WHI Classic • Many Christians today have uncritically accepted the idea that “doctrine is irrelevant,” without even realizing that this very idea is itself a doctrine. In fact, the very moment one turns away from any particular belief or opinion, other beliefs rush in to fill the void. So everyone has a doctrine, but the question is whether our beliefs and assumptions about God or the world in which we live are true, false, or somewhere in between (originally aired 1-15-21). __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner. __________ Support the classics and for a donation of any amount receive a link to download our classic series “Understanding Scripture” – whitehorseinn.org/whiclassics.

As Jacob returns to the promised land in Genesis 32, he’s attacked in the middle of the night. As the two men struggle until the break of day, it slowly begins to dawn on Jacob that there’s something special about his wrestling partner. In fact, by the end of the encounter, it’s revealed to Jacob that he’s actually been “striving with God.” Many commentators suggest that the patriarch wrestled with God in order to receive a divine blessing, but is that really what’s going on here? At what point does Jacob even realize this man’s true identity? Shane Rosenthal discusses this mysterious passage with Matt Foreman and Doug Van Dorn, authors of The Angel of the Lord. __________ To receive our free INNtro kit which includes the current issue of Modern Reformation magazine and our most recent set of extended length White Horse Inn CD’s, go to whitehorseinn.org/kit __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner __________ Support the classics and for a donation of any amount receive a link to download our classic series “Understanding Scripture” – whitehorseinn.org/whiclassics

WHI Classic • The Bible did not fall down from heaven as a sourcebook for spirituality, personal life lessons, or even as a collection of doctrines. Rather, it should primarily be understood as a report of an unfolding drama that took place in real space and time history that culminates in the life of a particular Jew born in Bethlehem in the days of Caesar Augustus. If this story isn’t true, it should be completely rejected and set aside. But if it is true, it’s the greatest story ever told (Originally aired 1-8-17). __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner. __________ If you would like to lead a bible study or want a reliable resource to help you study the Bible on your own, consider using Core Bible Studies. Just head over to corechristianity.com/studies.

In Genesis 29, Jacob the deceiver is himself deceived. Though he had intended to marry Rachel, he was first tricked into marrying her older sister. Later, as she struggles with infertility, Rachel gives Jacob her maidservant to be a kind of surrogate mother. When two sons are born to her in this way, Rachel believes that she has “wrestled with God and her sister and prevailed.” But if, according to Paul, Sarah and Hagar represent covenants of grace and works, what are we to think about the events recorded here? On this program, Shane Rosenthal discusses the implications of Genesis 29 and 30 with Adriel Sanchez, host of Core Christianity. __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner __________ If you would like to lead a bible study or want a reliable resource to help you study the Bible on your own, consider using Core Bible Studies. Just head over to corechristianity.com/studies

WHI Classic • What are the stories we tell ourselves, and how do these stories shape what we believe and how we live? On this program, the hosts are taking a look at four Ds: drama, doctrine, doxology, and discipleship. As they unpack these key concepts, they’ll help us to see that every belief system is rooted in some kind of narrative or story that ends up forming a person’s core values, goals, and habits (originally aired 01-01-17). __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner. __________ Sign up now to join Michael Horton and others for one of our two-day Modern Reformation Weekend Conferences. To sign up, head over to modernreformation.org/events.

Many people today think of religion as a stairway that leads to heaven. Basically, it’s an upward path that all of us are meant to ascend by our own good works. In Genesis 28, however, Jacob encounters a great stairway between heaven and earth, but he’s not invited to climb it. Instead, God graciously descends the stairway and makes one-sided promises to Jacob, who is fast asleep at the bottom. What’s the point of this chapter and how does it foreshadow the work of Jesus Christ? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal discusses this fascinating scene with White Horse Inn founder Michael Horton as we continue our series on The Gospel in Genesis. __________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner __________ Support the classics and for a donation of any amount receive a link to download our classic series “Understanding Scripture” – whitehorseinn.org/whiclassics

WHI Classic • On the last edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts discussed the problems associated with a “try it, you’ll like it” approach to the Christian faith. But does the Christian faith make a practical difference in a person’s life? Should converts to Christianity expect to experience real transformation? How should we think about remaining sin? Will Christians continue to struggle with habitual sins, or is that possibly a sign that they are not really true believers? The hosts tackle these questions and more on this edition of the program (originally aired11-27-11).

As we saw last week, difficulties arise when we attempt to read the story of Jacob and Esau as a traditional morality tale. In reality, the book of Genesis does not present Jacob as a hero to be emulated, but as a great sinner in whom God’s mysterious grace is richly on display. And as we’ll see in Genesis 27, Jacob actually deceives his father by clothing himself in his brother’s garments and calling himself “Esau.” So then, why does God allow him to receive his brother’s blessing? On this episode, Shane Rosenthal continues his conversation with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace. __________ For WHI listeners, we have a special Modern Reformation magazine subscription rate. To find out more just head over to whitehorseinn.org/mrspecial. __________ Get our new collection, The Spirit of the Age: Challenging the Alternative Gospels of Our Time. Just go to whitehorseinn.org/spiritoftheage.

WHI Classic • Why do so many contemporary Churches or best-selling Christian books focus almost exclusively on practical application rather than doctrinal truth? Why do most Christians prefer to talk about their own testimonies of changed lives, rather than arguing for the truth of the Christian faith? On this edition of the White Horse Inn, the hosts take a look at the philosophy of Pragmatism and its effects on contemporary Christian thought and practice (originally aired 11-20-11). ___________ Become a partner and you will receive all of the White Horse Inn extended episodes, access to our extensive archive as well as a subscription to our magazine, Modern Reformation. Head over to whitehorseinn.org/podcastpartner. __________ Get our new collection, The Spirit of the Age: Challenging the Alternative Gospels of Our Time. Just go to whitehorseinn.org/spiritoftheage.

The story of Jacob and Esau raises a number of important questions. Why did God choose Jacob in favor of Esau? Was it due to some kind of foreseen virtue on Jacob’s part? In reality, that approach fails on a number of levels, since Jacob is presented throughout Genesis as a schemer, deceiver, and master-manipulator. In Romans 9, Paul argues that ultimately, the story of Jacob and Esau is about “God’s purpose in election—not because of works, but because of him who calls.” Shane Rosenthal discusses this with Dr. Iain Duguid, author of Living in the Grip of Relentless Grace: The Gospel in the Lives of Isaac & Jacob. __________ Get our new collection, The Spirit of the Age: Challenging the Alternative Gospels of Our Time. Just go to whitehorseinn.org/spiritoftheage. __________ To receive our free INNtro kit, go to whitehorseinn.org/kit.