Reformed Forum

Cornelis P. Venema joins us to speak about his book By His Spirit and Word: How Christ Builds His Church (Reformed Fellowship, Inc.). Venema engages in an extended exposition on the doctrine of the church and its ministry as described in the historic confessions and catechisms of the Reformation churches. These confessions emphasize the church's indispensability to the salvation of believers, for the triune God's redemptive mission is principally effected through the ministry of the church. Dr. Venema is President and Professor of Doctrinal Studies at Mid-America Reformed Seminary in Dyer, Indiana.

In episode 47, your hosts, Rob and Bob, discuss chapter 7 of the Book of Revelation.

If like most people you are listening to the radio when you drive you know that usually at the top and bottom of the hour there will be a news update. Usually this will bring tension just to hear that familiar opening music. It doesn’t help that the news media know that if they present everything as potentially life threatening they will get your attention, which is why according to the news media everything from your toothpaste to tomatoes is going to kill you. But we are also reminded everyday of every natural and manmade disaster that is taking place around the world. Floods, fires, wars, rumors of wars, provide the negatively fueled news media an ample supply of stories to terrify us with. When Jesus used the example of a tower that had fallen over and killed people He used an example that everyone knew. The fall of this tower was the talk of the town and seems to have been used to teach unrighteous people that unless they repent they will suffer a similar fate. But Jesus redirected the thinking. Instead of seeing this as sinners getting what they deserved, Jesus made it clear that the people who died were just as guilty as the people that He was talking with. Jesus is highlighting to those listening, and to us that we will all die. We all will suffer the same fate. Jesus was pointing to the repentance through Faith that leads to life that is the only way to escape everlasting death. When a volcano explodes or there is a large flood or earthquake not to mention wars where lots of people die, some will be Christians and some will be unbelievers. So how should we look at these tragedies? Were they God’s judgments? Were they persecutions? Was it something that is outside the control of God? Are there only 144,000 people that will be safe from these kinds of events?

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

Mentioned in this episode:

Christ the Center 1000

Christ the Center 1000

We continue our #VosGroup series by opening pages 135–137 of Vos’ book Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to consider the Decalogue and the second commandment.

1 And God spoke all these words, saying, 2 “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. 3 “You shall have no other gods before me. 4 “You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments. (Exodus 20:1–6, ESV)

Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton

We continue our study of Geerhardus Vos's Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments with a look at the world-wide application of the Decalogue and the second commandment. Read along on pp. 135-137.

We speak with Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo about their excellent book The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants after 500 Years (Zondervan, 2016). Rev. Dr. Allison is Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Rev. Dr. Castaldo serves as Lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. We are driven to ask, Why are we accepted by God? In the final analysis, it must be Christ’s person and work and his imputed righteousness to sinners. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. It depends solely on Christ and not anything we do.

Participants: Adam York, Camden Bucey, Chris Castaldo, Gregg Allison, Jeff Waddington

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

We speak with Gregg Allison and Chris Castaldo about their excellent book The Unfinished Reformation: What Unites and Divides Catholics and Protestants after 500 Years (Zondervan, 2016). Rev. Dr. Allison is Professor of Christian Theology at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. Rev. Dr. Castaldo serves as Lead Pastor of New Covenant Church in Naperville, Illinois. We are driven to ask, Why are we accepted by God? In the final analysis, it must be Christ's person and work and his imputed righteousness to sinners. Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone. It depends solely on Christ and not anything we do.

In Episode 46 we continue our new series on the Book of Revelation.

Your hosts, Rob and Bob, discuss the Book of Revelation chapter 6.

The second vision of the Book of Revelation show us that Jesus is King and reigns supreme over all. The Lord wants his people to know his love in Christ. That, even though there our troubles in varying degrees through the course of human history, he upholds his people in life and in death. In chapter 6, the second vision continues, the seal are opened and the four horsemen. What do these horsemen mean? What is it that they bring to the earth? How do all of these things bless Christ’s church?

Participants: Rob McKenzie, Robert Tarullo

We speak with William Boekestein about the Swiss reformer, Ulrich Zwingli. Ulrich Zwingli was a leader of the Reformation in Switzerland. His efforts in reforming doctrine and practice serve as examples and lessons for us today. Rev. Boekestein has written two biographies of Zwingli, each capturing the significance of the man for different audiences. He serves as Pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church (URCNA) in Kalamazoo, Michigan. He joined us on a previous episode of Christ the Center to discuss the history of the Heidelberg Catechism.

Participants: Camden Bucey, Jim Cassidy, William Boekestein

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