Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 5 hours ago
Is being “in Christ” the same as panentheism? Bob DeWaay explains that union with God is not a feeling or a mystical process. Those who are born again are “in Christ,” but this is a legal category, not an ontological one. Through faith, believers are declared righteous (Romans 5:1) and have peace with God through the new birth. This concerns our right standing before God, not God’s essence permeating creation. That distinction separates biblical Christianity from pagan panentheism. We also discuss John Mark Comer’s teaching on union with the Trinity through surrender and how it also promotes a false ontology.
This is a critique of "Practicing the Way" by John Mark Comer, WaterBrook, 2024.
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
01:37 The Danger of Panentheism
04:22 Penal Substitutionary Atonement: A Legal Category
06:42 Surrender and union with the Trinity
08:28 Total Surrender
12:45 Legalism and Submission in the Shepherding Movement
16:35 Taking Thoughts Captive - what it truly means
20:12 Sermons on Colossians
Is being “in Christ” the same as panentheism? Bob DeWaay explains that union with God is not a feeling or a mystical process. Those who are born again are “in Christ,” but this is a legal category, not an ontological one. Through faith, believers are declared righteous (Romans 5:1) and have peace with God through the new birth. This concerns our right standing before God, not God’s essence permeating creation. That distinction separates biblical Christianity from pagan panentheism. We also discuss John Mark Comer’s teaching on union with the Trinity through surrender and how it also promotes a false ontology.
This is a critique of "Practicing the Way" by John Mark Comer, WaterBrook, 2024.
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing.
01:37 The Danger of Panentheism
04:22 Penal Substitutionary Atonement: A Legal Category
06:42 Surrender and union with the Trinity
08:28 Total Surrender
12:45 Legalism and Submission in the Shepherding Movement
16:35 Taking Thoughts Captive - what it truly means
20:12 Sermons on Colossians
