Episode Summary:

In this episode of The Bold Apologia Podcast, we enter into a deep dive into the doctrine of justification with a message straight from Hebrews 4: Stop Striving, Start Trusting: The Promise Still Stands. Many believers today struggle with assurance, feeling as though they must work to maintain God’s favor. But the truth of justification is that salvation is entirely the work of God, not of human effort.

Drawing from Hebrews 4, we explore how Israel’s unbelief kept them from entering God’s rest and how many Christians today fall into the same trap—striving to earn what Christ has already secured. The call of Scripture is clear: trust in Christ’s finished work, rest in His grace, and approach the throne of God with confidence.

Key Topics Covered in This Episode:

✔ The Burden of Striving – Why so many believers struggle to rest in their justification

✔ Hebrews 4 Explained – A verse-by-verse breakdown of what it means to enter God’s rest

✔ The Danger of Unbelief – How Israel’s failure to trust in God’s promise serves as a warning to us today

✔ Jesus, Our Greater High Priest – Why we can confidently rest in Christ’s completed work

✔ Practical Application – What it looks like to stop striving and start trusting

Key Scriptures:

• Ephesians 2:8-9 – Salvation is by grace through faith, not by works

• Romans 10:3 – The danger of trying to establish our own righteousness

• Hebrews 4 – The call to enter God’s rest through faith

• John 19:30 – “It is finished” – The finality of Christ’s redemptive work

• Psalm 95:11 – A warning from Israel’s unbelief

• Colossians 2:16 – True rest is found in Christ, not religious works

• Hebrews 4:16 – Approaching God’s throne of grace with confidence

Quotes from the Episode:

• “You contribute nothing to your salvation except the sin that made it necessary.” – Jonathan Edwards

• “Justification is the hinge the entire gospel swings on.”

• “True faith does not merely hear God’s promise—it enters into it.”

• “We work FROM approval, not FOR approval!”

Reflection Questions:

1. Are there areas in your life where you feel like you’re striving instead of trusting in God’s grace?

2. What strongholds or fears are keeping you from fully resting in Christ’s finished work?

3. Hebrews 4:16 calls us to approach God’s throne with confidence—what burden do you need to bring before Him today?

Takeaway:

The promise still stands—God’s rest is available today. If you’ve been feeling the weight of striving to earn God’s favor, let this episode be a reminder: Stop striving, start trusting. Jesus has already done the work. Will you enter into His rest?

Music: Abstract Style‎

‎Musician: QubeSounds‎

‎URL: https://pixabay.com/music/abstract-style-121455/%E2%80%8E

Modern culture often portrays faith and science as being in conflict, but this is a false dichotomy. The Bible is not a science textbook, nor does it claim to be, but it speaks truthfully when it addresses the natural world. Its primary purpose is to reveal God’s character and redemptive plan, not to provide a technical manual on physics or biology. However, modern science exists precisely because of the Christian worldview, which teaches that the universe is rational, orderly, and governed by consistent laws that human reason can discover. Join me and Jay Seegert in this upcoming episode of the Bold Apologia Podcast as we explore why Christianity is not an enemy of science but its very foundation.

For More of Jay Seegert's Content: https://www.thestartingpointproject.com/

In this compelling episode, we bring together a panel of deep thinkers, scholars, and podcasters to tackle one of the most debated theological topics in modern Christianity: cessationism versus continuationism. Joining the conversation are your host, Adam Parker, Matthew McGuire, author of A Magical World; David Miller, author of Redacted: The Secret History of Exorcism; and Michael Young, host of The Charismatic Cheetah Podcast. Together, we take a thoughtful and thorough approach to refuting cessationism, making the case that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are still active and available today.

Throughout our discussion, we explore:

• Biblical Foundations: Examining key scriptures often used in cessationist arguments and demonstrating why they do not support the cessation of spiritual gifts.

• Historical Continuity: Tracing evidence of spiritual gifts throughout church history, from the early church fathers to present-day testimonies.

• The Power of Experience: Experience isn’t the end all be all, but it’s just one more witness in the case for Continuationism. You’ll hear Personal accounts and compelling stories of how the Holy Spirit continues to work in miraculous ways today.

• Addressing Common Objections: Responding to concerns about prophecy, tongues, and healing in the modern church, specifically Charismatic abuses.

This episode is not just about theological debate. It is about rekindling a passion for the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. Whether you are a continuationist looking for biblical support, a skeptic open to hearing the other side, or a cessationist willing to engage with an alternative perspective, this conversation will challenge and inspire you.

Tune in for a rich and thought-provoking dialogue on why the gifts of the Holy Spirit have not ceased and why they matter now more than ever.

Read Matthew McGuire's Book, "A Magical World," by purchasing it here: https://mattmcguire.net/home.html

Read David Miller's Book, "Redacted, The Secret History Of Exorcism," by purchasing it here: https://www.expeditionaryrevival.org/shop

Follow Michael Young's Charismatic Cheetah Podcast here: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLPMqiudbezxvLffmzUA1y_PJ5UCxL3iUA&si=fRcNofJoDT7Sjoyr

Read the Poythress Article on Spiritual Gifts Here: https://frame-poythress.org/modern-spiritual-gifts-as-analogous-to-apostolic-gifts-affirming-extraordinary-works-of-the-spirit-within-cessationist-theology/

Read Rick M. Nanez's book, "Full Gospel, Fractured Minds?" by purchasing it here: https://a.co/d/5LPg4OB

‎Music:Abstract Style‎

‎Musician:QubeSounds‎

‎URL: https://pixabay.com/music/abstract-style-121455/%E2%80%8E