Cincy Reformed Podcast

Antithesis and Common Grace (Audio only)

How can regenerate believers work together with unregenerate unbelievers? If there is an absolute antithesis between the principles of the regenerate and the principles of the unregenerate, how can there be any interaction? Moreover, does God's common grace restrain the unrighteous suppression of truth in the unbeliever? Perhaps Cornelius Van Til can help shed light on this: 

"Because of God’s common grace, this ethical antithesis to God on the part of the sinner is restrained, and thereby the creative forces of man receive the opportunity of constructive effort. In this world the sinner does many “good” things. He is honest. He helps to alleviate the sufferings of his fellow men. He “keeps” the moral law. Therefore the antithesis besides being ethical rather than metaphysical is limited in a second way. It is one of principle, not one of full expression. If the natural man fully expressed himself as he is in terms of the principle of ethical hostility to God that dwells within his soul, he would then be a veritable devil. Obviously he is often nothing of the sort. He is not at all as “bad as he may be.” (An Introduction to Systematic Theology, 45)

 "And common grace is the means by which God keeps man from expressing the principle of hostility to its full extent, thus enabling man to do the “relatively good.” (Common Grace and the Gospel, 200)

"Thus it comes to pass that they of whom Scripture says that their minds are darkened can yet discover much truth. But this discovery of truth on their part is effected in spite of the fact that in principle they are wholly evil. Their discovery of truth is adventitious so far as their own principle is concerned. They are not partly evil, they are not just sick; they are wholly evil, they are spiritually dead. But in spite of being dead in sins, they can, because of God’s common grace, discover truth. The universe is what the Scripture says it is, and man is what the Scripture says he is. On both of these points it says the opposite of what fallen man says. Fallen man knows truth and does “morally good” things in spite of the fact that in principle he is set against God." (A Christian Theory of Knowledge, 44)

"The idea of common grace may not become the basis for a 'neutral territory' between believer and unbeliever... But in this world of sin no Christian individual and no Christian organization can be positive and constructive till after they have been negative and destructive.... At this point I may interject that when I thus emphasize the absolute antithesis I am not denying or even for a moment forgetting the doctrine of common grace. That doctrine does not militate against but here as elsewhere confirms the doctrine of the absolute antithesis. Common grace does not overlook ultimate differences. Nor does it when correctly understood, in any way tone down those ultimate differences. On the contrary, common grace helps to point out that things which look alike are not ultimately alike. Common grace points specifically to the fact that similarities between the people of God and the people of this world are but proximate similarities and that these proximate similarities play before the background of ultimate differences." (Essays on Christian Education, 91, 187, 189)

For Pastor Zac's favorite book on these matters, see:

Living in God's Two Kingdoms: A Biblical Vision for Christianity and Culture by David VanDrunen 

For Pastor Brandon's favorite book in these matters, see: '

The Lordship of Christ: Serving Our Savior All of the Time, in All of Life, with All of Our Heart by Vern Poythress 

 

Limited Atonement: For Whom Did Christ Die?

Did Jesus die for the sins of the whole world, or only the sins of the elect? Did Jesus's death purchase a mere possibility for all, or was it absolutely effective for certain individuals? What does the Bible say? 

For more information, see: 

Canons of Dort, Second Head of Doctrine 

Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective by Johnny Gibson 

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray 

But for the Grace of God: An Exposition of the Canons of Dort by Cornelius Venema 

Limited Atonement: For Whom Did Christ Die? (Audio only)

Did Jesus die for the sins of the whole world, or only the sins of the elect? Did Jesus's death purchase a mere possibility for all, or was it absolutely effective for certain individuals? What does the Bible say? 

For more information, see: 

Canons of Dort, Second Head of Doctrine 

Death of Death in the Death of Christ by John Owen

From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective by Johnny Gibson 

Redemption Accomplished and Applied by John Murray 

 

Can We Change God’s Pronouns to They/Them?

Can we change God's pronouns to "They/Them"? When the Bible uses the pronouns "He" or "Him" referring to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, are we able to change or tweak those pronouns? In other words, is God male? 

For more information, see: 

Gender of God by OPC

Is It Proper to Call God Mother? by OPC

Strange New World: How Thinkers and Activists Redefined Identity and Sparked the Sexual Revolution by Carl Trueman 

Critical Race Theory by Timothy Brindle 

Can We Change God’s Pronouns to They/Them? (Audio only)

Can we change God's pronouns to "They/Them"? When the Bible uses the pronouns "He" or "Him" referring to the Father, Son, or Holy Spirit, are we able to change or tweak those pronouns? In other words, is God male? 

For more information, see: 

Gender of God by OPC

Is It Proper to Call God Mother? by OPC

Are Covenant Children Christians?

How should we view our children? Are the children of believing parents Christians, or do we merely hope one day that they will become Christians? When we baptize infants of believing parents, are we saying, "God's promise rests upon my covenant child and I hope he or she becomes a Christian one day?" or are we saying, "I'm baptizing my covenant child because he or she is a Christian and already has the Holy Spirit?" Cornelius Van Til said, “Before God our children are personalities from and before their birth; we are chosen in Him before the foundation of the world. Moreover, I must regard all children of believers as children of God till the contrary appear to be true.” Should this be our approach as well? 

In this episode, Pastors Zac and Brandon discuss the status and nature of a covenant child.

For more information, see:

Church, Baptism, and Faith in the Reformed Tradition by Greystone Conversations 

10 Reasons to Baptize Covenant Children by Cincy Reformed 

Reformed Baptism by Cincy Reformed 

What is the Providence of God?

What is the Providence of God? Does God control everything? In this episode, Pastor Brandon and Zac speak about the Providence of God.  

For more information, see: 

What is Providence? By Derek Thomas 

The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel 

What is the Providence of God? (Audio only)

What is the Providence of God? Does God control everything? In this episode, Pastor Brandon and Zac speak about the Providence of God.  

For more information, see: 

What is Providence? By Derek Thomas 

Does the Bible Borrow from Pagan Religions?

Is Christianity a repackaged myth derived from other ancient, pagan religions? Is Jesus and His Gospel based on Egyptian and Roman mythology? Did ancient Israel ever borrow from the Egyptians? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss these questions and more. 

For more information, see: 

The Christ of Wisdom by O. Palmer Robinson 

Know Why You Believe by K. Scott Oliphint 

Why Should I Believe Christianity? by James Anderson 

Covenantal Apologetics by K. Scott Oliphint 

Defense of the Faith by Cornelius Van Til 

The Ultimate Proof of Creation by Jason Lisle 

Does the Bible Borrow from Pagan Religions? (Audio only)

Is Christianity a repackaged myth derived from other ancient, pagan religions? Is Jesus and His Gospel based on Egyptian and Roman mythology? Did ancient Israel ever borrow from the Egyptians? In this episode, Pastors Brandon and Zac discuss these questions and more. 

For more information, see: 

The Christ of Wisdom by O. Palmer Robinson 

Know Why You Believe by K. Scott Oliphint 

Why Should I Believe Christianity? by James Anderson 

Covenantal Apologetics by K. Scott Oliphint 

Defense of the Faith by Cornelius Van Til 

The Ultimate Proof of Creation by Jason Lisle