Does God send people to hell?

This is one of the ongoing questions many non-Believers have and the accusation they bring against a so-called "loving God."

How can a loving God sentence people to burn for eternity?

For five centuries, probably longer, people have been taught that God has chosen only certain people to go to heaven. It's bundled up in the T.U.L.I.P doctrine based on John Calvin's teaching in the 1500s.

This week's podcast confronts the un-Biblical teaching that some cannot be saved. 2 Peter 3:9 indicates that God 's desire is that everyone repent and be saved. Peter even declared it in Acts 3.

Today we aren't condemning but revealing the Biblical foundation of our freewill and God's sovereign grace. From Joshua's declaration of "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" to Jesus' statement "God did not send His Son to condemn the world but that the world, through Him, might be saved," there is hope for any who will believe and follow Jesus.

This podcast will help lay a solid foundation for people to be able to know they're saved and know that everyone who puts their faith in Christ will be saved. It's the Good News to a lost world!

Jay mentions the website, Soteriology 101. Research it for greater equipping.

Grateful Thursday to Black Friday. Grateful to Greedy in less than 24 hours.

Tom likes to call the time from Thanksgiving to Christmas as "The Thirty Days of Gluttony." With people celebrating the holidays, it invariably involves food: Great good and great amounts of it. Then add the pies, Grandma's famous peanut butter fudge, and the ever-famous fruit cake and the calories skyrocket.

But just how do we learn to be thankful, especially in a day and age where people are so ego-centric that they feel they deserve what they get and, therefore, take it all for granted instead of being genuinely appreciative.

And it's not just "what" we're thankful for but for whom and to whom we are thankful.

The bottom line is, thankfulness is a position of being, not just saying. And choosing to be thankful, having a constant attitude of thankfulness, is something we need to be taught and well as be shown by example.

Even if the gift we receive isn't something we're necessarily thankful for (the underwear Grandma gave us) it's the person (Grandma) that we love and are thankful for.

It's a heart issue, not a possession issue. And we Believers have so much to be thankful for and the greatest Someone for whom we are thankful.

Just how much of everything there is to know do you think you know?

Jay and Tom have bounced this question around quite a few times, often with the self-deprecating response, "Probably a thimbleful."

Then there are the things that are just plain unexplainable. And too, history is full of myths, legends, and speculations of what the spiritual world is like. We know that Jesus said, "God is spirit and we must worship Him in spirit and in truth." But what does that really mean?

We pursue knowledge and understand but do we really pursue wisdom? True wisdom comes from above so that's where we need to start. However, people who reject God end up venturing into myriads of myths and legends, and worse, the dark things.

There's a whole lot more to knowledge and we need to be careful where we seek it. The whole realm of fantasy can be very appealing to immerse ourselves in but when it draws away or supersedes Godly wisdom and understanding, red flags should be waving frantically.

This podcast proves that Jay and Tom don't agree on everything. But they do agree on the things that matter eternally.

19.5 million people have served our great country through military service. We appreciate and thank our military veterans for all they've done.

That's what it has taken to preserve the wonderful freedoms we enjoy today. But has this freedom, sustained by such great sacrifice, become a burden of sorts?

It's important for us as citizens of the U.S. of A. to remember exactly what we have. As we stand before the flag representing our great country, we pledge our allegiance. And the writers of our pledge were very specific as to what we give our allegiance to: "The Republic, for which it stands."

We also need to remind ourselves that "though we are in this world, we are not of it." This gives us a greater responsibility as Believers to protect what God has established here.

Today we discuss the service we give and the responsibilities we have as God's emissaries to this great nation.

En gardé - one of the few French phrases we know. Basically means, "defend yourself" or "be on the ready." And that's exactly what today's topic is all about.

Del Tackett from "The Truth Project" posed this question:

"Do you really believe what you say you believe is really real?"

If that's true, then the next step is to know as much as you can know about your faith, beginning with you. When did you make Jesus Christ Lord of your life? That's the foundation of your faith. When sharing with anyone about the Lord, it all begins there.

There are many famous apologists throughout the centuries who have stood in defense of the faith. Their brilliance in being able to defend the faith before skeptics and antagonists is amazing.

But are we equipped to do the same? Most of us aren't but we can put on the whole armor of God and, as in 1 Peter 3:15, "make a defense to anyone who asks for the reason for the hope that is in us."

In fact, we aren't called to argue religion. It's like the old saying: "We're just simple beggars telling other beggars where to find bread."

We share five essential truths that you can easily arm yourself with when God opens a door to share. Simple, to the point, and the truth.

When you look around at what's happening in the world, does it look to you like things are all falling apart or are they all falling together?

Your view depends upon what you know about what's often called "the End Times."

A few weeks ago, a ceasefire and hostage exchange was declared in the Middle East. This past year, the number of devastating earthquakes, famines, fires, volcanoes, and floods has becoming alarming. Depending upon the source, the numbers are either increasing or the devastation from the present occurrences has become catastrophic.

Matthew records Jesus telling about the "last days." Today, we see that some of the things have already taken place. And John's recording in Revelation reads like today's headlines. However, Matthew 24:6 says "See that you're not alarmed..."

So, what do we do when we recognize all of these things are happening?

Luke tells us of Jesus' words, "Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

Look up! Don't get all bent out of shape looking around. God is in control and is faithful to keep us in His care.

When it comes to sports, coaches are always preaching "fundamentals."

When it comes to faith, there are some things that are "raw fundamentals." And what makes these three aspects of faith "raw?" It's the fact that we can't experience them with our senses. It takes belief established on the foundation of the Word. Raw faith.

Hebrews 11:6 says, "And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that he rewards those who seek Him."

This podcast deals with these three aspects of raw faith and how God is trustworthy to honor our "faith functioning." As we grow in the exercise of our faith, especially in these three areas, we walk in faith in a whole new level.

Do you want to stay a nominal Christian or do you want to see the Father honored through your walk and His glory revealed to the lost and dying in this present age? If you excel in this raw faith, the day you see Jesus face to face will be awesome as you see the accomplishments of your faithfulness.

Ever get messed up in your "thinker, feeler, chooser?"

We all do. But the Word says "there's a better way!"

People think we're made up of body, soul, and spirit when Paul, one of the most brilliant people ever to walk the earth told us we are spirit, soul, and body.

Our "earth suit," as Jay eloquently puts it, isn't the primary part of our being. In fact, it's the only part of us that is temporary. The spirit and the soul are eternal, which is why we need to get our priorities straight as to our makeup.

So, how do we operate in the correct order? It all has to do with our spirits, demonic spirits, and the Holy Spirit. Jesus said He would send the One who would lead us into all truth. So, if we let our spirits operate under the Holy Spirit's control and we constantly have our minds renewed by the Word, then our lives will reflect the awesomeness of the character of Jesus Christ.

Unity.

When Jesus was praying in the Garden just hours before He was crucified, He prayed for His disciples - and for those who would believe because of their testimony - that we would be one.

It hasn't worked out that way, has it?

There are approximately 46 distinct demonimations - oops, denominations - in America with thousands of off-shoots within the different demonimations, oops again, denominations.

John 10:10 states specifically "The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy," and that's what has happened within those who claim to be "true believers." So, if Jesus prayed that we be one as He and the Father are one, where have we missed it? The Church, the Bride of Christ, really isn't a Body fitly joined together like the Word says we should be.

So, what's the answer?

Our separation, to put it bluntly, is demonic. The Church has been rendered impotent because we too often are fighting each other when we should be fighting the fight of faith, side by side, for the glory of the King.

It's time to expose the enemy's tactics and rise up as a pure, spotless Bride.

The Bible. Just a book?

One of the characteristics of Progressive Christianity is they keep the language of Christianity but trade the authority God's Word for the approval of the current culture.

If you struggle with whether you can rely on the Word of God, then it's not the Bible you need more of but first a true revelation of the God of time, space, and matter. He is very adamant that His Word is truth and is inspired, inerrant, infallible, and incorruptible. It has incredible integrity, period.

There is a growing passion for God's Word but, at the same time, there is an attack on it as people water it down, doubt its applicability, or ignore it completely.

If the God Who created the universe can't keep His Word, then we're wasting our lives following Him. But if He can, and He can, then a passion for His Word is absolutely essential for our walk with Him.