Simple Truth Podcast

Have you ever known God wanted you to change something, but you kept putting it off? Or maybe you did turn back to Him, but the old habit or behavior didn’t disappear right away—and you started wondering, “Did I really repent if I’m still struggling to change?”

In this episode, Ted Ross explains what real biblical repentance looks like after the initial decision to turn toward God. Romans 2 shows why God’s patience should never be mistaken for approval, while 2 Corinthians 7 helps separate godly sorrow from simply feeling guilty or ashamed. You’ll also see why struggling to change is different from refusing to change—and why genuine repentance should begin producing a different response.

Then the teaching gets practical. Repentance starts in the heart, but over time it should affect your choices, habits, relationships, and direction. 

In this episode, host Ted Ross explores critical aspects of repentance in the daily life of a Christian. 

• Why God’s patience gives you time to repent, not permission to stay the same.
• How to tell whether sorrow is actually leading you toward change.
• Why real repentance begins to show up in what you do next.
• Why struggling with an old pattern does not automatically mean your repentance was false.
• How to make the old way harder and the new way easier while asking God for help.

Listen to the full episode to see how Scripture connects repentance with a changed heart, a changed response, and a life that begins moving in a new direction toward God.

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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

Have you ever been genuinely sorry, asked God to forgive you, and then found yourself pulled toward the same habit or attitude again? It can leave you asking, Did I really repent—or did I just feel bad?

Ted Ross explains what biblical repentance actually means and why Scripture places repentance at the foundation of following Jesus. Through Hebrews 6, Mark 1, Luke 24, Acts 20, and other passages, you’ll see why repentance and faith belong together: repentance changes your direction toward God, and faith trusts Him with what comes next. You’ll also see why genuine repentance does not mean becoming perfect overnight.

• Why following Jesus begins with repentance and faith, not simply agreeing that the gospel is true.
• How guilt, shame, regret, apologies, and emotional promises can happen without a real change of direction.
• What repentance from dead works means and why self-directed living cannot produce spiritual life.
• Why old habits or struggles can remain even after you have genuinely turned toward God.
• How trusting God begins to shape your choices, obedience, and next steps.

Listen to the full teaching and consider one area where you already know God is right. What would it look like to stop defending your old way, turn toward Him, and take one faithful step in His direction?

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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

Have you ever read the Book of Acts and wondered, “Where’s that kind of power in my Christian life?”

Paul calls the gospel “the power of God to salvation.” But what exactly is the gospel—and why is it so powerful? In this Simple Answers teaching, we look at the biblical definition of the gospel, why Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection is so powerful in your life, and what it means to repent, believe, and put your trust in Him.

Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 15:1–4 • Mark 1:15 • Romans 1:16

▶ Go deeper: Listen to 04.02 — The Power of the Gospel (God’s Authority & Ability in Action) in the Simple Truth Podcast, or find the full teaching at SimpleTruth.org.

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
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▶️ Watch the full episode on video: Simple Truth YouTube
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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You can know what Jesus did for you and still live like He didn’t quite finish the job. You can believe you’re forgiven, redeemed, and made right with God—and still let guilt, old habits, or one bad day make you question where you stand.

In this Season 6 finale, Ted Ross brings together the major truths from The Blood & Sacrifice of Jesus Christ and asks: If Jesus finished the work, why don’t we always live like it’s true?

You’ll see the difference between knowing what God says and building your life on what Jesus accomplished. The episode closes with a simple way forward: remember what Jesus did, believe what God says, and live like it’s true.

• Why one bad day does not redefine what Jesus accomplished for you.  
• How guilt, fear, and performance can make you live like you still owe God something.
• Why hearing God’s Word must be joined with faith and obedience.
• How to build your life on what Jesus has already done.
• Why the practical pattern Remember → Believe → Live helps close the gap between what you know and how you live.  

Listen to the full episode and ask yourself: What truth about Jesus do I believe—but still struggle to live like it’s true? Then choose one truth this week, return to Scripture, believe what God says, and let it shape your next choice.  

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
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▶️ Watch the full episode on video: Simple Truth YouTube
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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You may believe in Jesus and still wonder why God sometimes feels far away—or whether you can really know Him personally. Maybe other Christians seem closer to God than you do, and you wonder whether that kind of relationship is possible for you too.

In this episode, Ted Ross explains how the New Covenant opened the way for believers to come near to God through the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Hebrews, Ephesians, and John show that Jesus did more than forgive sin: He became our living High Priest, brought us near to the Father, and made it possible for us to approach God with confidence. The episode also explains an important difference between being given access to God and actually growing closer to Him day by day.

• Why closeness with God is not reserved for pastors, priests, or unusually spiritual people
• How Jesus’ blood gives believers direct access to the Father
• Why you do not have to get your life together before coming to God for mercy and help
• How prayer, trust, and obedience help your relationship with God grow
• What it means to bring your real struggles to God instead of trying to handle everything alone

Listen to the full episode to see what Scripture says about knowing God personally—and consider one area of your life you can begin bringing to Him more honestly this week.

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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You may believe in Jesus and still wonder, “Can God really call someone like me righteous?” You know your mistakes, your weaknesses, and the times you have not done what you knew was right. And even if righteousness comes through faith, what should that mean for the way you live?

In this episode, Ted Ross explains the Bible’s teaching on righteousness by faith and why Scripture also calls Christians to pursue what is right. Through Isaiah 61, Romans 3–4, James 2, Romans 6, Matthew 5, and other passages, you’ll see the difference between being made right with God through faith in Jesus and learning to live in a way that reflects that righteousness. The episode also looks at why outward religious appearance is not enough and why God cares about the heart behind what we do.

• Why your standing with God is based on faith in Jesus, not your daily performance
• How faith and works fit together without turning grace into something you earn
• Why God calls believers to pursue righteousness in everyday choices
• How to recognize when you are pleasing God rather than seeking people’s approval
• Why Jesus is the pattern for what righteous living should increasingly look like

Listen to the full episode to see how right standing and right behavior fit together—and consider one area where God may be calling you to take the next right step.

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
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▶️ Watch the full episode on video: Simple Truth YouTube
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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You believe in Jesus and sincerely want to live differently, yet old temptations and habits can still make you wonder whether you are really changing. Why does spiritual growth sometimes feel so slow after you have been saved?

In this episode, Ted Ross explains sanctification—how Jesus’ sacrifice sets believers apart for God and how the Holy Spirit continues transforming them into the likeness of Christ. Through passages including 1 Corinthians 6, Hebrews 10, Romans 8, 2 Corinthians 3, and Philippians 2, you will see how God’s work and your obedience fit together. God is making you holy, and He calls you to keep walking with Him as He changes you.

• Through Jesus’ sacrifice, God has already set you apart as His, even while He continues changing you.
• Being unfinished does not mean you are unchanged or that God has stopped working.
• God’s transforming work calls you to respond with faith, obedience, and the spiritual disciplines that draw you closer to Him.
• When temptation or failure appears, you can draw near to God instead of allowing the struggle to create distance.

Listen to the full episode for a clear biblical explanation of sanctification, five practices that support Christian growth, and a seven-day challenge to help you take your next obedient step with God.

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
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▶️ Watch the full episode on video: Simple Truth YouTube
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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You may believe Jesus died for you and still wonder, “Is God really at peace with me?” When guilt, fear, or failure makes God feel distant, it can be hard to trust that nothing still stands between you and Him.

In this episode, Ted Ross explains what the Bible teaches about reconciliation with God through Jesus Christ. Romans 5 and Colossians 1 show that sin made us enemies and separated us from God—but God acted first. Through Christ’s death, believers are restored to peace, favor, and relationship with the Father. You’ll also see why having peace with God is not the same as always feeling peaceful, and why your feelings do not change what Jesus has accomplished.

You’ll learn:

• Why sin created real separation between us and God
• How Jesus’ blood made peace with God possible
• Why believers can approach the Father with confidence and stand in grace
• What to do when God feels far away even though Scripture says you’ve been brought near
• How reconciliation should shape the way you pursue peace with others

Listen to the full episode to see how Scripture moves from hostility and separation to peace, access, and restored relationship—and consider where you may need to draw near to God and carry His peace into your relationships this week.

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
📺 Subscribe for weekly audio episodes
▶️ Watch the full episode on video: Simple Truth YouTube
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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You may believe God has forgiven your past and still wonder, “Can He really accept someone like me?” Maybe part of you still feels like you need to make up for what you did, become a better person, or somehow prove yourself to God.

In this episode, Ted Ross explains justification—what it means for God to declare a person right with Him through faith in Jesus Christ. Walking through Romans 3, Romans 4, Galatians 3, Romans 5, Romans 6, and Titus 3, you’ll see why your right standing with God cannot be earned through good works or obedience to the Law. Jesus’ blood and sacrifice are the basis of our justification, and right standing with God is received by faith, not earned.

• Why your good years cannot “pay for” your bad years
• How the Law reveals our need for Jesus rather than making us right with God
• Why grace does not make obedience optional
• How being accepted by God changes the way you live, obey, and move forward

The goal is not to stop caring about how you live. It is to stop trying to earn what God has already given through Christ. Listen to the full episode, then consider where you may still be trying to prove yourself to God—and what it would look like to stand in His grace instead.

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
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Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.

You may believe God has forgiven you and still feel ashamed of what you did. When the memory comes back and the guilt feels just as heavy, you may wonder whether Jesus really paid for all of it.

In this episode of the Simple Truth Podcast, Ted Ross walks through what Scripture says about forgiveness, guilt, and the blood of Jesus Christ. Through passages including Colossians 2:13–14, 1 John 1:7–9, Hebrews 8:12, Romans 8, and Psalm 103, you’ll see why forgiveness is not something you earn by suffering, feeling guilty, or trying to make up for your past. Jesus paid the price, and God calls you to receive His gift of grace by faith.

You’ll also learn why guilt can still feel real after forgiveness and how to respond when your own thoughts—or accusations from the enemy—keep bringing the past back.

• Why Jesus’ sacrifice was enough to forgive and cleanse sin.
• How to tell the difference between conviction and condemnation.
• Why your feelings do not get to overrule what God has said.
• How to answer accusations with Scripture instead of replaying the past.
• Why repentance and making things right are responses to grace—not payments for forgiveness.

Listen to the full episode and consider this question: Are you still punishing yourself for something Jesus has already paid for? Learn how to answer the past with God’s truth and keep moving forward in faith.

🌐 Learn more & access free resources: https://SimpleTruth.org
📺 Subscribe for weekly audio episodes
▶️ Watch the full episode on video: Simple Truth YouTube
📱 Follow on Instagram: @SimpleTruth.Podcast

⭐ Enjoyed this episode? Please review or share it with a friend.

Simple Truth—Simple. Biblical. Essential.