Reformed Forum

This episode is a lesson from Exploring 2 Peter: The Promise and the Path, a course taught by Daniel Ragusa. Daniel Ragusa is the pastor of Messiah's Reformed Fellowship (URCNA) in New York City. He received his M.Div. from Mid-America Reformed Seminary and is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Westminster Theological Seminary. In this course, Rev. Ragusa explores 2 Peter with special attention to Peter's use of redemptive history in his depiction and defense of the Christian life as oriented toward Christ and the future. By the righteousness of Jesus Christ, we have embarked on an eschatological pilgrimage down a path out of this world (1:4) and into his eternal kingdom (1:11). But along the path are cunning enemies, scoffers and mockers, who would cause us to turn back in unbelief, misattributing eternity to the present world order rather than to the kingdom (3:4). Alert to this danger, Peter mounts a defense that will endure these "last days" (3:3) in which we find ourselves by reminding the church of Christ's promise to come again in power with new heavens and a new earth—a promise given long ago through the prophet Isaiah (1:4; 3:13) but now more fully confirmed by the corroborating witness of the apostles (1:19; 3:1–2). Peter exhorts the church not to overlook the Holy Spirit-inspired history of special revelation as it foreshadows this coming reality (1:21), including Noah and the flood (2:5), Lot and the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah (2:6–8), the restraint of Balaam (2:15–16), the approaching Day of the Lord (3:11), and even the transfiguration of Jesus Christ on the mountain as a witness to his royal sonship (1:17–18). This course will demonstrate what Geerhardus Vos meant when he said, "The Bible is not a dogmatic handbook but a historical book full of dramatic interest." It will also explain the typological use of the Old Testament. Finally, it will shape and transform us as our minds are set on the eternal kingdom—where Jesus is and so our hearts too. Video lessons and supporting course materials are available at https://reformedforum.org/courses/exploring-2-peter-the-promise-and-the-path/

Danny Olinger and Camden Bucey discuss the preface and introduction to J. Gresham Machen's book, Christianity and Liberalism. This is the 100th anniversary of the publication of this important work. In this episode, we discuss the historical circumstances that led Machen to address the Ruling Elders Association of Chester Presbytery, which was eventually expanded to become this classic work. Links J. Gresham Machen, "Liberalism or Christianity." The Princeton Theological Review 20.1 (1922): 93-117. D. G. Hart, ed. J. Gresham Machen: Selected Shorter Writings D. G. Hart, Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy Lefferts Loetscher, The Broadening Church: A Study of Theological Issues in the Presbyterian Church Since 1869 John Updike, "Pigeon Feathers"

This Reformed Academy course is a production of Reformed Forum, online at reformedforum.org. This is an audio podcast of "Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy," taught by Darryl G. Hart. Videos of each lesson included Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org. https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

We turn to pp. 306–308 of Geerhardus Vos's book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to discuss revelation connected with the nativity. From the various texts that range from the annunciation of the angel to Joseph to the prophecy of Anna, Vos takes the "characteristic features" of these narratives and arranges them in a topical manner.

This Reformed Academy course is a production of Reformed Forum, online at reformedforum.org. This is an audio podcast of "Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy," taught by Darryl G. Hart. Videos of each lesson included Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org. https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Jim Cassidy and Camden Bucey bring in the New Year with a discussion of bible reading plans, tools, and strategies. They preview several of the projects that lay ahead at Reformed Forum, including a new course on the theology of Karl Barth. Dr. Cassidy introduces a list of recommended reading on Karl Barth and different interpretations of the theologian's theology before speaking about Barth's unique Christology. Recommended Reading on Karl Barth Karl Barth, Church Dogmatics Karl Barth, Der Römerbrief; The Epistle to the Romans Cornelius Van Til, Christianity and Barthianism Cornelius Van Til, The New Modernism: An Appraisal of the Theology of Barth and Brunner James Cassidy, God's Time for Us George Hunsinger, How to Read Karl Barth: The Shape of His Theology Bruce McCormack, Karl Barth's Critically Realistic Dialectical Theology: Its Genesis and Development 1909–1936 Bruce McCormack, "Grace and Being: The Role of God's Gracious Election in Karl Barth's Theological Ontology" in The Cambridge Companion to Karl Barth Eberhard Busch, Karl Barth: His Life from Letters and Autobiographical Texts Christiane Tietz, Karl Barth: A Life in Conflict Tyler J. Frick, Karl Barth's Ontology of Divine Grace Bruce McCormack, The Humility of the Eternal Son: Reformed Kenoticism and the Repair of Chalcedon Paul T. Nimmo, Being in Action: The Theological Shape of Barth's Ethical Vision

This Reformed Academy course is a production of Reformed Forum, online at reformedforum.org. This is an audio podcast of "Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy," taught by Darryl G. Hart. Videos of each lesson included Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org. https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

Since 2008, we have been taking a beat around New Year's Day to bring you some of the top moments from the preceding year. We have several great clips lined up for you today. This was another encouraging year for us at Reformed Forum. We published four new courses. We also hosted our first two in-person courses (on Zephaniah and 2 Peter) and increased our online student base to 4,210 people (+11% over last year) in 84 countries (+13%). But perhaps the highlight of the year was the publication of Lane G. Tipton's book, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til. We believe this work is a significant advance in Reformed apologetic scholarship and will be read for decades to come. Every Person Mature Our mission is to support the church in her charge of presenting every person mature in Christ (Col. 1:28). In order to continue producing resources that benefit local churches at home and around the world in accord with this mission, we have launched the Every Person Mature campaign. Our goal is to raise $150,000 by the end of 2022 so that we may continue to provide free theological resources for your congregation and others like it around the world. The good news is that we are nearly halfway there! A generous donor has committed to match all donations toward this cause up to $75,000. By donating to the Every Person Mature campaign, you will fund essential resources for believers who are hungry for confessionally Reformed resources. Donate Now Top Episodes Episode 745 — Van Til, Thomas Aquinas, and the Natural Knowledge of God with Lane Tipton Episode 764 — A God-Centered Approach to History with Vern Poythress Episode 761 — Van Til Group #8 — The Christian Philosophy of Knowledge with Carlton Wynne and Lane Tipton Episode 736 — John Owen, Jeremiah 31, and the Old Covenant with Carlton Wynne and Will Wood Episode 780 — 1689 Federalism and the Old Covenant with Jeremy Boothby, Carlton Wynne, and Lane Tipton Episode 762 — The Extra Calvinistic from Zwingli to Early Orthodoxy with K. J. Drake Episode 746 — Natural Theology and the Effects of Sin with Lane Tipton, Rob McKenzie, and Ryan Noha Episode 748 — Van Til Group #7 — Creation, Sin and Its Curse with Carlton Wynne and Lane Tipton Episode 772 — A Tale of Two Trees with Scott Wright Episode 752 — The Two Ages in Scripture with Adam York Chapters 00:00:06 Introduction 00:05:32 Lane Tipton — Van Til, Thomas Aquinas, and the Natural Knowledge of God 00:11:35 Vern Poythress — A God-Centered Approach to History 00:20:01 Van Til Group #8 — The Christian Philosophy of Knowledge 00:26:14 Carlton Wynne — John Owen, Jeremiah 31, and the Old Covenant 00:34:20 Carlton Wynne, Jeremy Boothby, and Lane Tipton — 1689 Federalism and the Old Covenant 00:45:38 K. J. Drake — The Extra Calvinistic from Zwingli to Early Orthodoxy 00:51:16 Lane Tipton — Natural Theology and the Effects of Sin 00:56:23 Van Til Group #7 — Creation, Sin and Its Curse 01:09:09 Scott Wright — A Tale of Two Trees 01:14:15 Adam York — The Two Ages in Scripture 01:20:59 Conclusion

This Reformed Academy course is a production of Reformed Forum, online at reformedforum.org. This is an audio podcast of "Machen and the Presbyterian Controversy," taught by Darryl G. Hart. Videos of each lesson included Spanish and Chinese subtitles are available for free online at reformedforum.org. https://reformedforum.org/courses/machen-and-the-presbyterian-controversy/

We turn to pp. 305–306 of Geerhardus Vos's book, Biblical Theology: Old and New Testaments to discuss revelation connected with the nativity. Throughout the Scriptures, God interprets his supernatural works in history through his inspired Word. At this critical moment in history, the coming of Christ the redeemer, the Lord reveals himself further to his people.