Classic Christianity – Call-In Bob George p402 (12-21-18)
Welcome to Classic Christianity Radio with Bob George. Today we are pleased to present a special radio show, featuring call in listeners from Bob’s original People to People daily radio program that was on the air for over 30 years, offering real answers for real life problems as he addresses common questions as well as the tough issues of today, directing callers to the centrality of Christ in you, the only hope of glory. Let’s now join Bob George as he offers practical biblical insights as he helps people experience faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ.
Holly from Brownsville, Oregon asked a question on behalf of her husband in regards to Hebrews 6:4-6. What does it mean to be partakers of the Holy Spirit and then to fall away? Dominic from Arlington Texas asked clarification on Revelation 3:5. Who is being referred to in the passage that says He will not blot out your name from the book of life. Is everyone already in the book of life and then those who fail to come to Christ are blotted out? The short answer is that only those who have the Holy Spirit living in then, who are born again, are in the book of life, and their names will never be blotted out. Adam from Sacramento, California mentioned he heard a preacher talk about the passage in scripture in regards to the vine and the branches as only applicable to the Old Covenant and is not applicable today? Is that true because that does not ring true to me? Can you help clarify the proper understanding for me? Bob provided a thorough explanation of the context of this scripture, explaining how Jesus lived under an Old Covenant, fulfilled the law for us at the cross, but explained the New Covenant, and whether before the cross or after the cross, the abiding in Christ is the message applicable for us today. Of course, before the cross, without the Holy Spirit, the truth was not understood. Tom from Dale City, Virginia asked concerning struggles he had with thoughts in regards to former girlfriends he had while he was not born again. He was on the right track but wondered if this was a normal thing to have thoughts come that you really do not want and how to deal with them. He wants to be pure and most of the time he takes such thoughts captive. The short answer is that we walk by the Spirit so as not to carry out the desires of the flesh and this is a moment by moment walk of faith. As children of God, we will sometimes fall but He will never leave us or forsake us and we have already been made holy and He works in us to live and act according to his good purposes.
Holly from Brownsville, OR
Holly first thanked Bob for helping her and her husband in understanding grace and how helpful “Classic Christianity” by Bob George helped them get out of legalism they struggled in the past. Through the message of grace from reading Classic Christianity they came to understand that you cannot lose salvation. But she called on behalf of her husband because Hebrews 6:4-6 was confusing to him.
Hebrews 6:4-6
4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance. To their loss they are crucifying the Son of God all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.
Bob explains the audience and context of Hebrews. The audience is the Hebrews, Jewish people who had lived under an Old Covenant system. Like many people today, they were professors but not possessors of eternal life. That is they were not born again but giving lip service but never repentance, that is a change of mind concerning who they are and who Jesus is and what he did. They were in essence saying, “I believe in Jesus but I am looking him for the political Messiah, one who will free me from the Romans.” Or, they were saying, “I am looking for God for forgiveness of sins by going back to the sacrificial system. I am going back to Jerusalem to sacrifice a bull or ram?”. You respond, “What for? Jesus took away all your sins at the cross.” They were going back to the day of atonement. He may have understood but he never repented. He would rather stay under an Old Covenant system he is familiar with than believe the truth in what Jesus finished for him. Jesus is the final sacrifice. There is more details in Hebrews 10 in regards to the finality of the cross and the New Covenant Jesus initiated with his death.
Hebrews 10:1-4, 8-13, 18
The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
8 First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9 Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
11 Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13 and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14 For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
18 And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary.
Where these sins are forgiven, there is no more sacrifice for sins. Judas Iscariot had tasted the heavenly gift, tasted and shared in the things of the Holy Spirit. He certainly saw evidence of it, tasted of the goodness but never received life.
In essence the Jews hanging around the Apostle John were denying the finality of the cross. Those who teach losing your salvation deny the finality of the cross.
So what is meant by “falling away and being too late and cannot be brought back to repentance?” In essence, it is like saying “You cannot go back to repentance because never repented to begin with. You can’t go back to where you have never been. Yes, you have heard truth, tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord but you are crucifying the Lord all over again and subjecting him to public disgrace.” Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sin (Hebrews 9:22). If there was any further forgiveness needed by Christ, he would have to die again. Is he going to do that? Of course not. If you think there is more forgiveness needed, then you have to crucify him all over again.
Hebrews 10:19-26
19 Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left, 27 but only a fearful expectation of judgment and of raging fire that will consume the enemies of God.
If not going to trust Jesus for your sins, there is no more sacrifice. You and I can go into the Holy of Holies by a new living way, opened up for us by the Jesus shed blood.
So come boldly into the throne of grace with full assurance of faith, having your bodies washed with pure water. He who promised is faithful. He is faithful, not us.
Encourage one another as you see the day approaching. If we keep on sinning (sin is the sin of unbelief about the finality of the cross) after seeing knowledge of the truth, then you will see the fearful expectation of judgment that consume the enemies of God. You have trampled the Son of God underfoot, insulted the Spirit of grace, treating unholy the blood of the covenant, Jesus shed blood for you.
In both Catholicism and Protestantism, there is equal tenacity to still be asking for what he died to do. Why keep asking for forgiveness you already have?
Dominic from Arlington TX
Dominic from Arlington Texas asked clarification on Revelation 3:5. Who is being referred to in the passage that says He will not blot out your name from book of life. Is everyone already in the book of life and then those who fail to come to Christ are blotted out?
Revelation 3:5
The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.
Bob replied that this scripture actually gives the believer assurance of salvation. AS far as who is in the book of life, Bob replied by saying that only those in the book of life are those made alive in Christ. Not only will He never blot their name out of life but He will also acknowledge him before his angels. You cannot be in the book of life if you are still dead. Only those born again are in the book of life. Another way of saying this is “You will lose your salvation.”
Adam from Sacramento, California
Adam from Sacramento, California mentioned he heard a preacher talk about the passage in scripture in regards to the vine and the branches as only applicable to the Old Covenant and is not applicable today? Is that true because that does not ring true to me? Can you help clarify the proper understanding for me?
John 15:1-17
1 “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. 3 You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. 4 Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. 7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8 This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.
9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.
Bob replied by saying that when Jesus was on the earth, he was teaching under an Old Covenant while proclaiming the New Covenant. He buried us under the Old Covenant while revealing to us who we were so we may see our need of a Savior and come to believe in him for life. The Old Testament is a total history of man’s failure to ever be righteous in sight of God by his own works. The Old Testament details man trying to define his own righteousness. Jesus for 30 years explained and demonstrated righteousness, not man’s but God’s. The rest of New Testament explains man’s total inability to live up to that righteousness and therefore coming to Jesus for that righteousness. Paul explains you cannot have righteousness apart from a relationship with Christ. Jesus is true vine and Israel is called a vine. Israel is not the vine, but Jesus is the vine. Salvation is not received by becoming a Jew or by being a Jew practicing Judaism or practicing sacrificial system or ceremonial law or obeying the 10 commandments. Through Jew’s adherence to the law is the way of Israel but Jesus says “I am the true vine”. Jesus is talking to the religious Jews that are bearing no fruit at all, but rather exposing their hypocrisy; bones inside and whitewashed tombs on the outside. Jesus is telling them the truth that they are dead men. To his disciples he told them they are already clean by the word he had spoken. Where did their truth come from? From Jesus. So now that you believe the truth, remain in me to bear fruit. Neither can you bear fruit comparing that with those who do not produce fruit, Israel, since they are not connected to the true vine. Apart from me you can do nothing – like a branch thrown away and withered. Not that you will be burned but like a branch in its uselessness if it does not receive nourishment from the vine. No use for it if branch not abide in the life of the vine. No use for it. That applies to you and me. Jesus is the Old Covenant and is the New Covenant. There is just a different arrangement at his death, abiding before the cross and after the cross.
If you do not abide in Christ, who is your life, there is no way to produce Christ’s fruit. Just like a branch cannot bear fruit without the vine.
As the Father has loved me so I have I loved you. If you obey my command remain in my love so my joy may be in you. This is my command – love one another as I have loved you. What did he just command? Love each other. He called you friend. Everything made known to the Father he made known to you. Upon love, love is the fulfillment of the law. So what do people do today, “Keep people under the law rather than teach them the love of God.” Now those living in the Old Testament while Jesus walked the earth, they had no idea what he was talking about until revealed later. You won’t know what that means until after the death, burial and resurrection. It was not until after Pentecost that the Holy Spirit came to live in a person. Until that time there was no ability to understand the meaning of the word of God. Those things must be revealed by Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 2:14
The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.
1 John 2:27
As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
They might have heard what Jesus said but had no clue what he meant. Even the disciples did not understand. Their actions testify of their lack of spiritual understanding. After Jesus death they were all fearing, hiding, denying him, cowering, in utter fear, until after Pentecost. Then they were changed by the power of the Holy spirit, boldly proclaiming truth. Look at Peter’s boldness in the book of Acts where 3000 people became believers after his preaching.
Tom from Dale City, Virginia
Tom admitted he had girlfriends before he had become a Christian, and broke off from them so as to be pure and live a new life, for he had sensed sexually with some. So his struggle was with thoughts that come to his mind from time to time and how to let that go. Bob reminded him of the standard o the law that says if you look lustfully in your heart you have already committed adultery.
Matthew 5:28
But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Then you repented unto salvation and came to Christ. And just because you are in Christ Jesus that does not make you blind and deaf. If evil memories, thinking sexual things, those are not from God. Who do you think is putting those thoughts in your mind? The devil, who wants to steal, kill and destroy, puts those thoughts in your head. He can only steal your witness, and create havoc in your life as you yield to the flesh, for you are eternally secure, by God’s faithfulness not yours and your faith in the finality of the cross. As a believer, we are to reject those thoughts.
2 Corinthians 10:5
We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
So when thoughts that are contrary to truth, to the nature and character of God, replace error and lies with truth. Anything you think today concerning past girlfriends is fantasy. There is no reality for you do not even know if they are now believers or not. Do not put yourself on guilt trips over those kinds of things. Many thoughts are not even initiated by you, but the devil. Furthermore Jesus has already taken your sins away, never to be remembered anymore. There is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus. While we are yet alive in this flesh, we will still sin, and never be perfect in behavior. Yes, we have Christ’s imputed righteousness, and are sanctified, our new identity, and cannot make ourselves more holy (Hebrews 10:14), but we are still being sanctified in our behavior to be conformed to the image of God (Romans 12:2). You are not going to be more complete for God made you holy. We should always, moment by moment, walk by faith and not by sight or feelings or emotions (Galatians 5:16). We will fail to walk by the Spirit at times, giving into the flesh, that often speaks louder than the Holy Spirit. Yes, at times we will fail. What attitude should we have when we are weak and struggling? For we all have struggles. Struggles is what keep you trusting in Jesus. Paul rejoiced in his weaknesses for that kept him dependent on Jesus. So we abide the vine, to live His life be lived in and through me, a day to day decision to walk by faith and sometimes we fall on our face, and that will be the process until the day we die. If you want to be perfect in your life then you would have to die.
Hebrews 10:14
For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.
Romans 12:2
Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Galatians 5:16
So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.
Romans 8:1
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,
2 Corinthians 5:21
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
2 Corinthians 12:7-9
Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
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