In this episode of the Credo podcast, Sam Parkison and Ronni Kurtz continue their mini-series on classical theology. In this episode in particular, they discuss the classical doctrine of divine immutability. Divine immutability is a doctrine in the Christian tradition that tells us God does not change, and it is also impossible for Him to change. God is perfect and He cannot change for the better or the worse. Divine immutability is affirmed by Malachi 3:6, “For I am the LORD, I change not,” and James 1:17, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” Divine immutability is a doctrine that gives us comfort and stability in the ever-changing world. It is a doctrine that has implications for our salvation and Christian life. Join Parkison and Kurtz in their quest to retrieve the ancient doctrine of divine immutability for the church today.

Divine Immutability and the Christian Life: Sam Parkison and Ronni Kurtz

Oftentimes, theologians will approach the doctrine of Christology in an isolated way, rarely bringing the doctrine of the Trinity into the discussion. As a result, we have succumbed to many Christological heresies across the centuries and more recently entertained Kenotic Christology. The collateral damage has been severe. For example, in the past generation it became acceptable for modern theologians to say that the incarnation introduces a change in God himself.

However, this has not been the way theologians across the Great Tradition have approached Christology. Following the lead of the holy scriptures, the Great Tradition approached Christology through a Trinitarian lens because they considered the incarnation an inseparable work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Following scripture, the Great Tradition could use its theological imagination to find the connection between the divine missions and the processions of the Trinity, for example. This theological approach was a major contribution of the angelic doctor, Thomas Aquinas. Could a retrieval of Thomistic Christology help us today avoid the major mistakes of modern Christology? If so, then we must understand why the incarnation is not a change in God.

Does the Incarnation Change God? Dominic Legge with Matthew Barrett

In this episode of the Credo Podcast, Sam Parkison joins with Matthew Barrett (Professor of Christian Theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary), Ronni Kurtz (Assistant Professor of Theology at Cedarville University), and Joseph Lanier (Pastor of discipleship and administration at Fairview Baptist Church) to discuss the book that they coauthored, Proclaiming the Triune God. In this book, the four authors came up with seven sermons on the doctrine of Trinity to show how to preach the Trinity from a classical understanding of the Trinity. Many pastors know that they have to teach their congregation about the Triune God. However, they are often intimidated by the task. The book is intended to show that the classical doctrine of the Trinity can be preached. A classical understanding of the Trinity, such as inseparable operation, eternal generation, and eternal procession not only works well in an academic setting, but also has rich implications for the Christian faith and the Christian life. Join Matthew Barrett, Sam Parkison, Ronni Kurtz, and Joseph Lanier as they retrieve the classical doctrine of Trinity for the message of the church today.

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