The Ekklesia is a group of Christ Followers who come together to be the living body of Christ. We image him by living in love and unity and continually being a witness to the Kingdom Rule of Christ in the world. 4 Things the church is: a Bride, a House, a Body, and a Family Bride Rev 19:7; Eph 5 House Ephesians 2:11-22; 1 Peter 2:1-10; 1 Cor 6:19 Body 1 Cor 12:12-30; Eph1:20-23; Col 1:21-29 Family The church is described as New Birth, Children of God, sons of God, brothers and sisters, fathers, ...
Oct 29, 2021•58 min
We see that in the Biblical Narrative (and still true today) there are only 2 kingdoms: "The World" and the Kingdom of God. All the structures and systems of the world are influenced and run by Satan and the Powers. The Bible speaks of this often in the way it uses the word “kosmos” usually translated as World. It can mean a few things 1) the earth or creation, 2) The people of the earth, or 3) the systems of world (under the enemy). Examples of Kosmos: 1 John 5:19; James 4:4; Matthew 4:8; Mark ...
Oct 21, 2021•59 min
When we talk about Kingdom, we need to have 5 ideas at play. All 5 are necessary ingredients to define the Kingdom of God King Rule or a reign A People A Law Land So, it’s a king who rules by rescuing and saving people. A People who live the way of Jesus reflecting and imaging the king in sacred space… we are sacred space but our home and churches are also this space and we take this Kingdom with us and expand it as we live like the king and teach others to live under his Rule and his Law. The G...
Oct 14, 2021•48 min
Matt launches a series on Expedition 44 looking at the Kingdom of God and how to live as Kingdom citizens. Christoformity To be conformed/transformed into the image of Christ (Romans 8:29- the purpose of salvation) and reflect that in our daily life. The church has gotten off track when it comes to discipleship. We think that to create a disciple is to teach someone how to make a conversion or just share their faith. True discipleship is to reflect Jesus; to become more like Jesus. The Word of G...
Oct 07, 2021•53 min
Where have we been and what conclusions have we come to with atonement? Intro • What is Atonement? We saw that the word atonement is an etymology (At- One- Ment) but the Bible speaks more of the words (KPR and hilasterion) translated as atonement as covering or purging. Expiation of sin not propitiation of wrath. God is not acted upon, sin is. Sacrificial system Sacrifices: o Burnt offering is about a gift and just wanting to spend time with God. o Grain offering is about remembering the covenan...
Sep 17, 2021•45 min
PSA advocates claim that this theory was there from the beginning, and this is witnessed by the church fathers. Yet the Church Fathers don’t really have modern atonement theories when they speak about the cross. They use phrases like “Jesus died for us”, “Jesus shed his blood for us”, they connect the cross with forgiveness, Jesus freeing humanity from a curse, Jesus as a ransom, Jesus as the 2nd Adam, etc. Though they use this “biblical language” do they mean what PSA has defined them as. Many ...
Sep 10, 2021•1 hr 10 min
Major issues with the double imputation paradigm: The assumption of perfection as the goal rather than what Genesis says: Imaging God (defined as relationship, vocation, and allegiance). If you are building on the wrong foundation, you’ll always get the wrong answers. Punishment as a prerequisite to forgiveness. The bible states that God forgives and casts sin away. It never states that punishment is pre-requisite for forgiveness. This is payment and not forgiveness. o The assumption of the ...
Sep 02, 2021•1 hr 4 min
observed on justification. 1.The question of justification is a matter of covenant membership . The underlying question in (for instance) Gal. 3 and 4 is: Who are the true children of Abraham? Paul’s answer is that membership belongs to all who believe in the gospel of Jesus, whatever their racial or moral background. 2.The basis of this declaration is the representative death and resurrection of Jesus himself . The resurrection is God’s declaration that Sin has been dealt with and Jesus and his...
Aug 25, 2021•57 min
Today we get to the crucial question of what does it mean that "Jesus died for us?”, The Nicaean Creed says that Jesus died “for us and for our salvation” In evangelical and western theology, we make a lot of these phrases, and they are important theologically, but we put a lot of freight into the preposition “FOR” and assume an understanding that might not even be in the text. “For” Does this phrase, “for us” (or “for all”), mean “for our sake” (benefaction), or “on our behalf” (representation)...
Aug 04, 2021•53 min
Doc Ryan and Matt Mouzakis Dive into atonement in the book of Hebrews. By offering his own life and blood Jesus made purification (1:3) and atonement for sin ( 2:17 - 18). These are big picture summary statements. But where, how, and by what logic? For this, we need other passages to provide details. • Jesus’ death obviously happened on the cross, but Hebrews is explicit that the atonement happened somewhere else—in 9:11 -14, 24—the heavenly tabernacle. Atonement didn’t happen on the cross. • Je...
Jul 31, 2021•58 min
What is Romans about? Romans is a pastoral letter that does contain theology but the purpose is not to lay out systematic theology. The theology in the letter is to service Paul's purpose in the Roman church dealing with issues between the weak and the strong. The Gospel Romans 1:2-4 is Paul’s Gospel. Some think the gospel of which Paul is “not ashamed of” comes after Romans 1:16 -17 (beginning with wrath on humanity) but it is actually what he begins his letter with, and he explicitly states it...
Jul 31, 2021•1 hr 4 min
Ransom for many Matt 10:28 /Mark 10:41 -45 • Ransom: Lutron in Greek. Means the price of release or manumission (release from slavery). In its primary usage, the lutron/kōpher referred to neither a sacrifice for sin nor a punishment for transgression, but a price of release or a price of return. o Kopher (Hebrew of Greek Lutron) is used this way: God’s redemption of Israel from exile: “I give Egypt as your ransom (kōpher), Ethiopia and Seba in exchange for you” (Isa 43:3) • Is Jesus a substitute...
Jul 23, 2021•1 hr 8 min
3 views: • PSA view of bearing sin and wrath. Sees this as a direct prophecy about the Messiah • Historical view sees the servant as Israel as it is defined elsewhere in Isaiah. • The context is about Israel, Christ is the fulfillment of Israel. We only use this text in the way the NT writers apply it and nothing further. LXX (Septuagint) •When it comes to Isaiah 53 when it is quoted in the NT it shows that God is not killing the servant, but people are. God heals the servant. •Usually, the best...
Jul 19, 2021•1 hr 6 min
Leviticus 16 The “Sin” offering goat Both goats are called a sin/purification/decontamination offering and the reason is that is that the lots have not been cast yet over these two. So, since we don't know yet which ones going to be the actual sin offering, they’re both referred to that way. We don't know which one’s going to be for the Lord, which one was to be for azazel. A better way to translate “Atonement” here is to make expiation with it, or to make a purging with it. The whole notion of ...
Jul 14, 2021•1 hr 12 min
Doc Ryan and Matt continue a series on Atonement. We’re probably all familiar with the story of the Exodus where God calls Moses to stand up to Pharoah in order to set the Hebrews free. There were 10 plagues and each of these plagues was a judgement on an Egyptian god. Essentially, it’s a cosmic battle here. Here is what God says about the 10th plague… Exodus 12:1-13 12 “On that same night I will pass through Egypt and strike down every firstborn of both people and animals, and I will bring judg...
Jul 13, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Doc Ryan and Matt continue their series on Biblical Atonement. Sacrifice: Burnt offering is about a gift and just wanting to spend time with God. Grain offering is about remembering the covenant The well-being (Peace) offering is simply a thank you to God The Purification (sin) offering is about cleansing sacred space The guilt or reparation offering is about restitution for an unintentional “sins” (many of there were ritual sins and not moral sins). Primarily about repentance and not repayment....
Jul 09, 2021•1 hr 14 min
Doc Ryan and Matt begin a series on Biblical Atonement. Today’s Episode covers What is Atonement? Atonement is a made-up word in English because we didn’t have a word to completely express what the action of sacrifice accomplished from a Hebrew perspective. Sin: In the OT we have a few terms for sins such as rebellion (pesha), infidelity (meshubah), disloyalty (beged), getting dirty or stained (tum’ah), wandering (‘avon), trespass (ma’al), transgression (‘abar), and missing the mark (chatta’t). ...
Jul 08, 2021•58 min
Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women in ministry. 1 Timothy 3:1-7 Titus 1:6-9 Can women be elders? Nearly all English versions use the masculine pronoun (he) and the possessive (his) in 1 Tim 3:1-7. For example, the NIV above uses “he” seven times and “his” four times. But in the Greek text all the verbs are generically expressed, capable of being either gender, and there are no masculine pronouns or possessives. One Woman Man the purpose of this phrase is not the gender bu...
May 10, 2021•34 min
Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women in ministry. Can Women Preach/Teach/Lead? 1 Cor 14:31 -39 1 Tim 2:11 -15 Textual Criticism Are 1 Cor 14:34 -35 original to the text? Manuscript evidence indicates that verses 34-35 may be a later addition and not original and should possibly be omitted or put in brackets or as a footnote in our translations. If this is original, it must fit the context where women and men are permitted to prophesy and pray. Context of 1 Timothy The pu...
May 10, 2021•38 min
Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt continue the series on women in ministry. 1 Corinthians 11:2-16 Ephesians 5 Head in 1 Cor 11:3 • Christ is the head of man- meaning Jesus is both the creator and the 2nd Adam. He is the source of the man’s life in the familial sense and as creator. • Man is the head of the woman- meaning source. Woman came from man. Paul in verse 12 levels the field by saying every man since Adam has come from a woman. • Head of Christ is God- The messiah came from God to us (the in...
May 10, 2021•28 min
Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt look at the tough topic of women in ministry. Complementarian: men and women have different but complementary roles and responsibilities in marriage, family life, and religious leadership. There is an important distinction between equality of worth and sameness of role. God has called men and women to different roles. They believe the Bible shows that men are called to lead the family and in the church. Men and women are equal in value, but different in function. Eg...
May 10, 2021•26 min
Doc Ryan and Matt Mouzakis with Expedition 44 look at the wrath of God. We just finished a series on hell and sometimes when we think of Hell we think of divine wrath. We are also doing a series on Tough Topics in the Bible at our church and did an installment on divine violence and wrath came up in our conversation pertaining to that. When we think of God’s wrath it is sometime in the context of an angry dad who “flies off the handle” without a moment’s notice. If we already think of God as a d...
May 10, 2021•47 min
Dr. Will Ryan, Pastor Matt Mouzakis, and Jana Diaz finish up a great series on the different views on hell. In this episode we answer a few questions we've been asked and also revisit our framing questions from the intro episode.
Apr 06, 2021•37 min
• Traditionalists believe that the soul was created immortal. o Greek philosophy held to an immortal soul and some early church theologians held this view as well and it became the default position in the church since. • The fire may be literal or figurative o CS Lewis and NT Wright take the view of someone becoming less of the image of God (Eternal Goluming) o Tertullian, Aquinas, Augustine, Calvin, and Johnathan Edwards believed that the saints would rejoice to see the justice of God in the to...
Apr 06, 2021•58 min
Today Dr. Will Ryan and Matt tackle Christian Universalism, or Ultimate Reconciliation, Or Universal Restoration, Or Patristic Universalism. This view states that all shall be saved. It is not pluralism which means all roads lead to God. This Christian view of universalism states that through faith in Christ alone all shall be saved. This view affirms all cardinal doctrines of the Christian faith and believes in judgement and many believe in a literal Hell, Universal Restorationists (UR) just be...
Apr 02, 2021•1 hr 16 min
Dr. Will Ryan, Pastor Matt, and Jana examine the Conditional Immortality/Annihilation view of hell. We look at the Biblical and philosophical arguments and then the strengths and weaknesses. Conditional immortality states that immortality is not the default position of humans in this view. Adam and Eve’s life depended upon eating from the tree of life the eternal life of humanity is in eating from the true tree of Life – Jesus. • Conditional Immortality has an extremely strong case biblically. I...
Mar 20, 2021•1 hr 15 min
Dr. Will Ryan and Matt interview Christ Date from Rethinking Hell on the "Big 3" hell texts that connect the word eternal and an act of punishment/judgement. Matthew 25:31 -46 Revelation 14:9-11 Revelation 20:10 -15 We examine if these texts affirm the traditional view or the conditional immortality (annihilation) view of Hell. Chris Date is Adjunct Professor of Bible and Theology at Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary and co-editor of Rethinking Hell: Readings in Evangelical...
Mar 17, 2021•58 min
Dr. Will Ryan, Pastor Matt Mouzakis and Jana Diaz begin a series on Hell. o Our view of hell must be rooted in our view of God’s character. • Today we will give an overview of each view along with some common texts to show their merit. • In the upcoming episodes we’ll try to unbiasedly cover each view with its Biblical strengths and weaknesses along with philosophical strengths and weaknesses. • We’re going to have an interview with Chris Date from Rethinking Hell • We’ll conclude the series wit...
Mar 10, 2021•53 min
Doc Ryan with Expedition 44 and Pastor Matt Mouzakis • Get our focus off of the acquisition of possessions and money because they run contrary to the kingdom vision; be generous and store up treasures in heaven. You can only serve 1 master. • Don’t worry or be anxious because God knows your needs and he provides. • Our role as humans is to love and show mercy; we are ambassadors of God’s reconciliation. God alone is judge. • We are called to discern but not condemn. • The sermon on the mount is ...
Feb 20, 2021•54 min
Dr. Will Ryan and Pastor Matt Mouzakis discuss Free Will and open theism with Dr. Greg Boyd ( reknew.org ). Can God be immutable and also be dynamic (open)? Can we actually be free if God foreknows our future choices? Is it possible for God to alter His plans or simply go along with something that man asks in their relationship with God even though he might not know that it’s the best way. We seem to see this with Israel regularly something so simple as why would God be talked out of the theocra...
Feb 08, 2021•53 min
