Trying to turn accusation into approval

In this episode of the Outlaw God Podcast, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their discussion of Luther's "new Kabbalah" and how mysticism can confuse the law and the Gospel. They explain that the law does not bring us back to God or make us righteous, even when we try to embrace our suffering or "love" the law that accuses us. Instead, Luther points us to Jesus Christ, who brings the law to an end and gives Himself to sinners, with the positive presence of Christ and what He does for us coming into focus in the next episode. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

In this episode of the Outlaw God Podcast, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their discussion of Luther's critique of mysticism and the "new Kabbalah." They explain why Luther moved from a theology centered on love to one centered on faith, showing that the law cannot save us or turn from accusation into approval. Luther instead points us to the end of the law and the promise of the Gospel, where faith receives Christ apart from works of the law. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

In this episode of the Outlaw God Podcast, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their discussion of Luther's "new Kabbalah" and his critique of Christian mysticism. They talk about how the law accuses us and why trying to overcome that accusation through love or self-denial misses the point. Luther shows us that we are made righteous before God by faith and not our feelings.  More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson explore Luther's break from Platonic and mystical ideas of revelation, especially the belief that preaching exists to reveal the right way to live. They explain why the law cannot reconnect us to God or make us righteous, and why Luther insisted that the law kills while the gospel gives life through the forgiveness of sins. The conversation also examines how misunderstandings of worship, the Lord's Supper, and the road to Emmaus can turn God's Word into ritual action rather than the proclamation of Christ's promise. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook  

In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson continue exploring Luther's "new Kabbalah" and his rejection of mystical approaches to God, Scripture, and the law. They explain how Luther moved away from Plato and Aristotle and came to see God's Word, preaching, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and absolution as the true means through which God gives Christ and salvation. The conversation shows why Luther believed the Gospel must be separated from mystical ideas of ascending to God through suffering, rituals, dreams, or human effort. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

In the episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore Luther's Reformation breakthrough and how it was rooted in the distinction between Law and Gospel. They discuss how Luther came to understand faith as trust in God's promise rather than a work or feeling produced within us. Through Psalm 51 and Luther's own struggle with a troubled conscience, they show how absolution comes from outside us through God's Word and gives the conscience certainty and freedom. The episode highlights how God's promise—not our works, contrition, or feelings—creates a joyful and free conscience. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook  

In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson begin a new chapter by discussing Luther's "New Kabbalah" and what it reveals about the gospel. They discuss why Luther's theology marked a real break with Rome, showing that sinners are made right with God through faith in Christ rather than through love, works, or mystical experiences. The conversation continues by exploring how the theology of the cross changes the way we understand Christ, justification, and the Christian life. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook  

In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their discussion of Psalm 51, exploring why Christians continue to hear absolution even after they have already been forgiven in Baptism. They examine the Osiander controversy and the Reformation's teaching on justification, showing why forgiveness is more than a symbol or legal pardon—God's promise truly makes sinners righteous while they still struggle with sin. They also explain why Christians return again and again to God's Word and Sacraments, finding confidence not in what they see or feel, but in Christ's unchanging promise. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore why Lutherans place public absolution at the center of worship and how it differs from approaches that emphasize repentance as a human work. Looking at Psalm 51, they explain Luther's claim that we don't fully know our sin through the law alone—we come to understand the depth of our sin when God first forgives it through His promise. The conversation shows how absolution creates faith, reveals true repentance, and keeps the Gospel, rather than our efforts, at the heart of the Christian life. Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook More from 1517: Support 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson

In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson discuss Luther's famous and often misunderstood phrase, "faith creates God," from his lectures on Psalm 51. They trace how Ludwig Feuerbach turned that phrase into a theory that shaped modern theology, psychology, and atheism, while showing why Luther meant something very different. The conversation ultimately points listeners back to the heart of the Reformation: faith is not a human achievement or projection, but the gift created by God's powerful Gospel. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Scott Keith Daniel Emery Price Follow 1517:  Instagram X/Twitter Facebook