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Bert and Alex explore the Gospel of Matthew in this edition of Exploring
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Alex McFarland Welcome to today's edition of Exploring the Word. We continue in the Gospel of Matthew. Yesterday we were in, in Matthew chapter 12. And we're going to go today and probably get into one of the frequently asked questions about the gospel and what is the unpardonable sin. Yesterday we were going through where Christ healed on the Sabbath and then there was some prophecy from Isaiah that was being fulfilled in the life of Jesus. But a lot here in understanding who Christ is, what the Gospel is, and our relationship to the Savior. And we welcome you to this edition of the program. Bert Harper is with me. And so Bert, I gotta tell you, every chapter is so rich with content. Every chapter has so much to learn. And there's four gospels, all of which are wonderful. But I'm loving our trip through the book of Matthew.
Bert Harper I am as well. And I know I repeat myself, but it seems like whichever gospel I'm studying or reading is my favorite at the time anyway. And I'm, I'm, I'm seeing some things or noticing some things that you know, gives a little bit different emphases. And I'm enjoying this trip. I hope everyone else is. As we explore the book of Matthew and in chapter 22 there's a healing. And in place of them coming, someone brought this individual. And it sounded like, purposefully, it sounded like possibly, oh, he can't take care of this one. This is going to be bigger than he is. Or if he does it, we're going to condemn him for doing it at that time. So Alex, again, this is the period when he is beginning to withdraw and go into the other parts of the and you know, away from where the Pharisees were so dominant and go into other areas. But they're following him, they're trying to catch him, they're trying to get anything because you remember what we said, they were determined to destroy him. And but Jesus, he knows, he knows where to go and when to go and what to do, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He really does. He really does it. Just in verse 14 there, it says they wanted to destroy him. And Jesus knew it. He withdrew. And the thing is, when he healed all these people, like in verse 16, he warned them not to make it known what. What's touching to me, and I hope I can convey this, clearly, he knew he was ultimately going to die on the cross. And, the people could have, you know, rushed and said, he's the Messiah, you know, receive him in addition to the ministry, fulfilling all the prophecy, preaching, teaching, healing, raising the dead, validating his messiahship. Additionally, he had another thing on his shoulders. Keeping everything on the right timetable, everything right on track. it didn't lag behind. It didn't go too quickly. He was keeping it right on track.
Why?
Alex McFarland So that he could be rejected and nailed to the cross. But yet he was doing all that because of love for us and the human race's desperate need for a savior. And I guess, Bert, it just really touches my heart. In addition to everything else on his shoulders, he was keeping the timetable on course to fulfill this great plan of salvation promised by and laid out by Almighty God.
Bert Harper Amen. In the Book of Jon. It even makes it plainer, because two or three times he says, my hour has not yet come. My time has not come. But when you get over there, closer, it says, my hour has come. And so Jesus was in control. And so here, that word he withdrew from there is very important. In other words, don't. It's just not. Okay.
Bert Harper He withdrew.
Bert Harper No, he withdrew because of everything that Alex just said concerning the timing and. And everything going with. So here they bring. 1, 2. In verse 22, they brought him a demon possessed, blind and mute. And he healed him so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. The multitudes were amazed, said, could this be the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Now, how, again, how foolish it is. I, mean, they were trying to make him as low as they could. They were trying to falsify everything that he did. The multitudes were amazed.
Why were the Pharisees not amazed by Jesus, Bert says
Alex, I got one question. Why were the Pharisees not amazed?
Alex McFarland that's a good question. I think the Pharisees were not amazed for a number of reasons. One, it wasn't the fulfillment of their messianic expectations. You know, the Bible says, there's a way that seems right to a man, the end thereof of the ways of death. And I've had people say to me, bert, in sharing the gospels, you know, well, why. Why do I need to believe in Jesus? I'm a pretty good person. Or, you know, why? do you remember Many years ago, Ted Turner, the sports and broadcasting figure, you know, he said, and I'm not going to repeat it because it was very blasphemous. But in the late 1980s, he basically, made some very disparaging remarks about Jesus and how he didn't need somebody to die on a cross for him. He was a pretty good person. Thank you very much. You remember that?
Bert Harper I remember it.
Alex McFarland So there are people that have their own idea about what morality or righteousness or goodness would look like, and they just don't think they need a savior. And so to your question, why would the people receive him? this is verse 15. But the Pharisees would not. I think it was probably self sufficiency. It was pride. Well, here's what Jesus said. You do err not knowing the scriptures of the power of God. I'm going to boil it down to this. Anybody who thinks Jesus is not the way, they don't know God's word, God's revelation, nor God's power.
Bert Harper I agree with everyone. I'm going to throw another word in there, because it blinded them. It will blind people today. The word is agenda. They had their own agenda. And part of that agenda was, as you said, it wasn't their idea of what Messiah would be or who he would be. And it did not fit into their agenda of who the law. It did not fit into their agenda of ruling. It did not, you know, it did not fit. I said that to bring this warning to those that might be listening today that said, well, we're considering it, we're thinking about it. they may be driving a truck, a car. They may be. They may be incarcerated. And they're thinking, oh, okay, okay. Check your agenda. Is your agenda to get right with God? Not that you're right, but you need to get right with God. The only way is through Jesus Christ. Be open to him. And notice what Jesus did in verse 25. He Knowing their thoughts. That always amazes me, Alex. I know he could, but it always amazes me, you know, that he knew what was behind, behind the statement, you know, and he says, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out. Here's the one. I really loved it. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out by. Therefore they shall be your judges. Alexand, go on, read the rest. But, man, those two statements, Jesus just crushes them with their. With their statement, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He really does. He really does. And, I mean, what a ludicrous statement this is in verse 24. I don't even want to read it. But they're basically attributing the power of Jesus to the power of the devil. I mean, and this is so blasphemous. Now, what's. What's interesting is Jesus, before pronouncing, the judgment that would be on such a thing, he logically explains it. He says, you know, why would Satan want to cast out Satan? You know, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Now, here's the thing. the power of God always eclipses the feeble efforts of the devil. The devil is created. God is the creator. The devil and his demons are finite. God is infinite, and God is wise and powerful and righteous, and God is eternal, and Satan is limited and evil. And it's, it's like in Jon, chapter one, the light shined in the darkness, and the dark darkness did not overcome it. And so I love what Jesus says here. He says, if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, which is exactly what he was doing, verse 28, surely the kingdom of God has come to you. You know, and so, he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad. Verse, you know, that's very similar to where the Bible says, he who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life. Now, all of that to get to really, an anathema and condemnation on these religious professionals that were blind.
Bert Harper Yeah, that's the reason it's introduced in verse 31. Well, therefore, I say to you. And, again, when you say therefore, you say, okay, what. What's it there for? Let's look at what was there. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. And then the second one, he talks about this. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
Alex: To blaspheme or cast away the Holy Spirit is blasphemy
Bert Harper Alex.
Bert Harper I was talking to one of, our friends here that's employed here at afa and. And he was asking where we were and, far as exploring the Word, I told him, and I told him about blaspheming. The Holy Spirit. And he said, he said, now here's his statement. They started off with, I may know not. I may not know exactly what it is, but it's bad.
Alex McFarland Yeah.
Bert Harper And again, I, you know, you and I have talked about this blasphemy. We talked. Is it then now? Well, you know, there's thoughts on it. But let me share this, and I'll throw it back to you on this because I think it's so important. It says it will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come. I would say this against or blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son. The Son came and died. And the Holy Spirit came to convict men and draw men to themselves. Now, I just want to tell you this. You reject that. you reject him and you reject the fact that he is. There you are. That's the last straw. Alex, Okay. If you do not respond to the Holy Spirit's call in your life, listen, it's detriment to yourself, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, it really is. It really is. Because let's think about this for a minute. It is by the Holy Spirit's power that a soul is converted. And, and frankly, it's by, the Holy Spirit's power that demons are expelled, cast out of an individual. And that's essentially what Jesus was saying in Matthew 12, 28, 30. You know, if I'm casting out demons by the Holy Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you. So here's the thing. to blaspheme or cast away the Holy Spirit, because it's the Holy Spirit of God that convicts, converts, regenerates. If the Holy Spirit is gone from you, you're lost.
Bert Harper You are lost.
Alex McFarland And so we don't want to, be dismissive of God's Holy Spirit, but receptive.
Bert Harper We're going to get into the next few verses, and, Jesus has got some severe words that he calls these individuals, and you don't want to miss it. As we continue studying the book of Matthew.
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Bert Harper Sing Everything I need Everything I need My father. My father hasn't and every single time the Lord will provide. That's right. My father hasn't. It's my father.
Bert Harper Amen. What a heavenly father we have. He's a good, good father. For those of you out there who father may have rejected you, deserted you, mistreated you, abused you, I just want to tell you, our heavenly Father is not like that. He's a good, good father. And he has what you need. Care and loving. He is that kind of father. I just want to make sure you know that. Those of you who are listening now, verse 33, we're in Matthew, chapter chapter 12. And it says, either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad. For a tree is known by its fruit. In other words, he's still going back to that Beelzebub, how you call doing away? No good works comes from that good person that has done it. He said, that's the tree. Now Listen to verse 34, Alex. Brood of vipers. I think that. Would you call that snakes in the grass in our vernacular, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. And an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you, here it is. And I've heard you say this, Alex, one of the scariest verses in the Bible. But I say to you, for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned. Again, we find this going back to verse 31. Therefore, Jesus was speaking, concerning these men, these Pharisees. He knew their thoughts in verse 25, and how they were conniving, trying to do anything to condemn Jesus, that they could not see any thing. He. They didn't want him to do anything good. They found everything bad. So he's talking about the good, tree, talking about the good treasure. And I honestly believe he's talking to them about their idle words, Their. Even their words condemn them. The Beelzebub condemns them.
The.
Bert Harper The whole thing that they say and think condemns them, Alex.
Alex McFarland That is true, Bert. I've read that, perhaps 25 different Bible passages in Old and NewSong Testaments that talk, talk about every idle word. And you, Know the tongue can be full of deadly poison and avoid vain babblings. But 25 verses caution us about having to give an account for every word we say. Now, that alone to me. I don't know about the rest of y', all, but that's very convicting to me. every. Every word. And I want to say, lord, please forgive me, and may my speech be godly and honoring to you. And so, verse 38, then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, teacher, we want to see a sign from you. And by the way, this might sound, innocuous or godly, but it wasn't in the sense that they were wanting something sensational, you know, it wasn't that they were seeking truth. Bert, I've actually had people say to me, you know, well, if there is a God, and if he wants my attention, let me hear a voice from heaven, or something like that. we don't tempt God that way. Jesus said to them, verse 39, an evil and adulterous generation seeks after sign, and no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he goes on, and he basically, he's comparing his resurrection, three days and nights in the heart of the earth, to Jonah's survival and, emerging alive from three days and nights in the belly of the great fish. But, Bert, in 39, an evil. We know what evil is, but adulterous generation. Now, when we think of adultery, we think of one spouse cheating on another spouse. but we can commit infidelity against God, even, you know, I mean, the love of God. God made us. God is calling us to himself. If we'll come to Christ, we can be not just really in relationship with Christ, but Romans 7 compares it to marriage. And it would be bad enough to cheat on one's spouse, but it would be, unspeakably bad to be unfaithful to God. Isn't that something? An adulterous heart against almighty God.
Alex: This speaks to us, too. But especially related to them here are these Pharisees
Bert Harper Alex, again, the Jews are there now. This speaks to us, too. I'm not getting off track here, that this does not speak to even our generation.
Bert Harper But.
Bert Harper But especially related to them here are these Pharisees, these scribes who have the Old Testament. They've read Isaiah about this Messiah, and you said this. I forgot exactly. But you were talking to a Jewish rabbi, and you asked him what he did with those passages in Psalms and Isaiah talking about the suffering servant, and they said we ignore it. They purposely ignore it. So this adulterous generation is. Is. Is cheating. They really are. They're leaving the God that they supposedly follow and going after what their law, not the law of God. They had turned the law into lasciviousness. They had turned it into that. That they relish on that. And they. What did they do? They condemned and judge, or I should say judged. And then people according to not what God's law said, but according to what they had done with God's law. So, Alex, it's appropriately named for them, but also for us today, as you said, when we see God in creation, when we know God in our conscience, and we purposely walk away from this and know this and turn someone else. Yes. An adulterous generation we are.
Alex McFarland So in First Kings, it talks about, the. The Queen of Sheba coming to meet Solomon because Solomon, you know, she hears the fame of Solomon concerning the Lord and she came to test him with hard questions. You know, Solomon, had all the wisdom. So Jesus says this. And by the way, what Christ is doing in verse 42 is a. Affirming the historicity of first kings 10. The queen of the south will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And indeed a, greater than Solomon is here. Yes, namely the Son of God. Isn't that some. Now, what. What Christ is saying here is the Queen of Sheba didn't have nearly the amount of enlightenment and revelation that these scribes and Pharisees had, but she followed just like the. The magi came from, Persia to follow the star. They were responding to the amount of light they had. And the Queen of Sheba came in response to the light that she had, and Rahab came in response. But here are the scribes and Pharisees that, I mean, they. Arguably, Bert, they had the most enlightenment that any people group it ever had in history. And I'll tell you why. Because they. They intimately knew the scriptures. The scribes counted the letters of the Old Testament books. And then here is truth personified right in front of them. And the Spirit of God is at work. We know that from the baptism of Jesus. So these people, I mean, in a way, they had more light than us. Now we've got the whole Bible and the Holy Spirit is working, but we're not physically standing face to face with Jesus, although he's here calling us. So they had all this light, and the light of the world is right there in their presence. And they attribute the work of Jesus to Satan. They. They demand a sign. Prove it. And so Jesus says, hey, there's people who came to God that didn't have a fraction of the light you've got. And they will rise up in judgment against you because you've got all this light and, you're rejecting it. And then chapter 12, 43 through 45, Jesus warns against an empty space. You know?
Bert Harper Yes, burnt.
Alex McFarland Here's the thing. And, if you plow a piece of ground and you just leave it, it's not going to stay plowed. Weeds will come up. there's a saying nature abhors a vacuum. You could get a tank full of water and leave it alone, and it'll get algae and become stagnant. I mean, if there's not a positive thing to fill a space, some other things will fill it. And so that's how it is with the spirit of a human being. I mean, if you don't have righteousness, truth, and the spirit of God, you're going to have sin, falsehood, the world, the flesh, and the devil. And Christ is, warning about an unclean spirit returning to infiltrate the place that it once had been driven out of.
Bert Harper The words in verse 44 are very powerful. And I want each and every one person here. They finds it empty. That's it. Finds it empty. It's what God does. Now, we can clean up our act. You can clean it up and that demon can leave. But if you haven't replaced it with something greater than, then you're susceptible to it coming to whatever spirit that was coming back. And coming back in greater force, more damaging. Listen, Jesus replaces darkness with light. He replaces sin with forgiveness. He is in the position of, filling you. That's right. It says, be filled with the spirit. Not empty, be filled with the spirit. Because God is coming in to make himself known. This man just cleaned himself up. The demon went out and it says in 45. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself and enters into this man m. And the last state of this man is worse than the first. Now, notice what he relates this to. Not just an individual. But listen to this, Alex. So shall it be with this wicked generation.
Some say Jesus was dismissive of his earthly family in Matthew chapter 12
We're talking about a society, we're talking about groups, we're talking about a generation here. When you find yourself empty, when you find yourself in something that is untrue and you've driven truth out and replaced it with untruth, it's going to be compounded seven times worse. So, Alex, this, this verses, they're great warnings There aren't they that will.
Alex McFarland There really are. There really are. That's why it's so imperative not to passively just believe anything or allow anything to lead you, but positively fill yourself with God's truth and Scripture. So, while he was talking to the people, his mother, and brothers stood outside seeking to speak with him. Then one said to him, look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak with you. But Jesus answered. He, verse 48, said to the one who told him, who is my mother and who are my brothers? And he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, ancestor, and mother. Well, let me say this, Bert. some people have kind of found this passage a little bit problematic. I don't think Jesus was being dismissive of his earthly family, his mother, Mary, and really his sisters and brothers, half brothers. Because, while Joseph helped raise Jesus, Joseph was not Christ's biological father. Obviously, Jesus was born of a virgin. You know, we don't hear tell of Joseph. So many think by this point Joseph had probably died. But here's the point. Christ's primary mission was as the savior of the world, and he's bringing in the kingdom of God, purchasing the church of God, building the family of God. And really, he's saying here, as chapter 12 concludes, his family, the family of God, brother, sister, mother, are all who would believe in him. I know that's, It might seem like it's spiritualizing it, but I think that's really about the only way to understand it. Bert, what do you say?
Bert Harper Well, I'm not sure this tells the whole story. it doesn't say what he did after he said this. Okay. again, I don't see it disrespectful. It was similar to when Mary came to him and said, you know, they're out of wine, you know, and he said, woman, what is that to do with me? Yeah, again, woman, it wasn't disparaging, but he did say that in an honorable way, I believe. I think this is in an honorable way. But what I'm saying is, notice what he does. It doesn't say. What he did tells us what he said. So them being out there, put them on hold. We don't know. We don't know the rest. We're not Paul Harvey. Those of you that remember Paul Harvey. We don't know the rest of the story on this, except we know this Mary would be a Part of the ministry of Jesus. She was there at the cross with Christ. We know that at least two brothers, possibly more, came. And James became a strong elder in the church at Jerusalem. I mean, he was there. Jude possibly was, Jesus brother that wrote the book of Jude right before Revelation. So again, Jesus is knowing what he's doing. Jesus is in control. He is the one that speaks. But again, harshness, I don't see it that way. I think it's. He's got priority. My priority right now. You out there, you're not my priority right now. My priority is doing this, that God's called me to do. So, Alex, sometimes when we set our priorities, again, you have time for your family, but sometimes you have to figure out how to handle it on a, on a calendar, on a. On a clock. Don't you know? And Jesus took care of his mother at the cross, so I don't. He didn't write them off is what I'm saying.
Bert Harper Not to say.
Alex McFarland I guess it well said. You know, there's a famous picture of Billy Graham. I think it was painted by Christians in Russia, maybe even back during the Cold war era of the USSR. And it's, based on Matthew 13:3a. So were went out to sow. And Jesus begins to tell this parable. Now, again, a parable is a story, an earthly illustration that everybody would understand, but with heavenly applications, the same. Jesus went out and sat by the sea, and he begins to teach. Now we got questions. When we come back, we'll talk more about the sowing, the seed and the sower and the harvest. But here's the number. Listen to this. 888-589-8840. Triple 858-98840. Call us with your Bible questions. After this brief break on exploring the Word, we'll answer your Bible questions. Stay tuned,
Bert Harper friend.
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If I get down, you pick me up from the ground. You give me love and don't give out. Giving. No condition.
Alex McFarland Welcome back to Exploring the Word. We're lifting up the name of Jesus. Hey, that number toll free if you want to ask a Bible question. We would love to have each and every Bible question. Bert and I will do our best to give you a good factual answer, but it's triple 858-98-80. Triple 858-9840. We're going to go to the calls and, Hey, Bert, I was on the phone this morning with our dear brother Jim Pardee at Trails End Christian Ranch over in Ekalaka, Montana, not too far from Rapid City, South Dakota, not too far from Belle Fourche. And that's where Angie and I will be. Good Lord willing, we fly. And there's, there's a family marriage weekend tomorrow night through Monday morning. And if you're out in Montana, oh, my goodness, it's beautiful out there. But Angie and I would love to meet you. And, the schedule is at Trails End Ranch. But, Bert, are you ready to go to.
Bert Harper Ready to go. Where did we go to first?
Welcome to Exploring the Word. Kentucky, Steve
Alex McFarland We begin in Kentucky. Kentucky, Steve. thanks for calling. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Yeah, good afternoon. Bert, I don't know of anybody that has more enthusiasm than you. I mean, it's about jumps through the radio at me.
Bert Harper Well, I'm sorry they had to calm. Steve, let me tell you, I'm calmed down from the first time I got on. And, hey, that's. It's not just the Holy Spirit, it's. It has to do with personality. but anyway, thank you, Steve. Thank you, brother. Go ahead.
And Alex, I asked God if I can be like you.
Alex McFarland Bless you.
Bert Harper good choice. Good choice between Bert and Alex. Steve, go ahead, man.
Alex McFarland You need to aspire higher than that, my friend.
Steve: I think it's the culmination of what was going to happen
So anyway, when, Jesus was talking to the scribes and Pharisees, he told him that he was going. This generation would be held accountable for all the Righteous blood that was shed from righteous able to Zechariah. so was it, is this where he's transferring the guilt of the people that lived before who actually committed the murders to this generation that he's talking to?
Bert Harper Steve, That's a good comment. I think it's the culmination, Alex. Okay. Because, each generation will suffer from their own, you know, mistakes, their decisions, you know, they will. And ultimate is hell. We know that. But it kind of culminated in the fullness of time. Jesus came. I don't think just talking about the Roman Empire being full, the Greek language. I believe it is the culmination of what was going to happen. Alex, take it away.
Alex McFarland Yeah, yeah, I agree with you that, you know, sometimes we've been asked questions about like generational curses or something like that. I really don't believe in that. Everybody is accountable for their own sin. Everybody is responsible to come to Christ. Now, parents and ancestors can do things that there are repercussions. you know, but the, the spiritual guilt and, or forgiveness. It's every individual's personal relationship before a holy God. but nevertheless, you know, our actions do matter, but spiritually we all bear our own burden and we take it to Christ to be redeemed and forgiven. Let's go to Virginia. Rich in Virginia. Thanks for holding.
Alex: sometimes people say once saved, always saved
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hi, I was calling because I wanted to see if you could help, talk a little bit about the difference between, say, once saved, always saved, and the perseverance of the saints. The reason I ask is I'm in a church that subscribes, to grace theology. And the only thing that I don't really agree with is they seem to believe that if you're young, you could be 4 years old and, you know, say that you've given your life to Jesus and then you could live licentiously the rest of your life and
Alex McFarland still go to heaven.
And it seems that, I'm thinking that it might be a little bit more towards perseverance of the saints as the truth. But I'm not necessarily, I'm not a Calvinist, so I'm not sure exactly where it stands. I was hoping you could talk about that.
Bert Harper Okay. Rich, Alex, take it away. Yeah.
Thank you.
Alex McFarland Yeah. You know, in a way, these kind of, doctrines are related. Baptists will often talk about eternal security of the believer. And I, I do believe that if a person is born again for a lot of reasons, but I believe in the eternal security of the born again Believer, in other words, sometimes people kind of say, once saved, always saved. Well, yeah, I, I do believe that. But now the term perseverance of the saints is kind of that There is a thing called tulip, T, U L I P. And in Reformed theology, which, you know, generally Presbyterianism, but there's. T stands for total depravity, U, unconditional election, L, limited atonement, which I, very much lovingly, but respectively disagree with irresistible grace and p. Perseverance of the saints. In other words, if somebody is one of the elect, they will persevere and never permanently fall away from salvation. now the way this is constructed, it's well intentioned, but it's not completely biblical. I mean, it is salvation. But the way that generally Calvinism phrases things is to fully, fully, fully amplify the sovereign work of God. And, as much as is possible, minimize or even deny human free will and human involvement. And Calvinists are saved. Anybody saved that believes in Jesus. But Bert, I think that in God's Word we get both. We get, yes, God is providential, sovereign. Nothing forces God's hand. And yet we humans, we are moral agents. We have free will, and we are responsible to respond and receive and yes, choose to believe in Jesus. It doesn't mean that we've amplified man. It doesn't mean we've diminished the sovereignty of God. But it's. It's both and, not either or, and so perseverance of the saints or, eternal security, call it what you will, but if somebody's born again, they're secure in Jesus.
Bert Harper Amen. Let me just say this. the Bible teaches that once you come to Christ, there's a change in your life. It doesn't mean you will not struggle. It does not mean you will not sin. But to go on sinning willfully rebelling. let me put it this way. They used to call it backsliding. We don't hear that word very much. The Bible does not teach continual backsliding, Alex, you know, well said.
Alex McFarland So well said.
Bert Harper So those people, just because they said it, and I believe in once saved, always say, but I do believe a better word is if saved. Make sure, you know, this is what I'm telling anybody who's listening. Make sure you are saved. There's been a time in your life when you knew you couldn't save yourself. You turned from your way and you turned to Christ, asking him to come into your life, forgive you of your sin, and be Lord of your life. You may have not have said those words. But that was the heart that you would say. God have your way. In my life. I pray if you've never done that, you'd do that today.
Amen.
Exploring the Word welcomes Mr. Brigg to talk about Satan
Alex McFarland let's go to Texas. Colleen in Texas. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hello everyone. Hello, Mr. Brigg. Mr. Alex. Yes. I'm calling in, to ask you all about this. I read my Bible and I strictly go by my Bible. I believe in what Jehovah and Jesus and the Bible says I go by that. Now. I, Reading about a book right now in front of me about Satan, the devil and how he is and everything. And he's called many names in the Bible by Jehovah, God and Jesus. Jehovah, God's holy Bible, His Word, his truth, the soul, the Spirit. He called Baltimore, he's called the Dragon. Many other names, but I have never. I heard you all say this because I speak the truth. Because God wants us to speak the truth with one another and not lie. I heard you all say this and many others said this, and I. I haven't found it in my Bible at all. Why? God, Jehovah and Jesus saying one thing, causing Satan the devil, one thing in the Bible names. But I hear some of you all say his name is Lucifer. I haven't come across Lucifer.
Bert Harper Okay, Colleen, we got you. Colleen, we took a while. Let me see, is it Isaiah 14? Oh, Lucifer, son of the morning, Alex.
Alex McFarland Isaiah 14:12. Actually, that's it.
Bert Harper That's it, Colleen, he's there. Read Isaiah 14:12 and you'll see that I'll take my throne. I'm going to make it higher than your throne. I'm taking your place, God. And that was Lucifer?
Alex McFarland Yeah. there was Gabriel, Micah and Lucifer. Three archangels. And just as, 30% of the archangel, one of the three fell. 30% of the angels sided with Lucifer. Lucifer cast out of heaven. Now he's the devil. Beelzebub, Satan, the dragon, that old serpent, the accuser, the. The man of sin, the son of perdition. Lot, of bad names for that fallen angel. Let's go to Mark in Virginia. Mark, welcome.
Yes, Hi. I'm a very literal person and I have trouble with things that don't have specific instruction.
How do you walk in the spirit? Alex, you go first on this one
How do you walk in the spirit?
Bert Harper Okay, Alex, you go first on this one and I'll make my comment later.
Alex McFarland Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians, I believe. That's Galatians 5, isn't it, Bert?
Bert Harper It is that's it.
Alex McFarland Yeah. so I would say this. well, and for one thing, walk in the spirit involves not fulfilling the lust of the flesh. The other thing is God's word, which renews your mind. Romans 12. Because, look, every action is preceded by thoughts. And one of the ways that we make it more habitual to walk in the spirit is to fulfill our mind, fill our mind with the words in the truth of God. So Galatians 5:16, and following, the Spirit, the word, prayer, and avoiding the works of the flesh. And it lists them beginning in verse 19, verse 22. But in other words, in contrast to this. And so, Bert, I think, a good, good internalizing Galatians 5 would really, begin to equip us to walk in the Spirit.
Bert Harper It would. Let me give you this, Mark. Good. I love your question, brother. I want to tell you, and those that think, like you, it helps. Those of us that can do literature and things like that. You guys help us. Let me use the word walk. It's one step at a time, and it's in the direction God wants you to go. So walking in the spirit is obeying him, trusting him, looking to him. When you walk, you're looking ahead, so you're looking at him as he is leading you through his word, through the Holy Spirit of God. And that's why the Holy Spirit is so important. The other thing is to be filled with the Spirit. When you're filled with the Spirit, that means, yes, I know it's fullness like that. But the term that's used is nautical. It's like a sailboat lifting its sails, and the wind fills the sails. So you have all these terminologies filled with the spirit walking in the spirit, but it's going toward God, under God's power, and him leading you. Hope that helps.
Brent has three prayer requests for God; we want to hear them
Alex, Brent has three prayer requests. He wanted to get those in. We do want to hear them as well. Real quick.
Alex McFarland Okay.
Alex McFarland These all came in, late Tuesday afternoon. I wasn't feeling too well, so I didn't notice them, and I apologize. But I've got one from Tabitha in Georgia. She's asking for prayers for a little boy with leukemia. She can't name his name. also, Dennis is asking for prayers for his nephew's son who has cancer. His nephew son is seven. Carla, is asking for prayers for her friend Sarah who has extreme nerve pain.
Bert Harper Okay, we got that. Alex, can I pray for these real quick?
Please?
Bert Harper Lead us.
Bert Harper Okay, Father, thank you. That people would call in and say, I need God. I need God. I need him in my life. I need him to help me. I need him to help a friend. And so thank you for Tabitha with that, little boy, Father, that you would be with him, strengthen him. I pray that the nephew, would be strong, seven years old. God, it just, it hurts. But yet at the same time, we are finding you sufficient. And we're praying that you would work your way in their hearts and their lives that they would trust you. And we do pray for healing. And Father, I do pray for Carla and the prayer concerning the nerve and the pain, that can be severe. And living with chronic pain is a reality in some people's lives. Father, I pray relief. I pray that they would. They. They would look unto you. And we pray for this. In Jesus name, Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Thank you, Brent, for sharing those sort of. Go to Jon in Louisiana. Jon, if you don't mind somewhat quickly there, friend.
Bert Harper Yes. In Matthew 25 we have three cases of people who are, received by Christ, saved or rejected because of their behavior. And in the one in the talents, it presupposes that the guy that, failed, that he was a believer. So the security of the believer is also in question with the talents. So how do we understand salvation, by works or by behavior with those three, the, virgins, the talents, and the other people in three.
Bert Harper Alex, we got a minute? Can you give a short answer?
Alex McFarland Well, yeah, we look at, I would say look at all the scriptures related to salvation and one I love first, Jon 3:23, that says, this is the commandment. Believe on Jesus Christ, whom the Lord hath sent. Now, we're not saved by works. If we get saved, good works should follow the talents. And, those things are reflective of a heart yielded to God. But really the, action that brings a person into salvation is believing in Jesus Christ. Jon 6:41st Jon 3:23, Jon 3:16.
Bert Harper We believe in Jesus, and every one of those is being ready for his coming. We want you to be ready by trusting him as savior and Lord. It's been good to be with you today. We thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Tell someone about this program, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.
Alex McFarland The views and opinions expressed in this
Bert Harper broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
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Bert and Alex explore the Gospel of Matthew in this edition of Exploring
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Alex McFarland Welcome to today's edition of Exploring the Word. We continue in the Gospel of Matthew. Yesterday we were in, in Matthew chapter 12. And we're going to go today and probably get into one of the frequently asked questions about the gospel and what is the unpardonable sin. Yesterday we were going through where Christ healed on the Sabbath and then there was some prophecy from Isaiah that was being fulfilled in the life of Jesus. But a lot here in understanding who Christ is, what the Gospel is, and our relationship to the Savior. And we welcome you to this edition of the program. Bert Harper is with me. And so Bert, I gotta tell you, every chapter is so rich with content. Every chapter has so much to learn. And there's four gospels, all of which are wonderful. But I'm loving our trip through the book of Matthew.
Bert Harper I am as well. And I know I repeat myself, but it seems like whichever gospel I'm studying or reading is my favorite at the time anyway. And I'm, I'm, I'm seeing some things or noticing some things that you know, gives a little bit different emphases. And I'm enjoying this trip. I hope everyone else is. As we explore the book of Matthew and in chapter 22 there's a healing. And in place of them coming, someone brought this individual. And it sounded like, purposefully, it sounded like possibly, oh, he can't take care of this one. This is going to be bigger than he is. Or if he does it, we're going to condemn him for doing it at that time. So Alex, again, this is the period when he is beginning to withdraw and go into the other parts of the and you know, away from where the Pharisees were so dominant and go into other areas. But they're following him, they're trying to catch him, they're trying to get anything because you remember what we said, they were determined to destroy him. And but Jesus, he knows, he knows where to go and when to go and what to do, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He really does. He really does it. Just in verse 14 there, it says they wanted to destroy him. And Jesus knew it. He withdrew. And the thing is, when he healed all these people, like in verse 16, he warned them not to make it known what. What's touching to me, and I hope I can convey this, clearly, he knew he was ultimately going to die on the cross. And, the people could have, you know, rushed and said, he's the Messiah, you know, receive him in addition to the ministry, fulfilling all the prophecy, preaching, teaching, healing, raising the dead, validating his messiahship. Additionally, he had another thing on his shoulders. Keeping everything on the right timetable, everything right on track. it didn't lag behind. It didn't go too quickly. He was keeping it right on track.
Why?
Alex McFarland So that he could be rejected and nailed to the cross. But yet he was doing all that because of love for us and the human race's desperate need for a savior. And I guess, Bert, it just really touches my heart. In addition to everything else on his shoulders, he was keeping the timetable on course to fulfill this great plan of salvation promised by and laid out by Almighty God.
Bert Harper Amen. In the Book of Jon. It even makes it plainer, because two or three times he says, my hour has not yet come. My time has not come. But when you get over there, closer, it says, my hour has come. And so Jesus was in control. And so here, that word he withdrew from there is very important. In other words, don't. It's just not. Okay.
Bert Harper He withdrew.
Bert Harper No, he withdrew because of everything that Alex just said concerning the timing and. And everything going with. So here they bring. 1, 2. In verse 22, they brought him a demon possessed, blind and mute. And he healed him so that the blind and mute man both spoke and saw. The multitudes were amazed, said, could this be the son of David? But when the Pharisees heard it, they said, this fellow does not cast out demons except by Beelzebub, the ruler of the demons. Now, how, again, how foolish it is. I, mean, they were trying to make him as low as they could. They were trying to falsify everything that he did. The multitudes were amazed.
Why were the Pharisees not amazed by Jesus, Bert says
Alex, I got one question. Why were the Pharisees not amazed?
Alex McFarland that's a good question. I think the Pharisees were not amazed for a number of reasons. One, it wasn't the fulfillment of their messianic expectations. You know, the Bible says, there's a way that seems right to a man, the end thereof of the ways of death. And I've had people say to me, bert, in sharing the gospels, you know, well, why. Why do I need to believe in Jesus? I'm a pretty good person. Or, you know, why? do you remember Many years ago, Ted Turner, the sports and broadcasting figure, you know, he said, and I'm not going to repeat it because it was very blasphemous. But in the late 1980s, he basically, made some very disparaging remarks about Jesus and how he didn't need somebody to die on a cross for him. He was a pretty good person. Thank you very much. You remember that?
Bert Harper I remember it.
Alex McFarland So there are people that have their own idea about what morality or righteousness or goodness would look like, and they just don't think they need a savior. And so to your question, why would the people receive him? this is verse 15. But the Pharisees would not. I think it was probably self sufficiency. It was pride. Well, here's what Jesus said. You do err not knowing the scriptures of the power of God. I'm going to boil it down to this. Anybody who thinks Jesus is not the way, they don't know God's word, God's revelation, nor God's power.
Bert Harper I agree with everyone. I'm going to throw another word in there, because it blinded them. It will blind people today. The word is agenda. They had their own agenda. And part of that agenda was, as you said, it wasn't their idea of what Messiah would be or who he would be. And it did not fit into their agenda of who the law. It did not fit into their agenda of ruling. It did not, you know, it did not fit. I said that to bring this warning to those that might be listening today that said, well, we're considering it, we're thinking about it. they may be driving a truck, a car. They may be. They may be incarcerated. And they're thinking, oh, okay, okay. Check your agenda. Is your agenda to get right with God? Not that you're right, but you need to get right with God. The only way is through Jesus Christ. Be open to him. And notice what Jesus did in verse 25. He Knowing their thoughts. That always amazes me, Alex. I know he could, but it always amazes me, you know, that he knew what was behind, behind the statement, you know, and he says, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Every city or house divided against itself will not stand. And if Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out. Here's the one. I really loved it. And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out by. Therefore they shall be your judges. Alexand, go on, read the rest. But, man, those two statements, Jesus just crushes them with their. With their statement, doesn't he?
Alex McFarland He really does. He really does. And, I mean, what a ludicrous statement this is in verse 24. I don't even want to read it. But they're basically attributing the power of Jesus to the power of the devil. I mean, and this is so blasphemous. Now, what's. What's interesting is Jesus, before pronouncing, the judgment that would be on such a thing, he logically explains it. He says, you know, why would Satan want to cast out Satan? You know, every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation. Now, here's the thing. the power of God always eclipses the feeble efforts of the devil. The devil is created. God is the creator. The devil and his demons are finite. God is infinite, and God is wise and powerful and righteous, and God is eternal, and Satan is limited and evil. And it's, it's like in Jon, chapter one, the light shined in the darkness, and the dark darkness did not overcome it. And so I love what Jesus says here. He says, if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, which is exactly what he was doing, verse 28, surely the kingdom of God has come to you. You know, and so, he who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters abroad. Verse, you know, that's very similar to where the Bible says, he who has the Son has life. He who does not have the Son does not have life. Now, all of that to get to really, an anathema and condemnation on these religious professionals that were blind.
Bert Harper Yeah, that's the reason it's introduced in verse 31. Well, therefore, I say to you. And, again, when you say therefore, you say, okay, what. What's it there for? Let's look at what was there. Therefore, I say to you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven men. And then the second one, he talks about this. Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him. But whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him, either in this age or in the age to come.
Alex: To blaspheme or cast away the Holy Spirit is blasphemy
Bert Harper Alex.
Bert Harper I was talking to one of, our friends here that's employed here at afa and. And he was asking where we were and, far as exploring the Word, I told him, and I told him about blaspheming. The Holy Spirit. And he said, he said, now here's his statement. They started off with, I may know not. I may not know exactly what it is, but it's bad.
Alex McFarland Yeah.
Bert Harper And again, I, you know, you and I have talked about this blasphemy. We talked. Is it then now? Well, you know, there's thoughts on it. But let me share this, and I'll throw it back to you on this because I think it's so important. It says it will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come. I would say this against or blaspheming the Holy Spirit. The Father sent the Son. The Son came and died. And the Holy Spirit came to convict men and draw men to themselves. Now, I just want to tell you this. You reject that. you reject him and you reject the fact that he is. There you are. That's the last straw. Alex, Okay. If you do not respond to the Holy Spirit's call in your life, listen, it's detriment to yourself, isn't it?
Alex McFarland Well, it really is. It really is. Because let's think about this for a minute. It is by the Holy Spirit's power that a soul is converted. And, and frankly, it's by, the Holy Spirit's power that demons are expelled, cast out of an individual. And that's essentially what Jesus was saying in Matthew 12, 28, 30. You know, if I'm casting out demons by the Holy Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has arrived among you. So here's the thing. to blaspheme or cast away the Holy Spirit, because it's the Holy Spirit of God that convicts, converts, regenerates. If the Holy Spirit is gone from you, you're lost.
Bert Harper You are lost.
Alex McFarland And so we don't want to, be dismissive of God's Holy Spirit, but receptive.
Bert Harper We're going to get into the next few verses, and, Jesus has got some severe words that he calls these individuals, and you don't want to miss it. As we continue studying the book of Matthew.
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Bert Harper Sing Everything I need Everything I need My father. My father hasn't and every single time the Lord will provide. That's right. My father hasn't. It's my father.
Bert Harper Amen. What a heavenly father we have. He's a good, good father. For those of you out there who father may have rejected you, deserted you, mistreated you, abused you, I just want to tell you, our heavenly Father is not like that. He's a good, good father. And he has what you need. Care and loving. He is that kind of father. I just want to make sure you know that. Those of you who are listening now, verse 33, we're in Matthew, chapter chapter 12. And it says, either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree bad and its fruit bad. For a tree is known by its fruit. In other words, he's still going back to that Beelzebub, how you call doing away? No good works comes from that good person that has done it. He said, that's the tree. Now Listen to verse 34, Alex. Brood of vipers. I think that. Would you call that snakes in the grass in our vernacular, how can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things. And an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you, here it is. And I've heard you say this, Alex, one of the scariest verses in the Bible. But I say to you, for every idle word men may speak, they will give an account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words, you will be justified, and by your words, you will be condemned. Again, we find this going back to verse 31. Therefore, Jesus was speaking, concerning these men, these Pharisees. He knew their thoughts in verse 25, and how they were conniving, trying to do anything to condemn Jesus, that they could not see any thing. He. They didn't want him to do anything good. They found everything bad. So he's talking about the good, tree, talking about the good treasure. And I honestly believe he's talking to them about their idle words, Their. Even their words condemn them. The Beelzebub condemns them.
The.
Bert Harper The whole thing that they say and think condemns them, Alex.
Alex McFarland That is true, Bert. I've read that, perhaps 25 different Bible passages in Old and NewSong Testaments that talk, talk about every idle word. And you, Know the tongue can be full of deadly poison and avoid vain babblings. But 25 verses caution us about having to give an account for every word we say. Now, that alone to me. I don't know about the rest of y', all, but that's very convicting to me. every. Every word. And I want to say, lord, please forgive me, and may my speech be godly and honoring to you. And so, verse 38, then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered, saying, teacher, we want to see a sign from you. And by the way, this might sound, innocuous or godly, but it wasn't in the sense that they were wanting something sensational, you know, it wasn't that they were seeking truth. Bert, I've actually had people say to me, you know, well, if there is a God, and if he wants my attention, let me hear a voice from heaven, or something like that. we don't tempt God that way. Jesus said to them, verse 39, an evil and adulterous generation seeks after sign, and no sign will be given except the sign of the prophet Jonah. And he goes on, and he basically, he's comparing his resurrection, three days and nights in the heart of the earth, to Jonah's survival and, emerging alive from three days and nights in the belly of the great fish. But, Bert, in 39, an evil. We know what evil is, but adulterous generation. Now, when we think of adultery, we think of one spouse cheating on another spouse. but we can commit infidelity against God, even, you know, I mean, the love of God. God made us. God is calling us to himself. If we'll come to Christ, we can be not just really in relationship with Christ, but Romans 7 compares it to marriage. And it would be bad enough to cheat on one's spouse, but it would be, unspeakably bad to be unfaithful to God. Isn't that something? An adulterous heart against almighty God.
Alex: This speaks to us, too. But especially related to them here are these Pharisees
Bert Harper Alex, again, the Jews are there now. This speaks to us, too. I'm not getting off track here, that this does not speak to even our generation.
Bert Harper But.
Bert Harper But especially related to them here are these Pharisees, these scribes who have the Old Testament. They've read Isaiah about this Messiah, and you said this. I forgot exactly. But you were talking to a Jewish rabbi, and you asked him what he did with those passages in Psalms and Isaiah talking about the suffering servant, and they said we ignore it. They purposely ignore it. So this adulterous generation is. Is. Is cheating. They really are. They're leaving the God that they supposedly follow and going after what their law, not the law of God. They had turned the law into lasciviousness. They had turned it into that. That they relish on that. And they. What did they do? They condemned and judge, or I should say judged. And then people according to not what God's law said, but according to what they had done with God's law. So, Alex, it's appropriately named for them, but also for us today, as you said, when we see God in creation, when we know God in our conscience, and we purposely walk away from this and know this and turn someone else. Yes. An adulterous generation we are.
Alex McFarland So in First Kings, it talks about, the. The Queen of Sheba coming to meet Solomon because Solomon, you know, she hears the fame of Solomon concerning the Lord and she came to test him with hard questions. You know, Solomon, had all the wisdom. So Jesus says this. And by the way, what Christ is doing in verse 42 is a. Affirming the historicity of first kings 10. The queen of the south will rise up in judgment with this generation and condemn it, for she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. And indeed a, greater than Solomon is here. Yes, namely the Son of God. Isn't that some. Now, what. What Christ is saying here is the Queen of Sheba didn't have nearly the amount of enlightenment and revelation that these scribes and Pharisees had, but she followed just like the. The magi came from, Persia to follow the star. They were responding to the amount of light they had. And the Queen of Sheba came in response to the light that she had, and Rahab came in response. But here are the scribes and Pharisees that, I mean, they. Arguably, Bert, they had the most enlightenment that any people group it ever had in history. And I'll tell you why. Because they. They intimately knew the scriptures. The scribes counted the letters of the Old Testament books. And then here is truth personified right in front of them. And the Spirit of God is at work. We know that from the baptism of Jesus. So these people, I mean, in a way, they had more light than us. Now we've got the whole Bible and the Holy Spirit is working, but we're not physically standing face to face with Jesus, although he's here calling us. So they had all this light, and the light of the world is right there in their presence. And they attribute the work of Jesus to Satan. They. They demand a sign. Prove it. And so Jesus says, hey, there's people who came to God that didn't have a fraction of the light you've got. And they will rise up in judgment against you because you've got all this light and, you're rejecting it. And then chapter 12, 43 through 45, Jesus warns against an empty space. You know?
Bert Harper Yes, burnt.
Alex McFarland Here's the thing. And, if you plow a piece of ground and you just leave it, it's not going to stay plowed. Weeds will come up. there's a saying nature abhors a vacuum. You could get a tank full of water and leave it alone, and it'll get algae and become stagnant. I mean, if there's not a positive thing to fill a space, some other things will fill it. And so that's how it is with the spirit of a human being. I mean, if you don't have righteousness, truth, and the spirit of God, you're going to have sin, falsehood, the world, the flesh, and the devil. And Christ is, warning about an unclean spirit returning to infiltrate the place that it once had been driven out of.
Bert Harper The words in verse 44 are very powerful. And I want each and every one person here. They finds it empty. That's it. Finds it empty. It's what God does. Now, we can clean up our act. You can clean it up and that demon can leave. But if you haven't replaced it with something greater than, then you're susceptible to it coming to whatever spirit that was coming back. And coming back in greater force, more damaging. Listen, Jesus replaces darkness with light. He replaces sin with forgiveness. He is in the position of, filling you. That's right. It says, be filled with the spirit. Not empty, be filled with the spirit. Because God is coming in to make himself known. This man just cleaned himself up. The demon went out and it says in 45. Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself and enters into this man m. And the last state of this man is worse than the first. Now, notice what he relates this to. Not just an individual. But listen to this, Alex. So shall it be with this wicked generation.
Some say Jesus was dismissive of his earthly family in Matthew chapter 12
We're talking about a society, we're talking about groups, we're talking about a generation here. When you find yourself empty, when you find yourself in something that is untrue and you've driven truth out and replaced it with untruth, it's going to be compounded seven times worse. So, Alex, this, this verses, they're great warnings There aren't they that will.
Alex McFarland There really are. There really are. That's why it's so imperative not to passively just believe anything or allow anything to lead you, but positively fill yourself with God's truth and Scripture. So, while he was talking to the people, his mother, and brothers stood outside seeking to speak with him. Then one said to him, look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak with you. But Jesus answered. He, verse 48, said to the one who told him, who is my mother and who are my brothers? And he stretched out his hand toward his disciples and said, here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, ancestor, and mother. Well, let me say this, Bert. some people have kind of found this passage a little bit problematic. I don't think Jesus was being dismissive of his earthly family, his mother, Mary, and really his sisters and brothers, half brothers. Because, while Joseph helped raise Jesus, Joseph was not Christ's biological father. Obviously, Jesus was born of a virgin. You know, we don't hear tell of Joseph. So many think by this point Joseph had probably died. But here's the point. Christ's primary mission was as the savior of the world, and he's bringing in the kingdom of God, purchasing the church of God, building the family of God. And really, he's saying here, as chapter 12 concludes, his family, the family of God, brother, sister, mother, are all who would believe in him. I know that's, It might seem like it's spiritualizing it, but I think that's really about the only way to understand it. Bert, what do you say?
Bert Harper Well, I'm not sure this tells the whole story. it doesn't say what he did after he said this. Okay. again, I don't see it disrespectful. It was similar to when Mary came to him and said, you know, they're out of wine, you know, and he said, woman, what is that to do with me? Yeah, again, woman, it wasn't disparaging, but he did say that in an honorable way, I believe. I think this is in an honorable way. But what I'm saying is, notice what he does. It doesn't say. What he did tells us what he said. So them being out there, put them on hold. We don't know. We don't know the rest. We're not Paul Harvey. Those of you that remember Paul Harvey. We don't know the rest of the story on this, except we know this Mary would be a Part of the ministry of Jesus. She was there at the cross with Christ. We know that at least two brothers, possibly more, came. And James became a strong elder in the church at Jerusalem. I mean, he was there. Jude possibly was, Jesus brother that wrote the book of Jude right before Revelation. So again, Jesus is knowing what he's doing. Jesus is in control. He is the one that speaks. But again, harshness, I don't see it that way. I think it's. He's got priority. My priority right now. You out there, you're not my priority right now. My priority is doing this, that God's called me to do. So, Alex, sometimes when we set our priorities, again, you have time for your family, but sometimes you have to figure out how to handle it on a, on a calendar, on a. On a clock. Don't you know? And Jesus took care of his mother at the cross, so I don't. He didn't write them off is what I'm saying.
Bert Harper Not to say.
Alex McFarland I guess it well said. You know, there's a famous picture of Billy Graham. I think it was painted by Christians in Russia, maybe even back during the Cold war era of the USSR. And it's, based on Matthew 13:3a. So were went out to sow. And Jesus begins to tell this parable. Now, again, a parable is a story, an earthly illustration that everybody would understand, but with heavenly applications, the same. Jesus went out and sat by the sea, and he begins to teach. Now we got questions. When we come back, we'll talk more about the sowing, the seed and the sower and the harvest. But here's the number. Listen to this. 888-589-8840. Triple 858-98840. Call us with your Bible questions. After this brief break on exploring the Word, we'll answer your Bible questions. Stay tuned,
Bert Harper friend.
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If I get down, you pick me up from the ground. You give me love and don't give out. Giving. No condition.
Alex McFarland Welcome back to Exploring the Word. We're lifting up the name of Jesus. Hey, that number toll free if you want to ask a Bible question. We would love to have each and every Bible question. Bert and I will do our best to give you a good factual answer, but it's triple 858-98-80. Triple 858-9840. We're going to go to the calls and, Hey, Bert, I was on the phone this morning with our dear brother Jim Pardee at Trails End Christian Ranch over in Ekalaka, Montana, not too far from Rapid City, South Dakota, not too far from Belle Fourche. And that's where Angie and I will be. Good Lord willing, we fly. And there's, there's a family marriage weekend tomorrow night through Monday morning. And if you're out in Montana, oh, my goodness, it's beautiful out there. But Angie and I would love to meet you. And, the schedule is at Trails End Ranch. But, Bert, are you ready to go to.
Bert Harper Ready to go. Where did we go to first?
Welcome to Exploring the Word. Kentucky, Steve
Alex McFarland We begin in Kentucky. Kentucky, Steve. thanks for calling. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Yeah, good afternoon. Bert, I don't know of anybody that has more enthusiasm than you. I mean, it's about jumps through the radio at me.
Bert Harper Well, I'm sorry they had to calm. Steve, let me tell you, I'm calmed down from the first time I got on. And, hey, that's. It's not just the Holy Spirit, it's. It has to do with personality. but anyway, thank you, Steve. Thank you, brother. Go ahead.
And Alex, I asked God if I can be like you.
Alex McFarland Bless you.
Bert Harper good choice. Good choice between Bert and Alex. Steve, go ahead, man.
Alex McFarland You need to aspire higher than that, my friend.
Steve: I think it's the culmination of what was going to happen
So anyway, when, Jesus was talking to the scribes and Pharisees, he told him that he was going. This generation would be held accountable for all the Righteous blood that was shed from righteous able to Zechariah. so was it, is this where he's transferring the guilt of the people that lived before who actually committed the murders to this generation that he's talking to?
Bert Harper Steve, That's a good comment. I think it's the culmination, Alex. Okay. Because, each generation will suffer from their own, you know, mistakes, their decisions, you know, they will. And ultimate is hell. We know that. But it kind of culminated in the fullness of time. Jesus came. I don't think just talking about the Roman Empire being full, the Greek language. I believe it is the culmination of what was going to happen. Alex, take it away.
Alex McFarland Yeah, yeah, I agree with you that, you know, sometimes we've been asked questions about like generational curses or something like that. I really don't believe in that. Everybody is accountable for their own sin. Everybody is responsible to come to Christ. Now, parents and ancestors can do things that there are repercussions. you know, but the, the spiritual guilt and, or forgiveness. It's every individual's personal relationship before a holy God. but nevertheless, you know, our actions do matter, but spiritually we all bear our own burden and we take it to Christ to be redeemed and forgiven. Let's go to Virginia. Rich in Virginia. Thanks for holding.
Alex: sometimes people say once saved, always saved
Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hi, I was calling because I wanted to see if you could help, talk a little bit about the difference between, say, once saved, always saved, and the perseverance of the saints. The reason I ask is I'm in a church that subscribes, to grace theology. And the only thing that I don't really agree with is they seem to believe that if you're young, you could be 4 years old and, you know, say that you've given your life to Jesus and then you could live licentiously the rest of your life and
Alex McFarland still go to heaven.
And it seems that, I'm thinking that it might be a little bit more towards perseverance of the saints as the truth. But I'm not necessarily, I'm not a Calvinist, so I'm not sure exactly where it stands. I was hoping you could talk about that.
Bert Harper Okay. Rich, Alex, take it away. Yeah.
Thank you.
Alex McFarland Yeah. You know, in a way, these kind of, doctrines are related. Baptists will often talk about eternal security of the believer. And I, I do believe that if a person is born again for a lot of reasons, but I believe in the eternal security of the born again Believer, in other words, sometimes people kind of say, once saved, always saved. Well, yeah, I, I do believe that. But now the term perseverance of the saints is kind of that There is a thing called tulip, T, U L I P. And in Reformed theology, which, you know, generally Presbyterianism, but there's. T stands for total depravity, U, unconditional election, L, limited atonement, which I, very much lovingly, but respectively disagree with irresistible grace and p. Perseverance of the saints. In other words, if somebody is one of the elect, they will persevere and never permanently fall away from salvation. now the way this is constructed, it's well intentioned, but it's not completely biblical. I mean, it is salvation. But the way that generally Calvinism phrases things is to fully, fully, fully amplify the sovereign work of God. And, as much as is possible, minimize or even deny human free will and human involvement. And Calvinists are saved. Anybody saved that believes in Jesus. But Bert, I think that in God's Word we get both. We get, yes, God is providential, sovereign. Nothing forces God's hand. And yet we humans, we are moral agents. We have free will, and we are responsible to respond and receive and yes, choose to believe in Jesus. It doesn't mean that we've amplified man. It doesn't mean we've diminished the sovereignty of God. But it's. It's both and, not either or, and so perseverance of the saints or, eternal security, call it what you will, but if somebody's born again, they're secure in Jesus.
Bert Harper Amen. Let me just say this. the Bible teaches that once you come to Christ, there's a change in your life. It doesn't mean you will not struggle. It does not mean you will not sin. But to go on sinning willfully rebelling. let me put it this way. They used to call it backsliding. We don't hear that word very much. The Bible does not teach continual backsliding, Alex, you know, well said.
Alex McFarland So well said.
Bert Harper So those people, just because they said it, and I believe in once saved, always say, but I do believe a better word is if saved. Make sure, you know, this is what I'm telling anybody who's listening. Make sure you are saved. There's been a time in your life when you knew you couldn't save yourself. You turned from your way and you turned to Christ, asking him to come into your life, forgive you of your sin, and be Lord of your life. You may have not have said those words. But that was the heart that you would say. God have your way. In my life. I pray if you've never done that, you'd do that today.
Amen.
Exploring the Word welcomes Mr. Brigg to talk about Satan
Alex McFarland let's go to Texas. Colleen in Texas. Welcome to Exploring the Word.
Hello everyone. Hello, Mr. Brigg. Mr. Alex. Yes. I'm calling in, to ask you all about this. I read my Bible and I strictly go by my Bible. I believe in what Jehovah and Jesus and the Bible says I go by that. Now. I, Reading about a book right now in front of me about Satan, the devil and how he is and everything. And he's called many names in the Bible by Jehovah, God and Jesus. Jehovah, God's holy Bible, His Word, his truth, the soul, the Spirit. He called Baltimore, he's called the Dragon. Many other names, but I have never. I heard you all say this because I speak the truth. Because God wants us to speak the truth with one another and not lie. I heard you all say this and many others said this, and I. I haven't found it in my Bible at all. Why? God, Jehovah and Jesus saying one thing, causing Satan the devil, one thing in the Bible names. But I hear some of you all say his name is Lucifer. I haven't come across Lucifer.
Bert Harper Okay, Colleen, we got you. Colleen, we took a while. Let me see, is it Isaiah 14? Oh, Lucifer, son of the morning, Alex.
Alex McFarland Isaiah 14:12. Actually, that's it.
Bert Harper That's it, Colleen, he's there. Read Isaiah 14:12 and you'll see that I'll take my throne. I'm going to make it higher than your throne. I'm taking your place, God. And that was Lucifer?
Alex McFarland Yeah. there was Gabriel, Micah and Lucifer. Three archangels. And just as, 30% of the archangel, one of the three fell. 30% of the angels sided with Lucifer. Lucifer cast out of heaven. Now he's the devil. Beelzebub, Satan, the dragon, that old serpent, the accuser, the. The man of sin, the son of perdition. Lot, of bad names for that fallen angel. Let's go to Mark in Virginia. Mark, welcome.
Yes, Hi. I'm a very literal person and I have trouble with things that don't have specific instruction.
How do you walk in the spirit? Alex, you go first on this one
How do you walk in the spirit?
Bert Harper Okay, Alex, you go first on this one and I'll make my comment later.
Alex McFarland Walk in the spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh. Galatians, I believe. That's Galatians 5, isn't it, Bert?
Bert Harper It is that's it.
Alex McFarland Yeah. so I would say this. well, and for one thing, walk in the spirit involves not fulfilling the lust of the flesh. The other thing is God's word, which renews your mind. Romans 12. Because, look, every action is preceded by thoughts. And one of the ways that we make it more habitual to walk in the spirit is to fulfill our mind, fill our mind with the words in the truth of God. So Galatians 5:16, and following, the Spirit, the word, prayer, and avoiding the works of the flesh. And it lists them beginning in verse 19, verse 22. But in other words, in contrast to this. And so, Bert, I think, a good, good internalizing Galatians 5 would really, begin to equip us to walk in the Spirit.
Bert Harper It would. Let me give you this, Mark. Good. I love your question, brother. I want to tell you, and those that think, like you, it helps. Those of us that can do literature and things like that. You guys help us. Let me use the word walk. It's one step at a time, and it's in the direction God wants you to go. So walking in the spirit is obeying him, trusting him, looking to him. When you walk, you're looking ahead, so you're looking at him as he is leading you through his word, through the Holy Spirit of God. And that's why the Holy Spirit is so important. The other thing is to be filled with the Spirit. When you're filled with the Spirit, that means, yes, I know it's fullness like that. But the term that's used is nautical. It's like a sailboat lifting its sails, and the wind fills the sails. So you have all these terminologies filled with the spirit walking in the spirit, but it's going toward God, under God's power, and him leading you. Hope that helps.
Brent has three prayer requests for God; we want to hear them
Alex, Brent has three prayer requests. He wanted to get those in. We do want to hear them as well. Real quick.
Alex McFarland Okay.
Alex McFarland These all came in, late Tuesday afternoon. I wasn't feeling too well, so I didn't notice them, and I apologize. But I've got one from Tabitha in Georgia. She's asking for prayers for a little boy with leukemia. She can't name his name. also, Dennis is asking for prayers for his nephew's son who has cancer. His nephew son is seven. Carla, is asking for prayers for her friend Sarah who has extreme nerve pain.
Bert Harper Okay, we got that. Alex, can I pray for these real quick?
Please?
Bert Harper Lead us.
Bert Harper Okay, Father, thank you. That people would call in and say, I need God. I need God. I need him in my life. I need him to help me. I need him to help a friend. And so thank you for Tabitha with that, little boy, Father, that you would be with him, strengthen him. I pray that the nephew, would be strong, seven years old. God, it just, it hurts. But yet at the same time, we are finding you sufficient. And we're praying that you would work your way in their hearts and their lives that they would trust you. And we do pray for healing. And Father, I do pray for Carla and the prayer concerning the nerve and the pain, that can be severe. And living with chronic pain is a reality in some people's lives. Father, I pray relief. I pray that they would. They. They would look unto you. And we pray for this. In Jesus name, Amen.
Alex McFarland Amen. Amen. Thank you, Brent, for sharing those sort of. Go to Jon in Louisiana. Jon, if you don't mind somewhat quickly there, friend.
Bert Harper Yes. In Matthew 25 we have three cases of people who are, received by Christ, saved or rejected because of their behavior. And in the one in the talents, it presupposes that the guy that, failed, that he was a believer. So the security of the believer is also in question with the talents. So how do we understand salvation, by works or by behavior with those three, the, virgins, the talents, and the other people in three.
Bert Harper Alex, we got a minute? Can you give a short answer?
Alex McFarland Well, yeah, we look at, I would say look at all the scriptures related to salvation and one I love first, Jon 3:23, that says, this is the commandment. Believe on Jesus Christ, whom the Lord hath sent. Now, we're not saved by works. If we get saved, good works should follow the talents. And, those things are reflective of a heart yielded to God. But really the, action that brings a person into salvation is believing in Jesus Christ. Jon 6:41st Jon 3:23, Jon 3:16.
Bert Harper We believe in Jesus, and every one of those is being ready for his coming. We want you to be ready by trusting him as savior and Lord. It's been good to be with you today. We thank you for listening to Exploring the Word. Tell someone about this program, but more importantly, tell them about Jesus.
Alex McFarland The views and opinions expressed in this
Bert Harper broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.
In this episode of Exploring the Word, we delve into the profound teachings found in the Gospel of Matthew. Join hosts Bert Harper and Alex McFarland as they tackle frequently asked questions, including the concept of the unpardonable sin. With rich discussions on Jesus' miracles, the reactions of the Pharisees, and the importance of understanding God's word, this episode promises to deepen your faith and knowledge. Stay tuned for insightful commentary and engaging Bible questions!
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