Exploring Christianity

We close our exploration of the great controversy of the early church with an exploration into why this controversy (and every other church controversy) matters for us today. Personally, exploring this controversy has led me deeper into studying the doctrine of God, so exploring the relationship between the deity and humanity of Jesus will happen in a later episode. For now, based on this early church controversy, we will look at why controversy is necessary for clarity in doctrine, and why the concepts of the faith are important for a biblical worldview.

We come to another short passage of Ephesians that is full of great and necessary truth. Have you ever considered God sending Christ at the right time as a blessing? Or have you thought about how your union with Christ unifies you with every believer everywhere? This episode explores the answers to both questions.

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Note: I have not forgotten Ephesians 1:10. It will be uploaded soon.

Do you really believe your salvation is unconditional? If not, Ephesians 1:11 is a verse to dispel all doubts and thoroughly convince you otherwise. Paul holds no punches (so to speak) when describing just how unconditional our salvation truly is. It is a concept for us to consider, and in considering it, apply the full and deep blessings of the gospel to our hearts.

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Have you struggled with the topic of Christ's divinity? My guess is most likely not. And that is because the debate was settled 1700 years ago. If you have struggled with it, it is most likely because a heretical understanding of Christ transported from the early church to today. In this episode, we dive into the events surrounding the great controversy over the person of Jesus Christ that occurred in AD 325.

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For the LutheranSatire video on the Trinity: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KQLfgaUoQCw  

Did you know the gospel is a mystery revealed? Perhaps a better question to ask is, why does Paul think the mystery of the gospel is important for Christians to understand? Listen in as we explore the grandeur of God's plan of redemption. 

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We continue with Paul's letter to the Ephesians, and we consider two insights into our salvation. They are for us to ponder, and they serve as a framework for understanding the whole of our salvation. These two insights cover every base, from God's plan for our salvation to the application of it. 

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In Ephesians 1:7 Paul turns his attention to an aspect of the gospel that reaches us most deeply, namely our redemption and forgiveness. Both redemption and forgiveness shape the practical application of the gospel, and in this episode, we observe how they affect us.

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The early church was marked by persecution and doctrinal controversy, both of which shaped the church in the most remarkable and lasting ways. In this episode, we go back in time to the early church to observe the culture around it, the persecution it faced, and the controversy that shaped it. From this, we gather enough context for the great controversy of the 4th Century. 

Book Recommendation:

2000 Years of Christ's Power by Nick Needham

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One of the most unpopular truths today is that God is for God before God is for us; that God's story is more important than our story. Paul shows us this truth is meant to cause adoration and worship to rise within, rather than disdain and dismissal. In this episode, we observe how theology leads to doxology, and how our worship of God must always be informed by our doctrine of God. 

Predestination is near the top of modern Christianity's "Words to Avoid" list because of the controversy surrounding it. Yet, Paul harmoniously intertwines predestination with our adoption as sons into God's family. In this episode, we consider what these doctrines mean when they are connected to each other, and how that applies to our lives as Christians.