Relentless Truth with John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes With all of the uncertainty we face in this world, we can rest in the truth of Scripture. Preeminent among those truths is the fact that Jesus Christ our Lord is entirely our sufficiency. In this episode, we discuss what this amazing truth means to us. God’s Sovereignty God is entirely sovereign. God is sovereign over salvation. No one is consigned to eternal damnation for any reason other than rejection of Jesus Christ. Salvation is offered to everyone, without limitation. Salvation is by faith alone in Christ alone. God gave man volition. God can’t do anything – He can’t do things that are inconsistent with His character. God is sovereign, man has free will, and man is entirely accountable before God for his sin. God can’t change. God doesn’t need to, nor will he ever, adjust along the way because of being surprised. He is immutable – unchanging. His character is consistent. Forced freedom is a contradiction in terms. God can and will only save the willing. God is the first cause. God knows all future free actions. God is eternal, and He knows eternally. God’s knowledge is not limited whatsoever by time. God sees future events in His eternal present. God’s perfect knowledge includes the knowledge of all future free events. Our Will We are finite. We are bound by time. We are entirely subject to God. We don’t get to, nor should we try to, evaluate God. But He gave us a will. He grants volition to us. And we are accountable to Him. Jesus Christ is our sufficiency. Period. The Holy Spirit is the guarantee of our eternal inheritance. He is our guarantor. We can rest in the entire godhead. God can be trusted. He can be relied on. We have an eternal inheritance that is immeasurable because of God and His work through Christ. He is above all else, and we can rest in Him. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “With all the uncertainty we face in this world, we can rest in the truth of Scripture.  Preeminent among those truths is the fact Jesus Christ our Lord is entirely our sufficiency.” John Warren

Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses how Paul addresses the challenges of Ephesus by focusing on the supremacy of Christ.

Today on Relentless Truth, John discusses how to grow in God's grace and how to live the Christian life using the book of Ephesians.

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Last week, we looked at the definition of truth. This week, we discuss the source of truth. God is the source of all truth. He is truth. Modern View of Truth The modern view of truth is that it is not objective or absolute. Postmodernism isn’t real because it deconstructs language. If it is true, we can’t communicate because meaning or truth is subject to the environment. Truth is so subjective that those with opposing, mutually exclusive views can all be right or truthful. When we withhold the truth from someone, we aren’t loving them, we are cheating them. This is actually a selfish act that feels humble and sensitive to the other person. Yes, there is a time for careful, thoughtful delivery, but withholding the truth is harmful, even detrimental to the well-being of others. Biblical View of Truth It is possible that reality as we see it is not consistent with Scripture. Hardness of heart is something that should concern us. We tend, when we sin, to deny reality. This leads to a hardness of heart, as described in Romans 1, which causes us to diminish our ability to grasp the truth. One of the benefits of Christian community is our ability to communicate truth with each other. There are tremendous benefits associated with communicating truth in a loving manner in Christian community. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “This week, we discuss the source of truth.  God is the source of all truth.  He is truth.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes What is truth? How do we know what we know? What makes truth actually true? Truth is true and lies are lies. Who we say God is is one of the most important things about us. Who we say Jesus is is also important. Is He fully and truly God? Do Jesus and God have the same substance? Postmodernism  Postmodernism is a worldview of sorts that claims there is no objective truth. Since this statement is, in fact, a claim to absolute truth, logically, this worldview quickly falls apart. It is not logically possible for multiple people to be correct while holding to differing positions on a subject with mutually exclusive alternatives. Questions actually have answers, and problems have solutions. At some point, the postmodernist finds that language breaks down and loses meaning. Postmodernism, if taken to its end, is incoherent. Truth  Scripture is our source of truth. God has revealed Himself to us in various ways. One way is through general revelation, and the other is through specific revelation. There are multiple ways in which we see truth revealed through general revelation, and God has chosen to reveal His truth to us specifically through the Bible. We explore these concepts in this crucial episode. How do we anchor ourselves in Scripture so that we are certain that we believe the truth? This episode offers insightful perspectives that will transform the way we approach life’s questions. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview  Today, John answers the question: How do we anchor ourselves in Scripture so that we are certain that we believe the truth?

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Today’s episode offers perspectives on the economy and current events. How should we view the economy? Where are we headed? Are there economic indicators that will assist us as we think about the future? I don’t provide financial or investment advice, but in this important episode, we look at the economy and current events and try to make sense of all of this in the context of Scripture. Political Violence I also discuss the alarming trend toward political violence in our Country. How do we view the increase in shootings and other crimes that appear to be politically motivated? What does this say about our mental health as a nation? Are there common threads we can learn from here? I discuss my thoughts on Charlie Kirk and his horrible assassination. I comment on Turning Point USA and their ongoing mission. While the ecumenical nature of the focus of some of their events concerns me, I support the positive impact that Charlie and others associated with TPUSA have caused among young people. The Government Shutdown Finally, I discuss the government shutdown. It is time for Congress to come together to approve a continuing resolution. This is in the best interest of our great Nation, and the protracted shutdown harms the people our government is supposed to serve. I close by pointing out that few members of Congress seem to care about our budget deficits and national debt. The pain required and the political price that must be paid seem to push this weighty issue into the background. We can rest in the fact that God is in control. Scripture comforts us as we struggle with division and other struggles. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “Today’s episode offers perspectives on the economy and current events and tries to help make sense of all of this in the context of Scripture.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Dr. Sarah Gothard received her Ph.D. in Computer Science from Clemson University and has been a Computer Science professor for 20 years at five different universities. She is currently an associate professor at Bob Jones University and teaches courses at all university levels, from introductory technology courses to senior software engineering. She is currently experimenting with the impact of test-driven software design on student success. In addition to her academic work, Sarah has created “Mobile Hymns,” a sheet music phone app used by thousands of Christians around the world, especially in Africa. She is also a wife and a mother to three young daughters. She loves discussions about the Bible and big ideas and is passionate about helping people grow in their understanding and love for God.  Poor Stand-Ins On today’s episode, Dr. Gothard shares wisdom on the topic of unfulfilling substitutes. She discusses her optimism for Bob Jones University, the challenges of Public Universities, and the recent growth in Christian University enrollment. Dr. Gothard discusses “poor stand-ins” that we embrace in this life. These are in our culture today, and they “feel like they are going to satisfy us.” She explains the biblical explanation for this and God’s fulfilling plan for the lives of His people. Risks of AI Sarah explains the dangers of online imagery, the risks of AI as a poor stand-in for genuine companionship, and the consequent diminishment of actual relationships. She offers practical alternatives and solid advice to young and older adults who experience these struggles. Sarah discusses the consequences of behaviors that we engage in with little thought. This conversation features practical advice based on Scripture and seasoned with Sarah’s many years of experience working with students. Please enjoy the blessing of Sarah’s expertise and share this episode with friends. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “On today’s episode, Dr.  Gothard shares wisdom on the topic of “poor stand-ins” that we embrace in this life.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes In Galatians 4, Paul teaches us not to continue to live like slaves since we have been freed. This principle is life-changing. We tend to continue to embrace the sins that enslave us. The freedom that we have in Christ is to be enjoyed, and we can’t do that if we remain in captivity. Captive to Sin We tend to deny reality by thinking we can live in sin without its consequences. We develop idols and somehow think they won’t bring us into captivity. If we are rational, we wouldn’t choose to go back to the life we lived before we knew God. Paul teaches that this is precisely what we do when we remain captive to our sin. Free in Christ Why do we settle for the lesser? The counterfeit? The insufficient? The captivating but unfulfilling? Jesus warns that we can’t serve God and material things like money. Paul is telling us here that we shouldn’t turn back now that we have come to know God. Turning back to the weak and worthless, simple things makes no sense. Choose the greater rather than the lesser. Why would we choose the slavery of sin over freedom in Christ? Encourage one another with these amazing truths! Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “In Galatians 4, Paul teaches us not to continue to live like slaves since we have been freed.  The freedom that we have in Christ is to be enjoyed, and we can’t do that if we remain in captivity.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes All of Scripture points to Jesus Christ our Lord. The Law, the Old Testament, and the New Testament point to Christ. Today, we see the parallels between Paul’s instructions in Galatians and Romans 2 regarding our performance. How good is good enough to meet God’s standard? Is meeting God’s standard our objective? Can we reach a level that God finds acceptable with our efforts? The Law We are to live by faith. But what does this look like? Paul answers these questions in Galatians 3. The law is consistent with Jesus Christ’s teachings. The law does not give us life, but Jesus does. In this episode, we discuss the consistency of all of Scripture. The law has justified no one. Scripture is clear on this. We are justified by faith. The law serves a specific purpose, but it does not justify. It reveals God’s character and helps us understand his moral design for the universe. From Slaves to Sons We transition from slaves to sons in Christ. This encouraging truth is due to the finished work of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and our adoption in Him. This sonship is a game-changer, and it isn’t due to our effort. Praise God, we can celebrate our sonship in Christ as we walk by faith in Him. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “All of Scripture points to Jesus Christ our Lord.  Today, we will look at how the law is consistent with Jesus Christ’s teaching, but cannot save.  We are justified by faith alone, in Christ alone.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Today’s episode is about living a life of significance. Almost everyone I know, though some would deny this, aspires to live a meaningful life that matters. There is something in us, perhaps because we are all made in God’s image and are all victims of the fall of man, that seeks purpose. Yet, many people complain about living a life that involves struggles and even futility. A Life of Significance The sufficiency of the grace of God is a doctrine that we tend to struggle to embrace. Although it is futile for us to try to earn God’s favor through our good works, we tend to default to a setting that pushes us in that direction. Our Problem with Self-Sufficiency In this episode, we examine Paul’s perspective on this challenge and Paul’s convenient instructions for addressing the problem of our self-sufficiency. A life of futility asks, “Am I good enough for God?” A life of contentment is focused on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In this important episode, we discuss the what and how of this aspect of the Christian life. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “The sufficiency of the grace of God is a doctrine that we struggle to embrace.  Today, we will exam the apostle Paul’s perspective on addressing the problem of self-sufficiency.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Paul’s ministry involved regularly battling false teaching. He did this in various settings throughout the world, and he did so with ideologies that were harmful to the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The Gospel Stories are valuable sources of instruction for us. The Apostle Paul tells the story of his life in his epistles. Luke tells much of the story of Paul’s life in Acts. In this episode, we discuss Paul’s perspective in Galatians on the story of his preaching the Gospel. Paul’s Conversion Paul’s conversion informs us on the significance of his conversion to Christ. Our conversion is as dramatic and valuable. This episode focuses on the sufficiency of God’s grace for us. Paul blends the divine and the human as he tells his story. God uses people in our lives to impact us for His Kingdom. Be encouraged by Paul’s story and his example for us. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “This episode focuses on the sufficiency of God’s grace for us.  The apostle Paul blends the divine and the human as he tells his story.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Is there a reliable version of the Bible? Are there some translations and paraphrases of the Bible that are inaccurate and even heretical? Biblical Accuracy In this episode, I discuss the translation process and theory, and the authenticity and reliability of Scripture. The Bible is foundational to the Christian faith; thus, it is important that we understand it and rely on it as our source of truth. Please share this important information with your friends and your Pastor. And please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions on this important topic. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “The Bible is foundational to the Christian faith; thus, it is important that we understand it and rely on it as our source of truth.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes How do we see God? Do we actually trust God? What we think of when we think about God’s nature or essence is important, as it informs our objective view of God. Our conversation today is about how we are to live in Christian community. How do we relate to the way God works in the world today? The Story of the Prodigal The story of the prodigal is helpful as it informs us about who God is and who man is. We sometimes ignore the older brother, but he provides a powerful look into our depravity as it surfaces in our relationships. The way we feel and express empathy is telling. The older brother in the parable of the prodigal lacked empathy. Jesus gives us informative examples and models the empathy we are to emulate. Our lack of empathy is emblematic of a problem in our hearts. Empathy Our view of the world, our view of ourselves, and our view of God inform our sense of empathy. We deny God’s work in other people’s lives when we don’t value them. The older brother denies God’s work in the prodigal. We often conclude that the other person doesn’t deserve God’s grace, but we see ourselves as entitled to His grace. As we become informed by Scripture, we understand that God works in the lives of His people. We come to the end of ourselves and recognize God’s amazing grace in our lives when we see the world clearly according to Scripture. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “How we view God’s nature or essence is important, as it informs our objective view of God.  Today, we will discuss how we are to live in Christian community, and how do we relate to the way God works in the world.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes Iran seems to have caused myriad issues that impact the security interests of the U.S. and our allies. Iran is an Islamic state. In this episode, I discuss their particular type of Islam and its nuances. Islam’s History After an overview of Islam’s history, I explain Sunni and Shia Islam. Iran is a theocracy, which means that the religious leader runs the government. Allah and the government are united in Iran. Iranian Culture Iranians are generally smart, industrious people who value Western culture. I explain some of the confusion over Israel and our appropriate view of this country. There is much confusion about Israel in Scripture and much strife between Israel and Iran (and other Islamic governments). In this episode, we look at these critical matters. It is important for us to be biblically informed on Islam, Israel, and eschatology and to be able to relate this information to recent events. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “It is important for us to be biblically informed on Islam, Israel and eschatology and to be able to relate this information to recent events.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes I am sometimes frustrated by outcomes that seem natural but are less than optimal. When good people, and by that I mean Christ followers, do battle over issues, it hurts me deeply to see an outcome that could have been avoided. Recovery and Reconciliation Sometimes, we treat these matters like recovery and reconciliation are impossible. That isn’t consistent with Scripture’s teaching, but it is sadly a function of human nature. The Central Florida Presbytery In this episode, I am asking the PCA, particularly the Central Florida Presbytery, to restore and reconcile Dr. Burk Parsons to his ministry as Senior Pastor at Saint Andrew’s Chapel. Too often, I believe, we treat reconciliation as if it is impossible because an aggrieved party just won’t have it. Wise and discerning voices should seek a path that is restorative for all, and I believe that is possible in this case. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “When good people, and by that I mean Christ followers, do battle over issues, it hurts me deeply to see an outcome that could have been avoided.” John Warren

Subscribe ▼ Show Notes I am often amazed at how life provides valuable lessons. A couple of weeks ago, a “Pastor” told me that he doesn’t believe in apologetics. He went on to explain that apologists are too negative. He went on to explain that he doesn’t believe the Bible is inerrant or inspired. In fact, he said that if a person understands historical context, they know they must be gay affirming. He was harsh and cruel in style. My interaction with this man gave me pause and made me think about the importance of being grounded in biblical truth. Biblical Truth I have never been a particularly solid sleeper. But there was a period about twenty years ago wherein I would awaken at about 4 AM every day. I went into my home office and read my Bible, books written by theologians, and websites with devotionals. I even engaged with Christian counselling sites that provided some helpful truths. This went on for several years. We became increasingly involved in our church, and I was introduced to various ministry leaders. Even through our church, I learned so much theology during this period. This background is the reason I advocate strongly for knowing and defending the truth. Several men have poured into me through their ministries. I gained a solid foundation and became able to deal with nuanced issues. I was better able to deal with life decisions and all that we encounter in this sinful world. I went deeper and deeper into Scripture and gained a better understanding of various truths that had troubled me throughout my life. Self-Reliance So, I can relate to the challenges Paul is dealing with in Galatia. His preparation and ability to see beneath the surface is a beautiful testimony of God’s faithfulness and Paul’s hard work. Paul understood the reasons behind the false teaching in Galatia that attempted to add to the Gospel. A theme throughout Paul’s epistles is man adding self-reliance to the Gospel. This episode addresses the earth-shattering, counterintuitive Gospel. We must know and hold tightly to biblical truth. Paul provides a wonderful example of this sort of spiritual troubleshooting throughout much of his writing. God’s faithfulness and our obedience work together in beautiful harmony as we know and defend truth. Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in spreading our reach across the world. Please contact me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview “This episode addresses the earth-shattering, counter intuitive Gospel.” John Warren