87 | Blessed Assurance - Why Do People Need Salvation?

WEBVTT
00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:13.279
Welcome to Tech Support, a podcast about the Julian Church of Christ, where we encourage and equip people to interact with the biblical text.
00:00:13.439 --> 00:00:16.079
We're your host, Braddle Masters, and Tim Martin.
00:00:16.320 --> 00:00:20.160
We're excited to introduce a new series, uh, and this is the first episode in that series.
00:00:20.320 --> 00:00:25.039
The series will be called Blessed Assurance, and as you might suspect, it has to do with salvation.
00:00:25.199 --> 00:00:28.719
Uh, this first episode, I think we have five in total, isn't that correct?
00:00:28.879 --> 00:00:32.159
Uh, in this series, is called Why Do People Need Salvation?
00:00:32.320 --> 00:00:37.600
And our focus today is going to be on someone who didn't grow up attending worship or reading the Bible.
00:00:37.679 --> 00:00:43.359
And uh, the idea for them that they need salvation can be very foreign because they're like, I don't believe in heaven, I don't believe in hell.
00:00:43.439 --> 00:00:44.719
What do I need salvation from?
00:00:44.880 --> 00:00:52.399
And uh this episode will explore why the gospel says we need salvation and why Christianity offers more than simply helping us become better people.
00:00:52.560 --> 00:00:55.600
And we are thankful today to have a very special guest with us, Mr.
00:00:55.679 --> 00:00:56.560
Craig Evans.
00:00:56.880 --> 00:00:58.240
Well, thank y'all for inviting me.
00:00:58.320 --> 00:01:00.560
It's only taken, what, 85 episodes?
00:01:00.640 --> 00:01:03.359
And hey, to be fair, you're only taught we talked about it.
00:01:03.520 --> 00:01:09.519
I think you're like guest number three in our preceded by Stan Wilson and Ed Governor.
00:01:09.599 --> 00:01:11.920
So I'm the only one without an education.
00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:14.079
Oh, you have an education.
00:01:14.480 --> 00:01:23.200
For our audience that doesn't live in this area, um, Craig Evans is the preacher at the congregation where Tim and I both serve as ministers.
00:01:23.280 --> 00:01:27.040
So that's why he's giving us a hard time for now, just getting him getting him on air with us.
00:01:27.280 --> 00:01:36.000
So, Craig, uh, one thing I appreciate about you is you get the opportunity to study with a lot of people and to talk to them and walk them through coming to know who Jesus is.
00:01:36.159 --> 00:01:42.000
And when we were looking at the series, you jumped out as somebody that would be great to partner with us to talk through some of this.
00:01:42.239 --> 00:01:43.680
So let's start with this.
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:52.480
What's maybe some common misunderstandings that you encounter when talking to individuals new to Christianity, especially in light of salvation and sin?
00:01:53.280 --> 00:01:57.040
I think part of it is so many people don't really have a concept of sin.
00:01:57.439 --> 00:02:03.439
You know, they they may say I've broken a rule or I've done something, but we're so uh egocentric.
00:02:03.680 --> 00:02:13.360
Uh we don't think about how it impacts others, and definitely not that there's a higher power than if there is a God and that sin would offend him and that that would need to be changed.
00:02:13.520 --> 00:02:18.800
I think that's a even people who come from different backgrounds may go, oh yeah, we all sin.
00:02:19.520 --> 00:02:22.639
But there's no like uh conviction to that.
00:02:22.960 --> 00:02:39.039
I think that's sort of what I see that it's just seen if we were to say a sin, it'd be the same as saying I just make we all make mistakes and not any view of God and his holiness and what it would mean to um break his uh break his law.
00:02:39.120 --> 00:02:40.879
I love what uh Tim Keller said.
00:02:41.120 --> 00:02:44.639
Sin d just doesn't break God's laws, it breaks his heart.
00:02:44.800 --> 00:02:46.879
And there's no concept of of that.
00:02:47.280 --> 00:02:55.599
We talked about in this series, you know, there are people out sin has kind of become a word that even in popular culture defines something you've done wrong, you know.
00:02:55.919 --> 00:03:04.479
But really in in popular culture, sin is really just you you've done something that's immoral or unethical, uh, you know, stealing or something of that nature.
00:03:04.719 --> 00:03:12.240
But sin is different because sin is something that doesn't violate some philosophical moral code that that humans have come up with.
00:03:12.400 --> 00:03:16.879
Uh and both these may be one and the same, like stealing, for example, but sometimes they're not.
00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:24.080
And so God's code, breaking God's code, is that what you would say would like be sin versus just wrongdoing?
00:03:24.479 --> 00:03:36.639
Yes, I think there's a if there's a set of rules and God sets those rules and there's a holiness and a righteousness and unrighteousness associated with those rules, to not do that would be sinful.
00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:42.400
Are there any other misunderstandings a lot of times people bring to the table?
00:03:42.879 --> 00:03:56.000
Um there's some people it's it's interesting, there's a a challenge between there's some that would see their sinfulness and they would see a there's no way they could possibly be saved.
00:03:56.479 --> 00:04:02.479
Because I'm too bad, and there's others that may see their sinfulness and still not see it as a reason to be saved.
00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:07.120
I I think we I I see people who are on both sides of that spectrum.
00:04:07.280 --> 00:04:08.719
And that's one of the misconceptions.
00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:19.120
That probably goes back to what we've talked about a little bit, the holiness of God and what he would expect from people, and that there is a higher standard that we've been called to, and it's more just being a good citizen.
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:21.360
It's more than just being a good person.
00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:28.480
I I think um as many of us when it comes to our own sins, you know, it's one of those things everybody else's is worse.
00:04:28.720 --> 00:04:31.199
You know, and we look at that what somebody else has done.
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:39.439
I think that's one of the concepts that I see there, that some when they sort of view their sins, they say there's no need, I could never be saved.
00:04:39.519 --> 00:04:44.720
And as others said, I may sin, but what does that really have to do with anything?
00:04:44.879 --> 00:04:46.639
I still wouldn't have a need of salvation.
00:04:46.959 --> 00:04:47.360
Yeah.
00:04:47.519 --> 00:04:58.000
And I know that's one thing that we're gonna pursue as we go through this is kind of that that tension between people seeing, well, Jesus just makes me a better person versus no, Jesus saves me from something.
00:04:58.160 --> 00:05:02.000
So that's definitely will be the heart of where we definitely go in this.
00:05:02.240 --> 00:05:09.199
In your time in ministry, um, have you seen a change in like the culture and the understanding of sin?
00:05:09.279 --> 00:05:10.879
Or has it stayed about the same?
00:05:11.279 --> 00:05:13.199
I think it's changed drastically.
00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:24.319
Uh I think that um some of the preaching I heard growing up, uh, we call it hellfire and brimstone preaching, um, was we were made very aware of our sin and shortcomings.
00:05:24.560 --> 00:05:30.560
And I'm not saying this was the intention of the preacher because uh as a preacher I realize how often I'm misunderstood.
00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:48.800
And uh so I don't want to judge generations or other preachers before me, but I know at times I left feeling myself that it was an impossible task to live right, and also I didn't want to go to hell, and so there was a need for salvation, um, and there was an urgency.
00:05:49.279 --> 00:06:14.480
I would say now that the desire to be saved is falling more along people who say, you know, I just want to make my life better, I think Jesus is a better way of life, and also in that, okay, I'll be baptized for mission of my sins because I I I see that the Bible teaches that and I want to do that, but they don't see it as in connection with you're being saved from something.
00:06:14.959 --> 00:06:20.800
There's there's sin, there's hell, there's real um consequence to not doing that.
00:06:21.120 --> 00:06:34.000
And I I think there's more people who now can go, okay, the Bible does clearly teach we need to do this, so I should do this, but it's not necessarily uh connected to uh my soul is in danger.
00:06:34.639 --> 00:06:43.279
Yeah, I think the justice of God is a hard concept, it seems like, for people to not just understand, but almost acknowledge as like a reality.
00:06:43.920 --> 00:06:54.399
Well, I wish we used the word you know, rescued is really kind of the that that concept when we say be saved in the Bible, that's become like a theological term, I think, in in Christianity.
00:06:54.560 --> 00:06:59.920
But it would mean I need to be rescued from something, as if I was drowning and somebody threw me a life preserver.
00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:08.800
And I thought about as you were talking, uh, and I remember that style, uh, even though I grew up in a different faith tradition, that was a style of preaching I remember a lot of as well.
00:07:09.040 --> 00:07:10.480
I wonder what you would think of.
00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:21.439
Probably you heard that preaching from a perspective of a young man who had really always believed in God and always believed in the Bible, and so that stuff registered with you, but it was very natural that you believed in heaven or hell.
00:07:21.600 --> 00:07:35.439
How do you think you would have heard that or what would you change about that as you have if you had been a person from a completely different culture with no belief in God or heaven or hell or the Bible any more than it was just some religious document?
00:07:35.600 --> 00:07:41.759
Do you think that preaching would have been effective on you, or would you have wanted something different to be said that you would say today?
00:07:42.160 --> 00:07:46.000
I have seen that even through my time as a little boy and growing up.
00:07:46.240 --> 00:07:53.279
There are people who, when they hear that message, it impacts them and they want to do whatever they need to be saved.
00:07:53.439 --> 00:07:58.879
But I also, for some of them, didn't see a lasting relationship with Jesus that carried out from that.
00:07:59.120 --> 00:07:59.279
Okay.
00:07:59.519 --> 00:08:01.519
You know, I I call it eternal fire insurance.
00:08:02.160 --> 00:08:03.519
I don't want to go to hell.
00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:05.439
And so what do I have to do to not go to hell?
00:08:05.600 --> 00:08:08.000
You have to have faith in Jesus, be baptized for mission of your sins.
00:08:08.079 --> 00:08:09.199
I want to do that right now.
00:08:09.439 --> 00:08:10.959
Well, how does that impact you tomorrow?
00:08:11.040 --> 00:08:16.319
I don't know, but I got to Yeah, I got my I got my get I Joe free card and element of fear, but no love.
00:08:16.639 --> 00:08:20.399
And and I will say that I think knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade people.
00:08:20.560 --> 00:08:23.759
I think there's a fear, a healthy fear is necessary.
00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:40.000
But uh this verse hit me as I was preparing for this, and as I was doing a Bible study uh over the past um two or three weeks, uh I was sharing this with some people from different backgrounds, and I just thought, how would I hear that?
00:08:40.399 --> 00:09:12.559
When I think of like Second Thessalonians one, uh beginning in verse five, said this is evidence of the righteous judgment of God that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God for which you are suffering, since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted, as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God, or those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:09:12.720 --> 00:09:18.559
They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might.
00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:26.320
When he comes on that day to be glorified with the saints and be marveled at upon all who believe, because our testimony to you was believed.
00:09:28.080 --> 00:09:31.440
Many today, that's offensive to hear that.
00:09:31.600 --> 00:09:36.480
They they say God's gonna vengeance is wrong in in their head.
00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:46.879
We can't have vengeance, and and and sort of like you said, the the judgment of God and holiness and righteousness, I think that's such a difficult concept right now.
00:09:47.039 --> 00:10:04.080
And I will say this verse here, you see people instead of we think about weeping or what impact it may have had generations before, seems to be more offensive to their you know, sensibilities than than it would have been before.
00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:11.440
They would understand God is holy, God has a right to say this, and they're sitting back and go, Well, how holy is a God who's gonna inflict vengeance?
00:10:12.399 --> 00:10:16.000
And I think that's a different level of understanding to try to help people.
00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:20.240
I think that's one of the changes that, well, this verse would have motivated me.
00:10:20.879 --> 00:10:26.399
There's some people that would be like, I need to know more about this God.
00:10:27.759 --> 00:10:29.600
It doesn't sound like the turn the other cheek.
00:10:29.840 --> 00:10:31.840
Yeah, it's it's why a lot of people struggle with revelation.
00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:32.080
Yes.
00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:34.559
That does not sound like the turn the other cheek philosophy.
00:10:34.799 --> 00:10:45.279
I I think that's one of the challenging for them is they're getting to know God, trying to figure out that how does justice and mercy and grace and how do all these work together?
00:10:45.440 --> 00:10:47.360
How's God good that's gonna punish people?
00:10:47.519 --> 00:11:01.519
And I think people are really struggling and living in that world, and when they're trying to make sense of things, they're trying to make sense of the justice of God, the need for salvation, and also growing up in a very self-help culture.
00:11:01.679 --> 00:11:03.440
I just want to be a better person.
00:11:04.159 --> 00:11:09.759
And those two things I think have a difficult time sitting beside each other.
00:11:10.080 --> 00:11:11.360
Yeah, they can't reconcile it.
00:11:11.519 --> 00:11:11.840
Yes.
00:11:12.159 --> 00:11:29.600
And I want to chase that a little bit be but before we move on, I'm curious if there's anything else you think our audience needs to know when they're sharing their faith and talking to the people that because of our culture or whatever may be bringing these hurdles with them to try to overcome that, depending on their background, may have never crossed their mind.
00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.840
I would say one thing we've got to do is acknowledge the tension.
00:11:34.320 --> 00:11:44.240
We acknowledge that I can see why this would be hard to understand, instead of uh the th thought that, oh, there it is, just but believe it, it's that simple.
00:11:44.320 --> 00:11:46.720
And to acknowledge there's a tension here.
00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:51.120
And to also acknowledge this is not an easy concept.
00:11:51.360 --> 00:12:01.440
To and and give people permission in a sense to go to struggle with it a little bit and to deal with it a little bit instead of this should motivate you right now.
00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:08.399
And I think there's something in studying with someone and presenting this to someone to think this would be really hard to hear.
00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:17.519
Because you automatically go to in that verse, so the people in other countries you start going, so people who have never heard, what does that look like?
00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:27.279
It it brings up a wider thought and probably things they've never thought about God before, or it's reinforcing some of the biggest critics of God they've ever heard.
00:12:27.440 --> 00:12:36.879
That God's unfair, God's unjust, that there is a God and is uh one of the uh prominent atheist writers, you know, God is a moral monster type thought.
00:12:37.039 --> 00:12:44.159
Um can't remember if that's Hitchens or Dawkins, it's one of those two guys, and they go, you know, so what is this?
00:12:44.320 --> 00:12:50.879
And and to uh try to bring them back to very simple uh have you sinned?
00:12:51.120 --> 00:12:51.759
Yes.
00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.559
Well, if you sin, you need saving.
00:12:55.039 --> 00:13:02.559
And I think that term rescue you brought out is a very beautiful word because if we were drowning, we would want to be rescued.
00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:11.840
And that also there's something about that word that's a little bit different from since salvation has such a religious thought process with it.
00:13:12.080 --> 00:13:16.720
The rescued part is we would would you allow yourself to be rescued?
00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:17.279
Yes.
00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:17.919
Yeah.
00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:19.039
If I was dying, yeah.
00:13:19.360 --> 00:13:21.039
If I was dying, I would want to be rescued.
00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:24.639
And I think that paints a beautiful picture is what Jesus came to do.
00:13:24.799 --> 00:13:29.279
John 3 17, he didn't come to condemn the world, that the whole world would be saved through him.
00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:33.440
He came to rescue because without him, that's where we end up.
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:33.759
Mm-hmm.
00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:35.440
And we put ourselves in peril.
00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:35.759
Yes.
00:13:36.000 --> 00:13:39.519
You know, it's as the same as if I jumped offside of a ship and I couldn't swim.
00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:41.600
Well, good that wasn't a very good idea.
00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:49.519
And by the same token, we have to realize responsibility that we're in a situation for needing a rescue by our own accord.
00:13:49.840 --> 00:13:50.159
Yes.
00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:58.399
You know, I've heard this in different avenues, but there's one kid that pops in my mind in youth ministry that he came to me and he was like, Hey, I'm ready to be baptized.
00:13:58.480 --> 00:13:59.519
And I'm like, Hey, that's great.
00:13:59.600 --> 00:14:01.120
Like, why why do you want to be baptized?
00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:05.840
And he said, Well, I really, I really just think it would help me be a better person.
00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:11.919
Like Jesus would be like happier with me, and like I'd be able to like make better choices if I was baptized.
00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.080
And it was like, you know, he worried in a way.
00:14:14.399 --> 00:14:14.799
Reprogrammed.
00:14:14.879 --> 00:14:15.519
And we're gonna be reprogrammed.
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:16.720
A lot of people bring that.
00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:24.240
So I guess I want to go down that road a little bit, and we've been talking about it, but you know, we talk about being rescued.
00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:31.200
What is it that people need to be rescued from that's not just, oh, well, salvation makes me a better person?
00:14:32.320 --> 00:14:39.360
I think, again, uh realizing that there are several things that we are rescued uh from.
00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:50.799
Um, if we look at for all of sin that falls short of the glory of God, Romans 3.23, and then the wages of sin is death, then we're being rescued from death, eternal death.
00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:56.080
And and I think about several things that I've lifted out, we're saved from sin.
00:14:56.240 --> 00:15:04.240
I I think that to realize that sin is what separates us from God, and to I love the word used the word earlier, reconciled.
00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:12.720
Sometimes we have our difficult rec time rec reconciling our thoughts and beliefs, that reconciliation is what Jesus came to do to bring us back.
00:15:12.799 --> 00:15:14.960
And I think that comes from our sin.
00:15:15.120 --> 00:15:18.159
I think that's one thing, and as I said, saved from death.
00:15:18.559 --> 00:15:30.320
And those are, I think, important things for people to understand and also saved from the wrath of God, which is another justice part that's really, really hard.
00:15:30.480 --> 00:15:33.279
But Scripture teaches that in Romans 5 9.
00:15:33.440 --> 00:15:40.399
Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.
00:15:41.039 --> 00:15:42.960
Which again, that's difficult.
00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:47.919
I I it's like what somebody said that um people talk about Revelation being hard.
00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:50.399
Romans is challenging.
00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:55.759
But we see that it's that holiness trying to live up to that.
00:15:55.919 --> 00:16:05.360
Uh but I think there's some self-help parts, uh, don't shoot me on this, that I think we should realize that we are saved from a futile life.
00:16:06.240 --> 00:16:09.360
And we we have purpose in becoming a Christian.
00:16:09.759 --> 00:16:11.440
And our life now has purpose.
00:16:11.679 --> 00:16:16.320
And we also realize through doing that, we can make a difference in the life of other people.
00:16:17.279 --> 00:16:20.639
And I I think that's something that does resonate with people.
00:16:21.120 --> 00:16:34.639
I remember I had a lady I studied with years ago, and she had listened to a lot of health and wealth uh type preachers, and she's like, uh, you know, I'm battling cancer, and I know when I come out of that water that my cancer will be healed.
00:16:34.720 --> 00:16:38.320
I'm like, uh, let's go back and talk.
00:16:40.000 --> 00:16:44.720
Because Jesus didn't can't come, this sounds harsh, to save you from your cancer.
00:16:45.679 --> 00:16:52.080
He came to save us from our sins and to save from a life of futility, to save us from a life of loneliness.
00:16:52.240 --> 00:16:59.519
If if we can have a relationship with his people, there's there's some things we're saved from that I think are very helpful.
00:16:59.679 --> 00:17:05.920
I think right now, one thing people are really in need of is community.
00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:13.519
And to know that I have a family of believers now, I think that's another thing that we are saved from.
00:17:14.000 --> 00:17:29.279
So if we got somebody listening that is contemplating this idea of salvation and they're like, hey, I don't this idea of sin is even new to me, are there some go-to passages that you like to walk people through that you'd recommend people studying?
00:17:29.440 --> 00:17:35.920
Or maybe it's people that are talking to a friend that could really try to guide them on certain passages like that.
00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:40.480
I really like Acts uh Acts chapter two, the entirety of Acts chapter two.
00:17:40.799 --> 00:17:41.759
Uh why's that?
00:17:42.079 --> 00:17:54.000
Because uh it's um Jesus' command to his disciples in Matthew chapter 28 is to go and preach the gospel to everyone and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
00:17:54.160 --> 00:18:05.119
Well, in Acts chapter two, we hear that sermon preached, and Peter goes on and on and on to establish this group of Jews, devout people, by the way.
00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:14.000
I think that's something that sometimes we mess up when we look at the book of Acts, that many of the sermons, not all of them, are preached to people who are devout in their faith.
00:18:14.319 --> 00:18:20.799
And these devout Jews hear it, and what they hear is, We have murdered the Messiah.
00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:23.680
That's why they cry out, they interrupt the sermon.
00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:26.319
Hey, what can we do about this?
00:18:26.960 --> 00:18:38.079
And when Peter says, Repent and be baptized, every one of you, for remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit, it's the phrase that I I love that I think I heard Mike Tenero use years ago.
00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:40.640
If you'll do what they did, you'll get what they got.
00:18:41.039 --> 00:18:49.119
If I want my sins taken away, and I want the power of God living in me, then I have to be willing to do what they did there.
00:18:49.279 --> 00:18:54.960
I I think that verse is very helpful to look at and to say, all right, my sins are going to be taken away.
00:18:55.039 --> 00:18:56.720
And what sin were they guilty of?
00:18:56.960 --> 00:18:57.519
Murder.
00:18:57.759 --> 00:19:01.440
That's sort of what you know, unbelief and murder, those two things were combined.
00:19:01.680 --> 00:19:06.480
And if God can fix murder, he can probably fix anything that I've done.
00:19:07.119 --> 00:19:10.319
That that's a that's a verse that really does stand out to me.
00:19:10.720 --> 00:19:18.000
I wonder if some people view this idea of salvation and sin similar to how we interact with one uh one another.
00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:23.839
Like, if I've wronged Tim, I can change his mind about me by making better.
00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.759
If you're not watching this, if you're listening, he's shaking his head.
00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:29.119
Yeah, I ain't changing his mind.
00:19:29.359 --> 00:19:30.799
Well, a good-hearted person.
00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:31.920
Let's not use Tim.
00:19:32.079 --> 00:19:39.759
But if I wrong somebody, you know, over time I can change their mind, and they would think, oh, Brian's a good person.
00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:51.359
And I think people think that may be like how God is, to where it's like, well, I used to do wrong, but now I'm doing good things, so shouldn't God see me as like a good person?
00:19:51.680 --> 00:20:04.319
Um, if somebody's in that boat, I know we've been talking about it, help try to maybe explain the difference between having sinned once and why just doing good things doesn't just cover that up.
00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:07.359
I think again, it goes back to the holiness of God.
00:20:07.680 --> 00:20:10.640
How many sins does it take to make someone a sinner?
00:20:11.440 --> 00:20:12.559
It's just one.
00:20:13.680 --> 00:20:16.240
How many sins can I save myself from?
00:20:16.880 --> 00:20:17.519
None.
00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:29.519
And so going back to the rescue thought, salvation thought, with one, if it if uh I believe as James has said it, you if you break one part of the law, you're guilty of all the law.
00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:33.119
And that's hard for us to be, okay, why is he saying that?
00:20:33.279 --> 00:20:34.880
Because it seems unfair.
00:20:40.480 --> 00:20:42.240
And he's hid his f face from you.
00:20:42.400 --> 00:20:50.960
Now he's talking to people who had broken this covenant, and they're wondering why God isn't rescuing them again and again and again when he has rescued them again and again and again.
00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:57.039
And the prophet says, What has separated you is your sinfulness.
00:20:58.319 --> 00:21:05.119
And you know, in the same book, he is we have the promises of a Messiah coming, that there's going to be salvation.
00:21:05.599 --> 00:21:11.680
And I think there's a thought that we cannot live perfectly.
00:21:11.759 --> 00:21:16.880
I I think that's that's a hard thing for us because some of us seek perfection in different aspects of our life.
00:21:17.680 --> 00:21:30.880
But to know that um I think sometimes we look at look at God as somebody who um if we just need him to help us live more morally.
00:21:32.000 --> 00:21:32.480
Yeah.
00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:37.519
Um and he's the only one that can make us holy.
00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:41.920
No matter how good I live, I can't be holy without him.
00:21:42.319 --> 00:21:43.839
That he's a source of that holiness.
00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:47.359
I think it comes to relationship with him, is the only way we can do that.
00:21:47.440 --> 00:21:49.680
I'm not sure if that answers what you're asking or not.
00:21:49.920 --> 00:21:50.240
Yeah.
00:21:50.799 --> 00:21:53.440
No, one thing that this goes in a little bit different direction.
00:21:53.519 --> 00:22:09.279
One thing Tim and I talked about in our prep of this series, but also this episode is at least For me and my upbringing, my first thought of salvation, and we referenced this earlier, was kind of like insurance to hell.
00:22:09.440 --> 00:22:12.880
You know, like, and it was all just about life after death.
00:22:13.200 --> 00:22:19.200
But and you referenced some of these, like the gifts of being in like community and stuff.
00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:25.759
Is there anything more that salvation offers for life, like before we die?
00:22:25.920 --> 00:22:30.000
Um, especially like maybe when it comes to somebody's relationship with God?
00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:38.799
Well, I think that the big term is the for some people, Christianity is nothing more than moralistic therapeutic deism.
00:22:39.440 --> 00:22:42.079
In other words, um, there's a God who's far off.
00:22:42.160 --> 00:22:43.680
I'm not really in a relationship with him.
00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:49.359
If I live better, then hey, if I forgive people, I don't forgive people because God's forgiven me.
00:22:49.440 --> 00:22:52.160
It's because it's more mentally healthy for me to forgive you.
00:22:53.200 --> 00:22:54.720
Both of those things can be true at the same time.
00:22:55.039 --> 00:22:55.839
To not seek vengeance.
00:22:56.000 --> 00:22:56.720
Yes, to not seek vengeance.
00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.079
Like Brian thinks I would.
00:22:59.920 --> 00:23:03.440
Based on you shaking your head, like you would never see it coming.
00:23:04.079 --> 00:23:06.960
But for some people, church isn't that's what it is.
00:23:07.200 --> 00:23:14.480
God is this uh I'm gonna be moral and it's th therapeutic because it is what's best for me, and there's no relationship with God.
00:23:14.640 --> 00:23:21.039
He's a far-off God, and I just if I become a better person, then the world would be better.
00:23:21.200 --> 00:23:22.240
And that's true.
00:23:22.559 --> 00:23:29.759
But we can't be holy without him, and um and I'm not sure if this is the direction we're going.
00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:40.079
I I think about the the people who were baptized yesterday, and I remember I I go through the four, the Keith Parker sermon that I've uh heard and preached many times.
00:23:40.400 --> 00:23:46.880
The there's things that we get from God when we are saved, you know, we we do get forgiveness.
00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:49.920
In other words, our sins are are taken away from us.
00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:52.400
And I can't take those sins away myself.
00:23:52.559 --> 00:23:53.200
I think that's one.
00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.880
If I'm a sinner, I have forgiveness.
00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:55.759
I think another thing.
00:23:56.160 --> 00:23:59.839
Before you leave that, how does that help you now?
00:24:00.640 --> 00:24:01.519
Like in your life?
00:24:01.680 --> 00:24:08.799
Like what does that do, I guess, maybe to your mind or heart that you know your sins are taken away now versus just okay, I'm not going to hell?
00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:12.240
Well, it goes back to your theme of uh blessed assurance.
00:24:12.799 --> 00:24:20.240
And there is a thought of not going to hell, but there's also um I'm getting myself in trouble.
00:24:21.680 --> 00:24:31.920
Many people who seek counseling, and I'm somebody who's gone to counseling, is because of a lack of or need for forgiveness in some way.
00:24:32.880 --> 00:24:36.400
They can't forgive themselves for something that has happened to them before.
00:24:36.640 --> 00:24:41.119
They can't forgive somebody else for something they've done to them, or they need somebody else to forgive them.
00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:43.119
They've wronged them and they won't forgive them.
00:24:44.000 --> 00:24:48.240
And Jesus is the only one that has the answer for those things.
00:24:49.680 --> 00:24:57.599
And that through him, if we walk in light as he is in the light, first John 1, he cleanses us from all unrighteousness.
00:24:57.680 --> 00:25:00.880
And there's a continual cleansing as we walk in relationship with him.
00:25:01.279 --> 00:25:05.119
So I truly can let yesterday go.
00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.119
It's not like a country song now.
00:25:07.279 --> 00:25:13.119
Um but um because whatever's happened, he is covered.
00:25:13.359 --> 00:25:18.640
And if somebody else doesn't forgive me and I would love them to, I can be okay knowing God's forgiven me.
00:25:18.880 --> 00:25:23.839
I have sought forgiveness from that person, whether they forgive me or not, doesn't impact my relationship with God.
00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:24.960
You've got peace of mind.
00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:28.880
You can have peace and and what would people pay for peace?
00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:35.119
People do a lot of things to chase peace, a lot a lot of addictions, a lot of different things are truly people chasing peace.
00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:52.720
And the peace that he can give, the peace that passes understanding, is I have to remind myself and take every thought captive and bring myself back to that uh so often because I I've as I've shared from the pulpit, uh, I do ruminating thoughts, in other words, I start thinking of something and it will not leave me.
00:25:52.799 --> 00:25:56.960
And I have to go back to the start and go, okay, what do I know?
00:25:57.759 --> 00:26:04.880
I know that I am a Christian, I know that I have put my faith in him, I know because of that, he's taken my sins away.
00:26:05.039 --> 00:26:10.720
Not only the sins before I was baptized, can I tell you I've sinned a whole lot more since I was baptized than before?
00:26:11.279 --> 00:26:24.720
Part of I was I was baptized very young, and I've sinned a lot since then to know that he's taken those away, and to know that as I hold those over me, that is Satan holding something over me that God doesn't.
00:26:24.960 --> 00:26:27.759
And if I can go through those truths, I think it's helpful.
00:26:27.920 --> 00:26:36.319
Um I remember a man who was struggling with dementia, and about every day he was waking up questioning his salvation.
00:26:37.279 --> 00:26:44.640
And he and I and his wife sat down and I went through and said, Okay, this is the thing you can know for sure.
00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:46.720
Are you a cr that I am a Christian?
00:26:46.799 --> 00:26:53.680
And I had him write down, I became a Christian on this day, and because of that, God has taken away my sins.
00:26:54.240 --> 00:27:05.279
I and I we wrote down five or six of those things that we can trust in him, and that became something that when he got she could put back in front of him over and over and over again.
00:27:05.920 --> 00:27:16.319
Even though I don't have dementia, I forget that, and I have to remind myself in order to have that peace, what God not only has done, but what he continues doing for me.
00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:23.119
I think sometimes we as Christians all only think about what God did in the past tense instead of what he does now and what he does throughout the future.
00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:30.559
What are those other you you began to do a list of things about forgiveness and so what are the other three things that I think you said four total.
00:27:31.359 --> 00:27:32.400
What are the three things again?
00:27:32.480 --> 00:27:33.519
He's taking my sins away.
00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.960
Okay, you got forgiveness.
00:27:35.200 --> 00:27:38.960
And uh not only that, um he hears me when I pray.
00:27:39.119 --> 00:27:39.279
Okay.
00:27:39.759 --> 00:27:41.039
I have his presence.
00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:42.799
He is with me each day.
00:27:43.039 --> 00:27:43.200
Okay.
00:27:43.759 --> 00:27:51.920
And that there is a place prepared for me that that when I leave here, that is promised to me, not based on my goodness, but based on my faith in him.
00:27:52.799 --> 00:27:58.240
And that was something that I I just remember she was an incredible, she she wanted to be a secretary for him.
00:27:58.480 --> 00:28:01.200
She wrote everything down, and that was something she told me.
00:28:01.279 --> 00:28:08.319
She said, I put in front of him when he would get up, and that was his mentality, I could share that with him.
00:28:08.480 --> 00:28:08.640
Yeah.
00:28:08.880 --> 00:28:14.160
Because he would call me uh um before he he went to a assisted living memory care place.
00:28:14.319 --> 00:28:17.359
He would call me and want to have that same discussion, and we had it over and over again.
00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:20.480
I said, Let him call me as much as he wants to, because that's what's bothering him.
00:28:20.720 --> 00:28:22.319
And finally we got it written down.
00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:29.680
He wanted to come by and meet, and he was as heartbroken about his sin as he was before he became a Christian.
00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:31.200
He would go to tears.
00:28:31.920 --> 00:28:51.039
And I was in awe of that um of that level of sincerity and purity and him wanting to be right, but then wanted to give him that blessed assurance y'all talking about what he could have uh confidence in because of his faith in God and how good God is to him.
00:28:52.799 --> 00:28:56.640
Something I was thinking about as you were talking earlier and kind of circle back around.
00:28:56.720 --> 00:29:05.200
You know, I really think we have a harder time today because of what you mentioned, because people have painted a picture uh of of the Christian and Jewish God.
00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:15.200
Uh they they've got this picture in mind that he's and he is these things, gentle, loving, merciful, kind, just, but they they don't want to talk about both sides of justice.
00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.720
There's guilty and not guilty.
00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:27.359
I think we have a harder time than I think certainly you mentioned like Peter's audience, both uh in in Acts chapter two and also later as he's preaching in Solomon's Portico.
00:29:27.519 --> 00:29:41.680
Everybody there believed in God, and everybody there in their scriptures could definitely see a God that would take vengeance and action upon those who did not obey him, whether it's the flood or it's the Neo-Babylonians or the Assyrians, whoever it is.
00:29:41.920 --> 00:29:48.880
Yeah, we know that people will punish communities get punished, and individuals, you know, Jonah, there's people who get punished.
00:29:49.119 --> 00:30:01.920
And even when Paul went to the Gentiles, the idea of the wrath or or even capriciousness of gods who get irritated with humans doing something bad to him exist in their mythology, in their literature.
00:30:02.000 --> 00:30:04.160
Uh, you know, the Odyssey is a good example of that.
00:30:04.240 --> 00:30:05.920
It's in recent pop culture.
00:30:06.480 --> 00:30:11.359
They all believed in deities that could get angry and take their anger out on people.
00:30:11.680 --> 00:30:20.720
Today, I think it's harder because we've got either that picture painted of God, if he does exist, then he's only a benevolent God, and he would not allow anybody to go to hell.
00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:31.440
But then there's the other side that I think we want to talk about today before we finish is a lot of things that we have talked about, uh, even your four the four-point sermon by uh Mr.
00:30:31.680 --> 00:30:36.240
Parker, is what if I don't believe in the Bible and believe in God?
00:30:36.480 --> 00:30:40.000
You know, I that's what I think we're going to encounter more and more.
00:30:40.079 --> 00:30:47.839
I think the number is what 62% of people, only 62% of Americans believe they're in cr that they're Christians or or are adherents to Christianity.
00:30:48.000 --> 00:31:00.559
That means there's some percentage of the rest of that that that 38% that either, you know, is semi-religious or some other religion, but there's people in there that don't believe in religion or the Bible at all.
00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:04.720
How do we convince them as we encounter that more and more?
00:31:04.880 --> 00:31:14.480
How do we convince them that they need salvation when they don't believe in a God at all, much less a wrathful God or the God of the Old Testament, God of the New Testament type of things?
00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:16.480
Have you encountered that a lot lately yet?
00:31:17.039 --> 00:31:22.799
Really what we're seeing more than that is people realize this world is really messed up.
00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.359
Yeah.
00:31:23.599 --> 00:31:25.519
And there has to be a better way.
00:31:26.240 --> 00:31:37.759
And thanks be it to God that God is putting some people in their path who are Christians, and they go, You have something I don't have.
00:31:38.480 --> 00:31:42.319
Psychologically and in the just in life, and you're you have a joy.
00:31:42.400 --> 00:31:50.880
You're also other people walk by me and you see me, you ask me how I'm doing, you pray for me, you're you saw me and invited me.
00:31:51.279 --> 00:32:04.000
And so many people are like, I need and also we're we're in a time we talked about earlier where people are more in silos, whether it's their home or just them by themselves, and we weren't meant to live like that.
00:32:04.079 --> 00:32:05.440
We're meant to live in community.
00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:12.799
And people are trying to seek out community, and in trying to seek out community, uh, they're finding Jesus.
00:32:13.039 --> 00:32:19.279
Uh one of the things that uh a statement that you hear a lot now is people want to belong before they believe.
00:32:19.519 --> 00:32:23.599
They're wanting to see, is this the group of people that I want to do life with?
00:32:24.079 --> 00:32:29.359
And then as they're doing that, they're exposed to the gospel and and you see that.
00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:31.119
Um That's even more like it.
00:32:31.440 --> 00:32:37.599
I mean, the sense of belonging and kinship was extremely important in the first century and in the ancient Near East.
00:32:37.680 --> 00:32:45.599
Maybe we're coming back around to more of a time where belonging to a community and having significance in there is becoming more and more important to people.
00:32:45.920 --> 00:32:53.599
Well, when I listen to uh I'm I'm going back and listening to y'all's podcast right now as we're preaching through a a similar series on Might Be Different.
00:32:53.839 --> 00:32:59.920
Um one thing you're you're very uh you bring up a lot, and it's we don't understand the importance of table fellowship.
00:33:00.480 --> 00:33:03.599
People wanted to be able to be at a table with some other people.
00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.799
That still exists.
00:33:04.960 --> 00:33:05.279
Yeah.
00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:07.119
They want to be at a table.
00:33:07.440 --> 00:33:15.039
And some of them have the deep apologetics questions, but it's not as many as you think that we're encountering.
00:33:15.200 --> 00:33:20.160
Um the thing is they're trying to get answers to that on uh TikTok and YouTube and everywhere else.
00:33:20.480 --> 00:33:20.880
Unfortunately.
00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:26.240
But sometimes that leads them to a can I talk to a person?
00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.480
Can I talk to a person?
00:33:28.720 --> 00:33:29.039
Okay.
00:33:29.279 --> 00:33:34.880
And I think one of the things is, and it's so hard is to be patient with people as they're wrestling through.
00:33:35.039 --> 00:33:38.319
I I think that's uh not forcing someone to a decision.
00:33:38.480 --> 00:33:40.319
We talked about evangelism a little bit.
00:33:40.559 --> 00:33:45.279
Um they're gonna wrestle through this and making it okay for them to wrestle.
00:33:45.599 --> 00:33:52.240
And and as they're wrestling, sometimes it's gonna be hard because we want to jump in there and fix or twit or whatever.
00:33:52.559 --> 00:33:53.039
We want to save them.
00:33:53.119 --> 00:33:53.920
We want to rescue them right now.
00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:10.079
And and there's times they're like, hey, unless I understand exactly why these things happen in life, and you want to say, we will um we'll never understand that.
00:34:11.360 --> 00:34:22.559
I mean it's amazing how many people have said to me uh through Bible studies over the past couple years, I feel like God is putting people in my life to draw me to Him.
00:34:22.719 --> 00:34:32.239
It is like they are feeling uh people may disagree with this, and that's fine, but they're like this person sent me this verse today.
00:34:32.320 --> 00:34:48.559
I know them a little bit or this person who coaches my kids' ball team goes to church over here, and I keep seeing all these people in my path that seem to be pointing me to something different and something better, and they're the ones who keep showing up, and you see that.
00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:55.280
But also culturally right now, there is a desire for something that is meaningful.
00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:59.039
I think we're we're that we've we've chased meaningless a whole lot.
00:34:59.360 --> 00:35:07.679
And I I see that people are searching for real what real relationships or real faith, uh, some things they can count on.
00:35:08.400 --> 00:35:13.519
And because you can't find it in politics, you can't find it in money, you can't find all these things you're chasing.
00:35:13.840 --> 00:35:15.440
God seems to be the thing.
00:35:16.079 --> 00:35:21.440
Yeah, before we conclude, I think it's good to flip maybe to another side of a coin.
00:35:21.599 --> 00:35:31.519
We've talked a lot about uh the gift of salvation, that people are being rescued by Jesus and all the blessings that come with from that.
00:35:31.760 --> 00:35:42.800
But I think it's also important in this conversation to maybe look into answer this question here of like, is salvation simply a gift, or does the Bible speak to certain expectations God has afterwards?
00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:47.280
There's d you're entering a covenant relationship with someone.
00:35:47.519 --> 00:35:52.639
It is a uh again, we continue walk in the light with him, it's relational.
00:35:53.039 --> 00:35:55.679
Uh God intended us to be in a relationship with him.
00:35:55.920 --> 00:35:57.519
We are now his people.
00:35:57.840 --> 00:36:00.000
That's a relate that's relational talk.
00:36:00.159 --> 00:36:07.039
Even in heaven, you know, he will dwell among them, Revelation 21, and he will be their God, and they will be his people.
00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:13.599
There's that he demands us uh to remain in relationship with him afterwards.
00:36:13.760 --> 00:36:15.360
So what does that look like?
00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:25.519
Um if Acts is correct, I believe it is, it seems like God's people were the church, and they came together.
00:36:25.760 --> 00:36:28.480
When they came together, there was relation for that.
00:36:28.639 --> 00:36:45.599
Uh if there's 59 and there are different one another in the New Testament, love one another, honor one another, prefer one another, serve one another, encourage one another, that one another, nearly most every context, especially once you leave the gospels, is other Christians.
00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:51.840
That we should be, so we have a relationship with one another and responsibility to one another.
00:36:52.159 --> 00:36:53.039
I would say that's it.
00:36:53.119 --> 00:36:57.280
And there's also, based on the Great Commission, a responsibility to people who don't know God.
00:36:57.519 --> 00:37:01.679
We're also told to do good unto all people, especially those of the household of faith.
00:37:01.840 --> 00:37:08.559
There is responsibility after we're it is not a we think contract for some people salvation is contractual.
00:37:08.719 --> 00:37:09.039
All right.
00:37:09.199 --> 00:37:13.760
You say repent, be baptized, well, you can be baptized, whatever you're in your head.
00:37:13.920 --> 00:37:15.599
I did that, so I'm good.
00:37:16.159 --> 00:37:18.239
Well, you're to rise and walk in a new life.
00:37:18.400 --> 00:37:20.719
Romans, you asked about verses earlier.
00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:25.679
I think I think Romans 6, 1 through 6 is one of the best set of verses to go through with people.
00:37:25.760 --> 00:37:26.000
Yeah.
00:37:26.159 --> 00:37:31.519
Because it talks about dying to sin and being raised to walk in a new life, that your death, burial, and resurrection.
00:37:31.760 --> 00:37:36.400
When you come up, it's a new life, but you are a part of a family, something that's greater to you.
00:37:36.480 --> 00:37:44.320
And if you are raised, you know, buried within death like him, you're raised in a resurrection like his, and one day he will resurrect you to be with him for eternity.
00:37:44.559 --> 00:38:06.719
And um, yeah, and I think that's a hard thing because I'll use this term loosely, but as the church or Christians as a whole, anybody that claims that title, we've done a bad job for a couple of generations of defining what that actually should look like, to where a lot of people would say, Oh, yeah, I'm Christian, but there's really no relationship, no practice, no following of Jesus.
00:38:06.880 --> 00:38:10.719
It was just, oh yeah, I believe in the idea of Jesus and that I'm saved.
00:38:10.800 --> 00:38:12.320
I plan to go to heaven.
00:38:12.559 --> 00:38:23.760
And I think that's been passed down a little bit where people have missed, like, it's not just about, okay, now you're not going to hell, but you've been adopted, you've been brought into the family of God.
00:38:23.920 --> 00:38:27.119
There's this relationship with God that comes with salvation.
00:38:27.280 --> 00:38:30.079
And I think that's just for still foreign to some people.
00:38:30.239 --> 00:38:35.920
Like, in the Bible, you have a couple couple of thoughts that are sort of metaphoric, and you got the family.
00:38:36.079 --> 00:38:37.920
You know, there's a there's a family thought.
00:38:38.159 --> 00:38:40.960
Also, there's this sheep and shepherd thought.
00:38:41.360 --> 00:38:50.800
And the twenty-third psalm, um, as I do funerals, and I'm I'll be doing one tomorrow, and no, that that's not as this errors, but in real time be doing one.
00:38:51.280 --> 00:39:05.440
One of the beauties of the person that is being buried tomorrow, or is the funeral's tomorrow, is when you look through the 23rd Psalm, those people stayed in relationship with their shepherd, the sheep did.
00:39:06.639 --> 00:39:16.239
And I think what makes funerals bearable is the fact that that person made God their shepherd and remained as their sheep and followed.
00:39:17.440 --> 00:39:20.719
And I think that's a picture we probably don't need to get away from too far.
00:39:20.880 --> 00:39:26.719
I think there's something with that that um the beautiful thoughts in the New Testament sheet.
00:39:26.880 --> 00:39:28.960
If one is lost, he wants to come find you.
00:39:29.440 --> 00:39:35.599
That but you come why, because you're supposed to be with the ninety-nine. 'Cause the ninety-niner with the shepherd.
00:39:35.920 --> 00:39:44.400
And I think there's a relational aspect that uh sometimes we talk about individual salvation and we are saved individually.
00:39:44.719 --> 00:39:49.280
But the Acts two passages at the end, immediately they did what?
00:39:49.440 --> 00:40:02.719
They broke bread together, they studied together, they worshiped together, they quininea, they fellowshiped together, all these things that it was always intended that it is relational with one another and relational with God.
00:40:02.960 --> 00:40:10.719
And so this contracts, well, I did this, God gives me salvation, I'll just put that ticket in my pocket, and at the last day I'll cash that back in.
00:40:11.519 --> 00:40:14.320
Uh that doesn't seem to be anywhere in scripture.
00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:23.760
There's a thought that we make Jesus our Lord and our King and our shepherd, and we stay in relationship to him.
00:40:24.800 --> 00:40:25.280
I like that.
00:40:25.360 --> 00:40:28.320
Hey, before we close, do you have a final thought you want to share?
00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:37.360
Uh I love the fact that y'all are doing uh this this study, and I I think it's important that people know that what they're saved from.
00:40:37.519 --> 00:40:37.840
Mm-hmm.
00:40:38.079 --> 00:40:39.360
That they are saved from.
00:40:39.519 --> 00:40:49.440
And as I went back and I'll go back to Keith's sermon, to know that when somebody becomes a Christian, when we when we choose him, we get forgiveness of our sins.
00:40:50.000 --> 00:40:51.760
We also get a family.
00:40:52.320 --> 00:40:59.119
There's a church family that that we have, and there's also we have a father, this relationship we're in.
00:40:59.360 --> 00:41:01.199
And there's also a promise of a future.
00:41:01.519 --> 00:41:03.519
You know, uh Keith's good at alliteration.
00:41:03.599 --> 00:41:07.840
I don't alliterate all the time, but I can always remember that, and it seems to relate to people.
00:41:08.079 --> 00:41:13.360
And I think if we just if we just take any one of those, we miss out on the other three.
00:41:17.440 --> 00:41:18.800
Then you ain't got a father.
00:41:20.079 --> 00:41:21.360
I just really want a family.
00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:23.360
Well, what about your sins?
00:41:23.920 --> 00:41:24.800
What about God?
00:41:25.440 --> 00:41:26.719
I just really want the future.
00:41:26.880 --> 00:41:31.519
Well, all four of those co- you have they they all relate to one another.
00:41:31.679 --> 00:41:37.440
And I think it's important that we always teach all four of those thoughts, because they're all through scriptures.
00:41:37.599 --> 00:41:45.599
There's a different way to show that, that we keep that in front of people, that it is not when you are saved, it's not just what you're saved from, it's what you're saved to.
00:41:46.239 --> 00:41:48.719
And I think we probably could have spent a lot of time on that.
00:41:48.960 --> 00:41:55.599
Save, saved from our sin, saved from uh you know, futility, uh, saved from hell, saved from the wrath of God.
00:41:55.679 --> 00:41:56.480
But what are you saved to?
00:41:56.559 --> 00:42:04.239
You're saved into a relationship with God, a relationship with his people, and a peace that we can have here that you can't have anywhere else.
00:42:04.559 --> 00:42:06.239
Tim, you got anything you want to close out with?
00:42:06.480 --> 00:42:20.320
Yeah, just reflecting like on what I've learned today is thinking about whereas it used to be this hellfire and brimstone preaching, and we're trying to instigate a response and a commitment right now that we're gonna have the fear of God put into you.
00:42:20.559 --> 00:42:32.719
What I hear now is how we how we deal with the culture today and what people are seeking and why they're seeking it, even if they're agnostic or atheist, that they still have some some psychological and spiritual needs that they may seek out in people.
00:42:32.880 --> 00:42:34.880
It's being patient with the process.
00:42:35.039 --> 00:42:45.119
It may take, and I know this is the case because I hear you talk about your studies you go through, it's not one or two Bible studies, or it's not, we're going to explain to you on the front row pew, and five minutes later you're gonna be baptized.
00:42:45.280 --> 00:43:00.000
It's going to be, it may take a long time to convince them to buy in, and then maybe there are some deeper apologetic type things and questions they need answers to theologically or historically or whatever, but we need to be patient with that process in people.
00:43:00.559 --> 00:43:01.679
I'll do one more thing.
00:43:02.239 --> 00:43:04.159
You're a preacher, so you always got one more, right?
00:43:04.400 --> 00:43:05.679
Yeah, we got one more thing.
00:43:05.840 --> 00:43:06.079
Yeah.
00:43:06.800 --> 00:43:07.760
Before our final song.
00:43:08.000 --> 00:43:08.159
Yes.
00:43:08.639 --> 00:43:15.519
Uh I would say many times before we called people to a decision at the end of a sermon, and we still do.
00:43:16.079 --> 00:43:22.000
But right now, I think it's important that we not only invite them into a decision, but we invite them into a dialogue or discussion.
00:43:22.320 --> 00:43:22.960
It's a good word.
00:43:23.199 --> 00:43:29.360
And and I think that's something to keep in mind that through that discussion, I think helps us to make disciples.
00:43:29.440 --> 00:43:30.880
I'm doing I'm doing all D's now.
00:43:31.039 --> 00:43:31.519
That's amazing.
00:43:34.079 --> 00:43:37.679
I haven't alliterated that much in years, and all of a sudden y'all got me alliterating all the time.
00:43:37.920 --> 00:43:38.960
Yeah, it's gotta wait till Sunday.
00:43:39.199 --> 00:43:40.079
Why don't I start rapping?
00:43:40.159 --> 00:43:40.880
Now I'm just running.
00:43:41.199 --> 00:43:50.719
Hey, for those in our audience that may, whether you're new to this podcast or whether you're new to thinking about Christianity, if at the end of this conversation you're thinking, well, you know what?
00:43:50.800 --> 00:43:53.280
I don't know, I don't know about my salvation.
00:43:53.599 --> 00:43:54.800
Reach out to Tim and I.
00:43:54.880 --> 00:43:56.480
We would love to be able to talk to you.
00:43:56.639 --> 00:44:02.719
I think one of the biggest gifts about being saved is having uh peace and confidence in Jesus Christ and with God.
00:44:02.800 --> 00:44:05.280
So if you're in that boat, don't linger there.
00:44:05.360 --> 00:44:05.760
Reach out.
00:44:05.840 --> 00:44:07.119
We would love to be able to talk to you.
00:44:07.199 --> 00:44:10.880
Uh email at podcast at mtjuliet.org.
00:44:11.280 --> 00:44:11.440
Yep.
00:44:11.599 --> 00:44:12.480
Go to the website as well.
00:44:12.639 --> 00:44:15.519
Craig, thank you so much for jumping on the podcast with us.
00:44:15.760 --> 00:44:18.719
To our fellow students of Scripture, thank you for joining us for Tech Support.
00:44:18.800 --> 00:44:20.320
We hope you will join us next week.
00:44:21.920 --> 00:44:24.719
This is a podcast of the Mount Juliet Church of Christ.
00:44:24.880 --> 00:44:30.239
You can find more personal growth resources like this one at mountjuli.org slash resources.
00:44:30.480 --> 00:44:39.199
The Mount Juliet Church of Christ exists to glorify God and make disciples by helping people grow in Christ, love one another, and serve others.