Is a holier life simply a matter of living your best life? Is it about trying to live as morally upright as possible? Or worst still, is it about trying our hardest to impress God, to gain His approval.

What the bible has classically termed ‘sanctification’, has become something of a complexing issue to many Christians. Legalists and liberals alike have redefined it to either threaten or relieve the tension of personal holiness within albeit, a warped biblical framework.

In this weeks episode the Curious team take a look at what the bible has to say about our growth in personal holiness. Taking a biblical framework, the team expound the idea of two states, two covenants, two forces and two governing principles that identify the Christian’s struggle, and how the grounding truth of the new principle of life within us not only secures great assurance, but also inspires great dedication and commitment.

Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

Sanctification - Ligonier.org

Being Led and Transformed by the Holy Spirit - CSLewisInstitue.org

What is Sanctification? - Christianity.com

What we’re reading?

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

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How do I know what God wants me to do? How can I be sure that my choices are in line with His? Can I ever truly know God’s will in any specific situation?

One of the most perplexing issues that has dogged many Christians is their inability to discover what God's specific will may be for their lives at any given point. Questions like which job should I take? Which person should I marry? Where should I live? Or what should I invest in? etc. have caused perennial headaches (if not heartaches) for many believers.

In this week's episode, the Curious team tries to unpack what it means to appreciate the Holy Spirit's leading in our lives. They reflect on the two levels of leading the New Testament maps out: the general, macro level alongside the specific, micro level. Avoiding the trap of assuming the Spirit’s leading to be some systemised formula, the team outline basic, biblically common-sense principles for discovering the Holy Spirit's leading.

Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

What does it mean to be led by The Spirit? - Christianity.org

Being led and transformed by The Holy Spirit - CSLewisInstitute.org

What does the Bible mean by led by The Spirit?

What we’re reading?

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Have you ever asked yourself as a Christian, “am I forgiven?”or “am I going to heaven?” or “does God love me?” or even “do I have eternal life?”―have you ever wondered whether you might be asking the wrong question? Is the validity of our Christian experience qualified purely on the basis of what we feel? And given the deceptive and fluctuating aspect of human emotion, will such an approach ever deliver the longed-for stability we desire?

Is being a Christian only about having our sins forgiven and the slate wiped clean? Is the assurance of receiving anything more from God purely contingent on our making a success of this Christian life thing? How sure can we really be as to whether we’re truly forgiven, or whether God really does like us, or even whether we’re certain that we’ll make it in the end?

In this fifth episode on our series on the Holy Spirt, Pete and the Curious team take a good look at what the bible means by defining our Christian experience as being united with Christ! How the Holy Spirit secures such a privilege, what it means for us as believers, and how it cements the greatest security for our lives and our futures.

Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

What is Union with Christ? - DesiringGod.org

Union with Christ - TheGospelCoalition.org

Union with Christ - CSLewisInstitude.org

Union with Christ - Ligonier.org

What we’re reading?

We’ve been getting stuck into the following;

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What is the exact role of the Holy Spirit in the life of a person who comes to faith? How much of the experienced change is down to him? How much is it part of our human will? What exactly does the Holy Spirit do at a person's conversion? How much do we cooperate in this momentous inner change?

One of the most incredible yet controversial aspects of the work of the Holy Spirit is within what we might call the soteriological framework. How is it that the Holy Spirit changes a human life from ignorance and resistance to God, to a full and meaningful embracing of the truth? Is the transformation, or another word scripture employs, the regeneration, of the human heart a joint act between our accepting, and the Spirit’s working? Or is it something that the Holy Spirit works profoundly within us in and of himself?

In this fourth episode of our series on the Holy Spirit, Pete and the Curious team take a deep dive into the unusual and profound involvement of the Holy Spirit in transforming the human heart from Christ-resistant to Christ-embracing and following. How does the Spirit work, what does he do? Why is “born-again” the most succinct and meaningful definition of the Spirit’s work in the human heart? How is it that such a work cannot be produced by human learning or experience, but is uniquely and solely a sovereign work of the Holy Spirit Himself? This and more occupies the thoughts of the team in this week's episode.

Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

The Role of the Holy Spirit in Conversion - DesiringGod.org

The Gracious Work of the Holy Spirit

Conviction and Conversion - EvangelicalTimes.org

What we’re reading?

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

What relationship did the Holy Spirit have in relation to Jesus? How could it be said of the all-sufficient Son of God that he needed to be anointed? How could perfection be said to grow in stature, wisdom and favour with God (Luke 2:52)? Was Jesus self-reliant, or was he in need of the Holy Spirit’s help?

At various levels, Christians have struggled to try and understand the relation between the Holy Spirit and Jesus particularly during his years on earth. Some have suggested that the Holy Spirit only truly engaged him at his baptism with John; while others have insisted that the Holy Spirit was a constant companion from his birth. How are we to understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the earthly life of Jesus?

This week, Pete and the Curious team examine the Holy Spirit in connection to the life of Jesus. What it meant when the angel told a reticent Joseph that the child Mary was carrying was, “of the Holy Spirit” (Matt.1:20). How the Spirit anointed him, filled him, drove him into the wilderness, empowered him for ministry, delivered him to the cross, and gloriously partook in his powerful resurrection. Looking at the writings of both Scripture and the great saints, the team unpack the indispensable place of the Holy Spirit in the life of Jesus.


Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

Why Jesus Needed the Holy Spirit - DesiringGod.org

The Spirit's Role: The Life of Jesus - PlaceforTruth.org

What we’re reading?

As a new little feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes. We’ve been getting stuck into the following;

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Given the prolific attention to the Holy Spirit throughout the New Testament, it has led some to think that His activity was largely confined to that time and little to nothing is expressed in the Old Testament. Some have further imagined that the Holy Spirit’s work didn’t really begin until Pentecost and prior to that was largely dormant with the exception of a few sporadic appearances.

How are we to understand the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament time? Do we see his personality and identity coming through? Was he as prolific and as necessary as we understand him to have been in the New Testament?

In this second episode of our new series, the Curious team take a look back into the Old Testament to discover the regularity and prominency of the Spirit’s presence and activity. Beginning as early as the second verse of the opening chapter of the bible, as He broods over the waters at creation; the team take a potted tour of the Old Testament, cementing the truth of the Spirit’s continuous involvement in the developing purposes of God

Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

10 Roles of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament - Christianity.com

The Holy Spirit in the Old Testament - Ligonier.org

What we’re reading?

As a new little feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes. We’ve been getting stuck into the following;

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

In todays church culture there remains a fascination about the Holy Spirit. From traditional to the more charismatic, the church has long pondered over the identity, role and purpose of the Holy Ghost.

What are we to make of the Holy Spirit? Are we to understand him as a ‘he’ or an ‘it’? A force or a thinking, responsible personality? Is he equal in authority to God himself? Why did he come to us? What do theologians mean in assigning the understanding of ‘eternal procession’ to the Spirit? Why did the Sabellians of the second century and the Arians of the fourth, pose such a threat to the churches developing understanding of the Spirit?

In this opening episode of a new series, the Curious team take a look at why the Holy Spirit remains such a significant member of the trinity. They reflect on what the understanding of eternal procession implied about the Spirit, how we know his deity, what he came to do, and why he continues to be essential in our understanding of God and salvation. This episode marks the beginning of an eleven-part series. Be sure to catch them all here every Wednesday

Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

The Holy Spirit is God - str.org

God the Holy Spirit - His Deity and Personhood - BaptistPress.com

Who is the Holy Spirit? - Ligonier.org


What we’re reading?

As a new little feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes. We’ve been getting stuck into the following;

Abraham Kuyper ― The Work of The Holy Spirit

Sinclair B. Ferguson ― The Holy Spirit

George Smeaton ― The Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

R. C. Sproul ― The Mystery of the Holy Spirit

J. I. Packer ― Keep In Step With The Spirit

John Owen ― The Holy Spirit (works vol.3)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

Support us on Instagram @theologyforthecurious
Find us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Love it or struggle with it, research suggests that the Bible continues to be the world’s best-selling book, registering around 100 million copies sold every year!

But what’s the attraction?

For millennia people of all walks and persuasions have wrestled with the bibles’s reliability. Who wrote it? Why were some books included and others rejected? What was the criteria and who got to make the decisions? How reliable is its content? Can we trust the authenticity of its characters and stories; weren’t they all just parables, examples, and metaphors?

And what about the various translations (last count listed some 4,000 translation projects in progress)? How reliably accurate are they, and how can we truly trust that key content hasn’t been altered or replaced?

In this final episode of the REALLY series, Pete and the Curious team are joined by Bill Mounce. Bill is a New Testament Greek scholar with over 40 years experience, who wrote the best-selling, ‘Basics of Biblical Greek’; and also worked as part of the team that crafted the very popular NIV and ESV versions of the bible.


Further Reading

We’ve listed some views below for you to read and ponder…

How do we know we can trust the Bible? - EvangelicalMagazine.com

How accurate is the Bible? - Kenboa.org

Is the Bible Trustworthy? - Crosswalk.com


What we’re reading?

As a new little feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this episode. So here goes. This week we’ve been reflecting on;

William D. Mounce ― Why I Trust The Bible

(Bill’s book is a great way to launch into the subject)

Send your questions or thoughts to: theologyforthecurious@gmail.com

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