Why evangelize if God is sovereign in salvation? Is preaching to the lost then even necessary? Can you tell lost people Christ died for them? 

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast we are conducting interviews with special guests from recent conferences held at Founders Baptist Church.  In this week’s episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell is joined by Phil Johnson, Director of Grace to You.  Phil was with us for the Truth in Love Conference on Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God. 

Dr. Caldwell sits down with Phil and asks him to share about his personal journey with the doctrines of grace, when he was first exposed to them, and how and when he came to understand and embrace them. Phil begins by telling us that he grew up in a Methodist church, where the notion that God chooses who will be saved,  was something “we don’t believe.” So when he began hearing about the doctrines of grace, especially of God’s sovereignty in election, there was resistance. He had become passionate about evangelism and saw these doctrines as somewhat detrimental to that. Phil then began to question what was the point of telling anyone if God chooses who gets saved. He says he could have understood human depravity if someone had explained it, but the idea of election struck him as arbitrary and unfair.

Phil proceeds to tell us that about two years after he was saved, he enrolled at Moody Bible Institute. He came to Moody with very little biblical and theological knowledge, carrying baggage that he didn’t know was bad theology. Yet he had a heart for evangelism wanting to get the gospel to other people, while still very hostile to the idea of election seeing it incompatible with evangelism. It was at Moody where he met a group of young men that he calls “rabid Calvinists”, who happened to be in the same dorm. 

In his interactions with them, he tells us they patiently and graciously explained the sovereignty of God in salvation. They further explained how the doctrines of grace actually gave them the confidence to go out and proclaim the gospel, knowing that it wasn’t their persuading by sheer logic or talking people into the kingdom that people became saved. They told him, we just have to proclaim the message God has given us and He will draw people to Himself.

Phil also explains that it wasn’t until he heard John MacArthur teaching from Ephesians 2 on the doctrine of total depravity, that he saw his need to study it intently; John’s teaching through Ephesians 2 helped him do this. It brought him to a clear understanding of sins effect on the human soul helping it all to make sense and bring coherency to the doctrines of grace. However, the hardest of the five points (of Calvinism) for him grasp was limited atonement.

It must begin with a clear understanding of Christ’s work on the cross. He explains that he prefers to call it particular redemption or definite atonement, but also tells us that the extent of the atonement is not nearly as important to get right, as the nature of the atonement. He then, along with Dr. Caldwell, discuss the role of the Trinity in salvation, they give us some deeper understanding of substitutionary atonement, and help us to see biblically how we can faithfully present the gospel, calling the lost to Christ without saying “Christ died for you”. 

Dr. Caldwell asks Phil to share with us some important things we should consider when we encounter the doctrines of grace, and we struggle and wrestle with them. Phil leaves us with these thoughts, come with an open heart and mind, study the scriptures and don’t just react, and don’t be misled and confused about these doctrines as they are summed up with the acronym TULIP.  Each letter just happens to be an easy way for us to remember the doctrines behind them. He then reminds us that when we come to study them, they aren’t easily absorbed, especially when you come with presuppositions as he did; we need to be patient. Phil tells us it took about 15 years from the time he was saved until he came to the place of clear understanding and embracing these doctrines.

If you are interested in listening to the conference messages on Gods sovereignty in salvation and the doctrines of grace that were presented at Founders Baptist Church, you can click on the following link:

2019 Truth In Love Conference Messages – Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God

For more information about the Truth In Love Conference visit http://truthinlove.org

The post Phil Johnson on Understanding and Embracing the Sovereignty of God in Election appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell has a conversation with Dr. Steven Lawson on coming to know and love the Doctrines of Grace.

What are the doctrines of grace? Aren’t these doctrines found only in the Gospel of John and the Letter to the Romans? How should the doctrines of grace affect the life of a Christian?

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast we are conducting interviews with special guests from recent conferences held at Founders Baptist Church.  In this week’s episode, Dr. Richard Caldwell sits down with Dr. Steven Lawson, Founder and President of OnePassion Ministries.  Dr. Lawson was here speaking at the Truth in Love Conference on Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God. In this interview, Dr. Caldwell converses with Dr. Lawson about the biblical doctrines of grace, often referred to as Calvinism and commonly summed up with the acronym TULIP.

Dr. Caldwell asks Dr. Lawson to first tell us about his exposure to the doctrines of grace, and then about his journey with accepting, and acknowledging the sovereignty of God in salvation. Dr. Lawson tells us that he did not grow up learning these things from the Westminster Confession of Faith. He explains that it was actually in seminary, in his twenties, when he was confronted with the doctrines of grace.

His first response was to reject and argue against these truths with fellow students and even at times with the professors. He says the talks on the sovereignty of God in salvation just arrested his understanding and was antithetical to his way of thinking; to the degree that he felt a little like Jonah trying to run away from these truths as they continued to come up. Yet, as he progressed in his studies through each book and each verse of the Bible, the truth of God’s sovereignty in salvation was there, just waiting for him to see, he just couldn’t get away from it.

Dr. Lawson goes on to describe that he eventually came to a point where he had to surrender his mind and emotions to the mind and truth of God. He explains that it was not an easy process and he had to wrestle with many things both before and after. As he shares about some of these, we grasp that the importance of his wrestling was over more than just hermeneutical word studies. He tells us though, the longer he chewed on these truths, the sweeter they became. He describes the outcome of his wrestling and surrender as revolutionary and humbling, it elevated his worship of God and changed him in ways he never expected.

Dr. Caldwell then asks Dr. Lawson to tell us how the doctrines of grace have shaped his ministry. Dr. Lawson explains that having a proper understanding of the doctrines of grace has become the driving force behind his ministry. He is vibrant and passionate about declaring the truths of God’s word. Yet, reminds us that the Bible is its own defense and says, “You don’t have to defend the Bible, it’s like a lion you just have to let it out of its cage.” The doctrines of grace are in the Bible from Genesis to Revelation, they are very clear, and when they are taught well, they will be very clear.

Listening to Dr. Lawson teach on the sovereignty of God in salvation makes these doctrines irrefutably clear.  He leaves us with this final thought, “These truths are not hard to understand, they’re just hard to swallow.” 

If you are interested in listening to the conference messages on the doctrines of grace and God’s sovereignty in salvation that were presented at Founders Baptist Church,  you can click on the following link:

2019 Truth In Love Conference Messages – Evangelism and The Sovereignty of God

For more information about the Truth In Love Conference visit http://truthinlove.org

The post Dr. Steven Lawson on Coming to Know and Love the Doctrines of Grace appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, we ask are talking about The Gift Of Modern Day Prophecy.

Has biblical prophecy ceased? Can believers today have the gift of biblical prophecy? Is modern day prophecy different than what’s in the Old and New Testaments?

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot have three special guests joining them: Pastor Mike Fabarez of Compass Bible Church in Orange County, CA; Dr. Tom Schreiner, the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at SBTS in Louisville, KY; and Dr. Bruce Ware, the T. Rupert and Lucille Coleman Professor of Christian Theology at SBTS in Louisville, KY.

This week our panel discusses prophecy, a subject that often stirs great disagreement among Christians. The question that sparks the discussion is: Can or does a Christian today have the spiritual gift of prophecy? So our panel takes us to scripture to look at this controversial subject from a biblically based perspective, rather than one based on feelings, opinions, or experience.

Dr. Schreiner, who has recently written a book on spiritual gifts, begins the discussion. He reminds us that in Ephesians 2:20 the Apostle Paul tells us that the church is “built on the foundation of the apostles and the prophets”. In Hebrews 1:2 we are told that in these last days God has spoken to us in His Son.  Jude 3 tells us we are “to contend for the faith that was delivered to the saints once for all”, by and through the apostles and prophets. Dr. Schreiner concludes that since the foundation has been laid and the canon of scripture is complete, God has given us all that we need to know for salvation and sanctification.  Given this information, the gift of prophecy then, in terms of “new revelation” from God, is not necessary, God has revealed and given all that we need until Jesus returns, there is no longer a need for prophets.

Our panel continues the discussion and gives us clarity on the role of a prophet called by God. The prophet whom God called was to speak for God, to do and declare all that He revealed to them.  Prophecy consists of infallible, inerrant verbal communication from God to the prophet. Therefore the prophet speaking for God whether forthtelling or foretelling is infallible and inerrant.  This is true for both Old and New Testament prophets. Prophecy in the New Testament is the same as in the Old, it does not have a different standard. Deuteronomy 18:15-22 speaks clearly to identifying prophets and their prophecies.  We are to judge prophets by their prophecies, not just their prophecies.

As believers in Christ, we’ve been given the Holy Spirit. The Spirit uses the Word of God to guide us, fill us, and accomplish God’s will for our lives. He does not work apart, in the life of a believer, from the Word of God. His work in our lives is for sanctification, and He uses us in the lives of others for this same purpose. The Spirit convicts us, prompts us to share the gospel, impresses us to pray for and encourage others, etc. But when these things happen we cannot claim infallible prophetic status. We may often have feelings and impressions about things we think we should do or say, but we must use caution not to confuse “feelings and impressions” as prophetic. Our panel informs us there needs to be a distinction and we need to be clear about what prophecy is and what it is not. The active work of the Spirit in our lives and our carrying out of these “feelings and impressions” does not rise to the level of infallibility. Yet it appears that some in the church have elevated these “feelings and impressions” to a status equal to that of NT and OT prophecy. 

Our panel reminds us that the foundation has been laid, the cannon is closed, we must use the Word of God as our foundation for all our Christian action. We must allow the Bible in its fullness, through the work of the Spirit to direct our thinking and our doing, remembering that the Holy Spirit will never contradict God’s revealed word. Scripture must take priority over feelings, impressions, and experience. Scripture alone is the final authoritative word and we ought to carefully consider the admonition of adding or taking away from the Word of God.

To learn more about the biblical gift of prophecy you can listen to the following sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

The Biblical Gift of Prophecy – Part 1

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=131102113271

The Biblical Gift of Prophecy – Part 2

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=2710212072

The Gift of Prophecy – Part 3

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=21410219292

Regulating Prophecy

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=61112055557

The post The Gift Of Modern Day Prophecy appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, we ask the question: Is my Holiness the Same as God’s Holiness?

Biblically speaking, what does holiness mean? Is our holiness different than Gods? Did Jesus empty Himself of His holiness in His incarnation?

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot have three special guests joining them: Pastor Mike Fabarez of Compass Bible Church in Orange County, CA; Dr. Tom Schreiner, the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at SBTS in Louisville, KY; and Dr. Bruce Ware, the T. Rupert and Lucille Coleman Professor of Christian Theology at SBTS in Louisville, KY.

This week our panel returns to the topic of holiness. The discussion centers on the importance of New Testament believers having a proper understanding of Gods holiness and how it relates to us.  As believers it is vitally important we recognize that holiness is intrinsic to God’s nature, it is who He is. Our holiness has a beginning, Gods does not, He’s eternal. Our holiness is a gift given and sustained to us by God, He’s self-existent. Our holiness has limits, we are finite, God is infinite. Without grasping these and other important truths about God and His holiness, and then also seeing this same holiness manifested in Christ, we develop wrong views of God and wrong thoughts of how holiness should be lived out in our lives. Often, this leads to wrong thinking and understanding of God’s other attributes and characteristics, causing us to elevate one over another.  But we should not do this, Gods attributes do not conflict with one another. Faulty reason and logic in this area give way to the question, “How could a loving God send people to hell?” 

Our panel emphasizes the standard we are called to, and reminds us that it must not be based on conjecture, the standard is holiness (cf. Leviticus 11:44, 1 Peter 1:14-16). Holiness is the absolute, separate, distinct, complete, perfection of God – a standard we are unable to meet.  We must recognize that we cannot bring about holiness in ourselves, it must be the work of God by His Spirit. As New Testament believers our confidence and trust must be upon God to bring to completion the good work He has begun in us as we seek to walk in obedience to His Word.

Jesus tells us that He came that we may have life and have it abundantly; this implies both quantity and quality.  As we embrace the ways God calls us to be separate, distinct, and different, we will be living our lives in a manner that is keeping with God’s own standard of holiness. This is the quality of a life that honors and pleases our Lord and one that will bring us great joy and hope.

If you are interested in listening to the conference messages on holiness that were recently presented at Founders Baptist Church,  you can click on the following link:

Spurgeon Conference 2018 at Founders Baptist Church – Holiness

The post Is my Holiness the Same as God’s Holiness? appeared first on Straight Truth Podcast.

This week on the Straight Truth Podcast, we are talking about Misconceptions About Holiness.

What is holiness and why are there misconceptions about it? How have these misconceptions about holiness come about? Why are there misconceptions about holiness in the church?

This season on the Straight Truth Podcast, Dr. Richard Caldwell and host Dr. Josh Philpot have three special guests joining them: Pastor Mike Fabarez of Compass Bible Church in Orange County, CA; Dr. Tom Schreiner, the James Buchanan Harrison Professor of New Testament Interpretation at SBTS in Louisville, KY; and Dr. Bruce Ware, the T. Rupert and Lucille Coleman Professor of Christian Theology at SBTS in Louisville, KY.

Today’s discussion among our panel is on the misconceptions of holiness. The conversation is prompted by a recent conference, where each of our guests spoke on different areas of holiness. The topics were:  God’s Holiness; Holiness in the Life of the Believer; and Holiness in the Church. Each of these men gave clear and precise teachings on what holiness is and what it is not. One vital point of clarity – Christians must have a proper understanding of God’s holiness so that we have a proper understanding of His call for us to “be holy”(Leviticus 11:44,1Peter 1:14-16). Otherwise, misconceptions will abound not only with individual believers but within our churches as well.

People often mistake those in pursuit of holiness as peculiar, old fashioned, legalistic, weird and sometimes bizarre. Some of the greatest misconceptions held are that the pursuit of holiness is restrictive, it’s constraining, it’s austere, and it’s depriving. There’s no freedom, no fun, no joy, and no happiness to be had in this life. The question then is, “Where’s the freedom to be ourselves and enjoy all that life has to offer?” As our panel takes up these things, they help us to evaluate our thinking on both freedom and holiness. 

Freedom isn’t always what we think it is. Our panel informs us that there is great joy, and happiness in knowing, loving, and serving God in this life; and for the believer this is freedom. However, this is a freedom that can only be obtained in Christ. In Christ, we are set free to be what God has created us to be and for that to which He calls us. The Christian life is not drudgery nor a heartless duty, it’s not about what we miss out on, but on what we gain. It’s about our sanctification, and more importantly, our progressive sanctification, becoming more and more like Christ. Yes, there is duty and responsibilities, but also delight, and they go hand in hand in living out the life that Christ has set before us.

If you are interested in learning more about holiness and the pursuit of it,  you can listen to the following sermons by Pastor Richard Caldwell:

Hope and Holiness

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=813082052442

A Holy Responsibility

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=102515850207

Living for the Will of God

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=71316115184

Holy Delight

https://www.sermonaudio.com/sermoninfo.asp?SID=9280816151610

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