What did Jesus mean in Luke 22:29 when he said; “and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me a kingdom”? What do we mean by covenant of redemption? Was there a plan made amongst the trinity prior to time and creation that would ultimately determine what was done in time and creation? Where in the bible does it speak of our salvation as a covenant? Does the idea of a covenant, an agreement, reduce God to a cold, clinical contractual businessperson? Is love compatible with obedience?

This week the Curious team will be continuing their exploration of covenant and looking into where the bible speaks of a uniquely eternal, pre-time covenant that was made amongst the members of the trinity for the ultimate benefit of humankind. They will reflect on the profound thought that all that we see worked out in time is part of an eternal plan set in motion amongst the trinity.

Recommended Reading:
Covenant of Redemption - Ligonier.org
Jesus and the Covenant of Redemption - CambridgePres.org.uk

What we’re reading...
As a new little feature to our notes, we are adding books that we have been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes. We have been delving into the following four;

Michael Horton - ‘Introducing Covenant Theology’ 

Peter Gentry & Stephen Wellum - ‘Kingdom Through Covenant’ 

W J Dumbrell - ‘Covenant and Creation’ 

John V Fesko -  ‘The Trinity and the Covenant of Redemption’ 

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What happens when we die? Where do we go, and for how long? What does the bible mean when it speaks of believers experiencing a sense of glorification? When does that happen and by what means?

This week the Curious team unearth some of the biblical understanding of the afterlife. Facing up to such questions as; what happens when we die? Where do we go? Can we occupy heaven or hell prior to an ultimate judgment? Will there be time as we know it in eternity? Will we know people? Will we be mindful of the hurtful and wrongful actions and thoughts we exercised towards others whilst on earth? How accurate will be our recall? Will the good things we did in life serve to influence God’s ultimate assessment of our lives?

These questions and more will be the heartbeat of this week’s episode as the team take a dive into scripture to find some concrete answers!

Recommended Reading:
Glorification - Liognier.org
Glorification - BibleStudyTools.com

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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When Jesus said of his church, “I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28); what level of assurance was he expecting us to live with? How safe is safe? 

This week the curious team examine the pro’s and con’s of the doctrine historically known as, ‘the final perseverance of the saints’ (or in more recent circles; ‘once saved always saved’). 

If we’re so completely safe, does that mean that it doesn’t matter how we live or what we do? Does it imply that all of scriptures admonitions and prohibitions are relatively meaningless? (What has been classically understood as ‘antinomianism’—lawlessness)

In this week’s episode the team discuss and reflect on whether the tension represented in scripture of behaviour and consequence, nullifies the overarching assurance and security Christ promises to his people. By identifying and walking through various problem texts and ideas, the team try to capture a balanced biblical perspective on the believers future security.

Recommended Reading:
Perseverance of the Saints - DesiringGod.org
TULIP and Reformed Theology: Perseverance of the Saints - Ligonier.org

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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The need for and process of change, especially for the better, has become something of a universal fascination the world over. But when we speak about sanctification is that all we are really emphasising? Is sanctification nothing more than a theological word for ‘changing for the better’? Is faith a means of climbing the ladder of self-improvement rung by rung to be more like Jesus? 

This week Pete and the Curious Team reflect on the biblical understanding of sanctification. Although it entails the need to live holier and more Christlike, it also carries the deep assurance of a work that is not contingent on how successful we are at this ‘becoming-more-like-Jesus’ thing. There is a sense in which we are urged to lay hold, put off, put on, etc; but also a profound sense in which Christ’s finished work has already perfected those for whom it was accomplished (Heb.10:14). 

In this week’s episode, the Curious team reflect on these truths, incorporating the covenantal repercussion of holiness! 

Recommended Reading:

What is Sanctification? - Seminary.grace.edu

The Doctrine of Sanctification - TheGospelCoalition.org

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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What does the Bible have to say about sonship? What does it mean to be part of the family of God? What are the differences between general, national and particular sonship? What does the New Testament say about our being adopted? What does it say about our status before God? How does it affect our future? And what does it say about our ongoing relationship with the try God?

This week, Pete and the Curious Team will dig deep into the New Testament’s understanding of adoption. Taking a look at how it affects who we are, where we are going and how we live our lives in the here and now.

Recommended Reading:
Adopted Into God's Family - AnswersInGenesis.org
Adoption: The Heart of the Gospel - DesiringGod.org

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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What do we mean by justification? Why was it such a contentious issue in the reformation? Does justification put anything in us or does it simply declare something about us? Is justification a permanent thing or is it a gradual thing? Do we become something in justification or are we declared to be something? 

This week the curious team will take a long hard look at the biblical understanding of justification by faith. What does it mean to be justified? What does the Bible say about those who are justified? What does it mean to receive the imputed righteousness of Christ? How is Jesus’s passive and active obedience relevant to our justification? These questions and many more will be discussed and debated as the team seek to arrive at what they consider to be the New Testament perspective on this vitally important truth.

Recommended Reading:
The Doctrine of Justification by Faith - DesiringGod.org
Justified by Faith - Ligonier.org

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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When Jesus spoke of conversion as a ‘turning’ (Matt. 18:3), what was he implying? What does it mean to turn, change, convert? Is it turning over a new leaf, starting over, making new commitments or better decisions? How does conversion happen and why is it so fundamentally essential?

This week the Curious team examine the place, nature and importance of conversion. How can we identify counterfeit conversion and is there such a thing as temporary conversion and how does that work? What is the difference between habitual (passive) conversion, and actual (active)? What are the stages and steps of true conversion? This week the team explore all these various aspects and more.

Recommended Reading:
What is True Conversion? - Ligonier.org
Conversion - TheGospelCoalition.org

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How do we consider faith? Is there a difference between general faith, believing faith, and in particular saving faith? How do we identify real faith from counterfeit? Does everybody have faith, and is it sufficient to transform their lives? 

This week the Curious team take a look at the understanding of faith. What is ‘saving’ faith? Is it something we inherently possess or is something gifted to us by God? Does faith save us? What do we mean when we speak about being saved ‘by faith’? The Curious team discuss this and more in seeking to better clarify what faith really is.

Recommended Reading:
The Doctrine of Saving Faith - TheGospelCoalition.org
What is saving faith? - TheologyForYou.com

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What do we mean by repentance? Is there a sorrow which doesn't save? Is there such a thing as sincere but counterfeit repentance? Why does our human nature find repentance so difficult? What does God need to do insider to bring us to a place of genuine,  salfivic repentance?

This week Pete and the Curious team will discuss the place and significance of repentance in our spiritual transformation. What components come into play if genuine repentance is to be operated.  They will reflect on what it is and where it comes from. Whether we naturally carry a dormant sense of repentance ready to be activated by grace at an opportune time, or whether it is in fact a gift of God that can only be held and used by his grace. 

Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected]

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