Biblical Talks with Elder Michael Tolliver Podcast
When the term Reformed theology is used, it often refers to something less historical. Often it refers to a theology that acknowledges the doctrine of predestination and holds to a high view of the Bible as God’s inerrant Word. Sometimes it is also identified with the so-called five points of Calvinism: total depravity, unconditional election, limited atonement, irresistible grace, and the perseverance of the saints. These are all important teachings of the Reformed tradition, but they do not fully encapsulate or describe Reformed theology.
A better starting place is five statements that have been called the five solas of the Reformation. These five solas (sola is the Latin word for “only” or “alone”) are sola Scriptura (Scripture alone), sola fide (faith alone), sola gratia (grace alone), solus Christus (Christ alone), and soli Deo gloria (God’s glory alone). Put together, these solas clearly express the central concerns of the Protestant Reformation, which was about worship and authority within the church as much as it was about individual salvation. The “alone” in each is vital, and they emphasize the sufficiency of God’s Word and the gracious nature of salvation, received by faith alone, in Christ alone. The last of the five solas, soli Deo gloria, is the natural outworking of the first four. It reminds us that Reformed theology understands all of life in terms of the glory of God. To be Reformed in our thinking is to be God-centered. Salvation is from the Lord from beginning to end, and even our existence is a gift from Him.
Biblical Talks with Elder Michael Tolliver Podcast
A Spotlight on the Scriptures: Lamentations 3:22-23
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Discover the transformative power of mercy with Paul Tripp's insights as we explore the heartening message of Lamentations 3, verses 22 and 23. Our conversation ventures into the depths of how mercy, not the law, offers profound strength and comfort during our most trying moments. Embrace the notion that each morning, an unwavering supply of mercies, perfectly tailored to our individual circumstances, await us.
In this episode, we share an uplifting narrative of a young boy whose simple request for a sandwich is met with unexpected generosity, mirroring the surplus of grace we often receive from the Divine. This story serves as a metaphor for the boundless mercy that exceeds our own desires and needs. Tune in for an engaging discussion that promises to buoy your spirits and refresh your outlook on the spiritual resilience we can all tap into, day after day.
Have a blessed day, and thanks for listening! Visit my website to learn more at https://www.biblicaltalks.com
This is the spotlight on the scriptures Lamentations 3, 22 and 23. The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning. Great is your faithfulness.
Speaker 1:Paul Tripp said mercy is the theme of God's story. Mercy is the thread that runs through all of scripture. Mercy is the reason for Jesus' coming. Mercy is what your desperate heart needs. Mercy is the healer your relationship needs. Mercy is what gives you comfort in weakness and hope in times of trials.
Speaker 1:Mercy can do what the law is powerless to do. Mercy not only meets you in your struggles, but guarantees that someday your struggles will end. Mercy is what the sin-broken world groans for. Mercy triumphs where justice can't. If God offers us only justice, no one will run to him. It is in the knowledge of his mercy that makes us honestly face ourselves and gladly run to him.
Speaker 1:Listen, God's mercy is new every morning. We all get mercies every morning, but it doesn't come to all of us in the same size and shape. God knows what you are, he knows who you are, he knows where you are. He knows what you are facing in this life. He meets you just with the right mercies for that moment. Stop allowing yourself to judge your life in a way that is devoid of new morning mercies. Could there be a greater consolation than knowing that these three hope-giving words, his mercies, are new every morning? A little boy one day came to his mother and said Mama, give me a peanut butter sandwich. The mother made him a peanut butter sandwich, but then he looked at it and smiled. He said Mama, I asked you for a peanut butter sandwich and you put gel on it too. Beloved, you know what mercy is. Mercy is when God not only gives you what you ask for, but he adds a little extra to it too. He gives you and me more than we deserve. This is a spotlight on the scriptures.
