Radio Broadcast Wednesday 04/08/2026

Classic Christianity – Maturity in Christ – Part 3 – 4-08-26

~ Our fathers disciplined us for a short time as they thought best, but God disciplines us for our good, so that we may share in His holiness. Hebrews 12:10

~ Keep your eyes fixed upon Jesus, not what you are doing for Jesus but what He did for you, and is doing in and through you. And remember, it is not you or me that is doing it, but it is Christ Jesus doing it in and through you. Don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought. For we are each servants of the Lord and make our bodies available to Him to be used by Him as He instructs each and everyone of us who are in Christ Jesus. He directs our paths. If He tells you NOT to do something, don’t do it. Yes there may be ramifications in a work setting, if you don’t do something, but if it goes against what the Holy Spirit would have you do, see to it that you listen to Him. And if He wants you to speak to someone about whatever it may be, speak as the Holy Spirit instructs you. For He will give you the words to say what He would have you say. That is all part of the discipline of the Lord. It’s learning to Trust in Him when the going gets tough. It’s learning to trust in Him in the smooth sailing time of our lives. It’s learning to trust in Him when we wake up in the morning, and lay our heads down at night, and during the day when you are out and about, learn to hear His voice speak to your spirit. And obey Him. Do what He wants you to do regardless of the consequences that might be faced. This is the discipline of the Lord. This is His training in and through you in your life.

…..

And a certain ruler asked Him, saying, “Good Teacher, having done what, will I inherit eternal life?”
And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone. Luke 18:18,19

~ “Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life.” 1 John 5:12

~ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life; the one believing in Me, even if he should die, he will live. And everyone living and believing in Me shall never die, to the age. Do you believe this?” John 11:25,26
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Pray to God:

Do you really want to know the WHOLE Truth of what is going on today?

Lord Jesus, teach me the truth of the world today and give me the wisdom to know the truth and identify the lies of the devil. Thank you God.”

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~ “Keep your eyes upon Jesus. Fix them. Put your eyes there and keep them there, not on ourselves. Make every effort to live at peace with all people. See to it that no one misses the grace of God. What’s he saying there to us? As far as you and I are concerned, with our friends, our relatives. See to it that no one misses the grace of God. How many of you know people that are still bound up in legalism? We all do. You know what says to us, see to it that no one misses the grace of God. In other words, what is our responsibility? If Grace, if the grace of God is Jesus living in you and it’s our hope of glory is real to us, what’s the most natural thing we’re going to be talking about to people? The grace of God. I don’t care whether they’re Legalist or not, it doesn’t matter. That’s just where they are. That doesn’t mean they have to stay there. Many of you were legalists. I had a pastor one time went back to his congregation, said, You guys are going to need to get yourself a new Pharisee. He was a legalist, but he isn’t now. What happened to him? He got a hold of the grace of God, and he started learning about grace, the grace of God. He started learning about the fact that there is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ. Jesus. Started learning that your sins have already been taken away. You don’t keep begging for what you already have. Started learning that his righteousness that he stands in was imputed to Him. It certainly wasn’t earned by him. Start learning those things, and you start learning about grace. And it says, Then, see to it that no one misses the grace of God. And don’t you miss it, boy, hang on to it in your times of trials and tribulation and needs, hang on to it. That’s all you got to hang on to guys the grace of God.” ~ Bob George

…

~ “My folks, my friends, you and I are in the New Covenant, a covenant of grace, a covenant that said, there are sins and lawless acts, I will remember no more, and where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins. Do you believe that? Then why do we keep grabbing a hold of the law that kills instead of rejoicing in the blood of Jesus that gave us life? Why do we want to return to the do’s and the don’ts instead of go to the one who said, I will guide you into all truth. I will discipline you through your whole life. My words will be disciplining you. Don’t take light of them. They’re there for your good, and accept the beautiful discipline that comes from Grace instead of the condemnation that comes from the law. We deserve the condemnation, but Jesus said, No, I’ll take the condemnation so that I can train you in my way of righteousness. What’s our role in this? Believe it, our role is to say, Thank You, Lord. I know that I will be growing in grace for the rest of my life. I know that you’re not finished with me yet. I know that I got a great big sign on the front of me that says, under construction, and I’ll be under construction. Until the day I fall into the grave and go to see you face to face and become like you. In the meantime, I’m not going to reject your discipline. I’m not going to walk in rebellion to your instruction. I’m not going to be arguing with what you say is right and what is wrong. But I want to with your living in and through me be your guy and your gal, and if you tell me to go tell Bernie about pots and pans, go tell Bernie about pots and pans.” ~ Bob George

In this message, Bob highlighted several key differences between the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, and these line up with the broader New Testament teaching. Here’s a concise breakdown:

1. Basis of the Covenant

Old Covenant (Mosaic Law / Mount Sinai)
- Given through Moses at Mount Sinai (10 Commandments and the Law).
- Centered on laws, commands, and obligations: “Do this and live.”
- Characterized by fear, distance, and judgment:
  - At [0:19:26–0:21:56], Bob references the terrifying scene: fire, gloom, trumpet blast, and even an animal touching the mountain had to be stoned.
- It exposes sin but cannot give life; it brings condemnation.
New Covenant (Grace / Mount Zion)
- Mediated by Jesus (Hebrews 8–10, 12).
- Centered on grace and Christ’s finished work: “It is finished.”
- Characterized by forgiveness, access, and relationship:
  - At [0:19:26–0:21:56], Bob says, “You haven’t come to that mountain… You have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem… You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a New Covenant.”
- He provides life, righteousness, and peace.

2. How Sin Is Dealt With

Old Covenant
- Sin is addressed by repeated animal sacrifices.
- The law condemns; it shows you what’s wrong but doesn’t change the heart.
- The worshiper never had a fully cleansed conscience; there was always another sacrifice needed.
New Covenant
- Sin is dealt with by one sacrifice, the blood of Jesus.
- At [0:21:56–0:24:19], Bob quotes the New Covenant promise:
  - “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more, and where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins.”
- God remembers sins no more; there is no more sacrifice needed.
- Instead of condemnation, believers receive forgiveness and discipline rooted in love (not punishment to pay for sin).

3. Law on Stone vs. Life in the Spirit

Old Covenant
- External law written on tablets of stone.
- Relationship with God framed primarily by rules and performance.
- Leads to either pride (“I think I’m doing well”) or despair (“I can’t keep this”).
New Covenant
- Internal work: God writes His laws on our hearts by the Holy Spirit.
- At [0:11:06–0:13:26], Bob stresses:
  - You cannot produce love, joy, peace, patience, etc., on your own.
  - The fruit of the Spirit is Christ’s life in you, not your self-effort.
- The Spirit guides, teaches, disciplines, and empowers:
  - At [0:11:06–0:13:26], he says the Holy Spirit is your guide, discipler, teacher, life, everything.
- Instead of “Try harder,” the New Covenant is “You can’t; I can” (God’s discipline: “Bob, you can’t, but I can.”).

4. Motivation: Legalism vs. Grace

Old Covenant / Legalism
- Motivated by fear, duty, and external pressure.
- Focus is on do’s and don’ts, performance, and rule-keeping.
- Bob calls this legalism and notes many are still “bound up” in it ([0:14:11–0:16:32]).
New Covenant / Grace
- Motivated by love, gratitude, and the indwelling Christ.
- Focus is on a person (Jesus), not a system.
- At [0:14:11–0:16:32], Bob:
  - Urges: “See to it that no one misses the grace of God.”
  - Explains there is no condemnation for those in Christ.
  - Says righteousness is imputed, not earned.
- Grace both forgives and trains/disciples:
  - At [0:21:56–0:24:19], he says Jesus took the condemnation “so that I can train you in my way of righteousness.”

5. Relationship to God: Distance vs. Access

Old Covenant
- God is seen as distant, unapproachable, with strong emphasis on His holiness and judgment.
- People begged that “no further word be spoken” because they could not bear it ([0:19:26–0:21:56]).
New Covenant
- Believers come to God as children with direct access.
- You come to:
  - “The city of the living God”
  - “Thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly”
  - “The church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven”
  - “Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant” ([0:19:26–0:21:56])
- It is marked by joyful assembly, not terror.

6. How God Deals with Us Day-to-Day

Old Covenant
- Emphasis: obey the written code, or face judgment.
- Discipline is experienced mainly as law condemning failure.
New Covenant
- Emphasis: God’s loving discipline as a Father, shaping our character.
- At [0:00:30–0:02:50] and [0:21:56–0:24:19], Bob explains:
  - Discipline is training, not payback for sin.
  - It’s painful at the time but leads to a “harvest of righteousness and peace.”
  - Our role: believe, respond, and yield, not argue with God’s definition of right and wrong.
- The New Covenant discipline says continuously: “You can’t; I can. Trust Me.”

In summary:

The Old Covenant = law, condemnation, fear, external commands, repeated sacrifices.
The New Covenant = grace, forgiveness, life in Christ, indwelling Spirit, loving discipline, and direct access to God through Jesus.

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Would you like me to pull out and highlight the parts of the transcript where Bob talks most directly about the Holy Spirit and the fruit of the Spirit?

Bible Study Booklets

Announcer 0:13
Welcome to Classic Christianity Radio with Bob George Bob’s clear, timeless teachings on the complete forgiveness and unconditional love of Jesus Christ will transform your life as you learn about God’s amazing grace. Let’s join Bob as he teaches us from God’s Word.

Bob George 0:31
Now, as I said, What was God doing with me? He’s not interested in pots and pans, but he said, Bob, there’s a character in you that I want to get rid of. And I want to get rid of that pride. I want to get rid of that idea that you’re too big or you’re too successful to admit to somebody that you took pots and pans. I want that out of your character. And he kept hammering me until I did what he asked me to do. What is that, guys? That’s discipline, isn’t it? That is God. It didn’t as it says in verse 11, No discipline seems pleasant at the time. I’ll guarantee you that didn’t seem pleasant at the time, but it seemed painful to me to do but. Later, however, it produced a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. I obtained in my own heart a peace of God that passes all understanding by getting that off of my conscience and to admitting to somebody that I had done what I did. Does God do that with all people? I don’t know that’s between you and God. Have you ever taken something from somebody that you should notify them about? I don’t know that’s between you and God. Maybe, so maybe not. I don’t I can’t answer that question. That is totally between you and God. Have you ever offended somebody in talk or deed or whatever it might be that God wants you to pick up the phone or call them back to say, I’m sorry, acted like a person didn’t know the Lord? Maybe I can’t answer that. That’s God’s discipline and perfecting you, not me, so we can’t answer those questions. But the issue is that if there is something and God has been prodding, you listen to His voice, why it’s going to bring what he says, it’s going to produce a harvest of righteousness and peace. For those who’ve been trained by that discipline. It’s going to bring peace to it.

And so therefore, he says, strengthen your feeble arms and your weak knees and make level paths for your feet, so that the lame may not be disabled, but rather healed. It says, Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy, to be set apart, because without holiness, no one will see the Lord. In other words, without your being set apart by God, you will never see God. Now again, to make every effort to live in peace. If you decide to live in peace with somebody, does that mean that they’re going to want to live at peace with you? Did Jesus desire to live at peace with all of us? Yeah. Did all of us desire to live at peace with him? No, they nailed Him to a cross, one day yelling, Hosanna. Hosanna. Look at the King that comes in the name of the Lord the next day, yell and crucify him. And so we have to understand again true, that this idea of this preconceived notion that we are the center of the universe means that if I am nice to Richard, he’s going to be automatically nice to me. And that may be true or may not be true. I’m just talking about a human being. Now it may not be true, but the issue is it says, For you, go live at peace. Be at peace with all men. Don’t let unresolved conflicts get a hold of you. Why? Because it never lets go of you. Have you ever noticed how when you got an unresolved conflict with somebody, it never lets go of you? It’s there all the time. How many of you noticed that to be true? It never leaves you. If you’re holding on to bitterness or resentment towards somebody you are the benefactor of that, it never leaves you. You’re going to be miserable. That person that you’re mad at may not even know you’re mad at them. They’re living fine, but you’re miserable, and so if you have unresolved conflicts with people, it says in the scriptures to straighten that out, because it’ll bring peace to you. If you don’t, you’re never going to have peace. So sometimes that doesn’t mean people are going to again, have peace with you. There have been times in my life where I’ve called somebody in order to straighten out an unresolved conflict. Didn’t do any good. They didn’t want to straighten it out. What do you do with that? Say, praise God. I did what Lord told me to do. Now I’m going to shake the dust off my shoes and move on. But I’ve done what God said to do. I tried to make an attempt to resolve this, to resolve this conflict. It didn’t work with them, but it worked with me, and so he’s saying to us to Don’t let these kind of things build up.

Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be set apart, because without being set apart, no one will see the Lord. How are people going to see the Lord, unless they see the Lord living in us? And so if God said, I have set you apart to be my instrument here on this earth in whom I can live my life in and through. And we say, Fine Lord, I’d see that you have set me apart. And so I’m going to be set apart for you to live your life in and through me. Then I’m going to have to give up on me trying to live the Christian life, aren’t I? See guys, think about for a minute if I could live the Christian life. In other words, when you say the Christian life, what is a Christian life? It’s a life of love, it’s a life of peace. In other words, the fruit of the Spirit is the life of Jesus. It’s a life of love, a life of joy, a life of peace, a life of patience, a life of kindness, all of those things, there is no law. If I could produce those things in and of myself, what would I need Jesus for if I could produce them on my own? And if I did think that I was producing them on my own, what kind of a person would I be? Humble or egotistical? Which would it be? And so I have to come to a point of recognizing there is no way on God’s earth that I can produce agape love toward others. There is no way on God’s earth that I can produce the joy of the Lord. Because the joy of the Lord is the joy of the Lord. I can produce happiness, but not joy. Happiness is a word that is used. It’s an Anglo Saxon word that was used, and the word is hap, and it’s based upon happiness is as a result of what’s happening. Good things are happening, therefore I am happy, but if bad things are happening, then I’m unhappy. Well, isn’t it interesting that there is a word unhappy, but there’s no word unjoy. Joy comes from the Lord. Happiness comes from circumstances. Joy comes from the Lord. There is no way for me to produce joy. It comes from the Lord. Patience. There is no way for me to produce God’s patience. If you see me patient, God is doing that. It isn’t me producing it. I can’t produce it. I don’t want to be patient. I’d rather be unpatient. I’d rather be impatient. Because when I’m impatient, I can show you that I’m smarter than you are with my impatience. All of these things cannot be produced guys by anyone except God Himself. And so Jesus gave us this illustration. It’s all a part of this thing of discipline. Discipline says you can’t this is what this is the way God has disciplined you and me every day of our life. Bob, you can’t, I can. Rod, you can’t, but I can. It’s all the way through you can’t, but I can. And isn’t that a constant struggle? It’s what was talking about up here earlier, when it talks about the fact of this sin that so easily entangles us. What is this sin that so easily entangles us? The sin of self reliance in all things, rely upon the Lord, not on your own understanding. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding, acknowledge Him in all your ways, and he will do what? Direct your paths. And so we have options. We can yield to the flesh and to go out and do it my way, just do the old Sinatra song. I’ll do it my way, or we can recognize the futility of that and decide to do it his way. Those are my options. I’m going to do it my way. I’m going to do it his way.

If I’m going to do it his way, I need to keep my eyes off myself. If I’m going to do it his way, I’m going to keep my eyes off of me. I’m going to keep my eyes off of the fact, Woe is me. And I’m so unhappy, well, that’s because things are not happening the way you want them to happen. What about joy? I know you’re not happy because things aren’t happening the way you want you want them to happen. So I know that. What about joy? You experiencing any joy? Joy has to come from the Lord. Love has to come from the Lord, patience has to come from the Lord. Experiencing any of that, no, but I’ll try. No, you No. You never experience it when you try. You’re only going to experience the Lord when you yield, didn’t it say in the scriptures that we have the privilege of participating in what guys, the divine nature, that what lives where, in us. We have the divine nature of God living in us. Do you believe that? I mean, these aren’t words, guys, some people are scared to death of this word, Holy Spirit. And you find that in many evangelical circles, people that have a good grasp on the Word of God, but don’t talk too much about the Holy Spirit sounds too charismatic. Well, I don’t care whether it sounds charismatic or not, it’s a reality that Jesus, through His Holy Spirit, lives in you, and that he is your guide, he is your discipler, he’s your teacher, he’s your life. He is your everything. This isn’t just words up there. This is a reality. There are many people who have theological knowledge of something and no experiential knowledge of it at all. Have not a clue experientially of what they say they understand intellectually.

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Bob George 14:11
Keep your eyes upon Jesus. Fix them. Put your eyes there and keep them there, not on ourselves. Make every effort to live at peace with all people. See to it that no one misses the grace of God. What’s he saying there to us? As far as you and I are concerned, with our friends, our relatives. See to it that no one misses the grace of God. How many of you know people that are still bound up in legalism? We all do. You know what says to us, see to it that no one misses the grace of God. In other words, what is our responsibility? If Grace, if the grace of God is Jesus living in you and it’s our hope of glory is real to us, what’s the most natural thing we’re going to be talking about to people? The grace of God. I don’t care whether they’re Legalist or not, it doesn’t matter. That’s just where they are. That doesn’t mean they have to stay there. Many of you were legalists. I had a pastor one time went back to his congregation, said, You guys are going to need to get yourself a new Pharisee. He was a legalist, but he isn’t now. What happened to him? He got a hold of the grace of God, and he started learning about grace, the grace of God. He started learning about the fact that there is no condemnation awaiting those who belong to Christ. Jesus. Started learning that your sins have already been taken away. You don’t keep begging for what you already have. Started learning that his righteousness that he stands in was imputed to Him. It certainly wasn’t earned by him. Start learning those things, and you start learning about grace. And it says, Then, see to it that no one misses the grace of God. And don’t you miss it, boy, hang on to it in your times of trials and tribulation and needs, hang on to it. That’s all you got to hang on to guys the grace of God.

See to it that no one is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau, who, for a single meal, sold his inherit, his inheritance rights as the oldest son, and afterward, as you know, when he warned when he wanted to inherit his blessing, he was rejected. He could bring about no charge of mind, even though he sought the blessing with tears. All through the Scriptures, it talks about that don’t sell your birthright for a pot of soup. Don’t be willing to sell what God has given you, in other words, to treat it lightly what God has given you for a promotion or whatever else it might be. You hold your ground, and if you believe something, don’t compromise it. Lot of times people get into job positions where they feel they have to compromise I think it’s saying, Don’t do that. If this is true and you believe that with all your heart, that’s a part of you, and you can’t compromise it. People don’t like it. There may be some repercussions for that, but don’t compromise it talks about this, so no one be sure that no one is sexually immoral. Why does that Bible deal with that as many times as it does? It’s because of the ramifications of it. I sometimes wish that God had maybe dealt with us like the animal kingdom, instead of the way he did, because sex has become such a prevalent and prominent issue, and when it is misused, it can mess you up mentally and spiritually, probably more than any sin that I know of. And that’s why I think that probably in this day and age, with the computer age, the way it is, that with all of the pornography that is on the internet, and I heard the other day where the income off of pornography exceeds the total income of ABC, NBC and CBS combined. That’s pretty strong guys, and I’ll tell you, there’s only one way to eliminate that, and that’s to get rid of it. If it’s in your home and you’re addicted to it, pitch your computer, because otherwise it’ll control you. It really will. And so that’s why it talks about that as much as it is in and God’s going to trying to hamper your fun. It’s the fact of what that can do to you. And so he’s saying to be cautious about that.

And then finally, he talks about the fact in verse 18, you’ve not come to a mountain that can be touched that is burning with fire. It’s talking about Moses’ encounter with God when he gave him the 10 Commandments. He said, You haven’t come to that mountain. You haven’t come to a mountain that can be touched and is burning with fire to darkness, gloom and storm. You haven’t come to a trumpet blast or such a voice speaking words that those who heard it begged. It that no further word be spoken to them, because they could not bear what was commanded. If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The sight was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. Guys, you haven’t come to that mountain. People say, Are we free from the Mosaic law, or are we free from the dietary laws? You’re free from all of it. You don’t go to Mount Sinai period. You go to the empty tomb. He said, You haven’t come to that mountain. Moses did, that’s the law. But you haven’t come to it. You have come to Mount Zion, not to the mountain where the 10 Commandments, but to Mount Zion to the heavenly Jerusalem, not the earthly, the heavenly, the city of the living God. You have come to 1000s upon 1000s of angels in joyful assembly. You have come to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all men. You have come to the spirits of righteous men made perfect. You have come to Jesus, the mediator of a what? New Covenant, not the old. You haven’t come to that mountain. That’s the law. You’ve come to the mediator of a New Covenant and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.

My folks, my friends, you and I are in the New Covenant, a covenant of grace, a covenant that said, there are sins and lawless acts, I will remember no more, and where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sins. Do you believe that? Then why do we keep grabbing a hold of the law that kills instead of rejoicing in the blood of Jesus that gave us life? Why do we want to return to the do’s and the don’ts instead of go to the one who said, I will guide you into all truth. I will discipline you through your whole life. My words will be disciplining you. Don’t take light of them. They’re there for your good, and accept the beautiful discipline that comes from Grace instead of the condemnation that comes from the law. We deserve the condemnation, but Jesus said, No, I’ll take the condemnation so that I can train you in my way of righteousness. What’s our role in this? Believe it, our role is to say, Thank You, Lord. I know that I will be growing in grace for the rest of my life. I know that you’re not finished with me yet. I know that I got a great big sign on the front of me that says, under construction, and I’ll be under construction. Until the day I fall into the grave and go to see you face to face and become like you. In the meantime, I’m not going to reject your discipline. I’m not going to walk in rebellion to your instruction. I’m not going to be arguing with what you say is right and what is wrong. But I want to with your living in and through me be your guy and your gal, and if you tell me to go tell Bernie about pots and pans, go tell Bernie about pots and pans.

Let’s pray together. Father, we want to thank you again for your love for us. Sometimes it’s so much easier to just wallop somebody and punish them than it is to disciple them. It’s just easier. Just give them a good wallop and that’s it. You said, No, I want to train you. I want you to know the meaning behind things. I don’t want you to just tell you don’t do something. I want you to know why it shouldn’t be done. It’s because it’s not for your benefit. It’s permissible, but it’s not profitable. Help us to see the wisdom of your discipline Lord and quit rebelling against it, and to learn to walk in the newness of life that’s been given to us in Christ. Jesus, if we have habits that are contrary to your will, let us put those habits in your hands. Say, God, I can’t stop it, but you can, and I really want it to stop. It’s all you and none of us. We thank you for what you’re continuing to accomplish in our lives as we grow in the knowledge of your grace and love that draws us to the very heart of your being, and we thank you for these things in the name of Christ, Jesus, our Lord, and in His name. Amen.

Announcer 27:11
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