American Family Radio takes your Bible questions live on American Family Radio
>> Bert Harper: The Bible. It's the word of God. Sharper than any two edged sword.
>> Alex McFarland: This sacred book is living and active
>> Bert Harper: 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.
AFR collects listener stories about what God has done using afr
Welcome to Exploring the Word. Twice a year, AFR has what we call share a thon. And in the spring we do it. It's going to be April 7th, 8th and 9th and we are collect, collecting listener stories, listener testimonies about what God has done using AFR as his instrument. And if you would share that with us, we would love it. And Alex and I, we get to hear it. Alex gets to hear it out on the road. He's on the road so much. But we both get to hear it when people call in and they share what AFR explored in the Word is meant. So we would love for you to call this number. It's not the usual number you hear. This is a special number. It's called the Listener storyline. That's a good, good, good title. Here's the number, write it down and then you can pray. Okay, God, do you want me to testify about what you have done in my life using afr? And then you can call and share about a minute or two minutes about what God has done. And here's the number. 877-876-8893. Again, let me give it to you. 877-87-68893. And if you have a story, a testimony about what God has done, we would love to hear it. Alex, again, I love those listener stories. When we do share a thon, it's always a blessing to hear what God has done, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really is. Good afternoon, Bert. Good afternoon everybody. Those listener testimonies, you know, we give God the glory, we completely give the praise to the Lord. But when we hear about the way people's lives have been changed by the word of God and the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we rejoice. We really, really do. I'm gonna give that number one more time. If you would call in and record just a word about, you know, what this ministry means to you. 877-876-8893. And, we're gonna continue in the book of Ephesians.
Alex: I think Ephesians chapter four is very practical
And I was, on Today' I had the privilege of talking with Tim Wildmon and the panel about a number of things. But Tim asked about exploring, the Word and I said we're in the book of Ephesians chapter four. And, you know, Bert, there's a lot of doctrine in this. There's a lot of, you know, theology. But I think it's a very practical book. You know, yesterday, talking about the unity, you know, one Lord and one faith, one salvation, the unity we have in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit of God. You know, that's good encouragement for Christian living. It's very practical, isn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It is practical. And what, Paul does, he tells us how to accomplish that, what to put on and what to put off and what you're going to do in the rest of chapter four from verse 13, all the way through the last verse 32. and a lot of it is the old man that you're to put off the old. The. The way you were. the gen. The way the gentiles, the pagans are still walking, and you're to put on the new man, like to put on the armor of God, and you're to walk in him. The key word from chapter four all the way through chapter six is walk, and it means your lifestyle. Okay? He. In the first three chapters, man, he gave us who we are in Christ, the riches of his, the Holy Spirit indwelling us, and now he shares. This should be working out in your life, in a changed life, Alex. In other words, I'm not the old man anymore. But at the same time, conversion is a, is a crisis or an event that leads to a process, you know?
>> Alex McFarland: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: And, after, just like a baby, when it's born, that doesn't mean it's fully grown. It means it has what it needs in order to function, if it's nourished and cared for. So we need to nourish our bodies by feasting on the word of God, by serving him and being accountable to other believers for our actions. So, Alex, again, I think the practicality here is very real.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
Alex Burke: Is complete sanctification possible in this life
You know, let me read a little bit of, wrapping up like 12 and 13. Yesterday, we were talking about the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry. And verse 13 is really just a. You know, all of God's word is so inspiring and uplifting, but this is one of the absolute mountain peaks of inspiring truth to which we all should aspire, till we all come in the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man. What that really means is a mature, complete, as Christlike as possible body of believers under the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Now, we can never be completely, completely sanctified in this life. Bert. there was a movement 75 years ago plus, called the deeper Life Movement. And, one of the great books that I've loved to, recommend that really, really impacted my life is by Elmer Townes. And you can find it online as a free PDF download. Although this is one of those books I would urge you to purchase and own. It's called Understanding the Deeper Life. And the question was many decades ago, is complete sanctification possible in this life? In other words, complete Christlikeness so that you don't ever sin anymore. And, the old flesh, the sin nature, has no voice in your life whatsoever. I really don't know that that's possible. Even, even the most godly born again Christian still, you know, as Paul said. I'll put it this way, Burke. If the apostle Paul every day had to saddle up for the battle of spirit versus flesh, you know, if even the apostle Paul had to be very, intentional about his sanctification, you know, heaven help the rest of us.
>> Bert Harper: You got it, Alex. I was thinking about him when he said, I'm the chief of sinners. Now, when did say that? At the beginning. When he was just starting out? No, when he wrote the book of 1 Timothy, closer to the end of his life, his ministry. And so, yes, we never reached that. Someone has said it this way and it's play on words. We will never be sinless as far as no sin, but we can sin less than. And so I think that's true. And notice it says in verse 14 that we should no longer be children tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine. Now why would he say that? I'm stopping for a minute before I finish. Because of all the things he's talked about in verses chapters one, two and three of the book of Ephesians. Listen, he gave us the doctrine that we need to stand on. And don't try to always find something new. Oh, there's something new. Let's try it. No, you stick to the stuff that God has given us by the trickery of men and the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait. To do what? Deceive. Now I want to ask you a question. Take it away, Alex. Let me see. Who is the great deceiver?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, Satan is the great deceiver. I mean, he really is like Galatians one and first John talk about, that the devil can appear as an angel of light to deceive and draw people away. let Me preface this, and, I just thank God that we have time to really do these kind of things. Romans 14:1 says, Accept him who is weak in the faith, but, not unto doubtful disputations. Now, there are some things that we know without doubt Jesus Christ is the risen Son of God. By his blood alone shed on the cross of Calvary, our sins are washed away, no question, without a doubt. And then there are things that are interesting, maybe, but they're just not core foundational Christian doctrines. Now, when verse 14 of Ephesians 4 talks about every wind of doctrine by the sleight of men, and that can mean, really the trickery, or it says the cunning craftiness whereby they lay in wait to deceive. But speaking the truth in love, we may grow up into him in all things.
The core truth of Christian worldview is really pretty simple, isn't it
Who is the head? The head of the church? Christ Jesus. Let me say this, Bert. As I'm on the road traveling, which I love to do, and it's just the great joy of my life to be crisscrossing the USA preaching and ministering to people, I really, I thank God for, how much traveling the Lord has allowed me to do. And hopefully it's just beginning. But a lot of times people come up and they've got a book they've written on some obscure. Here's the technical word picayune topic. And sometimes people get really agitated if I don't jump on their bandwagon. I was in Chicago, Illinois, and a man, he literally had a hand truck, and he brought in about 23 ring binder notebooks. And he said, I have written the one and only true interpretation of the book of Revelation. And here it is, Alex. And God has told me that you are to get on the radio and spread this message to the world. And, I said, well, I appreciate that, but I just don't think I can get that on the airplane. And he got really ill at me. And I looked in one or two of the notebooks and it was just bizarre. I mean, it really was. And I thought about the Romans 14:1, I thought about the Ephesians 4:14, about every wind of doctrine. I'm going to say this, and I'll throw it back to you. Honestly, the core truth of the Christian worldview is really pretty simple, isn't it, Bert? You know, God exists. God has given us his word. Jesus came born in Bethlehem. He had no sin. He was qualified and willing to be our Savior. And I understand there's little theological rabbit trails that we. They might be very, very interesting. But, the thing around which we all unify, the core truth on which we all agree, is that the risen Jesus is our Savior. He's coming again. And until he arrives, we are to do our utmost to get people saved. And, let's, with the help of God, not fall into any of these obscure ditches along life's journey.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Alex and I could not agree more. Watch out when. Oh, there's hidden words. Oh, there's hidden numbers. now again, there are significant numbers. There are significant words. They really are. But the mystery was in the Bible. When it talks about mystery, it's talking about how the Jew and the Gentile would come together in Christ. It talks about how man and God would come together in Christ. And the mystery was that which was unknown but has been made known. Alex. And so, yes, good word. Every wind of doctrine. And I think that's important because of where it comes here in Ephesians, because as I've said already two or three times, chapters one, two and three of the book of Ephesians, if you nail that down in doctrine, I want to tell you, you got it solid. You really do. And that's what makes, Ephesians so effective. It's smaller than the book of Romans, so it doesn't cover some of the things the Romans. That Romans does, but. But it covers this area of doctrine.
>> Alex McFarland: Amen.
>> Bert Harper: Alex. Notice what it says in 16. From whom the whole body joined and knit together by what every joint supplies according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself. In love. When I see that this ought to be the desire of every local church, that each part of the body do the work. And guess what joint, Joint supplies. They, they, Let me say this, and this is a good way to say it, they feast on one another in a good way. In other words, when. When this body, Part of the body does good, this part of the body is. Is challenged to do good as well. that's the whole idea that it would be edifying of itself. It's sort of like the sun S U n. It feeds itself, you know?
>> Alex McFarland: Yes.
>> Bert Harper: And when we have the spirit of God in our lives like that, Alex, I do believe that we are on the right track, brother. Hey, we're going to be back with more of the book of Ephesians, chapter four. We're going to talk about the old man and the new man. Don't miss it.
Bert Harper asks you to join Preborn in protecting life
This Sanctity of Life Month. We honor the over 66 million babies whose lives have been tragically ended through abortions since Roe. Sadly, with the abortion pill accounting for over 60% of all abortions, babies lives are at even greater risk now. But in the midst of this darkness, there's a light that shines, and that's preborn. PreBorn's network of clinics have rescued over 300,000 babies from abortion and have prayed with over 80,000 women to come to Christ.
>> Alex McFarland: When I heard her heartbeat, I decided to keep her. And now my daughter's about to be three. I don't know where my life would be without her.
>> Bert Harper: An ultrasound doubles a baby's chance at life. This is Bert Harper asking you to join PreBorn in protecting life. One ultrasound session costs $28 and $140 will sponsor five ultrasounds. Any gift will help. $100 201,000. To donate, securely dial pound 250 and say the key word baby. That's pound 250, baby. Or go to preborn.com that's preborn.com afr that's preborn.com afR. You are the light so when the
>> Alex McFarland: darkness falls the greatest heights they never
>> Bert Harper: seem so tall I'm not at all your right it's my roots that you're
>> Alex McFarland: growing don't wanna miss what you're showing
>> Bert Harper: ain't no doubt about you Everywhere that I go you keep showing up for
>> Alex McFarland: you make me wanna shout it oh,
>> Bert Harper: you're the goodness of.
>> Caroline: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: Jesus and all that he is, all that he does. Our relationship with Christ, that is the goodness of life. When that song came out a couple of years ago, I instantly loved that song. And, Brent Austin, thanks for popping that in the rejoin here.
Bert Light: Ephesians chapter four talks about vanity
Well, welcome back to Exploring the Word. We're in Ephesians chapter four, and we're about at verse 17. And, later on we'll take calls and Bible questions if you want to. We'll give that number in a little bit. what do you think of when you think of the word vanity? Maybe you think about like, you know, getting ready in front of a mirror and a vanity. Maybe you think about somebody who's, conceited or something. But the way, verse 17 uses the word, it really means futility. Let me read that. Because Paul's been talking about growing up into Jesus in the unity of Christian love and truth. This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord that you henceforth do not walk as other gentiles walk in the vanity of their mind, the futility, the empty emptiness having the understanding Darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. Verse 19. Who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness. And that's really sexual license, licentiousness to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned of Christ, Bert. Verse 20 is just seven simple words. But you have not so Learned Christ. G.K. chesterton said this, said there's 10,000 ways to, to be lost. There's one way to be saved through Jesus. And that really sums it up, doesn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It is. That's the bottom line. It really is. Now notice what he says here in verse 17. Your version said vanity. The new King James does translate the futility of their mind. Now notice what happens in the next three verses. How many of these words concentrate on the mind first having their understanding darkened, okay. Because of the ignorance that is in them. Again connected to their mind. And then it goes into verse 20. You have not so learned Christ. Now it doesn't say learned about Christ. This is learned Christ. Now you can read a book to learn about, let me see, Winston Churchill. You can read a book to find out, about John Fitzgerald Kennedy. You can read a book to find out about them. That's not what this is talking about. This is learning him because Winston Churchill, President Kennedy, others have something in common. They're dead. But the reality of Christ is he's alive and you can learn him. He walks with you, he talks with you. And so Alex, going back, it also describes the gentile life. Futile. The pagan life is futile. It can be educated, it can be non educated, it could be rich, it can be poor. But the vanity or the futility of the life that a person lives without Christ is empty. And here it talks about in Christ we have it, we have our minds filled because we've what, learned Christ. it's a path worth taking, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, amen. I mean, it's the only path, the pathway of salvation. And by the way, when it's talking about Gentiles, really it means those that are unsaved. It's you know, the world could be delineated, male and female, east and West, Oriental, Occidental, Jew, Gentile. But really the most accurate way is saved or lost. I mean those who have Jesus, those who need Jesus. Romans 11, 11, 31 talk about, ah, the uncircumcision, being grafted into the circumcision. What does that mean? Well, not just Ethnic Jews, although we certainly love and, we try to stand with and try to stand for Israel. But really, if you know Jesus, you are a child of Abraham. And by the way, if you've got Jesus and his righteousness, which is yours by simple faith, then you have fulfilled the law. You say, well, I haven't really fulfilled the law of God. No, humanly we haven't. But this is the beautiful thing about the gospel, is that if you trust Jesus, his fulfillment of the law is accredited to you. you say, well, I don't really deserve that. Exactly. None of us do. That's why it's grace. Isn't that something? And so we're not living as unenlightened, unforgiven, lost gentiles. But verse 20, we have that immoral life. That's not what we learned from Jesus. And verse 21 and following, if so be that you have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus, that you and, Bert, you said it in the first segment. Christianity is very much about what you put on. It's also about what you put off. You put off concerning the former conversation or way of life. We're putting off the old man. Corrupt according to deceitful lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your mind. And that you put on the new man. In other words, if you're saved, live like it. M. I, mean, isn't that what it's saying?
>> Bert Harper: That is, listen, you put off, you put on, and if you try to put on, before you put off, I just want to tell you, you're going to go in a, it's such a, I would say a losing battle. Yes. You put off these things and notice that's what Paul does first. Now it starts learning Christ, knowing Christ. Then the discipleship starts, the sanctification starts. This process of growing in the Lord begins what is part of that process. Putting off the old man. That. And notice what it says in verse 22, which grows corrupt. In other words, you know, we talked about a believer. If you're not growing in Christ, you're going backward. You just can't stay at a stalemate.
Bert Towns: Repentance is changing your mind
You either growing. Let me share with you. Sin is that way too sin, let me tell you, it will take more and more of you the longer you stay in it. you know, they've talked about this in pornography. What someone used to have for pornography. They are addicted. The old doesn't do it. They've got to find something more, immoral. They They've got to find something stronger in drugs because the, the old drugs doesn't affect me the way it once did because my body has grown accustomed to it. And if I need this feeling, this high or whatever, I've got to go to something stronger. And so here you put those off. Are you going to grow more and more corrupt? So you put those things off. And then by the renewing of your mind again, look at verse 23. It talks about the renewing your mind. In verse 17, it talked about the futility of their mind. So, Alex, this has idea of repentance in it. Repentance is changing your mind. In place of following the world and following me, I'm going to follow Christ. Yes. My mind changes and I go to him, and that changes my will where I don't want to do that. I want to follow Christ. It changes my destination from hell to heaven, from darkness to light, from death to life. So this relationship that we're talking about changes everything, doesn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Well, it really does. And, you know, Ephesians is almost like, the book of Romans, Light,
>> Bert Harper: L I T E. I agree.
>> Alex McFarland: they're both written, obviously by the Holy Spirit of God, but through the Apostle Paul. And so you're going to see kind of a unified voice, and verse 23 of Ephesians 4, 23, be renewed in the spirit of your mind. Now, that's very much like Romans 12:21, that we renew our mind by the word of God. This is why. And folks, I beg of you to hear me. Every day you need to have a quiet time. And maybe you get a devotional book like Open Windows or Our Daily Bread. There's so many great devotionals and alone with God, you need to have a moment where you read the Bible. And it just might be five or ten minutes. But the Bible is God speaking to you, and then prayer is you communicating with God. Now, if you're married, I think husband and wife, you ought to have read devotions together. I mean, there's a study, and I don't mean to get us off, but Bert, this has been a couple years ago, but Harvard University, of all things, they did a study. And when a married couple has a faith exercise and they. They talked about reading a devotional book or reading a scripture or praying together, but the divorce rate was like 1 out of 1100 couples, which is like, statistically almost nothing, whereas the culture at large is more than 50%. But then let me say, in talking about renewing your mind by the Word of God. This is part of why you need to be in church too. And the time to get up on Sunday morning and go to church is when you least feel like it's, Because it does take some discipline to establish new habits, to get out of an old cycle of behavior and establish new. To really break loose from that which is destructive and negative and get on things that are positive and good. And the more you internalize what the Bible says, and the spirit of God is working on you and your. In a way. And Bert, I'm not trying to sound like psychobabble or something, but psychologists have noted when you're changing habits, maybe breaking a bad habit and starting new, in a sense, you're kind of rewiring your brain.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: And the more you establish a good habit, the more natural it becomes. I'm not saying it's going to be easier. I'm just saying it just becomes more natural and renewing your mind. I really do believe that. And what's going to get you straight in your behavior is getting sorted out rightly in your beliefs. And the way you do that is building your beliefs, your priorities on the word of God. And part of that is private, personal. Part of that is corporate. Going to church, maybe to God be the glory. Listening to, exploring the word. But Bernd, Elmer Towns used to say this. I mentioned Dr. Towns. He would always say this. I don't know if it was original with him or where he got it, but he said, so a thought reap a deed. So a deed, reap a habit. So a habit reap a destiny. This is important stuff, isn't it, Bert?
>> Bert Harper: It really is. And that works both ways, the good and the bad.
Paul gives us a list of five things to put away in life
Now, Alex, notice what he does here. It's just significant. verse 22 he says put off. And then in verse 24, he says, put on the new man. Verse 25. I don't think it's going backward. I think it's continuing. In other words, the battle goes on. Putting away. You see that word, putting away. We do that our life. Because new things are going to come into our lives. And we've got to decide, am I going to put that on or put that off? Am I going to take that in or not take it in. So notice the five things, and I'll list them here and give you the verses. Those of you that are doing Bible study with us, notice it says put it in a way. The first one is lying. Okay. Then he goes down to verse 26, put away anger or wrath. Verse 26 has gotten that one. And then in verse 28, let him who stole steal no longer put away stealing. Don't do that. Verse 29, Put away corrupt communication. That just doesn't mean what we call cussing or cursing. It means language, filthy language. Those. That's useless, put it away. And then finally, in verse, 31, let all bitterness. Now, it goes on and talks about wrath, anger, clamor, evil speaking, put away continues. But that bitterness, he said, don't let that eat you up. Bitterness is an acid that destroys the container. it's drinking poison, thinking someone else is going to die. So you don't let that anger build up and hold on. So Alex, Here in verses 25 through 29, it gives us a list, and I think it's a good list. Okay, I do not need to give room for those things in my life. Let me repeat them. Line, anger. Now, when I say anger, excessive anger, anger that, that. That Satan uses, and then stealing, corrupt communication, bitterness, put them away is what Paul says, isn't it?
>> Alex McFarland: Amen. And this is so powerful. and I've pondered on verse 31, 32 a lot. This is let all. Bitterness, wrath, anger. I think we know what that means. Clamor. C L A M O R really means loud talk. you know, and I've never, never been comfortable with people yelling at each other. That's just very demeaning. Evil speaking to be put away with all malice. Now, verse 32, this is so beautiful, it's almost poetry. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, has forgiven you. The word forgiven means to cancel out.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: I mean, it really does, doesn't it?
>> Bert Harper: It does.
>> Alex McFarland: And I got to tell you, if we would take this to heart and with the help of the Holy Spirit, live it out, it would be a changed world.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. If we don't do that, I want to go back to verse 30 as we close out. If we don't put those away, guess what we're going to do? We're going to grieve the Holy Spirit of God. What does that mean? It's an irritant. It hurts. The word honestly comes from a word that has to do with your. Your eye, your vision. It's like having a cinder, a little bitty cinder in your eye that is so irritating, it makes you cry, it turns it red. And so don't let these be in your life. It not only grieves the Holy Spirit, it hurts our Testimony hurts our witness. But what we're to do, as you said, Alex, in verse 32, he sums all this up on what to do. What do you do? Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another. Those are the things you did, because God has done that for you in Christ, Alex. What a savior. Hey, we gonna take phone calls. That number, 888-589-8840. If you've got a Bible question, we would love to hear it from you today. The AFR app is a powerful tool, but it does have limitations. You can't use it to change the oil in your vehicle or get rid of carpet stains.
>> Alex McFarland: It won't walk the dog, won't pick
>> Bert Harper: 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 through the app on your phone, smart device, or Roku.
AFR will take phone calls from readers with Bible questions today
Just go to your app store or visit afr.net Listen to AFR wherever you go with the AFR app. I can't keep it to myself. There are enough colors to paint the whole picture, not enough words to ever
>> Alex McFarland: say what I found
>> Bert Harper: wonderful and beautiful
>> Alex McFarland: and glorious and holy. He is merciful and powerful.
>> Bert Harper: Who are you talking about?
>> Alex McFarland: That's my king.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Amen. No other one but Jesus Christ. I pray. He's your king, Your. He's your Lord. if you've been born again and you're saved, what a lord we have. What a boss. We have the best one in the world. So we're going to take phone calls and we've got lines open. And that number, if you have a Bible question, we'd love to hear it. Today. It is 888-589-8840. Triple eight, five eight, nine eight eight four zero. Alex, you ready to go to the phone lines?
>> Alex McFarland: Let's do it.
William: 13 Ohio soldiers have died in Middle East conflict
Where should we begin?
>> Bert Harper: Well, let's begin in the state of Ohio, and it's William. William, thank you for calling.
>> Caroline: Thanks for taking my call. Appreciate your ministry.
>> Bert Harper: Yes. Let me just say something real quick. the. I think it's been 13 individuals that have lost their lives, the soldiers over there, in the conflict that's going on in the Middle East. And I know three or four of them were from the great state of Ohio. I heard that this morning. And, so, let's be praying. I, know we take prayer requests all the time, but let's continue to pray for our men and women, on the ships, in the air, on the ground, and so that you Being from Ohio made me think of that, William. So. But go ahead with your question, brother.
>> Caroline: Thank you for that. We've, been flying, Matt, the flags at half mass in honor of those, but thank you.
>> Bert Harper: Yes, sir.
Question is. I don't remember Jewish expectation at the time of Jesus
>> Caroline: Question is. Question is, you may have had this before, but I don't remember the Jewish expectation at the time of Jesus, for the Messiah. did they expect. I know they expected a political, maybe concord to, liberate them, but what was the expectation of who that would be? Would it be, a man from God, a prophet? Or would it be God in the flesh, as he turned out to be? And how hard would that have been for them to, accept that?
>> Bert Harper: Okay, when you say that, you find out Anna and Simeon, they got it right, and they were Jewish, and I don't think, Alex, they were alone in that. Now, again, maybe may have been a minor percentage of the Jewish population who was looking for a savior like Jesus. it seems like a lot of them, if not most of them, were looking for a political one. Even, there was some of that even in the apostles. Twelve apostles that were following him, you know.
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, very much. This is a great question. We should probably do a whole show on it at some point, because, I mean, they knew the Messiah would come from the lineage of David, and David had been a warrior. Now he was the shepherd boy and the greatest king of Israel. But a lot of scholars, Bert, think that because Jesus or the Messiah would come from the lineage of David, there was probably much expectation that, the Savior, the Messiah, would lead in a battle to overthrow Rome and restore the glory of Israel. Probably Judas and Barabbas were of a zealot sect that wanted to pick a fight with Rome, you know, and then others, I don't know how much they really thought about Solomon, because, honestly, to understand the different ministries, I think you've got, yes, there is, the victorious, conquering king like David, but there's also the kingdom reign, like, under Solomon. But there's also the suffering savior, as I think depicted very much by the prophet Isaiah. You know, so there were different expectations, but, some understood the priestly role. I think you're right. Simeon and Anna got it right today.
Some Jewish people say they don't believe in a literal Messiah anymore
You know, one of the questions I've asked many Jewish people is, if there is a literal Messiah, what would that look like? And it makes my heart heavy because some Jewish people with whom I've spoken, including even a rabbi, said they don't really believe in a literal Messiah anymore. Isn't that sad? And yet we know There is a literal Messiah. He Rose. He's going to return. I'll tell you the mystery. I'll say this, and I'll throw it back to you. I think what even the most devout Jews maybe couldn't have envisioned is that mystery called the church age, even though it is referenced in the Old Testament. But, Bert, the idea that from the resurrection to the return and the kingdom age, there would be this interval where the gospel would go forth. The church age. I just don't think they could have conceived of that. What do you think?
>> Bert Harper: I think you're right. it was a mystery, and it was revealed. And I think in the book of Ephesians, first, two, three, chapter one, two, and three. he talks about that a lot. And Jesus coming. it wasn't going to happen until he came. This just popped into my mind. I'm not a musical guy. Y' all know that. I appreciate it. But there's one musical, that was on Broadway that made a movie of it, Fiddler on the Roof. I just love that. And. And you remember when they were having to leave their little village, the tailor would say to the rabbi, wouldn't this be a good time for Messiah to come? Now, you know? And every time I've heard that, as I've watched it, I thought, he's come already.
>> Alex McFarland: You know, what's so sad is, okay, there's Tevye and the tailor, Matl Kamzoil and the rabbi, they said, wouldn't this be a good time for Messiah to come? And the rabbi says, I guess we'll just have to look for the Messiah somewhere else.
>> Bert Harper: That's what he says.
>> Alex McFarland: Isn't that sound?
>> Bert Harper: It is. And so those of you that are listening have your Jew heritage litage. Jesus is Messiah. He is the suffering servant. He is the king of kings, the gentiles, all of us listen. Jesus is the one. You don't look for another. It's Jesus and Jesus alone. Just like that song that return. He's, a great. He's a great savior. It's only him. Thank you, William, for that. Good question, brother. Let's go to Mississippi. Steve. Thank you for calling. Go right ahead. Hey, Steve, be sure and turn your radio off, man. It, it causes an echo. Yeah, go ahead now.
>> Alex McFarland: Okay.
>> Bert Harper: All right.
>> Caroline: My question is,
>> Bert Harper: okay,
>> Alex McFarland: Steve, is he there?
>> Bert Harper: We're checking. Steve, are you there? Steve? Okay, can you put him on hold? Brent and. Well, he's off. We'll try to come back. Come back to a Steve, if you can. Let's go to Texas and talk to Samuel. Samuel, thank you for calling today. Go right ahead.
>> Caroline: Yes. good. Good afternoon, brothers.
Alex: I just have a question about Peter's diet in Acts
I just have a question. Comment. And I'm just wondering. You know, in Acts, the 10th chapter, it talks about this vision that Peter had when he was hungry in the, noon portion of the day, and that three times the sheet came down with, like, different kinds of meats and animals and critters on it. And then, it talks about the fact that. That, while he was still pondering about what the, actual vision meant, the three men that came from Cornelius House showed up at the door, and the Spirit told him to go with the men without reservations because he had sent them. And then later, he goes to Cornelius House, and he makes the point about the fact, you know, that it's not right for the Jews to mix with Gentiles. And then in the 15th chapter, I believe they met and Peter got up and stood about the fact that the Spirit was poured out on the Gentiles. So my question is, is that referring to diet, or is it really talking specifically about how the Lord accepted Gentiles? And he was trying to make sure Peter understood that the Gentiles who believed in him was also accepted.
>> Bert Harper: Yes, it did have the small. The small answer that it was the food. Yes. The diet. But the big answer was, yes, it's by grace through faith, isn't it, Alex?
>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And by the way, thank you for this wonderful question. sir, verse 28. Peter's talking with Cornelius. And Peter relates what he's learned from the Lord that day. And he said unto them, you know how that is an unlawful thing for a man that is a Jew, to keep company or to come unto one of another nation? But God hath showed me, Peter talking, that I should not call any man common or unclean. I think there's two important truths. Peter's vision, Acts 10, 9, and following number one, that in Jesus, the dietary laws are fulfilled and all food is clean. Everything is kosher. Now, in fact, the most kosher thing you can do is follow Jesus. But the second thing is that all human beings are able to be saved. All men are fit for salvation. Jew, gentile, whosoever will may come. Bert, you agree with that?
>> Bert Harper: I agree with it. And you're talking about Peter. you're talking about a guy that, he was proud of his heritage, he was proud of all that, and God used him. Now, one of the most amazing things. And see, if you think, it's amazing. Paul said, I'm a Pharisee of the Pharisees, a Hebrew, you know, all the things. And he became the apostle to the Gentiles, and Peter, who was a fisherman and so forth, and, you know, he wasn't trained at the feet of Gamaliel, but he would be the man that God would use. Yes, for Cornelius and those Gentiles. But his basically ministry started in Jerusalem and stayed there for quite a while, at least. You know what I mean, Alex? God, don't you love the way God does things? I mean, you know what I mean? He refuses to be put in Bert Harper's box.
>> Alex McFarland: Wow. Wow. well said. Well said. time fleets way. I'm going to give that number. It's triple eight.
Did Jesus go to hell between his death and resurrection, Bert asks
hey, may I share one of the questions, that we get online? And by the way, if you ever want to email us, you can do that. Wordfr.net somebody asks, what did Jesus do after his death on the cross but before his resurrection? And there's kind of a corollary. Did Jesus go to hell between his death and resurrection? Because, Bert, the Apostles Creed, which we include, and it's one of the great creeds of Christendom, 1600 years old, says there's the line in the Apostles Creed, he descended into hell. So Calvary, to the empty tomb. Where was Jesus and what was he doing, Bert?
>> Bert Harper: Well, we answered that yesterday, believe it or not, because we were in Ephesians chapter four. And here's what it says. Therefore, he says, when he ascended on high, he led captivity. Captive and gave gifts to men. that's a quote from Psalm 68. 18. Now, this he ascended. What does it mean? But that he also first descended into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fulfill all things. Now, again, what he did, he had some work to do, between. Between, before his body was raised, after he died on the Friday and raised Sunday, he had some work to do. That work was descended to get those saints that were kept in captivity. Now, that doesn't mean prison, like a torment. It was a place where they were kept. Like, you keep, the flock, Alex. You know, the shepherd would keep their flock in a fold so they'd be protected. And so he went and led them captivity, captives. So he did descend. And then, he. Yes, he would come back. So he was working during that period of time, wasn't he?
>> Alex McFarland: He really was. And like when the Apostles Creed. And the Apostles Creed is not scripture, although I Do think it is scriptural, but it really means in the realm of the grave. Now, I want to be clear, and believe it or not, when I was a little bitty kid, I heard a preacher preach that Jesus paid our sins by burning in the lake of fire Temporarily. No. The atonement was on the cross. He was our Passover lamb on this, altar called Mount Calvary. He did go into the realm of the dead. but like Psalm, 16, 10, and 11 says, Thou wilt not leave my soul in the grave, nor allow thy holy one to see corruption. He, did not decompose, but post Calvary, pre resurrection, he was in the realm of the dead. Also, Bert, he appeared before the father, to show that the atonement was complete and our sins. I'll put it this way. I'll throw it back to you. His death and resurrection makes everyone's salvation possible. Your faith in Christ makes it actual.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
>> Alex McFarland: He paid it on the cross, didn't he?
>> Bert Harper: When he said, it is finished, he meant the debt was paid. Paid in full. Thank you so much.
Alex: Frank's thankful spirit really encourages others
Let's go to Kentucky. Frank, thank you for calling. Go right ahead, brother.
>> Caroline: Yes, sir. I'll give you all update. I called last week and had y' all pray for my sister in North Carolina getting a heart transplant.
>> Bert Harper: Yes, sir. I remember that.
>> Caroline: Everything went well. it's gonna be a long healing process. But God showed up and showed out like he always does.
>> Bert Harper: Amen. Frank. Hey, Alex, don't you love the praises? on Wednesday nights, when a lot of churches make for prayer, and they'll have a prayer request, have a praise, and a lot of times, they'll give you a, list to pray for. Amen. Prayer list. Give them a praise list as well. And, Alex, having, a thankful spirit just like Frank, you know, shared and shared it with others, really encourages people. Encourages me. How about you?
>> Alex McFarland: Absolutely. Absolutely. you know, First Corinthians 13. Love sees the good doesn't keep a record of wrongs. And part of the good heart. The joyful spirit is a grateful spirit. what is the old song? Count your blessings, name them one by one. It will amaze you what the Lord has done.
>> Bert Harper: Amen.
Tomorrow is fire away Friday, so get your questions ready
Hey, tomorrow is fire away Friday, and we look forward to it. Get your questions ready. Alex and I will do our best to, look at the word, depend on the Holy Spirit and what we've heard, what we've been taught to give you an answer. And until then, though, we want you to stay with God and remember what we studied today. Put off the old man and put on the new man in Christ Jesus and walk in him. 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.
