Three Forms Podcast

Episode 19: Heidelberg Lord's Day 19 There are plenty of examples of poor leaders and bad kings throughout history, but Lord's Day 19 encourages us that Christ now rules and reigns, and soon will return to judge the living and the dead!Lord’s Day 19Q & A 50Q. Why the next words:“and is seated at the right hand of God”?A. Because Christ ascended to heaven to show there that he is head of his church, the one through whom the Father rules all things.Q & A 51Q. How does this glory of Christ our head benefit us?A. First, through his Holy Spirit he pours out gifts from heaven upon us his members.Second, by his power he defends us and keeps us safe from all enemies.Q & A 52Q. How does Christ’s return “to judge the living and the dead” comfort you?A. In all distress and persecution, with uplifted head, I confidently await the very judge who has already offered himself to the judgment of God in my place and removed the whole curse from me. Christ will cast all his enemies and mine into everlasting condemnation, but will take me and all his chosen ones to himself into the joy and glory of heaven. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Episode 18: Heidelberg Lord's Day 18 Focusing on the benefits of Christ Ascension, Tyler is reminded of important lessons he learned in childhood, which help us grasp or picture a few of the many blessings of our Lord's Ascension!Lord’s Day 18Q & A 46Q. What do you mean by saying, “He ascended to heaven”?A. That Christ, while his disciples watched, was taken up from the earth into heaven and remains there on our behalf until he comes again to judge the living and the dead.Q & A 47Q. But isn’t Christ with us until the end of the world as he promised us?A. Christ is true human and true God. In his human nature Christ is not now on earth; but in his divinity, majesty, grace, and Spirit he is never absent from us.Q & A 48Q. If his humanity is not present wherever his divinity is, then aren’t the two natures of Christ separated from each other?A. Certainly not. Since divinity is not limited and is present everywhere, it is evident thatChrist’s divinity is surely beyond the bounds of the humanity that has been taken on, but at the same time his divinity is in and remains personally united to his humanity.Q & A 49Q. How does Christ’s ascension to heaven benefit us?A. First, he is our advocate in heaven in the presence of his Father.Second, we have our own flesh in heaven as a sure pledge that Christ our head will also take us, his members, up to himself.Third, he sends his Spirit to us on earth as a corresponding pledge. By the Spirit’s power we seek not earthly things but the things above, where Christ is, sitting at God’s right hand. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Episode 17: Heidelberg Lord's Day 17Lord's Day 17 gives us three benefits, or points, that God's people realize by Christ's Resurrection from the dead!Lord’s Day 17 Q & A 45 Q. How does Christ’s resurrection benefit us?A. First, by his resurrection he has overcome death, so that he might make us share in the righteousness he obtained for us by his death.Second, by his power we too are already raised to a new life.Third, Christ’s resurrection is a sure pledge to us of our blessed resurrection. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Today the Catechism moves past the suffering of our Lord, focusing on our Lord's death! In these five questions and answers, we walk through Jesus death, crucifixion, burial, and descent into hell!Lord’s Day 16 Q & A 40 Q. Why did Christ have to suffer death?A. Because God’s justice and truth require it: nothing else could pay for our sins except the death of the Son of God. Q & A 41 Q. Why was he “buried”?A. His burial testifies that he really died. Q & A 42 Q. Since Christ has died for us, why do we still have to die?A. Our death does not pay the debt of our sins. Rather, it puts an end to our sinning and is our entrance into eternal life. Q & A 43 Q. What further benefit do we receive from Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross?A. By Christ’s power our old selves are crucified, put to death, and buried with him, so that the evil desires of the flesh may no longer rule us, but that instead we may offer ourselves as a sacrifice of gratitude to him. Q & A 44 Q. Why does the creed add, “He descended to hell”?A. To assure me during attacks of deepest dread and temptation that Christ my Lord, by suffering unspeakable anguish, pain, and terror of soul, on the cross but also earlier, has delivered me from hellish anguish and torment. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Episode 13: Heidelberg Lord's Day 13Today we explore the realities of Jesus being the only begotten Son of God, our adoption into God's family, and the call to recognize Jesus as Lord!Q & A 33Q. Why is he called God’s “only begotten Son”when we also are God’s children?A. Because Christ alone is the eternal, natural Son of God. We, however, are adopted children of God— adopted by grace through Christ.Q & A 34Q. Why do you call him “our Lord”?A. Because—not with gold or silver,but with his precious blood—he has set us freefrom sin and from the tyranny of the devil,and has bought us,body and soul,to be his very own. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Jesus is Prophet, Priest, and King. In Lord's Day 12, we consider the job descriptions of both our Lord as well as our own, and ask if we are living up to the name that we have received!Lord’s Day 12Q & A 31Q. Why is he called “Christ,” meaning “anointed”?A. Because he has been ordained by God the Father and has been anointed with the Holy Spirit to be our chief prophet and teacher who fully reveals to us the secret counsel and will of God concerning our deliverance; our only high priest who has delivered us by the one sacrifice of his body, and who continually pleads our cause with the Father; and our eternal king who governs us by his Word and Spirit, and who guards us and keeps us in the freedom he has won for us.Q & A 32Q. But why are you called a Christian?A. Because by faith I am a member of Christ and so I share in his anointing. I am anointed to confess his name, to present myself to him as a living sacrifice of thanks, to strive with a free conscience against sin and the devil in this life, and afterward to reign with Christ over all creation for eternity. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Hark, as the Catechism begins considering the second person of the Trinity, our Savior Jesus Christ. If we are trying to add anything to His work, it only proves we do not yet understand who He is!Lord’s Day 11Q & A 29Q. Why is the Son of God called “Jesus,”meaning “savior”?A. Because he saves us from our sins, and because salvation should not be sought and cannot be found in anyone else.Q & A 30Q. Do those who look for their salvation in saints,in themselves, or elsewhere really believe in the only savior Jesus?A. No.Although they boast of being his,by their actions they deny the only savior, Jesus.Either Jesus is not a perfect savior,or those who in true faith accept this savior have in him all they need for their salvation. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

The death of the teaching of Deism, we focus in on the providence of God, and how those that know Him as their Father, can receive both blessings as well as trials from His hand! Lord’s Day 10 Q & A 27 Q. What do you understand by the providence of God? A. The almighty and ever present power of God by which God upholds, as with his hand, heaven and earth and all creatures, and so rules them that leaf and blade, rain and drought, fruitful and lean years, food and drink, health and sickness, prosperity and poverty— all things, in fact, come to us not by chance but by his fatherly hand.Q & A 28 Q. How does the knowledge of God’s creation and providence help us? A. We can be patient when things go against us, thankful when things go well,and for the future we can have good confidence in our faithful God and Fatherthat nothing in creation will separate us from his love. For all creatures are so completely in God’s hand that without his will they can neither move nor be moved. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

The first of two Lord's Days focusing on God our Father, we consider His work in creation, from the countless stars, the depths of the sea, and even bumps when mowing our backyards. God the Father Lord’s Day 9 Q & A 26Q. What do you believe when you say, “I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth”?A. That the eternal Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who out of nothing created heaven and earth and everything in them, who still upholds and rules them by his eternal counsel and providence, is my God and Father because of Christ the Son. I trust God so much that I do not doubt he will provide whatever I need for body and soul, and will turn to my good whatever adversity he sends upon me in this sad world. God is able to do this because he is almighty God and desires to do this because he is a faithful Father. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

In Lord's Day 8, our hosts discuss the Trinitarian structure of the Apostles Creed, and the importance of receiving and accepting our God's testimony about whom He is.Lord’s Day 8Q & A 24 Q. How are these articles divided?A. Into three parts: God the Father and our creation; God the Son and our deliverance; and God the Holy Spirit and our sanctification.Q & A 25 Q. Since there is only one divine being, why do you speak of three: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit?A. Because that is how God has revealed himself in his Word: these three distinct persons are one, true, eternal God. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

In contrast to the false teaching of universalism, our hosts continue to explore our salvation in Christ and the Catechism's beautiful description of true faith!Lord's Day 7Q & A 20Q. Are all men then saved through Christjust as all were lost through Adam?A. No.Only those are savedwho by true faithare grafted into Christand accept all his blessings.Q & A 21Q. What is true faith?A. True faith is not only a knowledge and convictionthat everything God has revealed in his Word is true;it is also a deep-rooted assurance,created in me by the Holy Spirit through the gospelthat, out of sheer grace earned for us by Christ,not only others, but I too,have had my sins forgiven,have been made forever right with God,and have been granted salvation.Q & A 22Q. What then must a Christian believe?A. Everything God promises us in the gospel.That gospel is summarized for usin the articles of our Christian faith - a creed beyond doubt,and confessed throughout the world.Q & A 23Q. What are these articles?A. I believe in God, the Father almighty,maker of heaven and earth.And in Jesus Christ, his only begotten Son, our Lord;who was conceived by the Holy Spiritborn of the virgin Mary;suffered under Pontius Pilate;was crucified, dead, and buried;he descended into hell;the third day he rose again from the dead;he ascended to heavenand sitteth at the right hand of God the Father almighty;from thence he shall cometo judge the living and the dead.I believe in the Holy Spirit;I believe a holy catholic church, the communion of saints;the forgiveness of sins;the resurrection of the body;and the life everlasting. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Continuing in the discussion of our salvation, our host discuss the necessary qualities of both a perfect husband and a hero that can save us all! The only name that can save us, Jesus Christ!Lord’s Day 6Q & A 16Q. Why must the mediator be a true and righteous human?A. God’s justice demands that human nature, which has sinned, must pay for sin; but a sinful human could never pay for others.Q & A 17Q. Why must the mediator also be true God?A. So that the mediator, by the power of his divinity, might bear the weight of God’s wrath in his humanity and earn for us and restore to us righteousness and life.Q & A 18Q. Then who is this mediator—true God and at the same time a true and righteous human?A. Our Lord Jesus Christ, who was given to us to completely deliver us and make us right with God.Q & A 19Q. How do you come to know this?A. The holy gospel tells me. God began to reveal the gospel already in Paradise; later God proclaimed it by the holy patriarchs and prophets and foreshadowed it by the sacrifices and other ceremonies of the law; and finally God fulfilled it through his own beloved Son. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

Our hosts continue in Part 1 of the Catechism, as they discuss the 3 questions and answers of Lord's Day 3, and why school children used to learn "A." "In Adam's fall, we sinned all." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com

This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit threeformspodcast.substack.com