Transcript

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

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

Alex McFarland and Bert Harper discuss the parables of Matthew

Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: What do you think of when you think of the word treasure? You know one of the recurrent themes in much, much of literature is the concept of a buried treasure and a treasure that is so valuable somebody would just invest all that they had to acquire a treasure. Well in Matthew 13:44 and following, we're going to continue looking at some of the parables of our Lord and we'll talk about the parable of a hidden treasure, a ah, great treasure that can be found. Well, it's Alex McFarland along with Bert Harper. We're so honored that you're listening to Exploring the Word and if you've got a copy of the Bible, turn to Matthew, the NewSong Testament Gospel of Matthew and we'll continue in the parables. And Bert, I just want to say how I'm enjoying this. I, I hope the listeners are enjoying it, but I want to say I'm enjoying it as we go through the parables of our Lord Jesus Christ.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, it's a little different than what we usually do. We usually go through a book but we were talking about this and you had mentioned it and I was glad we did. Psalms similar to this. All the other books, 65 books we've gone through the psalms, we've gone through this and that and going back and forth and we usually do it when we're pre recording but we decided hey, about the parables and I'm excited about it and Matthew collected these parables and put them together and again they're wonderful and strong and each one of them has some significance to it. And today especially the first two, the treasure and the pearl, the question is who or what is the treasure? Or who or what is the pearl? And I've done some studying on it and different people thinks it's different ways but either way it would be good. But when I've always said this, what is the treasure? And, and it's that when we find it it is a treasure. But also we know Israel is referred to as a treasure. Matter of Fact in Exodus 19:5 and Psalm 134 he talks about Israel itself being the Jewish nation being a treasure. But in this context it, to me it fits into the issue of when we Find Christ when we find salvation. You may disagree because this is the two that you could say, hey, either way, it would be good. But, man, listen, I've always thought the treasure was. When you find the treasure, you don't look for more treasure. You explore the treasure that you've been given. Don't you?

>> Alex McFarland: You do. You do.

Bert Lemit says Matthew 13:44 shows value of salvation

I want to comment on verse 44, but first I want to read another verse in Matthew, Matthew 19:29, where Jesus made this great promise, because there may be people listening. And your stand for Christ has cost you something. And in many a context, it really will. Now, Bert, there was a day when in America, the gospel and Christianity, really had what I would call home court advantage. But it's not that way anymore. I mean, if you stand for biblical truth, some people can misunderstand, even become angry. But Jesus said in Matthew 29, he said, Everyone who has forsaken houses or brethren or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or lands for my name's sake, says Jesus will receive a hundredfold and shall inherit everlasting life. So back to Matthew 13:44. Jesus says this. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a treasure hid in a field, the which, when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. in other words, this, no matter what the cost might be to come to Christ, to live for Christ, to stand for Christ, no matter what you might quote, unquote, lose, if you gain Jesus, you've gained it all. And Bert, look at these verbs in this verse. To find, to hide, to sell, to buy. What it's saying is you discover that Jesus is real and you realize that you want to make this decision, you need to make this decision. And then no matter what you sell, maybe you don't sell something like, you know, exchange, you know, a, good for a fee. But in other words, you let go of where you were to get where you're going, and where you're going is into a relationship with Jesus Christ. And, and the man in the parable here buys the field. In other words, he receives it. He sold all that he had so that he could completely invest himself in acquiring that field where the treasure was. Well, Bert, no matter what friends you lose, if you stand for Christ, you're better off having Christ than those friends. And we can explain why that is. But no matter what the cost, Jesus is worth it. That's what this parable is saying.

>> Bert Harper: That's exactly right. Now, we know we can't buy our salvation. You know, that's impossible, that the price has already been paid. If we had all the money in the world, we couldn't. The Bible talks about if a man gained the whole world and loses his own soul, you know, you can't buy salvation. But I think what you're looking at, and you stated it, is the value, the worth of what we have in this treasure. This treasure is beyond m measure. Corinthians. In second Corinthians 4, it talks about, we have this treasure in earthen vessels. And that treasure is this relationship with Christ. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, he indwells us, and we have this treasure. Now notice, I, I, it is, it was hidden, and then it says a man found it. Now, I want to just share with you. it's not hidden to the point where we cannot see it, but it, this is the, the, you know, I would say the purpose of this parable is to show you the value of our salvation. When you start trying to make parables say something that, Jesus was not teaching, you can really get off track. so the value of it. This is what we're talking about, the value. And once we have this treasure in Christ Jesus, you have it. Have him, I have him. And it is worth everything in this world. so, Alex, I, think what you have here in verse 44 is the value of it, and it is a treasure. now, one more thing, and I'll throw it back to you. A treasure is not all the same thing. You know, you open up. I have to Admit, I watched 20 Leagues under the Sea. 20,000 Leagues under the Sea.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay, that's a great old movie.

>> Bert Harper: I'm kind of those kind of movies. That's, those are my kind of the favorites that I've had. The old Walt Disney movies has been my favorite for ages and ages. old yellow, you know, and all of those. But anyway, I saw that, and they found a treasure. It was filled with all kinds of valuables, not just one kind. And so when you find Christ, the world, the treasure that God has for us, we see the trees in a different light, we see the clouds differently. And all of a sudden those things, I know the salvation is Christ, but this treasure makes us see the world through our Father's eyes, and it changes everything.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. That is so good, Bert. That is so good.

Bertrand Russell: Christianity is a relationship with Jesus

And I want to talk about where it says in verse 44, and I know we're belaboring one verse here.

>> Bert Harper: It's worth it again.

>> Alex McFarland: Ah, Because Jesus tells these parables from a number of vantage points. There's the mustard seed that grows into this huge tree and see the kingdom of God. This is so unique because Christianity is a relationship with Jesus. But many people have documented how, you know, religion might be a list of do's and don'ts. Here's the ought, here's the ought nots. But part of the gospel is the good news, the Christian message. The gospel is the coming kingdom of God, the everlasting kingdom of righteousness and joy, peace on earth, and the presence of the king, and how you can be a part of the coming kingdom of God. And Jesus says again, the kingdom of heaven is likened to a treasure hid in a field. The which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof sells all that he has to buy that field. Okay, I want to talk about the word hidden or hiding, because it's not like, something deceptive or anything like that. But, Bert, I want to say this. I want your opinion, if you don't mind. So there's the discovery, okay? There's a field, and it's desirable, and I would be better off for having that in my life. Salvation is like that. But the man realizes there's a buried treasure out there. That's not only a good field, that field is a place I'd like to be, but there's a great treasure. Now, let's talk about Christianity. You realize, oh, my goodness, if I come to Christ, my sins will be forgiven, my name will be written in the Lamb's book of life. I'll have a clear conscience. I'll be straight with God. I'll be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who will never leave me. And God's Holy Spirit will teach me and guide me, and I'll not only be right with God and I can get right with others, but I'll be at peace with myself. And then I've got the Bible. This is God's roadmap for life and eternity. And, my mind will be renewed, and I'll get wisdom from God himself. In other words, folks, when you think about all of the benefits that come along when you enter a relationship with Jesus Christ, you realize I got to get that at any cost. So the hiding thing, Bert, in a way, this points, to the reasoning that someone might do within themselves when you realize that field is worth whatever it cost me to get it. And so the man sells and he does get that field, and he buys it. And, you Know, let me say there are people in parts of this world, like for instance, in the Islamic world, when a person becomes a follower of Jesus, I mean, they've got a target on their back. And, but they like this parable. They realize Jesus is worth. Well, the old gospel song says, Jesus is all the world to me, and he should be.

>> Bert Harper: Yes. When I survey the wondrous cross, it demands my life, my soul, my all. Listen, it is. He is Christ. Jesus means the world. He is the treasure in earthen vessels.

The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls

Real quickly before we go to break, we can introduce verse 45, which is a, parable. These are shorter than the earlier ones, but there is very powerful. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls. Okay, there it is. Seeking who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold it all that he had and bought it. Again, we're looking at the value, we're looking at the great price that is paid. Real quickly before we go to the break. This pearl, Jesus, is not using this, incidentally. the pearl is a, is a jewel, but it's not like any other jewels, not like a sapphire, it's not like a diamond that you can cut and shape. pearls, are a unity. They're in one. They fit together. You can't slice them and, and dice them, as I would say. And Alex, also, what do they come from? From suffering.

>> Alex McFarland: The stone of suffering.

>> Bert Harper: It is.

>> Alex McFarland: That's a pearl.

>> Bert Harper: And this is it, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. And I mean, what a beautiful, allusion that our salvation, the crown in heaven and the name in the Lamb's book of life, was purchased through suffering. And, when Jon Steinbeck wrote the pearl, the pearl of great price, it really is from that Christian perspective of how Christ suffered to give us everlasting life.

>> Bert Harper: We're going to be back right after this break and talk some more about the pearl. But then we're going to get into Annette Field and what happens.

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Bert says when you find Jesus Christ, you have found truth

>> Dr. Jessica Peck: Praise him for friends and family, for the very air we breathe, for having everything we need. Won't somebody come praise the Lord with me?

>> Bert Harper: That's what we want to do right now. We want to praise God for who he is, where he is, what he has done, what he's going to do. we just praise the Lord. We're in Matthew 13. We're going through the parables. And right here, Matthew, through the power of the Holy Spirit, he puts these, great parables together, one right after the other. And, he does that in two or three places in Matthew. But here again in verse 45 and 46, Alex, I want to point out something. Notice what happens. This. This merchant is looking for pearls. Plural, okay? But he finds one pearl, and he says, I don't need any more. This pearl is all. Alex. Men who search. And I've heard so many testimonies, they decided there's going to, you know, search for real, you know, reality, search for truth. Listen, when you find Jesus Christ, you have found truth. And here you found the pearl, haven't you, Bert?

>> Alex McFarland: That is a great observation. verse 45 plural, but verse 46, singular. And, you know, Erwin Lutzer, longtime, pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, he talks about, in the early, early 90s in Chicago, where they were, was the parliament of world religions. And he said that there were all these different exhibitors and speakers about this religion, that religion, and there was always, you know, a, moral code to do this or don't do that. But he said Christianity had one thing that nobody else had, a risen savior.

>> Bert Harper: Hallelujah.

>> Alex McFarland: That could not only give you joy and fulfillment and guidance in this life, but could guarantee you everlasting life. And see, that's why, like verse 46, the man, the merchant, when he found the one. One pearl, singular, of great price, in other words, the thing that's truly valuable, he went and sold all that he had and bought it. Friend, there's nobody else but Jesus. In Jon 14, verse 6, Jesus said that he is the way, the truth, the life. Jesus is not one option among many. He is the only Lord and Savior.

Can you be Christian and practice other religions at the same time

That's why we got a question. Last month in Montana, at my youth camp out there, one of the, students asked, and we have middle school, high school, college students were out there. But somebody wrote on a piece of paper, can you be a Christian but also practice other religions as well? And I said, no, you can't. I mean, because if you. If you, come, you. You don't take a little bit of Jesus while maintaining a little bit of everything else. No, he is the one and only Savior. And he, deserves and frankly demands our thorough 100% complete loyalty. And why would you be. Why would you reserve and hold back any loyalty for the things that can't save and don't save? He is the one pearl of great price.

>> Bert Harper: And there is no other. you were talking about the other religions there in that conference in Chicago, in seminary. I took what is called comparative religions. And you can lay them. I mean, do, do comparison, lay it aside. What this says, what this receives, how they get it. And when you come to Jesus Christ, I want to tell you, all the others, they have all this length doing this, make this, 10 here, whatever in Jesus Christ it is coming to the end of yourself, of knowing that you have nothing to buy, nothing to give, that. That God would accept that surrendering to him because he died on the cross and he paid the price and we receive him as Lord and Savior. Now I want to just tell you, that's the simple part, the great part. And it goes back, I think, if you want to, into verse 44, after you come to Christ, it's the great treasures that you. You gave a list, in the first segment of all the great things that we have once we come to Christ. there. There are that many multiplied again and again, Alex. So the treasure that we have, the pearl of great price, it is this relationship with Christ. And those of you who are listening, you can receive him as Savior and Lord. You really can. It's not knowing about Jesus, it's knowing him, coming to him as you are a lost sinner, having nothing to. To purchase. Because it says if we could buy it, we could, but we can't. It's only in a surrendered life to him. So here we have this pearl. And, listen. Notice what he said.

>> Caroline: It.

>> Bert Harper: It was a great price. He went and sold all that he had. Listen, he is worth it all. Do you remember the rich young ruler that went away? Sad.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, man. He was rich, he was young, he was a ruler. He had it all going for him. But he went to Jesus, said, what may I do to inherit eternal life? And Jesus went over the commandments to demonstrate, and he said, oh, man. I think he poked out his chest and said, I've kept those all my life.

>> Alex McFarland: All these things. My youth.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah. And. And Jesus said, well, there's one thing you need to do. And he said, go and sell all that you have and he went away sad, for he had great riches. Now, Jesus wasn't saying, you know, you can't buy. He would. He was saying, hey, I am first. And Alex, you was talking about. Jesus is not added to a religious list. He is the list, isn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He is the list. And by the way, let me say, like about that, rich young ruler who. Jesus knew his heart, and he said, there's one more thing you need to do. in other words, there's an area of your life you haven't relinquished to me. Jon Piper, years ago, I heard this, and I thought it was a great statement on the radio. He said, too many of us are in the business of sin management than repentance. And let me say to everybody out there, and I'm preaching to myself too, we come to Christ, we believe in Jesus, we are to grow in the Lord, be a disciple. And that's a lifelong investment, really, every single day. Don't give yourself a pass to hold back some area. And you think, well, you know what? I've. I'm a believer and I've done good and I've been obedient. And there's this one little part, you know, and only you and the Holy Spirit will know what. What it is. have you surrendered all? As the song says, I surrender all. If we were honest, we would sing I Surrender some, but that's not how it is. And so, we always have to search our heart and. And let's make sure that we really. There's no corner of our heart that is unrelinquished to the lordship of Jesus Christ.

>> Bert Harper: Amen.

Matthew 7: 47 through 50 is parable of the net

>> Alex McFarland: Bert, I've got to share this. And are you ready? Can we go on to like?

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, we're ready. For 47 through 50 is parable of the net. Go ahead, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Again. The kingdom of heaven is like unto a net that was cast into the sea and gathered of every kind, which when it was full, they drew to shore and sat down and gathered the good into vessels. But cast the bad away, so shall it be. At the end of the world, the angel shall come forth and sever the wicked from among the just, and shall cast them into the furnace of fire. There should be wailing and gnashing of teeth now. You know, we had gone over the wheat and the tares, how the wheat and the tares grow together, but on the harvest they're separated. And that's how it is like with the net. The net draws the whole world to stand before God. And there's going to be and this is Also in Matthew 7, there are going to be the righteous. I mean, call it, you know, the church, the saved, the born again, the righteous, the family of God. But then there are the. The bad in verse 48 of Matthew 13 here, Ah, Annette, used to be they would talk about seining upon.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, I did, yes, I was. I've been a part of one doing that.

>> Alex McFarland: And you get everything. I mean, you might get some bass and brim and catfish, but you also might get some snakes and I, don't know what all turtles exactly. And they pull it to the shore and they sort it out. There's going to be a great day of sorting things out. And here's the question. Would you hear the words, well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of the Lord. Or would you hear, depart, I never knew you. And let me just say this, like in verse 50, the. The wicked cast into the furnace of fire, where there should be wailing and gnashing of teeth. I've heard preachers say, because I grew up in a fairly weak liberal denomination prior to my conversion. And I heard, I used to hear preachers say, now this is not literal truth. This is an allegory, a symbol, mirror, picture. Bert. I used to. I was probably 12, 13, sitting in church, and I used to think a symbol, an allegory of a myth. Sure looks like literal words on paper to me. And, and indeed it is. I mean, heaven and hell, Jesus treats these as absolute reality. And I think we should too.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Two things real quickly. And it is this. Notice verse 48, when it was full. There's going to come a day when God is going to gather up and he's going to have all the saints that have been saved. And yes, Christ will come back. I believe that rapture of the church. And then seven years, and then those that will be saved when it's full again, it's not saying one general judgment, but it talks about at a certain time these are going to happen. But notice what the result is. And this happens in the three. The three, I would say parables, that he gives, he gives this notice in verse 30. It talks about, the wheat and the tares. And he said, let them grow together. But then they're gathered up, those that are tares, and burn them. Notice that. And then in that same explanation of the, of the weed and the Tares, verse 42, and will cast them into the furnace again, fire. There will be what, wailing and gnashing of teeth. And then we come to this one about the dragnet when it's all, you know, when God's looking and examining what you've done with Christ. Again, verse 50, furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Jesus really uses this picture, three different times. Alex, this is a warning to everyone who is listening. Make sure you're saved. Make sure you know Christ as savior. Not just a church member, not just attending church, not having a religious experience, but a reality of knowing Christ is savior. you want that, that examination is going to be real. And you can't fool God. You can't have so much, pretend that. You pretend to know. Jesus looks at the heart and he knows. So make sure you know Christ is savior. Those of you listening, do it today.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Bert, thank you. That's beautiful. in verse 51 and following, Jesus said to them, because remember, multitudes were listening and people just clamored to hear the teaching of Christ because the Bible says he taught as one that had authority. And indeed he did and does not as the scribes. And Bert, we often talk about Vance Havner, who was a great preacher of times past. And you know, in the 30s through the, the 80s when he ministered, you know, it was a time when many of the old mainline denominations were, were getting soft and watering things down. And there was a thing called dialectic theology. On the one hand this, but on the other hand that. And Vance Havner was very critical of the dialectic. And he said, no, we need to be a one handed preacher. Thus saith the Lord. On the one hand, God has spoken, end of story. And so I, I get an idea that when Jesus said that, you know, the scribes were, you know, they, they didn't have authority. but Jesus came and said, you know, he who has ears, let him hear. So the people are listening because Jesus is giving a definitive word from God. The trumpet is not blowing an uncertain sound, but a certain sound. And that's how it is. And it's not because, you know, Bert or I, you know, we wouldn't say listen to us, but we would say listen to God's word. And with God's help, we endeavor to the best we can clearly open up God's word.

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Now, that being said, verse 51, Jesus said to them, have you understood all these things? They said unto him, yea, Lord. Then he said unto them, therefore, every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a Man that is a householder which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. Now, the teacher or the scribe, and I know maybe some people listening, you teach Sunday school or you're a pastor, or you're just like all of us, trying to be a witness for Christ. we've got this container or this great repository of endless truth. It's the word of God, not a householder like a house you live in. But we've got, a big container of gold, and that gold is the word of God. We want to be good scribes instructed of the kingdom of heaven that we can bring out life changing, transformative truth to the people all around us that God's given us to minister to.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And it's old and new, the old, in other words, what happens? The Old Testament sets up the truths in the NewSong Testament. The NewSong Testament sets up and brings forth that true. A, good scribe looks at those together and he brings out a householder. Sounds like he's given a, a banquet, you know, and he's, bringing out his treasures. Not just the new ones, not just the old ones, but what a scribe that weaves them and knits them together to teach about the kingdom of heaven. We're going to take phone calls. That phone number 8885-8988-4088-8589-8840.

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>> Dr. Jessica Peck: from the highest of heights to the depths of the sea. Creations revealing your majesty. From the colors of fall to the fragrance of spring. Every creature unique in the song that it sings.

If you've got a Bible question, we would love to answer it

>> Alex McFarland: Welcome back to Exploring the Word, Alex and Bert. This is the part of the program where we pick up the phone and we want to hear from you. If you've got a Bible question, we would love to talk with you. The number toll free nationwide. It's 888-589-8840. Triple 858-9840 and we will do our best to answer your question. Do you know folks, your Bible questions have become three books that are at the AFA Resource Center. We just I don't know, about five years ago, did one book, and as far as I knew, that's all it would ever be. And we did 100 Bible questions. Then we did 100 Bible questions and Answers for families. And then we did one that came out last fall on 100 Bible questions on prophecy and the end times. So your questions, we appreciate those. We do our best to give you an answer. And those books, I give God the glory because, Bert, those books are out there touching lives. And you, dear listeners, you help do that. Your questions and the answers from God's Word are touching people's lives.

>> Bert Harper: You know, a lot of books have a page of dedication. We would dedicate it to our listeners. They're the ones that, help write it. So we appreciate that so much. Well, that number again, 888-589-8840. We do have callers online, so we're going to get to as many today as we can. And first we go to Ohio and talk to Bob.

Bob says Matthew 13 tells us the tares are gathered first

Bob, thank you for calling to go today. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Okay.

>> Caroline: Hey, I appreciate your show. Enjoy it. I just wanted to comment regarding Matthew, 13 and verse 30. It says, Gather. Well, I'll just read that one portion. It says, gather ye together first, the pairs. So they're, they're removed first. And if you compare that to Matthew 24 and verse 40, where it says there'll be two at, the. Well, I believe it says, yeah, two in the field. Excuse me. One shall be taken and the other left. Well, they're taken to judgment because Matthew 13 tells us the tares are gathered first. And I thought, wow, that is. That is just awesome.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Bob, thank you, man. It does say that. It says, you know, they get them. And, so, Alex, let's go back to an Old Testament, because that's what we were talking about in the last parable that we had about the householder, and the old and new. You remember what happened when, Samuel went to find the new king to replace Saul? That, Jesse, and I'm using this word, paraded his sons in front of him that he thought was worthy of being king. And, guess what? Samuel dismissed them first. And he said, have you got another son? He said, oh, yeah, I got another one. And, you know, sometimes God has to dismiss before he gathers, doesn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He really does. I was looking up the word there In Matthew, 1330. In the English, it's translated tares, or even sometimes translated weeds. And, I'm not going to try to Pronounce it. It's, Z I, Z A N, I, O, N. Now listen to this. And this might be why it says, gather out first the tears. the word there is, quote, a poisonous rye grass weed, a false grain, a weed that greatly resembles wheat until ripe. And it says this, that, its poison causes lethargy, deep sleep and even death. it says why maybe this word was used. Wicked people sown by Satan amidst the saints of God, that until the harvest have a resemblance of godliness, but you shall know them by their fruit. And you know what? behind the smiles and the outward appearance, God sees the heart. And. Yes, there. That's why, really, since we're talking about the souls of people that are everlasting, this is sobering. I'm not going to say frightening, but it is somber stuff. We're talking about here. The eternal destinies of people. And yes, when there are false Christians that are in the service of Satan rather than the Savior, God does pluck them out.

>> Bert Harper: He does. Bob, thank you for that great comment. We appreciate you listening, brother. Stay in the word. That's great to compare those. And it really does help as you compare those scriptures with scriptures.

Lana says Romans 9 can be confusing about selection of Christ

Let's go to Lana in Arkansas. Lana, thank you for calling. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Thank you.

>> Caroline: What my question is is concerning Romans, chapter nine. as I read it the other day, and I've read it before, but it just kind of can be a little confusing as far as the selection of Christ. And I did go to, something called graceprovoked.org and begin to read that. And this man says that you've got to read all of Romans to understand that this is not Calvinism nor selection. So that's what I was kind of asking about. Because if you're not sure about it, it kind of seems like that. So I want your take on that because I don't believe in Calvinism, but that was what I was talking about.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Lana, thank you. Alex, let's. We try to make this clear. We've got brothers and sisters that are, reformed, those that are not, those that are more Armenian than we even, you know. And, so. But here we, we want to say, you know, Christ, and knowing him, Alex, he's not willing that any should perish, is he?

>> Alex McFarland: Well, that's true. And, you know, one of the. And listen, no matter where you stand on the theological spectrum, we love you. And if you're a believer in Jesus Christ, the sinless son of God who died and rose again, and we Put our faith in Christ. I mean, we're family, we really are. just for the record, I grew up under Calvinism and I'm not a Calvinist. And I absolutely believe people have free will. And while God offers salvation, he doesn't force it. We have to respond. And so I don't believe in what is sometimes called double election, that some are elected to hell, some are elected to heaven. I believe that when the Bible says whosoever will may come, God really does mean whosoever will may come. But, of those that are Calvinistic, Romans 9 is just one of. It's probably their go to proof text. And if you look at 10 and following, you've got, verse 13, as it is written, Jacob I have loved, but Esau have I hated for one thing. Bert, let me just say this, that the election, like in verse 11, God according to election might stand not of works, but of him that calleth for one thing. Lest somebody, conflate this to mean, you know, salvation. The Romans 9, 10 through 24 is talking about the leadership of the nation of Israel. You know, God had chosen Jacob and rejected Esau, for the birthright as the founder of the nation of Israel. And so, even though many, many do, I don't think you can take Romans 9, 10 and following and conflate that to mean, what some of the claims of the five point Calvinists mean.

>> Bert Harper: And again, if you can take one passage and really, I don't want to use the word go to seed, but say, okay, this, I'm going to look at everything else through this good exegetic takes it all together. And when Jesus said, all that will can come unto me, I'll in no wise cast out anyone. But then when it says from the foundation of the earth he knew, we may not can explain it away, explain, it completely, but God, God weaves them together. What was it that Spurgeon said about, the sovereignty of God and man's accountability, free will? Why should friends?

>> Alex McFarland: yeah, yeah, they said, how do you reconcile those two? And I believe it was Spurgeon said, well, you don't have to reconcile, Friends.

>> Bert Harper: That's it. That's it. that's what we believe with all of our heart, Alex. And that's what we, we come, we come to this program believing that with all of our heart.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: Thank you, Lana. Thank you.

Marty Sparks calls from Mississippi to talk about his namesake, Alex

And let's go to Texas. Marty, thank you for calling. Go right ahead. We. Hey, Marty, did you know you Had a namesake here in the studio in Mississippi.

>> Alex McFarland: No, sir.

>> Bert Harper: Yeah, Marty Sparks, he.

>> Caroline: He.

>> Bert Harper: He runs the camera. And, when he. He saw a Marty, he lit up. So he knows he's not the only one. One. Go ahead.

>> Caroline: That's a good one.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Go ahead, brother. Go right ahead.

>> Caroline: Alex. Alex, we saw you in Havelock, North Carolina, and then you came to Yokom, Texas. And so we went ahead. We just came on back to Texas. That's why we're here. And then God bless, we head to. We head to the east coast and. And I've been going through Mississippi to see my friends that grew up with the church and burnt. I'd like to come see you on a Sunday morning.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Well, I'll usually on a Friday I give away where I'll be preaching and, I do interim work. I don't travel like Alex does. He. He keeps his suitcase packed. I have to pack mine. But, what left to me? I've been in Yoakum too, Marty. I love that town. Go right ahead, man.

>> Caroline: All right, sir.

Some historians have called Egypt's ancient records propagandistic

Hey, my question is real quick.

>> Alex McFarland: One,

>> Caroline: reading a book or ask Steven, of course, and he's going through excellent summation of the history of the nation of Israel from Abraham on. And he. He mentions, Egypt and what happened in the pharaoh and so forth. I asked somebody one time at church or somewhere and they. I said, well, why don't we have a recording of. From the Egyptians about what happened to them? M. And many the people left. Well, their answer was, would you. If you have lost, so terribly, against the God of Israel, would you have put it in your history or left a remembrance of it? What do you guys think?

>> Bert Harper: Well, let me say this. notice what happens even in the book of Genesis concerning the pharaohs. They would switch and swap. And Alex, if you read it the way I read it, it seems like they forgot, you know, the Jews in that relationship. So a lot of times I think that's what the Egyptian did in. Similar to what Marty. they. They had a selected view of what they wanted to pass on to the next. And it's really not the next generation there. It was the next monarchy. You know what I mean?

>> Alex McFarland: that's true. the. Some historians have called Egypt, Egypt's ancient records propagandistic. and many m. Historians note that Egyptian, inscriptions celebrate victories and never recorded any military defeats or natural disasters. But there is a papyrus and I don't know how to pronounce it, it's Ipuwer I pure. I'm not. I don't know how to pronounce that. But there is this ancient Egyptian poem that describes a season of chaos, starvation, drought, and rivers running red with blood. And many historians, and they're called Egyptologists, view this as a kind of a literary, poem that is, is actually referencing the plagues. And you and I have taught through the plagues, Bert. Refresh my memory, if you would. All the ten plagues of Egypt that Moses, you know, called down. How long of a period was that? Do you recall?

>> Bert Harper: Stinks is about three years.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah.

>> Bert Harper: As best we can know, it could be longer, but I don't think it's any shorter than that, Alex.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And so understandably, the official, you know, pharaohs would not have recorded such a humiliating defeat and the loss of, you know, 2 million plus Hebrew slaves. But it's referenced in this poem. Many historians do believe.

>> Bert Harper: Marty. Thank you, brother. And, if you're in Mississippi and I'm preaching, be sure and speak to me. I'd love to meet you, brother. And, take care of Yoakum out there. Let's go to Ohio. And it's Lisa. Lisa. Thank you for calling.

>>Bert: Hi.

>> Caroline: Hi. I'm so glad to be able to get on.

Alex: There comes a time when we realize we're morally accountable to God

This is a question I've had for a long, long time. when I think of Sodom and Gomorrah and the countdown that, that Abraham had with God about, you know, I guess, righteous or ones to be saved in Sodom and Gomorrah, I always think about the age of accountability argument and then knowing there were probably pregnant women with unborn children in Sodom and Gomorrah. So, you know, I know there's always the argument about David and in his firstborn, but. Yeah, what are we to make of that? the age of accountability, I guess.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, we've talked about this several times, and it's hard to say a particular age, isn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: well, it is. but I definitely think. And by the way, the phrase age, of accountability, quote unquote, is not in the Bible. But I definitely think the concept is that, there comes a time when we are morally accountable before God and we realize, you know, right from wrong. And, you know, of course, in the 2nd Samuel 12, you know, where, David was mourning, but after, Bathsheba's child died, he didn't. And, you know, he said, I can't bring him back, but I will go to him. He will not return to me, but I will go to him one day. So David seemed to know that the infant that died was in heaven. And you know, Bert, it talks about in Isaiah about how, you know, the coming Savior, you know, before he knows to refuse the evil and choose the good, the spirit of God will be upon him. This is Isaiah 7, 15, and 16. So, and by the way, one last thing. Jewish, people, I remember there was in the news in Greensboro, some teens that died in a car wreck. numbers 14 says that those 20 years old and above are accountable. But God spirits, children. The Jewish belief is that until you're 20, you just don't really know morals. Now, I think it's younger than that, but there is an age when we realize we're accountable to God. And at that point, that's when we need instantly to turn to Christ.

>> Bert Harper: So get right with God and do it now. praise the. Praise God. Well, we're going to continue tomorrow. We're going to be in Luke 15 tomorrow. If you want to read ahead and look at some more of the parables of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 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 broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio.