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Outlaw God

1517 Podcasts

The Outlaw God podcast is about moving from theological speculation to proclamation. Featuring Dr. Steven Paulson and co-hosted by Caleb Keith.

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  • 22 episodes
  • weekly
  • Avg 44 min
  • English
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  • Thursday · 51 min

    Lifeless Lord's Supper

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson explore Luther's break from Platonic and mystical ideas of revelation, especially the belief that preaching exists to reveal the right way to live. They explain why the law cannot reconnect us to God or make us righteous, and why Luther insisted that the law kills while the gospel gives life through the forgiveness of sins. The conversation also examines how misunderstandings of worship, the Lord's Supper, and the road to Emmaus can turn God's Word into ritual action rather than the proclamation of Christ's promise. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • August 20 · 46 min

    Mystical Means

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson continue exploring Luther's "new Kabbalah" and his rejection of mystical approaches to God, Scripture, and the law. They explain how Luther moved away from Plato and Aristotle and came to see God's Word, preaching, Baptism, the Lord's Supper, and absolution as the true means through which God gives Christ and salvation. The conversation shows why Luther believed the Gospel must be separated from mystical ideas of ascending to God through suffering, rituals, dreams, or human effort. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • August 13 · 52 min

    When God Commands Promise

    In the episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore Luther's Reformation breakthrough and how it was rooted in the distinction between Law and Gospel. They discuss how Luther came to understand faith as trust in God's promise rather than a work or feeling produced within us. Through Psalm 51 and Luther's own struggle with a troubled conscience, they show how absolution comes from outside us through God's Word and gives the conscience certainty and freedom. The episode highlights how God's promise—not our works, contrition, or feelings—creates a joyful and free conscience. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education 1517 Podcast Listeners Get a Free Book When They Sign Up for Memento This August Dr. Paulson's Outlaw God in Three Volumes: Volume 1 Volume 2 Volume 3 New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • August 6 · 49 min

    Christ the Hated God

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson begin a new chapter by discussing Luther's "New Kabbalah" and what it reveals about the gospel. They discuss why Luther's theology marked a real break with Rome, showing that sinners are made right with God through faith in Christ rather than through love, works, or mystical experiences. The conversation continues by exploring how the theology of the cross changes the way we understand Christ, justification, and the Christian life. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • July 31 · 49 min

    No Longer Fighting God

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their discussion of Psalm 51, exploring why Christians continue to hear absolution even after they have already been forgiven in Baptism. They examine the Osiander controversy and the Reformation's teaching on justification, showing why forgiveness is more than a symbol or legal pardon—God's promise truly makes sinners righteous while they still struggle with sin. They also explain why Christians return again and again to God's Word and Sacraments, finding confidence not in what they see or feel, but in Christ's unchanging promise. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • July 23 · 42 min

    Repentance Realization

    Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith explore why Lutherans place public absolution at the center of worship and how it differs from approaches that emphasize repentance as a human work. Looking at Psalm 51, they explain Luther's claim that we don't fully know our sin through the law alone—we come to understand the depth of our sin when God first forgives it through His promise. The conversation shows how absolution creates faith, reveals true repentance, and keeps the Gospel, rather than our efforts, at the heart of the Christian life. Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook More from 1517: Support 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson

  • July 16 · 43 min

    Faith Creates God?

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson discuss Luther's famous and often misunderstood phrase, "faith creates God," from his lectures on Psalm 51. They trace how Ludwig Feuerbach turned that phrase into a theory that shaped modern theology, psychology, and atheism, while showing why Luther meant something very different. The conversation ultimately points listeners back to the heart of the Reformation: faith is not a human achievement or projection, but the gift created by God's powerful Gospel. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Scott Keith Daniel Emery Price Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • July 9 · 41 min

    Law of Love

    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. More from 1517: Support the work at 1517 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education New Books from 1517 Publishing: The Turk at the Door by Adam Francisco Luther and the Lion: A Narnian Catechism by Samuel Schuldheisz By Water and the Word by Brian Thomas Being Family by Dr. Scott Keith More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • July 2 · 41 min

    David Dilemma

    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 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 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 Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • June 26 · 42 min

    The Conjunction Conundrum

    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. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 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 Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • June 18 · 42 min

    Just vs. Justifier

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their examination of Psalm 51, showing how David's confession reveals the total reality of sin and the complete inability of human beings to save themselves through free will or good works. Drawing on Luther's distinction between Law and Gospel, Paulson explains that God's righteousness is not merely His own holiness but His action of justifying sinners through the promise of forgiveness. The discussion highlights how faith comes through God's external Word, which exposes sin, creates trust, and grants the righteousness that comes apart from the Law. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 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 Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • June 11 · 42 min

    Creator of Compatibility

    In this episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their exploration of Psalm 51, focusing on David's confession that sin is not merely something we do but something that defines us apart from God's intervention. Paulson explains Luther's understanding of repentance as two distinct words preached from outside the sinner—the law, which exposes and kills, and the gospel, which forgives and raises to new life through absolution. The conversation highlights David as prophet, showing how God creates faith by joining the seemingly incompatible realities of a holy God and sinful humanity through the promise of the gospel. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 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

  • June 4 · 57 min

    Judge or Justifier?

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their exploration of Psalm 51, examining how David's encounter with Nathan reveals the difference between God as a mere judge and God as the Justifier who forgives sinners through the gospel. They argue that the law can only expose sin, punish wrongdoing, and attempt reform, while only God's absolving word can truly remove sin and create a new heart. Through David's prayer, "Have mercy on me, O God," the episode presents justification as God's complete and decisive act of forgiveness, accomplished apart from the law through the promise fulfilled in Christ. More from 1517: Give to the June 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser! Learn more about the 1517 Podcast Network Fundraiser 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 Follow 1517: Instagram X/Twitter Facebook

  • May 28 · 41 min

    David the Theodidact

    In this episode of the Outlaw God podcast, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson explore Luther's understanding of being "Theodidact" — taught by God through the preaching of law and gospel rather than through inward spirituality or self-discovery. Using Psalm 51 and David's confrontation with Nathan after Bathsheba, they unpack how the law exposes humanity as completely sinful while the gospel creates an entirely new identity through God's mercy alone. The conversation centers on Luther's theological "summa": "God the Justifier, I the sinner," showing how true knowledge of God comes not through self-improvement, but through forgiveness spoken by God himself. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 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

  • May 21 · 40 min

    Real Repentance

    In this episode of the Outlaw God podcast, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith conclude their series on repentance by contrasting legal repentance with repentance rooted in the Gospel alone. Through Psalm 51, John the Baptist, and Luther's theology, Paulson explains how true repentance is not self-improvement or sacrifice, but a total death and resurrection brought entirely by the Word and the Holy Spirit. The conversation explores how God justifies sinners outside the law, why faith is created through promise rather than free will, and how baptism itself is a complete exorcism from the spirit of Satan into the life of the Holy Spirit. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 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

  • May 14 · 50 min

    Disastrous Directions

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith examine Luther's teaching on Psalm 51 to contrast medieval "legal repentance" with true repentance. They explain how generations of Christians—and even modern secular culture—tend to treat repentance as self-improvement powered by human will, rather than recognizing original sin as unbelief that cannot be fixed by inner effort. The discussion shows how legal systems of repentance try to restore human willpower, while the gospel instead gives faith from outside the sinner through Christ's promise. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 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

  • May 7 · 30 min

    Evangelical Repentance

    In this episode of the Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith continue their discussion of Psalm 51 by looking at repentance. Dr. Paulson explains how true repentance comes not through ritual cleansing or self-improvement, but through the Holy Spirit working through preaching to reveal original sin and deliver justification through the Gospel. The episode also connects repentance to baptism, critiques natural law approaches to morality, and previews Luther's challenge to the church's law-centered understanding of repentance. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today 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 Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson

  • April 23 · 41 min

    Justifying God

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Dr. Steven Paulson and Caleb Keith discuss the evangelical doctrine of sin, contrasting it with medieval and modern approaches that define sin primarily as individual acts or failures of free will. Using Psalm 51 and David's encounter with the prophet Nathan, they explain how sin is truly revealed and forgiven not by the law or human effort, but through the external promise of the gospel. The conversation highlights Luther's insight that sin is ultimately unbelief, while faith itself is a gift created by God's Word that frees the sinner through mercy rather than merit. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today 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 Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson

  • April 15 · 36 min

    Remembering and Repenting

    In this episode of Outlaw God, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson continue their exploration of Psalm 51 by examining the question, "What is sin?" The conversation highlights how sin is not something humans can objectively analyze or fix through self-reflection, but is revealed when God's Word exposes the sinner and delivers mercy. Drawing on Luther's teaching, the episode contrasts repentance based on remembering individual sins with an evangelical understanding grounded in confession and absolution through preaching. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today 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 Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson

  • April 10 · 38 min

    With and Without God's Word

    In this episode of the Outlaw God podcast, Caleb Keith and Dr. Steven Paulson turn to Psalm 51 to explore sin, repentance, and the human will. Drawing on Luther's teaching, they show how David's confession comes after God's Word confronts him through the law and restores him through the gospel. The discussion emphasizes that repentance is not self-improvement but God's work of creating a new heart in the sinner. Psalm 51 is presented as a living prayer that teaches how God moves sinners from death to forgiveness. Show Notes: Support 1517 Podcast Network 1517 Podcasts 1517 on Youtube 1517 Podcast Network on Apple Podcasts 1517 Events Schedule 1517 Academy - Free Theological Education What's New from 1517: 1517 Youtube: How God Still Speaks Today 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 Philip Melanchthon's Commentary on Ecclesiastes, Translated by Dr. Derek Cooper More from the hosts: Caleb Keith Steven Paulson

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