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.