In this episode of Christ the Center, Camden Bucey and Lane Tipton explore Geerhardus Vos’s profound treatment of faith in the Gospel of John (pp. 390–392 of Biblical Theology). Vos unfolds faith not as an abstract belief but as a living, continuous union with the incarnate and ascended Truth—Jesus Christ Himself. John’s theology binds faith and truth together: the Son comes down from heaven as the true light, true bread, true vine, and the Truth (John 1:9; 6:32; 15:1; 14:6). Faith, therefore, is a Spirit-wrought communion with the heavenly reality revealed in Him.
Tipton and Bucey trace how this Johannine vision lifts believers from the shadowy worship of the old covenant to true, eschatological worship “in spirit and in truth.” Faith beholds Christ even now, anticipating the beatific vision. In contrast to philosophical or impersonal notions of truth, Vos insists that truth is personal, Trinitarian, and heavenly—rooted in the self-revealing God. Thus, saving faith is not blind trust but an intimate, knowing participation in the life of the risen Christ, a foretaste of the age to come.
New Book by Lane Tipton: Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Van Til
We are pleased to announce the release of an important new book, Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Van Til by Lane Tipton. This is the first in a scheduled eight-part series of books on Van Til that correspond to our Fellowship in Reformed Apologetics.
Dr. Tipton has taught eight video courses that work through the entire range of Van Til’s theology and apologetics. Each of the courses is available for free through Reformed Academy and on YouTube. And now you can get the first book in the series.
If you order by November 30, 2025 and you can get the second book in the series, The Trinitarian Theology of Cornelius Van Til for only $4.99!
Chapters
- 00:07 Introduction
- 01:44 New Book: Introduction to the Theology and Apologetics of Cornelius Van Til
- 11:11 Faith in the Gospel of John
- 16:19 Defining Truth According to the Son
- 26:49 Heaven and the Truth
- 29:44 The Typological Dimension of Truth
- 34:32 Faith as the Human Relation to Truth
- 37:35 Faith Anticipates the Glorified Christ
- 40:56 Faith, Unbelief, and Knowledge
- 44:25 Faith and Beholding the Lord
- 46:48 Scripture and the Truth
- 52:00 The Need for More Redemptive-Historical Study in John
- 57:40 Conclusion
Participants: Camden Bucey, Lane G. Tipton
Christ the Center focuses on Reformed Christian theology. In each episode a group of informed panelists discusses important issues in order to encourage critical thinking and a better understanding of Reformed doctrine with a view toward godly living. Browse more episodes from this program or subscribe to the podcast feed.
