Matt O'Reilly

What is holiness? I get that question frequently since the publication of Free to Be Holy. Here's how it's answered in the book: "God always does what’s right. He always does what he ought to do. For us, then, to be holy is to be formed in such a way that we consistently do what we ought to do—like God does" (3). To be holy is to embody the character of God. And that's the biblical vision for human life, start to finish. More here: amzn.to/40KPDol @OfficialSeedbed

One of the most important lessons I learned in seminary came when a professor said this to me: "We all have biases. That's not the problem. The problem is not knowing what your biases are." We were talking about writing and developing as a writer. And he was exhorting me to examine the perspective from which I write and to be honest about that in my writing. C.S. Lewis made a related point in The Magician's Nephew when he said: “For what you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing: it also depends on what sort of person you are.” The Wesleyan tradition is where I stand; consequently, it shapes what I see. And it shapes the way I read the Bible. One of the areas in which I work to know my biases is the doctrine of holiness. I worship, live, and work in the Wesleyan tradition. The doctrine of entire sanctification is a marker of our theological identity. The danger is embracing the untested assumption that Scripture teaches a Wesleyan doctrine of holiness. The task is getting clear on what Scripture teaches and then evaluating our doctrine of sanctification in light of that. I'm convinced now that our Wesleyan understanding is the best account of what Scripture affirms with regard to holiness and sanctification. But that conclusion should only come after testing our theological biases and considering whether Scripture pushes back on them and to what degree. Question: What assumption have you had to test in light of Scripture?

Inseparable operations.

I used to question whether the Bible teaches universal prevenient grace. Is it true that every person receives some measure of grace inviting them into the process of salvation? There was a time when I was hesitant to answer that question with a “yes.” What changed my mind? John 1:9—the light that illumines everyone was coming into the world. The illumination extends to "everyone." Some reject the view that this illumination is an expression of prevenient grace. The context, however, suggests that it is. John goes on to explain that those who receive the Word are given the right to become children of God. The illumination of everyone in verse 9 belongs in the same discussion as becoming children of God in verse 12. The context is a theology of salvation. That’s why I understand this illumination as grace initiating the saving process. Everyone receives the light, even though everyone does not receive the Word. That distinction helped me come to believe in universal prevenient grace.

What do I do if I feel lost or overwhelmed by the theology book I’m trying to read? Perhaps you’ve asked the question. Try this. Read the conclusion first. It may feel counterintuitive. It may even feel wrong. It’s not. You’re not reading a novel. You’re not giving away the plot. Many books in biblical studies and theology end with a conclusion that summarizes the main contributions of the work. Read that first, and it will give you an idea of what to look for, what’s important, and the major takeaways the author wants you to know. You’ll feel less overwhelmed. Try it and let me how it goes.

Every Christian already does theology. We just don’t always call it that. Anytime you say anything about God, you're making a theological claim. When you pray, you're acting on beliefs about who God is, whether he listens, and how you expect him to behave. Theology is the practice of speaking truthfully and faithfully about God. Whenever you do that, you're doing theology. The real question isn't whether you're doing theological work. It's whether you're doing it well and with increasing faithfulness. So, how have you done theology recently?

We’ve been forgiven. We’ve been changed. But we still need saving. ➡️ theologyprojectonline.substa…

Does Romans 7 really describe the normal Christian life? “I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do…” Christians often read those words as Paul describing his own experience as a believer. But there’s a problem: one chapter earlier, Paul says Christians are no longer slaves to sin. In Romans 7, the “I” is sold as a slave to sin. So who is Paul talking about? I sat down with @jrrdodson, coauthor of Conquerors, Not Captives, to dig into Romans 7, its context, and what Paul actually expects the Christian life to look like. Leave a comment and tell me what you think about Romans 7. Then check out my conversation with Joey. YouTube: youtu.be/Oyp1_ckFWsM Substack: theologyprojectonline.substa… Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcas… Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/1qK…

We’ve been forgiven. We’ve been changed. But we still need saving. That’s central to John Wesley’s understanding of salvation. In my latest article, I explore why salvation is a process, not a one-off event—and why sanctification isn’t an optional add-on to the Christian life. Read it here: theologyprojectonline.substa…

What’s one thing you were taught about the Bible that you changed your mind about after studying it more closely? For me, it was the idea that salvation is primarily about going to heaven when we die. Taking bodily resurrection seriously changed how I understood the whole story. I’d love to hear yours.

Otherwise brilliant people are often deeply intimidated by the study of theology. I see this all the time in the church. They may have multiple degrees and a track record of academic professional excellence. But theology still feels like too much. Here’s the good news: you can learn theology just as you learned the field you work in. Read books. Read them again. Read more. Take the long view. Disciplined reading over the long term can help you become theologically competent. Oh, and make an appointment to talk theology with your pastor. It will be appreciated. I promise. Repost if you know someone who needs this encouragement.

When we think about Pentecost, we often focus on our personal experience of the Holy Spirit. But what if we’re missing the bigger picture? N. T. Wright reminds us that Pentecost isn’t just about individual experience. It’s about the fulfillment of God’s promises to Israel and his return to dwell among his people. In my latest article, I explore why both matter. Read it here: theologyprojectonline.substa…

What if God was at work in your life long before you ever believed in him? John Wesley thought he was. In my latest article, I explore three features of prevenient grace that help explain how God works in us before we come to faith in Christ. Read it here: theologyprojectonline.substa…

What if God was at work in your life long before you ever believed in him? John Wesley thought he was. In my latest article, I explore three features of prevenient grace that help explain how God works in us before we come to faith in Christ. Read it here: theologyprojectonline.substa…

So grateful for all who came out to celebrate and support the seminary students who receive scholarships from the Global Methodist Foundation of North Alabama. Learn more and join the movement here: gmfna.org/give