Classic Christianity – Call-In Bob George p386 (10-19-18)
Bob George, with over 30 years on People to People radio, reaches out to many callers, offering real answers to real issues today. The callers today were asking questions because they desired to mature in Christ. The callers asked questions mostly out of a desire to grow in Christ in order to help a friend or neighbor. Others, having respect for Bob’s unique gift in explaining the meaning of God’s word, wanted to receive clarification of truth they were struggling with. Another caller thanked Bob for truth he had shared with him in previous interaction with Bob that helped him overcome depression. What a joy it is to hear when someone shares how applying truth and wisdom from God’s word had changed their life, walking in new freedom and joy in the Spirit!
3 John 1:4
I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
Ricky asked can unusual question, mostly out of his excitement from reading Revelation and prophecy, but he was incorrectly reading more into scripture than warranted that seemed to pull him into a direction of being unproductive and unfruitful in the things of the Lord. Bob responded to Ricky by explaining that interpretive speculation is speculating on details from prophecy that cannot be traced to clear understanding from scripture. Bob encouraged him to put prophecy in proper perspective, to love a person today, and latch onto scriptures where you know what is clearly true. From Bob’s perspective, and from his spiritual gift, he was redirecting Ricky to focus on things more productive and fruitful. Bob mentioned that exhorting believers with truth that sets them free, those scriptures that explain the gospel with application to real life issues, as an example of what he focuses on doing day to day. In essence, love a person today.
1 Corinthians 13:2
If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:12-13
For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.
And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.
Ephesians 3:19
and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
Paul asked a question on how to witness to a friend and neighbor he knew. He expressed that he did not want to turn people off or offend them but rather share in a manner they would be willing to listen. He received wise advice from Bob on the nature of the lost and how essential it is to speak truth from the word of God. Good behavior does not change anyone. There are nice people who are Jehovah Witnesses and even nice appearing Muslims. Even the behavior of Jesus did not change anyone. Bob reassured him that if you know how you are saved then you know how to communicate with him. Do not be concerned with the opinions of man. Truth will offend some but truth is what people need to hear. He gave a few questions he could ask to help discern where a person is at spiritually. For example, you could ask “Are you in Christ Jesus or are you in the process?” These types of questions help you discern where a person is at by their answer. Either they are confused about the gospel or they are lying to you. Either the person is dead without Christ or, if in Christ, not listening to the word of God. Again, he reminded that the message that believers share is not about religion but a relationship with the living God. The first step is to get them to understand their condition, dead in sin, hopeless and condemned already, without Christ. Only then can you share about the solution in Christ when they understand their need and what Jesus Christ offers.
Romans 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.
Romans 10:14
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them?
Danny asked a question from an interaction with people who were either were not believing in the Trinity or were so caught up in pride of having deep knowledge that others did not know. In essence, they were stirring up confusion and division in the body of Christ. After sharing from scriptures where the concept of the Trinity is taught, Bob just reassured him that walking away and leaving them alone is what he would do also. Bob shared again from what was in the sermon he taught in the Book of John, part 2 on October 15, 2018. But the main point is that Trinity does not to be debated, but rather focus on those things you know are true from God’s word. He repeated several times to quit trying to put flesh and bones on the Spirit. No one can see the Spirit. Indeed, one would not even know the Father if the Son did not reveal himself to you. Trinity is an essential doctrine but improper teaching, with an attitude of pride or denial, brings confusion and disorder. When one denies the Trinity then one denies who God is. The things of the Trinity was not understood until Jesus came and made it very clear.
1 Corinthians 8:1
We know that “We all possess knowledge.” But knowledge puffs up while love builds up.
Romans 16:17
I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who cause divisions and put obstacles in your way that are contrary to the teaching you have learned. Keep away from them.
Larry, also desiring to grow in Christ, shared about two passages in scriptures, Romans 2:13 and Romans 3:20, that he seemed to think were incompatible, so he wanted clarification from Bob. Bob graciously answered by sharing the meaning of the scriptures, explaining the nature of man, sin and death, Jew and Gentile alike under sin, the concepts of law and grace, and how righteousness cannot come by the law but only by grace. In Romans 2:13, if a man were to try to become righteous by the law then he would fall short, being weak in his natural self, born in Adam. If you want to be declared righteous by the law then you better have never failed once, otherwise you are not going to be declared righteous before God by the law. The Jews boast in the law and the Gentiles were never under law, and looked down on the Jew, who did not keep the law, but both are dead in sin, unrighteous by nature in Adam. Even the Gentile disobeyed his God-given conscience, knowing right from wrong, but chose to sin also without the law. Therefore, in Romans 3:23, one reads that no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin. So there is no conflict. People can believe all kinds of things without reading scriptures in context. Jesus was the only one righteous who perfectly obeyed the law, having never sinned. Bob emphasized that there is no incompatibility with those passages of scripture. One should really read the entire book of Romans from start to finish and see the context yourself and let the Spirit of God teach you.
Romans 2:13
13 For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God’s sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous.
Romans 3:20
20 Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
The last caller, Stan, called to say thank you to Bob because he was changed by taking heed to prior teaching from Bob George and putting what he learned into practice on how to overcome depression. This was such a joy to hear. Bob, I am sure was quite full of joy for him, and I am sure it touches his heart when lives are changed. Depression was a serious problem with Stan. By hearing and applying the truth he heard or read from various resources Bob spoke or published, explaining truth from God’s word with the mind to set people free, he was able to gain the tools to retrain his thinking so as to overcome depression. Bob and he both shared how depression is common to man. By re-directing one’s thoughts on those things that are true, and recognizing the source of lies as coming from Satan, our enemy, one can quickly get back on track. Bob shared in more detail about overcoming depression with proper thinking in the sermon he taught from Book of John, part 4 on October 17, 2018. Bob George published a book titled “Victory over Depression : How to Live Above Your Circumstances” that has helped many people who struggle with depression.
1 Corinthians 10:13
No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.
2 Corinthians 10:4
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
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