But how many believers are stunted because there is this fear hanging over them that they've just lost their salvation or they're going to .
Speaker 2Yeah , I imagine a lot and I think , in addition to that , their salvation , or I should say their relationship with God , is stuck and away from what he intends for it to be , which Psalm 51 , restore to me the joy of my salvation . The joy of my salvation and the invitation there is to live joyfully in confidence , not over what you do , but over what God has done for you . And I think the more and here's the reality is that ultimately eternal insecurity , what we're doing is we're focusing on ourselves , it's all about what I am or am not doing . Eternal security is all about focusing on God and what he has done for me . And so ultimately you kind of Mark I think last episode you were quoting CS Lewis humility or pride is not thinking less of yourself , but thinking of yourself less . That was how CS Lewis quoted it , and I think our eternal security is something similar . We need to stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking more about what God has done and the reality that he's holding onto us wrong podcast .
Speaker 3Is that , lady gaga ?
Speaker 1have you guys ever heard someone speak another language and think to yourself there is no way they're really saying something , just a yeah , right , I mean , I deal with that , I'm bilingual . But I hear someone speak another language I'm like those can't really be , they can't be saying something , right ? Yeah , I know you guys have probably doubted my beautiful , wonderful , cute , adorable , snuggly Arab-speaking skills , arabic-speaking skills . So I'm going to prove to you that I speak Arabic .
Speaker 5Okay .
Speaker 1My good friend chat's going to help me . All right , here we go , translate this from Arabic into English . Here we go translate this from Arabic into English .
Speaker 2I am stronger more resilient and more beautiful than Ray , mark and Oscar .
Speaker 3She probably is .
Speaker 5What does that do with you ?
Speaker 1I had this cool guy doing a man voice yesterday when I tested this what in the world and she was off a bit on that . Anyway , I didn't say beautiful , I said handsome . But let's do another one Really . Yeah , one more . He's reading it , though . Translate this from Arabic into English .
Speaker 3Kalbet , kalbet , stop it woman .
Speaker 1What are you doing ? This is amazing . Okay , here we go .
Speaker 3Kalbet ray talbus awainet ahsan min lawainet el Ray belbos .
Speaker 2Ray's dog wears glasses better than the glasses Ray wears .
Speaker 3Yeah , that's a good quote I speak Arabic . I speak Arabic .
Speaker 2That was very good . You know that . All you have to do is say translate this Really , you can cut out the English to Arabic .
Speaker 3Thank you .
Speaker 4Oscar , you're welcome . I'm new at this stuff .
Speaker 1Yibroit . Yibroit Translate yibroit Guys , look I Okay , here we go , here we go . You guys know there are generations that have thought , oh , oh , we have it all where we've reached it what more can ?
Speaker 1every generation thinks like that okay , but there are some generations that end up saying , okay , that this have , you know , trains . They run on steam and it's a locomotive . It's moving with wheels , there's no horse pulling it . Yeah , you can extrapolate from that to a car . Maybe one day it won't be on the tracks and blah , blah , blah , blah . Whatever we have a car , oh , that's great . Well , maybe one day we'll have bigger cars , trucks , and they can you know , they'll have windshield wipers and the rain won't bother you , whatever . Who could have fathomed what we have ?
Speaker 5with ai mark . Yes , it's crazy I don't like ai . I don't use it no I actually just looked up based on what you said , because if it can be invented , it has been invented is often attributed to Charles H Duell , who was the commissioner for the US Patent Office in 1899 . If it can be invented . It has been invented , but it's a myth , chad Chippity just told us .
Speaker 1Well , he didn't say that . He never said it . Silly people believe jive like that .
Speaker 5In fact , he encouraged innovation . He said in my opinion , all previous advances in the various lines of invention will appear totally insignificant when compared with those which the present century will witness .
Speaker 4So the pool guy ? Everyone thinks the guy's an idiot and he didn't even say it .
Speaker 1He probably got his house toilet papered . False idiot . Okay , but you guys , please , let's talk about this a little bit . How ? How , Listen to me , it's not even , it's not even well , it is obviously the content and what it can do , the speed . I mean right now I can tell it give me 45 of this , and I can give it , like this detail . It's not like you know okay , give me a minute .
Speaker 3It's like it is , it's awesome .
Speaker 5My son explained it to me through a diagram how AI works . If you were to look at the diagram , it's absolutely amazing .
Speaker 1The way it's broken down . I sat next to a guy on the plane that he was doing AI stuff and I was so intrigued I'm like do you really understand how it works ? He's like yeah yeah . I hated that guy . I want to know how . Oscar , you don't seem very interested in this subject . No .
Speaker 2I'm interested in it . I think we've talked about it before , like 1,800 times . No , no , this is special . It is pretty amazing . I think we've talked about it before , like 1,800 times . No , no , this is special , it is pretty amazing . I put a sermon in it . The other day I just copy and pasted a sermon . I wrote word for word and asked it to turn it into a booklet for me and it failed miserably .
Speaker 4No , it didn't . It didn't do it it didn't .
Speaker 2It didn't do it , it gave me , it just was . And then I was like , why did that get messed up ? And to this , I still don't have my booklet .
Speaker 1So I'm frustrated with AI , yeah , you bad AI , no , but I mean you know , of course you have your pros and your cons , right , we've talked about it before . It can make you stupid . You don't use your brain , you stop being creative , so on and so forth . Plagiarism in a form that you didn't really write it and you're pretending like you did . But when it's used properly when it's used properly , I mean even what you just said , like having it take something you've actually created and rework it , or whatever . Or like you wrote a letter and you say , hey , clean this up for me . It's better than any human editor I've ever like . The it's just I don't understand If anything was like real magic .
Speaker 1This is it , you know .
Speaker 4I love it where I can say just give me some ideas on where I should go with this . Give me five ideas and it does , and it just sets me off in a different direction of creativity .
Speaker 2That is one thing I did . So I took that . I did the five things we can learn from the early church about reaching the next generation . I wanted to turn that into a booklet , so I gave it to it . And then I did say give me criticism on this . How would somebody disagree with this ? Am I exaggerating ?
Speaker 4No , no , just say be a wife , Be a wife Wife GPT , that would be good .
Speaker 1Yeah , it's mind-blowing . I'm just . I'm so blessed to live in this era . That's all I got to say .
Speaker 4Yeah .
Speaker 1And again , I know there's got to be more . I can't imagine how or what . Well now , obviously it's the blend with humanoids and mixing that together . I mean , obviously it's the blend with humanoids and mixing that together . I mean , yeah , there's crazier stuff coming , but it is fun to be alive in this day and age . I've been finding it to be helpful as an example . I'm not going to use it to write a heartfelt letter to someone I care about , but if I have to write something to my insurance company , our house flooded . I need to explain something .
Speaker 4I type in three lines and it gives me the most amazing , perfect letter . That's a help that saves time that I could use for other things . Also , I saw an expert very excited about the fact we're going to have robots $30,000 robots in the future . I don't want a robot , seriously . I mean , if you want to mow the lawn , just mow the lawn , don't get roboted . I want one you want one .
Speaker 1Oh , so badly , you know what they could do for you . Ray , feed the chickens , yeah .
Speaker 4They can feed , slaughter , cook and feed you the chickens .
Speaker 4The supermarket does that yeah , hey , I've got to tell you this is nothing You're talking about innovative and technology on that . The . This is nothing You're talking about innovative and technology on that . The simplicity of life when it comes to collecting eggs each day gives me such joy . I've done it since I was a little kid . We had chickens when I was a kid , and collecting eggs that have been laid by these stupid birds that don't know what they're doing , that we can scramble , fry , poach and turn into an omelet , I think is a little miracle and I see them as miracles from God .
Speaker 4By the way , did I tell you about the time I collected five eggs in one hand ? No , yeah , it was really good . I had something in my other hand . You know you can't fit five eggs in one hand , if they're good size eggs .
Speaker 1It's like you can't fold a paper .
Speaker 4X amount no no , no , no , I'm leading somewhere with this . So I took , I went inside and I put him on the bench and I said to myself I thought there were five .
Speaker 1I knew where that was going . You really did that .
Speaker 4I really did that . I couldn't believe it . Do you really ask that he ?
Speaker 3really did it After I said it .
Speaker 5I'm like .
Speaker 1of course , I predicted that's what would have happened .
Speaker 5Remember when that chicken got upset at you and refused to give the shell with the egg ? Wait Ray was that real .
Speaker 1Just recently so you never responded to that question in my text . I asked it like three times , okay for the listener . What is the story ?
Speaker 4One of our chickens laid an egg without a shell .
Speaker 5It was just . There's a weird membrane , just a membrane without a shell , so Easy said how did that happen ?
Speaker 4I said I don't know . How do I know ? I'm not a chicken , it's a backslid . It became lukewarm .
Speaker 1How do you know that the sun didn't cook it and then the chickens pecked off the shell ? No , you don't know that . You said you don't know . They're too dumb Chickens are really dumb . All right , Anyway , whatever you guys Time for a cool , classy comment . This is from someone that gave me a card . Oh , I think at the ARC conference . Easy just wanted to say thank you for all you and the rest of your crew do .
Speaker 3Ooh , that rhymes Easy .
Speaker 1I just wanna say thank you for all the rest of your crew do for sharing the gospel and the impact you all have had on my life and journey . I started reading the Bible the summer of 2021 . By February 2022 , I was saved . I had no church or guidance from anyone , nobody to lean on . I believe God led me to dust off my Bible and start reading , like all smart people . I went to YouTube , found a guy with a dog on his bike and life has never been the same . The four of you guided me , taught me what happened to me on that February day . You led me to MacArthur , washer , bauckham , artavanis , costi , even helping me find my way to a solid church here in Cincinnati , way to a solid church here in Cincinnati Truth community , and he goes on . Thank you friends , thank you friends in quotes , my brothers , for all you do for the kingdom and helping a lost wretch like me make sense of himself by solidifying my foundation on the beautiful gospel of Jesus Christ . Love you , brother , ray , mark and Oscar too . Rick Wiest , loveland , ohio .
Speaker 4I think you used AI to write that . It was just so good . Yeah , ai , that was beautiful .
Speaker 1Yeah , wow , Rick brother , it was a blessing to meet you and thank you so much for letting us know that we never get tired of cards like this and letters and those , Can I ?
Speaker 2just point out something as you were reading it , and he started with like you know , not being at a church , but you led me to , and he named all these people . In my mind I'm like , oh man , I hope he finds a church . And then he says he does , and just the importance of you know you can follow a hundred incredible preachers and teachers and whatever it will not make up for the work God means to do in and through you in the context of a local church .
Speaker 1So I'm just praising the Lord . Praise God , amen . And now a radically revolutionary resource . This podcast is right to you , man . Count your blessings and stop stressing . Ray , what are you stressing about over there in the corner ?
Speaker 4Someone sent a text I couldn't understand .
Speaker 1Sorry , drop it into AI , it'll help you figure out .
Speaker 4No , it said are you here now ? And then I thought it was written on Friday . But today's not Friday , it's Tuesday , so I was confused .
Speaker 1I've been getting this advert actually for an AI program that writes all of your email drafts for you and then you just review them and fix them whatever and then send them whatever .
Speaker 3Ray , what is the most stressful book you've ever written ? Count your .
Speaker 4Blessings and Stop Stressing . Yeah , that was a terrible one . Ray , what's it about ? You don't do that . The title explains the book . It's wonderful .
Speaker 1Yeah , Check it out , friends . It's a devotional and it will speak to you about not stressing .
Speaker 2When no one's read the book .
Speaker 1And don't forget Living Waters . My evidence study Bible Living Waters TV YouTube channel . Living Waters no no .
Speaker 2Livingwaterscom . I didn't know what you were doing .
Speaker 4I'm sorry , I was so confused Me , and Mark knew what he was doing . What's ?
Speaker 3wrong
with you ?
Speaker 1Alright , friends , today , the importance of eternal security . I thought it was external security .
Speaker 4You just made Oscar yawn , he's looking after your house with cameras .
Speaker 1The importance of eternal security . Remind me . Yawn , he's looking after your house with cameras . The importance of eternal security . Remind me . What did you do , Ray ? Oh , the Department of Eternal Affairs . That's right , I had it in my wallet .
Speaker 4What was that ? It was a card that said Department of Eternal Affairs Director and I put it on the desk at John Wayne Airport and the guy says are you from the State Department ? I said Department of Eternal Affairs . Do you know the Lord ? He says no , but he does . He pointed to another guy it's funny .
Speaker 1Some want love and others want purity . Others people want eternal security .
Speaker 5Mark , you're a pretty good snapper actually I'm trying to be offbeat to make your song even worse . You did the two things .
Speaker 4Mark is good at Snapping and cracking your knuckles , mark .
Speaker 1He's done that for years , but Mark is at a whole other level , not anymore my fingers are like all destroyed . No , don't show us that pinky mark .
Speaker 3You know better than that .
Speaker 1I don't think I can , but you do it where you put them all together and you go yeah , but listen to what he says after he's done it for years .
Speaker 4When we travel , I can't hear oh , oh , but you do it where you put them all together and you go yeah , but listen to what he says after he's done it for years on my travel .
Speaker 3Click click , click and he goes ouch .
Speaker 1Ouch ouch Mark , why Mark ?
Speaker 4why do you crack your fingers , dude like that ? That's probably good for you .
Speaker 1I don't know what builds up the cracking stuff ?
Speaker 4Oh , it's exploding , the synovial fluid within the ball and socket joint . That's all it's saying . Wait , wait , what ?
Speaker 1Ray , that was a very AI moment . Ray , that was pretty scientific .
Speaker 4right there it's the exploding of the synovial fluid , which is a very high quality fluid , in the ball and socket joint of your knees .
Speaker 1Okay , Ray has had that statement prepared all his life for this moment .
Speaker 4For this moment , yes .
Speaker 1Is that really real ?
Speaker 2Yes , Synovial fluid . Whatever right , I don't believe that Sin . Oh , Mark , you're in sin . I'd love to sort of give a general overview , because there's different views on eternal security I think it'd be helpful if we started with just like a general overview . So you know , starting with the Roman Catholic Church , they believe in what's called initial justification , which comes through baptism , but they believe that you can lose your salvation either through mortal sin or not cooperating in grace through sacraments . And so , essentially , the Roman Catholic Church , absolute assurance is not possible .
Speaker 1Thank you , Mark . Mark just proved to us what Ray said .
Speaker 5What's it called the sin over your fluid .
Speaker 1Sign over your fluid . Yeah , that's false .
Speaker 2Sorry , Oscar , no it's okay , I'm just trying to work .
Speaker 3I'm trying to work here people .
Speaker 2An Armenian view . Interestingly , this is given credit to Jacob Arminius , but he actually left it open . Jacob Arminius disagreed with four out of the five doctrines of grace . The fifth one , the one that he wasn't sure about , was perseverance of the saints . He actually vacillated back and forth .
Speaker 4He didn't read his Bible .
Speaker 2Apparently not , and then the Wesleyan church , through John Wesley , took it to the next level , in which they do believe that you can willingly lose your salvation through unbelief or persistent sin . In other words , they believe your assurance is conditional on continued faithfulness . An antinomian view emphasizes once saved , always saved , no matter what , and it essentially detaches salvation from a form of obedience . And basically we talked about this in our previous episode which is that the gospel doesn't just save you , it also transforms you . That's the difference between justification and sanctification . Justification the gospel just transforms you . That's the difference between justification and sanctification . Justification the gospel justifies you , you are right , standing before God , but the gospel , in addition to that , continues to work out in your life in a sanctifying way . It is transformative , and that's the reality that antinomianism loses , the reality that the gospel also transforms you . It cheapens grace and then a reformed view , which is actually , it's accredited to the Reformation , but it's actually a restoration of a historic view .
Speaker 2And just as an example , augustine Augustine In the late 300s said of course , the man who perseveres in faith is saved , but it is God who gives him perseverance , even to the end . Cyprian of Carthage , cyprian , thank you the Lord , proving us by his divine teaching , says he , that endures to the end , the same shall be saved . Athanasius said he becomes . He became man so that in him , as man , we might be renewed and sustained in our being to the end . In other words , this historic view is that salvation is entirely God's work . Those who God regenerates and justifies , he will also persevere to the end .
Speaker 1That's a great overview , oscar . Persevere to the end . That's a great overview , oscar , and I think it's helpful to people to understand really kind of the roots of some of these views and where they come from . Nothing has sustained me psychologically , emotionally and ultimately practically as a believer than the doctrine of eternal security . Without it , I personally don't understand how anyone can truly live a vibrant Christian life without the understanding that Christ is the author and the finisher of their faith . I think it's a sad and a tragic thing , ray , but I think I'd love to back up to something you've always said . I don't know if it's original or not , but Oscar highlighted the antinomian view of once saved , always saved , and it's not always strictly antinomian . I think there's qualifications on that , but what he said is true the error of go ahead and do what you want and great , you're saved , right . But I love . What he said is true , the error of go ahead and do what you want and great , you're saved , right . But I love the way you've always put it If saved , always saved , explain that .
Speaker 4Yeah , I don't know where I got it from , AI .
Speaker 4No no it was pre-AI , it was many years ago , but you can find a thousand Bible verses to justify someone who believes or for someone who believes to justify you . Can fall away and you've got to persevere or at least you fall away . They find all these verses , not realizing there's such a thing as true and false conversion . If someone is genuinely saved , they put their hand to the plow and don't look back , because they're fit for the kingdom and God has made them fit . They're the good soil hero that brings forth fruit hundredfold . He doesn't fall away like the stony ground hero when temptation , persecution and tribulation comes . And then you look at verses like he is able to keep you from falling and present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy .
Speaker 1Oh man , Jude , 24 and 25 . I want to give references because , listen , we have a lot of people listening right now who have been haunted by the fear that they've lost their salvation or are going to lose it .
Speaker 4So you feel free to who was the guy that gave the impression ?
Speaker 3Oh yeah , jack Van Eppie , jack Van Eppie .
Speaker 4You can play Jack Van Eppie . I'll be his wife , I'll just quote him .
Speaker 1Today , me and Roxella had soup for dinner at Revelation 4 or 5 .
Speaker 4Everything After every sentence , anyway yeah , so the good soil , hera , is the genuine convert . Once you understand the concept of true and false conversion , and everything comes back to the parable of the sower , where jesus said to the disciples when they said we don't understand this parable , he said don't you understand this parable ? How then will you understand all parables ? Matthew 13 the key , yeah , so that's , that is the key to unlocking the understanding of understand all parables , matthew 13 .
Speaker 1The key Shuff , shuff , shuff yeah .
Speaker 4So that is the key to unlocking the understanding of all the parables , the wheat and the tears , true and false , the good fish and the bad fish , the goats and the sheep . And the goats stay with the sheep until judgment day , when they'll be sorted out . So when you look at people who fall away , you say that person wasn't genuinely saved . And you and I , all of us , have said the same thing . Someone could come up to us with a truckload of diamonds and say I'll give this to you if you turn your back on Christ . And I'd spit on the diamond and say get out of my face , because we've found everlasting life . How could we fall away ? We're tempted by sin , but we don't look back longingly to Sodom .
Speaker 3We don't do that . That's good Amen .
Speaker 4We put our hand to the plow and don't look back , because we're fit for the kingdom and that comes back to the sovereignty of God . He made us fit .
Speaker 3Amen .
Speaker 1Yeah , you know . Look , matthew 7 makes it very , very clear that there are people who will have thought they knew God , lord .
Speaker 1Lord , have we not prophesied , cast out demons , done many wonders in your name ? And I will say to them I never knew you . Depart from me , you who practice lawlessness . I never knew you , you know ? Isn't that interesting when you think about what Paul said in Galatians ? He said but then , indeed and this is in Galatians 4 , 1 , and on , he said but then , indeed , when you did not know God , you served those which , by nature , are not gods . But now , after you've come to know God , or rather are known by God I love how he put that You're known by God , mark .
Speaker 5I want to comment on that scripture that you just said . And then you'll tell them plainly I never knew you . Depart me from your work of iniquity . I never knew you . He didn't say at one time I knew you .
Speaker 5Right exactly Right . I mean , if he said I never knew you , it means he never knew him . Yeah , how do I break that down ? Any more than that right ? So it's not depart from me , your worker of iniquity . I once knew you , but I don't know you anymore . This is a great verse for the doctrine of eternal security , right RC Sproul . He said the perseverance of the saints is really the perseverance of God with the saints . Christ does not save halfway , he saves to the last breath .
Speaker 2Wow , I love Jude 1 on that , which says to those who are called , beloved in God the Father , and kept and here's the thing , it's not just and kept , it's and kept for Jesus Christ . The perseverance of the saints is so important because it reminds us that the gospel isn't primarily about us . The gospel is primarily about God , and your salvation is primarily about God . You are kept for Jesus . You're not kept for yourself . You are his prized possession , his bride , his inheritance . What is the devil going to rob from Jesus ? His own inheritance ? Absolutely not . You are kept for Christ Jesus . The perseverance of the saints is not ultimately about you . It's about Jesus getting what he wants . Amen .
Speaker 4I know and believe , and persuaded , that he is able to keep that which I've committed to him against that day . I don't know where that's from . It's from the Bible . What's the reference ?
Speaker 1I just got to qualify what we're saying .
Speaker 4We're not saying that you can live like the devil and you've got assurance of salvation . If you are genuinely saved , you won't live like the devil , right .
Speaker 1And again , that's the point . Jesus was making A few more references . These are from 1 John . By this we know we've come to know him if we keep his commandments . The one who says I've come to know him but doesn't keep his commandments is a liar and the truth is not in him . Again , an indicator that you can say you've come to know him God is light In him . There is no darkness at all . If we say we have fellowship with him but walk in darkness , we lie and don't practice the truth . So again , and the reason why I'm highlighting these is because there is that perception on the antinomian side of things that Oscar highlighted , that anyone who professes Christ is a Christian . Titus 1.16, . They profess to know God but by their deeds they deny him . Mark , you were gonna say something .
Speaker 5I was Spurgeon , the old Baptist preacher . He said if you could lose your salvation , you would .
Speaker 3I mean , how strong do you think ?
Speaker 5you are and how prideful are you to think that you can maintain it . I mean , it's absolutely ridiculous . And then JI Packer . He said your faith will not fail while God sustains it . You are not strong enough to fall away while God has resolved to hold you .
Speaker 2We could have just ended it with . If you could lose your salvation , you would .
Speaker 1Thank you for doing that Spurgeon . Yeah , spurgeon , yeah . So I want to look at some verses , to look at some verses and again to connect them to the Lord , because at the end of the day , as I repeat often , it doesn't matter what we think . It doesn't matter what we feel , it doesn't matter what the most respected Bible teachers may have said to us . The question is what does Scripture say ? I had a guy come up to me after a purity conference and say I don't agree .
Speaker 5Wait , what nationality would that have been that ?
Speaker 2sounded like your Lebanese version of yourself .
Speaker 1I don't agree . I don't agree . Well , I'm not going to give it away , because then people will figure out , maybe , who it was . Ray , that's right . No , but he basically was saying Trump Lust is fine and ah , it was written in that time . It was different back then .
Speaker 5What boldness to go up to the preacher , oh yeah , he came up to me .
Speaker 1I go , you go , to this church . Oh , every Sunday I am here .
Speaker 4I'm like okay , Was he a pastor yeah it was a pastor you go to this church .
Speaker 1Oh , every Sunday I am here and I'm like , okay , was he big ? Was he big ? It was the nun , the nun of the church . Yeah , so it doesn't matter . What was he going on ? That's what I feel .
Speaker 4What did you say to him ? I punched him .
Speaker 3How dare you ?
Speaker 1No , I just took him back . I told him basically , again , he's calling Jesus a liar and he's telling me I know Jesus said if you look at , the woman lost her blah , blah blah .
Speaker 1But it's still like no , that's just . I feel differently , basically . So we have to go back to the word . We have to go back to what God has said . What else do we fall back on ? And this is important because I think sometimes , with people who are wrestling with doubting their salvation , there's almost a sense of I don't know , righteousness in it . It's good for me to feel this like a loser and I'm a wicked , wretched sinner , and yeah , there's something good about recognizing our depravity . But we can't stop there , because then we're telling Christ that what he did on the cross really didn't mean what he said . It meant that by one offering , he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified Hebrews 10 , 14 .
Speaker 4You're saying we go back to what the Word says . Eternal security really has its basis in simple , childlike trust . It's as simple as that God says . I believe it . It's written in the Word , as Word can never lie . It's written in the Bible . I believe it till I die . Though the mountains be removed and cast into the sea , god's Word will last forever , throughout eternity . Which verses are those from the Bible . There was a song somewhere , the which verses are those from the Bible . There was a song somewhere .
Speaker 5The Beatles . No , it wasn't the Beatles . Yeah , so You're heading in the direction about you're going to give us some scriptures , right , You're laying the foundation .
Speaker 1Christ , right , he's a foundation , his word is a foundation . John 10 , 28 to 29 .
Speaker 3Wow , wow , you guys are slacking today and I give them .
Speaker 4This is Wow . You guys are slacking today and I give them eternal life . No one will pluck you out of my hand .
Speaker 1And I give them eternal life , and they shall never perish . Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand . My Father , who has given them to me , is greater than all , and no one is able to snatch them out of my Father's hand . Wow .
Speaker 5It couldn't be clearer than that could it they ? Shall never , no , never , no , never .
Speaker 1Never , yeah , in the original language I mean , it's so explicit and emphatic Never , no one . And I mean Oscar , how many Christians are stunted right ? Because Don't look at me , spence- Hooray it's stunted .
Speaker 3Hooray , it's stunted .
Speaker 5The timing of that .
Speaker 1But how many believers are stunted because there is this fear hanging over them that
they've just lost their salvation or they're going to .
Speaker 2Yeah , I imagine a lot and I think , in addition to that , their salvation , or I should say their relationship with God , is stuck and away from what he intends for it to be , which Psalm 51 , restore to me the joy of my salvation and the invitation there is to live joyfully in confidence , not over what you do , but over what God has done for you . And I think the more and here's the reality is that , ultimately , eternal insecurity , what we're doing is we're focusing on ourselves , it's all about what I am or am not doing . Eternal security is all about focusing on God and what he has done for me . And so , ultimately , you kind of Mark , I think last episode you were quoting CS Lewis in which I just completely lost the quote in my mind . I just pulled an easy . What was the quote ? Oh , humility or pride is not thinking of your is not thinking- Lowly of yourself .
Speaker 2Less of yourself , but thinking of yourself less . That was how CS Lewis quoted it , and I think our eternal security is something similar . We need to stop thinking about ourselves and start thinking more about what God has done and the reality that he's holding onto us .
Speaker 1Well , ray , that's right . I mean , when we sin , the remedy is to turn to the cross right .
Speaker 4If we confess our sins , he's faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness . I read something there the other day . When I was looking at that verse I thought I've never really seen that and had a revelation of what it's actually saying . If we confess our sins , he is faithful and just . That brings in the cross .
Speaker 4Yes , because God isn't just faithful to forgive our sins , he's just to forgive our sins , and the cross makes provision for our forgiveness and keeps the law satisfied and we're justified through it . Who , according to his abundant mercy , has begotten us again to a lively hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead , to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled that does not fade away , reserved in heaven for you who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation , ready to be revealed until the last time . What we're saying at the moment about having faith in God and his promises may not mean that much , but when you're on your deathbed , you want to know that you're saved . You want to know that the parachute you're jumping with isn't faulty , that you can take it on and put it back on . Take it off , put it on . No , god gives it to you and He'll keep you .
Speaker 1Yeah , you know , one of the things that I've found tragic in talking to Catholic friends and again , I grew up Catholic . We absolutely love Catholic folks , but it's I don't know . If you ask somebody , do you have everlasting , are you saved ? I don't know , we'll see , but they don't recognize . Again , that sounds like you're being humble . I don't want to be prideful and presume , and so they say that . But what is it being inferred ? I don't want to be prideful and presume , and so they say that , but what is it being inferred ? I don't know if I'm going to have done enough , if I was good enough on the basis of my own works and efforts to enter His kingdom . We'll see on that day .
Speaker 4That's an insult to the gospel . Amen . I've been groaning a lot just for the last day or so because I read something just yesterday where this young lady , whom you'd be familiar with the picture , she , um , she was involved with Prince Andrew . You know the whole thing . Yeah , down at Mar-a-Lago , something like that many years ago . Uh , just yesterday or the day before , she was involved in a car accident where her I think her kidneys got destroyed and they said you've got two days to live . And she wrote on , she says goodbye to everybody , I love you , all that and she's only 33 or something like that . So imagine hearing that doctor saying there's no way you can live , you've got usually they say two weeks or two months , two days , and my heart's gone out to . I hope she's , I hope she , someone shares the gospel with her or she knows the Lord .
Speaker 1Yeah , yeah .
Speaker 2It's tragic . You mentioned Catholic friendsolic friends . I think I think we have to be honest too and say that in in
many protestant churches , um in some faithful other uh you know churches thing which has good , faithful doctrine that would even agree with , um perseverance of the saints , so often I hear preachers get lazy in their preaching and ultimately you can reduce their sermons down to spiritual moralism in which it's like hey guys , today's sermon's on prayer , here's how you need to pray .
Speaker 2You're not praying enough , you need to pray more . If you're really a Christian , you'd be praying this way . All right , go pray and you leave and you're like man okay , I guess I'm a bad Christian . Or , and you leave and you're like man okay , I guess I'm a bad Christian . Or you leave going . Well , I guess I am a Christian because I'm doing these things when the reality is that we need to preach the gospel so that people have confidence in their eternal security . Again , not pointing at what we do , but pointing at what Christ has done for us .
Speaker 1Amen , amen . Yeah , I'm trying to remember that verse .
Speaker 4It was Remember all things that verse .
Speaker 1Things is a part of it . Do this and live . Oh yeah , yeah . Do this and live . The law commands , but gives me neither feet nor hands A better promise . The gospel brings it , bids me fly and gives me wings , that's really good .
Speaker 2Well , that is great .
Speaker 4Isn't that great . Where did that come from ?
Speaker 1I don't know . I've heard it quoted before . I was trying to remember how it went . But yeah , do this and live . The law demands , but gives me neither feet nor hands .
Speaker 4Give me a fly and I'll fly away . Yeah , what a great memory .
Speaker 1Yeah .
Speaker 3I'm trying to remember the other part , man , he'll never forget . I just said it . At least it's on there .
Speaker 1Yeah , but a better word the gospel brings . It bids me fly and gives me wings . I love that .
Speaker 5Can I talk about for just a moment why this is so beautiful ? We have . We've touched upon it a little bit , but I want to take it from a different angle and this is for the person who is struggling . You know , perhaps right If you were to look at eternal security not as a hammock but as a safety net when you mess up and you will not if .
Speaker 5But when you mess up you begin to have a view that , listen , it's not about me , anyways , right , it's God's kindness that leads me to repentance , god's grace which causes me to live a sober life . It causes me to be even more grateful . You know , it's like I blow it , I mess up and I go pause time out . It's not about me anyways , lord be , lord be God . Do what you do best . Reconcile , make sense . Give me the courage to confess , to profess , to do what Christians do in this right . If we treat eternal security not as a hammock where I can do whatever I want to do what Christians do in this right , if we treat eternal security not as a hammock where I can do whatever I want to do . Bro , I mean right , I mean I can sin , and this is kind of the Catholic viewpoint that I had a relative who was Catholic and said , oh , you believe in eternal security . It's like , oh , so you can just do whatever you want to do . Now I go . What are you talking about ? Where did you get this idea ?
Speaker 5I'm not treating eternal security as a hammock , though I can rest because Christ has done the work . I treat it as a safety net because I can't fall . I will never stumble , I'm not going to be going down to hell . He's not going to punish me when I mess up because he punished his son . There's only room for one punishment for the believer right , or for the non-believer . You get punished in hell because you've rejected God , or Christ is punishing you Now . God can correct you , he can chastise you and you want him to do that right . But no , it is a safety net , not a hammock . Just come alive with the idea that it's not about you , it's about Christ in you the hope of glory .
Speaker 1Amen , you know , ray , to that point , because that's the thing , right ? When someone is talking to you about , oh great , then I get saved and I just go ahead and go out and do whatever I want , right ? They're coming at it from a natural mindset , an unregenerate mindset . But , ray , you say something repeatedly when you witness to people , and that is you ever told a lie ?
Speaker 3I'm not lying , marcus .
Speaker 1God will give you a new heart and New desires . You say that every time Expound on that Ray .
Speaker 4Yeah , it's the promise of the new covenant when God says I'll Take my law and write it upon your heart and cause you to walk in my statutes . I love the Living Bible where it says this that God will cause you to do the things he wants you to , without him even telling you to do them Good , where you can say I delight to do your will . Oh , my God , your law is written upon my heart . So God takes his law , that which is so precious to him , that's what drove Jesus to the cross God's love for justice and he writes it upon our hearts and causes us to walk in his statutes . And that's the miracle of my own conversion .
Speaker 4As I said to Mark , we were doing an interview the other day and I said I went for 22 years as a non-Christian , never for a second , saying oh God , I believe you gave me life . What do you require of me ? Never once did I pray a prayer like that . And the moment I became a Christian it was oh God , I will do anything for you . And I didn't create that , I didn't make that , I didn't make myself for the last 50-something years . Think about the Lord 24-7 . It's just there . And that's what salvation is where God causes you to walk in his statutes .
Speaker 5A saved life is a changed life , right . If any man's in Christ , he is a new creation . The old things have passed away . Behold , all things have become new . Yeah .
Speaker 1Yeah , amen , oscar . The first verse I quoted was John 10 , 28 to 29 . No one will snatch us out of his hand . Romans 8 , 38 to 39 . For I am persuaded that neither death nor life , nor angels , nor principalities , nor powers , nor things present or things to come , nor height , nor depth , nor any other created thing shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus , our Lord . Isn't it sweet that it's tied to the love of God which is in Christ Jesus , our Lord ? Isn't it sweet that it's tied to the love of God and , like Paul , wanted to make sure to go overboard , like on and on and on , but nothing , no one will be able to separate us from that love , what confidence I mean , what power you know to really , and I think , ultimately , all of this is about again turning our eyes to the love of God and the way that he has loved us .
Speaker 2It's funny that you're quoting that verse because I thought about putting it in my notes and decided not to . But the reason why I thought about putting it in my notes is because I remember when I first realized I was a Christian , I couldn't fathom . I was like man , I'm gonna ruin this . That's the way I thought . I'm gonna ruin this , I'm gonna disappoint God , I'm going to . I'm not worthy , I'm not good enough . And it was that verse early . That was like my first life verse . You know everyone gets like a life verse when they first get saved .
Speaker 2That was my like life verse Cause . When I came across that and read that it brought me to tears to just realize this is I'm not going to ruin this . This is the Lord's work . He's faithful to save me , to keep me and to restore me , to transform me .
Speaker 4I am His workmanship in the midst of all this , and neither death nor life or anything else will ever separate me . Oscar , can you expand that a little ? You said I realized I was a Christian . That sounds more than someone saying I'm making a decision to become a Christian right now . I'm a Christian by my own decision . Expound on that , will you ?
Speaker 2Yeah , I mean it goes to my salvation story , which is I was an atheist through high school and college and the thing that saved me is somebody preached the gospel . And the thing that saved me is somebody preached the gospel and the thing about that is that I had heard it before , I knew it . He didn't say anything special , it wasn't a good story , it wasn't well presented , there was no new argument , it was simply the Lord's timing . But I didn't walk away that moment . I'm a Christian . I walked away , going man , what was that ? Something just changed , I'm not sure . And so once I got involved in a church and I started reading through and understanding what happened to me , I came to the realization the Lord saved me . That's what happened . I'm a Christian .
Speaker 5You know , when you quoted that Romans 8 passage , nothing will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus , our Lord . I heard a commentator say when God says nothing , he means everything that you're afraid of .
Speaker 2That's so good .
Speaker 5Nothing will separate us from the love of God .
Speaker 4Wow , I just got the chills . That's funny . I thought you were going to say when God says nothing , he means nothing .
Speaker 1Yeah , I mean you think about the concept of God reneging on a promise he made , of God actually being able to err , like he messed up .
Speaker 4Boy , everything comes crumbling when you think thoughts like that .
Speaker 1Oh , like I mean , but that's what we're saying If God can lose us , if God could somehow , you know , not have us as his when he paid such a massive price for us and I think that oftentimes , you know , it's an issue of what we've done that makes us feel that oh .
Speaker 1I just messed up , I just sinned . I've done this for the thousandth time . Listen to 1 John , 2 , 1-2, . My little children , these things I write to you so that you may not sin , amen , right , I mean , obviously God's Word wants to keep us from sin and John is an apostle
saying I'm writing this to you so that you don't sin .
Speaker 1And if anyone sins , we have an advocate with the Father , jesus Christ , the righteous , and he Himself is the propitiation for our sins , and not only for ours but also for the whole world . I mean , I love that hey don't sin , but if you do , remember we have an advocate , he's our propitiation . He satisfied the wrath of God . He paid for that very sin on the cross . And on the day that you got saved and were feeling the fullness of joy because you were just regenerated , remember God was aware of the worst sin you would ever commit . And that love that you felt from him at that moment is still valid for you in the moment that that sin was committed . Because if you truly love God , you never want to sin . Right , the flesh lusts against the spirit , the spirit against the flesh . You don't want to , and yet there's that battle in you and you have to turn back to the Lord and His love .
Speaker 4By grace . You're saved through faith and not of yourselves . It's the gift of God . Can't earn a gift , but God can keep it in your hands .
Speaker 1Amen , yeah , and you know , you think about what Paul said . What are you guys talking about ? What ?
Speaker 5if they don't have any hands .
Speaker 2Yeah , good question .
Speaker 1But you know I mean you think about . I shared that passage from Romans . You know we said what shall separate us from the love of God ? Should it be tribulation or distress , or persecution , or famine , or nakedness or sword ? I mean again , this is before . He says I'm convinced that neither death nor life , nor angel , all these elements right , none of this will separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus , our Lord . We are His , we belong to him and we always will . Ephesians 1 , 13 to 14, . In him you also trusted after you heard the word of truth , the gospel of your salvation , in whom , also , having believed , you were sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise , who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession , is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession , to the praise of his glory .
Speaker 4I think I heard an exposition of that portion of Scrippy many years ago saying if someone says I'll give you a million dollars this afternoon at five o'clock , but as a down payment , as a token of good faith , I'm giving you a hundred dollars right now . That shows I'm going to get a million at five because you wouldn't have given me $100,000 right now as a token of good faith . And God has sealed us with the Holy Spirit of promise , guaranteeing the inheritance is coming . Amen , full redemption .
Speaker 1Yeah , I've heard that analogy . Mark , have you heard about that analogy with lumber and the seal ?
Speaker 4Oh , the beam in the eye ? No , I'm not sure .
Speaker 1So the idea comes from like when lumber would be harvested right and it would be long . Typically , when that happens in a certain forest , that lumber is going to be transferred downriver to a place where it's collected and at that place it's divvied up to the different people that bought the lumber . So what would happen is the servants of the person who purchased the lumber would go and the trees that were selected , they would be sealed with a specific stamp . It's almost like a branding , and it had the owner's insignia on it .
Speaker 1And so let's call him Jack , yeah , jack be nimble , jack be quick .
Speaker 2Lumberjack .
Speaker 1Yeah , lumberjack , and then when all the logs come together , they would look for that and that was the guarantee , that seal was the guarantee of that purchase possession , that it would now be taken by the owner . Isn't that beautiful .
Speaker 4Beautiful , but I had a thought how much does a big tree weigh ?
Speaker 2Way too much . Weigh more than 20 pounds . They're huge .
Speaker 4They're so heavy . They crush anything Crazy , how come they float .
Speaker 1Isn't that crazy I know they float downriver .
Speaker 4Yeah , they float like a boat in a moat , but float like a boat in a moat , but they're not shaped like a boat . A boat floats because a boat's shaped like a boat . But , they just float without being shaped like a boat .
Speaker 1Yeah , it's a big tree that I can see , and I see it floating in the sea . How could it be ? I just don't know . I want to jump on it and then we could go with the flow down the river .
Speaker 2We see over and over again , by the way , the Lord interacting with us through covenants and seals associated with that covenant . And so from the Old Testament we see seals and covenant between God and Noah , between God and Abraham , whether it's a rainbow circumcision . In the New Testament we get these two seals , we get the seal of the Holy Spirit and you get your baptism . And one of the things that was really neat about the early church is that when they were in seasons of struggle , of doubt , uncertainty , sin , the pastors would often remind them of the day of their baptism . They would say again , not to be mistaken , that baptism doesn't save you , but they would look back and go remember you got baptized , Remember the joy of your salvation that day , Remember the Holy Spirit that is with you , even convicting you . Now that is your seal , that is your confidence that the Lord is persevering in you .
Speaker 1And of course , the .
Speaker 2Lord's going to persevere in you .
Speaker 1Yeah , for Philippians 1.6, . This would have been probably my life verse early on in my walk with the Lord , being confident of this very thing that he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ . You know I've heard some at times try to say , well , he's talking about the completion of the gift that they had committed to . I don't believe that that really is the context of that . I believe this is speaking about what God has done , the work he started in us . He's going to complete it . He's going to bring to fruition our salvation that he inaugurated .
Speaker 1You know I love that Ephesians , I mean Romans 8 , 28, . We always quote it he who began a good work in you , I mean God , causes all things to work together for good to those who love him and are called according to his purpose . Philippians says it is God who is at work in you , both to will and to do for his good pleasure . To will and to work for his good pleasure . And then here , he who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it . God's at work us . He's doing a good work in us .
Speaker 3He's going to finish the good work he started . Mark , remember that song from back in the day he who began a good work in you .
Speaker 1Oh , you guys all know it . Yes , I know it , I know the air guitar to it he who began ?
Speaker 3a good work in you . He is faithful to complete it .
Speaker 2I've never heard this song in my life .
Speaker 3He'll be faithful to complete it . He who started the work will be faithful to complete it in you he who Right ?
Speaker 4Mark , he , who that's ?
Speaker 5what .
Speaker 4I thought was funny when you begin it again .
Speaker 1He who , he who , hi baby what .
Speaker 3We're on the podcast . You're live on the podcast .
Speaker 1I know , say hi to everybody .
Speaker 2What ? This is insane .
Speaker 4Sorry .
Speaker 3Rachel , we've jumped the shark guys , it's my wife . Love you too . It's my phone . We've jumped the shark .
Speaker 5Izzy's wife just
called in Alexander .
Speaker 1Phone's on . I always say phones on you guys say phones off . Anyway . But guys , seriously , he who began that work will complete it . Okay now , mark , what do you do with those who ? But hey , they looked like a believer and they were with , but they fell away . They lost their salvation . 1 John 2 , 19 . They went out from us , that's right .
Speaker 5Yeah , because they were never of us . Because if they were of us , they never would have left .
Speaker 5And you know listen , that's a strong theology , does right . So they looked like they were one of us , but they had artificial fruit . It's really what it is right . So an apple tree does not have to strive to produce apples . A healthy apple tree produces apples . That's what it does . It abides , and when we abide in the vine , we produce the fruit . Right , you'll know them that we are His disciples by our love one for another . Are they genuinely loving ? Are they producing that fruit of the Spirit you can't have . Well , listen , I produce all the fruit of the Spirit , except for self-control . No , the fruit of the Spirit includes self-control . That is one aspect of the fruit of the Spirit . So when somebody leaves us , somebody goes on , you can confidently say well , if they are turning their back on Christ , they were never part of Christ , they were never part of the family . Turning their back on Christ , they were never part of Christ , they were never part of the family . Right , you guys ? What are you ?
Speaker 1All of you guys are on your phones , all three of you guys with your shenanigans are on your phones . I'm taking pictures of you .
Speaker 5Lies .
Speaker 1That was a lie . Anyway , go ahead .
Speaker 5Right , yeah , so that's just the idea , right . And God is able to keep to the gutter most , as one theologian said , those who belong to him . And now , who are you calling ?
Speaker 1Nobody Ray's calling me on FaceTime .
Speaker 4That's to pay you back for not turning your phone off . No , I love my phone .
Speaker 3Yeah , no , mark , amen bro , Good stuff , you were really enjoying that . Can you just repeat what I said ?
Speaker 2That was great . No listen , that's good stuff . We got a good four minutes in guys .
Speaker 4I just sent Rachel a text and apologized . No , she's my wife .
Speaker 2I'm not my wife .
Speaker 1Okay , but real quick . I think it's important because here's what's hanging over some people listening right now . What about Hebrews 6 , 4 through 6 ? Okay , and this wouldn't be complete if we didn't address this briefly , for it is impossible for those who are once enlightened and have tasted the heavenly gift and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age , to come , if they fall away , to renew them again to repentance , since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God and put him to an open shame . That's beautiful , that's a positive verse . It's not a negative verse to an open shame .
Speaker 5That's beautiful , that's a positive verse , it's not a negative verse . So I expound on that more . It's impossible . I agree it's impossible and you're not going to fall away . So when somebody it's like that track that we used to have right , it's just how do you look at it God is now here , God is nowhere . When you put all of those letters together , somebody reads it as God is now here and somebody else reads it as God is nowhere . Right , it's just how you look at the verse . You presuppose that it goes another direction . I get it , but you're left with a lot more scriptures that you need to contend with . So when we interpret scripture , we do it in light of all the other scriptures that are around it , and so that now leads us to believe that , no , you're not going to taste of the heavenly kingdom and all that comes to the child of God you've been blessed with . Every spiritual blessing in the heaven is . You're not going to taste of this and then fall away . It's impossible to fall away .
Speaker 1Yeah , I love how MacArthur put it too . He said this is a warning directed towards those who have had a superficial exposure to the gospel but have not truly embraced Christ and who , after rejecting him , will not be able to repent again . And then he gives some more points . There MacArthur argues that the passage is not about true believers losing their salvation , but rather about the danger of those who have had a glimpse of the truth but have not genuinely come to faith . Then he hits on the once enlightened term . The phrases like once enlightened , tasted the heavenly gift and partakers of the Holy Spirit are not used in the Bible to describe the experience of true believers , but rather describe the experience of those who have had a superficial exposure to the gospel . The writer of Hebrews is warning those who have had a glimpse of the truth but have not truly embraced Christ that if they reject him they will not be able to repent again . So lots of different kind of perspectives and highlights on this . But don't be disturbed , saints .
Speaker 1Like Mark said , we have to understand things within their context . I mean I could point to a verse like , for example and she shall be saved through childbearing in 1 Timothy oh , you're saved by having children saved through childbearing . In 1 Timothy oh , you're saved by having children . You know I could Head coverings . Yeah , I could turn to things like that . I could turn to things he wouldn't hang himself . Yeah , go down and do likewise , playing Bible roulette . But , yeah , but lots of verses . If you don't eat of the flesh of the Son of God and drink His blood , you have no life in you . Oh , you died before you had communion . You're not saved . So we have to understand things within their context . But this I love , these verses in 1 Thessalonians , 5 , 23 through 25 .
Speaker 1Now remember and in Hebrews , don't forget , I quoted it already Hebrews 10 , 14 , and by one offering he has perfected forever those who are being sanctified . We're perfected in Christ . We have his righteousness . Positionally , we're sealed and secured . But God sanctifies us and in that process there's times we fail , we stumble , we sin , but no one will snatch us out of his hand . Nothing will be able to separate us from his love . Now , 1 Thessalonians 5 , 23 and 24 , now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit , soul and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ . He who calls
you is faithful . Who also will do ?
Speaker 3it .
Speaker 1There , my brothers and sisters , is your eternal security . He look unto him . He is faithful , he will do it . He's going to sanctify you completely . He's going to preserve you if you're his . So yeah , examine yourself to see if you're in the faith . Make your call and election . Sure , If you live a life of habitual sin and you don't care about it , you may not be saved . But if you can look and you say I hate my sin , I wish I could never sin , I never want to sin , but yet you find yourself in the process of sanctification , stumbling . You are His and you are His forever . So rest in that and let that fuel you to draw closer to him and walk more passionately in your walk with him .
Speaker 2I heard someone once say if you're worried about your salvation , it's a good sign you don't have to be . Yeah , I like that Good way to put it .
Speaker 1We hope you've been encouraged . Friends , don't forget count your blessings and stop stressing the Living Waters Mug . The Evidence Study Bible Living . Stop Stressing the Living Waters Mug , the Evidence Study Bible . Living Waters TV YouTube channel . That's a lot , oh well , and check it all out at livingwaterscom . Thank you for joining us , friends . We'll see you here next time on the Living Waters Podcast , where Oscar , mark and Ray have no idea what they're doing .