Just And Sinner Podcast

On today's program I explained the teaching known as the "Two Kinds of Righteousness," and defended its importance. I explained some of the controversy surrounding the issue, and discussed its use in the Lutheran Confessions, as well as in later Lutheran theology.

This is a continuation of my previous show on the doctrine of mystical union. I spent this program looking at this teaching in the writings of Luther, the Confessions, and in Lutheran Orthodoxy.

I was joined by Pastor Lewis Polzin of Trinity Lutheran Church in Bemidji Minnesota to continue our study of Henry Eyster Jacobs' book A Summary of the Christian Faith. We looked at chapter two titled: "The Being and Attributes of God."

On today's program I discussed some recent comments made regarding the teaching of mystical union and the use of the term "theosis." This is the first part of a two part program on the topic. I gave an explanation of what the concept is, and why it is important.

On today's program I addressed the theology of Gerhard Forde. I demonstrated why I believe his teachings to be dangerous and out of accord with Scripture and the Lutheran Confessions.

On today's program I was joined by Pastor Richard Shields who is the pastor of Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church, and president of the American Lutheran Theological Seminary. We discussed Paul Washer's book "Gospel Assurance and Warnings." This led to an explanation of the broad and narrow definitions of Law and Gospel, the third use of the Law, assurance, and many other topics.

On today's program I responded to Subdeacon Benjamin Harju, a convert from Lutheranism to Eastern Orthodoxy. I discussed the doctrine of justification in Holy Scripture and in the Patristic sources.  

A listener pointed me to some comments from an atheist on his blog, and asked me to give a response. This brought the program today into the realm of apologetics as we discussed some of the reasons for believing that the resurrection of Jesus is an actual historical event.

On today's program I finished responding to John Frame's article on the distinction between Law and Gospel.

On today's program, I addressed a recent article published in First Things (which can be found here), in which former LCMS pastor Joshua Genig explains his reasons for joining the Eastern Orthodox Church. 

On today's program, I continued to critique John Frame's article on the Lutheran distinction between Law and Gospel. On this show, I addressed the positive use of the Law in the life of the believer. I talked about the necessity of the third use of the Law, and why that does not contradict a strict distinction between God's two words. I also briefly discussed the New Perspective on Paul at the end of the program.

C.F.W. Walther's "The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel" is the Missouri Synod theologian's greatest theological work. This book consists of a series of thirty-nine lectures that Dr. Walther gave his seminary students at the end of his life on one of the foundational elements of Lutheran thought. In twenty-five theses, Walther expounds upon the distinction between the Law as God's demands upon his creatures, and the Gospel of God's free grace in Christ. Each thesis is defended by extensive Scriptural exegesis.

On today's program I continued discussing John Frame's article critiquing the traditional Lutheran Law/Gospel distinction. The article can be found here. I spent most of the program discussing Galatians 3.

I critiqued an article written by John Frame in which he critiques the Lutheran distinction between Law and Gospel

I was joined by Daniel Price and Lewis Polzin of Boars in the Vineyard to discuss the first chapter of Jacobs' book "A Summary of the Christian Faith."

I responded to a recent lecture by Steve Lawson on sanctification and talked about why justification is at the center of the Christian life.

On today's program, I answered a number of listener questions regarding the doctrine of election.

On today's program I answered two listener questions. The first had to do with the idea of prevenient grace in Arminianism and Lutheranism. This led into a discussion of the intuitu fidei approach to election that developed in the scholastic period. I then dealt with some common proof texts for Arminianism.

I was joined by Dr. Curtis Leins to discuss the importance of the liturgy. He discussed his previous studies in liturgics, and we discussed various areas of the liturgy.

I began a discussion on Eastern Orthodoxy, giving some of the history and basic differences between the Eastern and Western church. This is the first part in a series of shows that will deal with the unique teachings of the Eastern Church.