In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their conversation on Luther's lectures on Psalm 51, showing how true repentance is rooted not in human effort or love for God, but in God's mercy alone. They unpack Luther's "conjunction of the incompatible" to explain how the holy God joins Himself to sinful people through Christ, shaping the Reformation's teaching on justification, the sacraments, and the Christian life. The discusssion challenges common misunderstandings about faith, emphasizing that salvation comes through God's Word creating faith—not through our works, decisions, or acts of love.

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In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson explore what it means to "pray against yourself" through Psalm 51, showing how David learns that true repentance begins with God's law exposing the depth of sin rather than human effort or moral improvement. The conversation explains that faith is not something we produce or preserve but a gift created by the Holy Spirit through the preached promise of the forgiveness of sins. David's confidence ultimately rests not in his own worth, sacrifice, or works, but in God's Word of absolution, which unites sinners to Christ by grace alone.

More from 1517:

• Support the 1517 Podcast Network

• 1517 on Youtube

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• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

New Books from 1517 Publishing:

• By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas

• Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith

• A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco

• Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann

• The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation

New Books from 1517 Publishing:

• By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas

• Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith

• A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco

• Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann

• The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation

More from the hosts:

• Scott Keith

• Daniel Emery Price

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In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore Martin Luther's idea of the "conjunction of the incompatible," showing how Christ unites Himself to sinners not after they become holy, but while they are still completely sinful. They contrast this Gospel-centered understanding with views that make Jesus primarily an example to follow, emphasizing instead that Christ gives Himself fully through preaching and the sacraments to forgive sins and create faith. Looking at Psalm 51, they reveal how David's story points to the heart of the Gospel: God's grace comes to those who are utterly undeserving, joining the Holy One to the unholy through Christ alone.

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• 1517 Podcasts

• 1517 on Youtube

• 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts

• 1517 Events Schedule

• 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education

New Books from 1517 Publishing:

• By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas

• Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith

• A Reasoned Defense of the Faith by Adam Francisco

• Stretched: A Study for Lent and the Entire Christian Life by Dr. Christopher Richmann

• The Essential Nestingen: Essays on Preaching, Catechism, and the Reformation

More from the hosts:

• Caleb Keith

• Steven Paulson

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Facebook