This is your chance to ask us your Bible question on Fire Away Friday

>> Bert Harper: Its Fire Away Friday on Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: This is your chance to ask us your Bible question.

>> Bert Harper: You can email your [email protected] or visit.

>> Alex McFarland: Facebook.Com exploringtheword exploring the word.

>> Bert Harper: It's Fire Away Friday on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, one of the verses that really, sort of characterizes our approach to doing this show is John 5, verse 39, where Jesus said, search the scriptures for they testify of me. Well, welcome to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland, Burt Harper here. And you're listening to the American Family Radio Network. And this is going to be a show where we answer questions. And, Bert, you and I get a lot of questions. You know, it's hard to believe, but God's, allowed you and I to write three books, each one with a hundred different questions. Well, that right there is 300 questions. And, sometimes I kind of, I look at our emails and correspondence, and, on the one hand, I think we've barely scratched the surface, but on the other hand, I rejoice in God's word, the Bible that tells us everything we need to know about salvation, truth, love, life, how to know God, how to grow in God, how to please God. Jesus was right that in the scriptures we find eternal life. And yes, John 5. 39, they testify of Christ himself, don't they?

>> Bert Harper: They really do. In the next chapter, in chapter six, Jesus gave them a hard saying about, unless you're willing to eat my flesh and drink my blood, you can't be my disciple. And it says, many walked away. And, Jesus looked to the apostles, and of course, Peter was ready to speak. And he, said, will you also go away? And Peter said, to whom would we go? You have the words of life. So, Alex, where else would we go? But the Bible, it is a sure word. It is settled in heaven, and so it will never return void, but it will go forth and accomplish all that God set it forth to do. So I think it's a wise thing for us to stick to the Bible, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen. And by the way, if you ever want to send in a question or a comment, we'd love to hear from each and every one of you. The email is wordfr.net w o r d wordfr.net and we love to hear from, people who correspond that way. Bert, you know, I have the great privilege of being on the road, and I speak somewhere just about every single weekend of the year, and a lot of people bring questions up. They'll hand me things, you know, a lot of people email things in. Also, I just. This summer was twice at the COVID the Billy Graham Training Center. Each time had about 300 people. And of those audiences, probably 85 to 90% were AFR listeners. And I thank everybody for traveling to the COVID But, may we unpack the mailbag and look at some of these questions that we've gotten, over the summer of 2025, even within the last couple of weeks, we've got a lot of questions. So, can we do that?

>> Bert Harper: Let's go to the questions and we'll see if we know the answers from the word of God. So go right ahead, Alex.

Bert says once saved, always saved is a common Christian belief

>> Alex McFarland: Well, somebody writes in and says, I've heard people say, quote, once saved, always saved, end of quote. do you believe this? How do you deal with this statement? Once saved, always saved? Bert, parse that out for us a little bit, if you would.

>> Bert Harper: Well, I think it could be clearer. I do. That I've heard that all my life. Once saved, always saved. And I do believe it. But the big issue is the first part. Are you saved? If you're saved, if you're truly born again? Because in the book of James, it talks about the demons believing, and they even tremble. So they have the knowledge of God, of Jesus, death, burial and resurrection. They know that. They even respond to it emotionally. They tremble. But the other part, mind, will and emotions, their will has not been changed. They're still following their way, doing it their thing. And a lot of people do that as well. I think there's a lot of people have some emotional experience. I believe they. Mine. They believe it. But have you surrendered all. Ah. To the Lord. He is Lord. And, Alex, let me just say that he does not become less of Lord in order to appease someone who wants the Lord over their own life. So once saved, always saved. I think the book of Romans, chapter eight, John, chapter ten. there's many scriptures that really demonstrate this and show that. So, yes, I believe it. But I do believe you could qualify it a little better. if you are saved, you're always saved.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, I agree. I really do. And, for one thing, in the New Testament book of Jude, you know, Jude is just one chapter. So we don't say Jude 1, verse 24. We basically say Jude 24. But it says this quote to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without spot or blemish, with great joy. So the keeping of our salvation, it's in Christ's hands. And Christ power, really, you know, now I want to say this. what eternal security is not. It is not a license to sin. Because, and I've had people ask me this on the road, and by the way, eternal security or whether or not you could lose your salvation is really a secondary type of doctrine. Bert, I know equally good godly, well intentioned people who believe you can lose your salvation. And I know great godly people who are insistent that you can't personally. and I say this, you know, with open heart and with fear and trembling. I do think salvation is everlasting. You know, if you have everlasting life. It's not intermittent life, you know, comes and goes. No, I think that our salvation is, is forever. But this doesn't mean, well, you know, let's go now. We can sin. I got it and I can't lose it. in fact, even the apostle Paul, I think would be very clear. I mean, if that's your posture and your position, and first John as well, I mean, if you can just sin without any conviction, then you might not have had a relationship with Jesus Christ after all.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Alex: Stay with God. Continue in the faith. There's a big word that is used continually throughout Paul's writings

Alex, let me ask you a question. just an individual. They profess Christ. They show evidence of it. They follow the Lord, believers, baptism. They do everything. But they do like Demas did, as Paul talked about him in second Timothy. having love the present world, Demas has forsaken me. Okay. If, if we would, as those of us who believe in the security of the believer, we would say, well, he was never saved in the first place. Those that would say, well, I believe he was saved, but now he apostatized, he walked away. He's lost. I want to ask you one, what's the result either way?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, lostness.

>> Bert Harper: That's the truth. And so I don't know how to say this other than this. don't make this a bigger debate. Make sure you're saved. Okay? Be secure in Christ. John said, no one is able to pluck me out of my, my hand or my Father's hand. I and my father are one we talked about in Ephesians. We're sealed by the Holy Spirit of God. So let. Just let me share with you. stay with God. Continue in the faith. There's a big word that is used continually throughout Paul's writings, John's writings, others, continue, continue in the things that I've taught you. Paul would say, so stay with God. do. Do exactly what Peter said in John 6. To whom else would we go you have the words of life, I'm going to stay with you, Jesus.

>> Alex McFarland: Ah, very good, very good.

Alex Fire: What does the Bible say about gambling? Is gambling a sin

All right. Somebody asks, what does the Bible say about gambling? Is gambling a sin?

>> Bert Harper: Alex, have you ever heard farmers, they talk about farmers. Well, they gamble every planting season. Well, in planting crop, you know, everybody wins. Now, I know prices may vary. I understand that. Prices can go up and they can go down. But, when you have a good crop and the weather's correct and right, man, everybody prospers. In gambling, there's always a loss. I would say it is without faith. So whatever is without faith is sin. You catch my, direction I'm going.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: And so far as gambling itself, there's people I know, they said, well, I've got 30, $300. That's how much I would spend if I were going to a, sporting event or a concert, I would spend that much money. I'm going to spend it on entertainment of chance, taking a chance. it's one of those areas. I think it's wise not to. It may be a little bit like alcohol. We know drunkenness, sin, right? The Bible says it. But the Bible also says you better have great wisdom when you use alcohol. I, I would say that even a greater extent with gambling. Go ahead, Alex. You may have a better answer than I and say, yes, it is because of, Go ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and I want to say this, just, I'm only speaking of my own convictions, my own, opinion here, but I, really don't think that there's any way a born again Christian can justify gambling. And I'll say this because, first of all, everything that we have is really the Lord's. We don't really own anything. We are stewards. Now, let's say you tithe and you think, well, I gave m my 10% at church. The 90% that remains is mine. Well, not really, you know, I mean, our life belongs to the Lord. And like you said, you know, I had a man say to me, he said, well, if you've ever bought any stocks, that's gambling. Well, not really, because, I mean, you know, let's say you go buy, 100 shares of Ford Motor Company or Microsoft or. I mean, yeah, there is risk in the stock market, but you're investing in a corporation that provides jobs for people. And let's say, let's say you buy stock in, you know, Ford or GM or a car company. Well, that car company is producing a good transportation is what scholars would call a good casinos and the lottery, by the way. I mean, their whole business model depends on somebody losing.

>> Bert Harper: You know, no matter what, somebody has to lose. That's right.

>> Alex McFarland: I'm going to say this, and just for what it's worth, and maybe this is an argument, from just, oh, guilt by association. maybe the most famous, gambling circumstance referenced in the Bible took place as the son of God was hanging on a cross. The soldiers gambled for his garment, throwing dice, wagering and gambling for Jesus's cloth while he hung on the cross to pay for their sin. That's in Matthew 27. And Bert, I've got Christ on Calvary, the soldiers that nailed him there, the mockery, the beating, the bleeding, and then, casting lots or throwing dice for the one object in this world that he owned while he died. That association in itself to me is a scriptural condemnation of gambling. it is not in any part of the Bible portrayed in a positive light, is it?

>> Bert Harper: It is not. And again, you're talking about there's risk. And hey, there's risk in me driving my car to work. you never know what might happen. Somebody run a four way stop. You never know. Risk is part of life. But that's different than gambling. And so we're going to answer some more questions. This is Fire Away Friday. Alex and I are on the road and unable to take phone calls, but we're still going to ask questions and give answers as best we can. Stay tuned for more of Exploring the Word on the American Family Radio Network. I want you to picture this. Her name is Kayla. She is 17, alone, terrified and pregnant, sitting in a clinic, tears blurring, thinking abortion is her only option until she was offered a free ultrasound, paid for by a hero just like you. The moment Kayla heard her baby's heartbeat, the decision was made. And today, her little baby boy, Gabriel is thriving because her preborn walked with Kayla every step of the way. Now multiply that by 38,000. That's how many babies preborn has helped save just this year. How many mothers preborn has come alongside with practical and spiritual resources to make motherhood possible. But here's the most important thing you will hear today. Their goal is to save 70,000 by the end of the year. And they can't do it without us. Every $28 provides the ultrasound the moment everything changes. Will you be the reason the next Kayla chooses life? The reason Gabriel fulfills his destiny? To donate, dial £250 and say the key word baby. That's £250, baby. Or donate [email protected] afr that's preborn.com afr welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: As we go.

>> Bert Harper: Let us make disciples.

>> Alex McFarland: As we go, let us tell the world of Christ.

Bird and Alex answer questions about the Great Commission as you go

>> Bert Harper: Welcome back to Exploring the Word, Bird and Alex here on Fire Away Friday, taking questions that has been given to Alex, and we're doing our best to answer them. But I love that song and it's really straight from the Great Commission as you go. I know it's translated go, but if you read the Greek, it's already assumed that you're going as you go. And, Alex, that means no matter where we are, no matter what we're doing, we need to live a life of purpose, of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ with our life, with our voice, and with good works. We are his workmanship created unto good works. And we need to let the people see our good works and glorify the Father who's in heaven, don't we?

>> Alex McFarland: Absolutely and always remember, really every day, we're out there as representatives of Jesus. Bert, I've been in a lot of churches where on the door, as you exit the sanctuary, it might say something like this. You are now entering the mission field.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, that's really true, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: M. It really is. And let me just share with you. Jesus said you shall be witnesses. He didn't say you, might be if you share it. No, you're a witness. if somebody takes a witness stand, there's good, bad, the best, and not so good. You want to be a good, better witness of Jesus Christ? Make sure you walk in your talk. you know, they go together that, have you ever heard this? your life speaks so loudly I can't hear what you're saying. that means somebody's life is not what it needs to be, to tell the world about Jesus. So let's live for him, speak for him and work for him.

Alex: Somebody says the Old Testament is the only true Bible

>> Alex McFarland: I've got a question here. And by the way, again, if you ever want to send a question in or you need to reach us, you can email us wordfr.net I'm going to read the question in its entirety. Somebody says a Jewish friend said that the Old Testament is the only true Bible and that the New Testament is just made up stories. What is the best response to show, its truth? That is the New Testament's truth? She seems unwilling to discuss this. Well, first of all, and before I throw it to you, Bert, for one Thing, I, commend you for wanting to share Yeshua with a Jewish person and how we love and pray for the precious Jewish people the world over. And Bert, I've been very blessed. I know quite a number of born again Jewish people and they love Jesus Messiah. but I will say this. part of what we need to allow the spirit of God to use us for is to help them understand the Jesus that they probably have never had explained. Bert, in all the times that I've had the honor of sharing Jesus with a Jewish person, I really, and even a couple of times that I've interacted with rabbis that have been to, you know, had much, much education, I really think in every chance that I've ever been in a deep heart to heart discussion with a Jewish person, they really did not know what the gospel was saying. And so that is one thing to make sure that they understand that, deity, death, resurrection, that Jesus, he fulfilled all the scriptures. He proved that he and only he in all of history could possibly be the promised Messiah. And when he died on the cross, he was the passover lamb for the human race. And so Jesus paid it. And the appropriate amount of punishment that our sins merited, Jesus suffered and endured that. And when we put our faith in Jesus, we have fulfilled the law, what we couldn't do. And Bert, it seems like in the last year, whether it's the book of Romans or now in First Timothy, and you and I have taught through Galatians, we've spent a fair amount of time unpacking the, the reality that the law of Moses shows how desperately we need a savior, that we can't keep the law. We're unable to. However, if you have a relationship with Jesus and his righteousness is imputed to you, you have fulfilled the law because we are in a relationship with the one who truly did fulfill the law, Jesus Christ himself. So step one, make sure this Jewish person really actually understands the gospel.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, let me share a story. I think that will demonstrate what you've just said. Jan and myself, we pastored a, church here in Hublot, Mississippi. I was the pastor 28 years and we would do a lot of Christmas dramas, Fourth of July, Easter dramas. We would do a lot. And so there was a lot of those. And one of the people that helped us, her mother in law was Jewish and she was going to be here and she was going to come, to the program, the drama and musical and see all and hear all. So Jan, especially with Jesus, His birth, his life and his death, his resurrection. What Jan did on the screen, we had a big screen and the scriptures that would be read and the drama that would be demonstrated was how Jesus fulfills all the prophecy cons. Just like the two on the road to Emmaus. Jesus began to show him, or those two everything, who he was out of the Old Testament scriptures. Well, Jan did this and showed how it came to be in the New Testament. Combine the Old and New Testament together. She was there, she, she heard it, she responded. Later on she'd be in the hospital and her granddaughter was there with her. And this granddaughter was able to lead this Jewish lady in her later life to the Lord Jesus Christ as Messiah and as Savior. And so again, connecting those dots, honestly, have you ever played that game where you go 1, 2 and connect the dots and all of a sudden, it's a picture. I really believe good preaching, good teaching will connect dots. It will connect the dots in the Old Testament and see how, look at this in the New Testament, I think it'll show this scripture and this is how it applies to my life here. Now connect those dots. And so I believe with all my heart that the Holy Spirit of God is always working. He's drawing them to himself. But, but let them. They say if it's the Old Testament, not the New Testament, show everything in the New Testament. It's not just stories, it is truth. And let me just share with you and I believe this and then you can respond. Alex, the Bible is the word of God. It's sharper than any two edged sword. And so whether someone believes it or not, it's still a sword.

>> Bert Harper: You catch my.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh absolutely.

>> Bert Harper: And the word of God is powerful and it is quick. It will cut. And so the word of God will not return void. So don't be afraid to use scripture. Even though somebody says, don't tell me that. Oh, that's just the Bible. It's still scripture. It's still the sword of the Lord.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Jewish person says the Old Testament is the only true Bible and the New Testament is made up

So this Jewish person says that the Old Testament is the only true Bible and the New Testament is quote, just made up stories. What is the best response to show this truth? Well, let's talk about what they are. And by the way, true Christians acknowledge that the 39 books of the Old Testament, Genesis through Malachi, yes, they absolutely are holy scripture, but so is the New Testament. Because Christ over and over Christ affirmed the old, but he made provision for the new John 14, 26 and 27. Jesus said to the disciples, he said, quote, the Holy Spirit will remind you of all things whatsoever I have told you. And Jesus told the disciples, you are my witnesses of these things. Now, regarding if the New Testament are just made up stories, even critical scholars will agree that every book of the New Testament was written before the destruction of the temple in AD 70, except the book of Revelation. The last book of the New Testament was probably written in the 90s. But here's the thing, Bert, over and over, the historical accuracy of the New Testament. For instance, in Acts 13 there's a reference to a man named Sergius Paulus. And in Acts 13:7 Luke says he was a man of great intelligence. Well, he was this first century character. but here's the thing. In the last 200 years as the discipline of archaeology has really come into its own, three different inscriptions of Sergius Paulus have been discovered. And Bert, I think about like the pool of Siloam where Jesus healed a person has been excavated and a number of other, you know, historical references. there was references about the temple and warnings about not going beyond a certain point. And they have been found. There's been evidence of the city of Nazareth. Do you know there was once a time when skeptics thought there never was a place called Nazareth. It might have been just some fanciful, non existent place. Well, it was in 1878 that they found an inscription about Nazareth and they've excavated. The synagogue of Magdala is being excavated even as we speak. References to Pilate. So over and over the historical, validations, verifications, you know Bert, Roman emperors like Tiberius Claudius, Pontius Pilate, who governed Judea during the time of Jesus. I mean the New Testament, you might believe it or not believe it, but what you cannot legitimately say is that it was quote, made up stories.

>> Bert Harper: it's so true. It is the truth. And archaeology. I just read an article about it. every article that's been found in ARCHAEOLOGY and lately has proven again and again the truth of the whole Bible. Not just the Old Testament, but the New Testament, as you said, those discoveries. And then when they see this, people say follow the science. Well, follow the science that doesn't prove the Bible. No, follow the science that shows that the Bible is accurate and true in geography, geography, in detail, in personnel. And that's what you've just done, Alex. Geography and personnel. Nazareth and all the kings. It has been proven again and again and I'm just sure it will continue to do that as they find more articles, in their digs concerning archeology.

Bertrand Russell: Take a liberal, skeptical deconstruction to the New Testament

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and one last, ah, quote that I want to give that I know I have, quoted this person so many times, but I think he's worth quoting. Bert, I was just going through a box of books that I've got and the great Will Durant, who was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his work as an historian. And of course I've told, many times that Will Durant, he was a PhD historian, worked 50 years, years on a, ah, 12 volume set that came to be called the Story of Civilization. And it was, it's been reviewed countless times and it says that Will Durant's, you know, magnum opus, I mean, devoted his life to this. And it's been called one of the most important works of history in history. Here's what he says and, and I give you a quote, and this is from his, his book on Caesar and Christ. He says higher criticism. Now what that is, that's to take a liberal, skeptical deconstruction to the New Testament. and we are not for higher criticism. We are for what's called lower criticism. You want to know what the Bible means, read what it says on the page. Okay? But higher criticism has applied to the New Testament tests of authenticity so severe that by them a hundred other ancient worthies, e.g. hammurabi, King David or Socrates, would fade into legend. And so what he says is, And let me continue. In other words, he says, if you throw out Jesus, you better throw out the top 100 names, from antiquity, for which we have far less attestation. And he said, no one who is reading the Gospels can doubt the reality of the figure behind them. That a few simple men should in one generation have invented so powerful and appealing a personality as Jesus, so lofty an ethic, so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood that would be a miracle. Far more incredible than just believing the recorded Gospels, said Will Durant. And he said, if you're going to discount the New Testament, the most well authenticated book of the ancient world. Will Durant, one of the greatest historians that ever lived, he said, if you throw out the New Testament, you're basically saying that we can't know anything about history because it is the greatest, historically verified book of the ancient world. What are we saying? to your precious Jewish friend and to everyone, you can trust the Bible and you can trust the New Testament. And in that New Testament, you find a man who walked on water, a man who was virgin Born sinless, rose from the dead. And Jesus said, by faith in me, you are born again. That's what is in this book we call the New Testament.

>> Bert Harper: So don't be shy in sharing the New Testament. It is the word of God, and you can count on it. And again, it's bare. I think it's verified in history, it's verified in literature, it's verified in science, archeology, any way you can find it. Again, Jesus is the real deal. He is the very Son of God. We pray that you've trusted him as Lord and Savior. He did live. He did have a perfect. He was a perfect life. He did go to the cross and die. And then on the third day, he rose himself. He had power to take up his life himself. He did not need another source. He within himself could take up his own life. That is the truth of who Jesus Christ is. We pray you've trusted him. You know him, and then you feed upon the word of God, the Old and New Testament. And I want to tell you, when you connect those two, it'll give spiritual iron to your blood.

Fire Away Friday partners with Preborn to introduce pregnant women to their babies

Well, this is Alex and Burt on Exploring the Word. We're going to continue in this program of Fire Away Friday when we come back. You've heard a lot about saving babies on this show. That's because it's important to me personally. And let me just be frank with you. We need to save them. That is why we partnered with PreBorn, the nation's leader, in introducing mothers with unplanned pregnancies to their babies. And once she hears that heartbeat and sees that precious life growing inside of her, she is twice as likely to choose life. Now, that's a miracle. But quite honestly, if we don't save them, who will? Preborn receives no government funding, so their work is completely dependent on us. Preborn has rescued over 280,000 babies. And that's not all. They provide love, support and counseling for up to two years for free. Saving lives and souls. One ultrasound is just $28. or 140 helps to rescue five babies. Abortion doesn't stop, so we can't. Together, you and I can save lives. Just call pound two five zero on your cell phone and say the key word baby. That's 250, baby. Or go to preborn.com. that's preborn.com.

Welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio

now back to the Bible study. You're listening to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: It's about the cr. About my sin. It's about how Jesus came to be born once. So that we could be born again. It's about the welcome back to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland here along with Bert Harper and at, ah, the board, Brent Austin, your questions and correspondence. we appreciate that. Hey, before we resume questions, and I've got a really good one coming up for Bert Holmes Harper.

Alex Carland invites you to two free events in October

But, I want to just thank everybody. You know, I've been traveling this summer and as you hear this, we just recently finished our big, big event with Charlie Kirk of Turning Point USA, September 14, also in Myrtle Beach, S.C. and October 3 and 4, we've got a couple of events I want to invite you to. And they're both free, they're open to the public. But September 14th, I've got Loren Green from Fox News, and then from the Trump White House, the international ambassador for religious freedom, ah, Reverend Mark Walker. and he offices there in the West Wing. He will be in person. we're doing a seminar on the state and the future of the American church. And then October 3 and 4, we've got a session on apologetics. And I'll be speaking then to answer the top five questions of life and how you can defend what the Bible says. So My website is alexmcfarland.com and I'd be very honored if you would pray and attend. But Bert, I'm so excited. I got to say this before we resume the questions. October 28th and 29th, Angie and I, we've got a big event and I want to tell you we are super excited. We're going to be. Bert, you ought to come. We're going to be at Pickwick Landing State Park. I'll be speaking on, being strong and courageous. This is at the end of October. Bert, you have any interest in joining us?

>> Bert Harper: I believe I'll join you. It's called the Fishbowl Retreat. And, you better believe it. Jan and I will be there. We're excited about it. We've been doing fish fishbowl for nearly 30 years, believe it or not. Now the last 15 has been with American Family Radio or American Family association. Because when I came on board with, with, afa, AFR as an employee, they said, bring fishbowl with you. And we did. And so it's our time to get together with pastors and their wives to encourage them, to help them in their life. Be courageous in your living as well as you preaching. And so we'll be doing that. JJ, Jasper is going to be there as have special music.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, boy.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, we're going to have A great time. But this is about Alex and I, especially with our wives. We don't do a lot of things together, so this is the opportunity you get. And, you might get the lowdown on Alex and myself from two women that know us better than anybody else. And I, hope it is as consistent as I want to be. Alex, you know, my desire is to be consistent in every area of my life, but I'm proud I've got my wife to say, hey, Bert, you need to check this out. You need to check that out. And I, I thank God for that, Alex. I, I for one, that accountability is vital in my life. And so we want to encourage pastors and wife to register. You can go to repairingthefoundations.net go to the fishbowl retreat and you can register there. It'll give you the information. So we're excited about it. Looking forward to it. Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and let me say this, and I realized I'm very biased, but if you want a blessing, you need to meet Angie. You know, people, people tolerate me, but they love Angie. And Bert.

>> Bert Harper: Well, there's reasons behind it. You know, it goes both ways with the Bert Harper as well.

>> Alex McFarland: But, it's going to be great. And we certainly do appreciate, the chance to be there. October. And, the website is repairing the foundations with an S. Repairing the foundations dot net. Isn't that right, Bert?

>> Bert Harper: That is correct. Correct. Be sure, do not leave off the S or you'll find out how to repair your house. So, so repairing the foundations dot net.

If you could only recommend one book other than the Bible, what would that be

>> Alex McFarland: Hey, we got a great question somebody sent in, and, we've not rehearsed this. This is very spontaneous, but somebody asked this question, Bert, for you and I, if you could only recommend one book other than the Bible, what would that book be?

>> Bert Harper: Ooh, honestly, I think I know. It would be between two, and I'm trying to decide which one Dr. Adrian Rogers talked about. Five books is what he did. And, but if they go with one, a Bible dictionary. Unger's Bible dictionary would be awesome. A concordance. And I prefer Strong's Concordance. that's awesome book. you know, J. Sidlow Baxter. Explore the Bible. Explore. the book is an awesome one volume, but I'll tell you the other one that Dr. Rogers recommended. Do you know what it was? A, hymn book.

>> Alex McFarland: Wait a minute, let me think. By Adrian Rogers that he recommended.

>> Bert Harper: He recommended five books, of course. The Bible.

>> Alex McFarland: Morning and Evening Devotions by Charles Spurgeon.

>> Bert Harper: That wasn't the one. But I could. As a matter of fact, the pastor that I was meeting with today, he was talking about that being the most refreshing thing he had. He just started, reading it. He's talking about how good it is. Morning, Evening with. With Charles Spurgeon. But he said a hymn book. He said, if you can get a hymn book and just look at the theology in those hymn books concerning Christ. you know. But anyway, which, one would you recommend?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, I hadn't thought of that. But a hymn book is right. And I do love to read the lyrics of the Grand Old Hymns of the Faith. You know, I always. For years. And I love it. I have this book, Morning and Evening Devotions by Charles Spurgeon. And it's been published by a lot of different ones. There's Hendrickson Publishers, did a really good hardcover, and I love it. and that is a fantastic book. Another book, though, maybe it's a toss up. And folks, I just. I can't tell you how great this book is, but it was called Wilmington's Guide to the Bible. And in theological circles, sometimes they call it, quote, the Big Green Book. Harold Wilmington, he and Elmer Towns were the. The first two faculty at, Liberty University. Harold Wilmington was there till the day he died. And Dr. H L Harold Wilmington, he did this big, big guide to the Bible. And I mean, there's everything in it from, inspirational thoughts to history, archeology, long explanations of tough passages. And, that. That is a really. It's just one of those books. You cannot put it down. It is so good. But, really, you know, that's a good question. And I think maybe our answers on that might fluctuate over the years, but I agree.

>> Bert Harper: I think it will. I really do. As you go, you know, things change. It's like reading scriptures and messages. I've. Okay. I've been preaching 53 years, Alex. Believe it or not, I've been preaching 53 years, and I've got some sermon outlines that I did that I still have with me. And they're in. In file of the first sermons that I preached. Every so often I'll take it out. I'd still preach it, but, man, there's so much that I could add to it and clarify. And, that's the way scripture is. How many books can you read over and over again and get inspiration, get new information? Now, it's still the same book, but God's Holy Spirit is able to bring it alive. There's not another book like the Bible. it really is. It's one of a kind.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Help me understand the tension between free will and determinism in apologetics

Somebody asked this question, help me understand the tension between free will and determinism as it relates to evangelism, discipleship, apologetics. Now, let me clarify. I'm positive what they're meaning. Determinism really means that everything is predetermined. And even Einstein, who didn't necessarily believe in God, believed in determinism. Einstein did not think there was such a thing as free will. Now, I think what this listener means is the sovereignty of God. help me understand the tension between human free will and the sovereignty of God. First of all, I reject strict determinism. I think humans absolutely have a free will. Humans have the ability to make moral choices. sometimes they use their free will to be moral and righteous and good. Sometimes people use their free will to be very wicked and cruel and evil. and we know God doesn't ordain sin and wickedness. But, Bert, the tension between free will, God's sovereignty, and they ask evangelism, discipleship, apologetics, how do you handle, such.

>> Bert Harper: Bert, I would say the tension is good because God is sovereign. He really is. He knows what's going to happen. now he has determined the end of times. I know that. But during this period of time, there is individual choices that men, women, must make in life. And one of those. What will I do with Jesus? What will you do when you get to heaven? As you know, it will be asked, why should I let you into my heaven? It all depended on what you did with Jesus. Now, I don't think, Alex, and you know the exact quote, I always miss it a little bit. But we've already talked about Spurgeon's, morning and evening, a devotional. But also he said, why should there be this friction and tension between friends? you know, I don't see the tension. I'll just be this very frank. The sovereignty of God, the free will or accountability of man. God. That's the answer. It is God that has put those two together. Man may never be able to solve that, but there's no tension with God. Because whosoever will may come. Yes, it's there. And yes, before the foundations of the earth, Jesus Christ would, through foreknowledge, no would come to him. I don't. Alex, I don't make maybe the answer you want, but I reject the tension.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, yeah. Somebody, asked, it was Spurgeon, said, can you reconcile human free will and God's providence or sovereignty and Spurgeon said, well, first of all, you don't have to reconcile friends. Amen. See, the Bible unequivocally teaches the sovereignty, the power, the authority of God, but it also unequivocally sets forth the responsibility of man. Now, I don't completely understand how those two work, in tandem, but. But they really do.

>> Bert Harper: I just don't think anybody does that. That's. I'll just put it this way, and I'll throw it back. That's God's territory.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, exactly. You know, this is not a great illustration, but, Bert, growing up on the farm, we had a pretty extensive, tool bench, and in fact, there was one building that we were using to store some things in, and we ended up. Daddy had so many tools. We. I mean, from a table saw to a radial arm saw to, you know, a welder and all kind of stuff. Running a chicken farm, you need a lot of tools. And there were a few tools. When I was five, six years old, I loved to go to the tool room, and there was a few tools that I was allowed to touch and use, and there was a whole bunch of tools that I wasn't. And my dad would say, son, stay in here. Here's a piece of wood. You can hammer a nail in it if you want to, but all this stuff over here, don't touch it. I'll show you how to use it in time, but don't disobey me. Anyway, my point is, you know, there was a whole lot of things that I knew that he knew that I didn't know. And if I was a smart boy, I was going to do what I was told. And I, could have disobeyed, but I just didn't. For one thing, I didn't want to cut my fingers off in a saw. But I, don't know. I was in there, and my dad was in authority. I had my instructions, I acted on what I knew, and I left what I didn't know to him. That's probably not a great illustration, but,

>> Bert Harper: Alex, it is. It is. Because I just want to tell you, the Bible says avoid certain things. Now, it doesn't mean we can't try to come to the understanding as best we can. Here's my understanding. They work together, and like Spurgeon said, why should friends quarrel? They work together, and if you come across on one of them so much that God picks this person to go to heaven, this one to go to hell, listen, that I wouldn't Call that anything except fatalism. That's what Adrian Rogers called it. And the other. If it's just free will without God, sovereign, I doubt if it's eternal. Okay. But together, together with God's sovereignty and man's will to choose. Mind, will and emotions, that's part of it. And hallelujah, what a God we serve. That his ways, all of his ways, are beyond and bigger than ours. Alex. Even our own understanding.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and I'll say this, and we'll move on. There are certain things God has shown us. And I think if we're honest, deep down, we know we are responsible to respond. And if you're struggling right now, let me say this. if you wait till you get everything figured out to come to Jesus, you'll never come to Jesus. Bert, I've been very privileged to know some very brilliant people and how I revered like, ah, Norm Geisler, you know, brilliant guy. And I was personal friends with Chuck Colson, one of the. Not only unbelievably intelligent, but just a very kind, godly, Godly man.

Chuck Colson: You get saved by believing in Jesus

Chuck Colson. These guys, they had the intellectual firepower. Geisler, Josh McDowell, folks like that. And yet they would be the first to tell you, you, get saved by believing in Jesus. And there's so much that, even the best and the brightest can never fully unpack. And so let me just say to everybody, understand that God loves you. Christ died for you. If you call out to Jesus, he will forgive you. And, we are responsible to respond to the truth that he has shown us.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Somebody said the greatest theological thought is Jesus loves me. This I know, for the Bible tells me so. I agree with that. That's as kind and as good as it gets. I pray that you, you've trusted Jesus as your savior and Lord. Thank you for listening to exploring the Word. And we thank God that He has provided a way to come unto him through Jesus Christ. Be sure and trust him and do it now.

The Best of Fire Away Friday | 08/22/25