3onefive

Intro:

J. Gresham Machen is quoted as saying: “‘Christ died’ - that is history. ‘Christ died for our sins’ - that is doctrine. Without these two elements, joined in an absolutely indissoluble union, there is no Christianity.”

The 2nd stanza of the Apostles’ Creed proceeds from Christmas to Good Friday to Easter.  As we continue through the Apostles’ Creed - we are now at the line:&...

Intro:

We find plenty of warnings in Scripture to be on the lookout for those who will lead the church astray.  Jude’s letter is one such warning.  This is a remarkably rich letter - only containing 25 verses and about 600 words in the ESV.  

Key points:

• A call to contend
• On Wolves
• This call is to every person in the church

Scripture quoted:

• Jude 1-4
• Eph 4:12
• Ephesians (5.6-7,11)

More sources / notes:

Intro:

Today, as we continue through the Apostles’ Creed, you might recall that the first few episodes focused on the first stanza that described God - and that declaration of God separates the Christian faith from those religions that are not monotheistic, such as Hinduism and Buddhism. 

The second stanza, moves the focus on to Jesus - and here we find those points that separate Christianity from the other monotheistic re...

Intro:

In our first 2 episodes on Machen’s The Virgin Birth of Christ - we covered the first 2 chapters of his book wherein Machen diligently established an early date for the birth narrative and demonstrated that Luke’s birth and infancy narrative are cohesive with the rest of Luke’s writing.  

In the next 3 chapters, we will read that, though cohesive - there is still this unique style to Luke's section on th...

Intro:

Today we continue working our way through the Apostles’ Creed with “Maker of Heaven and Earth”.  Our question today - why is there something rather than absolutely nothing?

Key points:

• The universe, and everything in it, hasn’t always been here.
• How did the universe get here: (1) it created itself or (2) it was created.
• God also created humans in His image.
• Why does that matter?

Quoted / Refere...

Intro:

Today we continue through the Apostles’ Creed with - I believe in God the Father Almighty. And the question we need to ask: “Are the coffee shop critics right to declare that since this God is unable to create a rock so big that he can’t lift it - that He’s really not Almighty?”

Key points:

• God the Father
• God Almighty
• Why does God reveal His nature to us?

Quoted Scripture:

• Gen 17:1
• Exodus 3...

Intro:

There is no shortage of books, commentaries, or articles on Paul’s letter to the Galatians - but when it came time for me to teach a brief series on Galatians - my primary sources distilled down to four authors: two from Europe - and two with Oregon connections.  In this episode, we review one of those books from an author who was once an Oregonian.  

Key points: 

1. 123 page text, published in 2024.
2. It&rsq...

Intro:

When discussing the reliability of the gospel narratives - most of us simply appeal to the field of NTTC. But Machen, in his work, The Virgin Birth of Christ, does the heavy lifting.  In turn, that heavy lifting gives us some pretty heavy reading.

Chapter 2 outline:

1. Outside objections
   1. Drastic change in language use from 1:1-4 to 1:5-2:52.
   2. Marcion’s version of Luke that didn’t include the birth narrative. ...

Intro:

Machen’s The Virgin Birth of Christ stands as one of the best defenses of the virgin birth in print today - maybe ever.  One reviewer of his book is quoted as saying in the British Weekly: “...we shall wait long for anything fuller, abler, or more readable.”

Key points:

• Chapter 1 outline. 
• Questions that Machen asks and addresses in Chapter 1:
  1. Did the second century church believe the testimony...

Intro:

When Peter writes to the church and encourages her to make a defense to anyone that asks for the hope that they have - he’s not just writing to the church leaders - he’s writing to every person in the pews to make that defense.  

Key points:

• Apologetics is a call to every person in the church to defend the hope they have in Christ. 
• Apologetics is helpful for (1) our walk with God and (2) a tool for eva...

Intro:

In the simplest terms a worldview is the foundation from which each person engages and acts on life’s most important questions and decisions. And once you understand worldview - you see it everywhere.  

Key points:

• Everyone has a worldview - but what are the core components?
• Where do we begin to understand, define, and articulate the Christian worldview?

Quoted Scripture:

• Acts 17:22-23

More sources / no...

Intro:

Today we’ll start what I plan to be a complete line-by-line series on the Apostles’ Creed.

Key points:

• Why does the Apostles’ Creed start with “I believe” vs. “We believe”?
• The Apostles’ Creed in application

Quoted Scripture: 

• Matt 16:16-17
• Matt 22:37-40
• Romans 10:9
• Eph 2:8-10
• Eph 4:22-24
• Phil 3:19

More sources / notes:

• The Apostles’ Creed
• R. Albert Mohler Jr...