The Jerusalem Chamber » Podcast

How does this paragraph treat marriage as a creation ordinance? Is this paragraph confronting Roman Catholicism? What is meant by “all sorts of people”? What does “with judgment to give their consent” mean, and why is it important? Why are Christians to marry only in the Lord? Why can we not marry anyone we love? … More Episode 24.3: The Moral Bounds of Marriage

How do you think most people would answer the question about God’s design for marriage? Does the chapter’s ordering reflect anything historically or polemically? What is meant by “mutual help”? What does that look like? What is “legitimate issue”? How can Christians help support non-Christians in the area of marriage? Does God ordinarily build his … More Episode 24.2: The Purposes of Marriage

  Why do you think the WCF doesn’t begin this chapter with a definition of marriage? Can you provide a definition of marriage? How do we know, from the Bible or nature, that marriage is to be between a man and a woman? How relevant is this in today’s culture? Why does the WCF emphasize … More Episode 24.1: The Parties of Marriage

Why is a paragraph like this needed in a confession of faith? Why should we pray for our civil leaders? How do we “honor” their persons? What does “for conscience’s sake” mean? In Romans 13 whose “wrath” is being spoke of: Team Nathan (magistrates) or Team Kyle (God’s)? Excursus: should we obey the speed limit? … More Episode 23.4: Honoring the Magistrate

What’s the American context for the edits to this paragraph? Historically, how has the civil magistrate assumed the responsibility of the keys of the kingdom? Does the civil magistrate have a right to determine things around worship? How might the magistrate need to take order? What does that mean? What’s with all the punctuation? Is … More Episode 23.3: The Magistrate’s Religious Duty

What error is this paragraph seeking to oppose? What are qualifications for the civil magistrate? Can you define and biblically defend “maintaining piety,” “justice,” and “peace”? What defines “good” and “evil” in the context of Romans 13? How does “according to the wholesome laws of each commonwealth” come into the theonomy debate? If you had … More Episode 23.2: The Christian Magistrate

Why is it good/necessary for a confession of “faith” to include a chapter on the civil government? How would you define God’s “lordship” and “kingship”? How does God exercise his lordship immediately? What does the word “ordained” mean here in this chapter? Do you think God has ordained all civil magistrates? What are the appointed … More Episode 23.1: The God Ordained Civil Magistrate

Why is the statement “No man may vow to do anything forbidden in the Word of God”? Why can’t we vow to something that would hinder our duty to God? Why must vows be within our ability to perform? Why is the promise of God necessary? Can you explain the Popish monastical vows? Why are … More Episode 22.7: Superstitious Vows

Who should we make a vow to, and why is this important? What is the voluntary nature of a vow and what consequence does that have for those who make vows? How are the activities we vow to limited? How is making a vow not manipulating God? What kinds of things do we vow to? … More Episode 22.6: An Acceptable Vow

What does it mean that a vow is of “like nature” with a promissory oath? What is the difference between an oath and a vow? Can you give examples from the Bible about vows? What is a “social vow”? Can a vow be made to something the Bible requires? Can a vow be made to … More Episode 22.5: What is a Vow?

What is the practical relevance of this chapter? How does one determine the “plain and common sense of the words” of an oath? What does this tell us about the care and caution of writing an oath? What is equivocation and why is it sinful? Where do we see examples of equivocation? Why should an … More Episode 22.4: The Meaning of an Oath

Can you remind us what an oath is? Why is swearing an oath “weighty” and “solemn”? How do you know if you’re making an oath according to the truth? Why does an oath need to be “good and just”? Why does one need to “believe” the oath to be true? Why did those American Presbyterians … More Episode 22.3: Taking an Oath

Why is the only proper way to make an oath to swear in the name of God? How does one make an oath with holy fear and reverence? Why should they not be made rashly? What else do people swear by? What are appropriate times to make an oath? Why can lawful authorities impose an … More Episode 22.2: How to Make an Oath

  What is an “oath” and what is a “vow,” what are the differences between the two? Why does this chapter occur between the chapter on the Sabbath and the civil magistrate? How is oath taking consistent with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5? What are “just occasions”? How does God “witness and judge” the truth … More Episode 22.1: Lawful Oaths

What does it mean to “keep holy unto the Lord”? How do you prepare your heart for the Sabbath? What does this paragraph have to say to the first part of the command: work six days? Why do we rest from our works, words, and thoughts? What is meant by “recreations” and do we really … More Episode 21.8: Sanctifying the Lord’s Day

What is the “law of nature”? How is it being used here in this paragraph? Where do we find the Sabbath command in the Bible? Can you explain: positive, moral, and perpetual? What does the Confession mean when it says “binding all men in all ages”? What significance did the Sabbath have in the old … More Episode 21.7: The Lord’s Day

How did people approach God in worship during the different times of the Old Testament? Why were the Israelites to perform worship toward Jerusalem? Where does Jesus change the centrality of temple worship in the new covenant? What Old Testament passages does Jesus use to anticipate the change in worship? What is meant by family … More Episode 21.6: Spirit and Truth

How is the Bible to be read? Who is supposed to publicly read the Bible? What is the Reformed doctrine of preaching? How should we listen to the preaching of the Word? What does singing “Psalms” mean? Can a case be made that the Assembly believed in exclusive Psalmody? What are the sacraments? Is anything … More Episode 21.5: The Parts of Worship

Why the emphasis on prayer? Is there a difference between praying the will of God and praying for things lawful? Why should we pray for all sorts of men? Why shouldn’t we pray for the dead? Who does that? What is the sin that leads to death? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle … More Episode 21.4: Lawful Prayer

What is prayer? Why the qualification “with thanksgiving”? Why is prayer a “special” part of worship? How do we know prayer is required by God of all men? What’s the difference between “accepted” and “unaccepted” prayer? What does it mean to pray with the help of the Spirit? What does it mean to pray according … More Episode 21.3: The Manner of Prayer

Why is religious worship to be given to God alone? What is meant by “religious” worship? Are there practical ways our worship can be directed to each person of the Trinity? Why is a Mediator necessary? What’s wrong with the Roman Catholic Church’s teaching of many mediators? Join Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle as they … More Episode 21.2: The Object of Worship

What is the light of nature and how is it a source of revelation? What does the light of nature teach us about the character of God? What does the light of nature not teach us about worship? How is worship instituted and limited by God’s will? Can you demonstrate that from the Bible? What … More Episode 21.1: The Regulative Principle of Worship

Can you briefly distinguish between Christian liberty and liberty of conscience? Can you biblically demonstrate that God has ordained lawful authorities? Can you biblically clarify what the exercise of lawful ecclesiastical and civil power looks like? What is meant by “publishing” and “maintaining”? What’s the distinction between “light of nature” and “known Christian principles”? What … More Episode 20.4: Publishing Errors

What’s the outline of this paragraph? What is “Christian liberty”? Why is the abuse of Christian liberty something we need to be very cautious of? How does one know if they’re misusing Christian liberty? What boundaries has God given to us? What is meant by “pretense of Christian liberty”? How do the following abuse Christian … More Episode 20.3: Pretense of Christian Liberty

How do we see matters of conscience situated under the Kingship of Christ? How does false human authority mimic God’s authority? Can you clarify for us “doctrine” and “faith” in this paragraph? What about those who have been taught something and sincerely believe it to be biblical but are wrong? What is implicit faith? How … More Episode 20.2: The Liberty of Conscience

  Why do Christians usually think of liberty as a New Testament and not an Old Testament concept? Discuss our freedom in justification, sanctification, and in eschatology? Why was the ceremonial law a yoke? How do we walk in freedom from the ceremonial law? How is boldness in prayer made greater in the New Testament? … More Episode 20.1: Christian Freedom

Could you review the “forementioned” uses of the law? Why is it important to realize that a right use of the law isn’t contrary to grace? Can you explain John 1:17 and Romans 6:14? How does the Spirit subdue and enable the will? What importance does this have for our preaching? What’s meant by “freely” … More Episode 19.7: Sweetly Complying

The Confession says that believers aren’t under the law as a covenant of works, why this qualification? Is there a distinction here between Calvin and the Confession of Faith? In what ways is the law a rule of life? How does the law discover our sin? How does the law show us our need for … More Episode 19.6: The Three Uses of the Law

How is it possible that all persons are bound by the moral law? What is the importance of the term “justified” rather than “believe” or “saved”? How is one held accountable to the moral law? How do we see Christ giving the proper interpretation of the law? How does this paragraph impact our view of … More Episode 19.5: Obligation to the Moral Law

What are the previous laws we’ve talked about? What did the assembly mean by “body politic”? What does it mean that those laws expired with that people? What is general equity? Are you a theonomist? How is the Westminster Assembly’s “general equity” different than Christian Reconstruction or Theonomy? What’s important about the word “may”? Often … More Episode 19.4: The Judicial Law

The three-fold division of the law has come under a lot of criticism, can you briefly defend it from the Bible? Why does the Confession speak of the ceremonial law as being given to Israel “as a church”? What does the Confession mean by “church under age”? What is meant by the word “typical”? What … More Episode 19.3: The Ceremonial Law

Will Shawn remember his name? What is the use of God’s law to us in our fallen state? Why did God deliver this law on Mount Sinai? What is the significance of the law being written on two tablets? How are these commands united to one another? Why are most of the commands stated negatively? … More Episode 19.2: The Ten Commandments

Why is it necessary for Adam to be a historical person? What is the law that is given to Adam? How will Kyle contest Shawn’s answer? Who is the Prolocutor in this episode? Back to the original programming…Can you define the Covenant of Works? What are the covenants we find in Scripture? Is it “fair” … More Episode 19.1:God’s Law to Adam

What does negligence of assurance look like and are there biblical examples? What is “special sin”? What does it look like when God withdraws his light? How is assurance revived? How is the Christian supported from “utter despair”? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 18.4: True believers may have the assurance … More Episode 18.4: Assurance Shaken and Diminished

What is meant here by the words “infallible assurance”? Will you discuss how some people distinguish between the Westminster’s understanding of assurance and the Three Forms of Unity? Do you think the difficulty and conflict of full assurance is true to the experience of a “normal” Christian? What are some of the difficulties and conflicts … More Episode 18.3: Difficulties and Conflicts

Can you define assurance? What is our certainty not to be compared to? How do you describe the certainty of assurance? What is the chief warrant for the Christian’s infallible assurance? Why are the promises of God helpful for our assurance? What are the “inward graces”? How does sanctification help our assurance? What is the … More Episode 18.2: An Infallible Assurance

What’s the background to this chapter? Why is it so special to us? How do you define “assurance”? What is “false hope” and “presumption”? Do you think this happens in the church more today than in history? How do people vainly believe they’re assured? How do you know if you’re being deluded? How is faith … More Episode 18.1: The Certainty of Assurance

What are the four reasons for falling into sin given in this chapter? What does it mean to grieve the Holy Spirit? How does neglecting the means of grace hinder us? How does our sin scandalize others? What consequences are there for believers who fall into sin? What comforts are there for the Christian in … More Episode 17.3: Perseverance and Seasons of Sin

Can you remind our listeners what perseverance is? Why does perseverance not depend on free will? Can you demonstrate the immutability of God’s decree? What is the Trinitrian certainty of our preservation? What is the “seed of God” that remains in believers? Is our assurance of perseverance infallible? Tune in as Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and … More Episode 17.2: The Certainty of Perseverance

Can you define the perseverance of the saints? What’s the difference between this doctrine and what is sometimes called “once saved always saved”? Why does this paragraph build on what God has done? Where do the Scriptures teach the doctrine of perseverance? Why are there warnings in Scripture about falling away? How has this doctrine … More Episode 17.1: Perseverance of the Saints

Where in Scripture do we fine unbelievers doing things God commands? Is it fair to call the works of unbelievers “good works”? What is missing from unbeliever’s works? What aspect of Roman Catholic theology does this paragraph address? Should we encourage unbelievers to do good things? Join Nathan, Joel, Shawn, and Kyle as they discuss … More Episode 16.7: The Works of the Unregenerate

What does union with Christ have to do with this paragraph? How does the ministry of the Spirit impact how we understand this teaching? If a good work isn’t unreprovable or perfect, what is it? How do we know if our sincerity is real? Tune in as Nathan, Shawn, Joel, and Kyle discuss WCF 16.6: … More Episode 16.6: Acceptable Good Works

Can you give a general outline of paragraphs 4, 5, and 6? Can you discuss the distinction between strict and covenantal merit? Why can our good works not merit anything from God strictly? What is meant by the “great disproportion”? What is the infinite distance between us and God? Why can our works not merit … More Episode 16.5: Good Works and Merit

As a background to this paragraph can you discuss the Roman Catholic teaching on sainthood and supererogatory works? What Scripture texts are sometimes used to defend the teaching that a Christian can do more than the moral law of God requires? How does the doctrine of supererogatory works undermine the sufficiency of Jesus Christ? How … More Episode 16.4: Supererogatory Works

How does the title “Spirit of Christ” develop our understanding of the Holy Spirit? Are good works monergistic or synergistic? How does the Spirit’s work nudge us toward a greater appreciation for union with Christ? How are we tempted to grow negligent in good works? What is meant by waiting for a “special motion” of … More Episode 16.3: Good Works and the Holy Spirit

What does the Confession mean that good works are done in obedience to God’s command? What are the essential characteristics of a good work? How do good works show evidence for a true and lively faith? How do good works show thankfulness? How do good works strengthen assurance? How do good works edify the brothers? … More Episode 16.2: Evidence of Good Works

What is Antinomianism and what relationship does it have to this paragraph? Can you discuss the placement of this paragraph in the theology of the standards? Positively, what makes something a “good work”? Why are good works restricted to God’s Word and how does that relate to the Confession’s teaching on the sufficiency of Scripture? … More Episode 16.1: Definition of Good Works

Where in the Bible do we see the obligation to make private confession of sin? Why do we pray for the forgiveness of sins? What does it mean to forsake sin? What does it mean to “find mercy”? Why is the Roman Catholic view of penance wrong? What is public confession? According to Matthew 18 … More Episode 15.6: Repentance and Reconciliation

What’s the difference between admitting I’m a sinner and particularly repenting of sin? What biblical examples do we have of this? What is repentance saying about our sin and ourselves? Do we need to repent of original sin? How do we help those who don’t think they need to particularly repent? How do we encourage … More Episode 15.5: Particular Repentance

This paragraph offers a warning as well as a comfort, how do we balance these two? Can you prove from the Bible that even small sins deserve damnation? How do people underestimate the heinousness of sin? What sins are often winked at in our circles? What does repentance look like for small sins? What comfort … More Episode 15.4: The Pardon of Repentance