Question 33: Should Those Who Have Faith in Christ Seek Their Salvation Through Their Own Works, or Anywhere Else?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/44zgfaUe78UmXUE2L59WRW?si=3nT6Ej-xQXi7PzJ3XWNaUA While the complete sufficiency of Christ for salvation is not a newly introduced idea, we should note the progression that we find in the catechism. Questions 20-25 all addressed what foundation we have for believing in the all-sufficiency of Christ's redemption, particularly that He alone is both truly God and truly human, making Him …

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On Providence

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1mO9SoFOOF2HPaN0Rqes3F?si=gFGA-TSnQI-3QCXMwsOE8A Today we are discussing John Piper's massive and greatly beneficial book Providence. In Relatione (relevant links) Eowyn's Recommendation: Katie and the Mona Lisa & Katie in London You can find the whole Katie series here. Providence by John Piper John Piper on the Prosperity Gospel Ex Interrete (a hodgepodge of Internet items that I …

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Question 32: What Do Justification and Sanctification Mean?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/4mfNMf87iWhAAQ6lza43Qi?si=Okc1BO8jSFyc0rGD9-Dakw Throughout the Scriptures, we find our salvation being described to us on three fronts: past, present, and future. We have been saved, we are being saved, and we will be saved. These aspects of salvation are what the terms justification, sanctification, and glorification are naming. Romans 8:30’s golden chain of salvation (“And those whom …

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On First Clement

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Bo8RvyoD6WXebqBIBJKSU?si=oKmu6RvpT-OrYVY2wjH6ww The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians is one of the earliest Christian writings outside of the New Testament. Let's discuss what it says! In Relatione (relevant links) Eowyn's Recommendation: A Child's Introduction to Ballet (Revised and Updated): The Stories, Music, and Magic of Classical Dance Here is the edition that I read: …

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Question 31: What Do We Believe by True Faith?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/7Aq1rykzVv05wiLgMnQdC1?si=5QC7eci6Swi-XIjFL3831Q Having answered what it means to have faith in Christ, the New City Catechism now takes us into doctrinal substance of our faith, which is summarized in the Apostles’ Creed. The main reason that we should affirm the Apostles’ Creed is that it is a faithful summary of essential Christian doctrine; it is a …

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On Daily Worship

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2dgWajc9qapwnR15Nr3W4L?si=4ibE2BSJQKaCepDlEexzew In this inaugural episode of Ex Libris Ad Cor, I discuss Jonathan Gibson's book Be Thou My Vision and the broader subject of daily worship/devotionals/quiet-time. In Relatione (relevant links) The Story Orchestra: Swan Lake Be Thou My Vision (my review) O Come, O Come, Emmanuel (my review) O Sacred Head Now Wounded Creeds, Catechisms, and …

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Question 30: What Is Faith in Jesus Christ?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/0VywrflKYJkopyZ6oqhhLY?si=aF-rVwRFQpahy1JjfVfOBw This question (and answer) is an explanation of the answer to Question 29, which you may recall is the most personally significant question that anyone can ever ask: How can we be saved? That answer began with these words: “only by faith in Jesus Christ.” The meaning of those words is now the subject …

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Looking Forward | Looking Back (2023)

2023 was a fun year. Our third daughter was born in April, and I preached through Hebrews in less than a year. Both have been inexpressible blessings, yet the Lord has used both to set my hip out of joint, leaving me with a metaphorical limp to remember this year’s wrestlings. I do have a …

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Question 29: How Can We Be Saved?

https://open.spotify.com/episode/6pYqBYN6YUbGnTHelawztG?si=suF8O04_Rsap8rhx-Aq04w When it comes to our own eternal destinations, there is no question that is more important than this one. Of course, many previous questions are more foundational than this one, and it cannot properly be understood without them. Yet when it comes to each persons immortal soul and future resurrection to either life everlasting …

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Favorite Books of 2023

1. Providence | John Piper Although I began reading this behemoth of a book last year, I completed it this year. But really the content, more than the page-count, demands that this book be read carefully and prayerfully. Piper tackles deep theological matters with the heart and skill of someone seasoned by decades of pastoral …

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