Call-ins Radio Broadcast Thursday 11/01/2018

      Thursday November 01 2018

Classic Christianity – Call-In Bob George p389 (11-01-18)

Bob George RadioThis is a re-broadcast of the original People to People radio by Bob George, reaching out to hurting people for over 30 years. He has reached out to several believers who have lived in error and many have simply called to thank him for sharing truth that helped them walk in new freedom in Christ. The first caller, Todd, through listening to Bob and through reading the word of God on his own, has called to express what he discovered is erroneous teaching in the church he is a member. He called to get Bob’s feedback on what he has been learning in regards to the false teaching of the necessity to confess sin to remain in fellowship with God. The second caller, Dennis, called to thank Bob for helping him understand truth that allowed to him have joy again in living the new life in Christ. Legalism had robbed him of joy. Bob shared some instruction on how legalism feeds depression, and legalism comes from mixing law and grace. He spoke such encouraging words to Dennis. The third caller, Janine, called from great brokenness, expressing guilt that was compounded by words spoken in error by her daughter, in regards to her being married a second time. Having been through one marriage, with children by both marriages, she was feeling a great burden of guilt for the sin of adultery. It was very evident this thought weighed heavy on her soul. Bob gently explains truth to her and by asking a simple question, he was able to discern she needed to hear the message of new life in the gospel. A very genuine and sincere lady, wanting help and deeply broken, having never heard the message concerning Jesus Christ, was willing and ready to hear about new life in Jesus Christ. Bob so tenderly led her in a simple prayer, and she expressed her faith in God’s free gift of life and became a new creation in Christ. After her testimony, Bob referred to her as a sister in Christ.

The first caller, Todd, expressed he had a new outlook on faith that was in conflict with the confusing teaching on what has been termed “positional forgiveness” and “relational forgiveness” in the Baptist church he is a member. In such teaching, “positional forgiveness” or “judicial forgiveness” is what is received by every believer in Christ, that is past, present, and future sins are forgiven by Jesus death on the cross. Yet, in “relational forgiveness”, any sins committed by a believer hinders or loses his fellowship with God until he confesses that sin to God. When such a sin is confessed to God, then it is believed that fellowship with God is restored. So inherent in this false teaching is that believers can be in and out of fellowship with God.

1 John 1:9

What About 1 John 1:9

Bob responds by sharing the one verse that forms the basis of this theology: 1 John 1:9.

1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

Bob explains the scripture, 1 John 1:9, in context. He starts by explaining how false doctrines typically take root in society. By proper understanding a single scripture in context of the whole of scripture, as in the concept of the Old Covenant versus the New Covenant, and by asking questions, with other clear passages of scriptures, along with an explanation of the proper interpretation from Greek scholars and the context of 1 John 1:9, he leads people to understand God’s intended meaning.

As is common in the world, so many false doctrines are formed by one verse of scripture. Bob shared several reasons how this happens. Those who are ignorant keep repeating the same error they have heard from others. And people are either ignorant because they are not believers themselves, or they believed a lie either because they failed to or have not studied the word of God for themselves. Another reason is many believers have not understood the broad understanding of the difference between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant. How much teaching have you heard on the New Covenant from the book of Hebrews? Have you even read the book of Hebrews? Another reason is that translations into the English language have a poor rendering, not expressing proper tense of words. Sadly, pastors, those one would think would be properly taught from seminary or through their own study of God’s word, have been deceived. Or worse, they know the truth but would rather keep the people in their congregation under their control, having more concern over earthly things rather than being a shepherd of God’s people. If one were to ask a Greek scholar, a believer who is honest and studies, then there is no doubt what the proper rendering is.

The word “if” in the English language, an unusual construct, has different connotations of meaning, but from proper study of the Greek, it is used in an expression of doubt. So, what is this doubt being expressed? Who is the audience of 1 John 1:9? It is written to non-believers, Gnostics, who claim they do not have a sin nature. So, John is speaking that he doubts they will ever come to their senses and believe the truth concerning the finished work of Jesus Christ. The word “if” in the context of this scripture would be rendered “if you ever come to your senses, and I doubt you ever will, but if you do” then believe by faith that Jesus is faithful and just to have forgiven you and to have cleansed you of all unrighteousness. The real question to the Gnostic is “How can you, who does not even recognize sin, even begin to believe anything about what Jesus has done? Yet, if somehow you come to your senses, then this offer of new life in Christ is for you also. Also, notice that most English translations do not properly express the past tense intended in this passage of scripture.

Yet, if one were to look at other passages of scriptures, and there are many that are very clearly expressed, then why form doctrine on one verse of scripture. For example, when Jesus was dying on the cross prior to breathing his last breath, he was heard saying “It is finished”. What is finished? The work that his Father sent him to do. What did His Father send him to do?

1 Timothy 1:15
Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst.

How did Jesus save sinners? Do people come to Christ to get sins forgiven?

Ephesians 1:7
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace

How does one get “in Him”? What does it mean to be in Him? If one is in Him, what does scripture proclaim as what one has (present tense)? Forgiveness.

Through whose blood do those who are in Him have forgiveness? Jesus Christ

1 John 2:2
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

So did Jesus die for just your past sins? How many sins were in the future when he died?

So, is everyone a believer since Jesus died for all sins of the world? No

What does God require of man?

John 3:3
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. So what grace did God provide so one has forgiveness?

So what does born again mean? How can someone be born again?

If one were to read John 3, one would come to see by revelation of the Spirit, that Jesus was talking about a spiritual new birth, distinct and separate from a physical birth. Ponder also these scriptures.

Ephesians 2:1,3
As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, … and by nature object of wrath.

John 20:31
But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

So, a misconception often taught in Baptist or other Protestant denominations is that one comes to Christ to get sins forgiven. Is that a true statement? No Why?

Jesus already died for the sins of the world. The work of Jesus Christ to take away sin was finished when he died on the cross. And by His resurrection, he can now offer life as a gift? As Bob explains, “The cross does not save anybody, the resurrection is what saves.” Well, is that just nit-picking? No.

As Bob explains, “You are saved by the life of Christ, not the death of Christ.

Romans 5:8-10
8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!

2 Peter 1:3
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

The cross was a necessary part of taking care of sin so he can give you life. Jesus took away the cause of death, which is sin, so he can give you life. Forgiveness provided for all mankind at the cross but only received by the resurrected life of Christ.” He re-emphasized this in may ways. Bob really wants people to understand as he shares again. “One does not come forward to get sins forgiven because they are already forgiven at the cross. One comes forward to get life. Forgiveness is received in His resurrection.” But one statement Bob said that really explains what he is trying to say: “Jesus had to eternally take away the sins of the entire world in order to offer us resurrected life. Sin is what caused death, and had he not given me new life, and not eternally taken away at the cross, then the next time I sin again would have to die again.”

That is why in 1 John 2:2, in the King James, the better translation, the word propitiation is used. God was completely satisfied with the shed blood of Jesus Christ to totally satisfy the wrath of God against the sins of the entire world. If that were not so, then Jesus wold have to die again and there would always be a need for a continual sacrifice. One also reads in Hebrews that Jesus is the source of eternal salvation and his death on the cross was once and for all.

Hebrews 9:12
He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption.

In additional to giving evidence of an eternal redemption, sins of world eternally taken away, this passage also gives more insight into the difference between an Old Covenant and a New Covenant. Can you see how a proper understanding of the Old and the New Covenant sheds light on the false teaching of positional and relational forgiveness?

Bob also noted that in many religious denominations, all the emphasis is on the cross without any emphasis on the resurrection or the indwelling Holy Spirit, the life of Christ, in a believer. The Apostle Paul writes on the importance of the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:12-19
12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.

If Christ has not been raised, you are still in your sins. Can you see now why we are save by His resurrection?

And, what about this teaching of being in and out of fellowship with God? Is that true? No. Ponder over these scriptures, applicable to those who are in Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:1
8 Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, 2 because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you[a] free from the law of sin and death.

John 14:16
“I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;

Ephesians 4:30
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Romans 8:38-39
38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

So, will God ever leave you or forsake you when you sin? Are your sins completely forgiven or not? Will the Holy spirit ever leave you? No. Then what about grieving the Holy Spirit? Look at grieving in context of a Father who wants the best for you, and hurts for you, seeing you live in error by believing a lie. Is the Holy Spirit sealed in you? Yes, if you are a child of God, born again! Does the Holy Spirit leave based on your behavior? No! He longs for you to come boldly to the throne of grace. What is the appeal to not grieve? You are sealed, already forgiven, and have the very life of God, His grace and power to live a new life. You are not under law but under grace! Are you fully persuaded like the Apostle Paul that nothing will separate you from the love of God in Christ Jesus?

So then, the only correct understanding of “in and out of fellowship” would be a believer is always in fellowship with God and non-believers are out of fellowship with God.

So then, it is double-minded to believe in “positional and relational forgiveness” or “in and out of fellowship”. Such teaching only breeds insecurity in a believer in regards to eternal life and freedom in the Spirit. “Positional” and “Relational” are in conflict with one another and the word of God. It is not Baptist teaching one trusts because it is Baptist, or campus crusade teaching or any other teaching just because of the identity of the group. Rather, it is biblical teaching that is revealed by the Spirit of God by the word of God that one trusts.

The second caller, Mohamad, wanted to know if he should tell what is going on in his local community or should be quiet about the wrong things going on in his local community in Africa. Bob shares with him on how the Apostles spoke out about things too. He like the Apostles has to stand for Christ.

2 Corinthians 6:9
known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed;

Bob shared that one needs to leave instruction to the Lord in your own heart. Yet, also if one keeps quiet on such things so as to be politically correct concerning Muslim religion, then that would be a great disservice to the cause of Christ. The leader of the Muslim religion, Muhammad, was called “throat slitter” for a reason. In his case, a missionary group was being “politically correct” and causing trouble for him in reaching Muslims with the gospel. If one keeps quiet, who will know what happened. More important, how will people come to know truth of the gospel if one remains silent in the face of persecution, pretending everything is okay when it is not. Mohamad is a brave man and honorable in reaching Muslims with the gospel message. Bob encouraged him to try to get people to understand. Fear does not come from God yet there is a natural fear of those who are brutal. One is obligated to tell the truth.

The third caller, Troy, spoke about the danger of the prosperity gospel. Bob goes into lots more detail on the perverted prosperity gospel and the false prophets that are thinking godliness is a means to financial gain. Troy expressed a hesitancy in sharing in the future because a leader, aware that people in their midst believed in the prosperity gospel, and told Troy to keep quiet. Bob encouraged him to keep sharing truth. Scriptures provide instruction to expose false teachers. Several examples of the Apostle Paul are clear evidence for that. Love would say I do not care about their feelings to withhold truth from them. When someone is believing a lie, then they are enslaved. If feelings don’t get hurt they may never come to Christ. Do you love someone who is heading for eternal destruction to not share truth with him because you might hurt feelings? That is illogical and unloving!

Bob referenced a scripture in regards to men who think godliness is a means to spiritual gain. They are men of a corrupt mind.

1 Timothy 6:5
“constant friction between people of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain.”

The fourth caller, Shawn, wanted to know about the light in the Gospel of John. He wanted to know what the light that comes to every man in the world means in John 1:9 specifically the light. Bob shared that Jesus Christ is the only light available to man. God’s will is that none should perish and he has made himself known to all men.

John 1:6-11
6 There was a man sent from God whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. 8 He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light.

9 The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Bob explains that Jesus is that light and that is a light to all men, but not all men receive that light. Bob then ties this into understanding of the verses in 1 John also and how believers walk in the light. There are two basic choices – walk in darkness (lost) or walk in light (saved). So, walk in the light as he is in the light is the only right choice.

1 John 1:7
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Purchase/Download the 11/01/2018 Classic Christianity Radio program today:

[add_to_cart item=”11012018″ quantity=”user:1″ ]

After purchasing, there will be a download link emailed to you. Follow the instructions.