Expedition 44 is Dr. Will Ryan's Theology Video Site. Dr. Ryan is the Chair of Theology and Biblical Studies for Covenant Theological Seminary.

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Every Year the seniors pass down objects to the junior class. Last year I was passed on the Golden Butter Knife from Raymond Wilson. This year I have to determine who I will pass it onto.

Ty and the Golden Butter Knife to miracle of sound -valhalla calling -ft peyton parrish JSB SPECIAL

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Original Sin: Implications & Conclusion (Part 6) 
 
In this series we have looked at the doctrine of Original Sin. We believe there was an original sin but disagree with the doctrine of Original Sin. We observed that Augustine introduced this doctrine into the church over 400 years after Jesus and none of the earliest church writers (or the Bible) affirm this doctrine. It’s actually more closely linked to Pagan and Gnostic ideas than Biblical Ideas. 
 
Recap: What is Original Sin? 
The doctrine of Original Sin teaches that because of Adam and Eve’s sin we are all born guilty before God and that we inherit their guilt from birth (Original Guilt). Augustine defined this though concupiscence which he believed that original sin was passed on sexually. 
 
Total Depravity 
Not only are we born with Original Sin, the guilt of Adam’s offense, but this also totally depraved and unable to respond to God according to this Doctrine. Total Depravity states that all mankind is born spiritually dead, possessing both Adam’s guilt and his sin nature and that man’s intellect, will, body, and spirit are so corrupt they cannot seek God or cry out for his help unless they are first saved and regenerated, given the gift of faith with a new heart and new mind. 
 
Infant Depravity 
According to John Calvin we are born “doomed from the womb”, and Voddie Baucham says all babies are “vipers in diapers”, born in the guilt of Adam and totally depraved. So in this view Jesus comes to save us from Original Sin (God’s wrath)… Or just save “the elect” (if you are consistent). 
We have shown in this series how all of this is a distortion of what the Bible says and we’re going to get into some of the theological implications of this view today in our conclusion, showing how those who hold to original Sin are building on the wrong foundation and bad readings of scripture. 
 
Theological Implications 
Distortion God’s Character 
Exodus 34:6-7 
 
Distortion of the view and nature of Humanity 
Original Sin distorts what the Bible says about the nature and value of humanity. They believe we are totally depraved and unable to seek after God and are like worms. But this tends to distort what the Bible actually says- we are made in God’s image and crowned with his glory (psalm 8). We are fearfully and wonderfully made and created “very good” (Gen 1). As we noted in our episode on the nature of man we have the ability to choose life or death. To submit to the yetzer ha tov or yetzer ha ra. We can sow to the Spirit or the Flesh as Paul says. 
 
 
Penal Substitutionary Atonement 
Anselm 
Wrath 
Limited Atonement 
 
The cross is not about satisfying wrath. It is actually about the liberation from the hostile Powers of Sin, Death, and the Devil and therefore the cross is a rescue. In this, there is still room for the wrath that is being stored up for the ungodly on the "Day of Wrath". 
 
Eternal Conscious Torment 
the notion of retributive punishment flows from original sin and what we have show earlier about Anselm’s medieval feudal views and Calvin’s retributive views of God. 
 
 
The Better Way 
There’s a better way to look at all of this. 
· In the garden Humans were made in God’s image to rule with him and keep creation 
· The humans sinned wanting to define good and evil on their own terms 
· God separated them from the tree of life so that they might not live forever in their sinful state 
· Adam did not transfer his guilt to all of humanity but transferred mortality to all (this is what Romans 5:12 says!) 
· We are not born guilty but born mortal and into an environment of death and sin and because of this we become sinners when we sin. 
· We are born with desires and they are neutral (yetzer). We can choose the good or the evil (tov/ra)- Choose life! 
· The world was held captive by the Powers (D32) , Sin, and Death and Jesus came to release us from that futility of slavery and death. He didn’t need to pay off the Father but rather was on a rescue mission. 
· We now are to walk by the Spirit and conform ourselves to the image of the Son and the Divine nature by walking in His Tov way of Life to return to our original purpose in Eden.

Original Sin: Implications & Conclusion (Part 6)

In this series we have looked at the doctrine of Original Sin. We believe there was an original sin but disagree with the doctrine of Original Sin. We observed that Augustine introduced this doctrine into the church over 400 years after Jesus and none of the earliest church writers (or the Bible) affirm this doctrine. It’s actually more closely linked to Pagan and Gnostic ideas than Biblical Ideas. 

Recap: What is Original Sin?
The doctrine of Original Sin teaches that because of Adam and Eve’s sin we are all born guilty before God and that we inherit their guilt from birth (Original Guilt). Augustine defined this though concupiscence which he believed that original sin was passed on sexually. 

Total Depravity
Not only are we born with Original Sin, the guilt of Adam’s offense, but this also totally depraved and unable to respond to God according to this Doctrine. Total Depravity states that all mankind is born spiritually dead, posse

Original Sin Series: Implications & Conclusion (Part 6) PROBLEMS WITH REFORMED THEOLOGY CALVINISM

Original Sin: Romans 5 (Part 5) Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt Mouzakis 
 
Romans 5 is the central Original Sin prooftext so today we’re going to dig in and look at what it says. As we mentioned in our first episode Augustine used Romans 5:12 as the cornerstone text for his doctrine of concupiscence, original sin, and infant depravity. First we need to set the context of Romans before we exegete the text. 
 
 
Context of Romans 
Romans is a pastoral (Shepherding) letter that does contain theology. The theology in the letter is to service Paul’s purpose in the Roman church (Lived theology and a lived gospel). 
 
 
Summary and connections to Original Sin in Romans 1-4 
As we have seen the narrative is that Jesus is the truly faithful Human and Jew. Because of his faithfulness and our faith in him we are reconciled to God and to our vocation as Imagers. (All have sinned and missed that Mark). 
· There are a lot of connections and allusions to Adam and the image of God but it never says anything about transferred guilt but Romans 1 actually shows how God’s wrath (“handing over”) leads to death just like in Eden. 
· Romans 2 says that pagan gentiles can do the things of the Law instinctively though they do not have it. This goes against total depravity. 
· All HAVE sinned (become sinners) they are not born sinners. But a better way to take this is that both Jews and Gentiles have gone off course from God’s original plan in the garden. 
· All of these arguments are to show how Jews and Gentiles are on an equal plain and need to come to unity in Jesus to truly live out the kingdom in their church. 
 
 
 
Romans 5:12-21 
 
 
All of Romans 5:12-21 is a contrast of 2 ways- Adam or Jesus… the way of life or the way of death: 
o We saw that the thing Adam brought was death through his sin 
o We do not inherit Adam’s sin but we are born into mortality 
o We become sinners when we sin and Adam introduced these systems of sin into the world by our expulsion from Eden 
o Sin and Death are seen as Powers that enslave us. We all need saving from death and from sin 
o Jesus defeats these Powers as the 2nd Adam and brings life. 
o The entire narrative of Romans up to Romans 5 is about “glory”- the image of God. The purpose of this life is for the purpose of being conformed to his image (Romans 8) 
o We can walk this way through the life of the Spirit 
 
Original sin? 
o Where is original sin and total depravity here? It is completely absent! 
o The only way you can get there is through reading Romans out of context. 
o We see that death is the focus and the thing that needs to be dealt with in order to get to the restoration of glory! 
 
Original Context: 
o The pastoral context of Romans is not just about some abstract theologies of original sin and total depravity, or a road to individual salvation (Romans road). 
o Paul exhorting the Roman house churches to live out the way of Jesus in unity instead of the divisions of the Weak and the Strong. He wants them to be conformed into Christ’s image and live out the gospel under Jesus’ kingship- GLORY and GLORIFICATION. 
o This message is also for us today- Choose the Life and Way of Christ and live in it (the Truth)! 
 
_________ 
 
 
Visit www.expedition44.com for posted articles and more. 
 
 
If you have comments or questions please email us at: ryan@expedition44.com, matt@expedition44.com

Original Sin: Romans 5 (Part 5) Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt Mouzakis
 
Romans 5 is the central Original Sin prooftext so today we’re going to dig in and look at what it says. As we mentioned in our first episode Augustine used Romans 5:12 as the cornerstone text for his doctrine of concupiscence, original sin, and infant depravity. First we need to set the context of Romans before we exegete the text. 


Context of Romans
Romans is a pastoral (Shepherding) letter that does contain theology. The theology in the letter is to service Paul’s purpose in the Roman church (Lived theology and a lived gospel). 


Summary and connections to Original Sin in Romans 1-4
As we have seen the narrative is that Jesus is the truly faithful Human and Jew. Because of his faithfulness and our faith in him we are reconciled to God and to our vocation as Imagers. (All have sinned and missed that Mark). 
·      There are a lot of connections and allusions to Adam and the image of God but it never says anything

Original Sin Series : Romans 5 (Part 5) Expedition 44 & Covenant Theological Seminary

Today Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt consider the incarnation of Jesus and the ramifications regarding Original Sin. 
 
We want to give a Shout out to Warren McGrew of Idol Killer and Will and Brian of The Church Split for their series’ on Original sin and for helping us articulate some of the content in this episode. 
 
• The immaculate conception of Mary is a late dogma created to prop up original sin. But not only this a “preservative redemption” is also needed for Mary to remain sinless 
• The Virgin birth in both Protestant and Catholic circles is used incorrectly to promote the doctrine of Original Sin. 
o For Catholics it deals with the issue of concupiscence 
o For Protestants it actually does nothing as Mary was born of human parents and still would transmit Original Sin 
o We affirm the virgin birth but in Isaiah 7 it is called a sign pointing to the miracle of the messiah and has nothing to do with original sin. 
• The way Protestants try to get around this is the hypostatic union, which we also affirm, but Protestants use it incorrectly to support this Doctrine. 
 
• 3 points from these verses: 
o Jesus came in flesh- he was fully human like us (yet fully God). He experienced what we do. 
o Jesus had no sin in him (he wasn’t born with it) 
o And Jesus never sinned 
 
• Thus, no Original sin if Jesus assumed exactly what we are and partook of the same nature yet did not sin. 
• If Original Sin is true and Jesus was spared it through the immaculate conception then Jesus was not like us in every way and cannot sympathize with our weaknesses and Hebrews 4:15 is a lie and Jesus is an unfit High Priest. 
o This is what the Doctrine of original sin gets us into. 
 
Conclusion/ The Better Way 
 
Jesus was fully God and Fully Man. He assumed all that we are so that he could make us all that he is and heal us. 
 
The Incarnation 
o We saw that Jesus came in the flesh just like us (but also fully God) 
o We saw that there was no sin in Jesus (no original sin) 
o We saw that Jesus did not sin 
 
We also looked at Mary and all the gymnastics that needed to happen with her to hold up this unbiblical doctrine. 
 
We looked at how Calvinists have no foundation to stand on with Original sin in the Virgin Birth (we affirm it!), the Hypostatic Union (in which they downplay Jesus’ humanity), and they come dangerously close to many Gnostic heresies. 
 
The Better Way 
As humans it is comforting to know that Jesus went through all that we did and was still sinless. He has redeemed us and comes beside us to conform us into his image. 
 
So rather than focusing on the negative theology of Augustinianism and Calvinism look at the beauty that is in Jesus becoming just like us in every way to heal us and make us whole! 
 
_________ 
 
Visit www.expedition44.com for posted articles and more. 
 
If you have comments or questions please email us at: ryan@expedition44.com, matt@expedition44.com

Today Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt consider the incarnation of Jesus and the ramifications regarding Original Sin. 

We want to give a Shout out to Warren McGrew of Idol Killer and Will and Brian of The Church Split for their series’ on Original sin and for helping us articulate some of the content in this episode. 

• The immaculate conception of Mary is a late dogma created to prop up original sin. But not only this a “preservative redemption” is also needed for Mary to remain sinless
• The Virgin birth in both Protestant and Catholic circles is used incorrectly to promote the doctrine of Original Sin. 
o For Catholics it deals with the issue of concupiscence 
o For Protestants it actually does nothing as Mary was born of human parents and still would transmit Original Sin
o We affirm the virgin birth but in Isaiah 7 it is called a sign pointing to the miracle of the messiah and has nothing to do with original sin. 
• The way Protestants try to get around this is the hypostatic union, 

Original Sin Series PART 4: The Incarnation with Dr. Matt and Dr. WIll Ryan of CTS

Original Sin: Original Guilt & Infant Depravity 
 
Today we are going to look at 2 main things: 1) Does the Bible say sin is transferable or inheritable? And 2) What does the Bible say about the state of infants and children (are they doomed from the womb?). Do they inherit Adam’s guilt. 
 
Does the Bible say Sin and Guilt are Transferable/Inheritable? 
Deut 1:39 
 
Sons punished for a Father’s sin? 
Ezekiel 18:19-23 
Deut 24:16 
2 Kings 14:6 
Exodus 32 
John 9:1-3 
Exodus 34:6-7 
 
What about the nature of Infants and Children? 
As we said in the first episode of this series; the Reformers who inherited their doctrine from Augustine believed in the depravity of infants and their damnation from birth without baptism to wash off Original Sin. 
 
Johnathan Edwards (famous Reformed Puritan) sums up their beliefs saying: 
 “It is most just, exceedingly just, that God should take the soul of a new-born infant and cast it into eternal torments [due to Adam’s sin]” Or as Voddie Baucham says: All babies are vipers in diapers. 
 
Isaiah 7:14-15 
Psalms 22:9-10 
 
Jeremiah and Innocent Babies 
Jer 19:4-6, 7:30-33, and 32:32-38 basically say the same thing: The burning of INNOCENT babies never entered God’s mind. 
Notice: Babies are declared innocent (not sinful) by God. They are not born guilty of Original Sin but become sinners when they sin and can be held accountable for it. This has major ramifications on the abortion debate, as we mentioned in the first episode. If babies are born in Original Sin then why advocate for human life? They are born under the hatred and wrath of God anyways! 
 
The Parable of the Prodigal Son as a Paradigm 
· The son is born in the father’s house. (we are born in the Father’s House- innocent) 
· A time comes the son can choose to stay in the house or squander the inheritance. ( We can choose to stay in Christ or squander the inheritance of innocence) 
· Yet, the father is merciful and welcomes the son back when he comes in repentance and reinstates his inheritance. (Same is true for us when we turn back to Him!) 
Therefore, we are not born dead but choose to leave the Father’s house of our own Free Will. 
 
Infant Depravity Proof texts 
Psalm 58:3 
Go astray means they weren’t already astray at birth. It was something they had to leave to become astray. They become this way “FROM” (or after) birth. Not IN birth. 
 
Psalm 51:5 
The Hebrew never says that David started out condemned in sin, but the act of his conception was sinful (but this is not concupiscence). It also says that it was David’s mother’s sin/iniquity and not David’s in Hebrew. It does not say that David was born in sin. (NIV and NLT translate this horribly!) 
 
 The Jewish view is that David was conceived in adultery. This makes sense when Samuel was looking over Jesse’s sons to anoint a king and denies them all. He asks if Jesse has more children and says David is tending the sheep. 
 
What is the context of the psalm? David’s sin with Bathsheba. David is putting his sin with Bathsheba in parallel with his mother’s sin in his conception. “brought forth” here is always used of “an animal in heat” in the Hebrew Bible and not the normal words used of sex or conception within a covenant. 
 
What about Job? 
Job 15:14-16 
Job 25:4-6 
Job 14:4 
Two of these are the false words of Job’s friends (See Job 42:7-9) and the 3rd is about ritual uncleanness and not about the nature of man. 
 
Jesus and the Children 
Matt 18:3-6 
Mark 10:13-16 
Children are equated with innocence, purity, and trust. They are the example of the Kingdom. 
 
Conclusion/The Better Way 
We looked at 2 things today: Inherited guilt and Infant depravity. 
 
Inherited Guilt 
o We saw that the Bible says that sins cannot be transferred. 
o Each will be accountable for their own sins 
o Thus when Original Sin says we inherit Adam’s guilt it goes against God’s Law and all of the scriptures 
 
Infant Depravity 
As we can see in scripture babies and children are innocent before the Lord. God does not hold them accountable until they can truly know good from evil. 
o Some call this the age of accountability or as the Jews call it Bar mizpah (becoming a son of the commandments- age 13) 
o We are born with desires and we must learn how to act upon them because they can be used for good or evil. 
o We are not born doomed from the womb or as sinners but rather become sinners when we sin knowingly. 
 
Jesus invites us into the kingdom to become innocent like children and renewed into the state we were at the beginning in order to bear his name in this world. 
 
The Take Aways 
o We need to be formed in Christlikeness from our youth 
o God has placed life in front of us and we must choose it 
o He guides us by the Spirit to be able to walk in this way 
o The discipleship of children is so important! 
_________ 
 
Visit www.expedition44.com for posted articles and more. 
 
If you have comments or questions please email us at: ryan@expedition44.com, matt@expedition44.com

Original Sin: Original Guilt & Infant Depravity

Today we are going to look at 2 main things: 1) Does the Bible say sin is transferable or inheritable? And  2) What does the Bible say about the state of infants and children (are they doomed from the womb?). Do they inherit Adam’s guilt.  
 
Does the Bible say Sin and Guilt are Transferable/Inheritable?
Deut 1:39

Sons punished for a Father’s sin?
Ezekiel 18:19-23
Deut 24:16 
2 Kings 14:6 
Exodus 32
John 9:1-3 
Exodus 34:6-7 

What about the nature of Infants and Children?
As we said in the first episode of this series; the Reformers who inherited their doctrine from Augustine believed in the depravity of infants and their damnation from birth without baptism to wash off Original Sin. 
 
Johnathan Edwards (famous Reformed Puritan) sums up their beliefs saying: 
 “It is most just, exceedingly just, that God should take the soul of a new-born infant and cast it into eternal torments [due to Adam’s sin]” Or as Voddie Baucham says: All babi

Original Sin Series Part 3: Original Guilt & Infant Depravity

Original Sin: The Nature of Man 
 
Genesis 2-3 
In Genesis we see Adam and Eve as the first priests in Eden with the vocation to image God. God gives them one command- to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Notice it is the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL. It is knowledge and not just of evil. 
 
Some things to notice: 
· The things cursed are the Nahash and the ground. Adam and Eve are not. 
· God promises that the Seed of the Woman (Jesus) will crush the serpent (a foreshadow of the major picture of atonement) 
· We see that pain will increase in child bearing and it will be there will be thorns and thistles making cultivation harder. 
· There will be inequality and “lording over” that will happen due to eating of the tree between the man and woman. (This is not God’s ideal but the result of the fall) 
· Notice what God says: “they have become like us”… Totally depraved??? No! Knowing Good and Evil. Adam and Eve have knowledge but not maturity. 
· God mercifully separates them from the Tree of Life so that they will not live in this way forever. 
· Death comes into this world (This is what Romans 5 says!) 
· The logic here is also that God is life and separation from him = death. Eternal life is partaking in God’s life. 
 
The Jewish View (The Yetzer) 
When you have the knowledge of something you can have the desire for it. This is where the Jews get the view of the Yetzer (desire). The Calvinist view is that all human desires and actions are evil. But was this what we saw in the Genesis account? All we saw was that they has the KNOWLEDGE of the good and evil and thus could act upon either. 
 
Yetzer Ha Tov (Good desire) and Yetzer Ha Ra (Evil desire) 
The Jewish view is that the eating of the tree awakened the two desires in mankind and we much choose which we entertain. 
Yetzer: God given drives, desires, and appetites . The Yetzer itself is neutral and it is God given 
 
OT-Yetzer 
Gen 4:6-7 
 Isaiah 26:3 
1 Chron 28:9 
Gen 6:5 (cf. Gen 8:21) 
 
NT-Epithumia 
Mark 4:19 
John 8:44 
Luke 22:15 
James 1:13-15 
Gal 6:7-10 
James 5:17 
1 John 3:7-8 
Ephesians 2:1-3 
 
 
Augustine and Concupiscence 
What in Hebrew is yetzer and in Greek is epithumia was translated as concupiscence in Latin. 
As we have seen yetzer and epithumia are completely neutral in meaning in Greek and Hebrew but in Latin usually concupiscence nearly always takes on a negative meaning. Remember Augustine could not read Hebrew or Greek. And he still was dealing with a lot of Pagan presuppositions that he brought into the Bible. He introduced this new doctrine where sex is a sin and we inherit guilt through Adam and are born totally unable to act on the good desires. 
 
Conclusion/Better View 
· Throughout all of this we have seen that God given desires and ambitions are good but we can use them for evil as well when abused. 
· We are not created as sinners but become sinners when we chase after evil desires (yetzer ha-ra). 
· We are weak in the flesh and without the work of the Spirit in us we are prone to the yetzer ha-ra. (Matt 26:41; Rom 8:3-4) 
· God says we can practice righteousness, we can sow to the Spirit, and we can rule over the sin crouching at our door. If he says it we can do it with his help! 
· We are not totally depraved and unable to seek after God and exercise the yetzer ha-tov. 
· Everyday we have the choice to walk out our discipleship or walk according to the world. Choose this day whom you will serve! 
_________ 
 
Visit www.expedition44.com for posted articles and more. 
 
If you have comments or questions please email us at: ryan@expedition44.com, matt@expedition44.com

Original Sin: The Nature of Man

Genesis 2-3 
In Genesis we see Adam and Eve as the first priests in Eden with the vocation to image God. God gives them one command- to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of Good and Evil. Notice it is the tree of the KNOWLEDGE of GOOD and EVIL. It is knowledge and not just of evil. 

Some things to notice:
·      The things cursed are the Nahash and the ground. Adam and Eve are not. 
·      God promises that the Seed of the Woman (Jesus) will crush the serpent (a foreshadow of the major picture of atonement)
·      We see that pain will increase in child bearing and it will be there will be thorns and thistles making cultivation harder. 
·      There will be inequality and “lording over” that will happen due to eating of the tree between the man and woman. (This is not God’s ideal but the result of the fall)
·      Notice what God says: “they have become like us”… Totally depraved??? No! Knowing Good and Evil. Adam and Eve have knowledge but not matu

Original Sin PART II : The Nature of Man Biblical Theology Covenant Theological Seminary

Today Dr Will Ryan & Dr. Matt launch a series examining the Doctrine of Original Sin. 
 
If you’ve followed us long enough you’ve probably seen there are 2 theologies we tend to jab at quite a bit: Dispensationalism, Calvinism/Reformed Theology, So we basically have issues with doctrines that promote fear and a distortion of God’s Character. 
 
In this series we’ll be looking at how Original Sin is not Biblical or Ancient. 
The first 400 years of the Church did not believe this 
There is zero evidence that Judaism ever believed this. Messianic Jews do not believe this. 
 The Eastern Orthodox church along with some Protestant denominations never adopted this view. 
As we’ll see in this intro, Augustine was the inventor of this doctrine in the 5th century and much of it was due to his importation of his pagan background into Christianity. 
 
Defining original sin 
 
We do not deny that there was AN ORIGINAL SIN. What we will be referring to as “Original Sin” is the doctrine of Original Sin which teaches that because of Adam and Eve’s sin we are all born guilty before God and that we inherit their guilt from birth. Sometimes we may refer to this as Original Guilt. This is also called Augustinian Anthropology or Augustinian Original Sin 
 
Original Sin is the building block for Total Depravity or Total Inability of Calvinism’s TUPLIP which is about the nature of man in that they are so totally depraved that they cannot even seek after God. 
 
Augustine and Original Sin 
The doctrine came into the church through Augustine of Hippo (396-440 CE) and the doctrine was originally called Concupiscence. 
 
“Concupiscence” , according to Augustine, relates to Adam’s sin being transferred through sexual reproduction. It’s root definition is a base sexual desire. We get our word concubine from this. He believe that though this all men are born with their will, body, and mind corrupt and this is transmitted sexually. They inherited the sin through the sexual act leading to birth. Augustine could only read Latin. He tried to learn Greek but despised it due to his teacher who was very hard on him and so never learned it. He also could not read Hebrew. Augustine came to original sin by reading Romans 5:12 in a bad Latin translation. 
 
Augustine and Pelagianism 
Often the label thrown at those who disagree with Original Sin or who hold to Freedom of the Will is “Pelagian”. 
 
Augustine developed 14 points of accusation against Pelagius. But you can look Pelagius’ writings and they completely refute the accusations. 
 
The 14 Points of Pelagianism: 
 
1. Adam was created mortal & would die whether he sinned or not 
2. Adam’s sin harmed only Adam, not mankind 
3. The law leads to heaven in the same way as the Gospel 
4. Newborn infants are in the exact same state as Adam before his sin 
5. The whole human race doesn’t die through Adam & live through Christ 
6. Even unbaptized infants possess eternal life 
7. The wealthy must renounce their possessions or they will not see the Kingdom of Heaven 
8. God’s grace & help are not given for individual actions, but consist in free will, the law & teaching. 
9. God‘s grace is given in accord with our merits & is located in the human will 
10. Only those who are without sin can be called children of God 
11. Forgetfulness & ignorance are not sinful since they’re not done willingly 
12. A choice is not free if it needs God’s help 
13. Our victory is not the result of God’s help, but free will 
14. The soul can be as sinless as God. 
 
“Pelagianism” based on Augustine’s 14 slanderous claims is not a real thing, but rather a strawman, a distortion, defamation and slander of the beliefs of a truly Orthodox Christian in order to change orthodoxy in the church. 
 
 
 
In conclusion, we would say that man is born innocent with desires towards the good and the evil. We create habits based on what we act upon. We also have positive and negative consequences based upon our choices. God offers us a gift (grace) of life (Christ) but we must walk in it. We are not born totally depraved or unable to seek him. But we are born weak in the flesh and prone to sin. The Spirit in us helps us to walk in the way of Life and Light. 
 
As Deut 30 says: 
See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, and death and adversity; in that I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, that you may live and multiply, and that the Lord your God may bless you in the land where you are entering to possess it. “But if your heart turns away and you will not obey, but are drawn away and worship other gods and serve them, I declare to you today that you shall surely perish.

Today Dr Will Ryan & Dr. Matt launch a series examining the Doctrine of Original Sin. 

If you’ve followed us long enough you’ve probably seen there are 2 theologies we tend to jab at quite a bit: Dispensationalism, Calvinism/Reformed Theology,  So we basically have issues with doctrines that promote fear and a distortion of God’s Character. 

In this series we’ll be looking at how Original Sin is not Biblical or Ancient. 
The first 400 years of the Church did not believe this 
There is zero evidence that Judaism ever believed this. Messianic Jews do not believe this.
 The Eastern Orthodox church along with some Protestant denominations never adopted this view. 
As we’ll see in this intro, Augustine was the inventor of this doctrine in the 5th century and much of it was due to his importation of his pagan background into Christianity. 

Defining original sin

We do not deny that there was AN ORIGINAL SIN. What we will be referring to as “Original Sin” is the doctrine of Original Sin wh

Original Sin: Intro & Historical Background Expedition 44

We started a series on the church back in July of 2022 and a year and a half later we are wrapping It up. Today we’re going to recap where we’ve been. 
 
The big idea is that the church is not an institution … it’s an organism (it’s organic)! 
· There was equality- No clergy/laity divide 
· The giftings of the entire body were active to display Jesus 
· They met face to face throughout the week in relationships 
 
7 Churches of Revelation (Nationalism and Dispensationalism) 
The point of looking at these 7 churches is that it pointed out Jesus’ ideals in his Body. Much of the issues here deals with the World seeping into the church. 
 
Leadership and Oversight 
the glaring question we need to ask is “Are these offices or simply people using their god given gifts?” Positional thinking is hung up on nouns, while functional thinking stresses verbs. 
 
The view of oversight in the NT church is about the whole body operating in their giftings and being discipled by those who are wise, mature, and have the character of Christ in them. This is what leadership and oversight looks like rather than the CEO structure that focuses on offices and hierarchy which hurts the church. 
 
5-Fold Ministry 
Ephesians 4 describes these as “ascension gifts” not “ascension offices”. This entire chapter focuses on unity in the body of Christ, not positions which divide clergy from laity. 
 
Reimagining Gifts 
Spiritual gifts are not about hierarchy but about building up the body of Christ. The church is a body- a mutual and co-equal body- that reflects Jesus. There is no hierarchy in giftings. These giftings don’t lead to an office, though some might lead or administrate in their gifting better than others based on maturity and humility- we should all mutually submit to each other. 
 
Reimagining Community 
· Spiritually- We need to be together in spiritual friendship gathering around the Way of Jesus, studying scripture, breaking bread, praying for each other. DEVOTED- They devoted themselves to these things. 
· Physically- meeting the needs of the community, being generous and being available. 
· Emotionally- This is about completeness and transformation- How is our mindset and focus? Is it singularly on Jesus or is there entanglement with the world? 
· Missionally- Do we live in unity or are there offenses and divisions among us that we have swept under the rug? Division and disunity kills the mission to be lights to the world. 
 
Reimagining Giving 
The main ideals of giving in the New Covenant: 
· Give Cheerfully 
· Take care of fellow believers (and support the work of the Lord) 
· Care for the least of these 
· Celebrate God (see communion and the love feast in 1 Cor 11) 
 
Whenever the church gathers together, its guiding and functioning principal is simply to incarnate Christ (1 Cor 12:12) 
 
The Edenic Ideal: 
 
We always take everything back to God’s ideals. The Bible begins and ends with Eden. New Creation has broken into the present through the resurrection, so the church should be living according to God’s ideals in our communities even if the world looks completely opposite. 
 
God’s eternal purpose was to have a people in relationship with him working in equality under God’s kingship. This is God’s ideal for his church too. Each of us bringing our gifts to the altar/table and using them to image him to creation. 
 
· The western view of leadership connected to authority, hierarchy, control, and covering has handcuffed the bride of Christ - making her ineffective for the kingdom. 
· We need to get back to the servant mindset rather than the CEO leader mindset in the church 
· We need more feet washing and less discussions about “who’s your covering” 
· More mutual submission and less “human headship” 
· More family, less institution 
· More verbs, less nouns

We started a series on the church back in July of 2022 and a year and a half later we are wrapping It up.  Today we’re going to recap where we’ve been. 

The big idea is that the church is not an institution … it’s an organism (it’s organic)!
·      There was equality- No clergy/laity divide
·      The giftings of the entire body were active to display Jesus
·      They met face to face throughout the week in relationships

7 Churches of Revelation (Nationalism and Dispensationalism)
The point of looking at these 7 churches is that it pointed out Jesus’ ideals in his Body. Much of the issues here deals with the World seeping into the church. 

Leadership and Oversight
the glaring question we need to ask is “Are these offices or simply people using their god given gifts?”  Positional thinking is hung up on nouns, while functional thinking stresses verbs. 
 
The view of oversight in the NT church is about the whole body operating in their giftings and being discipled by those who are wis

X44 Church Series Recap Summary Conclusion  (Part 25) Expedition 44 Biblical Theology

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt interview Dr. Scot McKnight about his newest book- Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture. 
 
Order the Book here: 
https://a.co/d/9R6hqSY 
A practical guide to help you build a culture in your church or organization that resists abuse and cultivates goodness. After the release of their groundbreaking book, A Church Called Tov, which recorded the stories of abuse and toxic church cultures at some of the most prominent churches in the United States, New Testament scholar and blogger for Christianity Today Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer heard from a flood of people who had experienced similar instances of abuse. After all they’ve seen and heard, they still believe it’s possible for church cultures to be transformed from toxic to tov―from oppressive to good. In Pivot, Scot and Laura help churches to implement practices,establish priorities, and cultivate the Kingdom Gospel-centered qualities that form goodness cultures. Readers will find answers to the four most common questions people have about culture transformation: 
1. How can I transform the culture in my church or organization to make it tov? 
2. I believe my workplace has unhealthy values. How do I initiate change? 
3. How do I unleash a culture of goodness in my ministry? 
4. I’m not in a position of church leadership. What are some red flags that indicate a toxic culture, and what can I do if I see them? 
• The “Tov tool,” a survey to help you discern your organization’s culture and to promote spiritual conversations 
• A “getting to work” section at the end of each chapter with questions and next steps for application 
Pivot also includes the following practical features:Transformation is never easy. But for the sake of the next generation, we must do it.

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt interview Dr. Scot McKnight about his newest book- Pivot: The Priorities, Practices, and Powers That Can Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture. 

Order the Book here:
https://a.co/d/9R6hqSY 
A practical guide to help you build a culture in your church or organization that resists abuse and cultivates goodness. After the release of their groundbreaking book, A Church Called Tov, which recorded the stories of abuse and toxic church cultures at some of the most prominent churches in the United States, New Testament scholar and blogger for Christianity Today Scot McKnight and Laura Barringer heard from a flood of people who had experienced similar instances of abuse. After all they’ve seen and heard, they still believe it’s possible for church cultures to be transformed from toxic to tov―from oppressive to good. In Pivot, Scot and Laura help churches to implement practices,establish priorities, and cultivate the Kingdom Gospel-centered qualities that form good

Pivot: Transform Your Church into a Tov Culture (Interview with Scot McKnight) Expedition 44

Expedition 44 
 
Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt talk with Steve Gregg about Biblical Israel and Dispensational Theology. 
 
Steve Gregg is a teacher, author, and international lecturer on the Bible, theology, and discipleship. He is the author of “Revelation: Four Views: A Parallel Commentary”(1997, 2013) and “All You Want to Know About Hell: Three Christian Views” (2013) and most recently his series on the kingdom of God “The Empire of the Risen Son. His talk show, “The Narrow Path,” broadcasts on stations across the USA and you can find his teachings on the website and mobile app: thenarrowpath.com. 
 
Other teachings by Steve Gregg on this topic: 
 
Steve Gregg on The Modern State of Israel: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scz5t_D-ung&t=608s 
 
2 Part Lecture on the Problems of Dispensationalism and Israel: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRD77lqsw4I 
https://youtu.be/FXrUOtpRWB8?si=iqFgnih6LN-tcBLJ 
 
Replacement Theology or Fulfillment Theology?: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96JcDkZ4bvI

Expedition 44

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt talk with Steve Gregg about Biblical Israel and Dispensational Theology.

Steve Gregg is a teacher, author, and international lecturer on the Bible, theology, and discipleship. He is the author of “Revelation: Four Views: A Parallel Commentary”(1997, 2013) and “All You Want to Know About Hell: Three Christian Views” (2013) and most recently his series on the kingdom of God “The Empire of the Risen Son. His talk show, “The Narrow Path,” broadcasts on stations across the USA and  you can find his teachings on the website and mobile app: thenarrowpath.com. 

Other teachings by Steve Gregg on this topic:

Steve Gregg on The Modern State of Israel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Scz5t_D-ung&t=608s

2 Part Lecture on the Problems of Dispensationalism and Israel:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRD77lqsw4I
https://youtu.be/FXrUOtpRWB8?si=iqFgnih6LN-tcBLJ

Replacement Theology or Fulfillment Theology?:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96JcDkZ4bvI

X44 Biblical Israel and Dispensational Theology Interview with Steve Gregg

History tells us that: 
• Tithing (10%) did not become an accepted “New Covenant Doctrine” in the church for over 700 years after the cross. 
• Before this in 585 the church at the Council of Macon in France, they tried to enforce tithing on its members and were unsuccessful. 
• It was not until the year 777 that Charlemagne allowed the church to enforce the collection of tithes. 
 
OT Recap 
• Before the law giving was voluntary not a commandment. This seems to be God’s ideals. 
o We cannot take these Pre-Law examples too far though. We don’t see that the giving was in regularity or even immediate. It was usually in response of thanks to God for something big He accomplished. 
• The Commands for tithing were for the children of Israel and to only be done “in the Land” 
• The Levitical tithe was to the Levites (the priests). Originally the whole nation were to be priests but they rejected this and God commissioned the Levites. Today we are a kingdom of priests in Christ, so we can’t exactly use this for supporting a class of religious professionals. We’ll see in the NT their possessions were at the disposal of the community when in need. 
• The festival tithe was money saved up for you to use 3x a year to celebrate God with the community- essentially money to take 3 vacations with Jesus. 
• The Storehouse tithe was about caring for the least of these. It was 10% every 3rd and 6th year in the 7-year cycle. This was for the care of the needy. 
• The King’s Tithe was a tax for rejecting God. 
 
The main ideals of tithing in the OT: 
• Caring for the Levites (caring for those ministering in the family of God) 
• Caring for the poor, widow, alien, and fatherless 
• Fellowship and celebration with God 
 
NT Recap 
• The mentions of “tithing” are in the context of the children of Israel (the pharisees) 
• Attitude in giving is central in the NT- being a cheerful giver and not out of compulsion 
• Generosity is key- there is no set amount in the New Covenant 
• We give because God gave to us 
• First Fruits- all belongs to him 
 
The main ideals of giving in the OT: 
• Take care of fellow believers (and support the work of the Lord) 
• Care for the least of these 
• Celebrate God (see communion and the love feast in 1 Cor 11) 
o These are just like the OT- not commanded but still expected.

History tells us that:        
• Tithing (10%) did not become an accepted “New Covenant Doctrine” in the church for over 700 years after the cross.
• Before this in 585 the church at the Council of Macon in France, they tried to enforce tithing on its members and were unsuccessful.
• It was not until the year 777 that Charlemagne allowed the church to enforce the collection of tithes. 

OT Recap
• Before the law giving was voluntary not a commandment. This seems to be God’s ideals.
o We cannot take these Pre-Law examples too far though. We don’t see that the giving was in regularity or even immediate. It was usually in response of thanks to God for something big He accomplished. 
• The Commands for tithing were for the children of Israel and to only be done “in the Land”
• The Levitical tithe was to the Levites (the priests). Originally the whole nation were to be priests but they rejected this and God commissioned the Levites. Today we are a kingdom of priests in Christ, so we can’t e

THE CHURCH SERIES PART 24 Reimagining Giving Part 2: New Testament Expedition 44 -Doc Ryan

Notice in all the these the audience and commands are directed to specifically the children of Israel- the ones under the Mosaic Law. And directly connected to being in the Promised Land. 
• For the gentiles the concepts and commands in the Law are good but they are shadows of the substance which is Christ. They are signposts pointing to something greater. Next episode we’re going to look at the substance. 
 
Second, it was always produce and never money given to the Lord. Money was always exchanged for an animal, produce, drink, etc., Except for maybe the Royal Tithe was the only one in the form of money. 
 
If we want to take this in context we need to see a few things: 
• Before the law giving was voluntary not a commandment. This seems to be God’s ideals. 
o We cannot take these Pre-Law examples too far though. We don’t see that the giving was in regularity or even immediate. It was usually in response of thanks to God for something big He accomplished. 
• The Levitical tithe was to the Levites (the priests). Originally the whole nation were to be priests but they rejected this and God commissioned the Levites. Today we are a kingdom of priests in Christ, so we can’t exactly use this for supporting a class of religious professionals. We’ll see in the NT their possessions were at the disposal of the community when in need. 
• The festival tithe was money saved up for you to use 3x a year to celebrate God with the community- essentially money to take 3 vacations with Jesus. 
• The Storehouse tithe was about caring for the least of these. It was 10% every 3rd and 6th year in the 7-year cycle. This was for the care of the needy. 
• The King’s Tithe was a tax for rejecting God. 
 
The main ideals of tithing: 
• Caring for the Levites (caring for those ministering in the family of God) 
• Caring for the poor, widow, alien, and fatherless 
• Fellowship and celebration with God 
 
 
12 spies into Cannan was 1444 BC 
RUTH – BOAZ 1200BC 
SAMUEL 1050 BC 
DAVID OVER UNITED ISRAEL 1003-970BC 
DAVID NUMBERS ISRAEL 974 
SOLOMON 989-931BC 
946 PALACE COMPLETED 
931 -586 DIVISION OF ISRAEL 
875 ELIJAH 
869 Jehosophat send LEVITES to teach the law 
700 ISAIAH ASSYRIAH CONQUERS THE WORLD 
600 JEREMIAH 
605 DANIEL CAPTIVE 
597 2nd invasion of Jerusalem by Babylon DEPORTATION 
536-444 Jerusalem rebuilt - TEMBLES RESUMES IN 520 
444 NEHEMIAH BUILDS WALLS OF JERUSALEM 
THIS BEGINS 2ND TEMPLE PERIOD – 400 years of silence was anything but silent 
331 Alexander the great - Battle of Arbela PERSIA FALLS 
168 Antiochus persecutes Jews Desecrates the temple 
165 Maccabees restores the temple 
100-44 Julius Caesar 
63-14AD Agustus Caesar 
73-4 Herod the Great 
4bc – 31AD Jesus 
20-50 Herod Antipas 
457-34 70 weeks prophecy 
 
REITERATE: ROUGHLY 1444 YEARS 
 
THE LAW” MOST OF WHAT WE ARE GIVEN IS LEVITICUS NUMBERS DEUTERONOMY 
1 SAMUEL ROYAL TITHE 
MALACHI 445-425BC 2nd Temple 
Doc Ryan with Expedition 44

Notice in all the these the audience and commands are directed to specifically the children of Israel- the ones under the Mosaic Law. And directly connected to being in the Promised Land.
• For the gentiles the concepts and commands in the Law are good but they are shadows of the substance which is Christ. They are signposts pointing to something greater. Next episode we’re going to look at the substance. 

Second, it was always produce and never money given to the Lord. Money was always exchanged for an animal, produce, drink, etc., Except for maybe the Royal Tithe was the only one in the form of money. 

If we want to take this in context we need to see a few things:
• Before the law giving was voluntary not a commandment. This seems to be God’s ideals.
o We cannot take these Pre-Law examples too far though. We don’t see that the giving was in regularity or even immediate. It was usually in response of thanks to God for something big He accomplished. 
• The Levitical tithe was to the

X44 THE CHURCH SERIES PART 23 - Reimagining Giving Part 1: Old Testament

Doc Ryan & Dr. Matt Mouzakis with Expedition 44 
Reimagine-For Today: 
 
Frank Viola (Pagan Christianity): 
The Lord’s Supper, when separated from its proper context of a full meal, turns into a strange, pagan-like rite. The Supper has become an empty ritual officiated by a clergyman, rather than a shared-life experience enjoyed by the church. It has become a morbid religious exercise, rather than a joyous festival— stale individualistic ceremony, rather than a meaningful corporate event. As one scholar put it, “It is not in doubt that the Lord’s Supper began as a family meal or a meal of friends in a private house . . . the Lord’s Supper moved from being a real meal into being a symbolic meal . . . the Lord’s Supper moved from bare simplicity to elaborate splendor . . . the celebration of the Lord’s Supper moved from being a lay function to a priestly function. In the New Testament itself, there is no indication that it was the special privilege or duty of anyone to lead the worshipping fellowship in the Lord’s Supper.” When Israel had departed from God’s original thought, the prophet cried: “Thus says the LORD, ‘Stand by the ways and see and ask for the ancient paths, where the good way is, and walk in it; and you will find rest for your souls’” (Jeremiah 6:16, NASB). In the same way, can we shun the vain traditions of men and return to the ancient paths . . . those holy traditions that were given to us by Jesus Christ and His apostles? 
 
 In the early church this was called the love (agape) feast. It was a full meal and not a thimble of juice and a cracker. What would that look like today? 
 Communion was a celebration and not a somber event. What would that look like today in our churches? (Yes, there is a remembrance aspect of the crucifixion but the concentration is on the victory not the torture) 
 Communion emphasized unity. What if we make peace and reconcile before partaking in the meal? Actually, to not do so is defiling the meal. Who do we need to reconcile with in our church family? 
 Communion is also about equality- there should be no seating arrangements (hierarchy and status). This also defiles the meal. What can we do to bring more equality to our community? 
 Communion is also about meeting needs. How can we make the Lord’s table about serving each other? 
 
For questions and comments please email us at ryan@expedition44.com or matt@expedition44.com

Doc Ryan & Dr. Matt Mouzakis with Expedition 44
Reimagine-For Today:

Frank Viola (Pagan Christianity):
The Lord’s Supper, when separated from its proper context  of a full meal, turns into a strange, pagan-like rite. The Supper has become an  empty ritual officiated by a clergyman, rather than a shared-life experience enjoyed  by the church. It has become a morbid religious exercise, rather than a joyous festival— stale individualistic ceremony, rather than a meaningful corporate event.  As one scholar put it, “It is not in doubt that the Lord’s Supper began as a  family meal or a meal of friends in a private house . . . the Lord’s Supper moved  from being a real meal into being a symbolic meal . . . the Lord’s Supper moved  from bare simplicity to elaborate splendor . . . the celebration of the Lord’s Supper  moved from being a lay function to a priestly function. In the New Testament itself,  there is no indication that it was the special privilege or duty of anyone to lead the  wor

Expedition 44 THE CHURCH SERIES PT 22 Reimagine Community

During our 5-fold episodes we never really gave a history of the 5-fold office thinking so we’ll begin with that today and recap those 4 episodes before we look at the other gifts and how we should look at the church as a body of many gifts working together and not a hierarchical system with 5 gifts on the top. 
 
X44 Article written last March: 
Most of the Pentecostal world believes in the 5 fold ministry, and as I don’t disagree with most anything said or taught about the 5 fold gifts specifically, I can also see how this term has become controversial and often thought of as divisive within the body of Christ towards the other gifts. I also Theologically cringe any time a doctrine or movement seems to be derived in large part by a singular text. (In this way the use of Ephesians to frame the 5 fold ministry as a doctrine has often been claimed as a “proof text.”) 
 
One of the first things to consider is that Paul gave us two other lists elsewhere in his epistles. The lists vary from this one significantly. This list in Ephesians wasn’t intended to be a doctrinal model; if it was the NT or Paul sure didn’t do a very good job of articulating that. If the intention was to present the list as a model of hierarchy in the church, I would think it would have been presented much differently. In other words, the laws of hermeneutics simply don’t allow a scholar reader to interpret this way. To my point, 1 Corinthians 12 would speak to an 8 fold ministry where the order is different. In the same way Romans 12 presents yet another list. This Seven Fold list moves leadership to the very bottom, just ahead of showing mercy, and it moves service, teaching and encouragement to the top. It takes some theological gymnastics to make a doctrine out of the list in Ephesians. We will get into this a bit more in depth later in the film. 
 
Understanding a 3 grace context of gifting 
At the time of the writing of the gifts in the New Testament Paul describes what was known as the three graces or the reciprocal dance of grace. I have used this expression several times in my writings (and in my second book of the This is the Way trilogy series. [The Roman writer] Seneca explains the image of three dancing connected by grace: a benefit ‘passing from hand to hand nevertheless returns to the giver; the beauty of the whole is destroyed if the course is anywhere broken’ (Seneca, [De Beneficiis, 1.3.3-4). The “three graces” picture visually represented how grace was understood to function in the first century Greco-Roman world in which Paul wrote. Grace (charis) originated with a generous giver usually thought of as the Benefactor. Often the Benefector was introduced to one in need by a mediator. The gift was then accepted by the recipient (client) who in his or her thankfulness and gratitude in turn extended the gift (grace) to others, and this in turn benefited the original giver. The recipient in many ways became a representative of the Benefactor to those in the Benefactors society. Coaching or mentoring towards what the Benefactor desired was often nurtured through the mediator to the recipient. It became a continual relationship between the three entities. In this unbroken circle, everyone was understood to benefit. The appreciation was a circle of incredible equality. Essentially it removed hierarchical barriers. Each part was met with equal gratitude. In this sense, God works through Christ in us as we freely receive the gift and continue to give all of it to others as they are then introduced in the same way through the mediator to the father. Jesus (who was and is God) emptied himself completely. Everything is freely given and should be gratefully accepted and received. 
 
OVERVIEW 
• 5-fold gifts and the other lists (7 and 8-fold?) are not about hierarchy but about building up the body of Christ. 
• The church is a body- a mutual and co-equal body- that reflects Jesus. There is no hierarchy in giftings. 
• These giftings don’t lead to an office though some might lead or administrate in their gifting better than others based on maturity and humility- we should all mutually submit to each other. 
• Faith, Hope, and Love are the foundation for exercising our gifts. It should all be done in edification and grace towards each other. Be incarnational! 
• There should be a recognition and celebration of people’s gifts- especially the behind the scenes and “on the street” type that aren’t in front of people. 
• Order- we need to use our gift in an order. It is not about self-elevation but about building up the body. 
o Serving Christ is the purpose in the gathering. When the gifts are displayed people are built up, Christ is displayed and glorified, and the church is discipled. 
• Identify your gift and use it- the body of Christ is counting on you and suffers when you don’t. 
 
For questions and comments please email us at ryan@expedition44.com or matt@expedition44.com.

During our 5-fold episodes we never really gave a history of the 5-fold office thinking so we’ll begin with that today and recap those 4 episodes before we look at the other gifts and how we should look at the church as a body of many gifts working together and not a hierarchical system with 5 gifts on the top. 

X44 Article written last March:
Most of the Pentecostal world believes in the 5 fold ministry, and as I don’t disagree with most anything said or taught about the 5 fold gifts specifically, I can also see how this term has become controversial and often thought of as divisive within the body of Christ towards the other gifts. I also Theologically cringe any time a doctrine or movement seems to be derived in large part by a singular text. (In this way the use of Ephesians to frame the 5 fold ministry as a doctrine has often been claimed as a “proof text.”)

One of the first things to consider is that Paul gave us two other lists elsewhere in his epistles. The lists vary from th

Expedition 44 x44 the church EPISODE 21Reimagine the Body - Gifts of the Spirit

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt interview Dr. Matthew Bates about his new book "Why the Gospel". They cover topics such as malformed gospels, easy-believism, glory, the "nones", and a better way to discipleship. 
 
Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is Professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. Bates is a Protestant who enjoys the challenge of teaching in a Catholic context. 
Bates’s research interests include the Apostle Paul, Jesus, soteriology, early Christology, the Trinity, the use of the Old Testament in the New, theological interpretation of Scripture, and Justin Martyr. He enjoys hiking, baseball, and chasing around his seven children. 
 
He is a co-founded and co-hosts the popular OnScript podcast. His books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019) the award-winning Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015), and The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation (Baylor University Press, 2012). 
 
https://matthewwbates.com

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt interview Dr. Matthew Bates about his new book "Why the Gospel". They cover topics such as malformed gospels, easy-believism, glory, the "nones", and a better way to discipleship.
 
Matthew W. Bates (Ph.D., Notre Dame) is Professor of Theology at Quincy University in Quincy, Illinois. Bates is a Protestant who enjoys the challenge of teaching in a Catholic context. 
Bates’s research interests include the Apostle Paul, Jesus, soteriology, early Christology, the Trinity, the use of the Old Testament in the New, theological interpretation of Scripture, and Justin Martyr. He enjoys hiking, baseball, and chasing around his seven children.

He is a co-founded and co-hosts the popular OnScript podcast. His books include Gospel Allegiance (Brazos, 2019) the award-winning Salvation by Allegiance Alone (Baker Academic, 2017), The Birth of the Trinity (Oxford University Press, 2015), and The Hermeneutics of the Apostolic Proclamation (Baylor University Press, 2012). 

h

Expedition 44 Biblical Theology: An Interview with Dr. Mattew Bates WHY THE GOSPEL

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt talk with Brian Zahnd about his story of transformation and leading a church through theological changes. We also cover topics such as deconstruction, ecumenicalism, and the future of the church. 
 
Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church, a non-denominational Christian congregation in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Brian and his wife, Peri, founded the church in 1981. Brian is also the author of several books, including, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Water to Wine, A Farewell To Mars, Beauty Will Save the World, and Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness. 
 
https://brianzahnd.com 
https://wolc.com

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt talk with Brian Zahnd about his story of transformation and leading a church through theological changes. We also cover topics such as deconstruction, ecumenicalism, and the future of the church. 

Brian Zahnd is the founder and lead pastor of Word of Life Church, a non-denominational Christian congregation in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Brian and his wife, Peri, founded the church in 1981. Brian is also the author of several books, including, Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God, Water to Wine, A Farewell To Mars, Beauty Will Save the World, and Unconditional?: The Call of Jesus to Radical Forgiveness.

https://brianzahnd.com
https://wolc.com

Expedition 44 The church Series Episode 20 BRIAN ZAHND INTERVIEW

Doc Ryan & Dr. Matt with Expedition 44 
 
Shepherding/Teaching 
o Cares for and develops the people of God by leading, nurturing, protecting, and discipling them 
o The teaching aspect clarifies the mind and will of God as found in the Bible so that people can gain wisdom and understanding in following Jesus as a disciple. 
 
Focus/Tasks 
o Cultivate a loving and spiritually mature network of relationships and community 
o Discern 
o Guide 
o Help the faith community to explore and seek to understand the mind of God 
o Disciple 
 
Impact when Shepherding is a monopolized gift 
o Closed, non-missional community 
o Co-dependency between the church and pastor (hierarchy/CEO mentality- messiah complex) 
o Don’t rock the boat approach to organization 
o Too passive and insider focused 
 
Impact when Teaching is a monopolized gift 
o Theological dogmatism 
o Christian Gnosticism (saved by knowledge) 
o Bible and Theology replaces the Holy Spirit 
o Control through ideas (Pharisaism- is it lawful?) 
 
Summary 
o Jesus is the Shepherd. Pastor is not an office or position in the Bible but a function 
o The chief task of the shepherds/teachers was to help the church in times of personal crisis (shepherding) and to enlighten and cultivate the church’s spiritual life by revealing Christ through the exposition of Scripture (teaching). 
o One must learn before they teach 
o Those who function in shepherding are to be mature believers (“elders”). 
o Teaching and shepherding are gifts for the unity and building up of the body to reflect Jesus Christ. 
o Shepherding is about service and discipleship and not rule or authority.

Doc Ryan & Dr. Matt with Expedition 44

Shepherding/Teaching
o Cares for and develops the people of God by leading, nurturing, protecting, and discipling them
o The teaching aspect clarifies the mind and will of God as found in the Bible so that people can gain wisdom and understanding in following Jesus as a disciple.

Focus/Tasks
o Cultivate a loving and spiritually mature network of relationships and community
o Discern
o Guide
o Help the faith community to explore and seek to understand the mind of God
o Disciple

Impact when Shepherding is a monopolized gift
o Closed, non-missional community
o Co-dependency between the church and pastor (hierarchy/CEO mentality- messiah complex)
o Don’t rock the boat approach to organization
o Too passive and insider focused

Impact when Teaching is a monopolized gift
o Theological dogmatism
o Christian Gnosticism (saved by knowledge)
o Bible and Theology replaces the Holy Spirit
o Control through ideas (Pharisaism- is it lawful?)

Summary
o Jesus

THE CHURCH SERIES PART 19 Shepherd-Teacher (Five fold Gifting Problems) Expedition 44

Dr. Ryan and Dr. Matt discuss Matt's doctoral studies journey and the dissertation process at CTS for THD and PHD degrees. 
 
Covenant Theological Seminary 
www.gocovenant.net

Dr. Ryan and Dr. Matt discuss Matt's doctoral studies journey and the dissertation process at CTS for THD and PHD degrees. 

Covenant Theological Seminary
www.gocovenant.net

Expedition 44 & Covenant Theological Seminary Dissertation Discussion with Dr. Ryan and Dr. Matt

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt are joined by their friend Sam D'Alie, a CTS student, in this episode to talk about evangelism in the 5 fold giftings. 
 
Note: We are testing out some new equipment in this episode so please forgive some of the audio and video issue at the beginning. The audio and video clears up around 28:00. Thanks! 
 
What is an evangelist? 
o Essentially the recruiter, carrier, and communicator/storytellers of the gospel message (Jesus is king) 
o The truth teller to unbelievers 
o They call for a response to Jesus’ kingship 
 
Their focus/core tasks 
o Concern for those outside the kingdom 
o Making clear the offer to come into the kingdom so people can respond in allegiance 
o Recruit for the cause/“brand ambassadors” for the kingdom 
 
Impact on the body when Evangelism is “the main thing” (monopolization and imbalance) 
o When the gift of evangelism is the central thing in the church there tends to be a narrow vision 
o Lack of communal heath with the focus on the outside rather than care on the inside of the church 
o Narrow perspective of faith (lack of discipleship- AKA simple gospel views) 
 
We need all the gifts to be a healthy body. But the 5 in Ephesians 4 are needed specifically for unity and growth in the body of Christ 
o Apostolic work sets the culture and plants, waters, and weeds in the community. They are often itinerant workers plowing new roads for the kingdom. 
o Prophets are covenant enforcers exhorting the body to stay on course and listen to the Lord for his vision. 
o Evangelists embody the gospel message and share it boldly through invitation, which results in a growing community pursing discipleship. 
o We will explore the Shepherd Teacher soon 
 
  
Overview 
o The great commission connects preaching the gospel (evangelism) with the necessity of discipleship- we can’t divorce the two. The 4 American gospel we looked at all divorce evangelism and discipleship but they are 2 sides of the same coin. 
o OT Evangelism was communal (if there even was evangelism to the nations)- the community evangelizes by their life together that reflects Jesus. This was mainly evangelism/discipleship of each other. We don’t see evangelists sent out to the nations in the OT but rather that the nations would flow into Zion by their “light”. 
o NT Evangelism always resulted in community and discipleship as well. Jesus called people to “follow him”. The Apostles planted churches and formed Jesus cultures for the evangelist to invite people into and experience the life of Jesus. What is being offered in the NT is not an “eternal destination” but a community around Jesus. 
o “Conversion” doesn’t result from saying a prayer but that could be the start. It is costly according to Jesus. Not some simple statement but a pledge of allegiance to a way of life that could lead to your martyrdom. Most evangelism today leaves people still connected to the ways and systems of the world and makes it “easy” by front loading benefits and downplaying the commitment to the cross and the way of Jesus. 
o Evangelize through relationship- who will you invite to your table/community?

Dr. Will Ryan and Dr. Matt are joined by their friend Sam D'Alie, a CTS student, in this episode to talk about evangelism in the 5 fold giftings. 

Note: We are testing out some new equipment in this episode so please forgive some of the audio and video issue at the beginning. The audio and video clears up around 28:00. Thanks!

What is an evangelist?
o Essentially the recruiter, carrier, and communicator/storytellers of the gospel message (Jesus is king)
o The truth teller to unbelievers
o They call for a response to Jesus’ kingship

Their focus/core tasks
o Concern for those outside the kingdom
o Making clear the offer to come into the kingdom so people can respond in allegiance
o Recruit for the cause/“brand ambassadors” for the kingdom

Impact on the body when Evangelism is “the main thing” (monopolization and imbalance)
o When the gift of evangelism is the central thing in the church there tends to be a narrow vision
o Lack of communal heath with the focus on the outside rather th

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