By Joe Mott
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The podcast currently has 193 episodes available.
References:
(1) The Bible is very clear that when a person believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, then he becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), AND a child of God who is born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13). Consequently God’s Holy Spirit takes up PERMANENT RESIDENCE within that person.
(2) In John 10: 27-30 Jesus uses the metaphor of SHEEP to describe His true followers. Jesus says, “My sheep hear My Vince, and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall NEVER PERISH.” What about NEVER do you not understand?
(3) Jesus continues, “Neither shall anyone SNATCH them out of My hand. My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to SNATCH them out of My Father’s hand. I and My Father are one.”
(4) In Matt. 18:12-14 Jesus told a parable concerning a shepherd who had 100 sheep where one went astray.
(5) In the parable the lamb is found, and the Shepherd gladly bears the burden of returning it to the flock. What can we conclude from this? Our Lord takes FULL RESPONSIBILITY for bringing the wandering sheep safely home. Remember the lamb was His sheep. So we conclude that if a believer in Christ ever strays, He will bring them back into the fold.
(6) Paul wrote the Ephesians church, “AFTER you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation; in whom also, having believed, you were SEALED with the Holy Spirit of promise who is the guarantee of our INHERITANCE until the redemption of the purchased possession” (Eph. 1:13-14). Paul speaks of being sealed with the Holy Spirit as an act that guarantees our ULTIMATE SALVATION. Also this last phrase refers to the TIME of the last day of this age. So we have assurance that protects believers in Christ to the END of the age. This interpretation is confirmed by another statement of Paul on sealing: “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit, by whom you were sealed for the DAY OF REDEMPTION” (Eph. 4:30).
(7) These verses teach in UNMISTAKEABLE TERMS that no true sheep of Christ will ever lose their salvation and perish. Therefore, eternal security is a glorious FACT for the true sheep of Christ.
(8) Sanctification is the process we undergo to become more like the Lord Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions, a process of becoming holy, a process of the formation of Christ-like character in us.
(9) Holiness is a FINAL RESULT of this process. Holiness is a GOAL that we, Christians, have to reach, because emulating a lifestyle that reflects God’s holiness is so important that the writer of Hebrews urges Christians to “PURSUE PEACE with everyone, and HOLINESS without which NO ONE will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
(10) Now we will look at a number of aspects of glorification. First, glorification is the completion, the consummation, the full realization of salvation. It is when we receive glorified bodies at the final day of this age (Rom. 8:18-25).
(11) Second, let us consider Rom. 8:29-30. the whole chapter 8 determines the context of these 2 verses. “For those God FOREKNEW He also PREDESTINED to be conformed to the likeness of His Son. . . . Moreover, whom He predestined, these He also CALLED; whom He called, these He also JUSTIFIED; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.”
(12) This “Golden Chain” from foreknew to glorified is UNBROKEN. The same persons who were foreknown and predestined were also called and justified and they will be glorified, thereby receive everlasting life. In order to discredit the doctrine of eternal security, one would have to INSERT the word SOME into the text. But the word some is missing. ALL who are JUSTIFIED will be GLORIFIED. Contrary to strong Calvinism, Rom. 8:29-30 does not prove that atonement is limited in its EXTENT; what it demonstrates is that atonement is limited in its APPLICATION. The passage is a PROMISE that all who were foreknown, predestined, called, and justified will assuredly be glorified.
(13) The book Systematic Theology, Vol. 3, p. 242 by Norman Geisler, points out 4 important ASPECTS in addition to my two which mark this third and final stage of salvation called glorification.
(14) Point 3: Our sinful nature will be ABOLISHED.
(15) Point 4: We shall see God FACE-T0-FACE. (15) Point 5: Our freedom will be PERFECTED.
(16) Point 6: We will be LIBERATED from all bondage, including bondage from Satan.
This is episode 190.
References:
(1) Justification is what the Lord Jesus did for us when He died on the cross for our sins.
(2) Sanctification is the process we undergo to become more like the Lord Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions, a process of becoming holy, a process of formation of Christ-like character. Holiness is a final result of this process.
(3) Holiness is a goal that we, Christians, have to reach, because emulating a lifestyle that reflects God’s holiness is so important that the writer of Hebrews urged Christians to “strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which NO ONE will see the Lord” (Heb. 12:14).
(4) Glorification is when we receive glorified bodies at the final day.
(5) Holiness is, perhaps, easier to DESCRIBE than to DEFINE. Rather than saying what it IS, maybe it is better to say what it is LIKE. In his book “Christian Holiness” J. Sidlow Baxter says that holiness is likeness to the MORAL CHARACTER of God.
(6) That will strike many in the audience as an IMPOSSIBLE TASK. But this is not the only thing that appears as an impossible task. In Eph. 5:1-2 we are called to be imitators of God. That, too, is perceived as an impossible task. But here the extra qualifier of our imitation is “as dear children.”
(7) The story of my 2-3 year old son imitating me mowing the yard.
(8) Holy has 2 major descriptions in Bible usage. The secondary description of holy refers to personal righteousness and moral purity. But the primary description in the Bible refers to something being separate, or other, or different. When the Bible speaks of God’s holiness, for example, the primary thrust of those statements is to refer to God’s transcendence, magnificence, utter uniqueness, superiority, as something higher than anything in the creaturely realm. God is completely different from every other thing in our experience.
(9) God desires — even commands — that His people seek after His holiness (Lev. 11:44).
(10) Being unclean according to the Law is NOT SYNONYMOUS with being SINFUL. The Old Testament Law speaks of 2 KINDS OF UNCLEANNESS — moral and ceremonial.
(11) The ULTIMATE PURPOSE for everything in the Law is SPIRITUAL. In the case of the laws governing uncleanness, the purpose was to show the people of Israel that God is HOLY and MANKIND IS NOT. We can be impure before God, even when we are not committing OUTRIGHT SIN.
(12) This golden chain also speaks of the three tenses of our salvation: past, present and future. In essence, “I was saved, I am being saved, and I will be saved” all accurately and Scripturally describe salvation, or the phrase “you are saved” found in 1 Corinthians 15:2. Believers in Christ are saved from the PENALTY of sin in the past (justification), from the POWER of sin in the present (sanctification), and will be saved in the future from the PRESENCE of sin (glorification).
This is episode 189.
References:
(1) The TERMS used to describe these important stages are justification, sanctification, and glorification. They describe the Christian journey from new birth to resurrection.
(2) Paul calls the first stage of salvation, justification. Justification is “an ACT of God whereby He declares a sinner to be in right standing before Him because of the sinner’s FAITH in Christ. In the present time, believers in Christ have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2 ).
(3) The second stage of salvation is sanctification. Besides regeneration and justification there is sanctification. Besides righteousness IMPUTED, there is holiness IMPARTED. Besides being “BORN of the Spirit” there is being “FILLED with the Spirit.” Besides “forgiveness of sins (plural)” there is deliverance from innate sin (singular).
(4) Despite the relative disuse of the words holy, holiness, and sanctification you probably you have heard the word “holy” before, sang it in a church song, seen it on the cover of a Bible, or heard a sermon referring to the Holy Spirit. But the general populace in the church is not pointed onward to “the fullness of the blessing” discussed in Rom. 15:29. We no longer hear the clarion call, “Pursue peace with all people, and HOLINESS without which NO ONE WILL SEE THE LORD” (Heb. 12:14).
(5) What is the meaning of holy and sanctification? The words holy or saint (hagios) is an important part of the NT vocabulary. R. C. Trench defines hagios as follows: “Its fundamental idea is separation, and so to speak, consecration and devotion to the service of Deity” (That is found in Synonyms of the New Testament, by Trench pp. 309, 310).
(6) God is holy by His very nature. Exodus 15:11 inquires: “Who is like unto You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like unto You, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders?”God is holy, righteous/just, and perfect, and we are not. We are sinful, and sin is being unholy, unrighteous, and morally imperfect.
(7) Sometimes the word hagios is used as a noun, and then it is translated “saint.” In NT times, all Christians were called saints.
(8) According to W. E Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words sanctification is used of (a) separation to God and (b) the course of life befitting those so separated. Sanctification is also used in the NT of the separation of the believer in Christ from evil things and ways.
(9) Hagiasmos can also be translated “holiness.” The Greek Lexicon of the New Testament by Arendt, Gingrich, and Danker says hagiasmos stresses the PROCESS whereby a believer in Christ is MADE HOLY.
(10) To be sanctified is to be “set apart” from a PROFANE, SECULAR, and CARNAL use to a SACRED, RELIGIOUS, and SPIRITUAL use, to be consecrated WHOLLY to God and to His service. Synonyms for sanctified are holy, consecrated, and hallowed. We are sanctified as we grow in holiness through the work of the Holy Spirit (Eph. 2:11-22; Gal. 5:16-24).
(11) The Holy Spirit is the agent in sanctification.
(12) The third stage of salvation is called GLORIFICATION. We will someday be glorified when we are resurrected to eternal life.
(13) Unlike justification (which saved us from the PAST PENALTY of sin) and sanctification (which is saving us from the PRESENT POWER of sin), glorification is the FUTURE act that will save us from the very PRESENCE of sin. It is God’s FINAL REMOVAL of sin from the life of God’s people, His saints, namely, the people who are saved.
This is episode 188.
References:
(1) We are still involved with discussing the 5th point: Salvation has to be proclaimed. That means Christians are to be obedient to the Great Commission. We will soon discuss the 6th point: Salvation has to be lived.
(2) Christians are called Christ’s AMBASSADORS (2 Cor. 5:18-20). Can an ambassador FUNCTION by saying NOTHING and KEEPING HIDDEN the good news? How does the love of God dwell within us if we do not keep this commandment of the Great Commission? In the closing sentence of the Great Commission, Jesus said, “Lo, I am with always, even to the end of the age” (Matt. 28:20). The believer in Christ can be sure that though he be forsaken by all others, there is Christ Jesus who will stand by him, AND He has promised to work with us.
(3) Every single person needs to hear the gospel.
(4) Salvation is not about individuals taking certain steps to EARN salvation.
(5) God requires ONE STEP of us — receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin and fully trusting in Christ ALONE as the WAY OF SALVATION. That is what DISTINGUISHES the Christian faith from ALL OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS, each of which has a list of steps that must be followed in order for salvation to be received. The Christian faith recognizes that God has ALREADY COMPLETED the steps and simply calls on the repentant person to receive Christ by faith.
(6) God requires ONE STEP of us — receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior from sin and fully trusting in Christ ALONE as the WAY OF SALVATION. That is what DISTINGUISHES the Christian faith from ALL OTHER WORLD RELIGIONS, each of which has a list of steps that must be followed in order for salvation to be received. The Christian faith recognizes that God has ALREADY COMPLETED the steps and simply calls on the repentant person to receive Christ by faith.
(7) In his book Christian Theology (p. 959) Millard Erickson says, “Even faith is not some good work which God must reward with salvation. It is God’s GIFT. It is not the CAUSE of our salvation, but the MEANS by which we RECEIVE it. And, contrary to the thinking of some, it has ALWAYS BEEN the means of salvation.”
(8) Difference between Paul and James: Paul is using the word “justified” to mean “declared righteous by God.” In Rom. 4:3 Paul is using Genesis 15:6 where “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” This refers to the beginning of justification in Abraham’s life. James, on the other hand, is using the same word “justified” to mean “being demonstrated and proved.” In James 2:21 he writes, “Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?” He is using Genesis 22:1-19 describing a LATER EVENT in Abraham’s life.
(9) Paul means justified BEFORE GOD; James means justified BEFORE MAN. James is not saying that justification before God is by faith PLUS WORKS in order TO BE SAVED, but that a person who is TRULY SAVED will be obedient to the commandment to share the gospel and participate in the work of the kingdom of God.
(10) In the Christian church, despite the protestations of some, the historical basis for the relationship between faith and works is that salvation cannot be EARNED. Nothing we DO merits God’s gracious gift of salvation. Works are a MANIFESTATION OF salvation and NOT PART of the CAUSE or a CONDITION of salvation. Salvation comes ONLY by faith in Christ.
This is episode 187.
References:
(1) I have said that the story of salvation can be told in 6 brief statements: Salvation is needed; salvation is provided; salvation is offered; salvation can be received; salvation has to be proclaimed; and salvation has to be lived.
(2) To the high priest’s question: “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus openly declared: “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark 14:61-64).
(3) This is a clear reference to the prophecy in Dan. 7:13-14 regarding that the Son of Man was the One that would be given dominion and glory and a kingdom that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him.
(4) When we receive Jesus as our Savior, God sends us the GIFT of His Holy Spirit who enters our spirits and begins to TRANSFORM us to be more like Christ.
(5) Receiving Jesus Christ into our lives is more than adding Him to an already CLUTTERED PRIORITY LIST. He does not offer the option of being ONLY A PART of our lives. When we receive Him, we pledge to Him our ALLEGIANCE and look to Him as the UNDISPUTED LORD of our lives.
(6) Receiving Jesus is the beginning of a lifetime of DISCOVERY, being a FRIEND of Jesus, free from the WRATH of God, having PEACE with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have ACCESS by faith into this GRACE in which we stand, and REJOICE in hope of the GLORY of God, looking forward to an eternity of bliss in heaven with Him.
(7) Many people like the idea of an instruction manual with certain “steps to salvation” that, if followed, will result in EARNING salvation. According to Islam, for example, if the Five Pillars are obeyed, salvation will be granted.
(8) BUT the Bible presents ONLY ONE STEP to salvation. Jesus said, “No man comes to the Father but through Me” [John 14:6]. When the Philippian jailer asked Paul, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas responded, “Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:30-31).
(9) A true Christian is indeed a child of God, a part of God’s family, and one who has been given new life in Jesus Christ. Remember in Rom. 5:6-10 Paul informs us what God has done for us even while we were yet without strength, still sinners, and enemies.
(10) Skeptics say that the idea of Jesus’ deity was an INVENTION of the church in the 4th century. So I say to the skeptics: clear this up for me if you will. How do you explain all the references to a divine Christ (John 8:58; 10:30; 14:9; Mark 14:62) in the first century and accept the skeptics claim about the 4th century and even today argue against His deity?
(11) The Great Commission involves 4 ACTIVITIES: going, making disciples, baptizing, and teaching. We are even told WHAT to teach — the things Jesus has commanded. All this is based on His AUTHORITY, and, in addition, we are given a PROMISE — He is always with us. That is a promise in all times and in all circumstances but especially we can rely on the promise as we evangelize.
(12) Jesus Himself proclaimed the good news. He said “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). “And I tell you, everyone who acknowledges Me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). “For the Son of Man has come to SEEK and to SAVE that which was lost” (Luke 19:10).
This is episode 186.
References:
(1) In the last episode we began a discussion of the story of salvation. I have said that story can be told in 6 brief statements: Salvation is needed; salvation is provided ; salvation is offered; salvation can be received; salvation has to be proclaimed; and salvation has to be lived. We continue that discussion again in this episode. We have already discussed the first 2 statements. Thus, we begin with the third statement: Salvation is offered.
(2) The meaning of”that” in Ephesians 2:8-9.
(3) In the last episode we began a discussion of the story of salvation. I have said that story can be told in 6 brief statements: Salvation is needed; salvation is provided; salvation is offered; salvation can be received; salvation has to be proclaimed; and salvation has to be lived. We continue that discussion again in this episode. We have already discussed the first 2 statements. Thus, we begin with the third statement: Salvation is offered.
(4) So now we conclude that the gift of God is eternal life.
(5) In short, salvation is a GIFT that comes FROM God, and it is RECEIVED through faith.
(6) I borrow several ideas from an article entitled “What does it mean to receive Jesus Christ?” in gotquestions.org. More to follow. I lost some of my notes. Got to find them. Found the notes.
(7) When we “receive” a package, we take it to ourselves. When a wide receiver “receives” the football, he pulls it to himself and clings to it. When we “receive” Jesus, we take Him to ourselves and cling to the TRUTH about Him.
(8) To receive Jesus as our Lord means we let go of the LESSER gods around which we have built our lives.
(9) We cannot receive Jesus as Lord and Savior without displacing the idols in our lives — idols such as power, popularity, fame, wealth, or comfort that we trust in to provide us with purpose and strength.
(10) During the time of His ministry when Jesus went to His hometown of Nazareth, they accepted Him as the son of Joseph, but rejected Him as the promised Messiah. Many people do a similar thing today.
(11) Receiving Jesus is a matter of one’s ETERNAL DESTINY (John 3:16-18). But some groups only claim to be Christian, because their doctrines belie that appellation. Islam, for example, accepts Jesus as a prophet and having been born of a virgin, but they do not accept Him as the Son of God. In other words, they do not believe that Jesus Christ is divine. Thus, they have missed out on salvation.
(12) Mormons occupy a similar position. Although they profess to be Christians and say they believe the Bible is the Word of God, there are many of their beliefs that contradict Christianity. In fact, Mormons are polytheists and not monotheists. They say man can become a god.
(13) Jehovah’s Witnesses say they are the ONLY TRUE Christians, but the fundamental doctrinal issue that distinguishes them from orthodox Christianity is the Trinity. They say the doctrine of the Trinity is a PAGAN TEACHING, but they misrepresent it, saying that the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit must be three gods. They say that the Father and the Son are two Persons, but they imagine they need to prove this to Trinitarians. (14) Because Islam, Mormons, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and progressive or emergent churches REJECT FOUNDATIONAL TRUTHS from God’s Word, they are NOT CHILDREN of God and they REMAIN under the wrath of God.
This is episode 185.
References:
(1) Sin is REBELLION against God. We all choose to actively do things that are WRONG. Sin harms OTHERS, damages US, and, most importantly, DISHONORS GOD.
(2) The apostle Paul made it clear that sin has CONSEQUENCES: “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Gal. 6:7-8).
(3) Thus, an individual’s sin will be JUDGED if he does not avail himself of a way to circumvent the judgment. I will show that salvation is given by God as the way to circumvent the judgment. Without God’s plan of salvation, eternal death is the destiny of every human being. You recall that salvation is the application of the work of Christ to the life of an individual.
(4) In the Gospel of John 5:19-47, Jesus conveys what is recognized as Christ’s first public discourse. It contains 12 great subjects, one of which is described in 5:24.
(5) The words save and salvation carry the idea of deliverance from danger and suffering. These 2 words also convey: rescue, health, security, protection, and preservation.
(6) The story of salvation can be told in 6 brief statements: Salvation is needed; salvation is provided ; salvation is offered; salvation can be received; salvation has to be proclaimed; and salvation has to be lived. These 6 statements are confirmed by multiple scriptural passages.
This is episode 184.
References:
(1) Some will object that it’s extremely NARROW-MINDED for God to have only provided JUST ONE WAY to heaven. But, frankly, in light of mankind’s DEPRAVITY and REBELLION against God, it’s extremely BROAD-MINDED for GOD to provide us with ANY WAY to heaven at all. We deserve JUDGEMENT, but God gives us the WAY OF ESCAPE from judgment (1 Cor. 10:13) by sending His one-and-only Son to die for our sins. Whether someone sees this as narrow or broad, it’s the TRUTH nevertheless.
(2) In his book Tactics Greg Koukl asks this question: “Have you ever considered that if Jesus was WRONG about being the ONLY WAY of salvation, it’s difficult to call Him a good man, a prophet, or a wise religious leader.”
(3) These questions are pertinent: Who will actually enter God’s kingdom? How can I guarantee that I’m going to heaven?
(4) I John 5:11-13). Here is how I view these 3 verses: the PRIZE is eternal life; it is wrapped up in a PACKAGE, in the person of Jesus Christ, and what He accomplished on the cross. If we want the prize, then we will have to accept the package it comes in. It is like if I place a $100 bill in my Bible as a prize. If you want to get the prize, then we will have to accept the package it comes in. It is like if I place a $100 bill in my Bible as a prize. If you want to get the $100 bill, you will have to receive the Bible it is wrapped in.
(5) What then does “His NAME” in John 1:12 and 1 John 5:13 imply? Jesus is “the Son of God” whose name the apostle John refers to in these passages. John, a devoted disciple of the Lord, consistently emphasized the importance of believing in Jesus, the Son of God who came to earth in the flesh.
(6) The name Jesus is a Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name Yeshua, which is etymologically linked to the name Joshua. The meaning of the name is “Yahweh saves” or “Yahweh is salvation.” Names held great significance in ancient times, and it is no accident that the Son of God was given the name Jesus. He is our Savior, the Lord who brings salvation, as declared in Acts 4:12: “Salvation is found in NO ONE ELSE, for there is NO OTHER NAME under heaven given to mankind by which we must be SAVED.”
(7) It is not solely the name that holds importance, but the Person behind it. Yeshua was a common name among Jewish men, but the Son of God adopted this common name to reveal His purpose. When we invoke the name of Jesus, we refer specifically to the divine Messiah who redeemed us through His blood, fulfilling the angel’s prophecy to Joseph in Matt. 1:21, “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.”
(8) Faith in Jesus is the ONLY means of going to heaven. Those who have faith in Him and what He accomplished on the cross are guaranteed to get there. The key question is: Do you trust in Jesus and in what He did on the cross for your salvation? I pray that you have.
This is episode 183.
The podcast currently has 193 episodes available.