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Reformed Forum supports the church in presenting every person mature in Christ (Colossians 1:28) by providing Reformed theological resources to pastors, scholars, and anyone who desires to grow in their understanding of Scripture and the

theology that faithfully summarizes its teachings.

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385John Newton on Grace in SanctificationBarbara Duguid speaks about John Newton’s writings on the Christian life based on her book Extravagant Grace: God’s Glory Displayed in Our Weakness. She appropriates John Newton’s wisdom to comfort and encourage Christians who feel guilt and failure in their fight against sin. Barbara Duguid is a counselor and member of Christ Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Grove City, Pennsylvania. She holds an advanced certificate in biblical counseling from the Christian Counseling and Educational Foundation in Glenside, Pennsylvania. Melissa Kruger is the author of The Envy of Eve: Finding Contentment in a Covetous World published by Christian Focus (Christ the Center 276). She is on staff in women’s ministry at Uptown Church (PCA) in Charlotte, NC, a mom to three kids and the wife of Dr. Michael Kruger, President and Professor of NT at Reformed Theological Seminary Charlotte. Nancy Guthrie is the author of The Son of David, The Promised One, and The Wisdom of God, on the topic of seeing Christ in the Old Testament. Nancy is a member of Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, Tennessee, and she speaks at conferences worldwide. Participants: Barbara Duguid, Camden Bucey, Melissa Kruger, Nancy Guthrie1 hr
386Crazy BusyKevin DeYoung speaks about his recent book Crazy Busy: A [Mercifully] Short Book about a [Really] Big Problem, published by Crossway Books. Pastor DeYoung diagnoses the causes of busyness, some of which are innocent, but many sinful. The book touches on practical concerns like social media and technology, but goes deeper, exposing the pride in our hearts. Kevin DeYoung is the Senior Pastor at University Reformed Church (RCA) in East Lansing, Michigan and the author of several books including Don’t Call it a Comeback: The Old Faith for a New Day and The Hole in Our Holiness: Filling the Gap Between Gospel Passion and Pursuing Godliness. He also posts regularly at his blog. DeYoung has spoken on Christ the Center several times, including episodes 206 and 211. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Kevin DeYoung31 min
387The History of CalvinismDarryl G. Hart returns to the program to speak about the history of Calvinism from his new book, Calvinism: A History. The episode gives a taste of the book, the genesis and spread of Calvinism from Geneva, through England and the Netherlands, to the West and East sides of the world. Participants: Camden Bucey, Darryl G. Hart, David Filson, Jim Cassidy58 min
388Biblical Psychology and the New Perspective on PaulPaul Maxwell joins Camden Bucey and Jonathan Brack to speak about his response to Krister Stendahl in the Spring 2013 edition of the Westminster Theological Journal. Stendahl, Swedish theologian and New Testament scholar, presented his paper “The Apostle Paul and the Introspective Conscience of the West” before the American Psychological Association in 1961. He argued that the Western understanding of Paul as concerned about clearing his conscience before God was mistaken. Proponents of the New Perspective on Paul trace their theological perspective to Stendahl’s ideas. In this episode, Maxwell defends the Protestant reading of Paul against Stendahl’s psychological concerns. In doing so, Maxwell compares Stendahl’s article with the biblical counseling movement and a Reformed approach to psychology. Paul Maxwell is a Ph.D. student in Historical and Theological Studies at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He wrote, “Analyzing the Apostle Paul’s “Robust Conscience”: Identifying and Engaging the Psychological Concerns of Krister Stendahl’s Inceptive Article” in the Westminster Theological Journal, Vol. 75, No. 1 (Spring 2013). Participants: Camden Bucey, Jonathan Brack, Paul Maxwell1 hr 4 min
389Abraham Kuyper: Modern Calvinist, Christian DemocratDr. James Bratt speaks about Abraham Kuyper: Modern Calvinist, Christian Democrat (Eerdmans). Dr. Bratt places Kuyper in historical context and clarifies Kuyper’s thought and life for current reflection on theology and politics. Dr. Bratt teaches history at Calvin College, blogs, and has edited and authored a number of books, including Abraham Kuyper: A Centennial Reader and By the Vision of Another World: Worship in American History. Participants: Camden Bucey, David Filson, James Bratt, Jim Cassidy1 hr 1 min
390Genesis 3:1-7 – Temptation in EdenOn this week’s Proclaiming Christ, we discuss the temptation in Eden from Genesis 3:1-7. Man and woman begin naked and unashamed in a royal wedding, but abruptly, an evil serpent enters the picture and brings sin into the world. Why does sin have this opportunity to enter the world? How is the picture of sin in Genesis 3 an example of how sin works in general? Why do Adam and Eve take the forbidden fruit? How is this Scriptural episode connected to the gospel of Jesus Christ? Listen for answers to these questions, and we welcome your comments and feedback! Participants: Adam York, Chad Bond, Mark A. Winder56 min
391Imitating God in ChristDr. Jason B. Hood speaks about the imitation of Christ, based on the biblical theological study found in his book, Imitating God in Christ: Recapturing a Biblical Pattern. The teaching of imitation is sometimes clouded by a “gospel-centered” focus on justification that loses sight of the importance of sanctification in salvation. Dr. Hood clears away these misconceptions to show how the indicative of Christ’s person and work is consistent with the imperative of imitation of Christ. The episode also deals with the concept of the image of God, the imitation of the saints, and the biblical theological basis of imitation from Old Testament to New. Dr. Hood will soon be pastor of St. Margaret’s Anglican Church in Moshi, Tanzania, as well as a professor at Munguishi Bible College, part of the Anglican Diocese of Kilimanjaro, Tanzania. He has also served as an adjunct faculty member at Reformed Theological Seminary in Washington, DC and taught biblical theology of mission with the Memphis Fellows Initiative. Imitating God in Christ is published by IVP Academic. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Jason B. Hood51 min
392Genesis 3:8-10 – The Spirit of the DayThis week we discuss Genesis 3:8-10. Following Meredith Kline, we argue that in 3:8, God walks in the garden in the wind or spirit of the day. God’s Spirit is involved in this episode of judgment just as he is in later biblical instances of “the day of the Lord,” in which God comes among his people to interrogate them. As always, we welcome your feedback! Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta41 min
393Definite Atonement in PerspectiveThe doctrine of definite atonement is the subject of this week’s episode, which features guests David Gibson and Jonathan Gibson, editors of the forthcoming From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective (Crossway), and Carl Trueman, a contributor to the book and former guest on Christ the Center. The 700-page book features essays from twenty-one scholars and pastors and is intended to be a definitive treatment of the topic. In the episode, we consider definite atonement in church history, in the scriptural witness, in relation to the doctrine of the trinity, with a view to common objections. David Gibson ministers at Trinity Church in Aberdeen, Scotland and received his Ph.D. from the University of Aberdeen. Gibson has also written Rich: The Reality of Encountering Jesus and Reading the Decree: Exegesis, Election and Christology in Calvin and Barth. Jonathan Gibson is currently working on a Ph.D. in Hebrew Studies at Cambridge University. He studied at Moore Theological College, in Sydney, Australia, and has been published in Themelios, in the Journal of Biblical Literature, and in the NIV Proclamation Bible. Participants: Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, David Gibson, Jared Oliphint, Jonathan Gibson1 hr 2 min
394Genesis 3:9-12 – Adam on TrialIn this episode we discuss Genesis 3:9-12, and consider God’s pursuit of rebellious Adam. On the one hand, God clearly calls Adam into account for his sin, but on the other hand God’s dialog with Adam prepares us for the wonderful promise of salvation found in Genesis 3:15. There are both judicial and pastoral elements to this conversation. In addition, we talk about the significance of Adam and Eve being afraid and naked. Moreover, we consider the sad way in which human rebels tend to blame God for their sin, and how husbands often blame their wives for their sin and failures. Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta38 min
395Antinomianism and Reformed TheologyDr. Mark Jones returns to Christ the Center to revive seventeenth-century wisdom about antinomianism from his forthcoming book Antinomianism: Reformed Theology’s Unwelcome Guest?. Antinomian thinking is rooted in a weak view of the person of Christ and leads to reducing sanctification to justification. Dr. Jones addresses Martin Luther’s relationship to antinomianism, the relationship between theology and practice, and the necessity of good works for salvation. Dr. Mark Jones is the minister of Faith Presbyterian Church, a congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is also Research Associate in the Faculty of Theology at University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa. Mark’s Ph.D. is from Leiden Universiteit (Oct. 2009) and his doctoral dissertation was entitled, “Why Heaven Kissed Earth: The Christology of the Puritan Reformed Orthodox theologian, Thomas Goodwin (1600–1680).” Dr. Jones has spoken on Christ the Center 249 and 218. Participants: Camden Bucey, David Filson, Jared Oliphint, Jim Cassidy, Mark Jones1 hr 2 min
396The Virgin Birth of ChristDr. Brandon Crowe explains the reality and significance of the virgin birth, based on his booklet, “Was Jesus Really Born of a Virgin?,” from the Christian Answers to Hard Questions series. He explains the biblical basis for the doctrine and responds to a host of objections – those scientific, philosophical, mythological, and theological, to name a few. Dr. Crowe is Assistant Professor of New Testament at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He received his M.Div. from Reformed Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. from the University of Edinburgh. His dissertation has been published as The Obedient Son: Deuteronomy and Christology in the Gospel of Matthew which he spoke about on Christ the Center episode 239. The Christian Answers to Hard Questions series is published by Westminster Press through P&R Publishing. Participants: Brandon Crowe, Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy46 min
397The Scottish Commissioners and the Westminster AssemblyIt’s often argued that because of the political climate, the Scottish commissioners to the Westminster Assembly had full rein over the Westminster Assembly and the confessional documents it produced. In this episode, we are pleased to welcome Dr. Wayne Spear to analyze this common perception. Dr. Spear looks specifically at the influence of the Scottish commissioners upon the ecclesiology of the Westminster Assembly. Dr. Spear has published an excellent book with Reformation Heritage Books entitled, Covenanted Uniformity in Religion: The Influence of the Scottish Commissioners upon the Ecclesiology of the Westminster Assembly. Dr. Spear is Professor Emeritus of Systematic Theology at Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Pittsburgh, PA. Dr. Spear has authored Talking to God: The Theology of Prayer; Faith of Our Fathers: A Commentary on the Westminster Confession of Faith; “The Westminster Confession of Faith and Holy Scripture,” in To Glorify and Enjoy God (Co-author); “Augustine’s Doctrine of Biblical Infallibility,” in Inerrancy and the Church; and, “The Westminster Assembly’s Directory for Church Government,” in Pressing Toward the Mark (Co-author). Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Nick Batzig, Wayne Spear50 min
398An Introduction to Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical TheologyDr. Lane G. Tipton joins Camden Bucey to begin a new series on Geerhardus Vos’ important book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments. For the past thirteen years, Dr. Tipton has led the “Vos Group” at Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Glenside, PA. Each month, the Vos Group gathers to discuss Reformed biblical theology by studying Scripture and important works by Vos, Kline, Clowney, Gaffin, et al. We are delighted to bring this great teaching to a broader audience. Roughly each month, Lane and Camden will work through the pages of Vos’ Biblical Theology. While Vos’ book is foundational, it’s tough for the “uninitiated” to access. This will be a great opportunity for study groups to listen to our discussions and work things out together. We hope everyone who participates will learn more about Reformed biblical theology. Pick up a copy of Biblical Theology and get on the BT wagon! Lane G. Tipton is Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has appeared numerous times on our programs. Please visit our archives to listen to Dr. Tipton speak about a range of theological topics. All the episodes in this series will be available at http://reformedforum.org/category/series/vos-group/ If you’d like to subscribe only to these episodes (rather than all episodes of Christ the Center), just use the following feed: http://reformedforum.org/category/series/vos-group/feed Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton50 min
399Genesis 3:13-15 – Enmity and GraceOn today’s episode, we unpack Genesis 3:13-15, a pronouncement of judgment upon the serpent, but also of grace and good news for Adam and Eve. We examine other passages in Scripture for the pattern that is set by the antithesis between the seed of the serpent and the seed of the woman. We also explore the relationship between verse 15 and the gospel of Christ, “he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” Participants: Adam York, Mark A. Winder, Matt Cotta44 min
400Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian BeliefWe welcome Dr. John M. Frame, Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL. Dr. Frame has written a new book, Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Christian Belief (P&R Publishing). Listen as we speak about the importance of theology, the nature of theological methodology, and the foundational doctrines of the faith. Dr. Frame has written extensively over the years, and you may access many of his resources online at frame-poythress.org. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, John Frame52 min
401The Peniel Bible Conference and the OPCCaroline Weerstra speaks with Christ the Center about the Peniel Bible Conference, based on her article “The Early History of Peniel Bible Conference, Part 1: Zeal Without Knowledge (1933-1938).” The camp was associated with Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Schenectady, New York, Mrs. Weerstra’s home church. Though associated with a reformed church, the camp was very similar to the Wesleyan and holiness movements in theology and practice. Listen to understand how this camp became associated with the OPC and how Calvary Church finally remained in the OPC. Mrs. Weerstra is a mother of three, a blogger, and the author of several catechism workbooks for children. Her article “The Early History of Peniel Bible Conference, Part 1: Zeal Without Knowledge (1933-1938)” appeared in Vol. 75 No. 2 of the Westminster Theological Journal. Participants: Camden Bucey, Caroline Weerstra, Jeff Waddington, John Muether48 min
402Highlights from 2013We begin the New Year with a look at some of our best clips from 2013. Listen to the full episodes of the clips we’ve chosen to include by using the following links: Ep. 265 – Gospels Harmonization with Vern Poythress Ep. 267 – The Reorganization of Old Princeton with Darryl G. Hart Ep. 268 – Regeneration and Redemption-History with Scott Wright Ep. 270 – Calvin’s Company of Pastors with Scott Manetsch Ep. 273 – Francis Schaeffer’s Spirituality with William Edgar Ep. 274 – The Plan of Salvation with Lane Tipton Ep. 277 – What Every Christian Needs to Know about the Qu’ran with James White Ep. 281 – The Polemical Theology of the Old Testament with John Currid Ep. 289 – Covenantal Apologetics with K. Scott Oliphint Ep. 291 – The DSM-V with Mike Emlet Ep. 299 – Jesus on Every Page with David P. Murray Ep. 300 – Communicating the Gospel through Hip Hop with Timothy Brindle Ep. 307 – Definite Atonement with Jonathan Gibson, David Gibson, and Carl Trueman Participants: Camden Bucey, Carl Trueman, Carlton Wynne, Darryl G. Hart, David Gibson, David Murray, James White, Jared Oliphint, Jim Cassidy, John Currid, Jonathan Gibson, K. Scott Oliphint, Lane G. Tipton, Michael Emlet, Nick Batzig, Scott Manetsch, Scott R. Wright, Timothy Brindle, Vern Poythress, William Edgar1 hr 18 min
403Vos Group #2: The Nature and Method of Biblical Theology, Part 1Dr. Lane Tipton and Camden Bucey open up Geerhardus Vos’ Biblical Theology for the second episode of Vos Group. On pages 3-11 (Chapter 1 up to, but not including, “Guiding Principles”), Vos sets out the nature of the discipline of biblical theology and its relationship to the different departments of theology. In short, biblical theology is a study of the history of God’s special revelation which is his authoritative interpretation of the history of redemption. The discussion also covers Vos’ historical methodology, the organic nature of special revelation, and the particularly practical side of biblical theology. Roughly each month, Lane and Camden will work through the pages of Vos’ Biblical Theology. While Vos’ book is foundational, it’s tough for the “uninitiated” to access. This will be a great opportunity for study groups to listen to our discussions and work things out together. We hope everyone who participates will learn more about Reformed biblical theology. Pick up a copy of Biblical Theology and get on the BT wagon! Lane G. Tipton is Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has appeared numerous times on our programs. Please visit our archives to listen to Dr. Tipton speak about a range of theological topics. All the episodes in this series will be available at http://reformedforum.org/resources/vos/ If you’d like to subscribe only to these episodes (rather than all episodes of Christ the Center), just use the following feed: http://reformedforum.org/category/series/vos-group/feed Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton1 hr 3 min
404J. Oliver Buswell and Cornelius Van TilDavid Owen Filson speaks about Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, theologian and former president of Wheaton College and Covenant College and Seminary. A fundamentalist involved with J. Gresham Machen in the founding of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church, Buswell joined the Bible Presbyterian Church when it split with the fledgling OPC over premilennialism and teetotalism. He continued to be an interlocutor with members of the OPC and faculty at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, eventually locking heads with Cornelius Van Til over apologetic and theological method. David has recently researched the correspondence between the two men in the archives of Covenant and Westminster (PA) seminaries. Participants: Camden Bucey, David Filson, Jeff Waddington1 hr 11 min
405Listener Feedback: National Israel, Republication, and Single-Volume Systematic TheologiesOn the sixth anniversary of Christ the Center, we respond to listener feedback with the original contributors. Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy, and Camden Bucey speak about a variety of subjects, including the corporate and individual aspects of life in Israel, the republication of the Covenant of Works in the Mosaic economy, and suggested single-volume systematic theologies. Links An Introduction to Reformed Dogmatics by Auguste LeCerf Reformed Dogmatics (Abridged in One Volume) by Herman Bavinck Systematic Theology by Louis Berkhof Paul’s Two-Age Construction and Apologetics by William Dennison Participants: Camden Bucey, Jeff Waddington, Jim Cassidy58 min
406The Question of CanonDr. Michael J. Kruger speaks with Christ the Center about his recent book, The Question of Canon: Challenging the Status Quo in the New Testament Debate. The book deals not with why we have the books we do in the canon but with the question of the very definition of “canon” and the origin of the idea. Contemporary biblical scholars insist that the idea of canon was a late development in the construction of the New Testament, which imbued with authority texts whose authors did not think of them as authoritative. Dr. Kruger insists that the concept of a set of authoritative books for the New Covenant era of redemptive-history existed from a very early date in the ancient church. Dr. Michael Kruger is President and Professor of New Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. He received his B.S. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, his M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in California, and his Ph.D. from New College, The University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is the author of three books on the issue of canon, Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins and Authority of the New Testament Books (Crossway, 2012), The Early Text of the New Testament (Oxford, 2012; edited with Charles Hill), and now, The Question of Canon. In addition to his faculty duties, he currently serves part-time as the Pastor of Discipleship Training at Uptown Christ Covenant Church in downtown Charlotte. Dr. Kruger has spoken on Christ the Center episodes 217 and 283, and his wife, Melissa Kruger, has spoken on episodes 276, 297, and 301. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Michael Kruger, Nick Batzig54 min
407By Faith, Not by SightDr. Richard B. Gaffin Jr. joins us to speak about his book By Faith, Not by Sight: Paul and the Order of Salvation, now in its second edition and published by P&R Publishing. This study in Paul’s theology begins with the recognition that what is of first importance for Paul is the history of salvation, Christ crucified and raised. But the history of redemption does not exclude the application of redemption to believers. Rather, the application of redemption is grounded in its once-for-all accomplishment. Listen in to hear an exciting discussion about an illuminating book. Dr. Gaffin is Professor of Biblical and Systematic Theology, Emeritus at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia. He is also the author of numerous articles and books, including Resurrection and Redemption, Calvin and the Sabbath, Perspectives on Pentecost, By Faith, Not By Sight and he has edited a collection of the shorter writings of Geerhardus Vos, Redemptive History and Biblical Interpretation. In May of 2008 Dr. Gaffin entered into honored retirement and was the recipient of a festschrift entitled Resurrection and Eschatology co-edited by Lane G. Tipton and Jeffrey C. Waddington. Christ the Center has featured Dr. Gaffin on several episodes. Dr. Gaffin’s book was given to the attendees at the 2014 Desiring God Conference for Pastors. The topic of the conference was union with Christ. To introduce the attendees of that conference to Reformed Forum, we compiled many of episodes and links to resources on the doctrine. Please visit our union with Christ page. Lectures by Dr. Gaffin on union with Christ at Calvary OPC, Ringoes, NJ. Lectures at Matthews OPC. iTunes U: By Faith, Not by Sight. Also available is a PDF version of “The Puritans on Justification, Union with Christ, and Regeneration” in A Puritan Theology, edited by Joel Beeke and Mark Jones. Participants: Camden Bucey, Jared Oliphint, Jeff Waddington, Richard B. Gaffin Jr.1 hr 9 min
408Vos Group #3: The Nature and Method of Biblical Theology, Part 2For the third episode of Vos Group, Dr. Lane Tipton joins Camden Bucey to discuss the final portion of the first chapter of Geerhardus Vos’s Biblical Theology (pp. 11-18, “Guiding Principles” through the end of ch. 1). Vos’s view of biblical authority governs his method of studying Scripture and particularly the use he makes of knowledge of the biblical authors’ historical contexts. Today’s discussion also covers the relationship between biblical and systematic theology. Roughly each month, Lane and Camden will work through the pages of Vos’ Biblical Theology. While Vos’ book is foundational, it’s tough for the “uninitiated” to access. This will be a great opportunity for study groups to listen to our discussions and work things out together. We hope everyone who participates will learn more about Reformed biblical theology. Pick up a copy of Biblical Theology and get on the BT wagon! Lane G. Tipton is Professor of Systematic Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia, PA. He has appeared numerous times on our programs. Please visit our archives to listen to Dr. Tipton speak about a range of theological topics. All the episodes in this series will be available at http://reformedforum.org/resources/vos/ If you’d like to subscribe only to these episodes (rather than all episodes of Christ the Center), just use the following feed: http://reformedforum.org/category/series/vos-group/feed Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton1 hr 13 min

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