The Jerusalem Chamber » Podcast

This paragraph offers a warning as well as a comfort, how do we balance these two? Can you prove from the Bible that even small sins deserve damnation? How do people underestimate the heinousness of sin? What sins are often winked at in our circles? What does repentance look like for small sins? What comfort is there for the struggling Christian in this paragraph? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 15.4:

As there is no sin so small, but it deserves damnation; so there is no sin so great, that it can bring damnation upon those who truly repent.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Ep-15.4-Pardon-of-Repentance.mp3

According to this paragraph what are the three wrong uses of repentance? This paragraph mentions the “free act of God’s grace.” Will you remind our listeners what that is? Can you Scripturally demonstrate why repentance cannot be the cause of our pardon? In the background are a number of errors being guarded against, what are those? Why may not expect pardon without repentance? Join Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle as they discuss WCF 15.3:

Although repentance is not to be rested in, as any satisfaction for sin, or any cause of the pardon thereof, which is the act of God’s free grace in Christ, yet it is of such necessity to all sinners, that none may expect pardon without it.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/Ep-15.3-Wrong-and-Right-Use-of-Repentance.mp3

How is sin dangerous? How is sin filthy? What does “odious” mean and how is sin odious? How is sin contrary to God’s law and nature? Can you give biblical examples of repentance flowing from an apprehension of the mercy and love of God? The Puritans often distinguished between evangelical and legal repentance, what is the difference? How should repentant people view their sin? What does repentance look like? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 15.2:

By it, a sinner, out of the sight and sense not only of the danger, but also of the filthiness and odiousness of his sins, as contrary to the holy nature, and righteous law of God; and upon the apprehension of his mercy in Christ to such as are penitent, so grieves for, and hates his sins, as to turn from them all unto God, purposing and endeavouring to walk with Him in all the ways of his commandments.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ep-15-2-turning-from-and-to.mp3

What is an “evangelical grace”? How does an evangelical grace relate to the ordo salutis? What is true repentance and how does this differ from other “kinds” of repentance? Why use the word “doctrine” when describing repentance? How do faith and repentance go hand-in-hand? How should a preacher preach repentance? What does repentance have to do with the well-meant offer of the gospel? Does Nathan confess the Auchterarder Creed? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 15.1:

Repentance unto life is an evangelical grace, the doctrine whereof is to be preached by every minister of the Gospel, as well as that of faith in Christ.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/episode-15-1-the-grace-of-repentance.mp3

Can you reflect on a definition of saving faith? How is saving faith “weakened and assailed”? How does this relate to assurance? How can this paragraph be read in two different ways? Do all receive a full assurance of faith? How is Christ the author and finisher of our faith? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 14.3:

This faith is different in degrees, weak or strong; may often and many ways assailed, and weakened, but gets the victory: growing up in many to the attainment of a full assurance, through Christ, who is both the author and finisher of our faith.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ep-14-3-strong-and-weak-faith.mp3

Can you remind our listeners what faith is? Why should we believe whatsoever the Bible says? What are some examples of the following biblical truths: gospel truths, hard truths, inconvenient truths, and lofty truths? What do you say to someone who has a hard time reconciling what the Bible says with humanity’s developing understanding of the sciences? Faith not only believes but “acts,” what are the actings of faith? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 14.2:

By this faith, a Christian believes to be true whatsoever is revealed in the Word, for the authority of God himself speaking therein; and acts differently upon that which each particular passage thereof contains; yielding obedience to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life, and that which is to come. But the principal acts of saving faith are accepting, receiving, and resting upon Christ alone for justification, sanctification, and eternal life, by virtue of the covenant of grace.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ep-14-2-faith-and-the-bible.mp3

How does chapter 14 provide a transition in the flow of the confession? What is faith? Why add the adjective “saving,” is there another kind of faith? How is the Bible and the Holy Spirit involved in our faith? What would some people object to in this paragraph? How does preaching increase our faith? Is the confession accurate when it says faith is “ordinarily” wrought by the ministry of the Word? How do the sacraments strengthen our faith? How does prayer strengthen our faith? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 14.1:

The grace of faith, whereby the elect are enabled to believe to the saving of their souls, is the work of the Spirit of Christ in their hearts, and is ordinarily wrought by the ministry of the Word, by which also, and by the administration of the sacraments, and prayer, it is increased and strengthened.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ep-14-1-what-is-faith.mp3

Where does the “war” imagery of this paragraph come from? Do you think the Westminster Divines are “heresy-hunting” in this paragraph? What wrong views of sanctification has the church struggled with? How does corruption remain in the believer? What are some biblical examples of believers in whom corruption prevailed for a time? How does the Spirit of Christ provide continual supplies of strength? What is meant by the phrase “perfecting holiness”? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 13.3:

In which war, although the remaining corruption, for a time, may much prevail; yet, through the continual supply of strength from the sanctifying Spirit of Christ, the regenerate part does overcome; and so, the saints grow in grace, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ep-13-3-the-war-within.mp3

For More Resources on Today’s Topic Check Out…

The Holy War by John Bunyan

The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung

The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

A Treatise on Sanctification by James Fraser

The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard

The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall

Temptation and Sin by John Owen

The Doctrine of Sanctification by AW Pink

Sanctification: Growing in Grace by Joseph Pipa

How Does Sanctification Work by David Powlison

Holiness by JC Ryle

Could you define again for us what sanctification is? In what ways is our body sanctified? Can you explain what the “trichotomist” view is and why it’s wrong? Was John Murray correct with his doctrine of definitive sanctification (just kidding…we don’t discuss that)? What sins do Christians struggle with? What was the Keswick movement and how do we see echos of it still today? Why doesn’t God perfectly sanctify us in this life? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 13.2:

This sanctification is throughout, in the whole man; yet imperfect in this life, there abiding still some remnants of corruption in every part; whence arises a continual and irreconcilable war, the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ep-13-2-extent-and-degree-sanct.mp3

For More Resources on Today’s Topic Check Out…

The Holy War by John Bunyan

The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung

The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

A Treatise on Sanctification by James Fraser

The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard

The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall

Temptation and Sin by John Owen

The Doctrine of Sanctification by AW Pink

Sanctification: Growing in Grace by Joseph Pipa

How Does Sanctification Work by David Powlison

Holiness by JC Ryle

What is the ordo salutis and why is it helpful? How is sanctification connected to the life and death of Jesus? Can you elaborate on the role of the Word in sanctification? What is the Spirit’s role in sanctification and what is meant by “indwelling”? What does it mean to be “really” and “personally” sanctified? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle discuss WCF 13.1:

They, who are once effectually called, and regenerated, having a new heart, and a new spirit created in them, are further sanctified, really and personally, through the virtue of Christ’s death and resurrection, by his Word and Spirit dwelling in them: the dominion of the whole body of sin is destroyed, and the several lusts thereof are more and more weakened and mortified; and they more and more quickened and strengthened in all saving graces, to the practice of true holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.

https://jerusalemchamber.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ep-13-1-defiition-of-sanctification.mp3

For More Resources on Today’s Topic Check Out…

The Holy War by John Bunyan

The Hole in Our Holiness by Kevin DeYoung

The Whole Christ by Sinclair Ferguson

A Treatise on Sanctification by James Fraser

The Enemy Within by Kris Lundgaard

The Gospel Mystery of Sanctification by Walter Marshall

Temptation and Sin by John Owen

The Doctrine of Sanctification by AW Pink

Sanctification: Growing in Grace by Joseph Pipa

How Does Sanctification Work by David Powlison

Holiness by JC Ryle