Transcript

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

>> Alex McFarland: It's fireaway Friday on Exploring the Word. This is your chance to ask us your Bible question at 888-589-8840. That's 888-589-8840. You can also email your [email protected] or visit facebook.com exploring the word.

>> Alex McFarland: Exploring the Word.

>> Bert Harper: It's Fire Away Friday on American Family Radio. The only way fire is if people will call a number. And that number that you need to call if you have a Bible question is 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840. We want your Bible question and then we're going to do our best to give, you an answer. And, today it's going to be a little different. We're going to have three people that's going to try to respond to different questions. But, Alex, I know you and Dylan took care of everything yesterday and. But today, all three of us. This is a little different and exciting both, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. And we welcome everybody. And by the way, the number. And you will get through. you want to get in the queue. The number is Triple 858-98840. if you've got a Bible question of any sort. and Bert, Dillon Burroughs, he and I have been friends a long, long time. Great Christian writer and just a dear brother in the Lord. And when over Christmas he filled in for you a few times and, it was a great idea. Burt called me several hours ago and he said, let's all three be on today. And so, Dylan, you're in Tennessee, I know. have you gotten any of that winter weather yet on this go round, Dylan?

>> Alex McFarland: not on this latest time around. So it's supposed to hit this weekend and I know people are still recovering from the last round of storms, especially there in Mississipp. I think I've heard at least 14 people died during the winter storm as well as all of the power outage issues continue to go on there. So our prayers, are with all of you who are listening in that area especially and across our nation as we continue to face some more winter weather. It sounds like this weekend. I hope you're doing well over there in North Carolina today, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: We are, but, you know, you can feel the temperature dropping and they're, they're talking about a lot of winter weather. And yes, folks, please do be in prayer, especially Mississippi. Bert, how far are you from, like, where all the damage Was, was it in, Columbus?

>> Bert Harper: Oxford. It was in Oxford, Grenada, north of us, northwest of us. And Tupelo was right on the bad part and then the not so bad. And so ours was not as heavy as a lot of them. We've got employees here who still are without electricity going on seven days, eight days. And so we need to pray. And I bring this up because, yes, I have a selfish interest. Pray for the lineman, our, our youngest son, Micah, mine and Jan's youngest son. He's alignment, and he's been leaving Tupelo, going over, somewhere else to work during this time because they're trying to get those people back electricity working. So we want to continue praying for them. Well, guys, this is exciting. And we've got people that's called in and again, we're going to do best. I'm going to be kind of the guy that's running the phone lines and we'll give it to Alex and to, Dylan to answer. And if I need to comment, I'll put it in. But we're going to try this and see how it works.

Some believe Jesus returned invisibly to reign on Earth in 1874

So first we're going to go to Mississippi. Is it Charlene or. Charlene? hello. Yes.

>> Caroline: my friend is a Dawn Bible student who said that Jesus returned invisibly to reign on Earth in 1874. How do I respond to this?

>> Bert Harper: Go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, good, good question. And you know, I think about in Matthew 24, where Jesus talks about before the end of time that false Christs will appear and false teachers and, Dylan, that's, among the, aberrant religious groups. They've predicted the return and said he returned. But no, when Jesus Christ returns, every eye will see and every knee will bow. it wasn't some secret invisible return back in the 19th century, was it, Dylan?

>> Alex McFarland: No, not at all. And that's really, something that you'll see in the teachings of the Jehovah's Witnesses. So I'm sure that's where you had discovered that or picked that up from. But, we know the Jesus came to Earth as the Bible declares in the Gospels. He died, rose again, ascended to heaven, and he will come again someday, and when he returns, we will know it. it's very clear what his return will be like. So if you look at Revelation 19, you will see that his return comes in power, comes in victory, and there will be no doubt when he is here. there's no invisible return that we need to worry about and no teaching, in The Bible that supports the. That. So sorry about the misguided notions of some who believe that Jesus came in the 1870s in some invisible form, but that's certainly not consistent with what the Bible teaches.

>> Bert Harper: This reminds me of something that was dead about, you know, God being dead. And I forgot what professor or evangelist pastor said. Said. I know he didn't because I'm, his next to Ken, and I was not notified, so I love that one. And the return of Christ. We know he hasn't returned because he was going to gather us up to be with him in the Lord. So, yes, we're waiting on that. Charlene, thank you for your call and I hope that helps you in your conversation with your friend. Well, let's go to Tennessee and talk to Bert. Bert, thank you for. That's unusual. We get some Alex's every so often, but very few Berts. And so thank you for calling today, brother.

Alex: I doubt John the Baptist would have understood the Trinity

>> Caroline: Are you guys doing today?

>> Bert Harper: Doing well. Doing well. Go right ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Caroline: We baptized in the name of Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Now, what did John the baptized baptize Was.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, guys, what did John the Baptist baptize? I, I'm not sure he used a name because his baptism was unto repentance. Wasn't.

>> Alex McFarland: Was, you know, John was baptizing, the baptism of repentance and saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. And, you know, it's been said that John the Baptist was an Old Testament prophet. But, Dylan, I don't know that, the degree to which John the Baptist would have understood the Trinity, I don't know. But in Matthew 28, you know, where Jesus gave what we call the Great Commission. In Matthew 28, 18:20, he said, go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever. I've commanded you. And lo, I'm with you even to the end of the age. So, we've got that trinitarian formula as given by Jesus, but, I very seriously doubt, although the Bible doesn't say, I doubt John the Baptist would have known that. Father, Son, Holy Spirit. Dylan, what do you think?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, not as clearly as we see it later in the Scriptures and in church history. But it is interesting that you see that same parallel in the baptism of Jesus. It's found in Matthew, chapter three, I believe, and also in Luke's Gospel. The parallel account there where, John the Baptist says he comes to baptize with water for repentance. So he was trying to get people to change and prepare for the Messiah, the chosen one who would come. And then right after that, Jesus comes and he's baptized, and you see Jesus, you hear the voice of God the Father, and you have the Spirit coming down like a dove. All three distinctly named, yet one God in three persons. So it's interesting, you see that parallel in the Great Commission. You see it in the baptism of Jesus, But John the Baptist probably only understood that partially at his stage of ministry. Yes, that's correct, Alex.

>> Bert Harper: I would agree with you guys. Again, you're looking at some transitional things in Jesus from his birth, his life, his death, resurrection, Pentecost, and then the church, being, I would say, expanded. You see some ex, you know, some things in there that. Okay. And I think that's why Paul's writings is able to distinguish and help us understand some of those. Even in the book of Acts, as gan. As it was expanding, you had some, you know, this happened, this happened, and why doesn't it happen later? So that period of time. But I agree that was a good answer, guys. Bert, hope that helps. Let's go to Kansas and talk to Jeff.

Sunday worship goes back to the very earliest Christians, according to experts

Jeff, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hello. I wanted to ask you a question. I have been, watching the Noah series, and I'm on the third one. I just finished the third one. And they talk a lot about the Sabbath during that third, version. And what I wanted to find out is this. They are pretty strong about, hey, if you really believe in the Lord and, are a Christian and want to be counted as one of the few that get selected to go when Jesus comes and gets us, that we should be, observing Saturday as the Sabbath. And I know there's a lot of talk about that back and forth, but they basically say, hey, it was changed when the Catholic Church changed it from Saturday to Sunday, and it really shouldn't have been ever changed. What do you all think?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, I want to set this up for you guys and Dylan, let me see. Paul told the church at Corinth, and different ones lay by in store that money, that offering that you're taking for the saints in Jerusalem, as you meet on the first day of the week. that's it. That's in the NewSong Testament, isn't it, guys? It will.

>> Alex McFarland: It is. And Sunday worship goes back to the very earliest Christians because Christ was found to have risen on the first day of the week on Sunday. And, let me say that, the Sabbath is still Saturday, but The keeping the Sabbath is not part of the gospel, is it guys? The death, burial, the resurrection of Jesus for the sins of the world. And we receive that forgiveness by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. But the earliest of Christians, by the way, I was just on a teaching, zoom call with Gary Habermas and he is such a great scholar and just renowned the world over on the resurrection and the meeting on Sunday to worship and treating Christ as God incarnate who paid our sin debt. And there are a number of passages in the NewSong Testament where, like in Philippians Chapter two, they, they share this basic statement of the Gospel, but it goes back according to Gary Habermas and others like James BG Dunn, NT Wright and other renowned scholars, this Gospel and worshiping on Sunday goes back to within four to eight weeks after the cross. I mean that's two months after Calvary. And they're having Sunday worship that goes back as far as could be imaginable. And guys, I think that's pretty compelling evidence that we Christians today should worship the Lord on Sunday. Likewise.

>> Bert Harper: Dylan, would you add anything to that?

>> Alex McFarland: I think that's well said. It is important to note that the Sabbath didn't change from one day to the next. But as more and more Christians were Gentiles and not Jews, they were a strong tradition, ah, forming on Sunday morning as the time of worship. And that's continued until today. So the early Jews would have worshiped both on the Sabbath and then as they became Christians would have worshiped on Sunday as well. So it's an interesting historical study, like Alex is talking about. But certainly the case could be strongly made that Sunday is the time that Christ traditionally held as the time we celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. And of course in Acts they met together daily. So we're supposed to worship the Lord every day.

>> Bert Harper: Every day. the three main, you know, Dylan, Alex will tell you this. I try to go to the simplest thing, but when you look at the Bible, it's creation, the fall, redemption, I mean those three areas, when you look at creation, you're looking at the Sabbath and worshiping. Yeah. On the Sabbath and seeing that. But when Jesus comes along, and I don't say that in a derogatory, when he comes on, he turns it all right? And so the resurrection and the celebration of what he's done in overcoming sin and death, what a day to worship on the first day of the week to celebrate all that God has done. And so we want to do that. We're going to Continue here on Exploring the Word, and we'll be back with phone calls and answers right after the break.

>> Alex McFarland: The AFR app is a powerful tool.

>> Bert Harper: But it does have limitations.

>> Alex McFarland: You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains. It won't walk the dog, won't pick up the dry cleaning or take the kids to practice. But while you're doing those things, you can listen to your favorite AFR content throughout the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku.

Listen to American Family Radio wherever you go with the AFR app

Just go to your app store or visit afr.net listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app. For we know that if the earthly.

>> Alex McFarland: Tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God in an eternal house in heaven not built by human hands.

>> Alex McFarland: Second Corinthians 5, verse 1.

>> Bert Harper: American Family Radio. You are the light so when the.

>> Alex McFarland: Darkness falls the greatest heights they never.

>> Bert Harper: seem so tall?

>> Caroline: No, not at all.

>> Bert Harper: You're right.

>> Alex McFarland: It's my roots that you're growing?

>> Alex McFarland: Don't want to miss what you're showing?

>> Alex McFarland: Ain't no doubt about you?

>> Alex McFarland: Everywhere that I go? You keep showing up. Oh, we want to shout his praises.

AFR is partnering with Preborn to provide ultrasounds for expecting mothers

Welcome back to Exploring the word. Alex McFarland here along with. With Bert Harper, of course, and Dylan Burroughs. And, hey, before we resume the calls, and I do want to give that number one more time, it's triple 858-98-8840. If you've got a Bible question, Bert, I want to say a big thank you to those that have donated and underwritten an ultrasound with PreBorn every year. And January is Sanctity of Human Life Month, but we are, we just thank God for life, and we, we want to be champions for the sacredness of human life. And PreBorn is a ministry, that when they show an expectant mother an ultrasound of her baby, the odds are like, well, more than 90% that she will give that child life and she will keep that baby. And, Bert, I know there are a number of people that have given, this week and this month that, we're partnering with preborn. And we would encourage people to please do that, because preborn is unique in that not only are they saving babies by the thousands, but they're sharing the gospel. And very, very often an expectant mother and father will come to Christ saving lives, saving souls. Preborn is a ministry we're pretty enthusiastic about.

>> Bert Harper: We really are, and we're thankful to partner with them. And, they don't just, you know, people accuse us that Pro Life. Oh, you just want the baby born, then you leave? No, we don't. No, preborn doesn't either. They supply diapers, they supply baby clothes, car seats and counseling and help up to two years after that child has been born. And you're talking about the women that have been born again. Over 100 women have surrendered their lives to Christ in the last 20 years seeing Christ coming. And so last year alone, 80,000 women chose life and 10,000 of them made commitments to Christ. That was just last year. So again, $28 provides an ultrasound. 140 would be five ultrasounds. When that woman comes in and they do the ultrasound, hear the heartbeat, it changes everything. So here's the number. You can call 877-616-2396-877761-62396 or go [email protected] follow that link and you can donate. We were just little under, 5,000 when we started today. We want to make sure, through exploring the Word that we've gone over, we talk about our listeners being the best AFR has now.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen.

>> Bert Harper: We. We believe that. Alex and I do. I don't know if anybody else does or not, but Alex and I believe that. So put it over the top. And, when we come back Monday, we can say we had 5,000 plus. So make that call and do it today. Hey, Alex, we've got a full lineup. You ready for the questions? Dylan, y' all ready? We're gonna roll.

Good works aren't what causes salvation, Dylan says

Okay, let's go to Louisiana. And it's John. John, thank you for calling. Exploring the Word. You're. We're ready for your question, brother.

>> Caroline: yes, in Matthew 25 he speaks about the sheep and the goats. And verse 31 to 40 it states that the sheep will go into his eternal kingdom because they helped, give, the followers, of Jesus, something to eat, drink and wear. And then in verse 41 to 46, as far as the goats are concerned, he says, depart from me who are cursed into eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels, because they didn't welcome the stranger, or, ah, the needy, of clothes or food of friends, of Jesus. And, so he says, that, you go way into eternal punishment, and with the righteous into eternal life. So is this applicable for today, where those who are helpful and good for the, followers of Jesus to be saved and just because of their works on those who don't and be they gone through eternal punishment because they didn't help. Followers of Jesus does this apply to us today.

>> Bert Harper: John, thank you for your good question. I want to read verse 46, guys, and then I'll throw it to you, because I think 46 puts that question into a. A, little clearer, of what God is looking for. And these, this is it, verse 46. And these will go away into everlasting punishment, but the righteous into eternal life. Let me see. Righteousness is not just a something that we experience, it's something that we live out. Isn't it, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it is, and thank you for this question. Yet, you know, Romans chapter four says that if we believe in Jesus Christ, God declares us righteous. And Romans 5:1 says, Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. So here's the thing about Matthew 25, and if you read, 31:46, you see good works that come from the life of a righteous person. Now, like Dylan, if this were the only passage we had, we might be tempted to think that salvation is by these good works. What I think it means, though, because we've got all of these, you know, believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved. good works follow salvation. Good works aren't what causes salvation, Dylan. How would you phrase it?

>> Alex McFarland: And that's well said. Like you said, if this is the only passage of the Bible that you were to read, you could come away and easily think, well, good works is what gets you to heaven, and if you don't do good works, you won't go to heaven. And that's not the case. Jesus is contrasting very clearly the good works that his followers are called to do. So, that verse that was just read by Bert, you know, that the righteous will go to eternal life. Those who have been saved are expected to do those kind of good works, and they are going to inherit eternal life. It's not because of the good works. Those works are the effects of our salvation, not the cause of our salvation. That's a good distinction, Alex. I appreciate it.

>> Bert Harper: And James says, faith without works is dead.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: And, yes, listen, it accompanies. And so what you want to do in examining your life, honestly, you. Look, has there been a time in your life when you knew you were a sinner and you asked Christ into your life? But there's a word, and my wife Janet and I were talking about it, yesterday and today. Continue in it. listen, there's no stop in place. There's no turnaround in the Christian life except continuing with Christ. So, from faith to faith in other Words, I move on closer to the Lord. So we help that. Hope that helps.

Some Christians say as Christians we should be welcoming illegal aliens

John, let's go to the great state, one of my favorite states, Montana, Big sky, country. Keith, welcome to Exploring the Word. Keith. yeah, go right ahead, Keith. You're on the radio.

>> Caroline: Okay, I have, can I speak into on that last caller? Can you guys comment on all of the, all of the people that are saying as Christians we should be welcoming in the illegal aliens that have come in? That wasn't my question, but that I was hoping you guys were going to touch on that while you're answering the question.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, well, wait, go ahead, Alex. Yeah, we'll. The other. When Keith, I'll bring up real quick afterwards. Alex, go ahead with that.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, yeah, some people conflate or they take it farther than it should go. like Hebrews 13:2 talks about, not forgetting hospitality. And they'll say, oh, well, you know, we shouldn't deport those that are here illegally. But I, don't think in any way can you legitimize, legitimately make the case that the Bible's encouragement toward, charity or hospitality should mean that we have open borders and a lawless society. In fact, Romans 13:1 7 talks about obeying the government. And you know, by the way, first of all, the Hebrews 13:2, that is often used to try to argue for open borders, is really talking about, hospitality to the saints. But guys, ethically, there is no conflict between looking after the welfare of US citizens, keeping the rule of law, deporting those that are here illegally. And by the way, let me just say this, in the last year of the previous president's administration, 290,000 felonies were committed by the several million people that were here illegally. And these included like, over 4,000 murders and molesting, children, DUIs that caused, fatalities. And guys, I know this takes kind of a mature grown up faith to believe, but, one of the most, wise and just things our government can do is to try to maintain the rule of law, safety and the welfare of the citizens. People are welcome to migrate here legally, but as a Christian, I don't think the case can legitimately be made that charity and hospitality means having open borders.

>> Bert Harper: I think you're right. The strangers, talked about it in the Old Testament. It doesn't mean we mistreat them, arresting them for breaking the law and let them go through. Listen, we're giving option right now. If they will turn themselves in, we will send them back so that they can enter legally and give them some money in order to do that so they could come back and request. What you want to do is treat that humanely in a humane way. And so, there is a way to do that and still do keep the law of deportation.

Keith: Question is about prayer language and speaking in tongues

Hey, Keith, I know you had another question. Make it real quick. It's about prayer language and speaking in tongues. Could you put that in a synopsis question real quickly?

>> Caroline: You betcha. So I know First Corinthians 7:11, it talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, and of course it covers speaking in tongues and interpreting tongues. there's, there's a school of thought, I guess I'll say out there that there's a baptism of the Holy Spirit where you will get a, ah, spirit of tongues for your prayer language.

>> Bert Harper: Okay.

>> Caroline: Something that you guys.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Keith, great, great way to put it into context. Alex, go ahead. And Dylan, Alex and I have answered that many times. So Alex, go ahead. And Dylan, if you want to comment, go right ahead.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, let me say this, in prefacing this question, because we have a lot of listeners of many, many different backgrounds and we love and appreciate every single one of you. And the, the way the Holy Spirit works in the life of a believer is a topic on which, you know, I would say equally good God, that godly people have not always agreed on. when, like in the book of Acts, in Acts chapter two at Pentecost, tongues of fire came. And I, believe, if I haven't counted recently, I think it's like 16 known languages were mentioned where people, the disciples were preaching the gospel in languages that they otherwise wouldn't have known. And that definitely is one of the manifestations of tongues. I want to be very clear though, to be born again and saved. You, don't have to speak in tongues to be saved. Some saved people do speak in tongues and many saved people do not. Salvation, is by putting your faith in Jesus. And I believe at the moment of salvation, the Holy Spirit indwells the believer. Ephesians 4:30 says, the holy Spirit seals the believer under the day of redemption. Bert. and Dylan, I know godly, godly, godly people that speak in tongues and talk about their prayer language. I know godly, godly people that love Jesus. They bear grapefruit for the gospel, and they say that hasn't happened to them. But I'll say this, I'll throw it to you, Dylan. I don't think this is an area we need to burn bridges over. We desperately need unity in the body of Christ these days. And so let me just encourage everybody and I guess I'm talking to some of my Baptist pastor friends out there. If you disagree on the workings of the Holy Spirit, fair enough. But let's Remember in John 17:21 the Lord prayed the body would be unified and regardless, charismatic, non charismatic. We need each other in the body of Christ. Dylan, feel free to agree, disagree, elaborate.

>> Alex McFarland: No, I would only add to that a couple of distinctions. one is our salvation is certainly based on grace through faith in Christ alone. It's not based on whether we speak in tongues or not. So salvation can be based on that. But also if you look at the context of First Corinthians, chapter 12, 14, speaking in tongues is mentioned as a spiritual gift. So however you understand that, we realize that not everyone is going to have that gift. So to say that someone has to do that to be a Christian or even to be a mature Christian is to go too far beyond what the Scriptures teach. So there are other controversies as well, but those are a couple of guidelines we can say you can certainly apply when you're talking about the gift of speaking in tongues.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

A lot of ministers say it took Noah 120 years to build the ark

Let's go to Steve in Texas. Steve, I hear see you have a comment. Go right ahead, brother.

>> Caroline: Well, it's more than a comment. I wanted to get this question which I think has been answered wrongly for a long time. there's, I've heard a lot of ministers say that it took Noah, 120 years to build the ark. Now I have researched that. I have found nowhere where it says in Genesis that It took him 120 years. And what they reference is when God talks about, I'm not going to suffer any more than 120 years with these people. And I think what he's talking about there, tell me if I'm wrong, is that no one's going to live past 120 years unless he personally allows it.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Steve, we're going to we got an. Alex, 30 seconds. Can you comment real quickly?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. It doesn't specifically say that it took Noah 120 years to build the ark. And I don't, you know, it took at least 75 years, but I don't know the exact, exact number is in scripture. Dylan, do you know?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it does talk about you know, 100 years of time, being estimated. We can talk more about that.

>> Bert Harper: Maybe we'll come back and we'll finish that up thank you. We'll be right back.

Preborn Network of clinics offers free ultrasounds to women in crisis

>> Alex McFarland: it's so easy to politicize abortion, but the reality is there's a precious life at stake. And that little life doesn't have a voice. All that little life has is a heartbeat. And it can be heard as early as five weeks on ultrasound. That's where preborn steps in. Preborn is a voice for the little ones.

>> Alex McFarland: They do an ultrasound.

>> Caroline: And that's when everything changed.

>> Alex McFarland: Because when I saw my baby and.

>> Alex McFarland: when I heard her heartbeat, that was it. PreBorn Network of clinics offers free ultrasounds to women in crisis while showering them with God's love. This powerful combination doubles a baby's chance at life and has helped to rescue over 300,000 babies. To learn more about preborn's life saving work, call pound 250 and say the keyword baby. That's 250, baby. Or visit preborn.com afr all gifts are tax deductible. The heavens are your tabernacle. The glory to the Lord on high.

>> Caroline: God of wonders beyond our galaxy.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. I had to get that galaxy in there. Dylan, you'll find out. We love music around here. Brent and Alex are both musicians. I'm an appreciator of music. but I love that. So praise.

Dylan had a question about Noah's ark, how long it took

Hey, Dylan, you were going on concerning what we were talking about the ark, and you had a great comment. I'd love you to share that. And, then we'll go on to the next caller.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, he had a question about Noah's ark, how long it took to build. And it says in Genesis 5:32, after Noah was 500 years old, he started having his three sons, Shem, Ham and Japheth. And then Noah was 600 years old when the flood waters came. Genesis 7:6 tells us, so we had to be within 100 years of when the ark was built. So the 120 years seems to refer to something else. Either the maximum amount of time that was left or maybe to the age of humans later on in history, as the caller said. But it certainly didn't seem to refer to the actual time to build the ark, since that is a time of about 100 years or less.

>> Bert Harper: While we're talking about ark, if you can get to the ark encounter up in northern Kentucky, you would be well served.

How are Jews going to get to Heaven if they don't have faith

I just wanted to throw that in. Let's go to Elliot in North Carolina. Elliot, thank you for calling exploring the word. Go right ahead, Elliot, with your question.

>> Caroline: Okay, so my question was, like, how are Jews going to get to Heaven if they don't have faith in Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, go ahead with that one.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, first of all, Elliot, thank you for listening. We are very honored that you're listening to Exploring the Word. Do you know salvation has always been by faith? Do you know, the Bible tells us in Habakkuk, the Old Testament book of Habakkuk, that we are made right, with God by faith, not faith. In whom? Faith in Jesus. Now the Old Testament people, they in faith or belief, trust. They put their trust in the Savior that would one day come. That's Jesus. We put our faith in Jesus who did come. Same Jesus saving faith. We just live on two different sides of the cross. But the Bible tells us that all people now must believe in Jesus. That's how we get saved. And there's no other way. Now do you know what's exciting? There are probably more saved Jewish people in the world right now than at any time since Pentecost. In fact, right before Christmas, I had a man on American Family Radio, Dr. Ah, Micah Rydelnik, who is a born again Jewish man. And he said that 50 years ago, most saved followers of Jesus that are Jewish probably knew each other. And he said to me, and I'm quoting, he said now there are more born again Jews just in NewSong York City than there probably were in the whole wide world 50 years ago. So guys, I think it's very exciting. The spirit of the Lord is moving. It's been my joy to work with people like Dr. Micah Brown, Dr. Barry Leventhal, and I think about Joel Rosenberg, Burt that you and I see every year at nrb. lots and lots and lots of Jewish people these days are putting their trust in Jesus, the Messiah.

>> Bert Harper: And you're starting at NewSong York City. And Jews, the ministry chosen people as man. They're making a difference. And we know, we keep up with them. We've had them on our program. So God is on the move in the Jewish community. Praise the Lord.

Melanie asks a question about lying to other prophets in First Kings 13

Let's go to Louisiana. And it's Melanie. Melanie, go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Hey guys, how y' all doing?

>> Bert Harper: Doing fantastically well.

>> Caroline: My question comes from First Kings, chapter 13, verses 11 through 22, when the first prophet of Jeroboam's wife went to go visit the first prophet. And when he left, the Lord told him not to go back the same way he came and he didn't. And then another guy came along instead. He was a prophet, but he was, he wasn't that he wasn't telling the truth. And he convinced the, the first prophet to go back with him. And so the first prophet that Jeroboam's wife went to see was eventually killed. But there doesn't seem to have been any punishment for the second prophet that lied about it.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, so Melody, thank you for that. Great. Dylan, do you. Did you get enough information there?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, some of that cut out, but I love that story. It's in First Kings 13, about this prophet who lies to another prophet to get him to come back to his house. And then, you're left at the end of the story go, what about the prophet who lied to the other prophet? And the, the story just leaves the reader hanging at the end. But part of the story is intentional about that because it's showing what the prophets were like during that time period of the Kings. They weren't following the Lord, and even those who were following the Lord weren't doing so completely. So it's a very tell and revealing account when you look at it that way, because you're left with a story where even the prophets who are supposed to be following the Lord and hearing from God aren't fully, following through in obedience to Him. And it gives us a lot of application, of course, for our own lives and our, spiritual leaders today to make sure that we are being faithful in all ways and not just in some occasions.

>> Bert Harper: We don't know the whole story. And there's a lot of things like that that we are left wondering and not knowing. But we need to know for ourselves, don't we, guys? That's. That's what we do.

>> Alex McFarland: Great question.

>> Bert Harper: It was. Thank you so much. Let's go to Texas and talk to Carl. Carl, thank you for calling today.

Carl: I had a couple of quick questions, or actually statements

>> Caroline: Yes, sir. I had a couple of quick questions, or actually statements. I'm not doing a Bible reading in, a year, 365 days. and in it I was getting to my nemesis, Deuteronomy, Leviticus and numbers. I really had trouble reading those.

>> Bert Harper: Okay.

>> Caroline: And in them, God tells Moses to change the Sabbath. Not the Sabbath, but the worship to Sunday. It was, it was either Leviticus or numbers.

>> Alex McFarland: Alex, you know, I'm not familiar with that. do you recall where.

>> Caroline: Well, I'm driving now. I don't have access to my notes, but I knew it was in Leviticus or numbers because I was really amazed. I always dreaded reading those books, because I read the Bible several times, even one time backwards. Actually got more knowledge that way, I thought. But, I had read it, in this Bible reading I'm doing now, and I'm saying, man, I'm glad I read Leviticus and numbers and Deuteronomy.

>> Bert Harper: What we'll do, we'll have to check that out. Carl, you said you had another quiz. The other question, real quickly. If you have a quick question, we'll try to bring it in. Go ahead, Carl.

>> Caroline: It wasn't a question. It was on the, the NOAA thing. The 120 years with man won't live past 120 years. I think the other gentleman had mentioned that. and I thought The Ark took 200 years in my reading, but that was, I can't remember where I got that from. but that's how I remembered it.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Alex McFarland: Ah, no, it really couldn't have taken 200 years. In fact, Noah started the ark when, I believe the first of his sons got married, so he couldn't have been, older than 500. And so it was probably less than 100 years, in fact, truth be told, from, from the time his oldest son got married to the time the floodwaters came And Noah was 600 then. So it had to be a hundred years or less.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, thank you, Carl. Appreciate you, man.

Dylan: The Bible specifically says believe. It also says repent. So belief is the key aspect

Let's go to Texas and talk to Pat. Pat, you're on, exploring the Word. Go right ahead with your question.

>> Caroline: Oh, thank you so much. That is a privilege. So my question is, I've been hearing some teaching, lately on you only have to believe to be saved. I know the Bible specifically says believe. It also says repent. If I'm not mistaken, that was Jesus first sermon was to repent. And the disciples were always saying repentance, but it was repent and believe. Now, if I have faulty thinking, I want to get rid of that and have biblical thinking. So can you guys help me?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, we'll do it. turning to Jesus in belief, Dylan, does that set you up from turning from something else?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, I think first. Ah, excuse me. John 3:16 is pretty clear, you know, that God so loved the world, whoever believes in him shall have eternal life. So belief is the key aspect, but it doesn't mean that we neglect other areas that Jesus preached, including repentance. You know, someone believes in Jesus, they are going to repent, which means to change or to turn. They're going to be humbled by the sin in their lives and seek to live differently. So the two go together hand in hand. But when we talk about it in terms of somebody coming to faith in Jesus, we usually Emphasize the believe part, because that's something you do initially, and then your repentance or your changed life is something that unfolds after you believe. So it does go together in a bundle package, I believe. But believing is the part that we emphasize when we're trying to help someone come to faith in Christ to begin with.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, let me ask you this, guys, and Alex, you go first. It says in Corinthians, when it says all things have become new, even if it's not mentioned, I see it all through. Just like, Dylan said. It brings it out. If all things become new, that means what the old has got and you've turned to new. Is. Am I faulty thinking or is. I think Pat is thinking it correctly, don't you, guys?

>> Alex McFarland: I do. And let me say this. In Luke 13:3, Jesus said, Unless you repent, you will perish. So repentance, is agreeing with God and turning from sin to Christ. It's a Greek word. It's metanoia is this Greek word. But, I agree with Dylan in that it all happens really kind of simultaneously. For example, folks, when you admit to God, lord, I am a sinner, and I'm sorry for my sins, and I believe Jesus is the son of God. Jesus died for me, and Lord, I accept you and what you did on the cross as the payment for my sins. Dear Jesus, please save my soul. you. You have repented. You have turned to Christ. Now, let's say you've got some sins that, have their tentacles deeply in your patterns of behavior. you know, Bert, I've. I've prayed with people, and they struggle with, let's say, bad language or something. As we grow in the Lord, the sins, the Holy Spirit increasingly gives us the strength to overcome patterns of behavior, whatever that might be. I will say this. If you can sin and you don't feel bad about it, and you don't experience conviction, and you have no desire to forsake evil and grow in Jesus, I would question whether or not the, the conversion has really taken place. But really, as we admit our sin and turn to faith in Christ, I mean, that. That really is the core of repentance. Dylan, what. What do you say?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you're right. And, and she mentions, you know, verses like Mark 1:15 that talk about repent and believe in the Gospel. So Jesus did clearly state that as part of what he expected people to do. But it's coming to faith in Jesus by believing. And the repentance part is changing our mind. And then Changing our actions to correspond with the new faith that we have in the Lord. Amen.

>> Bert Harper: thank you, Pat.

Well, let's stay in Texas and talk to Anita. What's your question for today

Well, let's stay in Texas and talk to Anita. Anita, you're on Exploring the Word. What's your question for today?

>> Caroline: Hi. Can y' all hear me?

>> Bert Harper: Yes, ma', am, loud and clear. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Okay, thank you.

A lot of people think they go automatically to heaven when they die

Okay, so I just have a real quick question. You know how, like, when the saved people, when they die, a lot of people think they go automatically to heaven. And, the people that are not go to Haiti until judgment. But my question is, is it paradise or heaven? Or is. Is paradise and heaven one in the same? Because I see here because my husband pointed out that in Luke 23, Jesus tells the criminal, truly, I say to you today, you will be with me in paradise.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex. Yeah, go right ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, you know, in 2nd Corinthians 5, verse 8, it says, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. And when Jesus. I think when Jesus died on the cross to the time he rose on that first Sunday morning, for one thing, he went into the realm of the dead. And those that were in paradise, or Abraham's bosom, that would have really been the believing saints of old, they were taken to heaven. It says he led captivity, captive. This is in Ephesians, which is a quote of Psalm 68. But, there are people, the unsaved, that are in torment, like Luke 16 tells us. now they ultimately will be thrown in the lake of fire. Is very sad. But, no, the believer is in heaven. Once Christ had arisen, we don't go to, a holding place or a temporary paradise. No, I believe the Christian, when he expires in this physical world, he is instantly in heaven, the presence of God.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you so much. Anita.

There are two stories of a shepherd with 99 sheep in Matthew and Luke

We're going to try to get one more question, and it's Marcus from Texas as well. Marcus, we don't have a lot of time. Go ahead with your question.

>> Caroline: Just real quick. Like, there's two stories of a shepherd with 99 sheep. I think one of them's in Matthew and one of them's in Luke. And I've heard some people tell me, well, that's the same story just told and heard by two different people. and I was just curious, if you all could compare and contrast that, because when I read it, I see in Matthew there's a possibility that he didn't find the sheep.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, we're going to go ahead. Dylan, we Got about a minute and a half. Go right ahead, brother.

>> Alex McFarland: No, that's a good question. It is mentioned in Luke 15 is the main place, but Matthew 18 also talks about it. So when you look there, it doesn't give you all the details that it does in Luke 15, which is the main place you would focus on. So I wouldn't try to make some distinction. Like, there are two different stories, and one ended badly and one ended positively. The, Matthew version seems to be abbreviated, whereas Luke's version in Luke 15 seeks to expand it out, tell you the whole scenario, which emphasizes the prodigal son returning home, and the father returns, rejoicing when he does. So I think that's the answer to your question. One gives you an abbreviated version, the other gives you the fuller version that tells us the main point of the story much more clearly. So that would be probably the best way to understand it.

>> Bert Harper: I think that's exactly right. I. I'm glad they're not cookie cutter answers, you know, and stories. It's each one the Holy Spirit leading an individual. Alex, Dylan, it's been good. Be with you guys. Alex, take us up, folks.

>> Alex McFarland: Thanks for listening to Exploring the Word. I hope you're going to be safe and warm during all this winter weather. If you can go to church on Sunday. Hey, tell somebody about exploring the Word, but most of all, tell everybody about Jesus. The views and opinions expressed in this.

>> Caroline: Broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of.

>> Alex McFarland: The American Family association or American Family Radio.