Transcript

American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio

>> Jeff Chamblee: The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword. This sacred book is living and active and contains all that's needed for life and godliness. Stay with American Family Radio for the next hour as we study God's word and take your Bible questions.

Bert Harper and Alex McFarland discuss First Peter and Second Peter

Welcome to Exploring the Word According to.

>> Bert Harper: First Peter, Chapter one. If you'll add to your faith, you can have faithfulness, vision and security. We're going to unlock that today in chapter one of, First Peter, started in verse five where it says, you have faith. That is awesome. Now let's add to it. That's called discipleship. That's called sanctification. And this is Bert Harper along with Dr. Alex McFarland. And it's our joy to be with you today. And, we're in the book of Second Peter. If I said First Peter, I am sorry. We just got through a First Peter and we're in Second Peter now. And, Alex, I'll say this. First Peter was good. Two Peter is good too.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

Bertrand Russell: Verse 5 says add to your faith, virtue

Well, it's good to be with you on this Thursday edition of Exploring the Word. As I said yesterday, and I'll say again, I love first and Second Peter and five through seven. And there's really kind of a transition after seven, but I wanna read this again. This is, besides being biblical truth, this is just beautiful language. I mean, it really is. So he lays out salvation. Verse 5 says, and beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith, virtue. And to virtue, knowledge. And to knowledge temperance, which means self control. And to temperance, patience. And to patience, godliness. And to godliness, brotherly kindness. And to brotherly kindness, charity or love. For if these things be in you and abound, they make you that you shall neither be barren nor unfruitful, ye in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Bert, there's so much here. Frankly, I find it's convicting. But let's look at verse eight a little bit, okay? All these virtues that we are to pursue after. And we need to set spiritual goals for ourself. And I think that requires honesty. Look, if we want to be patient, maybe we have to admit to the Lord sometimes I've been impatient. And Holy Spirit, give me that calmness and patience that would reflect you. And faith and righteousness, virtue, all these things. But it says if these things abound in you, you will neither be barren. Nor unfruitful in the knowledge of Jesus. But, Bert, is it possible to be. You have the knowledge of Jesus, have a relationship, you're born again, you're saved, and yet your Christian life is barren or unfruitful. How can that be?

>> Bert Harper: It can be because of selfishness. it's all about you. And I've met some people. It seems everything was about them not growing in the Lord. Paul talked about it, the writer of Hebrews, if that was Paul or whoever it might be, said you ought to be on the meat of the Word, but you're still in the milk of the Word. You're babes in Christ. So, yes, that is possible. So what do you do about it? You add to your faith. Yes. You've been saved. You've. Yeah, that is awesome. That is good. But you're not going to heaven right now. You need to add to your faith while God keeps you here. And that's what he does here in chapter five. Add to. And we talked a good bit about that yesterday, what that meant. Add to. It means, it has the idea of God supplying generously what you need, and then you use it. Okay, he's already said he's given us everything we need. That pertains to life and godliness in verse three. Now, with that involved, he's putting it into your court. It's us to cooperate with God in this growth.

Alex: When I did Second Peter, we studied each one of these characteristics

And I think it would be good to give a real quick overview of all seven of these. Just a, quick. I'm not talking about a deep study. Now. When I did Second Peter, and I've done it in church or in a small Bible study, we did a deep study of each one of these characteristics. But the word virtue, and we went over it a little bit yesterday, has the idea of excellence. It has the idea of producing God's nature in us. Godly virtue, character. Godly character, Alex. Knowledge has the idea. This knowledge is discernment to. Knowing direction, knowing what to do and not to do, discernment. And then you use the word temperance. Self control. And we find a lot of that in Proverbs 16:32, talking about the self control about what you do. And then the word patience is really. It's the word, perseverance, endurance, we endure. The Bible talks about enduring to the end. If you're a follower of Christ, that endurance is in you. And then godliness is reverence. Godliness, the word means to worship well, which is reverence to God in godliness, brotherly kindness. The word Philadelphia. A church named Philadelphia. treating one another kind, a brother kind. And then that love is the agape. Love, sacrificial love beyond measure. So each one of these. And I said this yesterday, and I said, I'm going to say it again. When we develop one of these qualities, if we want to develop them, we need to exercise another one. One quality helps you grow to the next quality. Alex. You catch these kind of do not stand alone. In other words, it's kind of like the fruit of the Spirit. If. If you let God have his way and you continue going in the Lord, if you. Each one of these kind of brings on the other. and so our job is to grow, be holy, for he is holy. Sanctification. Be like Christ. Be like Him, Alex. So these virtues, these qualities, they need to be in every believer and not just in some.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Christian growth requires commitment and effort, Alex says

You know, I was noticing in verse five there, the word diligence, which, you know, means with intentionality. You know, we don't just passively wait for things to accidentally come along. and I said this yesterday, there are some Christian responsibilities that nobody else can do for you, right? Salvation is a free gift, but Christian growth requires some commitment and effort. And as I read it three times, the word diligence appears in 2 Peter, 2nd Peter 1 5, 2 Peter 1 10, and 2 Peter 3 14. Look at 5 give all, diligence to add these things of growth. Verse, 10. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you shall never fall or stumble there. And 3:14, uses the word, diligence, diligent, that you may be found of him in peace, without spot and blameless. So these words, also, you know, you were talking about day before yesterday, the word precious, which appears at least twice, you know, exceeding great precious promises and the precious faith. 2 Peter 1:1 and 2 Peter 1:4. I like these repeated words because not only are they great, powerful motivational words, but clearly they're significant because Peter uses such kind of words repeatedly.

>> Bert Harper: We would call that driving it home.

>> Alex McFarland: You know, drive home.

>> Bert Harper: That's right. And he does, because he's talking to a group of people that need to be prepared for false teachers that we're going to dig into in chapter two. But notice what he does before he gets to the false teachers. He tells the truth about Christ.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: The.

>> Bert Harper: This is what you want to know. Listen, if you know the truth, you can observe the untruth. And so this is the Whole idea. But if these are added to your faith, again you read verse eight and then verse nine, and notice that if you do that, you'll be fruitful. Verse eight, not barren nor unfruitful. You'll be fruitful. Verse nine, it says, these things, if you like these things, you'll be shortsighted. But, but if you have them, that's going to give you vision. And then finally in, verse, 10 and 11, it says, even the word diligent, make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble. For so as an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly, you have security. The three things that a follower of Christ really needs is one, to be fruitful. that's the reason he disciplines us. That's the reason he prunes us, that we will bear fruit, much fruit. We need to have vision. Where there's no vision, people perish. We need to have a vision of what, who God is, what he wants us to do. And we need to have the security to know that we know God and He knows us, and we're going to show forth his works in us. So, Alex, when you add these things to your faith, it's a benefit to you others in the kingdom of God. So, these things ought to be a part of our lives. And as you said, it's convicting when we don't, you know?

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly, exactly. I like that. In verse 11, you know, for so an entrance shall be ministered unto you or supplied unto you into the everlasting kingdom. What he's talking about in these first 11 verses of 2 Peter 1, we are born again, and then we grow and we bear fruit. Just like a baby is delivered, the child grows up, the child is mature, the child accomplishes things. But, all of the life that takes place and the accomplishments that are done are only possible because there was a human conceived and born. And spiritual growth can only happen if you're spiritual. And by that I mean truly have a relationship with Jesus. Now, Bert, can I read on from 12? Cause there's something here that I think sounds very much like Paul.

>> Bert Harper: I agree with you. Go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though you know them and be established in the present truth. Okay, Peter is saying, look, I remember you, and I'm reminding you to remember these things. Yea, I think it is meet or appropriate as long as I'm in this tabernacle. In other words, as long as I'm living. I'm going to stir you up by reminding you of these things, knowing that shortly I must put off this, my tabernacle, even as the Lord Jesus Christ has showed me. Now, Paul, in, two Timothy four, six, Paul said, I'm ready to be offered. The time of my departure is at hand. Doesn't this sound a lot like that? Peter says, I know shortly I'm going to put off this tabernacle. In other words, my body will expire. My spirit and soul goes to be with Jesus. I don't know, Bert. This. The lowly Peter, the fisherman. He has certainly become this, incredibly articulate voice of God. I'm just amazed at this. What the spirit of God is saying through the life of the apostle Peter. Sounds a lot like Paul, doesn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It does. And why? Well, they spent time with Jesus Christ. If you spend time with Jesus Christ in. And you get to know him, and listen to him in his Word, there's going to be some similarities in us. People talk about. Well, man, you and Alex, y' all sure do agree a lot. Well, there's a lot of reasons behind that. Because we know Jesus Christ is our savior. We have the Holy Spirit, our teacher in us. We've been taught what the word of God is. We have a view that the Bible is God's word, authoritative, inspired God given to us. And so why, why not? And so notice what he does here. There's another repeated word. You and, I both do notice that it's reminded in verse 12. Now, I'm in the new King James. It says, I will not be negligent to remind you of all these things. And then in verse 13, King James said it as well, to stir up you by reminding you. And then even when you get to verse 15, and I'm not skipping over verse, 13, 14 yet. Moreover, I will be careful to ensure what. You always have a reminder of these things after I've gone.

Alex: We need to be reminded of God's work in our lives

Alex, we need to be reminded. We need to say, remind me, dear Lord, remind me. And when we do that, we ought to be thankful that he's done such a work in our lives, shouldn't we?

>> Alex McFarland: We should. Folks, this is exploring the Word. Stay tuned. A brief break, more of two Peter plus. Your calls, your Bible questions don't go away.

Preborn Network helps women choose life through a free ultrasound

>> Bert Harper: We're living in a time when truth is under attack.

>> Bert Harper: Lies are easy to tell, easy to.

>> Bert Harper: Spread, and easy to believe. But truth, truth is costly. And nowhere is the cost greater than for mothers in crisis. When a woman is told Abortion is her only options. Silence and lies surround her. But when she walks into a PreBorn Network clinic, she's met with compassion, support, and the truth about the life growing inside her. That moment of truth happens through a free ultrasound, and it's a game changer. When a mother sees her baby and hears that heartbeat, it literally doubles the chance she'll choose life. PreBorn Network clinics are on the front lines, meeting women in their darkest hours, loving them, helping them choose life, sharing truth. Friend, this is not a time to be silent. It's time for courage, for truth, for life. Just $28 provides one ultrasound and the opportunity for a mother to see her baby, to help her choose truth and life.

>> Bert Harper: Donate today.

>> Bert Harper: Call £250 and say baby. That's £250, baby. Or give online at PreBorn AFR. That's preborn.com afr.

Bert says Jesus predicted Peter's death in two Peter chapter one

>> Jeff Chamblee: Welcome back to Exploring the Word on American Family Radio.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: He's a strong and his grace is free and the good news is I know that he can do for you what he's done for me. Let me tell you about my Jesus. Oh, that is an awesome song.

>> Alex McFarland: Let me tell you about my Jesus we hope you know the Lord Jesus because he loves you. He died on the cross he rose again. And we often say this, it's really true. Jesus is as close by as a prayer. Indeed he is. Well, we are in two Peter chapter one. And, hey, Bert, I hate to go back, but I've got to allude to something from John 21, 1819, where it really does seem that Jesus kind of predicted the manner of Peter's death. And, the tradition says that around 68 AD Peter was crucified upside down by Nero. But, you know, Jesus talked about the fact that verse, 19 of John 21, this Jesus said, signifying by what death Peter would die and glorify God. And Peter seems to allude to this. he says in two Peter one, 13, and following, you know, I'm gonna put off this tabernacle, but verse 15. Moreover, I will endeavor that you may be able, after my death, to have these things always in remembrance. What things? Well, the duty and the privilege to grow in the Lord, to bear fruit, to be diligent, to grow. And, you know, Bert, we are to do that to this day. I mean, you don't just accept Christ and wait around to die. From salvation to final departure. You know, I'll just do what I want. I mean, we do have liberty in Christ, but our Christian growth is something that we're to pursue after as long.

>> Bert Harper: As we live, there is no time to stop. That's exactly right, Alex. If we're still breathing, we're to pursue, go after Christ with everything we have.

Bert says sometimes you need a specific reminder to grow in God

I want to ask you a question. And this is going to be real practical and, you know, reminder. Do you have certain things that you have maybe in your home, at office or wherever that is, reminder of what God has done that you need to grow? that's the reason sometimes having a specific place, in your house where you know, you read your Bible, you study, you observe, you pray, and when you look at reminds you, now I have one in our home. And, if I haven't met with the Lord and I go by that one spot, guess what it does, to me, Alex, it's convicting. It is. And it reminds me, okay, Bert, you haven't spent that time that you need to with the Lord. So I would suggest all of you who, you know, you may not be, as I would say, absent minded, I'm hyper and I can, think of two or three things to do now. You can think of two or three things at one time, Alex, you're amazing at that. I'm a one track guy, but if I get that one track on something else, that means I may have forgotten what I was, should have done and I have to have something to call me back. So let me just suggest build in those reminder spots, those reminder things in your life. you remember in the, Old Testament, again and again God, would tell them to put up markers, the 12 stones when they crossed the Jordan River. These are reminders. And so, Alex, I have found it practical in my life and not everybody, I don't judge everybody by me. I'm far from the standard, but, but I need something to remind me. I need to get into the God's word today. I need to pray today. I need to do this. So I, love that. I think that's the reason I noticed the three times he uses the word remind here in this passage of scripture.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, in Genesis 35, you remember back to Bethel or literally return to Bethel, where Jacob had encountered God. It's kind of like a spiritual homecoming. And that's why I encourage churches. I know this might sound like an old timey thing, but a homecoming Sunday because. And bird, I've loved to preach at church homecomings because it's a time to kind of go back to where our spiritual journey with the Lord began. I've got some old Books and Bibles that are from my grandmother and various family members that were very, very deep in their walk with the Lord. And yeah, I like those reminders all around. It's almost like the Deuteronomy 6. Put them as frontlets before your eyes, put them on the walls of your house, the doorpost of your coming and your going. Just reminders that, look, all of life, it really is about the Lord Jesus Christ, our maker, our Redeemer, the friend that sticketh closer than a brother. And, you know, every day is a joyful journey. Now, some days are hard days, some days you get bad news, some days you get good news. But every step of every day's journey for the Christian is with Jesus. And there's great rejoicing in that. And so Peter, even in talk about his impending, execution, which he seemed to seem to realize, he said, look, whether I'm dead or alive, remember these things. Now, this is a passage, and if I may, I'd love to read it in its entirety. Because, 2 Peter 1 is closing out about being grounded, rooted in the truth. And he says, look, if I'm with you or if I'm dead, when I'm with you, I'm going to tell you. I'm going to remind you when I'm gone, don't forget it. and then why verse 16. For we have not followed cunningly devised fables when we made known unto you the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty. Now, Bert, before I read the rest of this, and it's so powerful, Peter is basically predicating all of this faithfulness on the fact that the Gospel is real. Peter says, look, I'm telling you to live for the Lord, die for the Lord. And I'm going to be an example of what I'm preaching, because I'm probably fixing to die. But in light of all this, why? Because it's not a fable, it's not a myth, it's not a legend, it's not a fairy tale. It's true. We were eyewitnesses. And the rest of this chapter, where he references the Mount of Transfiguration, and then there's not only Jesus, the living word, there's Scripture, the written word, all this stuff is true. I'm going to say it, and I'll throw it to you. the call to follow Jesus, the call to live for Jesus if need be. The call to die for Jesus, it's worth it, folks, because this gospel this salvation, this coming kingdom of Christ, it is real.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And he made it known to them. this is. I mean, this is part of the great joy of what, you and I get to do, Alex. We get to make known the glory and the majesty of the Lord Jesus Christ each day that we make much of Jesus. And here he is. We made this known to you. The power and coming of Jesus. We were eyewitnesses. We saw this. We know it's real. It's not some figment fable. For he received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved Son, in whom I'm well pleased. Peter was there at that baptism. He heard, he knew. And we. There it is, collective again. We heard this voice which came from heaven when we were with him on the holy mountain. Now, transfiguration. We were there. Notice the we continues this, plural pronoun. We also have the prophetic word made more sure. There it is, Alex. He's been talking about the physical word, Jesus Christ. He makes this transition into, as you said, the written word. And I'm gonna read it and throw it back to you as well, which you do well to heed as a light that shines in. In a dark place until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. Knowing this first, that no prophecy of scripture is of any private interpretation. For prophecy never came by the will of man. But holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. Alex, again. Peter, he's been with the Lord there in those three years. He was the Lord with the Mount of Transfiguration.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: He.

>> Bert Harper: He was with the Lord when he was baptized. He was with the Lord all during this period of time. But guess what happened on the day of Pentecost? The Holy Spirit of God came into Peter and he indwelled Peter. And now, as he says, the Holy Spirit that moved others, holy men of God. There's no other conclusion but to this. The Holy Spirit of God was moving Peter as well.

>> Alex McFarland: M mm. Well said.

Bert says Jesus is the living Word of God, the revelation of God

Well said. You know, God's revelation is in words really. The word Logos. And Jesus is the one they called the living Word of God, the revelation of God. And do you remember John wrote in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God. And the Word was God. This is so much to get our head around the Logos, the Word. And then there is, you know, the written word. And I want to talk about that in, two Peter 1:19 through 21. But, the word logos, Bert. Words mean so many things, really. the Bible says that the word Jesus is the name above all names. the Bible says that there's no other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. There's only Jesus that can save. And the Bible says that at this name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess. And so we serve a God who is a God that has revealed himself to the world. There's Christ, the living word of God. you want to know who God is? Look at Jesus. Believe in Jesus. It's just very powerful here, the way Peter kind of divides this up. But 19 through 21 is talking about the Bible, this scripture, the written word, the written revelation of God. It says we have a more sure word of prophecy. Whereunto you do well, that you take heed. Okay, verse 19. This prophetic word from God is sure or certain or dependable or trustworthy. Bert. when I was coming up, there was much in the news. I would listen to people like Chuck colson and john macarthur and rc sproul and charles stanley, adrian rogers, norm geisler, Dr. Dobson. And they talked about the inerrancy of Scripture, the inerrant word of God, and that means without error. And I, think that we could take verse 19 and, infer that this certain sure word is the Bible. Whereunto you take heed is a light that shines in a dark place. Okay. The word of God is light in a world of darkness. It's truth in a world of error. It is guidance in a world of destruction or dissipation until the day dawn and the day star arise in your heart. And I think that's a reference to the return of Christ, which, we write about extensively in our brand new book. But, Bert, if you would talk about the importance of our acknowledgment that God's word is authoritative, it is true and trustworthy. it is inerrant. It's a book without contradictions. Despite what the skeptics might say, it is the sure word of prophecy.

>> Bert Harper: It is. Alex And I would have to go back to John 6, when Peter and he said this, and now I think he puts, I was right then and I'm right now. When he said Jesus, asked Peter and the others, are you also going to go away like these others are and have? And Peter said, to whom would we go? You have the words of life now. That's what he said while it was still Jesus was still here. Walking with him. And now, as he is coming to the end of his life, he puts that stamp back on that, Alex, and says, we have this more sure word. What Jesus said then, what we've recorded, that he said in the Gospels, what the Holy Spirit has led Paul to. Because he's going to get to what Paul has said later on when he talks about some of the things that Paul has written. And so he's putting his stamp of approval upon. Yes, this is God speaking. The word of God, authoritative, inspired. And I'm at the same point that Peter was. Okay, if you're not going to go by the Bible, what else are you going to go by? Let me give you two alternatives. Are you going to go by government? If the government gives, the government takes away. Are you going to go by science that says one thing and then another thing and it changes and it changes. Are you going to go by public opinion? Listen, the word of God is a sure word. If you rightly divide the word of truth, you will follow truth. Alex, it is vital. It is important. It is a gift from God to have the written word of God. Therefore, we can know the real the God of this universe and the God of the redemption that the Bible reveals to us.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Now we have. We. We could have conscience. That's good. We could have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. And we do but praise the Lord, the indwelling Holy Spirit combined with the word of God. We have the sure word and we need to follow it.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Well said. Well said. Verses 20 and 21. Knowing this first. In other words, this is basic. No prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. In other words, none of us has the right to impose our meaning on it. If somebody ever says to you, well, you know, the Bible can mean whatever you want it to mean. No, that's not true. The words mean what they mean. Now, we can comment and try to explain it, and we do. But you, can read the Bible and just take it for what it says. These words mean what they mean for the prophecy. In other words, the Bible did not come in the ancient times by the will of man. No, this is not just human speculation. Holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Ghost, literally carried along. God gave the words. And you know what's interesting, Bert? time and again, like in the Old Testament, they might destroy some scroll and then God would give it again verbatim.

Have you considered becoming a great commission partner for Afr. net

So God inspired the word. He preserved the word. He'll illuminate your heart and mind that you may believe and understand the word.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. God, he's the origin of the word of God. You can depend on it. Triple 858-98-8840 give us a call.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Hey, have you considered becoming a great commission partner? If you do, you'll be joining others who believe like you and are determined to defend against those who want to destroy God's institution of the family. You'll also receive some great benefits like full access to AFA Stream, a monthly subscription to our magazine, access to exclusive donor events and more as our, thanks for your support. Please stop by afr.net donate today for all the details. Afr.net donate.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: I give you my best. I give you my decision taking.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Exploring the Word takes phone calls with Bible questions

Ah, this is Burton, Alex and it's time to take phone calls. That number, Triple 858-98-840, 888-58-9840 if you have a Bible question, we would love to hear it today. So Alex, you ready to go to the phone lines?

>> Alex McFarland: Let's do it. We're going to go to Ohio. Bill in Ohio. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Thank you for having me. I appreciate Yalls ministry and God. bless you.

>> Alex McFarland: God bless you.

Bill Barry: Does the gospel include repentance? Alex says not really

>> Caroline: My question, it's not a trick question, but just maybe elaborate. calling people, sharing the gospel, calling people to repent and believe the gospel like the apostle Paul said, are we in doing so, are we asking people something that they're unable to do in their own strength? But how should we pray specifically and you know, stop trying to argue people or convince them? But how would you, how would you deal with that?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Bill, thank you. Listen, repent, or perish is true. you may. Alex, do you have to use the word or sometimes describe what repentance is for people to understand that they changed their mind, they changed direction, they changed their heart. Would God ask us to do something that we're unable to do?

>> Alex McFarland: well, repentance is part of the Christian message. Now the gospel, the good news is the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus for the sins of the world and salvation. people have asked me, does the gospel include repentance? Well, not really. Because the gospel, the good news is that the son of God paid our sin debt on the cross. But, but I would say salvation at least includes repentance in this sense that we agree with God, we change our mind, that is ultimately going to lead to a change of life. But we agree with God. Lord, I am a sinner. I'm a helpless, guilty sinner. I can't save myself. I deserve the judgment. So repentance means to turn and agree with God. Now, I want to be clear. And Bert, you feel free to disagree with me. And by the way, the word for repentance. And I was very blessed when I was a Young Christian pastor, F.G. alford, he did a long study on the word metanoia, which is the word from which we get repentance. You don't have to clean yourself up to come to Jesus. If you're, you know, we're all sinners. And then there's drunkenness, immorality, lying, theft. There's a lot of sin done by a lot of sinners. And it's not like, well, look, go reform yourself, then come to Christ and be saved. No, you come to Christ as you are where you are right now. But, Bert, I would say this, that if we have really turned to Christ, our life is going to change. It's not our human effort that gets us saved, but when we've thrown ourself at the feet of the cross and Jesus is our Lord, invariably our life will change. Agreed?

>> Bert Harper: Agreed. Let me ask you this. You use the word, if you turn to Christ, what's another word for that?

>> Alex McFarland: Repent.

>> Bert Harper: it is. And so it's not a part, you don't have to make it, but you have to say, come unto Christ. There's a way that seems right unto a man, but the ends thereof are the ways of death. Our ways ends in death. And so if I'm going to follow Christ, I've got to turn from my way to go his way. And like I said, repentance is not what you necessarily. You don't have to say that word, but you do say you've got to turn to Christ. Would you come to Christ? And, so again, it is. I, don't think it's something we should argue over. I know churches, and they're arguing over repentance, should you. And don't get carried away with that word. But do not lessen what it means to turn to Christ and come unto him all ye that are weak and heavy laden. I'll give you rest. You have to turn from carrying your weight to him. So, sometimes words can cause all kinds of conflict. And sometimes we need to look at the meaning of the word or the action of the word. And the action of repentance is turning from my way to go to God's way. That's it, Alex. So, you know, we've discussed that pretty good. I don't know how to say any further than that.

>> Alex McFarland: We turn from sin to Christ. Thank you, Bill Barry in Texas. Thanks for holding. You're on Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: thank you for taking my call.

Barry Miller: Biblical forbearance speaks of patience and forgiveness

My reference today is, romans, chapter three and verse 25. I'm m looking for clarity on, and I'm reading from the new King James Version. in his forbearance, God had passed over the sins that were previously committed. I don't quite follow that. And I'm just wondering, is there a correlation between that and the animal sacrifices in the Old Testament?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, great question. There you come, you're a student of the Word and you come up with some, I would say at the time of this ignorance, it says one place God winked at Alex. in other words, the blood of Jesus Christ. Listen, even though they were big and bit, because of what Christ has done, the sins, they're forgiven. And I would say because of his forbearance, you know, he's not holding that against us, is he? Once we've come to Christ.

>> Alex McFarland: And Barry, what a great question, as always. Okay. Justified By Christ, verse 25 of Romans 3. Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith and that word. the mercy seat. God is the mercy seat, through his blood or Jesus is the mercy seat. The propitiation, the turning away of wrath to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past through the forbearance of God. Now let me say this forbearance speaks, of patience or, really, an amnesty period, if you will. Okay. For all the years before you knew Jesus, you, were living in sin, I think about the people of old Bert. I had this question yesterday. a pastor asked me yesterday, how did people in the Old Testament get saved? Jesus hadn't come yet. Well, they, in faith, they looked toward the Messiah that would come, the promised Messiah. But I think all the sinners of old pre Calvary, and even in our own lives before we heard the gospel, the forbearance or the patience of God, waiting on us to come to that moment of decision God withheld. God held back the judgment that we rightly deserve.

>> Bert Harper: Praise God. He did. Alex. Barry, thank you, man.

>> Alex McFarland: What a deep question. thank you, Barry. Let's go to Virginia. David in Virginia. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hi. raise him and praise him, for he is holy.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.

David: There are some prayers that are wise to pray without speaking them

>> Caroline: I have a two part question, and it's about prayer. Ah, specifically Matthew 6:6. I've been listening to AFR a really long time and that's how I learned about you guys. And excellent, job, gentlemen, for being obedient, to the Lord. I, have to be. I'm a little jealous. but, when I heard on one of the shows, I can't remember if it was, Pastor, what show it was. There's so many of them, but they were talking about, praying out loud. And when you pray out loud, you know, the, the demons or the, the enemy, they hear your prayer. I mean, and they can, I don't know, they can.

>> Caroline: Just.

>> Caroline: Just give you a really hard time. you know, they can, they can do what they're, they're their, their Lord is, you know, bidding.

>> Caroline: Do you remember recently hearing about this? I mean, like, ah, on afr.

>> Bert Harper: well, I have not heard it through AFR programming, but I've heard it, praying out loud. There are some things. It's like praying in public. Someone that leads in prayer. there's a line, and I don't want to say a line drawn, Alex, but there's a draw. You're leading people in prayer. There's a difference in doing that and having your own prayer. I firmly believe there's some prayers that's wise to pray without speaking it. Okay, Demons cannot read your mind. That's the whole idea. But they can hear your words. Is that similar, Alex, what you've heard or you would do differently?

>> Alex McFarland: I think so. And you know, I don't want to make people, unnecessarily paranoid because Satan is defeated. We are victorious in Christ. We're secure in Christ. However, I know what you mean. Because Satan and his demons are strategists. the Bible says that we are to withstand the cunning wiles or schemes of the devil. And so just, It might be that the Holy Spirit impresses something on your heart that internally you know about, you're praying about, you're meditating on in your heart and soul. You're calling out to Jesus who hears you. And I don't verbalize everything about what I'm thinking or where I'm going or with whom I minister. Because, there's just some things that, Not that I'm paranoid or anything, but I don't want the devil and his minions to hear everything that I'm communing in my heart with God about.

>> Bert Harper: That's it, Alex. Now with. The word that I would use is hinder. He's going to do everything he can to hinder you and hinder the object of your prayer. Now, he's a limited foe, okay? He Satan. And you've already said that, Alex. He's a defeated. He's a defeated enemy, but yet he still. A wounded enemy is dangerous. A wounded animal dangerous. And so he is wounded. And so he wants to hinder these things. And so some. I think it's not unwise to, be silent in some of those prayer requests, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: M. David, thank you. God bless you. in Kentucky is Frank. Frank, thank you for holding your own.

>> Caroline: Thank you. Thank you.

Alex: You can be spiritually healed without being physically healed

I believe in. Actually, When a person, remember the time that, Jesus, this guy's wanted their friend to be saved and he. They went up on the, on the top of, of his. Of the house and pulled away the, you know, the, the places in the house until the roof, I'm trying to say. And he was lowered down in front of Jesus.

>> Caroline: Okay.

>> Alex McFarland: Mark, chapter two.

>> Caroline: Yeah, well, I believe that, when a person, person was healed, but only. Well, Jesus didn't.

>> Bert Harper: Did.

>> Caroline: Jesus didn't just, just didn't heal the man. He saved a man, you know, at the same time.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

>> Caroline: So, so what I'm trying to say is I think the body of Christ has did an injustice to people that are. That are in that predicament. They separate the two. They separate the two. And they don't, they don't say that they said you saved, but you didn't get healed. So they don't, they don't expound on that.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Frank, we're going to come in on this real quickly. There is, there is physical healing. When Jesus was here, he didn't. That was a part of his ministry. But he would pull away from it, quite often to be. So he could teach those apostles privately. But there's also emotional healing that takes place. Spiritual healing is always. So, you can be spiritually healed, Alex, without being physically healed. I know quite a few folks like that, you know. And so this is awesome. In Mark, chapter two. But he was saved and healed. That was that man, wasn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and let me say this. The Mark, chapter two. You remember when the friends, they let the paralytic down through the roof and it was beautiful. That passage lends itself to much wonderful teaching. But Jesus used it to make a point because he said, son, thy sins be forgiven. and they said, wait a minute. Who is this man that claims to be able to forgive Sins. Who can forgive sins but God only? And Jesus said, I, want you all you Pharisees watching, to know that I have power on Earth to forgive sins. So what's easier to think, about this, folks? For God to say, take up your bed and walk, or for God to say, your sins are forgiven for Almighty God? Either one.

>> Bert Harper: Either one. But he did that so that they'd know he had power to forgive sins.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. That's it.

>> Alex McFarland: I want to see if we can get James in. James, quickly, sir, if you don't mind, because time fleets away. But welcome.

>> Caroline: thank you, sir.

Bert asks if Boaz was first generation to live in Bethlehem

>> Bert Harper: my question.

>> Caroline: We've been studying Ruth in our Wednesday night class, and, I was curious if Boaz was, like, first generation to live in Bethlehem.

>> Alex McFarland: That's a great question, Bert. I am not for sure. My gut feeling, and I need to research this, is that, no, I would think his family had been there because.

>> Bert Harper: That'S where Naomi came from and returned to. And it seems Naomi was probably older than Boaz. you know, it doesn't give their age, but it seems like that. So I would think not. That's my. Just looking at the context, I think not, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And so Naomi's son would have been a relative of Boaz, and Boaz was able to be the kinsman redeemer. James, you get a prize because I've never heard that, but I want to look into that. But, my gut feeling is no. His family had been there for some generations, perhaps.

>> Bert Harper: And, hey, if we don't find out down here, we can ask him when we all get to heaven.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Amen.

Exploring the Word encourages listeners to tell someone about Jesus

Well, what a great day on Exploring the Word, bro?

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank everybody for listening to Exploring the Word and tell someone about this program and AFR and its programming. But more importantly, like Alex and I always say, tell somebody about Jesus.

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: M.

>> Alex McFarland: The views and opinions expressed in.

>> Bert Harper: This broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or.

>> Alex McFarland: Or American Family Radio.