Just and Sinner Podcast

Today's program is a discussion of Holy Absolution in the theology of Martin Luther. Specifically I looked at his treatise The Babylonian Captivity of the Church.

Rev. Dr. Eric Phillips, a speaker and expert on preaching, dives deep into the third use of the law. He emphasizes the dynamic relationship between preaching, the law, and living in Christ, using engaging metaphors like the three little pigs. Phillips discusses crafting sermons that balance law and gospel, highlighting how the Holy Spirit guides believers toward authentic faith. He promotes a gospel-driven approach to motivation, urging preachers to inspire genuine actions rooted in love and forgiveness, rather than guilt.

On today's program, I discussed the idea of Holy Absolution. I addressed the definition of a sacrament and asked whether Absolution qualified as a third sacrament along with Baptism and the Lord's Supper. I then gave a Biblical defense of this practice from Matthew 16, Matthew 18, and John 20.

Today's podcast was another Q&A program. I discussed a number of topics, including: the Eucharistic sacrifice, the use of the term "priest," views of the church fathers, and systematic theology textbooks.

Eric Phillips, a Nashville-based pastor and theologian with a PhD in patristic theology, dives deep into the third use of the law in contemporary Lutheran discussions. He uses an engaging pig allegory to illustrate the law's roles, contrasting guilt under the law with the freedom found in Christ. Phillips highlights the positive aspects of God's law, debates antinomianism, and emphasizes that true obedience stems from gratitude, not fear. His insights challenge common misconceptions about sanctification and stress the believer's joyful interaction with the law.

On today's program, I spent time discussing the nature of theological education, and I also offered some advice for those who are seminarians or PhD students.

On this program, I discussed the writings of St. Ambrose in which he talks about justification. This is a continuation of my Sola Fide in the church fathers series.

This podcast is a Q&A program. I answered the following questions: Who are the Nephilim? What is your view of Christians and secular entertainment? If you weren't Lutheran, what church would you go to? Did Jesus found the Roman Catholic Church? Why is Lutheranism unknown? What is your view of the perpetual virginity of Mary?

This is a talk I gave on the topic of Holy Scripture at the Hold the Line Conference at Trinity Lutheran Church in West Hempstead NY. In it, I discuss the authority of Scripture, as well as the nature of Scripture and the sufficiency of Scripture.

On today's program, I discuss the doctrine of justification by faith alone as taught in the Lutheran tradition and its relation to the teachings of the early church. I argue that there is some precedent for such a teaching in some of the earliest Christian writings. Along with this, I spent a long time talking about how to read and use the fathers honestly and fruitfully.