The NXR Podcast

If the death of Jesus is not a mere example of sacrificial love but actual atonement (the finished payment for sin), and if Jesus died for each and every individual, why do many people still go to eternal suffering in hell? It appears as though these individuals’ sins are being paid for “twice;” once by Jesus on the cross, and once by them in hell.

Satan reigns by death, and death reigns by sin through Adam. In contrast, God rules by life, and life rules by righteousness through Jesus Christ.

30.  What is the sphere and assignment given by God to the civil government? The sphere and assignment given by God to civil government is punishing criminals, establishing good order and justice in society through equal weights and measures, and praising the righteous. 31. Does the Bible require a particular form of civil government? The Bible allows for some flexibility and freedom in form of government, but it clearly teaches a constitutional and representative form of government, governed by Scripture, common law, and natural law, prioritizing personal, local, and covenantal relationships and loyalties, with multiple checks and balances, given the natural tendency of sinful men to abuse power. A Christian civil order requires a limited government. 32. How is civil government to be limited? Civil government is to be limited by honoring the assignments given to the governments of the family and the church, not meddling in or taking to itself those assignments, and remaining steadfast in the sphere and assignment given to it by God: punishing criminals and upholding justice. 33. Who are the officers of civil government? Following the pattern of Scripture, the officers in civil government are ordinarily qualified men who are judges, legislators, and executives, beginning with local magistrates in the city gates. 34. What are the sanctions granted to the civil government? God has granted the civil magistrate the sword with which to execute God’s vengeance on criminals. The basic principle is the lex talionis “eye for eye” which requires strict punitive or retributive justice and biblical restitution in cases of theft, property damage, or divorce, but may also include stripes, banishment, exile, or the death penalty. Incarceration is not an ordinary tool given to civil government. You can find the full catechism on Toby's blog here: https://www.tobyjsumpter.com/a-catechism-on-the-governments-50-questions-answers/

In this episode of Theology Applied, Marcus Pittman shares his vision behind LOOR.TV. Christians have spent far too much time complaining about the culture and boycotting certain companies and products. What we need to do is build a better culture. 

According to Scripture, one man’s disobedience caused the whole human race to be plunged into sin and death. But doesn’t this seem a bit unfair? Why does God choose to penalize everyone for Adam’s sin?

Christians must remember that Public Schools are State Schools. Therefore, “Caesar” is the head of all Public Schools. Christians have been commanded by Christ to “render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. So the question is this: Whose image do we see in our children? In other words, are children made in the image of Caesar, or the image of God? As Voddie Baucham famously said, “If we send our children to Caesar, we should not be surprised when they come back as Romans.” “‘Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?’ But Jesus, aware of their malice, said, ‘Why put me to the test, you hypocrites? Show me the coin for the tax.’ And they brought him a denarius. And Jesus said to them, ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said, ‘Caesar's.’ Then he said to them, ‘Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.’” Matthew‬ ‭22:17-21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

If you do not have Christ as your Savior, you do not have God as your Father.

19. What is the sphere and assignment given by God to church government? God has given church government the Great Commission and authority over Christian worship. 20. What is the means God has given to the church to carry out the Great Commission and Christian worship? God has given the church the Word and the Sacraments to carry out the Great Commission and Christian worship. 21. What is the Great Commission? The Great Commission is given in Matthew 28:18-20 where Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me, therefore go, disciple the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you.” 22. What is Christian worship? Christian worship is the called-together gathering of the church in person, principally on the Lord’s Day, to renew covenant with Christ, through the Word read, preached, and sung, as well as through prayers, and the celebration of the sacraments, all according to Scripture. 23. What is the Word? The Word is the entire Bible from Genesis to Revelation, the perfectly preserved testimony of the patriarchs, apostles, and prophets, proclaimed by evangelists, missionaries, and pastors, and thoroughly taught to all who believe in Christ for obedience in every human endeavor. The Bible is the authoritative Word to every human government, but it is the peculiar charter and constitution of the Christian church. 24. What are the Sacraments? The sacraments are Baptism and the Lord’s Supper, the signs and seals of membership in the church, means of grace for all of God’s people, instituted directly by Christ. 25. Who are the officers of the church? The officers of the church are qualified men called elders (or bishops) and deacons. 26. What are the offices within the eldership? There are three offices of elders: ministers (or pastors) are elders tasked with regular ministry of Word and Sacrament; teaching elders (or doctors) are tasked with teaching the Word, often in academic or missionary contexts, and ruling elders (or lay/parish elders) are elders whose primary job is to rule the church. All three offices of elders share the government of the church equally together. 27. What is the office of deacon? Deacons are qualified men who assist the elders in carrying out the ministry of the church and in caring for the physical needs of the saints. 28. What are the sanctions of the Church? Christ has given to the church the sword of Scripture with which it is authorized to preach, encourage, teach, rebuke, as well as private and public censure. This authority is also called the keys of the kingdom, and it includes welcoming new Christian disciples through baptism, correcting for sin, and in cases when an individual persists in high handed, unrepentant sin, excommunication, barring them from the Lord’s Table, and reckoning an individual an unbeliever and outside the fellowship and inheritance of Christ. 29. What is the duty God requires of all people with regard to the Church? God commands everyone everywhere to repent and believe in Jesus Christ, and so be baptized and received into membership in a local church, to be in submission to local elders, and to participate in the worship and life of the body through freely giving of their gifts.

In this episode of Theology Applied, Phil Johnson and Joel Webbon discuss the important differences between “the spirit of this age” and the Spirit of God. Christians desperately need the discernment to distinguish between the two.

Jesus, our high priest, is presently praying for for all his people. And there is not a single prayer from Jesus that will ever go unanswered.