In early February Pastor Tullian was interviewed by Pastor Daniel Emery Price and Seminarian Brandon Hanson on the Christ Hold Fast Cast. They start out the first 20 minutes of their 1 hour and 15 minute long interview in a candid and sometimes humorous discussion about breakfast for dinner and the Super Bowl.

After that exchange, they have a 10 minutes discussion about how the concept of LIBERATE was birthed out of Tullian’s 2011 ministry travels, speaking at conferences, churches, and colleges around the country after he rediscovered the “now power of the gospel” having come through a hard season of transition as the Senior Pastor of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church. Tullian discussed how he was approached by numerous people across multiple states, all wanting to hear about the liberating power of the gospel that he was preaching about. So he explains how he decided to create a platform where he and some of his friends could speak this message to the Church. Each year the conference has grown and this year well over 2,000 people are expected to attend. The theme of the conference will be “It Is Finished” and it is being held from February 19-22 in Fort Lauderdale. But LIBERATE is not only a conference ministry, it is also an online magazine with media, resources, and conversations, along with a TV and Radio Program that is broadcast around the country and over the Internet. It is also a Pastors Network of like-minded pastors who love the message. Tullian then shares about the conference theme “It Is Finished” and the mission statement of LIBERATE to connect God’s inexhaustible grace to an exhausted world.

At about the 30 minute mark the conversation transitions into a really helpful, 15 minute discussion about topics like a flat relationship with God, the one-way love of God, the sacraments, the finished work of Jesus, the Tower of Babel, the scandal of the cross, and how God comes to us by declaring his approval over us in our Baptism.

For the last 30 minutes of the interview they have a very lively discussion about grace and obedience that answers many of their critics. They take time to explain that good works are not our transaction between us and God but rather, between us and our neighbor. They put to rest all of the concerns that have been raised about what this message grace looks like in practice.

This podcast first appeared on Christ Hold Fast and is used here with permission.