Call-In Classic Christianity Radio – Bob George P413 (2-8-19)
Bob answers questions on different heretical teaching in the world today. The callers called to get help in regards to a friend or relative who was caught up in dangerous teaching. Bob addressed the truth from scriptures that exposes the error in the thinking of men. He edifies and strengthens the believers in their faith in Christ and encourages them to hold onto truth and not be unsettled on these things. He points them to resources to help them grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ, and to hold out the word of life to their friends or loved ones as the opportunity comes. Several books that callers thanked Bob for were “Classic Christianity”, “Growing in Grace”, “Complete in Christ”, and “Overcoming Depression”. He particularly recommended “A Scriptural Journey to Discover the Grace of God” to Junior to share with his father who is involved in the Apostolic Church. Other callers had questions on understanding the will of God, the strange teaching of prophesying over someone, the word of faith teaching, and the false teaching that there are apostles today. Bob addressed briefly the false teaching of the Jehovah Witnesses and the Mormon church. To say that all roads leads to God is dangerously false teaching and the word of God clearly reveals what Jesus accomplished so there is not only no need to listen to false teaching but dangerous to do so. Read the scriptures and ask the Spirit to reveal truth to you so that you can correctly discern the truth from God. All the resources Bob provides are rich in scriptures to help guide the reader to foundational truths that can be discerned from the study of God’s word.
Jacob from Kansas City, MO
Bob shared with Jacob, the first caller, about the early days of People to People radio, where there were those who called their teaching heresy, being so unfamiliar with the teaching of grace that Bob was explaining. There are several of those who did indeed study the word of God over a period of time, and having tested what Bob was saying, reported back that Bob was correct. Bob shares about the completeness in Christ with emphasis on the resurrection. Several books that callers thanked Bob for were Classic Christianity, Growing in Grace, Complete in Christ, and Overcoming Depression. Bob shared with Jacob that as far as Bob knew, the books he wrote were among the first to have grace in it until Bob started writing books such as Growing in Grace. Bob says he wasn’t alone but it sure seemed like that. Nowadays grace has become a buzz word so one has to be more discerning in who you listen to. If you listen long enough you will know if they are just using the words “grace” because it is popular today or if they are correctly dividing the word of truth. We verbalize those words : “Christianity is not about “do’s and don’t s” but a relationship with Jesus Christ” but to put them into practice and meaning is far and few between.
2 Timothy 2:15
15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.
Another topic Bob and Jacob briefly discussed was predestination. Paul quoted something Bob had often said in regards to the meaning of predestination. “Predestination is not about “you’s and me”s but about Jews and Gentiles.” Sometimes it takes time to grasp truth, and Jacob admitted he struggled understanding the concept of predestination.
Jacob said that the passages of scripture that helped him grasp truth on predestination were in Ephesians 1 and Ephesians 2.
Ephesians 2:14-17
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
John from Dallas, TX
John asked a question about knowing God’s will, such as everyday decisions such as what job to accept or what car to buy. Should I do this or that? Not about going to a bar to get drunk, for God’s word is clear on that, but on things like should I buy a car?
God’s answer is “I don’t care what kind of car you have.” There were no cars in Jesus day. Remember the garden of Eden.
Genesis 2:15-17
15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
All these trees Adam was free to eat. Only the tree of the knowledge of good and evil he was warned not to eat. There was freedom to eat anything else, with no need to ask, whichever one you want. But one thing we are incapable of doing is determining right from wrong, so have to depend on God for that. But in all other things we are open to all kinds of options. Jesus is sitting there with you in whatever car you choose to buy. But unless you are leaning on our own understanding in regards to good and evil, you have that freedom. God says whatever you want to do and you do not need to ask me, just pick whatever you want.
Rene from Navato, CA
Rene had a question for Bob in regards to men who are into prophesying over others, telling other about what God has revealed as to what they should do. Rene asked to help a friend who was going to a conference into these kind of things. Bob was straight-forward in his response: “You can go to a fortune teller and get the same kind of nonsense. This is nothing other than fraudulent activity, satanically induced.” Bob went to a conference once and a man placed his hands on his head. Bob told him to stop. If God wants to direct you, he is going to tell you, but he is not going to you about what I am going to do. Bob emphatically stated, “These false prophets are dangerous and stay away from them. If you had two children, and you had something to say to one of them, you would not go to the other child to tell him for you. No, you go directly to the one you wanted to talk to. God talks directly to His children.
There is no more prophecy since the canon of scripture has been closed.
Hebrews 1:1-2
1 In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, 2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.
The book of Mormon is written because someone thought he was a latter day prophet and what do you have, a book of nonsense. People in Jehovah Witnesses saying they have some special prophecy and what they also have is a book of nonsense. No such thing as further information. Everything God wants us to know is revealed in the scriptures.
Rene also asked about those who believe in a second baptism.
When we are baptized, there is no second baptism of the Spirit for then you were never born again. How can you become born again and get the Spirit later? If you did then you did not get Him the first time. Baptism of the Spirit is when the Spirit baptizes you into the body of Christ.
Romans 6:3-4
3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.
That happens once at spiritual birth. The Son of God comes to live in you. The spirit is not something you babble in tongues or roll on the floor or needs a sign to be accompanied. Your own spirit testifies you are child of God.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
You do not need an additional sign that you have the Spirit. You know if you have the Spirit.
Matthew 12:39
He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.
Many people falling for this so-called second baptism, but it is not biblical at all. Being slain in the Spirit is totally false teaching. Spirit did not come to knock you down. The Spirit came to give you life.
Junior from Bakersfield, CA
Junior has not been a believer very long but has been given spiritual discernment. He called in regard to his father. His father attends an Apostolic Church. He says his father claims that his church is the only church mentioned in the bible. It is nonsensical to say his church is in bible. The only church in the bible is the born again. We read in the scriptures about the foolish Galatians and the sensual Corinthians, which Paul wrote to address. The bible was written to correct the stupidity of man when he came to Christ by faith but then they allowed themselves to get back under the law. Such churches are not to be admired but to learn from. Today’s Apostolic church is contrary to the fact that there are no more apostles today. The Apostles were appointed by God so the scriptures could be written down. The apostles had to be eyewitnesses and there office was confirmed as from the Lord by signs and wonders. Signs and wonders were performed through them to give credibility to their message, to the fact that what they received was from the Lord. Now that the canon is closed, there is no more to be written down, as one reads in Revelation.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
Revelation 22:18-19
18 I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this scroll: If anyone adds anything to them, God will add to that person the plagues described in this scroll. 19 And if anyone takes words away from this scroll of prophecy, God will take away from that person any share in the tree of life and in the Holy City, which are described in this scroll.
To claim we are not doing what they are doing, the so called Apostles that are not really Apostles at all, is nonsensical. If Jesus said he did not do anything unless the Lord told him then why should we be functioning in any other way. Jesus walked by faith and as the second Adam, he did so perfectly as a model of a man walking in total dependence on the holy spirit. That faith is what we are instructed to walk by, to walk by faith
John 14:10
Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.
John 8:28
So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.
So we are there to imitate Jesus and his dependency on God but not what he did. God’s word is not telling me to do what Jesus did. Continue to grow in grace. Prepare yourself for the opportunities you get to share. It is disheartening when the person is your own father and falsely claims you are going to hell. Bob recommends “A Scriptural Journey to Discover the Grace of God” because it is full of scriptures to explain truth. There you lean foundational truth’s in regards to who Jesus is and his finished work, the word of God, the New Covenant, freedom from the law and salvation by His life, your identity in Christ and walking in the Spirit. His father has got some really bad teaching and into a cult. Whenever one says your church is the one true church, then that is a cult.