Classic Christianity – Call-In Bob George p391 (11-08-18)
Bob George was on the air for over 30 years with People to People radio, answering calls to help people experience faith, hope and love in Jesus Christ. Some callers, like James, ask a question concerning a certain general sin in the world, but deep down they are sharing because they are feeling an emptiness or weight of guilt in their own life because of some own past sin they are remembering. As Bob George simply answers questions, many times, the person feels freedom to share more about their own struggle. As Bob shares with James, he hears the hope that is presented to him in Christ Jesus and becomes a child of God, a new creation in Christ. Other callers, such as Rene, ask a question about a teaching on a verse she has heard that puzzles her. Many times a person is being persuaded to believe a lie from a group, church or organization. The person has had prior confidence in such a group, having certain other needs met, but the often-repeated reinforcement of a lie, particularly by those in leadership, makes it so more difficult for the person to recognize truth. Bob gently leads Rene into a proper and correct understanding of the passage in Malachi 3:16, often used from the pulpit to manipulate people into tithing. By asking simple questions of the scriptures in Malachi, it is rather easy to understand the context and it is not complicated to know the truth. Other callers, like Vincent, is just grateful for the truth he has heard from Bob George, teaching on the meaning and application of God’s word. Since he also is one who ministers to those in drug addiction, as a leader to those listening to him speak, he knows the importance of truth that sets men free. He was so grateful, that out of his heart of gratitude, he wanted to give willingly and cheerfully, not under compulsion, to support Bob George ministries.
The first caller, James asked a question, that sadly has become a greater problem in our society today. He asked, “What makes a young man think he is a homosexual?” Bob answered that he really does not have a clue as to specific details of why a young man would think so, but that he does know what God’s word reveals as to what is the pathway to homosexuality. From Romans 1, Bob emphasized that homosexuality starts when someone exchanges the truth of God for a lie and thinks it not necessary to retain the knowledge of God. Bob read from Romans 1 while conversing and explaining its meaning with James. Not too hard to figure out what unnatural relations means when reading this scripture.
Romans 1:18-26
18 The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, 19 since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. 20 For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. 22 Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools 23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like a mortal human being and birds and animals and reptiles.
24 Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the degrading of their bodies with one another. 25 They exchanged the truth about God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
26 Because of this, God gave them over to shameful lusts. Even their women exchanged natural sexual relations for unnatural ones. 27 In the same way the men also abandoned natural relations with women and were inflamed with lust for one another. Men committed shameful acts with other men, and received in themselves the due penalty for their error.
Bob tells James that no one starts out jumping right into homosexual behavior or is born a homosexual. A young woman might have a longing to have a relationship with a man, but never seems to get the longing in her heart met with a man. So, another woman comes along who just seems to understand her better, and then they are led into activity not appropriate for two women. For men, it is just raw sex. But there are also influences in the world, where those in a choir, a priest, or scout troop, who are just there to take advantage of someone’s vulnerability, even recruiting people of young ages, to convince you that that is who you are. So you need to watch who is around your children. In general, a person is thinking about sexual desires and wants them fulfilled and someone comes along to convince you of a way to get those desires fulfilled. There are people out there who persuade you to believe a lie, and ultimately the choice to sin is yours when you choose to believe a lie and act on it. If one thinks about doing something, ultimately the person ends up doing it. As one reads from James, the pathway to depraved or sinful behavior starts through believing a lie and not holding onto truth.
After Bob shared several thoughts on this subject, James asked: “Do you think [homosexuality] can come from past childhood experiences?” Absolutely. Anything from past can lead one into such behavior. Young people, not thinking about homosexuality, not even in their mind, but just exploratory, and once do something then can do again. Now their activity may indeed be perceived that way, and so thoughts arise as to who they are. Now, James, really asked that question because his voice expresses that he is bothered about something he did in his past, some memory that weighs on his mind. Bob told him that whatever he did in the past, thank God for forgiveness. That does not mean memories will not pop back. Then James replied, “Do I need to get with the Lord?” Whatever you have done James, God took it away so never to be remembered again in the sight of God. Bob shared this scripture with James.
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.
Now just because someone has had sex with someone of the same sex does not make one a homosexual or a sin that cannot be forgiven. Yes, that is sinful behavior, but all sin has already been paid for at the cross. Bob continued to share truth in Jesus Christ that will address James real question and to meet his real need of life. As you hear James speak with Bob, James is obviously feeling an emptiness or weight of some past sin and does not want to remain in that condition.
Whatever sin or sins you did in the past, those sins have been placed on Jesus Christ, taken away and never to be remembered by God anymore.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
The only sin that can keep you from God is the sin of rejection of God’s provision and offer of new life. If someone has provided something for you and you reject that provision, then that is unpardonable isn’t it? That is the case when someone refuses to accept what has been provided for him. The only unpardonable sin is the rejection of Christ Jesus, not accepting what has already been provided. Jesus took all the sins of the world on the cross so that you can come to Christ to have life, His life living in you, the only hope of glory. So it is vitally important to hang onto truth, from the Bible. So when someone understands what the Bible says about your condition, that you are a sinner, which manifests itself in many perverse ways, then he wants you to have life. Light bulb without electricity cannot function. Car without gas cannot function. So also someone without the life of God cannot function as God intended. James really wanted to be free so by asking a few simple questions, Bob leads James to express his faith in the completed work of Jesus Christ and offer of new life. Bob encourages James to let God direct him to a new path than the one he is bound. Bob asks, “Do you want to do that James, come to God to have life?”
Bob reiterates what saving faith is.
“Saved by faith. Faith in the fact that God says you, James, you are a sinner. And you say, ‘I agree with you'”. Jesus says ‘I took away that sin’ and you agree with Him. James, there is a consequence of sin called death and the only solution to death is life and He came to you so you can have life. Jesus says ‘Through my resurrection, I give you life. Do you want that life?” And when you answer yes to that, that faith brings about the salvation.”
Bob then leads him through a prayer, where James repeats after him, repeating the same words Bob said, but to God. Bob made a point to mention that saying a prayer does not save someone. The prayer is just an expression of what is real in your heart and what you are trusting God for, new life.
Afterwards James, through his expression of faith, Bob tells James he is now a child of God and they are brothers in a new family and welcomes him into the family of God. Bob asked James if he sensed anything different. James says he felt relief. Bob asks him if he has a bible and what translation. He then offers James a Bible Study booklet with scriptures so that James can more fully understand what just happened today and begin a new journey of walking in a new life. He encouraged him in a new way of thinking, as now he has the Spirit of the living God within him.
John 1:12
Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
Bob, from this scripture, explained to James what just happened, that he has now become a child of God through his faith he just expressed to God. Bob told James that now that he has the living God within him, that he has the power to live a new life. God living in you will teach you to say no to unrighteousness. With the Holy Spirit as your teacher, your thinking will be changed. You will still have memories and temptations, but you do not have to give into those things because those things would not be consistent with who you are. You indeed are a new creation. God will never leave you or forsake you. God will go with you through whatever trials you face, and trials will come.
Titus 2:11-13
11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
The second caller, Rene, asked Bob what his understanding of Malachi 3:16 was. She seemed a little bashful asking her question, but Bob showed such grace, wanting to help her see truth. She had been hearing things that were confusing to her that did not seem true, and maybe even a tinge of guilt that maybe she was robbing God. I believe God was teaching her and guiding her into truth already so she wanted more clarity to make sure she was heading in the direction of truth, as she was reading the scripture for herself.
Malachi 3:6-12
6 “I the Lord do not change. So you, the descendants of Jacob, are not destroyed. 7 Ever since the time of your ancestors you have turned away from my decrees and have not kept them. Return to me, and I will return to you,” says the Lord Almighty.
“But you ask, ‘How are we to return?’
8 “Will a mere mortal rob God? Yet you rob me.
“But you ask, ‘How are we robbing you?’
“In tithes and offerings. 9 You are under a curse—your whole nation—because you are robbing me. 10 Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. 11 I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the Lord Almighty. 12 “Then all the nations will call you blessed, for yours will be a delightful land,” says the Lord Almighty.
Bob first tells that she does not need to be concerned or bothered for the scriptures are not speaking to her anyway. People are so desperate to convince people to tithe, they pull any scripture out of context to persuade people. By reading through the scriptures with Rene, Bob asks some simple questions.
Are you a descendant of Jacob? (Malachi 3:6 refers to descendants of Jacob)
So then, the scripture is not talking to you. So, the scriptures is speaking to those Jews, the eleven tribes who were to support the Levites under an Old Covenant agreement. And what was in that agreement. That the Levites were forbidden to work and their food and clothing and housing and land was to be provided by the other eleven tribes.
So, then, if one were to tithe today, then yo should be a descendant of Jacob? And suppose you were, then why pick and choose what to accept as applicable for us today? It seems that churches today choose to ignore things they want to ignore and accept those things, such as monetary tithe, that benefit them.
But, that Old Covenant system has been set aside!
Hebrews 7:12
12 For when the priesthood is changed, the law must be changed also.
Hebrews 10:8-10
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 [Old Covenant] to establish the second [New Covenant]. 10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Tithe is not a form of giving today under a New Covenant. So the proper giving today, sometimes referred to as free will offering in certain denominations. Corinthians reveals the attitude of a person giving under a New Covenant; cheerfully, freely, willingly, and not under compulsion.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
The last caller, Vincent, called to just express his gratitude for the truth Bob he has heard Bob share from the scriptures. He too has been blessed from hearing truth. Being a minister to those in drug addiction, with people looking to him for truth, he always wants to be sure he is sharing truth as revealed by God through His Word. He is an example of a New Testament giver, giving cheerfully, willingly, out of gratitude, and not under compulsion. Bob thanked him but also re-emphasized that truth is what sets one free. If you don’t have truth then there is something inside you that fails you, telling you that you are not free. A counselor is someone who leads people to truth of the word of God and lets His truth set people free. Jesus is the one who is full of grace and truth and He reveals that truth to men through His word. That truth is what sets men free.
John 8:32
Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.
John 14:6
Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
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