Theology for the Curious

When Jesus spoke of conversion as a ‘turning’ (Matt. 18:3), what was he implying? What does it mean to turn, change, convert? Is it turning over a new leaf, starting over, making new commitments or better decisions? How does conversion happen and why is it so fundamentally essential? This week the Curious team examine the place, nature and importance of conversion. How can we identify counterfeit conversion and is there such a thing as temporary conversion and how does that work? What is the difference between habitual (passive) conversion, and actual (active)? What are the stages and steps of true conversion? This week the team explore all these various aspects and more. Recommended Reading: What is True Conversion? - Ligonier.org Conversion - TheGospelCoalition.org Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

How do we consider faith? Is there a difference between general faith, believing faith, and in particular saving faith? How do we identify real faith from counterfeit? Does everybody have faith, and is it sufficient to transform their lives? This week the Curious team take a look at the understanding of faith. What is ‘saving’ faith? Is it something we inherently possess or is something gifted to us by God? Does faith save us? What do we mean when we speak about being saved ‘by faith’? The Curious team discuss this and more in seeking to better clarify what faith really is. Recommended Reading: The Doctrine of Saving Faith - TheGospelCoalition.org What is saving faith? - TheologyForYou.com Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What do we mean by repentance? Is there a sorrow which doesn't save? Is there such a thing as sincere but counterfeit repentance? Why does our human nature find repentance so difficult? What does God need to do insider to bring us to a place of genuine, salfivic repentance? This week Pete and the Curious team will discuss the place and significance of repentance in our spiritual transformation. What components come into play if genuine repentance is to be operated. They will reflect on what it is and where it comes from. Whether we naturally carry a dormant sense of repentance ready to be activated by grace at an opportune time, or whether it is in fact a gift of God that can only be held and used by his grace. Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

How irresistible is God's calling? What does it involved and how does it impact our lives? Why is it effectual? What does it say about each of us as individuals. What do we mean by having a natural ability without a moral ability? Why is calling more than simply God's invitation? In what way does it portray the power of God? This week the Curious team look into God's effectual, powerful call that brings us out of unbelief, resistance and death to supernatural life! They reflect on what that says about us and about God, and why it is so fundamentally important Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

The Curious team preview their new upcoming series 'The Greatest Journey' - uncovering the elements of life's greatest journey, the journey of salvation. Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

How do we understand regeneration? How much in our life experiences real change? How complete is that change? Why do some things feel as if they never change? What does the Bible mean by new birth? Is it more than simply turning over a new leaf or developing a fresh commitment? What is the New Testament idea of regeneration? This week the Curious team ponder and discuss the profound and wonderful truth of personal regeneration. Looking into voices from both scripture and history, they try to define what it is and what it isn't. And how much we have to do with it if anything at all! Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

The return of Jesus is an understanding that has tested theological minds down through the centuries. Dividing thinkers in terms of premillennialists, dispensationalists, postmillennialists, and armillenialists. But what the Bible is never divisive or uncertain about, however, is the fact and surity of Jesus's return. In this week's episode, the Curious team examine the various historical perspectives of Jesus's return. And celebrate the solemn yet wonderful truth that he will one day bring all things to a glorious culmination Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What do we mean by the two states of Jesus? How do we define both his humiliation and exaltation? What has the resurrection of Jesus got to say about the covenant promises of God? How is it relevant to our salvation? How does it impact the end times? and what does it say overall about the present and future government of God? The resurrection of Jesus remains one of the single most fundamental and foundational declarations of the gospel. Without it, everything else crumbles. Everything that we experience, live, and hope for, is encapsulated in the reality of the physical resurrection of Christ. In this week’s episode the Curious Team will seek to explain not only the unprecedented power of the resurrection, but also the biblical framework through which to better understand it. They will seek to open a fresh appreciation of the relevance both to Jesus’s resurrection and subsequent ascension. Recommended Reading: The Resurrection of Christ - Ligonier.org 10 Things you should know about the Resurrection - Crossway.org The Resurrection of Jesus - ReasonableFaith.org Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

In this episode the Curious team continue their examination and reflection on the atonement; with particular reference to what is understood as Christus Victor and Penal Substitutionary Atonement. They will take on the misunderstandings of both, outlining the place of the devil and the dark spiritual powers within the atonement, as well as the many misinterpretations of the penal element within penal substitution. Is God a monster? Does he take some kind of sick pleasure in punishing his unwitting and innocent Son? Can the innocent die for the guilty? How can a few hours of painful crucifixion answer for a lifetime of sin and rebellion? Doesn’t it fracture the trinity? Does the Father really need appeasing? These questions and challenges as well as many more will be looked into and reflected upon as the team seek to align themselves with what they consider to be a clearer biblical perspective Recommended Reading: We would recommend our listeners to browse the notes of our previous podcast, Atonement (Part 1) for an extended list of some excellent titles that cover various views of the atonement. Enjoy! Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

From the atonement understanding of recapitulation propounded by Irenaeus the second century Bishop of Smyrna, to the theory of satisfaction expounded in the eleventh century by Anselm of Canterbury, the biblical understanding of atonement has not been without its fair share of exponents. In the ensuring years from Irenaeus, there has been theories of ransom, moral influence, governmental, healing and kaleidoscope; including major debates centred around christus victor and penal substitution. Where does the common ground lay if any, and does it really matter? This week Pete and the Curious Team will be diving into the various views of the atonement, seeking to draw the essential truths to the surface. Despite the many opinions and emphasis, the atonement remains a rich and wonderfully powerful truth of scripture. In this weeks episode the team seeks to cut through the multiple ideas to land on some central elements key to every atonement theory Recommended Reading: The Curious team have sifted through a heap of reading on the atonement. Not all the following titles express the individual views of the team, but provide a cross section of opinion. Here are a few of their recommendations; The Cross of Christ - John Stott The Mediator - Emil Brunner The Crucifixion - Fleming Rutledge Pierced For Our Transgressions - Steve Jeffery, Mike Ovey and Andrew Sach Atonement - Eleonore Stump In My Place Condemned He Stood - J I Packer and Mark Dever The Death of Christ - James Denny The Work of Christ - P T Forsyth Where Wrath and Mercy Meet - David Peterson Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What was the significance of death on a cross? Could Jesus have equally been stoned or beheaded? What does the New Testament mean when it speaks of Jesus “bearing our sins”? How are we to understand Jesus’s sense of dereliction on the cross as he cried; “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”—how could God have forsaken himself? Did a fracture occur in the divine essence? In what sense did God himself suffer in the person of Jesus, and did the Apostolic Creed have it right when it stated that Jesus did in fact ‘descend into hell’? This week, the Curious team will be digging into these difficult and controversial topics, as they seek to answer the question; “what was really happening on the cross?” Recommended Reading: The Crucifixion of Jesus Christ - Christianity.com Digging deeper into the meaning of Jesus' crucifixion - ntwrightonline.org Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What do we mean when we talk about the Kingly office of Jesus? How do we understand the authority and rule of Jesus? How is the resurrection connected to that? What does the governance of Jesus look like in our day-to-day living? How does his Kingly office relate to his prophetic and priestly office? This week Pete and the Curious team will take a look into what we mean when we talk about Jesus’s kingly office, and especially how we understand power in relation to Jesus. When Jesus announced in Matt.28:18 that “all power” had been given to him following his resurrection, did that imply that he hadn’t all power prior to it? Power is often perceived as egocentric and abusive in our current climate. In the late 19th century, the British historian, Lord Acton was the one attributed with that well known line, included in a letter sent to a friend; “power corrupts, and absolute power, corrupts, absolutely”. In the light of this, how are we to define Jesus, whom scripture tells us possess ‘absolute power’? This and more will occupy the Curious team in this weeks episode… Recommended Reading: The Offices of Christ - Waynegrudem.com The Threefold Office of Christ - Ligonier.org Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What is meant by classifying Jesus as priest? Does he understand our shortcomings and problems? Is he still in touch with all the difficulties we experience? How is the idea of priesthood relevant to my life now and my continued daily walk in faith? This week Pete and the Curious team investigate the priestly office of Jesus. How it relates to the priestly idea of the Old Testament, how its relevance speaks powerfully today, the comfort it brings to our battle with sin and failure, and how we are to understand the bible’s teaching of Jesus’ intercession; the fact that somewhere Jesus continues to pray for us! Recommended Reading: Christ as Mediator: The Offices of Christ - TheGospelCoalition.org What does it mean that Jesus is Prophet, Priest and King? - Crossway.org Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Is the teaching of Jesus only to be found in the gospels? What differentiated Jesus from the prophets? Why was his teaching so unique above that of any others? Why can we never simply take or leave Jesus’ teaching, what makes it so compelling? This week the Curious team will be reflecting on the teachings of Jesus. They will be broadening the net as they contemplate how we ought to understand not simply the gospels as containing all that Jesus said and taught, but every expression of revelation we come across in scripture, even throughout the Old Testament. By his Spirit, Jesus has and continues to communicate his truth to our hearts. Recommended Reading: Jesus’ Threefold Office as Prophet, Priest, and King - Ligonier.org The Threefold Office of Christ - Monergism.com Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Books have been written and lectures given in an attempt to describe just what exactly happened in Bethlehem 2,000 years ago. Some say that a boy named Jesus came into existence, but is that exactly true? Some say it was God becoming human, but did he? Some say Mary gave birth to a remarkable amalgamation of divine and human, really? Where others insist it was a simple case of a normal child being born but, almost immediately, being endowed with some form of supernatural power, like a divine superman! Sounds fascinating, but honestly? The birth of Jesus has captured, fascinated and equally frustrated theologians, thinkers and philosophers for many a century. This week the Curious team take another look at this fascinating and profound truth. What happened in Bethlehem? What do we mean by incarnation? How was Jesus’ birth different to any other great leader or extraordinary historical figure? Further Reading 10 things you should know about the incarnation - TheGospelCoalition.org What is the incarnation - DesiringGod.org Or for those looking for a far deeper dive into this, we highly recommend the 600+ pages of; “The Virgin Birth of Christ” by J Gresham Machen (Available on Amazon) Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

The Curious team preview their new upcoming series 'The King' - looking at the nature and work of Jesus Christ. Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What did Jesus mean when he said, “before Abraham was born, I am” (John 8:58)? How was Jesus different to angels, divine beings, anointed prophets? Why did the Arian’s cause so much trouble back in the fourth century? And what did Athanasius insist upon that turned him into the worlds most wanted man at the time? This week Pete and the Curious Team unpack history, to take a deeper look into Jesus and why the first believers insisted that his existence did not start in a stable in Bethlehem! They will look at what theologians and scripture mean when they speak of Jesus as the ‘pre-existent son’ and the ‘eternal generation’ from the Father Further Reading Christ's Pre-existence and Deity - Bible.org The Eternality and Pre-existence of Christ - IsraelMyGlory.org Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

There are those who think that possessing faith is little more than wishful thinking. A nice, hopeful, positive thought to a reality very unlike what it represents. If wishful thinking amounts to little more than the imagining of unlikely events, of things that might possibly one day happen; thinking founded on no objective truth, historical accuracy or experiential reality; then the whole of Christendom is little more than an elaborate, well orchestrated, deftly executed scam! In this weeks episode Pete and the Curious team examine the idea touted by Sigmund Freud of God being little more than an ‘infantile neurosis’! A father figure created by those seeking to alleviate the fears and disappointments of real life. The team debate this idea as well as reflecting on the objective foundation of a real world faith. Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

How are we to understand the idea of a personified evil? Is the devil merely a principle of evil, an ideology, an historical manufactured being? Or is he something far more tangible and scarily realistic? In this episode the Curious team span through the medieval writings, from the hugely influential Dante’s Inferno from the twelfe century, to the Islamic understanding of ‘shaytan’, and the Buddhist explanation of Maara! The team will unpack what Jesus had to say about the figure of the devil, what the first Christians thought; why we must not simply dismiss the devil as ‘dark philosophy’, and the weighty implications of reducing the devil to anything other than a personified individual. Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What exactly is prayer and why is it so important? Is it really heard by a personal God, or is it simply some form of therapeutic exercise, a cathartic activity? And if God already knows what I am asking for, what is the point of praying for it? Equally so, does God need my prayers? Is his will and intentions frustrated if I forfeit praying? And what role does faith play in my praying, and how much do I need to cause God to do something? These and many more questions will occupy Pete and the Curious team in this weeks episode. Often prayer is seen as relatively fruitless at best, pointless at worst. The team take time drawing from scripture, history and human experience to define the and importance of prayer, as well as it’s essential and effective nature. Recommended Reading: Why Prayer Changes Things - TheGospelCoalition.org Does Prayer Change Things? - R.C. Sproul Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious