References: (1) From 1947 to 2023 the Gallup poll traced the decline of church membership in the US. (2) In my opinion, people in the Christian Churches of America do not have a full appreciation of the real import of who Jesus really is and are thereby robbed of its significance. (3) Some, like Bart Ehrman, the skeptical professor of the NT at UNC in Chapel Hill, have gone so far to assert that Jesus NEVER CLAIMED He was divine. (4) I give 9 instances from a multitude of situations where Jesus ...
Jan 20, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) “The Unfolding Drama of Redemption” by W. Graham Scroggie. (2) God’s revelation of the theme began with Gen. 3:15 where God told the serpent, the purveyor of rebellion: “I will put ENMITY between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed. ” (3) Man needs a PRIEST, a PROPHET, and a KING: a priest to represent him before God; a prophet to reveal God to him; and a king to be ruler over the whole kingdom of his life. (4) Only in Christ is man’s need supplied in every resp...
Jan 13, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The New International Version and the Phillips translation of Heb. 2:17 renders “hilaskomai” as atonement, but it is translated reconciliation in the KJV, propitiation in the NASB and NKJV, and expiation in RSV and NEB. I will soon show that expiation is too weak of a word and should be better translated as propitiation. (2) The theologian Origen and others have said the sacrifice of Jesus was paid to Satan, but that is contrary to Eph. 5:2 which says Christ gave Himself for us, ...
Jan 06, 2025•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) In the book “The Bible in the Light of Our Redemption” by E. W. Kenyon informs us there are 5 Levitical offerings given to us in the book of Leviticus. The offerings are: the Burnt offering (chapter 1), the Grain or Meal offering (chapter 2), the Peace offering (chapter 3), the Sin offering (4:1 -5:13), and the Trespass offering (5:14-6:7). Finally, 6:8-7:38 discusses the laws of administering the separate offerings. (2) Christ was examined by the Law and found faultless by Pilat...
Dec 30, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. (2) Jesus died in our place and gave His blood for the redemption of humanity by the will of God, bearing the punishment for our sins on Himself. That proposition is usually identified as the penal substitutionary atonement or PSA for short. (3) In the late first century Clement wrote, “Jesus Christ our Lord gave His blood for us by the will of God, His flesh for our flesh, His soul for our souls.” (4) In the e...
Dec 23, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) “Knowing God “ by J. I. Packer. (2) “Introducing Christian Doctrine” by Millard J. Erickson. (3) Millard Erickson says Jesus saw His death as constituting a RANSOM. (4) Christ also saw Himself as our SUBSTITUTE. (5) There are indications that Jesus saw Himself in the role of a SACRIFICE. (6) Jesus had a sense that He was the SOURCE and the GIVER of eternal life. (7) Paradoxically, Christ’s DEATH gives LIFE; we obtain it by receiving Him as Savior. His death was a SACRIFICE typifi...
Dec 16, 2024•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Genesis 3:15 is the first prophecy of the PROMISED DELIVERER of humans, the Redeemer who would save His people from their sins. (2) In the atonement God addresses 4 basic NEEDS that we all have as sinners: a. We deserve to DIE as the PENALTY for our sin. b. We deserve to BEAR God’s WRATH against us. c.We are SEPARATED from God by our sins (Isa. 59:2)and there is a great gulf between us and Him. We need a BRIDGE over that gulf. d. We are in BONDAGE to sin and the kingdom of Satan....
Dec 09, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The OT translation for atonement is taken from the Hebrew word kaphar. Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words says: “Most uses of the word [kaphar], involve the THEOLOGICAL MEANING of “COVERING OVER,” often with the BLOOD of a sacrifice in order to ATONE for some sin.” (2) Atonement is frequently identified with the juxtaposition of 3 words: “at,“one,” and “ment” to convey the idea of reconciliation. (3) However, this idea of “at-one-ment” is not a c...
Dec 02, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The OT translation for atonement is taken from the Hebrew word kaphar which literally means “to COVER.” (2) The word redemption is now used in a SPIRITUAL SENSE to describe the over-all work of Christ in salvation, but it also means in a NATURAL SENSE deliverance on payment of a ransom price, in the case of a slave, or a prisoner of war, or in order to let the condemned go free from prison. (3) Redemption is always at a COST to the redeemer. (4) There are all sorts of illustratio...
Nov 25, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The Importance of the Atonement. What could be more important than the atonement? We all are sinners by nature and activity (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). It focuses on the reasons why the Son of God was sent into the world in the first place. (2) Wayne Grudem says in his book Bible Doctrine that both the love and the justice of God were the ULTIMATE CAUSE of the atonement. (3) The Necessity of the Atonement. After Jesus rose from the dead, He asked, “Was it not NECESSARY that the Christ sho...
Nov 18, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Systematic Theology Vol. 3, by Norman Geisler, pp. 222-230. (2) The word atonement — coming back to God — is a common theme in the OT particularly in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers being mentioned in Exodus 10 times, in Leviticus 49 times, and in Numbers 17 times. (3) Why is atonement needed? The nation of Israel was affected by sin because they and we, too, have sinned (Rom. 3:23; 5:12). (4) Because of His Deity and Incarnation Jesus Christ is uniquely qualified to be the Mediat...
Nov 11, 2024•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Systematic Theology Vol. 3, pp. 222-227, by Norman Geisler. (2) Atonement — coming back to God — is a common theme in the OT particularly in Leviticus. The OT translation for atonement is taken from the Hebrew word kaphar which literally means “to COVER.” (3) The OT process took public form in animal sacrifices, for in the Hebrew world, the proper payment for sin was blood. “Almost all things are by the law PURGED with blood; and without shedding of blood is NO REMISSION — NO FOR...
Nov 04, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Systematic Theology Vol. 3, by Norman Geisler, pp. 222-227. (2) Col. 1:20-22 gives us a powerful expression of what it means to be saved: It was God’s purpose that “by Him to reconcile ALL THINGS to Himself, by Christ, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made PEACE through the BLOOD of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has RECONCILED in the body of His flesh through death, to present you HOLY, and BLAM...
Oct 21, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Systematic Theology Vol. 3 by Norman Geisler. (2) The Greek word for mediator is “mesites” and in classical Greek it has 2 BASIC MEANINGS: an arbiter or a sponsor, or guarantor, or surety. As an arbiter it means “a man who stands in the middle between 2 estranged parties who brings them together and who wipes out the differences between them.” This is what Jesus did between us and God. (3) A sponsor, guarantor, or surety was a man who put up bail for another persons appearance in...
Oct 14, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Let us turn our attention to discuss a number of important TERMS that are used in the Bible and Christian literature that speak of the way sinners are made right WITH God and reconciled TO God. Words like salvation, redemption, justification, forgiveness, reconciliation, and atonement have been so influential in molding the conception of the WORK of Jesus Christ that it is absolutely necessary to study them in greater detail. (2) Norman Geisler’s book Systematic Theology Vol. 3 g...
Oct 07, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The Bible is a salvific book. The apostle Paul told Timothy its central message: “From infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus” (2 Tim. 3:15). (2) There are PRE-SALVATION ACTS of God that are important for our understanding of the whole salvation process. (3) While there is wide evangelical agreement on the origin, nature, and purpose of the atonement, there is considerable difference on its EXTENT. T...
Sep 23, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) This passage Romans 8:29-30 introduces readers to 5 ESSENTIAL DOCTRINES: (1) foreknowledge, (2) predestination, (3) calling, (4) justification, and (5) glorification. These doctrines are intimately linked, forming an WIDE-RANGING VIEW frequently called the “GOLDEN CHAIN OF SALVATION.” (2) The fifth and final link in the golden chain of salvation is GLORIFICATION. God will remove us from the PRESENCE of sin and place us into an eternal state of glory with a new BODY like unto the ...
Sep 16, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The Bible is very clear that when a person believes in Jesus Christ as Savior, then he becomes a new creation in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), AND a child of God who is born not of blood, nor of the will of man, but of God (John 1:12-13). Consequently God’s Holy Spirit takes up PERMANENT RESIDENCE within that person. (2) In John 10: 27-30 Jesus uses the metaphor of SHEEP to describe His true followers. Jesus says, “My sheep hear My Vince, and I know them, and they follow Me. ...
Sep 09, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Justification is what the Lord Jesus did for us when He died on the cross for our sins. (2) Sanctification is the process we undergo to become more like the Lord Jesus in our thoughts, words, and actions, a process of becoming holy, a process of formation of Christ-like character. Holiness is a final result of this process. (3) Holiness is a goal that we, Christians, have to reach, because emulating a lifestyle that reflects God’s holiness is so important that the writer of...
Sep 02, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The TERMS used to describe these important stages are justification, sanctification, and glorification. They describe the Christian journey from new birth to resurrection. (2) Paul calls the first stage of salvation, justification. Justification is “an ACT of God whereby He declares a sinner to be in right standing before Him because of the sinner’s FAITH in Christ. In the present time, believers in Christ have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and re...
Aug 26, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) We are still involved with discussing the 5th point: Salvation has to be proclaimed. That means Christians are to be obedient to the Great Commission. We will soon discuss the 6th point: Salvation has to be lived. (2) Christians are called Christ’s AMBASSADORS (2 Cor. 5:18-20). Can an ambassador FUNCTION by saying NOTHING and KEEPING HIDDEN the good news? How does the love of God dwell within us if we do not keep this commandment of the Great Commission? In the closing sent...
Aug 19, 2024•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) I have said that the story of salvation can be told in 6 brief statements: Salvation is needed; salvation is provided; salvation is offered; salvation can be received; salvation has to be proclaimed; and salvation has to be lived. (2) To the high priest’s question: “Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” Jesus openly declared: “I am, and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming with the clouds of heaven” (Mark ...
Aug 12, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) In the last episode we began a discussion of the story of salvation. I have said that story can be told in 6 brief statements: Salvation is needed; salvation is provided ; salvation is offered; salvation can be received; salvation has to be proclaimed; and salvation has to be lived. We continue that discussion again in this episode. We have already discussed the first 2 statements. Thus, we begin with the third statement: Salvation is offered. (2) The meaning of”that”...
Aug 05, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Sin is REBELLION against God. We all choose to actively do things that are WRONG. Sin harms OTHERS, damages US, and, most importantly, DISHONORS GOD. (2) The apostle Paul made it clear that sin has CONSEQUENCES: “Do not be deceived. God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” (Gal. 6:7-8). (3) Thus, an individual&r...
Jul 29, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) Some will object that it’s extremely NARROW-MINDED for God to have only provided JUST ONE WAY to heaven. But, frankly, in light of mankind’s DEPRAVITY and REBELLION against God, it’s extremely BROAD-MINDED for GOD to provide us with ANY WAY to heaven at all. We deserve JUDGEMENT, but God gives us the WAY OF ESCAPE from judgment (1 Cor. 10:13) by sending His one-and-only Son to die for our sins. Whether someone sees this as narrow or broad, it’s the TRUTH n...
Jul 22, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The Word of God is God’s means of offering us the salvation found in Christ, and faith as the means of accepting that salvation. Faith appropriates the work Christ accomplished. (2) Allow me to turn now to answer these questions: How can I guarantee my eternal destiny?How can I know FOR SURE that I am going to heaven? (3) we need to embrace THIS SIMPLE TRUTH — not everyone who THINKS they are going to heaven will actually make it there. Jesus Himself said, “Not ...
Jul 15, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) The apostle Paul explains justification this way: “Being JUSTIFIED freely by His GRACE through the REDEMPTION that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:24). (2) SANCTIFICATION is the SECOND MAJOR STAGE of salvation. To be sanctified is to be “set apart” from a PROFANE, SECULAR, and CARNAL use to a SACRED, RELIGIOUS, and SPIRITUAL use, to be consecrated WHOLLY to God and to His service. (3) In NT times, all Christians were called saints. The perplexing question sure...
Jul 08, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast (1) Sin’s effects are moral and spiritual bondage, guilt, death, and hell. James explained: “Each one is TEMPTED when he is DRAWN AWAY by his own DESIRES and ENTICED. Then, when desire has CONCEIVED, it gives birth to SIN; and sin, when it is FULL-GROWN, brings forth DEATH” (James 1:14-15). (2) Secondly, in the last episode I began a discussion of other names for salvation. The translation of the Greek verb sozo is to SAVE. The Greek nouns for salvation are soteria and soterion...
Jul 01, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) All sins can be placed into 2 broad categories: sins of COMMISSION, doing what we should not do, and sins of OMISSION, not doing what we should do. (2) God singled out 7 particular sins He HATES: “There are 6 things the Lord hates, yes, 7 are an ABOMINATION to Him: a proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among the brethren” (Pr...
Jun 24, 2024•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast References: (1) But here is a VITAL POINT concerning our understanding of faith: we must never refer to FAITH as the CAUSE of our salvation, or of our righteousness. It is merely the INSTRUMENT, so to speak, by which we receive it. It is ONLY a CHANNEL through which the righteousness of Christ becomes ours. Faith does not SAVE us; salvation is THROUGH FAITH. The real cause of my justification is the Lord Jesus Christ and all that He has DONE. (2) “Romans in the Greek New Testament for the Englis...
Jun 17, 2024•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
