Gospel clarity and the implications of the incarnation.

Chatting with Michael Lewis and Brad Kafer on The Reclamation Podcast.

Erasmus Quellinus, “St. Thomas Touching Christ’s Wounds”

I’m making the executive decision to temporarily lift my self-imposed writing embargo (again) so I can share this spirited Christmas-themed conversation with you. It was a delight to be invited as a guest on The Reclamation podcast, co-hosted by Michael Lewis and Brad Kafer, which allowed us to offer further insights into the gospel, the immense importance of the incarnation, and why every sermon should unambiguously point sinners to Christ’s completed work of redemption.

Listen here:

As my theological proclivities have developed over the years, I have become convinced that the majority of performance-based Christian circles emerge out of a brazen distrust in the Holy Spirit to minister Christ’s grace to sinners. Instead of trusting Christ’s Spirit to bring to bear Christ’s salvific achievements in sinners’ lives, some believers operate as if the grace of the cross must be “managed” — and they are more than eager to don a manager’s cap. This results in pressurized communities in which one’s level of spiritual performance is indicative of one’s spiritual standing. Of course, this is not a novel problem. Performance-driven Christians have been unsettling the Body of Christ since the church was born.

Accordingly, gospel clarity remains as necessary as ever, which makes Paul’s letters to the Galatians and Colossians, in particular, potent resources for believers who long to leave behind the shackles of religion that are rooted in their efforts. Nothing but the wounds of the crucified Christ furnishes us with the very righteousness of God, which affords us everlasting rest and ultimate hope, both now and forever. Christ alone is our qualification. To that end, Michael, Brad, and I endeavor to highlight how the person and work of Jesus — beginning in a manger and culminating on the cross — gives sinners the assurance they so desperately crave. The incarnation, therefore, was not only the convergence of heaven and earth but was also the commencement of Christ’s substitutionary ministry for the sake of humanity.

I pray you will spare an hour and listen to this episode in full. I am confident it will bless and encourage you as you grow in your faith. Happy listening! (Also, as an aside, I’ll be returning to my regular writing schedule when the New Year starts, with three posts to begin the year, after which I am hoping to adhere to a Monday-Wednesday-Friday publishing plan. I already have several posts in the queue that I can’t wait for you to read.)

Grace, peace, and Happy New Year to you.