all of that would have reinforced the gravitas of worship. It would have been hard to avoid that conclusion. Yet I can also imagine a certain level of anxiety accompanying that whole process too. After all, what happened if one of the priests who was supposed to be representing you, what happened if he messed up one of the sacrifices he offered? Well, that happened in Leviticus Chapter 10, Nadab and Abihu were consumed by fire. The whole system, in other words, was marked by care, there were also severe consequences, too. While care and consequences are no less present in a new covenant, we just don't need to worry in Jesus Christ, whether or not our high priest will make a mistake. Because Jesus blood was already offered, it was already accepted. We already have an advocate in heaven. We are already secure in him, and we already have the promise that one day Jesus Christ our Lord will emerge from the heavenly Holy of Holies to save those who are eagerly awaiting his return. So as we live our lives until that day, understand that we have no reason to be overcome with paralyzing anxiety in the present. Sure, there's a lot to be anxious about in this world. There are global anxieties. There are individual anxieties. But while we could so easily lose ourselves down the endless rabbit trails of anxiety that are ubiquitous in our world, our passenger reminds us that because the blood of Jesus Christ has been shed, we have been freed to be a non-anxious presence in this world. We've been freed from proving ourselves before God and others, and instead we take to heart Christ advocacy for us in heaven and the identity he gives us on Earth. We've been freed from anxiously caring so much about our reputation or our own comforts. In Christ we've been freed to love and to look outside of ourselves and begin to serve as a people who have already had every single one of our most deeply felt spiritual needs already met in the perfect shed blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. So whatever the paralyzing fear is, that may have taken root in your heart. Maybe fears that you're bringing into the church with you this morning. Trust in the one who offered his blood on your behalf will in Jesus Christ, hold you fast and he will one day bring you and me and his church into our glorious home. Pray with me. Gracious, Heavenly Father, Lord, we come across these images of blood so often in the scriptures, and we confess that sometimes in our context, that imagery doesn't sit quite well with us. Yet we pray that you would remind us as we continue to encounter that imagery, as we read your word, as we study your words, we hear your word preached and read that you would remind us through it of the seriousness of our sin. The fact that sin is no light matter, but also that you would remind us that we have an advocate. We have one in the heavenly places who's already paid for all of our sin by his precious blood, who holds us fast in heaven, and who will one day bring us home. Lord Jesus, I pray you to remind us of these great benefits that are ours in the new covenant. Benefits that we have not earned, but benefits that we have received through faith alone in Jesus Christ, our Lord. In whose name we pray. Amen.

PSA advocates claim that this theory was there from the beginning, and this is witnessed by the church fathers. Yet the Church Fathers don't really have modern atonement theories when they speak about the cross. They use phrases like “Jesus died for us”, “Jesus shed his blood for us”, they connect the cross with forgiveness, Jesus freeing humanity from a curse, Jesus as a ransom, Jesus as the 2nd Adam, etc. Though they use this “biblical language” do they mean what PSA has defined them as. Many pin a fully formed view of PSA on John Calvin in the 1500s. Calvin was a lawyer and interpreted the Bible through a legal lens. Though Calvin did have most of the PSA building blocks in place he never systematized it like the modern atonement theory school does. This didn't happen until Charles Hodge wrote his systematic theology set in 1871. This was the first time PSA was but together in print as a theory. The building blocks came into being with Augustine. Paul Vendredi notes this with his 17 historical claims of PSA. 3 were made by Augustine, 9 were Anselm, and 5 are the modern atonement schools built on and expanded upon Calvin. (Check out Idol Killer's Youtube for more on this). The 17 Claims: 1. Original Sin 2. Total Depravity / Inability 3. Infant Depravity 4. Sin is an Infinite Offense 5. Sin is a Debt we owe 6. Infants also owe this Debt 7. Animal Sacrifices 8. God could Cancel the sin debt by His will... 9. But, God cannot Forgive a Sin without punishing the Sinner 10. Death Must be Painful 11. "Propitiation" 12. Substitution 13. God pours out His Wrath 14. Jesus Became a Literal Curse 15. The Father turned His back on Christ 16. Old Testament Sacrificial System 17. Ransom Paid TO God Conclusions: • The early church used biblical language to talk about the cross… retribution must be read into them • Healing was the focus and not legal metaphors in all of these • A major focus is on death, sin, and the devil's defeat and these 3 concepts are connected. • The results of their defeat are a rescue and restoration of the image of God. • Until Augustine's 3 foundational points (original sin, Total depravity, and infant depravity) the early church had nothing to build PSA upon, so it is a fallacy to show that they taught it. • PSA has no historical leg to stand on. Most often they read PSA into ransom and then back into other theories like recapitulation taking them out of their context and projecting onto the language of the Church Fathers.

On this episode of CSG we are discussing the human soul! What is the Biblical understanding of what we call the “soul”, is the soul immortal and what are the implications of the soul's immortality (or mortality) on Judgment Day?? I've asked Chris Date, from Rethinking Hell, to join us again on CSG to help give some biblical answer's to these questions and more! Passages from both Old and New Testament books as well as extrabiblical literature are examined to develope a more complete understanding of what ancient Jews and the disciples of Jesus Christ understood to be the truth concerning the fate of the righetous and the wicked, after in "the world to come"! Some of the texts expounded in this epidsode include: Genesis 19 Isaiah 24, 25, 26, 27 Matthew 10:28, 25:46 Luke 12:4-5, 20:35-36 Romans 6:5-9 1 Timothy 6:16 2 Peter 2:4-6 Revelation 14:9-11, 18:1-24, 19:1-3 2 Esdras (4th Ezra) 2:8-14 Chris and I also explore what the Bible means by the terms "immortal", "life", & "death", as well as dig into concepts of Greek mythology like "Tartarus"! Eternal Concious Torment arguments are examined as well and addressed in this episode! For anyone interested in the soul or conditional immortality, this is a great introductory episode to begin your study on this topic! MUCH MORE needs to be said and is in this episode but, Lord willing, God will arrange things in such a way that we will be blessed to continue this discussion in a part 2 episode or with a positve case for the Eternal Concious Torment perspective! A big thanks to Chris for participating and if you all are interested in more of his videos you can find his YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/rethinkinghell A.W. Pink quote from "Eternal Punishment": “...Gehenna is the place in which both soul and body are destroyed. "And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna" (Matt. 19:28 [sic]). This passage is most important, for more than any other it enables us to gather the real scope of this term. The fact that the "soul" as well as the body is destroyed there, is proof positive that our Lord was not referring to the valley of Hinnom. So, too, the fact that the "body" is destroyed there, makes it certain that "Gehenna"is not another name for "Hades." In pondering this solemn verse we should remember that "destroy" does not mean to annihilate. Some have raised a quibble over the fact that Christ did not here expressly say that God would "destroy both soul and body in hell," but merely said "Fear Him which is able to. " This admits of a simple and conclusive reply. Surely it is apparent on the surface that Christ is not here predicating of God a power which none can deny, but which, notwithstanding, He will never exert! He was not simply affirming the omnipotence of God, but uttering a solemn threat which will yet be executed. That such was His meaning is established beyond the shadow of doubt when we compare Matthew 10:28 with the parallel passage in Luke 12:5: "But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: fear Him, which after He hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, fear him." This threat we know will be fulfilled.” Charles Hodge quote from his Systematic Theology Vol. 3 p. 759: "If the Bible says that the sufferings of the lost are to be everlasting, they are to endure forever, unless it can be shown either that the soul is not immortal or that the Scriptures elsewhere teach that those sufferings are to come to an end."

Romans 4:1 What then shall we say that Abraham our father has found according to the flesh?  2 For if Abraham was justified by works, he has something to boast about, but not before God. 3 For what does the Scripture say? "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." Chapters 4-7 in Romans are the key issues which face all believers In Romans 3:21 and 3:28 Paul has stated God's position on how a man is saved and now in Romans 4:1-12 Paul uses two illustrations to prove it. Abraham, Issac, and Jacob were regarded by the Jews as not having sinned against God 3 times Abraham is called God's friend:2 Chron 20:7, James 2:23 and Isaiah 41:8  "But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, The descendants of Abraham My friend. Charles Hodge points out that Abraham was the centerpiece of the Jews position of righteousness by works. He was known to them as the father of faith. He was believed to have kept the whole law. They even believed that the Torah or the Jewish law had been given before the foundation of the world for Abraham's sake. Abraham Justified by Faith V-1 John 8:39 They answered and said to Him, "Abraham is our father." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would do the works of Abraham. v- 2 If Justified by works he has something to boast about Eph 2:4-10 1Corinth 1:26-31 The law was not given until the time of Moses...several hundred years later after Abraham's death Gal 3:1 7 And this I say, that the law, which was four hundred and thirty years later, cannot annul the covenant that was confirmed before by God in Christ, that it should make the promise of no effect. 18 For if the inheritance is of the law, it is no longer of promise; but God gave it to Abraham by promise. v-3 Abraham believed... Gen 26:3-6 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father. 4 "And I will make your descendants multiply as the stars of heaven; I will give to your descendants all these lands; and in your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed; 5 "because Abraham obeyed My voice and kept My charge, My commandments, My statutes, and My laws." 6 So Isaac dwelt in Gerar. We know that Abraham lied twice about his wife Sarah Genesis 20:2 Now Abraham said of Sarah his wife, "She is my sister." And Abimelech king of Gerar sent and took Sarah. Gen 12:13  "Please say you are my sister, that it may be well with me for your sake, and that I may live because of you." To Pharoah in Egypt Gen 15:4-6  And behold, the word of the LORD came to him, saying, "This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir." 5 Then He brought him outside and said, "Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them." And He said to him, "So shall your descendants be." 6 And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Accounted or imputed is a financial or legal word that means to take something that belongs to someone else and credit it to another's account. God took his own righteousness and credited it to Abraham as if it were his because Abraham believed. This word is used 9 times in chapter 4 alone. What did Abraham believe? Went out not knowing where he was going Hebrews 11:8 Promise of a son even though he and Sarah were past childbearing age. All nations will be blessed through Abraham Gen 12:3 Promises in Gen 22:18 of a blessing through a single descendant; Not just a son, but Jesus Christ Gal 3:16 Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, "And to seeds," as of many, but as of one, "And to your Seed," who is Christ. John 8:56-58 "Your father Abraham rejoiced to see My day, and he saw it and was glad." 57  Then the Jews said to Him, "You are not yet fifty years old, and have You seen Abraham?" 58 Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I AM." God could resurrect his son Issac through whom all the promises were given since he was an only child of Abraham and Sarah. Ishmael was born of Hagar his handmaid and is the ancestor of all the Arabs who constantly cause Israel trouble today. Genesis 22:9 Then they came to the place of which God had told him. And Abraham built an altar there and placed the wood in order; and he bound Isaac his son and laid him on the altar, upon the wood. 10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the Angel of the LORD called to him from heaven and said, "Abraham, Abraham!" So he said, "Here I am." 12 And He said, "Do not lay your hand on the lad, or do anything to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only son, from Me." Mark 8:36 "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?    John 14:6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. Have you trusted Him as your Savior? He can Save you if You ask Him based on His death, burial, and resurrection for your sins. Believe in Him for forgiveness of your sins today. “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  -John 8:32 Our mission is to spread the gospel and to go to the least of these with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ; We reach out to those the World has forgotten.  hisloveministries.podbean.com #HLMSocial hisloveministries.net https://www.instagram.com/hisloveministries1/?hl=en Don't go for all the gusto you can get, go for all the God (Jesus Christ) you can get. The gusto will get you, Jesus can save you. https://www.facebook.com/His-Love-Ministries-246606668725869/?tn-str=k*F The world is trying to solve earthly problems that can only be solved with heavenly solutions

In this discussion, I further examine Herman Hanko's charge that all revival was revivalism. And define the terms and answer the label he has put upon those who favor it. In this discussion I examine Charles Hodge's The Great Revival as it was published to the website of the Trinity Foundation another group that also does not believe in historic revivals. I discuss that they only published an edited 14 pages of the original 89 of Hodge's text. They leave out this last paragraph as it refutes any idea that Hodge did not believe in revivals. -In many places there was little of these evils, -aberrations in the Great Awakening especially in New Jersey and Virginia. Dickinson and Davies successfully resisted their inroads within the sphere of their influence. And in many other places the soundness of the doctrines taught, the experience detailed, and the permanent effects produced, abundantly attest the genuineness of the revival. To the Presbyterian Church, particularly, it was the commencement of a new life, the vigor of which is still felt in all her veins .

Charles Hodge is one of the earliest members of Princeton Theological Seminary. He joined the school at the recommendation of Archibald Alexander and stayed a professor there for over 50 years. In this sermon he discusses what a good life following Christ looks like by comparing it to a friend who had recently passed away. Special thanks to John Raynar for reading this sermon. John Raynar has been commercial radio announcer in American Samoa since 2006 where he and his wife Alice have 4 children.  John is also host of a daily devotional called the Pre-Game Proverb, a biblical way to start the day.  Find out more at pregameproverb.blog We are now partnered with ServeNow! If you would like to give to their ministry that gives bikes to pastors in rural areas around the world so that they can spread the Gospel, please check out their website and their new book: Hope Rising. If you'd like to join the premium team go to our Patreon If you'd like to narrate a sermon, send us an email at revivedthoughts@gmail.com And if you enjoy the show, sharing with friends and a 5 star rating on Apple Podcasts! Facebook Instagram MeWe Twitter Youtube Revived Thoughts Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

REFLECTION QUOTES “I don't remember a time not being anxious.” ~Lena Dunham, American actress, writer, producer and director “Our huffing and puffing to impress God, our scrambling for brownie points, our thrashing about trying to fix ourselves while hiding our pettiness and wallowing in guilt are nauseating to God and are a flat out denial of the gospel of grace.” ~Brennan Manning (1934-2013), Franciscan priest and author “The gospel is so simple that small children can understand it, and it so profound that studies by the wisest theologians will never exhaust its riches.” ~Charles Hodge, principal of Princeton Theological Seminary (1851-1878) “The law says, ‘Do'; grace says, ‘Done.' The law says, ‘Do, and live'; grace says, ‘Live, and do.' The gospel says to the sinner, ‘Come'; it says to the Christian, ‘Go.'” ~D.L. Moody (1837-1899), Massachusetts-born evangelist, publisher and founder of Northfield Mount Hermon School “…it was not the cold blood about the heart, but a single word in Chapter 1 [Romans 1:17], ‘In it the righteousness of God is revealed,' that had stood in my way. For I hated that word ‘righteousness of God,' which…I had been taught to understand… [as the righteousness] with which God is righteous and punishes the unrighteous sinner…. Nevertheless, I beat importunately upon Paul at that place, most ardently desiring to know what St. Paul wanted. At last meditating day and night, by the mercy of God, I began to understand that the righteousness of God is that through which the righteous live by a gift of God, namely by faith…. Here I felt as if I were entirely born again and had entered paradise itself through the gates that had been flung open.” ~Martin Luther (1483-1517), German reformer “Christians never graduate from the gospel.” ~Conrad Mbewe, pastor in Lusaka, Zambia SERMON PASSAGE Selected Passages from Romans (NIV) Romans 1 1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— 2 the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures 3 regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, 4 and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. 5 Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name's sake. 6 And you also are among those Gentiles who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. 7 To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ…. 14 I am obligated both to Greeks and non-Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. 15 That is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. 16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed— a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.” Romans 3 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, so that every mouth may be silenced and the whole world held accountable to God. 20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. 21 But now apart from the law the righteousness of God has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

This week on Theology on the Go, Dr. Jonathan Master is joined by Dr. Andrew Hoffecker, Professor of Church History (Emeritus) at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Hoffecker has written and edited several books, including a two-volume series on Christian worldview.  He is also the author of Charles Hodge: the Pride of Princeton in the American Reformed Biographies series published by P&R.  Today Dr. Master will be talking to Dr. Hoffecker about Old Princeton Professor Charles Hodge. Over the next several weeks, Theology on the Go will focus on Old Princeton and the theologians that made her great.  In order to make this series even more special, The Banner of Truth Trust has graciously donated several books on old Princeton to be given away throughout the series!  This week we are giving away A. A. Hodge's book, The Life of Charles Hodge. Winners Michael C., Douglasville, GA Matthew D. Tinton Falls, NJ

Today Jonathan Master is joined by Dr. Andrew Hoffecker, Professor of Church History (Emeritus) at Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Hoffecker has written and edited many books, including a two-volume series on Christian worldview. He stops by to talk with Jonathan about that topic and how Christians can foster a biblically-centered worldview.Just for listening, the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals would like to give you a free resource. An MP3 of Phil Johnson's sermon entitled "Divine Interpretation" is free to download. Go to ReformedResources.org to download your free MP3!Theology on the Go is a brief conversation on eternal truths with Jonathan Master, Executive Editor of PlaceForTruth.org, a voice of the Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals. Each program features a pastor/theologian discussing key biblical doctrines in thoughtful and accessible ways. Theology on the Go will help you better understand the finer points of theology, while showing how relevant and important theology truly is for Christians today.Dr. Hoffecker's Publications:Building a Christian Worldview Volume 1: God, Man, and KnowledgeBuilding a Christian Worldview Volume 2: The Universe, Society, and EthicsRevelations in Worldview: Understanding the Flow of Western ThoughtCharles Hodge: The Pride of PrincetonPiety and Princeton Theologians: Archibald Alexander, Charles Hodge, and Benjamin Warfield