Episode 194

Gospel Allegiance: Salvation, Discipleship, and the Kingship of Jesus with Matthew Bates

In this episode of Ryan & Brian’s Bible Bistro, Brian flies solo (no co-host required!) and sits down with Dr. Matthew Bates, Professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary and award-winning author of Why the Gospel?, Gospel Allegiance, and Beyond the Salvation Wars.

Together, they explore:

  • What it really means to say “Jesus is the Christ” — and why it’s a royal proclamation, not just a religious label.
  • How the Greek word pistis reshapes our understanding of “faith” as allegiance, loyalty, and faithfulness to King Jesus.
  • Why salvation and discipleship can’t be separated — and how this changes the way we practice our faith.
  • The difference between the gospel itself and the benefits of the gospel.
  • How the incarnation, resurrection, ascension, and enthronement of Jesus each form essential parts of the good news.
  • Insights from Bates’s latest work, Beyond the Salvation Wars, and the push for a unity-centered, truth-rooted vision of the church.

You’ll also hear stories of how Bates’s academic journey (from Notre Dame to teaching at a Catholic university, and now Northern Seminary) shaped his theology, plus a look ahead at his upcoming book, Christ Formed.

About the Podcast

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Ryan and Brian's Bible Bistro
A podcast about the Bible, theology, and all things related to the Christian faith. Hosted by Ryan Sarver and Brian Johnson..

About your hosts

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Brian Johnson

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Ryan Sarver