Reformed Forum

Eden and Canaan are earthly projections that both reveal yet veil the glory of the heavenly dwelling place of God. Had Adam passed probation, he would have been translated into the highest heavens in the presence of God where he would enter Sabbath Rest (Genesis 2/Ez. 28:14 and the mountain of God). When Christ finished his wilderness sojourn, he ascended into that very reality of Sabbath Rest—rest the first Adam did not enter (Heb. 1:3; 8:2, 5; 9:23–24; 10:12; 12:24; 4:9–10). Christ, as ascended, has entered rest—a rest he in the process of conferring on the church in this age (4:3) and will bring to consummation in the age to come (4:9–11).

The whole point of the land of Canaan in Hebrews—the way it relates to this big-picture creational concern—is that it was a place of rest (Psalm 95:7–11 is quoted in Hebrews 3:7–11). Israel was seeking to leave the wilderness and enter into the "rest" of God in Canaan. Canaan was a local, earthly expression of a corresponding heavenly Sabbath Rest (95:11/Genesis 2:2 as the two theme texts in Hebrews 3 and 4).

Canaan was an earthly type of Sabbath Rest, and some in Israel failed to enter the earthly typical land of rest because they lacked faith in the promised Messiah (Heb. 3:19). In a parallel way, the author of Hebrews grounds his exhortation that the church in this age press on to Sabbath Rest by faith in the ascended Messiah, so that none of us fail to enter that Rest.

After deliverance from Egypt, God’s people head back to the promised land. Nevertheless, they continue to stand in need of deliverance, for their warfare has not ended.

Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Robert Arendale

After deliverance from Egypt, God's people head back to the promised land. Nevertheless, they continue to stand in need of deliverance, for their warfare has not ended.

Dr. Vern Poythress speaks with us about his book, Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God’s Appearing, published by Crossway. Each time God appears to his people throughout the Bible—in the form of a thunderstorm, a man, a warrior, a chariot, etc.—he comes to a specific person for a specific purpose. And each of these temporary appearances— called theophanies—helps us to better understand who he is, anticipating his climactic, permanent self-revelation in the incarnation of Christ. Describing the various accounts of God’s visible presence from Genesis to Revelation, Dr. Poythress helps us consider more deeply what they reveal about who God is and how he dwells with us today. We also spoke about the upcoming Westminster Conference on Science & Faith to be held April 6–7, 2018 at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (see map). They will explore the relationship between theistic evolution and the Christian faith. Register at wcosaf.com. Dr. Poythress is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, Vern Poythress

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Dr. Vern Poythress speaks with us about his book, Theophany: A Biblical Theology of God's Appearing, published by Crossway. Each time God appears to his people throughout the Bible—in the form of a thunderstorm, a man, a warrior, a chariot, etc.—he comes to a specific person for a specific purpose. And each of these temporary appearances— called theophanies—helps us to better understand who he is, anticipating his climactic, permanent self-revelation in the incarnation of Christ.

Describing the various accounts of God's visible presence from Genesis to Revelation, Dr. Poythress helps us consider more deeply what they reveal about who God is and how he dwells with us today.

We also spoke about the upcoming Westminster Conference on Science & Faith to be held April 6–7, 2018 at Proclamation Presbyterian Church in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania (see map). They will explore the relationship between theistic evolution and the Christian faith. Register at wcosaf.com.

Dr. Poythress is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Westminster Theological Seminary in Glenside, Pennsylvania.

In Episode 38 of Proclaiming Christ, our newest panelist, Jim Cassidy, provides our listeners with a model of biblical interpretation through an introduction to the book of Hosea.

Participants: Jim Cassidy, Mark A. Winder, Mark Jenkins, Robert Arendale

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob had an opportunity to sit down with the Rev. Dr. Ryan M. McGraw to talk about John Owen and his major writings. Following this interview Rob and Bob take a few minutes to talk about their appreciation of Owen. Dr. McGraw serves as Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, as well as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is the author of several books including The Foundation of Communion with God: The Trinitarian Piety of John Owen.

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo, Ryan McGraw

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000

This week on Theology Simply Profound, Rob had an opportunity to sit down with the Rev. Dr. Ryan M. McGraw to talk about John Owen and his major writings. Following this interview Rob and Bob take a few minutes to talk about their appreciation of Owen.

Dr. McGraw serves as Professor of Systematic Theology at Greenville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, as well as a minister in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. He is the author of several books including The Foundation of Communion with God: The Trinitarian Piety of John Owen.

Michael J. Kruger joins us to speak about his book, Christianity at the Crossroads: How the Second Century Shaped the Future of the Church in which he examines how Christianity took root in the second century, how it battled to stay true to the vision of the apostles, and how it developed in ways that would shape both the church and Western culture over the next two thousand years. Dr. Kruger is President and Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina. He is the author of several books including, Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books (Crossway, 2012), The Early Text of the New Testament (Oxford, 2012; edited with Charles Hill), and The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Michael Kruger

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

Christ the Center 1000 Live in Austin, TX

Christ the Center 1000 Summit

In Episode 37 of Proclaiming Christ, we see that right on the heals of God making a covenant with him, Abram is tested with a famine that sends him to Egypt. The episode of Abram, Sarai, and Pharaoh is a dramatic demonstration of the fact that God alone is capable of fulfilling his promises.