Episode: 61
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 60
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

What is happening in this cultural moment? Is true religion possible with cultural Christianity intermingled with the wisdom of the world? That’s what we discuss in this segment of the episode on “Cultural Christianity: What is Happening to Faith in the Public Square?”

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The recent conversation between Ted Cruz and Tucker Carlson has opened up a can of worms regarding the true purpose and function of Israel in relationship to the Church. In this episode, we discussed the original function of Israel in the Old Testament as well as what does it mean now that Christ has established the New Covenant Church. Plus, is the Dispensational label of “replacement theology” warranted and how do the Reformed respond?

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Episode: 59
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 58
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 57
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

In this episode, we engage recent comments by Glenn Beck on AI and how it will revolutionized our world. From Large Language Models that will revolutionized the way that we communicate, learn and do work; to post-human effects that threaten to disrupt the global order, we have to be aware of the real threats that AI poses, and how to respond from the biblical worldview.

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Episode: 56
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 55
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

“The first ultraintelligent machine is the last invention that man need ever make.”

— Irving John Good, 1965

FOR most of us, we took a deep breath once Donald J. Trump became the 47^th president of the United States because the alternative would have seemingly placed us on an inevitable collision course with total Socialist policies made up of wokeism, total sexual and social deconstruction, economic depression, and increased levels of globalism and tyrannical NGO overreach. On a basic level we should be grateful for this stalling of the times. In fact, there are many encouraging factors about another Trump presidency for the nation, the culture and the Church. It may result in overturning many harmful policies which can be detrimental to the overall prosperity of the nation both morally, economically and even spiritually. To be clear, the last factor, spiritually, is not necessarily subject to cultural and political conditions as even in the most oppressive contexts the gospel can and does overcome. Nevertheless, a free society, with all of its hang ups, can facilitate the rapid proliferation of Christian propaganda— essential to the spiritual mission of the Church. Culturally, to use the language of Arron Renn, we may be shifting away from the “negative world” (a cultural and political phenomenon where Christianity is viewed mainly negatively in mainstream culture), and toward a complex admixture of both “neutral” and “positive” cultural sentiment toward Christianity (albeit mostly consisting of nominal or cultural Christianity which I have deemed “Christianism”).

Time will certainly tell what this conservative moment means for the spiritual condition of the nation. But while most Christians are breathing a sigh of relief that significant liberal policies have been abated, at least for now, there are other serious concerns the world and the Church still face. A few days after entering the White House, Donald Trump had a news conference that featured the CEOs of OpenAI, Sam Altman, Larry Ellison of Oracle and Masayoshi Son of SoftBank. They were there to announce the launch of Stargate, a massive AI initiative by the United States government. Stargate will seek to lead the world in artificial intelligence. They will accomplish this first by building massive data centers throughout the U.S. beginning in Texas. These data centers are essential for AI to operate properly and enlarge its scope to the degree that tech leaders envision for the ubiquitous application of AI. So, why is this such a concern? AI already runs everywhere: it controls our street lights, operates on the internet, supports software platforms and makes LLMs possible etc. Concerns over AI are not unknown, however they are often either misunderstood or met with either skepticism, disbelief, or panic. In recent years, this concern has been voiced by more than just “conspiracy theorists” (if that term still holds meaning), it has been raised by some of the very leaders in the AI world including: Elon Musk, one of the founders of AI Geoffroy Hinton, Mustafa Suleyman, Mo Gawdat as well as the very vocal AI alarmist Eliezer Yudkowskyand many others. Even those who are AI enthusiasts have openly admitted to the dangers that AI represents from total loss of privacy to global extinction! Most of the dark visions of the future have to do with world-ending scenarios that could materialize through an out-of-control AI in the not-too-distant future that becomes billions of times smarter than humans and becomes immune to human programming measures designed to reign in AI’s capabilities as well as making it virtually impossible to “unplug” the machines; the “Skynet” scenario!

But AI applications in the more immediate future are likewise concerning. Some time ago, I took part in a private gathering of wealthy folks that put on a Bill Gates event where he was going to speak on AI (the details of how “got in” is not important or remarkable). During this presentation, Gates spoke for over an hour on the emergence of digital and robotic “Agents” that will assist us in every facet of our lives. Like a robotic Siri that never turns off and is jacked into every aspect of our lives— from our medical records, to our business, our emails, texts, phone calls, finances and family memories, these “Agents” will be eventually with us from cradle to grave. Surprisingly I was allowed to ask Mr. Gates a question. I asked him about the dangers of AI, I brought up the concerns of alarmists I knew he was familiar with and key thinkers in robotics including Hans Moravec and the projections concerning a post-human future. To his credit Bill Gates did not dodge my question but ultimately directed me to the recent book The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman.

The consensus today seems to be the same- the dangers of AI are real but, mainly for security reasons, we still need to move forward with AI with ample caution. My aim in writing these articles on AI is not however simply to raise concerns about AI doomsday scenarios but to engage the worldview that I believe undergirds the modern tech revolution especially as we think about AI, Transhumanism and the philosophy of futurism as a whole. In order to accomplish this, we will need to know critical facts, figures, and projections of our technological future and how it relates to the biblical world and life view, both positively and negatively.

Why AI is a “challenge”

AI has already proven to be a useful tool. From the way our computers operate, to the efficiency with which we navigate the web, to safety concerns in various sectors of society that eliminate human error and save lives. The list of the benefits that stem directly from AI are innumerable. This is part of the allure. AI helps humans. If this was all that AI’s purpose was designed to do, there should be universal, unhesitant support for AI proliferation throughout the world. But why are so many AI experts alarmed? It’s not just doomsday scenarios that cause them deep angst, although that certainly has a way of ruining your trip to Starbucks; it’s also perceived, incremental degrees of post-humanism that have already obtained in society. When for example, a warehouse in China goes from 600 employees to 60 because of robotic machines that easily replaced the workforce— that’s a cause for concern! We will address the issue of a modern-day Luddite revolution in future posts as it features large in much of the futurists literature.

I remember reading my first real book on transhumanism, The Age of Spiritual Machines (1999) by Ray Kurzweil. I remember thinking, and indeed writing in the column of the book, “why do we still need humans?” If you have read Kurzweil’s books, you know they are not exactly hiding that part of their futurist “dream.” In many of his interviews with main stream media, Jewish historian and author Yuval Noah Harari has openly declared, “the era of humans is over.” I have read Harari at length, he does not hesitate to speak of what he calls, “the masses of useless people,” and the “useless class” of humanity replaced by AI and robotics (see for example Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow). He has gone on record saying, without hyperbole, that humanity left behind technologically, replaced by AI and robotics, can spend their time on drugs, pornography, and video games with the alternative being learning to code for a living! Remarkably, his books have been endorsed by a then sitting U.S. president, Barak Obama.

The further into the futurist wormhole one goes, the more we find ourselves on the outside looking in. The further I studied the futurist dream, the more I found myself standing in total opposition to its overall proposal, especially long term. This brings me to the crux of the issue and why AI is in fact a “challenge” to humanity and the Church. This danger consists of both the origins of transhumanism and the goal of AI. This is what the rest of this article will seek to address.

The Battle for the Past

To be clear, the transhumanist community, all of which admit and assume the critical role that AI plays in the “philosophy” of transhumanism, begin with non-Christian assumptions. Transhumanist Max More, in the Transhumanist Reader (2013), along with the contributors, have openly espoused their commitment to post-Enlightenment Humanism/Rationalism and Evolution as their cosmological foundation. For the typical transhumanist, reason is their ultimate reference point— at least for now, after all, who needs human reason when machines are billions of times smarter than us? When recently asked if he believed in God, Ray Kurzweil declared that “consciousness” (later reduced to intelligence and data) is as close to “god” or spirituality that he was willing to acknowledge. For Kurzweil and many other futurists, their prior commitment to macro-cosmic evolution precludes the idea of a personal God that has revealed himself to man. As the great reformed apologist Van Til put it, Christianity for the natural man is “unbelievable because impossible.” 

The problem with Humanism as the foundation for cosmology is that the futurists are seeking to define the world for us. They’re post-Enlightenment rationalism, and commitment to cosmic evolution results in an anti-fundamentalist philosophy. There is nothing concrete in this universe. There is nothing ultimate. There’s nothing static, everything is in flux, including human nature. Because human nature is not a fixed reality, it can evolve, which is to say it can change or be changed. We have to also understand that the term “evolution” has fallen on hard times in the 21^st-century. No longer satisfied with old versions of Darwinian evolutionary models, survival of the fittest and the rest; the futurist community is seeking for a neo-evolutionary model that focuses on auto evolution – a theory of self-evolving or generating the next stages of what they call evolution primarily through technology.

 A surprising discovery that I have encountered in reading broadly transhumanist literature is their pattern of beginning with the history of the cosmos from an evolutionary angle. Many of the books I have read do just that. They begin with their story of a universe that is billions and billions of years old and walk us through a rather standard version of how the universe and man evolved leading to our present stage of evolution. I believe the reason for this is twofold. The evolutionary tale sets the necessary foundation for seeing life as evolving, and evolution therefore as a natural process of life. The second reason is to create a priority around progress and innovation as the natural mechanism of advancing humanity forward. In the transhumanist dream, if there is one ultimate idol to be found, it is progress and everything is sacrificed on its altar.     

The Battle for the Future 

The future of apologetics is eschatology! That’s a point I have attempted to develop in recent years both as it relates to intermural theological debates on eschatology and worldview apologetics. Futurism has only further cemented this sentiment for me. In reading the futurist literature, it quickly becomes obvious that futurism lives up to its name; it’s all about the future. But like the past, i.e. history, the future is also a matter of worldviews and the biblical worldview claims absolute authority over the realm of eschatology just as much as the “origins” debate. Just as the origin of the universe is not a bare secular history of humanities, so too, the future is not an open-ended dream with endless possibilities. For transhumanist proponents and those committed to developing AGI (artificial general intelligence) and beyond, the future they envision is a future where people are no longer the only truly intelligent agents in the world. In fact, they will be a relatively small population of “smart things.” Take for example Tesla’s recent projections for their proposed Humanoid— a smart robot to be produced in units numbering in the many millions. Musk has expressed a desire to see his Humanoid robots ubiquitous in our world. Add to this any number of Tesla competitors who also desire robotic dominance in the future economic market. In the futurist dream, the number of smart robotic “things” will vastly outnumber humans.

It’s not just the tech around us that characterizes the future, it is also a technology inside of us. In his most recent book, The Singularity is Nearer (2024), Ray Kurzweil speaks again of the impending Singularity where according to him “we merge with AI.” According to Kurzweil, around the middle of the 21^st century (approx. 2045), implantable technology will be everywhere. Around this time period Kurzweil expects for Nano-technology (microscopic robotics) to grant humanity the capacity to radically alter their genetics both neurologically, extending our minds, and biologically, extending our lives. In his previous work, The Singularity is Near (2005), Kurzweil questions if radically enhanced humans register as humans anymore. Transhumanist Nick Bostrom has gone even further, declaring in 2001 that we must be ready to renounce what he called bioism, “we reject racism, speciesism, we should also reject carbon-chauvinism, or bioism.” Apparently, wokeism has just begun! A series of questions arise at this point: will we be more machine than man? If the majority of our biological selves is inorganic, what degree of humanness remains? Are we reaching Humanity 2.0? What are the effects of living in a world of “deep-fakeism?” How will society handle the emerging technological caste system that seems all but inevitable? What is the extreme future for man given the technological rate of growth? Are we looking at a utopian or dystopian future and how do we quantify such eco-socio-technocratic characteristics? How does man truly advance? Is man’s destiny off-world as Elon Musk and others have said— a future ‘among the stars?’ These are the pressing questions that arise in light of the futurist dream. From the Christian perspective, it is essential that we understand that each of these questions are deeply theological in nature.

Looking Ahead

One thing is certain, the ambitions and projections, what I call “prophesies” of the tech world, are nothing short of fantastic. Their expressed goal is a total cosmological revolution. This was again made clear by the recent presentation given by Elon Musk at the unveiling of their latest edition of xAi’s Grok3 in February of 2025. The mission was explicitly defined as follows, “Our mission is to understand the universe.” Musk declared to be on a truth-seeking mission with the aid of an insanely intelligent AI— to find out the truth of all things, “the purpose of life” and “where the aliens are.” From the Christian perspective, this is a dismissal of the claims of Scripture as the self-attesting revelation of God that has already told us not only who and what we are, but why we are here and where we are going. Musk, like the rest of the futurist community has ignored man’s most fundamental purpose, “to glorify God and enjoy Him forever”!

With such a vast subject, with technological advancements changing the game almost daily, and with so much literature being produced on the entire subject of AI and Futurism, this short article is not designed to cover the many points that demand our attention as we seek to engage this revolutionary subject matter from a distinctly biblical perspective. What we will handle in future posts will including interacting with key figures in transhumanism and AI, listening to the warning of the “alarmist” community, understanding the problem of morphological freedom especially as implantable tech becomes a social reality, understanding degrees of posthumanism as both a philosophy and a real time factor that affects us all, plus how biblical theology (from a distinctly Reformed perspective), isolating those key doctrines like, eschatology, human beatitude, and the image of God that can help us as Christians to fortify ourselves from the futurist worldview where that worldview comes into conflict with the biblical world and life view.

Viator Dei

Episode: 54
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

In this episode of Red Grace Live, we recap 2024, a year of great blessing for RGM. We discuss the importance of the Reformed Path material, the work we did on the Deepest Concepts playlist and look ahead at the many challenges facing the Church in 2025 and beyond. Thank you to all of our supporters for faithfully tuning in, may the Lord richly bless you all. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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Is America becoming more religious? Christian? Spiritual? What about the influence of Roman Catholicism and Ecumenicalism? Although political conservatism may be said to be on the rise, what is the true spiritual state of the Country and the Church? In this episode we feature part one of a roundtable discussion from the Daily Wire featuring Jordan Peterson on the Gospels. As the contributors discuss the meaning of “the Word” from the gospel of John, we interact with some of the ways Jordan Peterson and the other contributors reinterpret John’s gospel. This kind of reinterpretation of the biblical text is remarkably deceptive and dangerous. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode we finish up breaking down the conversation between George Farmer and Allie Beth Stuckey on Roman Catholicism. There are many misrepresentations of church history that are made here as well as faulty of assumption regarding the early church. We also expose the Jungian roots of Jordan Peterson as he is grilled by Richard Dawkins on the historicity of the Biblical Narrative. A lot to learn from this exchange. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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What are the Implications of a Kamala Harris presidency? If the previous administration was any indication, we can expect for an increase in globalism among other things. Globalism is a very important factor not only in governance and in the economy, but also as it affects society and even spirituality. In this episode, we breakdown the implications of globalism, including what it means for the coming waveof transhumanism and AI. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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pre-millennialism is the most popular eschatology in the world, but few consider the connection between premillennialism and Christology. In this episode, we will explain why premillennialism affects our view of the doctrine of Christ in a dangerous way. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode, we cover the dire warning issued by Elon Musk on X where he claims that we are on the precipice of having “the last election” in our country. We will examine that claim from the perspective of the New Apologetics that include topics like globalism, transhumanism and paganism. Plus, Revelation 14 and the “last gospel!” If Elon Musk’s prediction comes true, how will that change America, and more importantly, what will it mean for the church and her mission to preach Christ in obedience to the Great Commission? Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode, we continue to break down the conversation between George Farmer, Candace Owen’s husband, and Allie Beth Stuckey on the subject of Roman Catholicism and Protestantism. This conversation is a perfect example of why it’s important to carefully define your terms, to pay close attention to the text of Scripture in exegesis and how easy it is to be deceived by the heretical views of Roman Catholicism. The great divide between Rome and Protestant Reformed Christians persist. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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Alarming statements by Pope Francis on universalism. What do Roman Catholics do now that the Pope has opened the door to all religions? What happens if Catholic agree with the Pope or disagree for that matter? Can Roman Catholicism survive this radical shift away from the exclusivity of Christ? We respond to these questions and much more. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode, we breakdown an important conversation that transpired between Candace Owens’ husband George Farmer and Allie Beth Stuckey on the subject of the gospel and the differences between Roman Catholic and Protestant Christians. Candace Owens claims to have been convinced by her boyfriend to abandon Protestantism and embrace Roman Catholicism because of one key factor. We will examine that claim in the light of history and more importantly Scripture. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this video featuring Charlie Kirk interacting with college students, we learn a valuable lesson of why it is so important to understand the doctrine of God correctly. Does God have a body? Does God possess a specific gender or sex? What does it mean for God to be a “Father?” What does it mean for Christ to be a “Son?” What is the proper relationship between God’s nature and the nature of human beings? Above all, this video shows why it is so important to have a consistent Christian worldview. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this shorter video RGM is responding to a video featuring Leighton Flowers from soteriology101. Leighton Flowers is known for his personal crusade against Calvinism and Reformed Theology. In this video we will examine Flower’s claims about being “mark in Christ” as the basis for election and why this confuses theological categories and gets the text of Ephesians wrong. We also talk about Flower’s “Provisionism,” is it a real thing or is it nothing more than historical semi-Pelagian Arminianism? Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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Revelation 20 is the crux passage for all systems of eschatology. In this episode we continue to walk through the interview with Dr. Matt Waymeyer on Sound Words Ministries. Dr. Waymeyer contends that Amillennialists assume their system before in they approach the text of Revelation 20. We will interact with Waymeyer’s argument and make some key observations about what distinguishes the two systems and why Amillennialism and Reformed Eschatology remains faithful the text of Scripture. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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Dr. Matt Waymeyer from the Expositors Seminary has written and in-depth critique of Reformed Eschatology or historic Amillennialism. His book, Amillennialism and the Age to Come: A Premillennial Critique of the Two-Age Model, argues that Amillennialism cannot interpret OT passages that he believes suggest the presence of an “intermediate” kingdom that fits neither with the present order of things nor does it fit with the Bible’s teaching of the eternal state. The difference between the premillennial and amillennial view continues to present serious divergences in hermeneutics and theology. On this episode of Red Grace Life, we hope to give a meaningful response to Dr. Waymeyer’s work. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode we continue to work through the interview on Abounding Grace Radio with Chris Gordon featuring Doug Wilson and Jared Longshore. We finish up talking about postmillennialism and Reformed Eschatology or Amillennialism and move into a discussion of the doctrine of justification. We also interact with the Reformed tradition in an attempt to clarify terms and identify where the problem of the Federal Vision error lies. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode of Red Grace Live, we continue our discussion with Lane G. Tipton of the Reformed Forum. We continue to break down Thomas’ theology of divine processions and the Imago Die. In this episode we consider Thomas’ understanding of the “Invisible Missions” of God and how that comes to impact his understanding of God’s created Image in man and man’s final Beatitude in glory. For Thomas and the Roman Catholic tradition, the divine processions constitute a direct participation of the divine essence by the creature in the future estate of glory. We will consider what leading Thomistic scholars say about Thomas’ trinitarian structure as well as the Reformed response by theologians like Herman Bavinck and Geerhardus Vos. Please be sure and subscribe today, share the show and visit us on all our platforms. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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The modern-day retrieval movement is focused on retrieving the tradition of medieval scholastic theology, especially concerning the doctrine of God and that puts Thomas Aquinas front and center of this “resourcement” movement that focuses on Calssical Christian Theism. This movement implicates both Roman Catholic and Reformed thinkers. In this episode of Red Grace Live, we are joined once again by Dr. Lane G. Tipton of the Reformed Forum. In this episode we explore Thomas’s Trinitarian thought and how it comes to bear on the Imago Dei. Rooted in his exitus/reditus scheme of creation, grace and glory; Thomas gives primacy to the Father and grounds the theology of the Image of God in man in the eternal processions of the Trinitarian relations of both Son and Spirit. A critical contribution in a Reformed understanding and response to the “Deeper Roman Catholic Conception” of Rome. This episode continues to develop a comprehensive alternative to Thomas’s view of grace and glory with the “Deeper Protestant Conception” in the Augustinian Calvinist tradition as developed through the contributions of Francis Turretin, Herman Bavink, and Geerhardus Vos. We encourage you to go back and review the two previous episodes in the “Deepest Concepts” playlist on the channel. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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The assassinate nation attempt on former President Donald Trump has alarmed the whole world and has added fuel to the political fire. From the perspective of the gospel, how should we interpret the events that are transpiring an American democracy today? In this episode of Red Grace Live, we discuss the gravity of the 2024 election, the frailty of American democracy, the role that the church and the gospel play during such times. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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The Reformed Path | The doctrine of eschatology can be dizzying for many who are trying to understand what Scripture teaches regard the end-times and the nature of Christ’s return, the Millennium and the final judgment as well as the New Creation. In this episode we advance the case of Reformed eschatology and argue that confessional, Reformed orthodoxy is best understood from an Amillennial perspective. We address the history of interpretation leading up to the present-day developments in Reformed hermeneutics and interpretation. Eschatology is a subject that needs a fresh approach at a more comprehensive level of Scripture’s overall teaching. We also contrast Reformed Eschatology with the premillennial and postmillennial points of views. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode we tackle evangelism and apologetics in the 21st century. Plus, we break down a video interview featuring popular globalist historian and transhumanist Yuval Noah Harari. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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For most Christians, apologetics and eschatology do not often go together but our culture is increasingly presenting a particular and technological vision of the future. Pastor Emilio Ramos tackles some of the critical issues in eschatology and calls for a broader more comprehensive definition of eschatology in developing the Christian worldview. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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The Bible says that God is not ashamed of those who identify as strangers and exiles in this world. The book of Hebrews is indispensable to understand and develop a true pilgrim theology that helps us interpret our experience in this world. With the recent resurgence in theonomy and postmillennial thought, the church cannot forget this critical aspect of its identity. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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Ray Comfort joins the show! In this episode, Ray Comfort and Emilio Ramos talk about the upcoming outreach to London as well as the Law/Gospel Distinction in evangelism. On May 6th,  @LivingWaters  is leading an international effort to bring the gospel to London during the coronation of king Charles. Ray has designed a perfect tract made specifically for this event but that will surely be an instant classic. This is one of those, “Ray does it again moments” for sure! A great conversation on the importance of the Law and Gospel also ensues. You will not want to miss this one. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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With the recent Midterm Elections, we often find ourselves putting our faith and emotion into the political scene, but is this good for us as believers? In this Episode of Red Grace Media, Emilio Ramos reminds us of the wisdom of biblical Pilgrim Theology and what that means exactly. Also, we do a deep dive into Hebrews 11.13-16 as a key passage that expounds on pilgrim theology, eschatology, and our worldview as it relates to our lives in this temporal world. We also discuss Two-Kingdom theology, Theonomy, and engaging the culture biblically. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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The world panics as Elon Musk takes Twitter, conservatives celebrate hoping Musk will liberate free speech on the social media platform. However, Elon Musk is also a strong proponent of dangerous technology and Artificial Intelligence. Musk (along with many other futurists) has also warned the world of apocalyptic scenarios that technology can unleash on us all. There is only one future for mankind and in this episode of Red Grace Media, we talk about the biblical notion of hope and the future of mankind from the Biblical perspective. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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In this episode, we cover personal reflections on pastoral ministry. Plus, what is “The Last Gospel” and what does it teach us about the doctrine of God? This is a message and an emphasis the Church needs to hear today and a sober reminder that we are living in a world that needs the distinction and relation between the Creator and the creature. Christ & Kingdom Returns! Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

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What are the Implications of a Kamala Harris presidency? If the previous administration was any indication, we can expect for an increase in globalism among other things. Globalism is a very important factor not only in governance and in the economy, but also as it affects society and even spirituality. In this episode, we breakdown the implications of globalism, including what it means for the coming wave of transhumanism and AI. Be sure and smash the like button and enjoy the show.

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President Donald Trump is promising a “Golden Age” of American prosperity. What does this mean for the Church and how maintain a biblical worldview both in times of hardship and prosperity. We also consider the doctrine of common grace in relationship to our present cultural ethos. Subscribe and share!

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In this episode we begin to work through the recent interview with Doug Wilson. Chris Gordon from the Abounding in Grace show sat down with Doug Wilson and Jared Longshore to confront Wilson on his view on Christian Nationalism, Postmillennialism and the Federal Vision controversy. In this episode we will walk through Wilson’s views on Christ and culture and eschatology and the affect it has had on the Reformed Church. Link to the original podcast from Abounding Grace https://youtu.be/YsrThQp3KHA?si=8u5WFVSeFEHQsfWD

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Every time things heat up in the Middle East there is an Evangelical frenzy of interest and Dispensational eschatology that sees Israel as God’s chosen nation, the Jews as God’s chosen people and biblical prophecy regulated by what happens in the land of Israel. What we do with Israel as a nation and the Church’s role in Biblical Theology will impact our theology deeply. In this episode of Red Grace Live, we discuss the theology of the Church as it relates to Israel, and especially Romans 11.

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In an age of superficial worship, including preaching, man-centered worship, and all many of charismatic shenanigans; our theology must extend to the realm of application. This is what Reformed Experiential Theology is for. We must take high theology into everyday living. Whether it’s the doctrine of the Trinity, Covenant Theology or Eschatology and Apologetics; orthodoxy is for orthopraxy. A very practical and needful follow up to the Reformed Path series. Subscribe and share. Books we talked about:// Exodus – Saved for God’s Glory | https://amzn.to/4bzPsiO The Unfolding Mystery | https://amzn.to/45O9swZ

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The Reformed Path | In this episode we continue to develop the “Reformed Path” (please see the previous episodes on the Reformed Path), as we focus on Reformed Apologetics. Apologetics is an essential part of our theology; touching on matters of metaphysics, epistemology and ethics, apologetics also entails our view of creation, the image of God, and the covenantal character of Scripture. In this episode we work through the reasons for a thorough and consistent apologetics that is self-consciously Reformed. Books mentioned (with affiliate links!!) The Defense of the Faith – Cornelius Van Til https://amzn.to/3x7oroS Paul’s Two-Age Construction and Apologetics – William D. Dennison https://amzn.to/3X6uhS1

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The Reformed Path | Biblical Theology has become a very popular topic in Christian theology in recent decades. The importance of biblical theology cannot be overstated as it seeks to unify all of Scripture and identify its most central themes and focus. Countless books and volumes have been written by leading scholars from various traditions to set forth their approach to biblical theology. In this episode Emilio Ramos continues to develop the “Reformed Path” of theology as we engage the importance of having a Reformed Biblical Theology that is distinctly covenantal, Christ-centered and operates upon the organic unity of divine revelation. In this episode we will discuss the importance of Reformed Biblical Theology, the key distinctions, and other approaches to biblical theology. Subscribe and share!

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Episode: 53
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 52
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 51
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 50
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 49
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 48
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 47
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

Episode: 46
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

In this episode Emilio Ramos continues to develop the “Reformed Path” of theology. We move on to Reformed Federalism or covenant theology and we consider the essential aspects of Reformed thought. We also contrast Reformed theology over against deficient views of theology from the Roman Catholic view of God’s relationship with man, as well as perversions of covenant theology in Federal Vision theology, Theonomy, New Covenant theology and more.

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Episode: 45
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Theimann

In recent years the doctrine of God has become a hotly studied and hotly debated doctrine. There simply is no more important doctrine than the doctrine of the triune God. In this episode Red Grace Live, Emilio Ramos will begin to expound on the “Reformed Path of Theology.” This path includes Reformed Trinitarianism, Federalism, Biblical Theology, Apologetics and Eschatology. This a comprehensive, cohesive and consistently Reformed approach to theology. Much of what is happening today in the Christian Church by way of theology is disjointed, diluted and compromised by various species of pagan, semi-pelagian, modernist and Roman Catholic thought. From Thomism to Barthian conceptions to inconsistent and unbiblical approaches to covenant theology that touch on the law and gospel distinction and the all-important Reformed understanding of eschatology and apologetics; we hope that the Reformed Path will serve as a good guide and paradigm for a more consistent Christian theology for the Church today. Subscribe and share!

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The new apologetics is focused on the emergence of unprecedented challenges facing the church in the 21st century. Among those are the emergence of transhumanism, and AI, as well as globalism, and pagan sexuality and spirituality. The recent conflicts in the Middle East have given rise to numerous violent demonstrations and isolated acts of violent Jihad around the world. In America multiculturalism has proven to be a failed experiment as we see the emergence of both Islamic and Hindu radicalism in the West. In this episode of Red Grace Live, we discuss how these challenges are, to be understood, in light of the Christian worldview.

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Enormous amounts of energy has gone into attempting to articulate the precise relationship between Christ and culture, Church and state, and how the Christian life is to be lived out in the context of this world. Nevertheless, problems persist, and no one seems to have the final word. From Theonomy to Neo-Calvinism, from Missiology to Liberalism and escapism; what precisely is the tension between Christ and culture? In this episode, we explore those ideas in an attempt to give a biblical response. Subscribe and share the show.

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On this live Wednesday broadcast, we cover the eschatology of Albert Mohler, we cover his reasons for premillennialism, and how that compares with two-age theology. Also, America in decline! What are the spiritual impacts on the nation that does not go to church and what if anything can the church do about it? Share and subscribe today.

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The language of triumph in the Bible is undeniable, yet if we’re not careful to interpret critical passages properly, we can come to some disastrous conclusions for the Christian life. Just as there is an undeniable teaching of biblical triumph, there is also an unmistakable tension revealed in Scripture. Also, we recap the highlights of the 2024 Shepherd’s Conference. Subscribe and share.

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Just check you google news and if you have a history of researching AI, the Google bots will send you endless stories on the development of all things Futurism and artificial intelligence. Of course, most of us are all but done hearing about AI this and Chat GPT this, but our society, let alone the global order, is not slowing down any time soon. Many AI enthusiasts and globalist thinkers are promising a golden age of technological wonder, but are we heading toward a Utopian Singularity or a hellscape of digital dehumanization? Believe it or not, these tech developments have everything to do with Biblical Theology! We will discuss the issues in this episode of Red Grace Live. This will be one that you want to share. Also help our channel by subscribing and smash the notification button! Enjoy the program.

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The recent conversation between Jordan Peterson and Ben Shapiro illustrates why it’s so important for us to understand the difference between biblical Christianity, and all forms of moralism and paganism. While seeking to maintain some semblance of conservatism and morality from a Judeo-Christian perspective, Peterson and Shapiro failed to grasp the actual teaching scripture with regard to salvation, the person in work of Jesus Christ and the biblical worldview. Subscribe today and enjoy the show!

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Episode: 44
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Dr. Lane G Tipton

Episode: 43
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Dr. Lane G Tipton

With the ground-breaking news that Neurolink successfully implanted a BMI chip into a human skull for the very first time, the internet was ablaze with opinions both for and against implantable tech but what does this mean for the Church and how do we form a biblical opinion about increasingly invasive technology? The New Apologetics (10hrs of The New Apologetics content on Red Grace Media YouTube channel and playlist is available) was developed to interact with these types of modern challenges to the Christian worldview. Share this episode and don’t forget to subscribe.

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There are many theological and ecclesiological trends today that signal in the direction that the Reformed faith may be deconstructed much the same way that Evangelicalism has been in the 20th and 21st century. In this episode we discuss a wide-range of concerns from the rise of Thomism, Theonomy, mere Calvinism and as well as synthetic apologetics all in an effort to strengthen the Reformed path of Historic Christian orthodoxy.. Subscribe today.

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Episode: 42
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

Psalm 2 together with other psalms have come into great popularity and importance today for theology and especially for how we understand God’s kingdom and present culture. For some, Psalm 2 is the promise of ‘this-worldly’ victory over all of God’s enemies. Because of this interpretation, Psalm 2 is held out a promising the victory of the Church in a pagan world. However, a proper interpretation of the Psalm 2 points us in a different and yet very familiar direction. Today we explore the theology and application of this critical psalm for modern times. Subscribe today.

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Episode: 41
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

Looking back at 2023, we discuss the vision of Red Grace Media, the subjects that are of critical importance for the Church including future concerns of in theology, ministry, culture and apologetics.

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One of the most polarizing figures in American culture, Alex Jones joins Tucker Carlson to talk about explosive topics that are also important for the Christian worldview and apologetics.

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The doctrine of God is about as foundational as we can get in Christian theology. We can error on various aspects of Christian thought but the doctrine of God is one of those doctrines we have to get right. Still, even within the orthodox historic faith there is divergence of opinion concerning the proper understanding of the Triunity of God, the attributes of God and God’s relationship to creation. In this episode we consider some of these concerns plus we discuss key views, proponents and the need for Reformed Trinitarianism.

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Episode: 40
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

In this episode, we discuss the recent news coming out of the Vatican with respect to transgenderism. Conservatism, which is made up of both religious and political entities have often served as a firewall of protection for religious rights and thus, the true Church of Jesus Christ has often benefited from these protections; however, that ‘firewall’ may be dissolving faster than we think. With the recent news out of the Vatican regarding transgender rights, the downward spiral into a full-blown embrace of homosexuality within Roman Catholicism seems inevitable. Plus, Robots are coming! How will this affect not just the economy, but also humanity at the worldview level? We also continue to work through Paul’s worldview antithesis in 1 Corinthians.

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Companies are now placing their bets on a robotic future, so much so, that one companies appoints an AI Robot as its CEO. What does the future of robotics mean for modern culture, posthuman thought and the exponential growth of technology. We also discuss Canada’s culture of death and the MAID program aimed at helping people murder themselves through the medical system. Also, with the explosion of pro-Hamas protests in the West, is it safe to stand up for what is right in a multi-cultural America anymore? Plus, we continue to examine the antithetical nature of the Christian Worldview as we focus on Christian Knowledge and the Antithesis.

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With Israel on fire, mounting dangers in the Middle East and the threat of a broader conflict, many have defaulted to the 20th century view of Dispensational theology but is this right? Are we witnessing the rise of Dispensational thought in the 21st century and how does the Reformed Church respond and what is a proper view of Israel? Also, we continue to explore Paul’s exposition of the cross, God’s wisdom and the worldview antithesis of biblical apologetics. Much to discuss on this episode of Red Grace Live!

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The Christian worldview is communicated by a message that runs contrary to conventional wisdom, in this episode of Red Grace Live, we discuss the nature of Paul’s proclamation of the gospel. We also deal with the dangers of allowing the wisdom of this world to influence and infiltrate the church.

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God’s ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts, this also applies to salvation and informs our apologetics. In this episode, God’s sovereign grace illustrates the counter intuitive nature of His wisdom which stands in antithesis to the wisdom of this age at every point. Subscribe and share the show!

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For decades, evangelicals have attempted to make Christianity more palatable for the culture often times by capitulating to the culture and assimilating the value system of the world into the church in order to appear more relatable. However, the apostle Paul makes it clear that what exists between the world and the church is an antithesis of the most comprehensive kind. In this episode, we discuss deep structures involved in Paul’s argument in 1 Corinthians 1-3 as he establishes the absolute uniqueness of Christ over against all other worldviews.

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We hate to interpret the Bible through current affairs, still what is currently happening between Russia, and Ukraine has mini military experts on the edge of their seats, claiming that all out in nuclear war is a real possibility. Tucker Carlson recently made the startling claim that he believes the United States of America will be at war with Russia in 2024. With these kinds of claims being made right now, in the Geo political scene, it begs the question as to how it relates to the biblical worldview, particularly as we consider biblical eschatology.

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We have all benefited from the preaching and teaching of John piper. His ministry and preaching were essential for the recent revolution of Calvinism and Reformed theology. In this episode, we will reflect on many of the good things John piper provided to the church based on his ministry, Desiring God, and we will also highlight points of disagreement and disappointments as well. We also finish up central concerns, dealing with the future of the Reform church, especially dealing with nature and Grace.

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Will “The Reformed” suffer the same identity crisis as Evangelicalism? There are indicators today that raise a number of questions for the future of reformed theology. The rise in Theonomism, the undermining of Reformed federalism, synthetic apologetics and “Mere Calvinism.” In this episode we explore these topics and what alone can preserve the identity of Reformed Theology for future generations.

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Episode: 39
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

Episode: 38
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

Episode: 37
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

Episode: 36
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

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Episode: 35
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

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Episode: 34
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

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Scripture says that Judah was judged by God by giving them over to corrupt and immature leaders and drying up their supply chain. In this episode take a hard look at our own national demise and what we can learn from the past. What does it look like when God gives a nation over politically, economically and culturally and is there any hope for our nation’s cultural deterioration? Yet another reason why the OT is immensely relevant for today’s world.

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In Volume 9 of is Works, John Owen argues for a postmillennial interpretation of 2 Peter 3. He sees the passage referring to the dissolution of the Jewish State of Israel. However, in light of John Owen’s additional sermons and especially his exposition of Hebrews, Owen needs to be interpreted in context. In this episode Emilio Ramos discusses what everyone can learn from John Owen’s eschatology and pilgrim theology.

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The progression of Romans Chapter One is clear, paganism leads to hedonism, hedonism leads to barbarism. Sadly, American cities have become a living testament to Romans one. One recent example of this out of San Francisco illustrates the total decline of American culture. A nation that turns its back on God will be “given over.” While Romans teaches the universal sinfulness and guilt of man, it is also teaches the universal hope of the Gospel. In this episode we discuss the cultural developments into Barbarism and how we can use this to further the gospel today.

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Theonomy contends that the Old Covenant Law, together with its civil sanctions, is still binding in the New Covenant Church age. However, in light of the theology of the book of Hebrews, the theonomic thesis must be reassessed. In this episode, Emilio Ramos is joined by Dr. Lane G. Tipton to discuss his critical assessment of theonomy published in the 2015 Kerux Journal. We hope this will be a helpful discussion for anyone considering the theonomic position today.

Kerux Journal Link: https://www.kerux.com/author.asp?id=54

Are you new to a Reform church and feel like you are not tracking with everyone else? Are you just beginning your theological journey in Reformed theology and feel overwhelmed by theological conversations? This episode will prove immensely helpful for practical discipleship as we help people transition out of evangelicalism and into the Reformed world and life view. Pastor Emilio discusses many of the challenges people will face when transitioning out of large and mainstream evangelical churches of various kinds, to churches that are committed to a Reformed identity. This episode will be a great tool for believers at different levels of spiritual maturity. Be sure and subscribe, and share the show.

Although we often treat eschatology is a tertiary issue, and in terms of a test of orthodoxy, it is. However, that does not mean that eschatology can simply be swept side as a meaningless side issue. In fact, a person’s eschatology will have immense and practical implications for the way that you live as a Christian in addition to your exegesis, theology and interpretation of Scripture. In this episode Emilio Ramos and Micah talk about the various reasons for concern when it comes to the eschatology of postmillennialism.

Yuval Noah Harari has a vision of the future that differs from Scripture. For Harari, we must unite around our biological and set aside our petty differences like religion. In this episode Emilio Ramos and Micah Whitehead breakdown Ray Comfort’s great short film and the hypocrisy of futurists like Harari. Subscribe and Share the show.

Yuval Noah Harari is a leading, transhumanist and globalist. He suggested artificial intelligence will have the ability to create a new Bible built on “real intelligence.” Ray Comfort’s new short documentary exposes the dark side of the transhumanism worldview. In this episode, Emilio Ramos and Micah whitehead will discuss the implications of artificial intelligence and how to respond with biblical apologetics.

The Bible says that God is not ashamed of those who identify as strangers and exiles in this world. The book of Hebrews is indispensable to understand and develop a true pilgrim theology that helps us interpret our experience in this world. With the recent resurgence in theonomy and postmillennial thought, the church cannot forget this critical aspect of its identity. Subscribe and share the show.

Revelation 14 could hold a crucial insight into the trajectory of mankind leading to the eschaton. What will humanity be in the end? What will they believe and how does John’s message help us to assess the final worldview issues that the Church is sure to face? Emilio and Micah discuss the implications of John’s theology and its impact on apologetics and theology. Make sure to subscribe and share the show!

In this opening episode we discuss key aspects of to both the identity and focus of Red Grace Media. We discuss crucial aspects of Reformed Theology dealing with the Doctrine of God, Eschatology, Biblical Theology, Covenant Theology and Apologetics. Be sure and subscribe and share.

Episode: 33
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin Mohr and Mike Thiemann

The ministry of the Holy Spirit is profound both in salvation and judgment. In this episode pastors Emilio Ramos, Kevin Mohr, and Mike Thiemann break down Chapter 5 of Sinclair Fergusons, The Christian Life. The Spirit comes to disrupt our sinful lives as He convicts with world sin, righteousness and judgment. We discuss this profound work of the Spirit and its importance for pastoral ministry, authentic salvation and the Christian Life. 

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In this episode we tackle evangelism and apologetics in the 21st century. Plus, we break down a video interview featuring popular globalist historian and transhumanist Yuval Noah Harari. Share and subscribe.

What happened to Islamic apologetics? It seems that in recent years the church has been focused on other things like politics, culture, the problem of woke liberalism and other cultural wars but Islam is not going away and jihad is always a frightening reality. In this episode, we examine some of the history and theology of Islam, including jihad.

Episode: 32
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Peter Jones

There are those Christian thinkers that ‘game-changing’ for Christian education and discipleship, Peter Jones from TruthXchange.com joins Emilio Ramos on Christ and Kingdom to discuss his apologetics approach. In this episode we discuss the importance of what Peter Jones calls Oneism and Twoism, and the importance of the doctrine of the Creator. While our culture is becoming increasingly pagan, we must maintain the proper Creator/creature distinction and relation. If we fail to do this, we will see paganism make increasing inroads into the Church and compromise our doctrine of God and our Christian witness. We also interact with Carl Jung, Alchemy and the all-important doctrine of eschatology. Great discussion!

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(Episode: 31)
Emilio Ramos | Lane G. Tipton

Part three of a four-part series featuring Dr. Lane G. Tipton we continue discussing his recent book, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til.

In this exclusive episode of Christ and Kingdom we focus on p.20 of Dr. Lane Tipton’s book, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til. Page 20 of this seminal work on Van Til’s theology and apologetics gives a comprehensive overview of Lane Tipton’s structure of Van Til’s contribution to both Reformed Trinitarianism and Reformed Federalism. In this episode we discuss such topics as the Trinity, concerns in the present state of the doctrine of God, Calvin and autotheos, perichoresis, Van Til and the Representational Principle, Mutualism, Thomism and more.

Be sure and listen to the second part of this discussion in Episode 10. We hope these episodes on Christ and Kingdom will be encouraging to you. Please help us edify the larger body of Christ by sharing and subscribing to this weekly podcast!

Book Links:

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til – https://amzn.to/3Rg3HQr

Episode: 30
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Justin Peters and Jim Osman

The Shepherd’s Conference is always a great time of teaching, fellowship and encouragement. This year Emilio Ramos caught up with longtime friend Justin Peters and Jim Osman to talk about their upcoming debate at the Ark Encounter with Michael Brown and Sam Storms and the need for the Church to expose false teachers, particularly within the extreme parts of the Charismatic movement. This episode on Christ and Kingdom is a live discussion outdoors in the Grace Community Church courtyard, surrounded by thousands in attendance, this was a great discussion (we cleaned up the audio as best we could but keep in mind the busy conference surroundings). Subscribe, share and enjoy. Soli Deo Gloria 

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Episode: 29
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More and Mike Thiemann

The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable, especially His sovereign call to salvation. In this episode, we continue our study of Chapter Four in The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson. Emilio Ramos, Kevin More, and Mike Thiemann explore the meaning and importance of understanding God’s calling in salvation. What does it look like when God calls us to himself in salvation? How does God’s General Call differ from His redemptive or Effectual Call and what is the duty of the Church to properly call sinners to Christ. What are the biblical components to a genuine gospel call? Join the conversation and enjoy the show. Make sure and share this episode with friends. Soli Deo Gloria.

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Episode: 28
Featuring: Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann

The resurrection is the capstone of our faith and yet, so many people misunderstand the nature and importance and practical relevance that the resurrection plays in Christian doctrine and living. In this episode, Emilio Ramos and Mike Thiemann discuss how to properly approach the profound doctrine of the Resurrection.

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Episode: 27
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More & Mike Thiemann

In this episode, Emilio Ramos, Mike Thiemann, and Kevin More talk about the work of Dr. Lane Tipton and his lectures from the Reformed Forum. We talk about the importance of having a consistent Reformed view of nature and grace as it is contrasted with Thomas Aquinas’ concept of anthropology and eschatology. A very important episode that will inform our worldview and help us develop a distinctly Reformed understanding of the Creator/creature relationship.

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Episode: 26
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More & Mike Thiemann

We continue our discussion in The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson. Today we discuss part two of Chapter Three entitled, The Plan of Grace. Pastors Emilio, Kevin and Mike discuss the theology of God’s eternal decree, including two crucial passages that deal with this decree and the importance of Christology, union with Christ, and the doctrine of Regeneration. We also discuss the importance of who we are in Christ so that we will better understand how to interpret our Christian experience of God’s great plan of salvation for us. Never miss an episode of Christ.

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Episode: 25
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More & Mike Thiemann

We continue our discussion in The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson. Today we discuss part one of Chapter Three entitled, God’s Plan of Grace for You. Pastors Emilio, Kevin, and Mike discuss why it is essential for believers to grasp the concept of God’s decree. Too often we see our Christian lives as disjointed, random, and individualistic but Scripture teaches that this is really all part of God’s great sovereign plan from all eternity. Our salvation is even more glorious than we think when we consider God’s eternal plan in Christ and our participation in God’s great plan of grace for His people. This is an essential material for Christian discipleship.

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Episode: 24
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More & Mike Thiemann

We continue our discussion in The Christian Life by Sinclair Ferguson. In Chapter Two of this helpful book, Sinclair Ferguson focuses on the image of God and the effects that sin has on God’s image in us as His image-bearers. Emilio, Kevin and Mike unpack Chapter Two, God’s Broken Image. When we think about combating sin in our own lives, we should start with understanding how sin impacts our ability to glorify God as His image-bearers. How does sin deface this image? What does the power of sin look like when we are under its dominion? How do we shift the blame of sin so that we replace the guilt of sin with other things? And What role does the devil play in all of this?

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Episode: 23
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More & Mike Thiemann

Practical theology (also known as Pastoral Theology) is so important in the Christian life. That is also the title of Sinclair Ferguson’s book, The Christian Life: A Doctrinal Introduction. This is a rare gem of practical wisdom and biblical instruction by one of the Church’s leading authors, theologians, and spiritual surgeon, Sinclair B. Ferguson who has been blessing the church with a wealth of biblical and theological wisdom from the Reformed tradition. In this episode, Emilio Ramos is joined again by co-hosts Mike Thiemann and Kevin More to break down the opening chapter. We hope you take the journey with us as we walk through the contents of these chapters in the coming weeks. In this episode, we discuss the importance of having a proper view of doctrine in the Christian life. These will be great episodes to share with people that need sound biblical discipleship.

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Episode: 22
Featuring: Emilio Ramos, Kevin More & Mike Thiemann

An ongoing debate within evangelical and Reformed Christians is the issue of spiritual gifts. In this episode we tackle the subject of Charismatic versus Cessationist theology. We invite a new guest to the program! Emilio Ramos and Kevin More are joined by longtime friend Mike Thiemann. Mike is a pastor in Anaheim Hills California at Rock Community Church and a longtime friend who will help us understand the importance of the sufficiency of Scripture and
problems that continuationist theology presents. In this Episode of Christ and Kingdom we explore relevant texts, the continuationist position and the importance of cessationism for consistent biblical theology.

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Episode: 21
Featuring: Emilio Ramos & Kevin More

Paul reminds us in Galatians, there is only one Gospel! The however is not just one true undivided message, it is one message presented throughout all of Scripture. Too often Christian split their bibles in half, believing that the OT only gives us a few select prophecies about Christ and the NT gives us the real Jesus. In this episode, Emilio and Kevin talk about how Christ connects all of Scripture so that both the OT and NT present the same Christology of the Dual Estates of Christ. This episode is critical for sound hermeneutics, a Christ-centered worldview, and the organic unity of the entire bible. This will be a rich discussion of Biblical Theology that will edify the Church and guide you to more Christ-exalting vision of Scripture to the glory of the Triune God alone. Subscribe, Share and Enjoy.

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For most Christians apologetics and eschatology do not often go together but our culture is increasingly presenting a particular and technological vision of the future. Pastor Emilio Ramos tackles some of the critical issues in eschatology and calls for a broader more comprehensive definition of eschatology in developing the Christian worldview. Subscribe and share the show!.

If there was ever a need for a new theological voice in the theological wilderness, it is now. Let me explain what I mean about that. What we’re seeing right now in the evangelical and even Calvinist world is something of a theological free-for-all. It seems like everything is up for grabs, all theological lines are up for debate once again (e.g. federalism, doctrine of God, eschatology, Christ and culture). In the Reformed world, many of those lines are being drawn along the doctrine of eschatology today. One of the reasons for this of course is because of the intersection of Christ and culture or the church and politics whatever expression you would like to use as it relates to how the biblical worldview informs us regarding such things as politics, government, civil law, culture and faith etc. 

There is the impression by some, that Calvinist premillennialists are calling for abandoning the culture altogether (especially historic Dispensational thought), others (almost exclusively a North American phenomenon) are calling for Christian reconstructionism, theonomy and postmillennialism, calling for us to take “dominion” of the culture, as if that is even a possibility to begin with – and then there are the rest of us who identify with a pilgrim ethic that neither believes in abandoning the culture to its devices nor fantasizes about dominion theology in retrograde theological fashion – we need a new theologian and in a sense, a new and clear theological identity. I believe Herman Bavinck is one of those if not the theologian we should listen to today on these issues and more (others in a similar vein of thought would be Geerhardus Vos, Cornelius Van Til, and Meredith Kline and today, Lane G. Tipton to mention a few). 

The Importance of Herman Bavinck 

Herman Bavinck (1854-1921) is a classic Dutch Theologian who taught theology at the Free University in Amsterdam and he was also a contemporary of Abraham Kuyper and took over for Kuyper who left the University to serve as the prime minister of Holland. Some thought that Bavinck would have a daunting task to fill the chair of his predecessor and to some degree he did of course. Many believe that Kuyper would always be a theological giant that always loomed over the work of Bavinck so that he would always live in Kuyper’s shadow, but they were wrong. It didn’t take very long for people to recognize Bavinck’s own theological genius. Carlton Wynne who wrote the introduction to The Wonderful Works¹ of God writes: 

Bavinck’s Breathtaking thesis that God’s Historical self-regulation, in nature and in scripture, leads people, through Christ, to the triune God, and therein displays his eminent glory through the organic interconnectedness of all things, addresses the most vexing questions of life, underpins the integrity of every field of human inquiry, and fulfills the deepest longings of the human heart.”²  

The Nature of Bavinck’s Work 

Among Bavinck’s many literary works, those that stand out the most are his Reformed Dogmatics. These are four volumes of systematic theology, but they are not very typical in terms of what systematic theological textbooks look like. For Bavinck, his systematic theology is distinct for many reasons. Chief among those would be his historical grasp, his Scriptural saturation, his sensitivity and incorporation of biblical theology, the primacy of the Spirit in his theology, and his visionary mode as a writer who speaks to the times instead of leaving us in the controversies of the past. 

One of the most important aspects is his emphasis on biblical theology. Unlike many systematic theology textbooks, Bavinck, is sensitive to the historical development of the Scripture proofs he uses to substantiate the Systematic discipline. Too often, systematic theology is done in a-historical fashion. Taking a passage out of its historical context and failing to see its place in redemptive history- which is critical for a proper theological interpretation of Scripture. Repeatedly, Bavinck shows that he is self-conscious of the flow of redemptive history and it’s organic unity. The same spirit is exhibited and brought to its ultimate expression in the writings of Vos, especially the Biblical Theology. 

The Wonderful Works of God and Theology for Today 

As for the aforementioned visionary mode as a writer who speaks to the times, Bavinck is a breath of fresh air. On this point I want to interact with the way that Bavinck himself speaks to this very issue. We could say Bavinck was a “prophetic reformer” who saw the need for an up-to-date theology, he wanted theology for today, he wanted to see theologians interacting in such a way that we did not lose the youth of our time. Possibly a point of controversy, but Bavinck saw that we had to do more than just return people to old theologians (he uses Wilhelmus Brakel for an example) who wrote for their time. As much as he appreciated history (and again nobody could really question his grasp of historical theology, the evolution and development of Christian thought or his emphasis on the importance of church history), he was “wide awake” to the contemporary situation of our time. 

Bavinck saw that young men and women were losing their joy and enthusiasm in their confessional identity. As young people went about their lives at school and work, they were being confronted with new challenges that their old tradition was not addressing. Bavinck knew that Scripture had the answers, all of the answers, but the old guard of past theologians needed to be supplemented with modern thoughts on how Scripture addresses modern issues. As somebody who is likewise calling for a “new apologetics” (with an emphasis on transhumanism, globalism, and pagan spirituality and sexuality) and someone who already was a huge fan of Bavinck, this prophetic emphasis, if I can use that term, only endears Bavinck’s work to my own mind and heart even more so now than ever. 

In the forward to The Wonderful Works of God, Bavinck points out that there are several causes to what he saw as a “sorry state of affairs” for true religion in his day: these points are also one of the reasons why I call him a “prophetic reformer,” the things he was decrying in his day quite possibly apply to us still, and even more so with the acceleration of our all-encompassing technological ways of living. 

Too busy: 

Bavinck wanted to alert us that the world has a way of making us so preoccupied with our vocations, our employment and professions that we have a little time left over for anything else and therefore we have no desire for anything else including theology and knowing God. “All those preparing for or employed in any profession are under such heavy demand today that there is no desire or time left for other kinds of work.”³

And this is what I mean by the fact that writing over a century ago, Bavinck speaks directly to us one hundred years later because of course, who of us would not recognize the fast-paced nature of our society today. We are inundated with all sorts of social demands. Whether we’re talking about the family, all the kids and all the sports and activities that they are involved in, endless hours at work even if you work at home, our mobile devices have made it possible for us to be more connected of course, but they have also made it so that we take our work with us everywhere and in a sense we never stop working [of course there is a biblical case to be made for a proper work ethic, but the emphasis on the consumption of our time needs to be noted].  

Add to this the often unreasonable and addictive demands of social media. Some people are so enslaved to their social media identity that they look at their FaceBook and other social media presence dozens if not hundreds of times a day, and now that we are connected to everything and everyone, we are constantly checking in on people and places and situations that used to be too distant and too removed for us to concern ourselves with – technology has changed all of this and we need to recognize it. One can only wonder what Bavinck would think about the influence of technology upon the Church and the Christian life today for good or for ill.  

Too rich: 

Bavinck says, “Life has become too rich and broad on all sides.” By “rich” I think Bavinck meant that we have too much stuff, including information. Beginning with stuff, we can think of our own materialistic age in which we live. We are indeed inundated with stuff and we live in a world of course that is constantly advertising more “stuff” to us, pressuring us and shaping and molding us to conform to a materialistic worldview where going without becomes a negative social status. How does this all square with the biblical teaching on self-denial? Something we all need to be honest and introspective about in the interest of biblical piety (cf. Mt. 6.19-20). 

Speaking of status, maybe something even more unique to our age than Bavinck’s, we now live in the age of status because we live in the age of self, selfism as it has been called. Our status is now determined by our social media presence, our following on social media, our impact on social media, our fashionability, likeability, nothing new there for “all is vanity,” but now it’s not just about keeping up with fashion, but maintaining a profile where people can see that you are keeping up with fashion and culture, “street cred” or whatever [just think of horrors of Tik Tok]. And of course, young people, not exclusively, but probably particularly, are susceptible to the pressures that social media and our culture suggests. 

Too consumed: 

For Bavinck, this all leads to a lifestyle that is utterly consumed by lesser things. Whether it is politics social and philanthropic interests according to him the world now “requires more of our time and energy by the day.” Bavinck concludes: 

“The reading of daily and weekly newspapers, of magazines and brochures, devours every blink. There’s a lack of desire and opportunity for the investigation of Scripture in the study of all theological works.”⁴

And if we think the people were being consumed by newspapers and magazines in the mid to late 1800’s, think of the inordinate amount of time we all spend surfing the Internet and reading the endless headlines today. Talk about devouring every blink of the eye, many today cannot take their eyes off their phone for a second. Almost 50% of Americans today confess that they are totally addicted to their phones, and the average person in America checks their phone some 350 times a day! 

We should also point out that there is a great assumption about the things that Bavinck talks about, “the investigation of Scripture.” We can no longer just assume that Christians who have free time, will spend that time investigating Scripture let alone “the study of all theological works” – that would be a miracle in and of itself. Ours is a biblically illiterate world and theologically even more so. In fact, biblical illiteracy is bad enough, but compared to past generations, we are living in what can only be called an anti-theological climate in today’s church experience. Fifty years of seeker-sensitive, Christian consumerism has us now reaping the whirlwind of minimalist Christians. This is why a big part of the pastoral challenge is to get people to devote themselves to the study of Scripture at all!

Too modern:

Bavinck also speaks of forgetting the works of the past. At this point he speaks both positively and negatively about the use of theologians of the past. He laments the fact that we no longer have the capacity to read the older works. We have become too modern. But he also expresses the need to address the needs of the Church in “this age”, “this era” as well. Before we get to that point, however, we need to point out that Bavinck is sensitive to the wisdom of the past. He recognizes that we no longer deem it important what in previous generations were the weightiest matters of all. I can certainly resonate with the sentiment. As you look at the theologians of the past even in the ancient past going back to the church fathers all the way up through the Scholastic period Reformed and pre-reformed on into the Reformation itself; you find that our Christian forefathers were consumed with theological precision surrounding the doctrine of God, the doctrine of the Trinity, and of course the doctrine of the hypostatic union of Christ and many other important matters. They did not look to write catchy books with attractive covers about these issues, they broke their bodies and poured out their souls in the study of these things – that disposition today is all but gone. Bavinck writes, “the issues that men of the past consider to be weightiest have wholly or mostly lost their significance for us.” These are just some of the reasons that Bavinck gives in order to make us aware of the fact that true religion is waning in the land.

Now, that last point was something of a concession on Bavinck’s part. His greater point is that he was concerned that we not stay on these old works but also acknowledge that we are in a “different era” now. Writing in 1907, Bavinck calls out: 

“We are children of a new time and live in a different era. And the desire to maintain these older forms, and to persist with the old simply because it is old, is troublesome and pointless… Thus, there is an urgent need for a work that takes the place of these works of the fathers and brings forth old truth in a form that corresponds with the demands of this era.”⁵

What attracted me to Bavinck and The Wonderful Works of God, and everything else he has ever written, is this forward-looking dimension of his thought. This is something we desperately need now more than ever. If Bavinck was courageous enough to say it, “to persist with the old simply because it is old, it’s troublesome and pointless”- we need to be courageous enough to echo his sentiment today as current dangers persist that none of our forefathers could have ever dreamed of. Gender confusion, globalist pathology, digital currency/ID, transhumanism, implantable technology, virtual reality conditioning, integral psychology, Eastern pagan spirituality and sexuality etc. One globalist transhumanist thinker pointed out that twentieth century was ten centuries in one, and asks, what will the twenty-first century be?   

Apologetical Theology 

The theology of Herman Bavinck often begins with apologetics in mind. He seeks to refute the errors of evolution, scientism, liberalism, Roman Catholicism, ancient and modern heresies and all pagan ideals of God. This is why Carlton Wynne also wisely points out that Bavinck writes in a timeless fashion so that he can still, a century later, serve as a relevant perhaps preeminent guide for formulating the Christian worldview and combatting the low ebb and flow of our culture- a culture that too often sees its way into the Church:

“Though we live a century after Herman Bavinck, the obstacles to doctrinal health that he confronted – information overload that saps spiritual vitality, a waning interest in knowledge of God, an increasing disregard for godliness – still face us today. Some of these obstacles have grown to mammoth proportions in our digital age, consumed as it is with both self-expression and self-pity.”⁶

Now what Carlton Wynne has articulated here is so remarkably potent that we have to stop and think about it. When he zeros in on the issue of selfism consisting both of “self-expression and self-pity” – we can hardly think of a better way of finding ourselves over the target of our times. This is definitely at the heart of the new apologetic burden that we face. Selfism is the spirit of the age! We can identify the problem today as autonomy, we can call it technocracy, we can call it pluralism, secularism, paganism, and hedonism; but make no mistake, Selfism, particularly in the West, is the air that we breath! 

Speaking of the West, we can also say that Selfism is somewhat distinct in the West from other places in the world. In a communist situation, self-expression, self-identity and self-realization have a much harder time to be lived out in the real physical world, especially at the individual level. Communism really is all about people losing their identity for the greater good of the State. Their identity matters most when they see themselves assimilated into the national identity that government has predetermined for you, mostly in oppressive forms (e.g. China, North Korea).

But in the West, Selfism lives up to its name in every respect. From hedonism to self-loathing; there we have the total expression of what Carlton Wynne talks about when he speaks about either “self-expression or self-pity.” These two seemingly polar opposite ideals find their expression in a culture obsessed with hyper-sexualization or with oppressive identity politics. 

Finally, Carlton Wynne reminds us that Bavinck supplies the Church with a much needed teleology (a doctrine of purpose), eschatology (future, transcendence), Reformed Trinitarianism, and Reformed Federalism: 

“The wonderful works of God is medicine for those suffering from such spiritual malaise and from the phonetic pace of life. It redirects our ways outward and upward to God in all of his revealed glory. In these ways and more, this twentieth-century work speaks powerfully to twenty-first century Christians.”⁷

And directing our ways outward and upward to God is of course always the Christian answer. In this way, Bavinck solidifies the Reformed doctrine of the Creator/creature relation and the Creator/creature distinction- without which, we have nothing! Carlton speaks of God’s “revealed glory”- here, knowing Carlton Wynne and his knowledge of how Bavinck often forms the foundations for later theologian and apologist Cornelius Van Til, I cannot help but to think in terms of God’s immutability and the rejection of all forms of mutualism and correlativism as foundational to Reformed thought. 

It’s not just that Bavinck addresses issues relating to the doctrine of God relevant to Reformed conversations, but rather, essential to the Christian worldview. That which he develops throughout his entire theology is the immutability of God over against all other conceptions of God found in pagan religion and in secular thought as well as inconsistent Christian theology for example those proposing a hyper-relational theology weather through the condescension of Christ (that condescension taken essentially of the Being of God), or the elevation of man (that elevation leading to man’s direct appropriation of the essence of God as in Thomism and Rome’s supernaturalism). Both of those paths leading to the same mutualist error. Bavinck retains the proper doctrine of God in this respect and paves the way for other similar thoughts by Vos and Van Til and others. 

All of these issues in the doctrine of God as well as covenant theology, the image of God in man, and God’s self-revelation, and biblical theology and eschatology are to be found and formulated in Bavinck’s work- these aspects of Christian thought will prove essential for equipping those Bavinck saw as “Young men and women… who are being acquainted with the frequent challenges that the Christian religion is exposed to in the present time.”  

I think Herman Bavinck’s theology, which has only been translated for the English-speaking world in recent years, is a prophetic, refreshing voice in the wilderness of our times to equip the Church with a robust and Reformed Christian worldview so that we might rise to the occasion in today’s ever-changing world and give an answer to everyone who asks us concerning the heavenly hope within.

Soli Deo Gloria

¹ Herman Bavinck, The Wonderful Works of God (Westminster Seminary Press, 2019). 

² Ibid, p.xviii.

³ Ibid, p.xxxii.

⁴ Ibid.

⁵ Ibid.

⁶ Ibid, p.xix.

⁷ Ibid, p.xix.

Episode: 20
Featuring: Emilio Ramos

The church in the 21st-century is in unprecedented times as we face the challenge of modern and technological culture. In this episode of Christ and Kingdom, Emilio Ramos interacts with the theology and importance of Herman Bavinck. Whether we’re thinking about our political seen or technological age; the church must answer the questions of the modern era. In order to do this, we need a reliable guide both theologically and apologetically. Herman Bavinck was a forward-thinking Dutch theologian who wrote with the rising generations in mind. The recently re-released volume, The Wonderful Works of God, demonstrates Bavinck’s penmanship for current theology that is sensitive to Historical Theology and yet relevant for the scientific and modern era in which we live. True to pilgrim theology and Reformed thought, this Dutch theologian has become a prophetic reformer that we must listen to perhaps now more than ever. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show!

Subscribe, Share and Enjoy the show!

Episode: 19
Featuring: Emilio Ramos & Kevin More

Have you really thought about implantable technology? In this episode of Christ and Kingdom, host Emilio Ramos engages with that very daunting and complex issue. Also, longtime friend Kevin More joins the show.

Is it ethical for Christians to get implantable technology in the first place? How much technology is too much? What evidence is there that implantable technology is in our near future? Exactly how far are we from a large-scale application of such technology today? Why is the Church ignoring such unprecedented technology? These questions can be daunting, and controversial but we must form answers to these questions now before world-shaping and time-accelerating events bring this technology to our doorstep. This is a cultural development we cannot ignore and we certainly cannot be ignorant of how the biblical worldview informs us with regard to such important questions such as these.

Subscribe, Share and Enjoy the show!

Episode: 18
Featuring: Emilio Ramos

A recent story that appeared on multiple platforms indicates a real push toward digital currency which begs the question of a Digital ID and a Digital Credit Score similar to Communist China. Is the American Church ready for this level of governance and what should the Christian response be to digital currency? In this episode of Christ and Kingdom, Emilio Ramos discusses the “dark side” of a cashless society and how it could affect the Church. Subscribe, Share and Enjoy the show!

Episode: 17
Featuring: Emilio Ramos

Are we witnessing the takedown of the American Culture and what does that mean for the Church? In this episode of Christ and Kingdom, Emilio Ramos looks at some of the main factors that indicate a systematic and strategic dismantling of American Culture and how we respond to the crisis of culture biblically. In this politically charged climate, believers need to be grounded in the faith and grow in their discernment of the moral and spiritual issues at hand. A very important show. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show.

Episode: 16
Featuring: Emilio Ramos

Canada is moving toward infant euthanasia! Heartbreaking and horrid news but it brings up a fundamental question, “is life worth it” and why? From the secular perspective, the world has no answers as to why fighting for life is worth the trouble. We also look at Romans 1 and try to grapple with how it is that parents could possibly choose unnecessary death (murder) for their own children. An episode you will not want to miss. Share, subscribe and enjoy the show.

(Episode: 15)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos

Today we discuss the importance of knowing who God is in the Creator and creature relationship and distinction. Too often evangelicals are calling for a hyper-relational God who shares in our human experience thereby compromising God’s divinity and transcendence. On the other side, theologians believe the creature will be exalted above our humanity through glorification- both perspectives present their own dangers. Getting the doctrine of God right is essential. John in Revelation reminds us that unless we recognize the proper Creator/creature distinction, we can have no Creator/creature relationship. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show!

(Episode: 14)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Ryan Musslemann

After the pandemic of 2020, evangelism became more challenging than ever in America. People wanted to keep their distance, and were not so excited to receive a gospel track, and they were not willing to congregate in groups- all challenges to conversing with people about the gospel. With the pandemic seemingly behind us, we need to discuss evangelism today. Emilio and Ryan discuss essential aspects of biblical evangelism, and current challenges we will face in sharing the gospel, including what precisely makes a Biblical gospel message, how to share the gospel effectively in these times, and what are some dangers, misconceptions, and hurdles to evangelism. Few things are more important than sharing the gospel with lost sinners faithfully, biblically, and in a way that will glorify God. Listen and Subscribe today and don’t miss an episode, also share and enjoy!

(Episode: 13)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Ryan Musslemann

In this episode, Ryan and Emilio discuss a very important subject, the doctrine of heaven. Is there a new pernicious heresy afoot? Is the doctrine of heaven being eroded? Are we developing a this-worldly theology that contradicts Scripture? Is it possible to exaggerate the hope of heaven? How can we develop a biblical view of heaven? What about the culture and what will happen to this world in the consummation? We pray this episode will encourage you to have a more heavenly-minded worldview to the Glory of God. Subscribe, share and enjoy the show!

(Episode: 12)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Ken Ham

Special guest Ken Ham from Answers in Genesis, the Creation Museum, and the Ark Encounter joins Christ and Kingdom to talk about our upcoming conference and the doctrine of creation.

Why is “theistic evolution” impossible? Is the Genesis text speaking of a literal creation week? What are the consequences theologically, socially, and philosophically for deviating from God’s design and creation? Ken Ham breaks down the consequences of rejecting the biblical testimony concerning the creator and the creation.

Today’s episode will be a remarkable resource for understanding the biblical worldview and the doctrine of creation. Share, Subscribe and enjoy the show.

Resources:

https://answersingenesis.org/

https://www.answers.tv/

(Episode: 11)
Emilio Ramos | Lane G. Tipton

Part two of a four-part series featuring Dr. Lane G. Tipton we continue discussing his recent book, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til.

In this episode, Emilio and Lane focus more precisely on Van Til’s contributions, successors (John Frame, K. Scott Oliphint, and Greg L. Bahnsen) as well as central features of Van Til’s Reformed Trinitarian theology including a discussion on mutualism and subordinationism.

Be sure and listen to the first part of this discussion in Episode 10. We hope these episodes on Christ and Kingdom will be encouraging to you. Please help us edify the larger body of Christ by sharing and subscribing to this weekly podcast!

Book Links:

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til – https://amzn.to/3Rg3HQr

(Episode: 10)
Featuring:  Emilio Ramos | Lane G. Tipton

Exclusive first of four episodes focusing on the new book by Lane G. Tipton. In his book The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til, Dr. Tipton makes the case for a distinctly Reformed Federalism and Trinitarianism.

In this episode Emilio and Lane discuss a wide range of critical issues in the Doctrine of God. From the influence of Thomas Aquinas, to the misunderstood theology of Cornelius Van Til, this will be an immensely helpful for those seeking to understand the convergence between seminal Reformed theologians such as Calvin, Vos and Van Til. Share, subscribe and enjoy.

Book Links:

The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til – https://amzn.to/3Rg3HQr

THE THEOLOGICAL CONVICTION OF THE CHURCH 

1 Timothy 3:14–16 ¹⁴ I am writing these things to you, hoping to come to you before long; ¹⁵ but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth. ¹⁶ By common confession, great is the mystery of godliness: He who was revealed in the flesh, Was vindicated in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Proclaimed among the nations, Believed on in the world, Taken up in glory. 

Paul calls the Church the “pillar and support of the truth” which also implies the advancement of the truth through the preaching of the gospel and the ministry of the Word. This then implies the presence of genuine gospel zeal. The Church of the living God should be alive!  There could be no greater contradiction than for the Church of the living God to be dead and lifeless. This phrase also implies both a blessing and a burden. It is a blessing of course because in our post-modern world where people lack the fundamentals of reality, morality, ethics, logic, which is to say they lack a proper worldview; the church is founded upon the truth and supports the truth as it is revealed by God and contained in his word. The church is also tasked with knowing the truth, believing the truth, disseminating the truth, supporting, defending and confessing the truth of the faith. 

Our entire existence as a church is based on the truth. The truth of God’s existence, the tenacity of God’s word, the exclusivity of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Trinity, the horrors of sin and the glories of salvation. Lastly, we confess the truth together, “By common confession.” This also is important for a healthy church to grasp. Our corporate identity is God’s way of reminding us that we need one another (1 Cor. 14.21). As independent as some of us may be, biblical Christianity is totally contrary to the world’s notion of self-reliance, isolationism, independence and individualistic attitudes. Like any family, each member of the household is essential for it to be truly loving and united (cf. Mk. 3.25). When someone is isolating themselves in the home, we rightly identified that as strange behavior and calls for serious concern and even confrontation. 

This confession is also tremendously important, “great is the mystery of godliness.” Notice by this phrase that what we confess is the fundamental realities that accompany true godliness which is to say, genuine religion. And that mystery is the core and essence of the Church. It is what sets us apart from all other idolatrous gatherings of all other religions and pagan forms of spirituality. We worship the true and living God and that constitutes a vital relationship with God through his Spirit who enables us to live lives that are pleasing to Him (cf. Gal. 5.22-26). 

Notice, that word, “godliness,” as it must become apparent that what is most fundamental to the church’s confessed life and identity pertains to its conduct, its holiness, its purity, its godliness as it conforms to God’s word and resists conformity to the world (Rom. 12.1-3; 1 John 2.15-17). It is not the church’s effectiveness that matters most, it is not the church’s size that impresses God, or apparent success, or influence, or energy and zeal; neither the personality of the preacher or the influence it has on the culture. It is not the church’s popularity or materialistic blessings that distinguishes it as God’s household; holiness alone truly distinguishes the church of God because when it is holy it testifies of the holy God who saved it. We are His temple and we are called to be holy even as he is holy (1 Cor. 3.16-17; 1 Pet.1.15-16). As David Wells once put it: 

If we lose sight of the holiness of God, we lose sight of [our] entire faith and we lose the right to call ourselves protestants in any recognizably historical sense.¹

THE CORE OF THE CHURCH

The gospel is the core of the Church, but the gospel contained in this ancient creed focuses on the dual estates of Jesus. These dual estates are what we confess about Jesus in terms of his incarnation, death and exaltation. In a word, the essence of our faith revolves around the dual estates of Christ as it consists of both Jesus’ state of humility culminating in his death, as well as his state of exaltation culminating in his resurrection and ascension to the right hand of the Father (cf. 1 Cor. 15.1-4; Heb. 1.1-4). Our whole Christian life revolves around what Peter calls Jesus’ sufferings, and the consequent glories (1 Pet. 1.11). 

DIVINE CONDESCENSION 

“revealed in the flesh”

Jesus’ revelation in the flesh is his humiliation. It is his suffering, his death, burial and rejection at the hands of the world and its rulers (1 Cor. 2.8). Great is the mystery of “godliness” but notice that the holiness of the Church is not rooted in itself. Paul does not supply an example of our piety. It is the holiness of Christ that is most important. We who are connected to him by grace through faith, confess and conform to that holiness all the life long. In this way, our union with Christ and these dual estates, becomes the very core of our own identity as we live and suffer with him. It is how we are going to take up our cross. It is how we are going to do our share in filling up Christ’s afflictions, and it is how we also must understand our eschatological purpose, for, we are called not only to suffer with him but also to reign with him in glory, his glory (John 17.22-24; 2 Tim. 2.12). 

DIVINE EXALTATION 

“taken up in glory”

Part of Jesus’ exaltation begins with a vindication in the Spirit (both in his earthly ministry and his resurrection). His visibility before the “angels” is interesting but we know that Jesus at various times was accompanied and visited by angels (cf. Mk. 1.13; Lk. 2.8-14). His proclamation “among the nations” is also the universal declaration of the gospel following his resurrection, ascension and out-pouring of the Spirit upon the Church at Pentecost and the evangelization of the world throughout all of time. This is thus a way of talking about Christology in total, present and future. 

To live within these dual estates is to live within the already not yet tension of eschatology- first for Christ, then for the believer. This means that our lives are cruciform. We seek to live our lives like Christ because it is to Christlikeness that we have been called, not just in the virtues we exhibit but in the future that we face eschatologically. The Church at large has no future without Christ, and the local church does not either. He must remain the all-important center (cf. 1 Cor. 2.2; Col. 1.28).

We too will go through the suffering on the way to the crown. We too are presently called to suffer with him. We are called to take up our cross in self-denial, to endure persecution, to experience betrayal, disappointment and ten thousand woes of a fallen world. We too must walk through the valley of the shadow of death. But of course, we are to fear no evil for he is with us. We are called to be conformed to his death and partake of His sufferings (Phil. 3.11), and again, to fill up the measure of what is lacking or remaining of the afflictions ordained for Christ’s body the Church (Col. 1.27; cf. Acts 9.15-16). But this is not an end of itself. That would be futility. For the believer, our suffering is redeemed by the gospel. “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me” (Mt. 5.11).

While we are called to suffer with and for him now, we are nevertheless already partakers of the victory of Christ now through our union with Christ, the “vindicated” One. Like Christ, we are promised a vindication in the “Spirit.” This is an eschatological advancement or the final installment of God’s grace in our lives. Through the Spirit of course, Jesus offered his blood for our redemption (Heb. 9.14), and through the Spirit, Jesus was also gloriously resurrected from the dead (Rom. 1.4; 8.11). This is his vindication, and that will be our vindication as well. This is why we are not looking for earthly vindication, earthly triumph, temporal victory, earthly conquest, earthly dominion, or cultural reconstruction; the heavenly comes after the earthly and he is preparing a place for us (cf. 1 Cor. 15.46-49; John 14.1-3). The dual estates are not just the path Jesus took, but the pattern he left for his Church and every believer joined to Him by faith, “the mystery of godliness.” 

This exaltation then cannot be conceived of apart from an inter-dimensional translation, for he was “taken up in glory.” Hebrews reminds us in several places that this was in fact done not only for our redemption but as a model for our own future heavenly ascent. He is our “forerunner”: 

Hebrews 4:14 ¹⁴ Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 

Hebrews 6:19–20 ¹⁹ This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast and one which enters within the veil, ²⁰ where Jesus has entered as a forerunner for us, having become a high priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek. 

As the author of Hebrews taught the church then, every church that lives by this pilgrim mentality that we are passing through a strange world, a world where we do not belong, and a world and a kingdom, the “city of man” destined to be shaken (Heb. 12.26-29); that church is going to be taken up into glory as it enters eternal sabbath rest in the city of God (Heb. 4.9-10).

The “mystery of godliness” as we look at the dual estates of Christ, is telling us that godliness is found in suffering and dying, in perseverance and endurance, and in vindication and exaltation. The church that seeks to remove this tension through either a prosperity-driven gospel, a therapeutic message, a triumphalist gospel of earthly dominion, or an escapists gospel of sensational eschatology, threatens to do violence to the gospel itself. The gospel of the dual estates of Christ alone will ground the church, empower its preaching, foster endurance and purify its people.  

Finally, this is a “mystery.” And part of that mystery consists in the antithesis of what we have in Christ versus what there is to be found in the world of sin and misery. This mystery therefore is developing as the text goes on into what Patrick Fairbairn called “the evolution of a mystery.” In this mystery, heaven and earth are shown how “far asunder” they really are:

The world and glory, how far asunder, and in a sense antagonistic!— the one above, the other beneath; the one suggesting thoughts only of celestial brightness and purity, the other replete with numberless forms and appearances of evil— the region of sin, disease, and death. In this, therefore, Christ, as the perfect Redeemer, was incapable of residing, yet is spiritually present and believed on to the temporal and eternal good of His people; while Himself, as the fit inhabitant of a better region, received up in glory— the gory which He had with the Father before the world was.²

Soli Deo Gloria

¹ David F. Wells, The Bleeding of the Evangelical Church (The Banner of Truth Trust, 2021) 15.

² Patrick Fairbairn, 1&2 Timothy and Titus: Geneva Series of Commentaries (The Banner of Truth Trust, 2002) 166.

(Episode: 09)
Featuring:  Emilio Ramos | Josh Buice

Where did the Young Restless and Reformed crowd go? Is the “new Calvinism” a success? Why is the sovereignty of God relevant now? What is G3 and what does the future for the ministry at G3 have in store? Emilio and Josh Buice discuss these important issues and more on this episode of Christ and Kingdom. Share and enjoy the show!

Book Links:

The New Calvinism: New Reformation or Theological Fad? – https://amzn.to/3CMRBKi

The Wonderful Works of God – https://amzn.to/3e8kMgO

The Masculine Mandate: God’s Calling to Men – https://amzn.to/3QgTjHb

(Episode: 08)
Featuring:  Emilio Ramos | Ryan Musslemann

In this episode we explore the theology of heaven as well as what can only be described as inter-dimensional theology. A fascinating conversation about how God reveals himself in revelations of the invisible realm. This will challenge how serious we take the doctrine of heaven. We also dive into the deep implications that heaven and inter-dimensional theology has for other aspects of our theology like eschatology and covenant theology. Share the show and enjoy.

(Episode: 07)
Featuring:  Emilio Ramos | Dr. G.K. Beale

Special guest Dr. G.K. Beale joins the program! Today, Emilio discusses Dr. Beale’s work in Biblical Theology and Eschatology. With so much confusion on the subject of hermeneutics and eschatology, Dr. Beale breaks down for us some of the central themes in Biblical Theology as well as key aspects of various viewpoints of eschatology. The first and what we hope will be many future episodes with Dr. Beale. This is will be an episode you will not want to miss. Share the show and enjoy!

Book Links:

A New Testament Biblical Theology: The Unfolding of the Old Testament in the New – https://amzn.to/3AYNrO2

Temple and the Mission of God – https://amzn.to/3Tm2zwa

God Dwells Among Us – https://amzn.to/3pU9war

The Story Retold, Beale and Gladd – https://amzn.to/3CFwauN

Whether the call was to believe or to follow, to do or to bear, the obedience to it sprang not from any earth-fed sources but from the infinite reservoir of strength stored up in the mountain-land above. (p.112)

THE POWER OF FAITH

In an age where faith is all but deified, Vos, helps us to remember that what we need in this life is not great faith, but saving faith. The power that gave birth to all of the great deeds of the saints listed in Hebrews 11 and beyond, arises not from personal instances of faith, but from the possession of true and saving faith. Faith in fact is not the power, but faith’s object is. It was the mighty unseen God and the presently veiled realities of the highest heaven that informed and empowered those with saving faith to build Arks, leave lands, pitch tents, offer up their offspring in faith, turn their back on the glory of earthly kingdoms and topple fortresses. As Hebrews says, “time will fail me” to speak of all of the mighty deeds wrought by God in the occasion of the faith of His people. As Vos says, “Faith alone made possible every one of the acts described.” Vos writes:

The obedience, the self-sacrifice, the patience, the fortitude, of all these the exercise in the profound Christian sense would have been impossible, if the saints had not had through faith their eye firmly fixed on the unseen and promised world. (p.112)

PILGRIM POWER 

The power of a pilgrim faith confesses to the powerless nature of man and “earth-fed resources.” Ours is no carnal triumphalism. Unlike the Corinthians who sought to realize the supernal stage of their religion, we do not seek to presume ourselves kings and queens through hyper-spirituality, hidden knowledge or superficial zeal. Notice, in the Corinthian text (1 Cor. 4.8-9), that the key factor exposing the Corinthian dreamworld, was the cleavage created by the partial triumphalism of their over-realized eschatology as if only some were privileged to reign in this world while others (e.g. the apostles) continue to be paraded in the public eye as fools. Pilgrim power does not rest in the illusion of a this-worldly dominion or patriocentric faith that believes we will legislate our way to the top through political rationalism. All of this is a defeater to humanism. Vos sets our vision higher. 

We are not to be so materialistically minded but we are to be heavenly minded, which means we can’t take our stuff with us on the heavenly journey! Union with Christ means we inherit the earth in its renewed, pristine, redeemed, and glorified state. We are united to Him as fellow heirs of a new heaven and new earth (2 Pet. 3.13). The present cosmic order is no match for Christ’s subsequent glories. Like the patriarchs therefore, we seek “the mountain-land above.” While the world wants more and more identity with this world in what amounts to a pagan Oneist² system of thought (i.e. pantheism); we seek a vision of a God who is altogether other: 

If Moses endured it was not due to the power of resistance in his human frame, but because the weakness in him was compensated by the vision of Him who is invisible. (p.112-113).

THE VISION OF MOSES

Moses’ faith did not just defy Egypt, it defied the world. In Moses’ day, Egypt was the great antichrist crisis on the horizon and threatened total world domination. It was also the dragon power of satanic energy leveled against the people of God (cf. Ps. 74.13-14; 78.12-13; Is. 27.1; 30.7). But this satanic order did not just threaten to consume Israel, but tethered to the people of God were the promises of the Redeemer. Thus, to identify with Israel, Moses was treasuring the “riches” of Christ himself and what he offered to those who believed and endured now so as to be rewarded later (Heb. 11.25-26). For the pilgrim, the cross comes before the crown.  

But Moses of course overcame more than just reproaches and the sacrifices of earthly wealth and pleasure, he overcame the evil lord of the Egyptians himself. This, Hebrews tells us, he did by “seeing Him who is unseen.” By faith he overcame the destroyer as he hid under the bloody doorposts, by faith he led the people through the valley of the shadow of death as the sovereign Lord split the covenant waters open so that the people could walk on the sea floor unharmed. All because Moses had a vision of the unseen God. As Moses walked by faith and not by sight, God lifted him above the temporal plane high above his enemies. 

INVISIBILITY IS INVINCIBILITY 

If the term “invincible” seems a bit superhuman or super-spiritual in describing a Christian life, Scripture tells us we are more than conquerors, that “all things belong to us” (1 Cor. 3.22), and that “power” now works in us (Eph. 3.20). Even as Moses looked to the unseen God, if we think in a more comprehensive way, invisibility is fundamental to our worldview; the pilgrim worldview. The capacity to see beyond the visible with the eye of faith. 

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 ¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, ¹⁸ while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

2 Corinthians 5:7 ⁷ For we walk by faith, not by sight. 

Colossians 3:1–2 ¹ If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 

Hebrews 2:8 ⁸ You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him. 

Hebrews 11:1 ¹ Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 

Faith in God’s promises is not theological abstraction, it is not impractical spirituality, it is not detached discipleship; it is as concrete as the future itself. By faith in the “mountain-land above”- which is Vos’ way to refer us to heaven and the eschatological reality that streams from it, we are empowered to transcend the constraints of physical life itself. Vos explains: 

If Abraham, who had gladly received the promises, offered up his only-begotten son, it was not because in heroic resignation he steeled himself to obedience, but because through faith he saw God as greater and stronger than the most inexorable physical law of nature: “For he accounted that God is able to raise up even from the dead.” (p.113)

If we are careful to follow Vos here, we have the total antithesis between humanistic strength and the essence of true religion. Abraham’s obedience was not the patriarch “pulling himself up by his own bootstraps” as it were, rather, recognizing his own poverty, he turned to Omnipotence itself by seeing “God as greater.” That is exactly what faith does. It enables us to overcome the world, because God is greater. It enables us to overcome all that ails us, even death, because God is greater. It enables us to rise above the accursed earth and see a greater and fairer land on the horizon. By faith our limitations themselves are transcended with the certainty of things not seen and the “powers of the higher world” become the weapons of our present warfare: 

Through faith the powers of the higher world were placed at the disposal of those whom this world threatened to overwhelm, and so the miracle resulted that from weakness they were made strong. (Ibid)

Solus Fide

Questions for Theological Reflection and Discussion

1. What are some wrong and dangers views on faith? 
2. Where does faith come from? Is faith an innate component of the human soul? Is it a virtue, a gift, or a force within us? What is unique about saving faith? 
3. Scripture says that we are more than conquerors, can this be taken too far? How can this be applied falsely to the Christian life? 
4. Because Scripture calls us to be heavenly minded, how do our possessions factor into our worldview as pilgrims?
5. What does Vos mean by the “mountain-land above”? How does Scripture use the imagery of mountains? How is mountains theology used in Hebrews?
6. What other ways does Scripture encourage us to walk by faith and not by sight in addition to the texts above? 
7. How does looking at the “unseen” empower us to live in the present? Give examples in your own life how walking by faith helped you overcome a particular situation or season of your life. Much of the theology of Hebrews is immensely practical!

¹ Geerhardus Vos, Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached at Princeton Seminary (Banner of Truth Trust, ed. 2020). Heavenly Mindedness Ch. 9, pp.109-130. 

² The language of “Oneism” is owing to the excellent cultural apologetics of Peter Jones, see for example, The Other Worldview (Kirkdale Press, 2015). In fact, Jones sees only two possible cosmologies and worldviews. Either all will be reduced to monism or pagan Oneism, or we will maintain the biblical Twoist (and Twoism) framework of Creator/creature relation and distinction.   

(Episode: 6)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Ryan Musslemann

The push for more technology has simply become part of our lives, but how does the push for technological singularity relate to the biblical worldview? Many Christians today are unfamiliar with futurism especially as it relates to both Transhumanism and Posthumanism. In this episode, Emilio Ramos and Ryan Mussleman will discuss the difference between the two and how our eschatology informs this futuristic worldview. Share and enjoy the show.

Resources:

Transhumanism and the Image of God: Today’s Technology and the Future of Christian Discipleship – https://amzn.to/3UKD60l

The Other Worldview: Exposing Christianity’s Greatest Threat – https://amzn.to/3CiMtx0

Transhumanism and Transcendence: Christian Hope in an Age of Technological Enhancement – https://amzn.to/3riJXQV

God, Technology, and the Christian Life – https://amzn.to/3fuPilJ

Foundations of Covenant Theology: A Biblical-Theological Study of Genesis 1-3 – https://amzn.to/3SrvJsS

(Episode: 5)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Jai Nevarez

Why is eschatology so important if it’s so controversial and difficult to understand? What are the consequences of various views of eschatology?

In this episode, Emilio Ramos and Jai Nevarez compare and contrast the prominent views on eschatology as well as set forth crucial points when considering a proper view on such things as the millennium, the return of Jesus, and the two-ages of Scripture. Stay tuned and share the show.

Book Links:

A case for Amillennialism by Kim Riddlebarger – https://amzn.to/3ckp0RU

The Power of His Reign: An Easy Introduction to Amillennialism by Jonathan Ammon – https://amzn.to/3R9sxRO

The Pauline Eschatology by Geerhardus Vos – https://amzn.to/3TrlAh1

(Episode: 4)
Featuring: Emilio Ramos | Ryan Musslemann

For many people, Reformed Theology is synonymous with Calvinism, or the Solas of the Reformation but is it more than that? In this episode, Emilio Ramos and Ryan Mussleman will discuss what it means to have a distinctly Reformed theology in areas such as the doctrine of God, Covenant theology, and apologetics. Stay tuned and share the show.

ABRAHAM IN ROMANS, GALATIANS AND HEBREWS

Although all of these epistles are ultimately relaying the same vision of faith, the context of each letter displays a different aspect of faith. In the Pauline corpus, faith is connected to trusting in the saving grace of God unto Justification. Both in Romans, Galatians and in Hebrews, Abraham is set forth as the model of faith. In the Pauline corpus, Abraham serves the interest of the federal and forensic transaction which renders mankind in Adam righteous. 

In Hebrews, the connection is broader and mainly eschatological. Naturally in Hebrews, Abraham’s story is more prominent because, his very pilgrimage was evidence of not only saving faith, but also of faith that was the “organ of apprehension of unseen and future realities” (p.110). While in Paul’s letters, faith is the instrument that lays hold of the righteousness of God (cf. Gal. 2.15-21; 3.6-14), in the book of Hebrews faith is the instrument by which invisible things become visible and tangible as it were. 

This should not surprise us since Hebrews is saturated with the invisible things of God in types and shadows, all of which find a heavenly point of reference (cf. Heb. 8.5; Ex. 25.40). (see especially, Geerhardus Vos, The Teaching of the Epistle to the Hebrews, (Eerdmans, 1956) Chapter III). 

• The tabernacle 
• The priesthood
• The sabbath 
• The land
• The city

JESUS THE TRAILBLAZING BELIEVER

As our trailblazer, Jesus is himself an example of a true “believer,” and that, as the believer par excellence. What we find in Jesus is a life that we can identify with because he has identified with us. He became like his brethren in everything (Heb. 2.17), he was tempted even as we are, yet without sin, and the Old Testament priests were types of this very thing (Heb. 5.1-4). Though they were sinfully weak, Jesus was sinlessly weak in the flesh and came only in the “likeness of sinful flesh” (Rom. 8.3), again, “yet without sin” (Heb. 4.15). For this very reason, the sinless Son is our unfailing Intercessor (Heb. 7.25-26). Because he identifies with us in his entrance into the world, we can look to him as our example even as we fix our eyes on him as we make our way out of this world and into the next (Heb. 12.1-3).

The faith of Jesus was also obedient faith. Though Jesus did not need righteousness for himself, nevertheless, because he was righteous and pious, he has unbroken fellowship with God (Heb. 5.7). The sufferings of Christ were his pedagogy, even as he learned obedience through the things that he suffered (Heb. 5.8), a remarkable mystery! So too, believers today can learn from the example of Jesus to endure under a great ordeal of suffering, persecution and temptation (Heb. 10.36; 12.3). Hebrews casts a picture of this world in the imagery of the “wilderness”; we are in the wilderness of sin and what we need is perseverance and endurance (Heb. 10.36). And looking to Jesus and all who follow in his way, we hold fast to our own confession until the end (Heb. 12.1).

There are also some departures from the analogue of the faith of believers to Christ. One of those of course being the meritorious nature of Jesus’ faith/faithfulness. By remaining constant under trial, the Son earned our righteousness, citizenship and eternal life (cf. Heb. 12.23-24). His sacrifice perfects and prepares his people for their heavenly abode. This is the faithfulness of the Mediator whose blood is better than Abel!

However, we should always be mindful that Jesus’ obedient faith was not for the purpose of personal justification, forgiveness or righteousness, he had these things from the outset. Vos writes of the difference between faith for justification in “specific trust” for that end:

Faith in that other sense of specific trust, through which a guilty sinner becomes just in the sight of God, our Lord could not exercise, because He was sinless (p.110).

THE FAITH IN HEBREWS IS AN ESCHATOLOGICAL REALITY

Grace and Glory is perhaps most remarkable and unique because of Vos’ comprehensive grasp of the overarching teaching of Scripture and how everything in Scripture stands in perfect organic harmony to the plan and purpose of God in Christ. Heavenly Mindedness is perhaps the most penetrating example of this very thing in this small collection of sermons. As we consider how faith operates in Hebrews, over against Romans or Galatians in terms of faith as “the instrument of justification,” in Hebrews, faith is deeply eschatological. Just as an aside, of course this eschatological dynamism of faith is not lacking from the rest of the New Testament (cf. 2 Cor. 5.7):

Here in Hebrews the conception is wider; faith is “the proving of things not seen, the assurance of things hoped for.” It is the organ for apprehension of unseen and future realities, giving access to and contact with another world. It is the hand stretched out through the vast distances of space and time, whereby the Christian draws to himself the things far beyond, so that they become actual to him. (p. 110)

Thus, even as Jesus’ faith was for the ultimate purpose that he might render a perfect sacrifice, he then went through the interdimensional portal of the “two registers” (Kline’s term), as Hebrews says, “a high priest who has passed through the heavens” (Heb. 4.14). Even as Jesus lived in light of the things “not seen” and “another world”; so too believers, because of our union to him, share in this other-worldly vision by faith. This confirms the very heart of Christian faith, “I go prepare a place for you” (John 14.1-3). Even as the Father had prepared a place for him, at his right hand, so too, Jesus promises that we too, overcoming by faith alone (in keeping with Romans), are trusting for a future unseen reality that we too will sit on the Son’s glorious throne (in keeping with Hebrews) (cf. Rev. 3.21). What wonder! This is heavenly mindedness.

As Vos points out elsewhere, through faith, Jesus was able to transcend as it were, this world of suffering and death and “project” his soul into the future:

By very reason of the contrast between the higher world to which He belonged and this dark lower world of suffering and death to which He had surrendered Himself it could not be otherwise than that faith, as a projection of his soul into the unseen and future, should have been the fundamental habit of the earthly life of his human nature, and should have developed in Him a degree of intensity not attained elsewhere. (p.110-111)

This is Vos’ way of saying, the world has never seen such pure faith than that of Jesus’ own complete trust in the unseen realm that enabled him to rise above this dark world of sin, suffering and death. Consequently, those who are united to him by faith also are called unto the same pursuit of heavenly mindedness along the sojourn of life.

Colossians 3:1–2 ¹ Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. ² Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

According to one Catholic scholar, Thomas Aquinas focused his deepest theological energy on eschatology. He mentioned Charles Taylor’s critique of modern culture as a kind of society that now is oriented purely on an “imminent frame.” That is, people lack an eschatological worldview. It is hard for us to be heavenly minded. There are all sorts of obstacles to this as well both from within and without the Church. Secular worldviews presents man with a mere materialistic orientation in life that consists of the things that we can purchase and use for personal consumption and personal satisfaction. Dominion theology calls us to strive for a “this worldly” philosophy of the gospel as well as eschatology that sees the world slowly improving. But scripture, and in particular in a very special way, the book of Hebrews often transcends the earthly plane and ultimately directs us to a heavenly vision at Christ’s right hand. The audience in Hebrews are facing real life circumstances, some of them dire as persecution was a constant reality (cf. Heb. 10.32ff.). Contrary to conventional wisdom, the author does not direct them toward the political realm, or social reform or the education system, activism, or the economy; the author of Hebrews directs God’s people to look not at the things that are seen but the things that are unseen, not at things that can be shaken, but at things that are unshakable (Heb. 12.25-29 cf. 2 Cor. 4.16-18). This simply brings out the teaching of the kingdom of God in Hebrews as consisting of spiritual union and communion with God now even as we await the arrival of the kingdom in all of its fullness at the consummation. As Vos will go on to show, this alone can give us a truly transcendent hope that penetrates beyond this world. From our perspective, we do not yet see all things visibly subject to him (Heb. 2.8), by faith we know they are.

Solus Christus

Questions for Theological Reflection and Discussion

1. What other differences can we find between Paul’s Letters in Romans and Galatians and the book of Hebrews? 
2. Why is Abraham so important for the life of the believer today? 
3. What is the proper relationship between the earthly and heavenly things? Do heavenly things reflect an earthly reality, or do earthly things reflect a heavenly reality? What other Scriptures support your position?  
4. How is Jesus’ faith exemplary for us in the book of Hebrews? What is the limitation between the faith of believes and Christ? 
5. What are the two kinds of faith that arise from Romans and Galatians on the one hand and Hebrews on the other? What references support each type of faith? 
6. What is apprehended by the faith which the book of Hebrews stresses?

¹ Geerhardus Vos, Grace and Glory: Sermons Preached at Princeton Seminary (Banner of Truth Trust, ed. 2020). Heavenly Mindedness Ch. 9, pp.109-130.

The importance of biblical theology, putting the whole bible together in a Christ-centered way and the best resources for studying biblical theology today.

Today we’re gonna be talking about the importance of theology, How do we approach theology, and maybe more most important of all how do we build a Theology that is sound/healthy?

James could be rightly called the New Testament’s no-nonsense counselor who refuses to coddle us in our sin. Here is a sample of some of James’ hard-hitting wisdom-words:

James 1:7–8 ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

James 1:19 ¹⁹ This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 

James 1:26 ²⁶ If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless. 

James 2:17 ¹⁷ Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 

James 3:1 ¹ Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 

James 3:6 ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 

James 3:14–16 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 

James 4:4 You adulteresses, do you not know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 

James 4:7 Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 

James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

James 5:1 Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries which are coming upon you. 

James 5:9 Do not complain, brethren, against one another, so that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door. 
James 5:12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

When it comes to the issue of planning, James wants to remind us that our vision for our lives must be subordinate to the greater vision of God‘s will. While many plan “ahead,” James reminds us of the more important priority of planning above. 

James 4:13–16 ¹³ Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.” ¹⁴ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that.” ¹⁶ But as it is, you boast in your arrogance; all such boasting is evil. 

I live in a thriving area of North Dallas, construction is everywhere, everything from home building, shopping plazas, new highways, and hotels are going up all over the place. It is a wonderful place to minister of the gospel. But planning and projecting into the future is a constant objective here. Part of the impetus for this post is the sense of normalcy we are all chasing after the crisis of Covid-19. Dallas seems to be full steam ahead in this desire for the way things used to be. There’s a feeling in the culture today that we are in fact returning to certain levels of normalcy. Masks are now optional, travel is resuming, people are returning to work and leisure. Naturally, this brings a certain energy and optimism to people’s lives. People resume business plans, business ventures and personal projects. But remember, it is in the hustle and bustle of life that James speaks to us a clear word of wisdom.

If Covid taught us anything, it taught us that life can change in an instant. Truly, “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.” The pandemic taught us that life is fragile, and like the vapor of a breath, we can be gone.  Of course, those are reasons enough to make our plans beneath the humility of knowing that God is sovereign. For James, pursuing our plans in a godless fashion that does not take into account the absolute sovereignty of God and the volatility of life is evil. It is not just poor planning, it is evil. It is a moral issue, a religious issue and an issue of whether or not we are going to live for the glory of God as we contemplate our futures on a daily basis. Whether its ministry, vacations, our children’s schooling, financial goals, vocation and career; nothing in the believer’s life can be planned without prayerfully acknowledging our absolute dependence on God’s mercy and grace.   

A further observation can be made about James’ wisdom here. His words remind us that the twists and turns of life are not random. They are not the result of economic trends and social upheavals or personal health and well-being; these are all under the control and direction of the meticulous sovereign hand of God in the world. His Providence guides all things (cf. Nehemiah 9.6; Ps. 104.27; 145.15-16). Every sparrow that falls, every hair on our heads, every day of our lives, every morsel that every creature eats, every atom and every molecule in the universe; nothing lives of itself (cf. Acts 17.25-28). God alone is independent of something greater. Got alone is self-sufficient, self-contained, and self-existent. This is the Creator/creature distinction. He needs nothing, we need everything. He is unchanging, we are ever-changing.

Remarkably James speaks to this exact point in perhaps one of the most penetrating theological statements concerning the self-sufficient and immutable nature of God:

James 1:17 ¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow.

In a real sense, to plan rightly, to plan with wisdom is to confess that we are not God. There’s also the very practical issue of devotion, attachment and identity. When we plan in a God-centered way, beneath his sovereignty and always in acknowledgment of his divine providence. We are reminded of the words of the apostle Paul, namely that we not make full use of this world (1 Cor. 7:30-31). This is especially relevant to us who live in a world in any kind of culture that is constantly telling us how to make full use of everything around us. From our technology to our homes and our smart cars; our culture is obsessed with customization all for the purpose of maximizing our experience of our things and for our pleasure. 

This is important because for most of our lives we spend it seeking identity in the things that we possess, and the people that we know, or in the things that we do. But James is reminding us that everything can be taken away from us at an instant because our own life quickly “vanishes away” (cf. 1 Pet. 1.24). For James, like Peter, he views all of life as a great pilgrim journey (cf. 1 Pet. 1.17; 2.11-12). In this sojourn of ours we cannot grow too attached either to our things or to the course of this world in general which is passing away (cf. 1 Cor. 7.31; 1 Pet. 4.7; 1 John 2.17). Just when we think we have gotten a hang of things in this world, James cautions us- be careful!

When God says “I do not will”

A Puritan once said, ‘we are most like God when we are content.’ Here’s another aspect of the wisdom of James. When we live our lives under the great conditional statement, “if God wills,” we will be far less disappointed when our plans are not realized. Instead, we would have already confessed that we are not in control, that our plans are one thing but God’s decree is another. This great conditional statement is therefore not a Christian lucky charm or a religious spiritual mantra, it is the Christian life brought beneath the reality of God himself.  

In this reality we find our contentment. We come to realize our plans are not ultimate and that God’s will for us is best despite if it runs contrary to our own notion of what should be. In this contentment there is also a remarkable liberty and freedom in knowing that providence having been revealed, we can now ironically, plan accordingly to the glory of God. Thomas Manton wrote:

The sovereignty and dominion of providence: the Lord can blast your enterprise, though managed with never so much wisdom and contrivance; he can nip it in the bud, or check it in the very article of execution; and I have observed that usually God is very tender in his honour in this point, and usually frustrateth proud men that boast of what they will do, and conceive unlimited purposes, without any thought of the check they may receive in providence.

Thomas Manton

In a world where “unlimited purposes” and personal potential is presented as the very essence of authentic humanity, happiness and freedom, the Christian has a very serious decision to make- will we listen to the wisdom of James or will we wait to be checked by providence? May God give us insight for the former. 

Sola Gratia

¹ Thomas Manton, A Commentary on James (Banner of Truth Trust, 1998) 393.

We know ourselves now to be on a fast-moving train hurling down the tracks, and it is absurd to think that by leaning over the side and digging our heels into the ground we could have the slightest effect on the trains velocity. People sense this. Many do. There is panic in the culture because we know our era is ending. Our horror movies are not just stories. They are a kind of mirror of ourselves. They surface the inchoate sense that we have, the sense of dread, the sense that all is not right in our world, that out there is a lurking menace whom we cannot see. We intuitively feel that a terrifying calamity looms over us but we just do not quite understand what this is or even where it is.¹

Granted there is a great level of ambiguity and mystery to the words of David Wells here. Still, there is something that really resonates with all of us when we speak of calamities that may in fact be looming over us. Further ambiguity in Wells’ words is what he means by attempting to lean over the side of the train to try to affect the train’s velocity. I do not take him to mean that the gospel is of no effect, or that the Church makes no difference in the world, he certainly does not believe that. In fact, God in the Whirlwind is set forth as something of an antidote to much of the Church’s problems in ministry and discipleship as well as making the Church more effective for its global witness by stressing its other-worldly ethic of holiness and transcendent truths about who God is and what He has done in Jesus Christ. But the point is also well taken, we live in a volatile world full of menacing dangers and many of these are out of anyone’s control, save God.  

IN THE SICKBED

When we think about America as a whole, as difficult as that is to do sociologically and culturally, the American populace is now exposed to the following factors that may in fact be symptoms of just how sick and fragile American democracy is. If nothing else, these factors point in the direction that in many ways America is in big trouble.

• The rise of Globalism
• The volatility of the World Economy
• The deterioration of Borders and Immigration 
• Pluralism both Religious and Political 
• Postmodern, Secular, and Pagan Morality
• Technology and the rise of Transhumanism
• The fragile witness of the Church 

This last item on the list may prove the be the most important for when a nation suppresses the witness of the Church, what does it have left but all manner of evil and tyranny? It is undeniable, notwithstanding some wonderful exceptions, that the Church is weak and compromised in the West. Another work by Wells highlights this. In The Bleeding of the Evangelical Church, Wells exposes what he calls the marketing ethos that was threatening the Church in the 80s and 90s that sought to turn the Church into “big business” by adopting the consumer-driven mentality and growth philosophy of the world. That was the 90s, today we are no longer being warned about the things that David Wells envisioned, we are living in them! The scourge of seeker-sensitive church philosophy is still with us and in many areas of the country, as far as church selection goes, seeker models for churches is the air that local communities breathe. That is to say nothing of the remnants of emergent ministry tactics, the prosperity movement, egalitarianism, queer theology, liberalism, and ecumenicalism (especially and not surprising with Rome- note the recent explosion of Thomistic thought even within Reformed theologians!). 
True expositional, exegetically-driven and theologically faithful or doctrinally intentional churches are few and far between. In fact, due to the influence of Postmodernism upon the American Church, doctrinal specificity is frowned upon, and theological dogma is looked upon as mean-spirited and not Christlike. The spiritual erosion of American Evangelicalism, its basic fidelity to Scripture and the biblical worldview that was once so obvious in society, can be documented in a hundred different ways.²

STRATEGIES OF WAR

Sometimes we look out at American culture, politics, economics, geopolitical relations, and the influence of globalism; one would think that we are at war with ourselves or that we are being attacked from within. Known strategies of warfare include these common methods of attack: breaking down the enemy’s ability to communicate, inhibiting access to travel, disrupting supply chains making it more difficult to gather supplies, disarming the population so that regular citizens cannot defend themselves, disrupting fuel lines, unleashing diseases against your enemies, causing divisions and strife within a nation, disseminating confusion and false propaganda so that it makes it increasingly difficult to make progress based on facts.  

When we look at some of the basic strategies for war, we have to admit as others have pointed out, that we are witnessing many of these principles being rolled out in our own society today. The rise of cancel culture making it difficult to communicate freely, the constant breaking down in the airline industry so that now we are actually facing a real pilot shortage not to mention scores of cancellations now being normalized, the second amendment in our own country is under constant attack, and life after the pandemic has certainly broken down our supply chains, fuel prices have soared with increasing calls for eradicating fossil fuels, the pandemic may in fact be by design as many experts propose, the rise of social justice (to say nothing of gay/trans rights) has only left our country more fragmented, the constant accusations of “fake news” has made it difficult to turn on any evening news at all as the public eyes increasingly mocks all news outlets “Left” and “Right.”  

There are other malicious forces at work as well. Tucker Carlson on Fox News recently pointed out that while China is developing hypersonic missiles to strike anywhere on earth and are completely undetectable, we are teaching our military the proper use of pronouns instilling in them Marxist principles like Queer theory and CRT while other militaries are raising their training standards and increasing their global coalitions. Even our elite military forces are now lowering expectations, standards, and protocols to accommodate women and weaker soldiers who can no longer stand the rigors of older, tougher generations. 

But who are we at war with? The global elites? Rich bankers? The Bilderburgs? A New World Order? China? Russia? Nefarious agents within our own government system? Terrorists? Transhumanists? There may in fact be a literal identifiable enemy, some polar entity, a nation, or a non-polar entity like a terrorist group. Of course, these factors can ebb and flow but that is hardly the point (although we may see such dangers subside through political and social change, I am personally of the opinion that we have entered into a more prophetic time from which there is probably no going back or making progress devoid of these and other impending factors).  

Our task however is to think biblically. In Isaiah’s day, when Assyria was making plans to attack, Judah was instructed to resist the temptation to call these geo-political events mere “conspiracy” (Is. 8.12). In other words, the people of God were to understand that behind all of these political developments, the sovereign hand of God and his meticulous providence was ultimately in control. The same is true for us today. No nation under heaven has any authority other than that which has been granted to it by God (John 19.11). There are no geo-political developments on the horizon that have not been ordained by the hand of a meticulously sovereign God who governs all of the affairs of men toward one final eschatological goal, namely the glory of his Name alone and the consummation of his heavenly kingdom (Is. 2.11, 17).

BACK TO BABEL

One of the fundamental mistakes we may be making in considering such things as American decline is isolating America from the overall cosmic context of the world as God sees it. God does not “think” in “America first ways”; God sees all of the nations of the world belonging to one ultimate “system.” That system is not a “new world order” it is in fact more comprehensive and theological than that. The “system” is fundamentally what can be called an antichrist crisis of sorts and the crisis is bound to the present order of things. In biblical terms, this present order is described in many ways and all of which refers to life as it persists under the curse of the Fall of man. God “thinks” federally or covenantally. All of humanity stands before him in only two categories, Adam or Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 15.22). That is essential. God is not so much concerned with Democracy versus Communism and Marxism, or with Capitalism versus Socialism; God sees things at the deeper spiritual level where regardless of political ideology, all the world is guilty before God even as it lay in the lap of the evil one (cf. 1 John 5.19). 

Because of the Fall and because of the curse, the present world system follows a basic biblical pattern. We have seen this numerous times throughout redemptive history and we are blind and gullible if we do not think this will repeat again. In fact, Scripture assures us that it will. Perhaps, the tower of Babel serving as a primary symbol of the eschatological pattern we see in Scripture. Babel represents a primitive antichrist crisis that culminates in the condemnation of a pseudo world-system complete with a humanist spirit of self-advancement, self-preservation, and self-salvation. Babel is the attempt to move humanity forward, and literally upward, without God. Of course, God visits this cosmic movement in judgment (Gen. 11.1-9); but the pattern is there nonetheless. Whether we are thinking about the Flood, Babel, Sodom, and Gomorrah, Egypt, Assyria, Babylon or Rome; these historical markers are symbolic, typological, and eschatological of things to come (cf. Mt. 24.36-41; 2 Pet. 3.5-13). In fact, when we see the final manifestation of the antichrist system in the book of Revelation, it is Babylon that takes center stage (Rev. 17-18, see esp. Gen. 11.6/Rev. 17.13). The Semitic root of the word Babylon is babel, which shows that the original tower of Babel narrative was proleptic of the Babylonian captivity and even further still, of the end-time Babylonian system and its ultimate demise- a worldwide humanity gathered and scattered in judgment.

At a cultural level, we seem to be squarely in the midst of a Romans 1 descent. We are not facing the wrath of God, at least in the America, along with many other cultures, we are experiencing the wrath of God being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness. In our own country, decades of murdering the unborn (the recent reversals only partially stem that tide), paganizing the West, rejecting God’s laws, existence and people, undoing the nuclear family and unleashing every manner of debased perversity and evil will likely not result in a tidal wave of revival but further divine displeasure and wrath. (we should point out that the rise of political conservatism is no “certain sign of grace” as Edwards would put; for, many if not most in that movement are just fine with “gay” marriage and are unwilling to stand against “alternative lifestyles.” If former President Donald Trump wrapping himself in a rainbow flag is not enough to substantiate my point nothing is).

HEAL OUR LAND

“ If my people will humble themselves and pray”

2 Chronicles 7:4a

This text has been used by many evangelists, evangelical crusades and altar calls for the promise of God’s blessing and prosperity on western culture and particularly here in America, this is an evangelical favorite passage. But the context has Israel in view in a theocratic context (2 Chronicles 7), and the interpretation of this passage is ultimately understood in a redemptive historical fashion directing its contemporary application to the believer and the church who realize all such temporal promises to what such promises anticipate mainly at the redemptive and eschatological level in Christ.

Of course, we are told that sin is a reproach on any people and that righteousness exalts a nation (Proverbs 14.34), and for that reason righteousness can bring blessing to any people as well, albeit mostly at the common grace level. There is no monolithic way of explaining the outworking and dynamics of that proverbial reality. For example, society can be very hard on crime and still live under a dictatorial system. A legal system can punish many injustices and yet legislate unthinkable immorality at the same time (as in the case with abortion in America). There are limits to common grace and there is no return to a theocracy so that our notion of God’s healing and blessing needs to be understood through a different lens. (It is important to know that even during the theocratic system, which was a temporal typological expression of the eschatological and eternal kingdom in Christ, the people of God suffered under crisis after crisis owing to Israel’s disobedience, idolatry and apostasy- a neo-theocratic-nomism is not the answer, heaven is).

America is not the kingdom of God (lost on many Christians today) and the more we understand that the more we will recognize that we are citizens of two kingdoms. To be clear, Two Kingdom Theology is a technical school of thought for the interpretation of the Law and Gospel, nature and grace, church and state that is of a more Lutheran philosophy than Reformed. I refer to our participation and two kingdoms more informally here to reflect what the apostle Paul says in Philippians 3. Our true citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3.20). We need to point out something very important at this point, the doctrine of heaven cannot be surrendered to any group, movement or theological persuasion as it constitutes our ultimate eschatological hope. There is no excess in our commitment to, development of and hoping in the theology of heaven (Col. 3.1-4; 1 Pet. 1.13: note the pilgrim theology inherent in a parousia-centered hope (v.17; also 2.11-12)).

Going from that negative statement of America and the kingdom of God not being co-extensive, we also have to state the matter positively, namely that the gospel and the kingdom of God will prevail and progress despite what God has decreed for America or any other part of the world or historical epoch. To be crystal clear, America could fall tomorrow in a fiery dirge and yet have absolutely no bearing on the increase of God’s kingdom as he has decreed it. That is because the kingdom of God is no longer understood in a geophysical fashion. Unlike the Old Testament, Old Covenant era when a person could find themselves “in” the kingdom by virtue of being in Jerusalem, the kingdom of God is no longer bound to such geographical limitations. The kingdom now operates upon the spiritual plane, operates upon the redemptive principle and most of all is encountered in the person and work of Jesus Christ through regeneration.

Still, the uncertain future of America reminds us that among other things, the kingdom is also still future (Rev. 22.5). We who presently belong to the kingdom and enjoy the first fruits of it through the Spirit (2 Cor. 1.22) nevertheless will enter God’s eternal and heavenly kingdom (2 Tim. 4.18). America, like Canaan did to Abraham, the patriarchs, and the apostles, should order us toward our true “country” that is, heaven, where our permanent citizenship resides (Heb. 11.13-16). This will help us when we look at the cultural, political, and national threats all around us (cf. John 16.33). This will remind us to be evangelically minded, that is, focused on the proclamation of the gospel. This will remind us of the importance of the local church— a concentrated foretaste of our heavenly assembly. This will beckon us to set our minds more on things above than below (Col. 3.1-4). This will also orient our lives in this world carefully with an eternal perspective in view realizing that all that this life consists of is fleeting and passing away (1 Cor. 7.31). In short, the near future should lead us to think upon our ultimate future in the Father’s house.

John 14. 1–3 ¹ “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. ² “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. ³ “If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” 

Soli Deo Gloria

¹David F. Wells, God in the Whirlwind (Crossway, 2014) 31-32. [Italics mine]

² See for example, Michael Horton, Christless Christianity (Baker, 2008). Also, Peter Jones, Whose Rainbow (Ezra Press, 2020).

Not only do we want to introduce this new podcast, we also want to introduce key themes that set RGM aside:

• Apologetics & Evangelism
• Biblical Theology & Eschatology
• Reformed Theology & Covenant Theology
• Pilgrim Theology & Culture

THEOLOGY IS WORSHIP 

As we approach the subject of the allergy however we have to begin with an understanding of the necessity for seeing theology as an aspect of Christianity in general which is comprehensively a life of worship:

Romans 12:1–3 ¹ Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. ² And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. ³ For through the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment, as God has allotted to each a measure of faith. 

Paul simply picks up where the Shema Israel and Jesus left off, the command to love God with all my heart as well as with all of our soul and might (Dt. 6.5; Mk. 12.30). The Gospel make it clear that the “heart” of Deuteronomy is also the “mind”- interchangeable concepts in biblical parlance. Both the old and New Testament therefore are teaching the same reality, that we worship God with our entire being. Sadly, today too many believers compartmentalize their Christianity. In reality they have customized their Christianity. In our culture where customization is a modern obsession, people believe they can customize their spirituality the way that we customize the apps on our smart phones. However, this is not in keeping with the biblical imperative to worship God with our entire mind, soul and strength. In a word, we take theology seriously because God wants all of us. He is our Creator and we exist for his glory (cf. Is. 43.7).    

THEOLOGY IS MIND WORK AND HEART WORK 

As our theology begin to take shape it is important that we are also shaping our lives. Our theology will have an effect upon us one way or the other. If the allergy does not affect the way that we live, the way that we behave, our ethics, our morality and our behavior; theology is landing on heart of stone in which case a greater priority has emerged. If mind work and heartwork do not go together, we have a much greater concern than reading the latest book on theology by our favorite author or theologian; we need Christ! The focus changes from the work of the mind to the salvation of the soul. 

Still, our theology will begin to shape our lives resulting in conformity to the law of Christ or in deviating from the gospel itself. These trajectories will manifest themselves and very practical ways in our lives. They will have a direct effect on the way that we think, the way that we live, or behavior both personally, privately, in the home, in the church and in the culture. We will begin to either conform our lives to the standards revealed in God’s holy word and exemplified in Christ, or we will begin the process of conformity to the world (Psalm 1). James’ wisdom is imperative here: 

James 1:22–25 ²² But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. ²³ For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. ²⁵ But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 

THEOLOGY IS A LIFELONG ENDEAVOR 

If we resolve from this that we are going to get serious about theology, that would be good and commendable but it may also be unrealistic and immature. Nothing that lasts in Christianity is instant. Signification immaturity take time and theology is a lifelong endeavor. Zeal is good but zeal with knowledge is better. Sanctified zero is the best. And our approach to theology is no different. We need a lifelong commitment. In fact, we need a dogged commitment never to stop pursuing the knowledge of God. I say this because our entire life is an obstacle course of adversities and setbacks, distractions and temptations that seek to lead us away from the pursuit of God itself. 

The primitive Church is nothing if it is not a community built on the apostle’s doctrine (Acts 2.42). It was committed to the apostle’s doctrine in all of life and this commitment was lived out “against all odds.” They were persecuted, infiltrated, threatened, divided, fragile, weak, and assaulted by heretical adversaries at every turn (cf. 1 Cor. 1.16; 2 Cor. 11.1-6; Gal. 1.6; 3.1). Believers preparing to grow in grace and knowledge are preparing to enter a great war. Building our understanding of theology requires time, commitment, patience, and hard work. These virtues do not come easy to us. Our culture rushes us, occupies our time and sets forth other options for us to consume our time with both good and bad. That’s why we need a game plan and we need to stick with it. 

Just a couple of pointers on that for everybody: Space, time, goals. Space: where you study is important. For me that is easy, I go to my home office/library where all my books are. I have a desk designed for study. You need a space dedicated for the study of God’s word. This could be the kitchen table, a coffee shop, one of the kids rooms late at night or in the morning. Wherever that space is for you the point is, you take the study of God’s word series enough to allocate a specific area in your home or other location reserved as least in part for the study of God’s word. Time: be disciplined in devoted set times for the study of God’s word. This would be a good place to qualify that what I’m talking about does not reduce everyone to the same space/time/goals as a pastor or fulltime seminary student etc. but it does say that at every and any level, the study of God’s word demands the same thing for all of us, namely that we take it serious not casual. We all need to go beyond simply a cursory reading of the bible in the name of our “devotional” lives and we have be willing to rightly divide the word of truth. 

Goals: finally, we all need various goals in our study of Scripture and theology. We need at least three things but first we need to say something about goals. Our goals are necessary to make progress. The older I get, the less time I have to read the latest books by various authors, all of which may be good; but the problem is that my study habits are now dictated by what makes the most progress. In other words, have goals that will actually cause growth. That part is essential. Aside from that preliminary point, also make goals that are realistic, comprehensive and challenging. Realistically, we are all at various levels, do not try to keep up with those who are in the know of “deeper” more sophisticated theology; the Lord knows who you are and where you are in your comprehension of Scripture and theology. It is far better to read a book and know it well than to read a book you cannot understand and gain little or nothing from it, just for the sake of saying you read it! Comprehensively, theology is encyclopedic. We have to get around to knowing the various schools of thought that are most beneficial for us to grow in grace. From Systematic Theology to Biblical Theology; from Historical Theology to Practical Theology; we want to slowly familiarize ourselves with Christian doctrine comprehensively. Thankfully, this can be as easy as reading a catechism and working our way up to a Systematic Theology such as Louis Berkhof. 

Challenging theology is also essential for Christian discipleship. This is how we grow. This is how athletes jump a little further and higher, this is how weight lifters increase in muscle tone, this is how musicians move from reading chords to tablature; don’t settle and your maturity will not be stunted. This direction toward increasing in our knowledge of God does not automatically mean that you need to read more difficult books, but perhaps you will read more broadly, add more time to your studies, or take up multiple subjects at once. Familiarize yourself with what the next step for you is and stick to your goals.     

THEOLOGY IS HARD 

With complete transparency, we must say the theology is hard. Scripture says the same thing. The author of Hebrews points out to his readers that he had difficult things to teach them concerning the Melchezedekian priesthood (a challenging subject for any student of Scripture), a goal he believed they could attain, but they had become “dull of hearing” and the result was theological immaturity that made them susceptible to real error, even heresy (Heb. 5.11-14)! Back to the metaphors above. Athletes grow in their skills often by intentionally injuring themselves. In a controlled fashion, muscles fibers are torn, dehydration can set in, exhaustion can ensue all in pursuit of something positive. The same for us in theology. We may grow weary, we may lose sleep, we may gain weight, we may grow frustrated with the process and often lose sight of the goal. But like the athlete who often wants to give up, he presses on because of the goal, the prize which is ultimately to win what Paul calls, “a perishable wreath” (1 Cor. 9.25). 

Oodles of effort are offered up on the altar of the temporal in this world. Yet, as believers we know that we belong to an everlasting kingdom and the work that we do in theology will redound to eternity (1 Cor. 15.58). All of our blood, sweat, and tears that we might offer in the interest of Christian discipleship will not be in vain so long as we pursue these things by faith.  

THEOLOGY IS WORTH IT 

Paul says our prize is “imperishable.” It is hard but it is worth it. We have to be crystal clear on this point as well. Theology is worth it not because first and foremost it makes us feel good. Theology is worth it not because it will make us happy. Theology is worth it not because we can win theological battles and arguments. Theology is worth it not because we will simply know more data. Theology is worth it not because we can gain earthly accolades and credentials. Theology is worth it not because we will be better people at the end of it. There is an element of truth is all of these motives. Above all however, theology is worth it because it is worship offered in the service of the glory of God. This exposes a great presupposition in the entire theological enterprise – the spirituality of theologians. 

The goal of our theology is worship. Stated negatively, we are seeking to rid ourselves of any and all idolatrous concepts of God as we approach him in worship and as we commune with him in a relationship with the Triune God. 

As we endeavor to purify our theological worship of God, reflect on the words of one of Christendom’s greatest thinkers and Reformed Theologians for whom, the study of theology was never to be reduced to dead orthodoxy or emotional and ego-centric mysticism (from: The Religious Life of Theological Students): 

“Whatever you may have done in the past, for the future make all your theological studies ‘religious exercises’. This is the great rule for a rich and wholesome religious life in a theological student. Put your heart into your studies: do not merely occupy your mind with them, but put your heart into them. They bring you daily and hourly into the very presence of God; his ways, his dealing with men, the infinite majesty of his Being form their very subject-matter. Put the shoes from off your feet in this holy presence!” – B.B. Warfield  

Soli Deo Gloria

With everything going on with Russia and Ukraine, there’s been much talk in Christian circles about eschatology—the study of end times. What is a biblical view of eschatology? How does God’s Word properly inform our understanding of the end times, and how do we understand today’s events in relation to eschatology? These questions are discussed in great depth by Emilio Ramos in this week’s episode of Christ and Kingdom.

Emilio Ramos recaps key topics of The New Apologetics of which you must remain mindful, while also touching on important subject matter regarding Christ and Kingdom. The world continues to change and the road ahead is much more complex than what Christians are commonly used to.

Many Christians listen to Jordan Peterson since much of his philosophy aligns with conservative truth… but does this mean that Christians should be listening to him? Emilio Ramos dives deeply into this topic to help Christians understand whether or not Jordan Peterson is someone they should consult when seeking biblical truth.

Jordan Peterson had a recent appearance on The Joe Rogan Experience, where he outlines some new ideas he’s discovered about the Bible. But are his newfound insights biblical? Emilio Ramos explores his words in depth in this new episode of Christ and Kingdom.

Can microchip implants be a literal fulfillment of the Mark of the Beast? Ray Comfort has some interesting insights and uses for the Mark of the Beast, especially when it comes to evangelism. Emilio Ramos then also shares his thoughts on the Mark of the Beast and the implications it has for our lives as believers.

The first episode of Christ and Kingdom, a new series by Red Grace Media, and hosted by Emilio Ramos, covers John MacArthur’s invitation to preach on Canadian legislation C-4 on January 16th. What will Canadians do in the face of persecution and how do we prepare?

Christians must be aware of false philosophies that the world embraces. In this episode of The New Apologetics, we discuss fatalism—the idea that life has no ultimate purpose and everything is determined by an impersonal force—and how the gospel refutes this unbiblical attitude in our culture.

Nihilism was the philosophy of Frederich Nietzsche. Today, few are “official” Nihilists, but the attitude of Nihilist invades every facet of our culture. In this episode of the New Apologetics, we look at two extreme examples of Nihilism that recently made headlines. Learn how nihilism works and how the Gospel alone is the answer to man’s nihilistic ways.

Narcissism is the ultimate desire to make everything about yourself. It is a raging self-deception that simply causes you to pursue a world that caters to your cravings. In this episode of The New Apologetics, Emilio Ramos covers the narcissistic worldview and it’s hurtful impact on human desire for self-realization, self-preservation, and ultimately, self-promotion.

The world promises a paradise that can be programmed – a heaven we can realize through a digital evolution leading to an eternal life in the cloud. In this episode of The New Apologetics, we discuss technological singularity and the rise of trans-humanism.

In this episode of The New Apologetics, Emilio discusses how people are being conditioned by the aesthetics on the screen. We must be careful because aesthetics shape our emotions, our view of reality, the way we think and the way we live.

It is God’s Kingdom alone that will not be shaken, yet the world seeks to build a kingdom of its own – a kingdom that transcends humanity with a false deification through technology. How far will this man-centered, false kingdom advance before the Lord brings judgement?

Contrary to popular belief, the world is not getting more secular, it’s getting more spiritual. Reason, logic, and argument are going out of the window. Instead, the world is embracing a new spirituality that will reconstruct belief systems. Christians must understand that the suggestive material and media are not mere forms of entertainment, but rather, wholly-functioning belief systems that will challenge truth claims. This can be overcome by a biblical worldview.

Christians, there is already a sexual movement that has swept society: pansexuality. If you aren’t aware of this new danger and how to address it, you’re already losing the battle. In this video, Emilio Ramos shows you what is happening with pansexuality, what it is, and what’s at the root of the problem, as well as how to address it from a presuppositional and biblical perspective.

Does a “new apologetic” mean we do away with traditional Christian apologetics? Absolutely not. But, our culture has not only become post-Christian, it has become a “post-everything” culture. Specifically, pagan spirituality has begun to run rampant, leading to the idea that there are no distinctions. Pagan spirituality, in this post-everything culture, is creating a sort of pantheistic way in which people view themselves in relationship to each other and their relationship with creation.

Emilio Ramos, founder of Red Grace Media, provides an in depth review of the new apologetics that Christians must know. New Christian apologetics are not to replace the top evidences for the Bible, top evidences for the existence of God, top evidences for the resurrections of Jesus Christ, or evidence of Christianity in general, but they do help you frame arguments against globalism, pluralism, technological singularity, transhumanism, pagan spirituality, pagan sexuality, and post-humanism.

Skip to 3:20 for the start of the New Apologetics discussion.