understanding the scriptures
Gary:
You are listening to a special presentation of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. We turn now to our final segment:
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
We return once again to 2000 with Dave and Tom.
Tom:
Well, we’re continuing with the gospel and Dave, I enjoy doing this program. But this segment always blesses me incredibly. Today, we are going to go through Romans 5 starting with verse 6 and hopefully we’ll get through the end. I don’t know if we’ll do it today exactly, but through verse 21, beginning with verse 6): For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. Now Dave, I’d like to go over this verse by verse, so when something hits you, just jump in, okay? But “…in due time Christ died for the ungodly.” What does that mean?
Dave:
Well He wouldn’t have needed to die if we weren’t ungodly. Salvation is for sinners. The righteous don’t need salvation and Jesus said I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And when Jesus told Nicodemus except a man be born again he cannot see the kingdom of God he meant what He was saying. If you’re going to be in the kingdom of God you have to be born again. And He said whosoever believeth in the Son that whosoever, you know, well let me say it, John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…” (This is what it is talking about.) “…that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Well then obviously if you don’t believe in Him you perish. So we are ungodly people who are under the judgment of God and Christ came and died for us because He loves us.
Tom:
So this is an incredible verse of encouragement. People want to know, well do I qualify? Here’s the qualification. Christ died for the ungodly. Verse 7: “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.” Now this is simply telling us that who would go about dying for someone else? I mean you are not going to die for a scoundrel, that is we are not going to die a scoundrel, and maybe for a guy who has some good values and morals, I don’t think so, but there might be somebody out there that we, finite and fleshly, might give our lives up for somebody else.
Dave:
Yes, but not for rascals, scoundrels and rebels. How about dying for someone who hates you and mocks you, and slaps you and crucifies you? And yet Jesus as He hung on the cross said Father forgive them, they know not what they do. That, I mean Tom, the love of God, His grace, His mercy; I mean it’s just beyond our comprehension. And we need to meditate upon it more for encouragement. So many people can come under a load of guilt and “Oh I just haven’t been living the Christian life as well as I should and I just feel so bad and so forth. Well, rejoice in God’s love and in his grace and mercy.
Tom:
Verse 8: But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. How many times can we hear that? Not enough really, but as we keep going to God’s Word and being encouraged by it, this is just wonderful.
Dave:
The logic is so simple Tom. And I love Paul. Some call this the greatest legal brief ever written. Required reading in some law schools because it’s just—he lays it out. “While we were yet sinners Christ died for us.” Well he didn’t say clean up your lives and get good enough and then I’ll die for you. Because then if we were good enough we wouldn’t need Him to die for us. But some people get the idea that somehow we’ve got to be made good enough—we have to have, you know, the difference between imputed and infused righteousness. The Catholics, (you were a Catholic for many years) you’ve got to become righteous enough to get to heaven. No, our qualification for heaven is the blood of Christ. That Christ died for our sins. Not that we have become righteous enough. So again Paul makes it very clear.
Tom:
Right. Dave going back to infused and imputed, as a Catholic we did believe, or I did believe that yes I needed to be righteous, but it was going to come by God’s grace. But I was a sinner, and the stain of sin—grace was not going to take that away in and of itself. It had to be in Christ. He had to do it.
Dave:
But as a Catholic you didn’t understand that. You had to be purged in Purgatory. You had to somehow be righteous within yourself. Rather than relying on Christ’s righteousness credited to your account, you had to become righteous. Anyway, that’s not what Paul is saying. He’s saying the opposite.
Tom:
No, and just go back to verse 6, “Christ died for the ungodly.” Verse 8: “…while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Dave:
Praise God that’s wonderful!
Tom:
There’s no expiation, there’s nothing we can do except receive what He has and what He alone could do. Verse 9: “Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” Two things in this verse Dave: justified by His blood—simply blood being symbolic of His death, that’s all it represents here.
Dave:
Well “…without the shedding of blood there is no remission of sins.” And His blood was poured out upon the cross in death for our sins. This is where our justification comes from. Justified—we are made as though we had never sinned and counted righteous before God. He’s paid the penalty for our sins.
Tom:
“We shall be saved from wrath through him.” Now there’s something that you don’t hear much about today. But the scripture says “wrath.” What does that mean? Well the wrath of God in Romans Chapter 1, the wrath of God is revealed in heaven against all unrighteousness and all ungodliness of man who hold the truth in unrighteousness. God’s wrath is against sin, God is angry with sin. He doesn’t like sin and it must be punished. And of course in 2 Thessalonians 1 we read 7) “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord shall be revealed from heaven [with his mighty angels,] 8)In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Thessalonians 9 and 10 there about it says “…and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10) And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.” There is a wrath of God that will be poured out upon this earth because of man’s sin. It was once poured out in the flood you remember? God became so angry that he couldn’t take it anymore. Man’s thoughts were evil continually and he sent a flood. One man found grace in his sight. It doesn’t mean that Noah was without sin. All have sinned, but he found grace in God’s sight or none of us would be here. So the judgment of God is going to be poured out upon this earth. Peter tells us II Peter 3 that the world that then was being destroyed by water perished. So the world that now is, is held in store unto fire. It’s going to be destroyed by fire. So what Paul is saying, you know the fact that Christ died for our sins and paid the penalty and we’re saved. We have the promise of eternal life. His life, he is at the Father’s right hand making intercession for us. He’s our advocate and He repeatedly; I suppose reminds the Father, although the Father doesn’t need to be reminded. It’s just the fact that he is there in a resurrected, glorified body. The throne of God will always be the throne of God and of the Lamb, so there will be a continue remembrance of Him before God that the penalty was paid for our sins by Christ and all those who put their faith in Him are sheltered by His blood as the Israelites where sheltered by the blood of the Passover lambs. So we, having been declared righteous through His blood, so much more are we saved through Him now.
Tom:
Yes, and through Him means that Jesus took the wrath of God in our place.
Dave:
Yes and He ever lives to make intercession for us it says.
Tom:
Verse 10: “For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.” That is awesome, awesome! I mean not only what Christ did for us, but what He then has for us.
Dave:
Yes, Jesus told His disciples that because I live, you will live also. Buddha never said anything like that. Buddha’s dead. They go and visit the grave of Buddha. You want to find the grave of Jesus? It’s empty and Jesus ever lives to make intercession for us. In Colossians 3 Paul says since you then are risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above not on things on this earth for you are dead. Your life is hid with Christ in God. The life that we have is in God when Christ who is your life so the very life that I have is the life of Christ. It’s resurrection life and resurrection life is only for dead people. You have to acknowledge that when Christ took your place, the penalty that he accepted from God was the penalty that I deserved. That’s death. So I have died with Christ. Paul said I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ lives in me. So having been reconciled by His death, much more, the fact that he was raised from the dead proves that His sacrifice was accepted and now He has come to live His life in each of us. In fact, Christ in you is the hope of glory and he is our very life. Tom, it is so wonderful. It is nothing like Hinduism, Buddhism, Confucianism, you name it, this is absolutely unique and this is what God has done through Christ.
Tom:
I think of John 10:10 and Jesus saying I have come that people may have life and have it more abundantly.
Dave:
Amen.
Tom:
He paid for it and he offers it to us as a free gift if we are willing.
Dave:
And He maintains it. Praise God.
Gary:
We hope you have enjoyed this special edition of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. And now to tell you more about our ministry, here’s TBC Executive Director Tom McMahon:
The name, The Berean Call is taken from the Book of Acts, chapter 17, verses 10 and 11, where we find the apostle Paul entering the synagogue in the Greek city of Berea after he had just come from Thessalonica. To these Bereans he preached that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah sent from God. They were commended for being noble, or fair-minded not only for their willingness to hear what Paul had to say about the matter, but more specifically because they searched the scriptures daily to find out whether or not what the apostle was saying was found in God’s Word. That’s what we hope to encourage through this ministry. Our mission is to alert believers in Christ to unbiblical teachings and practices impacting the church. Our prayer is that we can be used of God to stimulate Christians to look to the Bible alone as their rule of faith, authority and practice in living lives pleasing to our Lord and Savior.
Gary:
In addition to this radio program we publish a monthly newsletter which we make available free of charge. We also produce and distribute a wide variety of teaching materials, including books in print, e-book and audio book formats, CD’s, DVD’s and other items to encourage the serious study of God’s Word. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 800-937-6638, that’s 800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of today’s broadcast on compact disk ask for Program #1509, and be sure to mention the call letters of this station. Get a pen or pencil ready; we’ll repeat our contact information in just a moment. Next week, we’ll begin a new revisit to our 2000 programs based on Dave’s book: An Urgent Call to a Serious Faith, and “Is Death the End of Existence?” In Religion in the News, “Can Getting Drunk Get You in Touch with God,” we’ll take a look at that story and address the question: Are Your Hymns Politically Correct? We hope you can join us. If you have questions or comments about this program we urge you to contact our offices. Search the Scriptures Daily Radio Ministry is made possible by God’s grace, your prayers and your financial support. I’m Gary Carmichael, and for Dave, Tom and everyone here at The Berean Call, I would like to thank you for tuning in and invite you to join us again next week. In the meantime, if you desire to know God’s truth, search the scriptures daily. For more information about The Berean Call contact us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 1-800-937-6638, that’s 1-800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org.
Gary:
You are listening to a special presentation of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. We turn now to our final segment:
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
We return once again to 2000 with Dave and Tom.
Tom:
The gospel, as I believe we’ve been demonstrating by discussing it for the past, (Dave it’s been a half year of programs) is a topic that’s so splendid, so rich in meaning that we haven’t come close to covering it. Yet it’s so simple, so uncontrived that even a young child can grasp it and have eternal life through receiving it. Even so Dave, when we or anyone else discusses the gospel, it doesn’t take much for a controversy to get underway. I’m thinking about a particular situation where you wrote a booklet entitled: The Non-Negotiable Gospel and someone wrote to you objecting to the fact that they could not find repentance in its pages. Your reply caused a flood of mail disagreeing with you. Now what could be so controversial about your viewpoint on repentance?
Dave:
Well, Tom, I don’t know. Sometimes you can become almost a little bit discouraged, if that were possible, because no matter how you try to clarify things—people have certain ideas and when they have once gotten that idea in their head that I am against repentance, which I am not, I believe in repentance, but when they once get that idea in their head, there’s nothing you can do to change it. Now all I said—
Tom:
Well, let’s lay it out. Let’s explain to people how this fits in, because it is an idea that would be easy to go astray.
Dave:
Right. The idea that we get from people who have written to us and so forth is if you do not use the word repentance in your presentation of the gospel, this is not the gospel. And all I tried to say was then I guess Jesus did not give the gospel to Nicodemus. We always turn people to John 3: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in him (whosoever repents and believeth in him?). It doesn’t say that. Whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life and we turn to John 3 because there Jesus is laying out conditions for salvation. He’s declaring very clearly that you’ve got to be born again and as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness the son of man must be lifted up and so forth, but he doesn’t use the word repentance. So—
Tom:
But what does repentance mean? I mean what are we talking about here? He doesn’t use the word, but it’s there! Nicodemus has to repent.
Dave:
Well Tom let me finish with this now.
Tom:
Okay, go for it Dave.
Dave:
We don’t have the word there. And Paul says in Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth….” So you are saved through the gospel. Go to 1 Corinthians 15 and he tells you what the gospel is. He says this is the gospel that I preached unto you, by which you are saved, wherein you stand and so forth. How that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures, that He was buried, that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Now again, you don’t find the word “repentance” and that was the original objection was that in the little booklet that I wrote: The Non-Negotiable Gospel, the word repentance wasn’t in there, but I think the idea of repentance—
Tom:
Well what are some of the ideas—there’s more than one idea about it.
Dave:
The idea is inherent within the gospel. In other words, when I believed that Christ died for my sins and I turned to Him as my Savior, surely I am repenting of being a sinner, I am repenting of having rebelled against Him and I am acknowledging that when He took my place, he had to suffer the judgment of almighty God. When I turn to Christ, I am turning from all my sin and from myself and I am turning to Him. So without using the word repentance certainly that is understood. But Tom you’ve got a lot you want to contribute on this, so let me keep quiet for a bit.
Tom:
No, Dave I don’t want you to keep quiet, but there are some aspects of repentance that I think— this is why we are getting so much mail, because it confuses people. You just identified, in effect defined repentance as turning—turning from us to Christ. Turning from our life to the life Christ has—from what we couldn’t do—to what He can do and did do. But Dave, we have a scripture that confuses it a little bit. Judas repented but he didn’t turn to Christ. See there is another sense of the word that confuses people. What does it mean that Judas repented and why doesn’t that fit into this?
Dave:
Well, I guess Judas repented of the consequences that he brought upon himself, you know.
Tom:
Right.
Dave:
His heart, I don’t believe had changed apparently, but when I turn to Christ I’m in effect, I’m repenting. For example: of the very idea that by my efforts I could please God or I could earn my salvation—when I’m turning to Christ and I’m putting my faith in Him and I’m believing the gospel, I am relinquishing everything. I am relinquishing all claim to my own righteousness. I am acknowledging that I am a sinner—I wouldn’t be believing in Christ if I were not acknowledging that I am a sinner and that I am sorry for my sin. How could I possibly thank Him for dying in my place without being repentant for the sins that nailed Him there. It is because of my sins that Christ died. So Paul says this is the gospel how that Christi died for our sins. I believe that. Am I not repenting of my sin and of the fact that it’s my sin that nailed Him there? So I think we have a little problem here with those who sometimes—I can impose my views upon someone to such an extent that I’m being unreasonable and I am not recognizing that the other person is perhaps saying the same thing but in different words.
Tom:
Yes, but there can also be distinctions, for example one concern that we have with regard to repentance is that some people see that as a precondition for salvation. Lord, I’m never going to do this again and I reject all that I’ve done and I am going to go out and live a good life and then I come to you. For example as you know and probably many of our listeners, I am a former Catholic. For Catholics the idea of repentance is not the same idea. The idea I had then is not the idea I have now as an evangelical. Then it was penitence. There were certain things that you had to do. As a matter of fact, in Catholicism the definition really comes from the Latin word: vulgate. The Latin word can be translated very easily as penitence. Expiation for sins—doing certain things before salvation can be gained. So there is confusion that way.
Dave:
Yes, and Tom that is one of the problems or one of our concerns. There is no work that I can do; there is no change that I can make in my life that will clean me up and make me acceptable to God. Some people would get that idea from the word repentance. Now you must repent. Well that means I’ve got to clean up my act, I’ve got to turn from all my sin. I am an alcoholic and I just can’t lick this thing and somehow I’ve got to turn away from that. When you turn to Christ and you put your faith in Him, this is what the Bible asks: “To him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifies the ungodly—his faith is counted for righteousness.
Tom:
Dave that has to be tied in with an understanding of Mark 1:15 : “…Repent ye and believe the gospel.” That’s what you are talking about. There has to be harmony between those two verses or you’ve got them conflicting with one another.
Dave:
Right and all I am trying to say is when I believe the gospel I am repenting. Because the gospel—what does it say to me? It tells me I am a sinner, tells me I am hopeless, unworthy, a wretch—that there is nothing I can do, I cannot please God, I cannot earn eternal life, salvation is a gift of God. It’s not by works of righteousness that we’ve done, but by his mercy he saves us. So when I turn to Christ, I am repenting, I am in repentance even though I don’t use the exact word, but that is what has happened in my heart. And when I come to Him and believe in Him, He does the work in my heart. I am born of the spirit of God, I am born again, I become a new creature in Christ Jesus, old things have passed away, all things are become new and the gospel is such good news Tom! It is so wonderful that all I have to do—of course there are objections from all the cultists—the Watchtower Bible Tract Society would say oh well then you believe all you have to do is believe and now you can live whatever life you want and so forth. No! If I am made a new creature in Christ Jesus, then He has become my life and He lives His life in me. He’s the one who changes me and it’s not by gritting my teeth and vowing to live a new life. It’s not by the works of the flesh as Paul said to the Galatians: “Having begun in the Spirit are you now perfected in the flesh?” Paul said “I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ has come to live in me.” So this is the wonderful promise of the gospel to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness and Tom you know as a Catholic, you were under a burden to do all kinds of works, to engage in the sacraments and so forth. That really kept you from Christ, because you couldn’t believe that salvation was a free gift.
Tom:
Correct, and Dave just to sum up what we have been saying here—it’s a turning to Christ and my life is going to be transformed—the works, just as you have eluded to—the things that people say well you ought to do this as a Christian—we can now do, because we have Christ in our life and he enables us to do it. That’s the life in Christ.
Dave:
Amen, amen.
Gary:
We hope you have enjoyed this special edition of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. And now to tell you more about our ministry, here’s TBC Executive Director Tom McMahon:
The name, The Berean Call is taken from the Book of Acts, chapter 17, verses 10 and 11, where we find the apostle Paul entering the synagogue in the Greek city of Berea after he had just come from Thessalonica. To these Bereans he preached that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah sent from God. They were commended for being noble, or fair-minded not only for their willingness to hear what Paul had to say about the matter, but more specifically because they searched the scriptures daily to find out whether or not what the apostle was saying was found in God’s Word. That’s what we hope to encourage through this ministry. Our prayer is that we can be used of God to stimulate Christians to look to the Bible alone as their rule of faith, authority and practice in living lives pleasing to our Lord and Savior.
Gary:
In addition to this radio program we publish a monthly newsletter which we make available free of charge. We also produce and distribute a wide variety of teaching materials, including books in print, e-book and audio book formats, CD’s, DVD’s and other items to encourage the serious study of God’s Word. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 800-937-6638, that’s 800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of today’s broadcast on compact disk ask for Program #1409, and be sure to mention the call letters of this station. Get a pen or pencil ready; we’ll repeat our contact information in just a moment. Next week, we’ll continue our revisit to our 2000 programs based on Dave’s book: Occult Invasion, and “The Coming World Religion.” In Religion in the News, “The Highly Criminal and Highly Religious U.S.A.,” we’ll take a look at that story and address the question: “Are We for Israel or Palestine?” We hope you can tune in. If you have questions or comments about this program we urge you to contact our offices. Search the Scriptures Daily Radio Ministry is made possible by God’s grace, your prayers and your financial support. I’m Gary Carmichael, and for Dave, Tom and everyone here at The Berean Call, I would like to thank you for joining us and invite you to tune in again next week. Until then, if you desire to know God’s truth, search the scriptures daily. For more information about The Berean Call contact us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 1-800-937-6638, that’s 1-800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org.
Gary:
You are listening to a special presentation of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. Now our final segment:
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
We return once again to 2000 with Dave and Tom.
Tom:
In our on going review of the gospel, we noted last week that while there are wondrous blessings connected with the salvation which Christ alone provides, there are both conditions and consequences. John 3:16, 3:18, 3:36 tell us that those who will not believe in Jesus will
perish, are condemned already, will not see life and will suffer the wrath of God. Jesus himself gives many descriptions of the consequences of rejecting God’s salvation. Being cast into outer darkness, into a fiery furnace, a lake of fire, an everlasting fire where there will be weeping, gnashing of teeth unto everlasting destruction. Now those are not teachings of Jesus that are promoted in many Christian circles today. But they are indeed his teachings. Dave, they hardly indicate that God is going to unconditionally accept everyone into heaven.
Nevertheless, the Scriptures tell us that it is His desire that all receive His salvation.
Dave:
Tom it is so amazing that God loves us and you mentioned John 3:16. You were giving the perishing side of it, but John 3:16 begins as most everyone listening probably knows—that’s the first verse you learn in Sunday school. For God so loved the world and it’s because of God’s love that Christ died and it’s because of God’s love that He wants all men to come to the knowledge of the truth and He’s not willing that any should perish. So we have to keep emphasizing that—
Tom:
Dave there are so many scriptures that reveal God’s heart. Isaiah 45:22 “Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God and there is none else.” Ezekiel 18:23 “Have I any pleasure at all that the wicked should die? saith the Lord God: and not that he should return from his ways, and live?”
Dave:
So we need to emphasis that salvation has been provided by God. This is not the impersonal law of karma that turns you into a bug or something, you know. This is the God who created us. We rebelled against Him and nevertheless He still loved us—still loves us. So God himself through the virgin birth became a man, came to this earth where, suffered, was hated, mocked, persecuted, nailed to a cross, and He did it for us in our place, not only did He take our hatred and mistreatment and mocking—and you know sometimes Tom, I think the mocking would be the hardest thing to take, you know if you were mocked, you are accused, falsely accused and you know you are not guilty of it—to not speak out? In defense—
Tom:
Dave, this is the Creator of the Universe—I mean we can’t even fathom—
Dave:
Right, and He could have wiped us out and yet He takes all these false accusations because He took our place! And we deserved it. But then He takes the judgment that His own infinite judgment required against sin. What that is Tom, I can’t even imagine. We would suffer for eternity separated from Him because God’s justice is infinite the penalty must also be infinite. Christ took that infinite penalty, the horror of it and now we are forgiven if we will accept His forgiveness. And yet if we don’t the consequences are very serious. That is why He suffered because He the consequences are serious and those who refused to accept His suffering in their place will have to endure that forever. Tom, I can’t fathom why anyone would reject Christ. Is it pride? We don’t want to admit that we are sinners? We don’t want to admit that He took our place? He had to accept the judgment of God that we deserve? We don’t want to accept the free gift from God? We want to do something? We don’t want to be indebted to Him? Or we want to show that we can live up to—you know, often I think Tom that our repentance even of our sins is not genuine repentance. We get on our knees and let’s say that I got angry with my wife and said something that I shouldn’t have said which by the grace of God, never happens. I mean I couldn’t even remember when it happened, but let’s say that I did that. I get on my knees and I say “Oh God I am sorry, I blew up and I said some things that I shouldn’t have said—that’s not repentance Tom. I wouldn’t have said that had I not been disobedient and rebellious in my heart. If I had been walking with the Lord; if Christi had really been my life, my love, my joy and living His life through me as He is supposed to, I wouldn’t have blown up at my wife and said these bad things. So, but I haven’t confessed that. In other words, I hope people are understanding what I am trying to say. I’ve confessed the symptoms, I haven’t confessed the disease. Basically what I’ve said [is] oh God I blew it, but give me another chance and I’ll show you that I am not really so bad, I’ll do better next time. No, I need to confess Lord I have turned away from you and self was on the throne and I was living for self in control of my life and I have forgotten you and your love and grace and you are not really living through me as you should be because I had taken the throne of my life and was living for self. That’s what I need to confess; instead I confess the symptoms, but anyway—
Tom:
For those out there that so that they don’t misunderstand— we are talking about our relationship with Christ, walking in obedience to Him, to do His will and His pleasure, not for—
Dave:
These are Christians—
Tom:
Right, not for salvation, not confessing sins, thinking that the slate is going to be wiped clean and then I am going to be able to get into heaven. This is not what we are talking about.
Dave:
And as far as confessing sins for salvation, I don’t even know— When I come to Christ, how old am I?—15, 30, 45, 60 you know, different people come—I couldn’t even remember every sin that I’ve committed. Christ has paid the penalty for my sins. Forgetting those things that are behind, reaching forth unto that which is before. I’ve become a new creature in Christ Jesus and my past whatever it is and my future sins whatever they may be as well, by God’s grace. As Paul says “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Oh well now I can live any way that I want to because now I am saved and it’s all covered by the blood of Jesus. He’s paid the penalty for it so I can just do whatever I want—. That is not what the Bible teaches and it is not the attitude of someone who has truly been born again. But we do fall into sin, so—we don’t have to—so John writes in 1 John 2—“These things write I unto you that you sin not and if (not when) if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father Jesus Christ the righteous. He is the propitiation for our sins and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. So for those who have not come to Christ He is the propitiation that is the satisfaction of God’s justice for everything that they have ever done or will ever do, but He also for the Christian—it’s wonderful to know—that if I fall into sin—it doesn’t limit it, it doesn’t say—whatever it is that only up to a certain degree of sin or certain amount and so forth, if any man sin we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. This is the God of love, the God who doesn’t want anyone to perish. Tom I often think I don’t tell God often enough “Lord, I love you.” Tell Jesus, Lord Jesus I love you. Thank you for dying for my sins. We need to be doing that more frequently, all day long and that in itself will keep us from straying away from Him.
Tom:
For someone you love, I mean really love them to do something that displeases them, well if your heart is there, it is very difficult in the face of that to reject that person if you say you love them.
Dave:
If I can just quickly in a few seconds tell you: Ruth and I (you know my dear wife Ruth), we met at UCLA and we’ve been married for 50 years coming up here soon. I remember when we were engaged I remember one night I was visiting her where she was staying and there was a wall between us. I didn’t know—something was wrong! How had I offended her? I mean she’s getting weepy and I don’t know what I did wrong. Finally, it come out that it is her birthday and I had not given her a birthday card even. Well in our family we didn’t pay much attention to birthdays and I don’t even know if I knew it was her birthday, but I can tell you—this was at UCLA—(you know it) and up in the hills there, I broke all records running into Westwood Village to get a birthday card and a birthday gift for her. I ran on the wings of love because I loved her and I didn’t want to offend her and that’s what you are trying to say. If we really love the Lord and we are walking in that love relationship with Him it would be pretty hard for us to do something that would displease Him.
Gary:
We hope you have enjoyed this special edition of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. The Apostle John in Revelation 17 describes in detail characteristics of a beast which comes in the last days. Virtually all attention these days is focused on the coming Antichrist. But he is only half the story. Many are amazed to discover that same passage reveals another mysterious character at the heart of prophecy—a woman who rides the beast. Who is this woman? John depicts her as a false church which will be a partner of the Antichrist. Tradition says she is connected with the Church of Rome, but isn’t such a view outdated? After all, today’s Vatican is eager to join hands with Protestants world wide. We are told the Catholic Church has changed. Or has it? In A Woman Rides the Beast, prophecy expert Dave Hunt sifts through biblical truth and global events to present a well defined portrait of this woman and her powerful place in the Antichrist’s future empire. Eight remarkable clues in Revelation prove the woman’s identity beyond any reasonable doubt. Was John describing the Church of Rome? To answer this question, Dave has spent years in historical research primarily from Catholic sources and provides indisputable documentation. Video host, author and lecturer, Dave Hunt: There are over 500 pages and about 800 footnotes I think of documentation that will surprise perhaps even Catholics as well as non-Catholics as to the official teaching and practices of the Roman Catholic Church, its history, what it really has stood for, and stands for today. I’m not making it up; I think it is worthwhile, I think it is something you need to read. A Woman Rides the Beast, the book and the video are available from The Berean Call. Information on how to order in just a moment.
In addition to this radio program we publish a monthly newsletter which we make available free of charge. We also produce and distribute a wide variety of teaching materials, including books in print, e-book and audio book formats, CD’s, DVD’s and other items to encourage the serious study of God’s Word. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 800-937-6638, that’s 800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of today’s broadcast on compact disk ask for Program #1309, and be sure to mention the call letters of this station. Get a pen or pencil ready; we’ll repeat our contact information in just a moment. Next week, we’ll continue our revisit to our 2000 series of programs based on Dave’s book: Occult Invasion, and “Getting Rid of Those Annoying Generational Curses.” In Religion in the News, “Sisterly Help from Dr. Brothers,” we’ll take a look at that story and address the question: “Is Being Biblically Correct Politically Incorrect?” We hope you can join us. If you have questions or comments about this program we urge you to contact our offices. Search the Scriptures Daily Radio Ministry is made possible by God’s grace, your prayers and your financial support. I’m Gary Carmichael, and for Dave, Tom and everyone here at The Berean Call, I would like to thank you for tuning in and invite you to join us again next week. Until then, if you desire to know God’s truth, search the scriptures daily. You’ve been listening to Search the Scriptures Daily a radio ministry of The Berean Call. For more information about The Berean Call contact us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 1-800-937-6638, that’s 1-800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. Join us again next week for Search the Scriptures Daily featuring Dave Hunt and T.A. McMahon.
Gary:
You are listening to a special presentation of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. Now our final segment:
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
We return once again to 2000 with Dave and Tom.
Tom:
In this segment of our program we are continuing on with addressing so many aspects of the gospel. Dave as we have said before it is such a profound subject and such a great encouragement—every aspect of it. Last week we addressed life—what happens when you’re saved, when you receive the gospel, you have life and you have it more abundantly. But there’s a down side to rejecting the gospel. So I want to read a verse that probably all of us know: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.” Now Dave, there are some terms in here—perish, condemned—I’ll read John 3:36: “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.” Now here’s another aspect- God’s wrath for those who do not receive the gospel.
Dave:
Tom it is something that isn’t preached very often. It is because it’s not popular. But Paul said therefore knowing the terror of the Lord we persuade men, 2 Corinthians 5. Well can’t God just—I mean God is so loving and kind—can’t he just forgive everybody? If we are sincere and if our good deeds outweigh our bad then everything is going to be okay. Well that’s like saying look I got a ticket last week but you know I’ve been a pretty good person anyway, I don’t think they are really going to make me pay the fine or it could be something more serious than that. It’s a matter of justice. We’ve talked about this in the past. We have offended—well more than offended—we have broken God’s laws. God is the creator of this universe. He makes the rules and He said the soul that sinneth it must die. He said that there are consequences for rebelling—actually it’s rebellion Tom. Even to reject the gospel is rebellion. God loves us so much. It’s not like the impersonal law of karma, reincarnation into an ant or a tree or whatever. But the God of the Bible loved us so much that He came to this earth and became one of us—He became a man, because He had to become a man in order to represent us before His court of justice and when He took our place He was condemned. You know we’ve talked about it. He pleaded with the Father in the Garden—if it’s possible, don’t make me go through this and the Father said no this is the only way. So Christ literally became our representative before the court of his own innocent justice and there He was condemned by God’s justice. He paid the penalty—this is what’s involved. So those who reject the penalty. I mean John 3:16 one of the favorite verses, most Sunday school kids learn it—should not perish. If you believe in Him then you won’t perish. Well then, the implication is very strong—if you don’t believe in Him you will perish. And of course, you quoted John 3:36 “…shall not see life,” or John 5:24: “…He that hears my word and believes on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life.” Now if you don’t pass from death to life by believing the gospel, putting your faith in Christ then you are still under the penalty of God’s judgment.
Tom:
Right, and Dave there are consequences. As I said, we’ve been delighting in talking about how wonderful God’s salvation is. But there are consequences for those who reject it. I’ll read 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9: “And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;…” Now Dave, you didn’t make that up, I’m not making it up. This is what God’s Word says and people have to know what the scriptures teach about this. There are consequences.
Dave:
God is holy, the Bible tells us, and sin must be punished. He loves us so much that He provided a way of escape. But if we persist in our rebellion against God and I think the worst rebellion possible is rejecting the pardon—He offers pardon for everyone! But He only offers pardon to everyone who admits they’re guilty—they need pardon and who admit they can’t pay God off by their good works or whatever and now to reject His gift or well, it’s a rejection if you offer anything. This is a gift. You can’t earn it and so forth. We’ve gone over that many times. But this is rebellion Tom and the writer to Hebrews warns us it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God. I can tell you I’m 20 years older thereabouts probably and Tom the older I get the more I realize it’s a slippery slope. This life comes to an end I hope in the Rapture, but if not I am going to be facing God and I often say Lord I’m afraid—not that I’m afraid for my salvation, but it is so awesome to be in the presence of God—the God who created this universe infinite in power and wisdom and so forth to be in His presence, but we can’t even be in His presence if we reject the pardon, the offer. Jesus said I am the way, I am the door, by me you enter in to eternal life the prince of God, you reject that you are lost forever and John 3:36 “—the wrath of God abides on him and it’s an awful thought, but it’s true.
Tom:
You know again, we have an idea of Jesus, the popular idea—it all seems to be very positive, but Jesus himself spoke more about what takes place outside the presence of God. I mean it will be a fearful thing, but it will be a wonderfully fearful thing to be in the presence of God. But to be outside that, the Scriptures—Matthew for example. Verse after verse talks about wailing and gnashing of teeth; cast into hellfire and this was not originally made for mankind. The scriptures say this was prepared for the devil and his angels—those who had the ultimate experience, the ultimate environment in the very presence of God and they rejected that. What else could it be for them, but it ought not to be for us.
Dave:
But those who rebel against God and reject the pardon He’s offered they are in fact, the followers of Satan therefore they will follow him into that Lake of Fire, which you quoted was prepared for the devil and his angels. That’s where his followers end up as well. I mean it’s a horrible thing to talk about—
Tom:
They won’t be torturing humans down there, they will have their own troubles.
Dave:
Right. It’s a horrible thing to talk about Tom, but again we have to face the facts and this is what God says and furthermore, it’s only reasonable, it’s logical. You’ve got some pretty horrible consequences. At 37,000 feet you step out of an airplane, you say well birds can fly, why can’t I? Grandma talked about this law of gravity but I don’t believe that, you know. Well you find out granny was right, there is a Law of Gravity. Even to violate the physical laws there are serious consequences and you don’t get any second chance when you step out of an airplane or off the top of a building. Because this is what happens and surely there would be even more stringent you would say requirements to be in God’s presence and to share in His holiness and His perfection, His joy forever. That’s not just for anybody and Jesus as you said talked more about Hell, He talked more about people who are outside of this more than anyone else. It’s a solemn thought but we needn’t be worried about going to Hell because He offers pardon.
Tom:
Dave that’s the thing that in one sense grieves me because people say well how can a good God let something like that happen? How could He even prepare a place for the devil and his angels for their rebellion? How could a good God do that? On the other hand, my response normally is—well wait a minute, not only is God just and fair, but He sent His Son to die for us!
Dave:
Amen, amen! Tom, somebody just reminded me the other day of an illustration I used to use years ago. Here’s a—well you would like because you are a fisherman. Here’s a fish swimming in a beautiful river and it looks out on the bank and it sees a man sitting up there on a chair smoking a cigar. He’s got his legs crossed and he’s got a fishing pole and the fish looks up and says, “Man now that’s really living!” So it jumps out, wriggles its way up onto a chair, tries to cross its fins, tries to pick up a fishing pole and light up a cigar while its gills are going you know, and it’s gasping and falls over and dies, flopping around dying in gravel and dirt and somebody walks by and says, “what kind of a good God would create a fish to suffer like that?” No, God did not create the fish to suffer like that. He created the fish to swim in that beautiful ocean, or the river, or lake, or wherever it is. The problem was it got out of what God intended for it and that is man’s problem. God loves man and he put him in a perfect Garden and man rebelled against God and he wanted to take his own way. And there are serious consequences and hell is really a continuation. You are going to be alone, you’ve taken your own way, you’ve rejected God and these are the consequences that there are. And Jesus as you said paid the penalty and there is pardon, forgiveness and eternal life offered for everyone who will believe in Him.
Tom:
Amen!
Gary:
We hope you have enjoyed this special edition of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. And now to tell you more about our ministry, here’s TBC Executive Director Tom McMahon:
The name, The Berean Call is taken from the Book of Acts, chapter 17, verses 10 and 11, where we find the apostle Paul entering the synagogue in the Greek city of Berea after he had just come from Thessalonica. To these Bereans he preached that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah sent from God. They were commended for being noble, or fair-minded not only for their willingness to hear what Paul had to say about the matter, but more specifically because they searched the scriptures daily to find out whether or not what the apostle was saying was found in God’s Word. That’s what we hope to encourage through this ministry. Our prayer is that we can be used of God to stimulate Christians to look to the Bible alone as their rule of faith, authority and practice in living lives pleasing to our Lord and Savior.
Gary:
In addition to this radio program we publish a monthly newsletter which we make available free of charge. We also produce and distribute a wide variety of teaching materials, including books in print, e-book and audio book formats, CD’s, DVD’s and other items to encourage the serious study of God’s Word. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 800-937-6638, that’s 800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of today’s broadcast on compact disk ask for Program #1209. Get a pen or pencil ready; we’ll repeat our contact information in just a moment. Next week, we’ll continue our revisit to our 2000 series of programs based on Dave’s book: Occult Invasion, and “The In-Roads of Spiritual Mapping.” In Religion in the News, “Whose Pastor is in Your Pulpit,” we’ll take a look at that story and address the question: “Should We Forget about Healing Our Memories?” We hope you can tune in. If you have questions or comments about this program we urge you to contact our offices. Search the Scriptures Daily Radio Ministry is made possible by God’s grace, your prayers and your financial support. I’m Gary Carmichael, and for Dave, Tom and everyone here at The Berean Call, I would like to thank you for joining us and invite you to tune in again next week. Until then, if you desire to know God’s truth, search the scriptures daily. For more information about The Berean Call contact us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 1-800-937-6638, that’s 1-800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org.
Gary:
You are listening to a special presentation of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. Now our final segment:
UNDERSTANDING THE SCRIPTURES
We return once again to 2000 with Dave and Tom.
Tom:
In this part of our program we have been talking about the gospel and Dave we’ll never run out of things to say about it. It is such a profoundly wonderful subject, but we have been dealing with some aspects of the gospel with regard to believing and how one is saved and so on, but today I would like to talk about the benefits of salvation. Jesus said in John 10:10 “…I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” But the word that I want to key in on today is life. Life in Christ, Colossians 3:4 “When Christ who is our life shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.” But Christ is our life and it is an abundant life. What does that mean “life in Christ”?
Dave:
Well the scripture says we are dead in trespasses and sins. Every human being is. Now how would you explain that in relation to our father Adam, our parents Adam and Eve? God created man in the image of God, Genesis 1:27 “…created he him male and female, created he them. Chapter 2 tells you how God created man out of the dust of the ground, breathed into his nostrils the breath of life [and] man became a living soul. So life comes from God. It’s not something that as the atheists and the evolutionists would try to say rises spontaneously from matter when the molecules become complex enough. I mean they can’t even begin to explain that. So human life comes from God and I believe that all life comes from God, but man being made in the image of God has a form of life, a kind, I don’t even know the words to express it, because we can’t even explain what life is. But the life that animated, you could say, Adam and Eve, was God himself, his Holy Spirit living within their spirit. I believe the Bible teaches man is body, soul and spirit. I like the way Andrew Murray put it many years ago. The body is the seat of sense consciousness, the soul is the center of self-consciousness, and the spirit is the center of God-consciousness. In other words, it was in the spirit that the spirit of God dwelt and it is through the spirit that man knows God—to know God and experience His life. Now obviously then, when Adam and Eve rebelled they disobeyed God and they were cast out of the Garden. They lost that fellowship with God [and] the spirit of God left the spirit of man and there was a separation between God and man and this is why Paul in 2 Corinthians 5 says that we have been given the ministry of reconciliation and that God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself. This is through the gospel and we find that reconciliation first of all is in Jesus Christ who is God who through the virgin birth became a man. Now he didn’t cease to be God and he never ceased to be man. He is the one and only God-man. So in Jesus Christ, God and man have been brought together in a way that is even superior to what it was with Adam although Jesus is called the second man and the last Adam. Now when Christ comes to live in us we are born of the Holy Spirit, the spirit of God but the spirit of God is the spirit of Christ because Jesus is God. So now when the spirit of Christ comes to live within us we have a new life. It is not even a restoration of what was lost in Adam, but we have something even better. Because Adam and Eve experienced God walking in the cool of the evening coming to them and they dwelt in the Garden. No, but the spirit of God left them and they were cast out of the Garden. We are told that He that indwells us shall never leave us nor forsake us. There is a new indwelling of the Spirit. In fact Jesus in John 7 on that last day of the great day of the feast Jesus stood and cried “If any man thirst let him come unto me and drink and out of his innermost being will flow rivers of living water.” And then John who is writing it in his gospel gives this commentary: He says, “This spake he of the Spirit which they that believed on him should receive for the Holy Spirit was not yet given because Christ had not yet been glorified. Now although the Holy Spirit came upon, and I presume even could indwell the saints in the Old Testament like it did David and Abraham, but yet David prayed in Psalm 51 “Take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” But now we have a new presence of God on this earth. The Holy Spirit within the believer since the day of Pentecost, never to leave us or forsake us and so Christ has become our very life. Now this is a life that must be lived by faith. I am still in this old body of sin and there is a conflict the scripture says between the flesh and the spirit. Not between the flesh and my spirit but between the flesh and the Spirit of God dwelling within. Now my spirit has been brought to life by faith in Christ. Now I am to walk in faith, so Colossians 2:6 says “As you have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him.” Well how did I receive Him? I received Him as helpless, hopeless, wretched sinner worthy of Hell, who couldn’t save himself. Now that Christ is living in me, now I have to walk in that way too. I am still a wretched, hopeless sinner, but I have been saved by God’s grace.
Tom:
And you have an active vehicle of communication with Him. You have a spirit now that has been born-again.
Dave:
Well He’s living in my spirit now. He’s indwelling me, but I still have the power of choice, I still have this body. Paul said “Oh wretched man that I am! (this is Romans 7:24) who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ….” Ultimately we have deliverance at the resurrection when we have new bodies of glory like His body, but in the meantime I walk by faith not by sight so that really the Christian life is not a struggle for me in my own strength to overcome temptations, grit my teeth and somehow live a sanctified, self-denying, sober and sad Christian life, but it is allowing Christ to live in me. So the secret of the Christian life is Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” So this is the Christian life now and it’s something new and it’s wonderful and I think Tom you could remember, I can remember, when I was saved, when I opened my life to Christ over 60 years ago now, there was a transformation. There was something new within and to be led of the Spirit of God and to let the Spirit guide our lives in so many wonderful ways is thrilling.
Tom:
You know for some people it’s very dramatic, but for others it’s just a solid development. You know I am thinking about some of the—well we started with John 10:10 and Jesus said He came that we might have a more abundant life.
Dave:
No, no—that we might have life—AND then that we might have it more abundantly.
Tom:
Right and have it more abundantly. But that life—you know I am thinking about Galatians 5:22: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith….
Dave:
Temperance, meekness.
Tom:
Temperance, right. Dave these are things—we were talking early about psychology and psychotherapy.
Dave:
Do I dare to say it’s not the fruit of therapy; it’s the fruit of the Spirit.
Tom:
Right.
Dave:
And it is thrilling Tom.
Tom:
Right and this is the abundant life that Christ offers for us not in Heaven some day, but right here and now.
Dave:
Yes, therefore Paul can write “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” He doesn’t say rejoice in the Lord unless you happen to be depressed; unless you can’t do it. He says in everything give thanks. He doesn’t say well unless you don’t feel like you can do it, you are under such a burden. So there is a victory in Christ. “Thanks be to God who always giveth us the victory in Christ and always causeth us to triumph. So that in prison they had been beaten with a cat-o’-nine tails, Paul and Silas are lying on their backs in the muck. They have bloody backs and in this prison cell with their feet in the stocks and they are singing praises to God. Now Tom, that’s not a—
Tom:
That’s not a positive mental attitude, Dave.
Dave:
No that’s not a positive mental attitude—
Tom:
No, that’s the reality of Christ living in them.
Dave:
Absolutely, and this is for every one of us. They didn’t need to go to the psychotherapist to somehow build up their self esteem and help them to feel good in these circumstances. They were rejoicing. In fact the early apostles-do you remember? They were beaten and then they let them out and they beat them and they said don’t preach in this name anymore? They rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ. So there is a joy—I remember Richard Wurmbrandt whom I knew very well many years ago. He was tortured for his faith, solitary confinement for many years and so forth, 14 years totally. And he has told me privately that there were times, even when he had been tortured with red hot irons and there were burning holes—I’ve seen the holes in his body, burned by these red hot irons and yet there were times when the presence of Christ was so real in his cell when he was in horrible pain that he danced for joy. So this I would say, is the abundant life. That is available to us in Christ not by our works or our efforts, but through faith in Him.
Tom:
Right, but not just for the Apostle Paul, not just Silas, not just Richard Wurmbrandt, but for everyone who is in Christ.
Dave:
Amen.
Gary:
We hope you have enjoyed this special edition of Search the Scriptures Daily, a radio ministry of The Berean Call. And now to tell you more about our ministry, here’s TBC Executive Director Tom McMahon:
The name, The Berean Call is taken from the Book of Acts, chapter 17, verses 10 and 11, where we find the apostle Paul entering the synagogue in the Greek city of Berea after he had just come from Thessalonica. To these Bereans he preached that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah sent from God. They were commended for being noble, or fair-minded not only for their willingness to hear what Paul had to say about the matter, but more specifically because they searched the scriptures daily to find out whether or not what the apostle was saying was found in God’s Word. That’s what we hope to encourage through this ministry. Our mission is to alert believers in Christ to unbiblical teachings and practices impacting the church. We want to exhort believers to give greater heed to biblical discernment and truth regarding what they are accepting as spiritual. We hope to supply those who profess to be biblical Christians with information and materials that will encourage the love of God’s truth. And finally our prayer is that we can be used of God to stimulate Christians to look to the Bible alone as their rule of faith, authority, and practice in living lives pleasing to our Lord and Savior.
Gary:
In addition to this radio program we publish a monthly newsletter which we make available free of charge. We also produce and distribute a wide variety of teaching materials, including books in print, e-book and audio book formats, CD’s, DVD’s and other items to encourage the serious study of God’s Word. For a complete list of materials, or to get a copy of today’s broadcast write to us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 800-937-6638, that’s 800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org. If you would like a copy of today’s broadcast on compact disk ask for Program #1109. Get a pen or pencil ready; we’ll repeat our contact information in just a moment. Next week, we’ll continue our revisit to our 2000 series of programs based on Dave’s book: Occult Invasion, and “The Inner Secrets of Inner Healing” In Religion in the News, “School Design the Feng-Shui Way,” we’ll take a look at that story and address the question: “Should Born-Agains Be Baptized Again?” We hope you can join us. If you have questions or comments about this program we urge you to contact our offices. Search the Scriptures Daily Radio Ministry is made possible by God’s grace, your prayers and your financial support. I’m Gary Carmichael, and for Dave, Tom and everyone here at The Berean Call, I would like to thank you for tuning in and invite you to join us again next week. Until then, if you desire to know God’s truth, search the scriptures daily. For more information about The Berean Call contact us at POB 7019, Bend, Oregon 97708, call our toll free order number 1-800-937-6638, that’s 1-800-937-6638, or visit our website at www.thebereancall.org.
