Unashamed with the Robertson Family – Ep 1151

Episode Title: Phil & Missy Unknowingly Preach the Same Sermon Across Time & Is Our Flesh Evil?
Date: August 26, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, the Robertson clan (Jase, Zach, and guest Christian McCaffrey) wade deep into Christian doctrine, exploring how God’s nearness is experienced, how the indwelling of the Holy Spirit shapes Christian life, and the misunderstood nature of the “flesh” in Scripture. Weaving in powerful personal anecdotes, family banter, and robust biblical exposition, the group links their own faith journeys to timeless scriptural truths. The episode also unexpectedly finds Jase and Missy preaching the same message—across time and geography—underscoring the unity of the Spirit in teaching.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Aloneness, Childhood, and the Presence of God

[01:24 – 08:24]

• Jase shares a childhood story about being left alone by his father in a frigid duck blind, wrestling with loneliness, fear, and the elements.
  • Quote:
    “I thought I was alone in a pretty terrifying place... I survived.” – Jase [07:19]
• This experience led Jase to a profound early awareness of God's creation.
  • Quote:
    “A little suffering brings clarity to the mind... you’re vulnerable. Somebody made this.” – Jase [07:44]
• Zach and Jase connect these experiences to Romans 1:
  • Humanity has no excuse for not perceiving God, for His qualities are evident in creation.

2. The Nearness of God: Is God Far or Close?

[10:34 – 18:22]

• Zach draws a parallel from Joshua and Judges: how quickly people forget God's works, a pattern also seen in modern faith culture.
• Jase recounts preaching on Acts 17 in Athens, where Missy read Paul’s Mars Hill speech aloud, generating unexpected dialogue with a Russian skeptic.
• Discussion turns to Paul's assertion in Acts 17 that God “is not far from any one of us.”
  • Quote:
    “How far is God?... In Acts 17, Paul said... he is not far from each one of us.” – Jase [17:44]
• The group observes religious culture’s tendency to treat God as distant, in contrast to the biblical declaration of His nearness.
  • Quote:
    “I think we tend to have God way off. When you read something like that, it doesn’t seem like He’s very far.” – Jase [18:13]

3. Union of Heaven and Earth: God's ‘House’ and the Spirit’s Indwelling

[20:01 – 23:14]

• From John 14, Jase highlights the “two houses with many rooms”—one in heaven, one on earth—linking Jesus preparing a place for believers to the Spirit making a ‘home’ in them now.
• The only two biblical uses of a certain Greek word for “rooms” both appear in John 14 (vv. 2 and 23).
  • Quote:
    “My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” – Jase [21:15]
• The Spirit’s presence in the believer marks God’s ultimate nearness.
  • Quote:
    “How close is that? Can’t get any closer.” – Jase [22:36]

4. Paul’s Method in Acts: Meeting People Where They Seek God

[24:57 – 31:26]

• Christian McCaffrey notes Paul’s custom in Acts: at each city, he seeks places where people expect to meet God (synagogues for Jews, Areopagus for Greeks) to reveal the true God and announce Christ.
  • Quote:
    “Paul... goes to the place where you would think God would meet with man... then he tells them: God doesn’t live in your temples built by man’s hands.” – Christian McCaffrey [27:22]
• They reflect on how Jesus embodies the new “temple”: God’s dwelling with humanity.
  • Quote:
    “He makes that famous line: I am the temple. I am the place where people meet.” – Jase [34:49]

5. Is Our Flesh Evil? The Biblical View of Body, Spirit, and Redemption

[36:37 – 56:21]

• The group tackles the question: “Is our flesh evil?”
  • Christian explains Gnosticism, the ancient heresy that deems flesh inherently evil and spirit inherently good.
  • They clarify that Paul’s “flesh” refers to a corrupted will, not the physical body itself.
  • Quote:
    “If [the flesh] was [inherently bad], Jesus incarnated into something inherently bad.” – Christian McCaffrey [37:13]
  • Quote:
    “If you read that as the physical, actual DNA and flesh is evil, well, that’s a form of Gnosticism... The Christian teaching is: God made the earth, and he said it is good. He made human flesh, and he said it’s very good.” – Christian McCaffrey [38:26]
• The body is meant for the Lord; resurrection means bodies matter.
  • Quote:
    “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... Glorify God with your body.” – Christian McCaffrey [51:22]
• Zach highlights confusion at funerals where bodies are dismissed (“That’s not him anymore”), pushing back:
  • Quote:
    “No, that’s still them... That part will be resurrected, and it’s going to be amazing.” – Zach [42:38]
• Jase walks through Romans 8 and Galatians 5: it’s not flesh itself that’s evil, but life lived apart from God in fleshly passions.
• The “three-part” human (body, soul, spirit) is ultimately one; you can’t parcel yourself.
  • Quote:
    “That’s you. That’s one.” – Jase [53:48]
• All are kept blameless, whole, only through the Spirit.

Notable Quotes (With Timestamps)

• “A little suffering brings clarity to the mind... you’re vulnerable. Somebody made this.” – Jase [07:44]
• “How far is God? ... Paul said ... he is not far from each one of us.” – Jase [17:44]
• “My father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” – Jase [21:15]
• “He makes that famous line: I am the temple. I am the place where people meet.” – Jase [34:49]
• “If [the flesh] was [inherently bad], Jesus incarnated into something inherently bad.” – Christian McCaffrey [37:13]
• “Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit... Glorify God with your body.” – Christian McCaffrey [51:22]
• “No, that’s still them... That part will be resurrected, and it’s going to be amazing.” – Zach [42:38]
• “If you think [God] is a long way away, you’ve missed something about the Holy Spirit.” – Jase [56:11]

Memorable Moments

• The Mars Hill Story: Missy’s reading of Acts 17 aloud in Athens leading to an encounter with a skeptical Russian—a living echo of Paul’s experience.
  • Quote:
    “I don’t agree with that.” – Skeptical Russian (recounted by Jase) [14:25] “Then why are you here?” – Missy [15:26]
• “Fish is the key!”: Discussion on Jesus eating fish after resurrection to demonstrate the goodness of a redeemed body—even the resurrection “hinges on fish.” [40:00]
• Rooming With Jesus: Jase imagines telling a college roommate, “Well, I’m rooming with Jesus, or he’s rooming with me…” to illustrate the union of heavenly and earthly realities. [29:05]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:24 – 08:24] – Jase’s duck blind childhood story and the realization of God’s presence in creation.
• [10:34 – 18:24] – Acts 17, Mars Hill, and the question of God’s nearness.
• [20:01 – 23:14] – John 14: God’s “house,” and the Spirit’s indwelling.
• [24:57 – 31:26] – Paul’s approach in Acts: Where do people seek God?
• [36:37 – 56:21] – The nature of “flesh,” what’s meant by “corrupted will,” Gnosticism, resurrection, and the unity of body and spirit.
• [42:20 – 43:03] – Funeral theology: What does resurrection mean for the body?
• [53:48 – 54:22] – Can we divide body, spirit, and soul?
• [56:11 – end] – Never alone: The Holy Spirit’s presence is ultimate nearness.

Conclusion

This episode serves as a deep, honest, and often humorous reflection on foundational Christian questions. The Robertsons and Christian McCaffrey tie theological exploration to real-life experience, ultimately centering on this: Through Christ and by the Spirit, God is both near and dwelling in His people—now, not just in the “sweet by and by.” The episode confronts misunderstanding about flesh and spirit, challenges listeners to experience God's presence daily, and reminds all that in Christ, believers are never alone.