Scripture Matters Podcast - Episode 13 (Chapter 11 "What If I'm Wrong?")

This is the 13th episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast, with hosts Cliff Thompson & Jonathan Sanford. Currently we are reviewing the book published by Focus Press, and written by Jack Wilkie, "You Are Saved - A Christian's Assurance." Please like, share and make sure you've subscribed to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published alongside the Watters Road Church of Christ. Below is a synopsis of this week's episode:

You can walk into faith with real confidence and still be haunted by one question: what if I’m wrong? That fear is not hypothetical. It shows up when you realize how many sincere people believe conflicting things about salvation, worship, and the will of God. We take that tension seriously and go straight to Scripture to find something sturdier than feelings: a God shaped view of Christian assurance.

We talk through Jesus’ warning in Matthew 7:21-23 and why sincerity alone cannot be the final test. Then we trace two powerful case studies from Acts 18 and Acts 19: Apollos receives a more accurate explanation, while the disciples in Ephesus need fuller teaching and baptism in the name of the Lord Jesus. Those stories help answer a question many Christians avoid saying out loud: where is the line between misunderstanding and being outside God’s will?

From there, we wrestle with the sobering account of Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10, and we compare it with Aaron’s situation to see how obedience, motive, and the heart factor into accountability. We also push back on the idea that God is like Zeus, waiting to throw a lightning bolt the moment we slip up. Scripture says God desires all to be saved (1 Timothy 2:4) and is patient toward repentance (2 Peter 3:9), and that changes how we think about grace, spiritual growth, and responsibility.

If you want biblical salvation assurance without pretending you never struggle, press play. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs steadier ground, and leave a review that tells us what part of the “what if I’m wrong” question you’re working through right now.

Transcript

The Courtroom Doubt Scenario

SPEAKER_00 0:09

You walk into a courtroom with full confidence that you were in the right.

SPEAKER_01 0:17

You take a seat beside the others as you wait your turn to be called.

SPEAKER_00 0:22

You think to yourself, you know what? If the judge gets to me soon, this shouldn't take long at all.

SPEAKER_01 0:29

There are two guys sitting next to you, and they look just as confident as you are.

SPEAKER_00 0:34

The tall, scary bailiff calls the guy to your right to approach the bench. But the judge, he slams down that gavel and exclaims, Sir, the speed limit was changed two weeks ago to 35 miles per hour. You are guilty.

SPEAKER_01 1:05

And hearing that causes a hint of doubt to creep up inside you as you begin to think, could the speed limit have changed in my case as well?

SPEAKER_00 1:15

Then that same scary bailiff, he calls the guide to your left to approach the bench.

SPEAKER_01 1:22

Yes, sir, Your Honor. It was 3:30 p.m. when I drove by the school, and you heard him say it with full tone of confidence.

SPEAKER_00 1:30

But the judge slams that gavel down once again, and he says, You are guilty. The school zone was moved back to 4 p.m. last week.

SPEAKER_01 1:43

As your mind begins to process what just happened, you feel all of the confidence you had when you walked in draining right out of your body.

SPEAKER_00 1:53

And then you start feeling this flood of doubt just wash over all of you. And then you begin to question everything. What if the speed limit was different? What if the school zone time had changed? Will this end up on my record? And hey, how much of a fine am I going to end up having to pay? And no matter how self-assured we are, seeing others who thought they were right too, just to find out they were wrong, can make us self-confidence about what we think we know.

SPEAKER_01 2:31

And this might be the single reason why it is so difficult for most Christians to say with assurance, Yes, I am saved.

SPEAKER_00 2:40

Jack Wilkie, the author of You Are Saved, a Christian's Assurance, analyzes the question that stands in the way of assurance for so many Christians. What if I'm wrong? And that is what we are discussing today, right here, on another episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast.

Welcome And How To Connect

SPEAKER_00 3:07

You've tuned in to the Scripture Matters Podcast, produced and published in cooperation with the Waters Road Church of Christ. Looking for a church home in the Houston area that lovingly stands upon God's Word? Waters Road is the place where you belong. If you need more information about the Waters Road Church of Christ, check out their website at www.wrcopc.org. We'd like to thank each of you who helped make this podcast possible, especially the prayerful support of our wives and families. And now, good folks, let's get back to another episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast. We would like to welcome you back to another episode of the Scripture Matters Podcast. And listen, we are so very glad that you have chosen to join us here today.

SPEAKER_01 4:08

There's no doubt about it, Jonathan. It is always a great day when we get to study another portion of God's Word with all of you good folks out there.

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My name is Jonathan Sanford. I am blessed to serve as the pulpit minister for the good folks to the Waters Road Church of Christ.

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And I'm Cliff Thompson. I serve as one of the elders at the Waters Road Church of Christ, as well as I teach an adult Bible class right alongside of Jonathan.

SPEAKER_00 4:34

Listen, folks, whether you're watching us here today on YouTube, Facebook, or one of the many podcast platforms, listen, we really do appreciate you taking the time to join us as we continue this wonderful review here together.

SPEAKER_01 4:51

And folks, before we get into today's study, let us encourage you. If these studies have been helpful to you, please take a moment to like, share, subscribe, and follow the program.

SPEAKER_00 5:04

You know, those simple steps really do make a difference in helping people out there discover the Scripture Matters podcast. And please understand, uh, Cliff and my our goal is simply to get God's word in front of as many people as possible.

SPEAKER_01 5:23

And we also want to remind you if you have questions about anything we have discussed, or maybe possibly a topic you'd like for us to cover in future episodes of the Scripture Matter podcast, folks, we would love to hear from you.

SPEAKER_00 5:39

That's right. You can reach out to us using the email information, the email addresses, the social media contact that you see on your screen right now.

SPEAKER_01 5:50

And folks, we really do mean that. If something stands out to you, if something challenges you, if you're working through something spiritually, we'd be glad to hear from you, folks.

SPEAKER_00 6:05

And listen, we know there are already some of you who have reached out to us. And for those of you who have done so, we really appreciate you. Your encouragement, your feedback, they mean the world to us.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Folks, they really, really do.

Why “What If I’m Wrong” Haunts

SPEAKER_00 6:19

Well, Cliff, as we start looking here today at chapter 11, uh, a question that comes to mind, what if I'm wrong? That is a haunting question for many. And Jack Wilkie says that this may how may well have been the most difficult chapter in this book for him to write.

SPEAKER_01 6:41

Jonathan, I I believe I can understand why.

SPEAKER_00 6:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 6:45

Wouldn't you say this question has passed through the thoughts of so many who confesses to be Christians?

SPEAKER_00 6:52

I I would, Cliff. And I think that every serious Christian out there has wrestled with that question at some point in their faith journey. And like Jack writes, here's the thing the question itself is controversial.

SPEAKER_01 7:12

Jonathan, why do you think it's so controversial?

SPEAKER_00 7:15

Well, I think the reason is because that question hits straight at the heart of our confidence. You know, a person out there may genuinely believe, hey, I'm right, but then that nagging thought will begin to creep in. Well, what if I'm wrong?

SPEAKER_01 7:33

Because they think what they believe is right. But then there is that nagging question, what if I'm wrong?

SPEAKER_00 7:42

Exactly, Cliff. And once that kind of doubt begins to take over, listen, it becomes very, very hard to hold assurance in your heart at the same time.

SPEAKER_01 7:56

Jonathan, I know when I drive to Waters Road from my house, I pass by so many different religious church buildings with members who believe, just like we believe, that they are right.

SPEAKER_00 8:08

And I would say that 99.9% of those people are sincere to a point. And many of them have things that uh much of what they believe lines up with scripture. Yet uh sincerity, think about it, Cliff. Uh sincerity does not automatically mean that those beliefs line up with scripture.

SPEAKER_01 8:34

Jonathan, that brings up the point. With that kind of error, the words of Matthew 7, 21 through verse 23 ring out loud and clear.

SPEAKER_00 8:44

Oh, I agree, Cliff. And that's what makes this entire thought so sobering. Jesus shows us in that passage that there are people who believe that they are truly serving him, okay? And yet they are still outside the will of God.

SPEAKER_01 9:03

That is a very sobering thought, Jonathan, because what if they have it all right, but one thing is wrong, Jonathan? What then?

SPEAKER_00 9:14

Well, I think that's really the question here. What is the line between what God accepts by grace and what he refuses to accept?

SPEAKER_01 9:27

And that's what we will look at today.

SPEAKER_00 9:30

All right, we take a deep breath for just a moment, folks. Listen, Cliff, I just want to start by asking you a question.

SPEAKER_01 9:38

Oh man, I hope it's a multiple choice one.

SPEAKER_00 9:41

Oh, those were the best ones uh back when you're in grade school. Those were the best questions. But I think this one, you'll get this one pretty easily.

SPEAKER_01 9:50

Okay. Let me see if I can meet your expectation. Go ahead.

SPEAKER_00 9:54

All right.

Where Is The Line With God

SPEAKER_00 9:55

In Tex Arcana, what is the name of that street that separates the state of Texas from that place called Arkansas?

SPEAKER_01 10:06

Oh, this one is easy. It's called the State Line Avenue, which is US 71, that literally runs through the middle of Texas, Arkana. Jonathan, the middle of the avenue is actually the state line between Texas and Arkansas.

SPEAKER_00 10:21

All right. So using State Line Avenue as an example here, Cliff, we would both agree that a line separates two things. In this case, Texas from Arkansas. It does. So when we bring that over into the subject of our Christian assurance, the question then becomes where is the line between what is acceptable to God and sadly what is not?

SPEAKER_01 10:55

Jonathan, there are multiple religious denominations right here in Pasadena, and they will all say that they are preaching the truth. Then the other question must be knowing that they cannot all be right, how much level of incorrect belief can one have and still be in a safe relationship with God?

SPEAKER_00 11:16

And good folks out there today, that's where this subject, this question becomes very difficult.

unknown 11:22

I see.

SPEAKER_00 11:23

Because a lot of people in the religious world would say that if they're wrong in certain areas, hey, that line is pretty flexible. That a difference here and there would not put them outside of a saved relationship with God. And they would believe they're still part of God's family.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

But Jonathan, as we look at them from our standpoint, Jack brings up Matthew 7, too. Jonathan, can you explain that just a little bit more, please, sir?

SPEAKER_00 11:54

Yeah, sure can, Cliff. Uh, the idea there is that the same standard we use to measure others is the standard that God will use to measure us.

SPEAKER_01 12:06

But Jonathan, what if they don't know they're wrong?

SPEAKER_00 12:11

Great question, right? I mean, so uh as Jack so accurately stated, Cliff, that's where a lot of people will go to Acts chapter 17 and verse 30. Again, Acts 17, 30, where it says, In the times of ignorance, God overlooked, but now commands all people everywhere to repent.

SPEAKER_01 12:35

But Jonathan, we know that that is dealing with the Gentile nation being ignorant of Jesus and the gospel.

SPEAKER_00 12:42

Oh, exactly right. The gospel, though, it's been revealed. So, with that in mind, that ignorance is no longer an excuse. People are now responsible for responding to what God has made fully known.

SPEAKER_01 12:59

Jonathan, I know that there are others that will go to Matthew chapter 7, verses 21 through 23, where Jesus said that many will say unto me, Lord, Lord, remember?

SPEAKER_00 13:11

Yeah, that's true. And that passage, yeah, it really does take it deeper. It shows that it's not just about what we say or what we do just outwardly. Folks, there has to be behind that a genuine heart that's producing the right kind of fruit.

SPEAKER_01 13:30

Jonathan, I now know why Jack called this segment, Where is the line? How can anyone be completely assured of their salvation when there are so many chances of being wrong?

SPEAKER_00 13:43

Well, that's really the question here, isn't it? So the the best place that we can go to for an answer is back to God's word. All right. So let's look at some real examples of people who are wrong and what they did once they realized it.

Apollos And A Gentle Correction

SPEAKER_01 14:04

Sounds great to me, Jonathan. Jack takes us first to Apollos and then to Ephesus, and that is where we're going next.

SPEAKER_00 14:12

All right, Cliff, let's walk through together with our audience these two examples here for just a moment. In the case of Apollos, you have someone who, for all appearances, was very knowledgeable in the Word of God. In Acts chapter 18, verse 25, we're told that he was fervent in spirit and that he taught accurately the things concerning Jesus. But at the same time, we're also told that he only knew the baptism of John. That's John the Baptist, which was a baptism of repentance. So when Priscilla and Aquila heard him speaking boldly in the synagogue, they took him aside. And in verse 26, the Bible says that they explained the way of God more accurately. And with Apollos, listen, folks, that's all it took. Because after that, verse 28 tells us that he powerfully refuted the Jews in public, showing by the scriptures that the Christ was indeed Jesus.

Ephesus Disciples And Rebaptism

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And Jonathan, right after that in Acts 19, and beginning in verse 1, we see that Paul passes through Ephesus and found some disciples gathering there. Paul asked them if they had received the Holy Spirit, which they replied, they had not even heard of the Holy Spirit. Well, the next obvious question from Paul was, and of what then were they baptized? They answered John's baptism. Paul informed them that John's baptism was a baptism unto repentance. Then Paul explained to them that John taught to believe on the one, the one who was to come after him, which we know was Jesus. On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. And after Paul had laid his hands on them, they received the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_00 16:19

All right, folks, so now you have two accounts side by side. And in both cases, there are, yes, some clear similarities. But we also have two very different outcomes. The similarity is this both were holding on to what they believed was the truth, even though both were actually in era. But the outcomes were very different. In the case of Apollos, it was more, I would say, of a coarse correction. He just needed a fuller, a more accurate understanding. But with these disciples in Ephesus, folks, it went further than that. They had to be taught the gospel fully and then be baptized into the name of Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_01 17:14

Jonathan, it is apparent from these two examples that some correction might not be as simple as others.

SPEAKER_00 17:22

No, that's exactly right. And I think that's what makes this so very important because not every situation is going to be the same. But these are just two examples. Now let's move on to another one that I think is going to raise the stakes even more.

Nadab And Abihu Vs Aaron

SPEAKER_00 17:41

We're talking about Nadab and Abihu, along with Aaron.

SPEAKER_01 17:46

And that's exactly where Jack takes us to next.

SPEAKER_00 17:50

Uh, Cliff, before we dive into this next section, I just have to ask you, have you ever done something now fully convinced that you were in the right? Um, that was just as fully wrong as it could be?

SPEAKER_01 18:08

Oh, Jonathan, that's a funny story. I grew up in Knoxville, Florida, and my daddy served as an elder at the Pine Lake Church of Christ. Now, all the elders at the church were really close, and they all loved the outdoors, and trotlining for catfish was their specialty. One time we went to a place called Juniper Lake. As normal, Daddy and I would always get up on the Friday early to go to where we'd be staying and set out trot lines and brush hooks and flag every brush hook according to the law. That evening we'd all gather and set up our camp, all run the lines and take the fish and fix supper. Well, later that Friday evening, an FWC officer happened to drive up into our camp. Well, Daddy went to meet him along with somebody else and offered him a cup of coffee and something to eat. He thanked them for the asking and said, Hey, y'all having any luck? Daddy said, We certainly were, and walked him down to the water. Well, Daddy took his spotlight and shined out over the lake, showing him the reflective flags of a lot of the brush hooks that we had set out. The officer said, Don't you know that trot lining and brush hook fishing and for catfish in Juniper Lake was against the law? Daddy told the officer. He had spoken with someone at Jackson Guard, who the officer knew as well, about fishing Juniper Lake, and was told there was nothing wrong with it. Well, the officer said, Well, if he said it was okay, then I guess it was okay. Well, after returning home, Daddy couldn't stand it. So he wrote Tallahassee for a record of the law as trotlining and brush hook fishing for catfish in the whole state of Florida. But right there on the very back page, Jonathan, in very, very small fine print were the following words. The taking of catfish from Juniper Lake in Northwest Florida by means of either a trot line or brush hooks was against the law. We never went back to Juniper Lake again, Jonathan, but often laughed about how it would have looked if all of the elders from the Pine Lake Church of Christ were thrown in the jail that night.

SPEAKER_00 20:16

That's a great illustration, uh, Cliff. I think because quite fully, it shows something that we've been talking about here for the last few moments, that you can be 100% fully convinced that you are right and still be wrong. So now let's take that illustration and let's bring it into scripture. When we look at Nadab and Abihu and then compare them to Aaron, we're going to see that not every situation is handled the exact same way.

SPEAKER_01 20:55

You know, I have to admit, Jonathan, for the longest time, what happened to Nadab and Abihu in Leviticus 10, verses 1 through 3, it always scared me.

SPEAKER_00 21:06

Oh, it'll definitely get your attention, won't it? Uh, it's it's honestly one of those passages that makes you stop and think for a few moments.

SPEAKER_01 21:17

Yeah, and depending on your translation, you see where the fire they used was called strange fire or unauthorized fire. And in one version, it's even it even says profane fire, P R O F-A-N-E, profane fire.

SPEAKER_00 21:34

Yeah, uh, and listen, folks, they were instructed by God to offer incense uh with fire from the altar. And and it seems clear that what they offered did not come from what God had commanded, it was something that they chose of their own.

SPEAKER_01 21:56

Jonathan, that had to have gotten the attention of all who saw. It happened.

SPEAKER_00 22:01

I'm sure it did. And as Jack Wilkie points out, when they ignored God's instruction in worship, they failed to treat our God, the one true and living God, as holy.

SPEAKER_01 22:15

Yeah, which in turn caused them to pay with their own lives.

SPEAKER_00 22:19

Sadly, true. And that's what really and truly makes this so serious, Cliff. It shows just how much God cares about being approached in the way that He is commanded.

SPEAKER_01 22:34

Jonathan, I now know why Jack called this segment, Where is that line? How can anyone be completely assured of their salvation when there are so many chances of being wrong?

SPEAKER_00 22:47

And that's where this example can feel oh so heavy. Because honestly, at first glance, it almost sounds like, hey, there is no room for error whatsoever.

SPEAKER_01 23:00

And Jonathan, that's exactly how I felt about these verses.

SPEAKER_00 23:04

But the beautiful thing is when you keep on reading the sum, the S U M of God's word, right? When you keep on reading, we're giving another example that helps us to see this just a bit more clearly.

SPEAKER_01 23:19

And for that understanding, Johnson, uh, Jonathan, are we talking about Aaron?

SPEAKER_00 23:24

Uh, we certainly are, and the death of his two sons. Aaron, uh, folks, he's in a completely different situation emotionally. And he makes a decision regarding the sin offering that wasn't exactly according to what had been commanded.

SPEAKER_01 23:45

You know, I can imagine, Jonathan, that Aaron wanted to please the Lord and follow his commandments. But I also imagine Aaron's heart was driving his decision.

SPEAKER_00 23:55

Oh, absolutely true. And that's that's truly where we see an important difference here. Not just in what was done, but what was behind it.

SPEAKER_01 24:09

I see two differences, Jonathan. Nadab and Abihu's heart did not drive them to what their decision was, where that was not the case for Aaron and his other two sons.

SPEAKER_00 24:21

No, I think about it this way. With Nadab and Abihu, you see a clear disregard for what God had clearly instructed, okay? But with Aaron, you see somebody who is trying to honor God even in a moment mixed with grief and confusion.

SPEAKER_01 24:42

But even at that, Jonathan, it still doesn't excuse the fact that they had both sinned. It is just that one was punished and the other was not.

SPEAKER_00 24:52

And folks, that's an important point. We're not here today saying that one was right and the other was wrong in a simple sense. But both situations clearly involve something that was not exactly uh as God had commanded.

SPEAKER_01 25:12

Jonathan, you have to see that it all boils down to a matter of the heart. But it's not like playing Monopoly where you have a get out of jail free card when you need it, is it?

SPEAKER_00 25:24

No, folks, not at all. This isn't about having a free pass. It's about understanding that God sees more than just the action. Again, remember, he sees the heart behind it.

SPEAKER_01 25:42

And that has to be due to the character of God's nature. And that's where Jack is taking us to next.

God’s Character Not A Zeus Trap

SPEAKER_00 25:49

All right, as we begin this next section, Cliff, I've got another question for you.

SPEAKER_01 25:55

Oh, another question. Okay, Jonathan. Let me see if I can make it two for two.

SPEAKER_00 26:00

Over the last decade, the Marvel movies have become just an amazing part of American culture. Uh in one of the Marvel movies, Thor, uh Love and Thunder. Uh perhaps you've watched that. You will remember that the part of the movie where Zeus throws something at Thor. Uh, do you know what it was?

SPEAKER_01 26:25

Oh, oh, oh, how about that? I can make it two for two, Jonathan. Yes, sir. Zeus throws his lightning bolt at Thor's, who catches it and then throws it back at Zeus.

SPEAKER_00 26:35

That's right, Cliff. And in that section, uh, that is what Jack is going to use for us as a teaching example. You see, folks, for many Christians out there, they see God holding on to those lightning bolts, just like Zeus, and he is vindictively waiting for his children to make any kind of mistake, even the smallest one, so that he can then throw, you know, throw that, he's got that lightning bolt cocked and loaded and ready to go just to throw it down at him. But folks, let me tell you, uh, these people, they see God standing at a distance, totally indifferent to their situation.

SPEAKER_01 27:23

But it goes even further than that, Jonathan. I know of people who think that God treats us like a wind-up toy. After he winds us up at baptism, he turns us loose to go and do the very best we can. And when we do not get it all right, he's waiting to nitpick us on every little detail that we get wrong.

SPEAKER_00 27:43

But, Cliff, there is one problem with that way of thinking, it goes against what the Bible tells us about the God that we serve. Folks, in 1 Timothy chapter 2 and verse 4, the apostle Paul tells young Timothy that God desires all men to be saved and to come to an understanding of the truth. Then Peter writes in 2 Peter chapter 3 and verse 9 that God does not wish any to perish, but that all should come to repentance.

SPEAKER_01 28:23

Jonathan, that doesn't sound like a Zeus type God that we serve, does it to you?

SPEAKER_00 28:29

Not at all, Cliff, and praise God for that, but he's not up there holding on to those lightning bolts, because I would have been I'd have been gone a long time ago. I'd have been zapped uh many, many moons ago. Listen, folks, when you take in all that God has done, which includes sacrificing his only begotten son, so that we might have hope of eternal life. Folks, that sounds more to me like someone who is your biggest fan, who is rooting you on, not just someone that's up there impatiently waiting for you to make a mistake so he can take you down.

SPEAKER_01 29:13

I completely agree with you, Jonathan. There's no doubt that our God is very gracious, and that's where Jack is taking us to next.

Grace That Grows With Maturity

SPEAKER_00 29:23

Oh, but Cliff, I I gotta say, uh, this is where we have to be just a tad bit careful, right? Cliff, we know there's no doubt in your mind and my mind that God is gracious. We're living examples of that. But that doesn't mean that everything is just automatically excused.

SPEAKER_01 29:42

No, no, Jonathan. I remember the first time I ever played spades. I don't know if you've ever played spades, but the first time I ever played spades, the guys I was playing with, man, they cut me a lot of slack whenever I was learning the game. But but once I learned enough and I got better, all that slackness, it went away.

SPEAKER_00 29:59

I think that's a good way uh to look at it, Cliff, because it's similar uh here in our Christian life. You think about it, someone who is brand new in the faith, a newborn babe in Christ, isn't ever really gonna understand at that moment as much as someone who's been walking with the Lord for many, many years.

SPEAKER_01 30:21

So, Jonathan, God must give us his grace for not only our sins, but for our misunderstandings too.

SPEAKER_00 30:31

I think that's a good way to look at it, Cliff. Think about it this way: as we grow, our responsibility grows with us. Someone who has reached that point in their life, their Christian maturity, where they uh become a teacher, uh, they should have a deeper understanding than those who uh the folks that they're teaching, those students in their classroom, right? And that's why James 3:1 says that teachers will be held to a stricter standard.

SPEAKER_01 31:05

But Jonathan, God expects all of us to grow, and that's where we're going to look at next.

SPEAKER_00 31:11

Absolutely, Cliff. He expects every single one of us in Christ to grow and to produce fruit. And in fact, Cliff, Jack points out uh this very fact in Hebrews chapter 11 and verse 6, where it tells us that God rewards those who diligently seek Him.

SPEAKER_01 31:33

And Jonathan, that word diligently, is important in that verse, too, isn't it?

SPEAKER_00 31:38

Oh, absolutely, it is. It gives us the picture of someone who is consistently seeking the truth, and this the same person is consistently seeking the truth and trying to apply that truth in their life. Why? So they can grow and be more pleasing to God.

SPEAKER_01 31:58

Jonathan Jack even brings up Matthew 7, 7

Ask Seek Knock And Real Assurance

SPEAKER_01 32:01

through 8. And I think we need to read this. Folks, if you have your Bibles, please turn with me to Matthew chapter 7, and let's begin in verse 7 and read 7 through 8. The Bible says this ask and it will be given to you. Seek and you will find. And to the one who knocks, it will be opened.

SPEAKER_00 32:27

You know, when you look at those verses, I think you can't help but notice those are promises that if you are uh whatever you're asking, if it's aligned with God's will, He will provide. Okay? If you genuinely seek the truth, there's a promise you will find it. And if you persist in faith, God will open the door.

SPEAKER_01 32:57

That would mean, Jonathan, and that if someone is earnestly and truthfully trying to determine if they were in the wrong about something, God would help them to see the error of their ways. And not only that, but what his will would be for the correct way. But Jonathan, what about they are shown the right way and then they ignore the answer?

SPEAKER_00 33:21

Cliff, I think that's a very uh good question in this moment to ask because that's really uh that's where growth comes into the picture. God gives people time and room to grow. Jack Wilkie uses Abraham and Moses to show that God walked with them as they developed in their understanding of his will.

SPEAKER_01 33:50

So would it be safe to say that looking at these two examples, if God's will allow them to grow, then he will also allow us time to grow in our understanding, right, Jonathan?

SPEAKER_00 34:03

Oh, amen to that, 100%. But we again we do have to be careful here, okay? There are some things um you simply cannot afford to get wrong. At the same time, though, there are these other areas where God's grace uh is at work as we continue to ask, seek, and knock, and then follow his direction.

SPEAKER_01 34:32

And that shows a steady direction of growth in a person's life, doesn't it, Jonathan?

SPEAKER_00 34:36

Oh, it really does. And as long, again, as long as we're sincerely seeking him and his way and his truth, then you can have confidence in what Paul says in Philippians chapter 1 and verse 6 that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion the day of Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_01 34:59

Wow, Jonathan. You know, Jack has done it again. He's taken a subject that has been the worry point for so many Christians and replaced doubt with assurance, which is only found in God, certainly not in ourselves.

SPEAKER_00 35:16

And we talk about this every week that these chapters leave us in a good place. And that's where this chapter leaves us in a very good place, with confidence, not in ourselves, but in a God who works in the lives of those who are truly seeking Him.

Closing Encouragement And Next Steps

SPEAKER_00 35:37

All right, with that, uh, listen, we bring to conclusion a wonderful chapter. Again, chapter 11, What If I'm Wrong? We bring this all to a close, tie a bow around it here today. Folks, we just want to stop, though, at the conclusion and say, listen, if there's anything that we've discussed here today uh that has left you feeling a bit more assured about your walk with God, folks, even if it's just a little, then this really does bring us a great deal of joy. Oh, it really does, folks, because honestly, truly, that's why we're here.

SPEAKER_01 36:16

And folks, we just want to say a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have joined us today for this study.

SPEAKER_00 36:24

Yeah, Cliff, it's really it's been just heartwarming for us over the past few weeks. The thousands of people who have taken a moment to watch two guys that are just beginning this journey, uh, that you've taken that those moments to spend a little time with us.

SPEAKER_01 36:42

And Jonathan, that's all God. Oh, and many of those are new viewers too, which is a blessing for us. But whether this is your first time or you've been with us from the very beginning.

SPEAKER_00 36:54

Listen, folks, we hope that you truly feel like you are part of this conversation.

SPEAKER_01 37:01

Yeah, because this is not just, as Jonathan and I like to say, a pow-wow between the two of us.

SPEAKER_00 37:07

No, not at all. This uh in this moment, listen, you out there watching this, you're not just watching. You are the third person in this conversation. We want you to feel like we're all sitting around at a table, maybe like today, you've got our coffee, right? We're just sitting around having a conversation, conversing over the wonderful word of God.

SPEAKER_01 37:30

And folks, our goal is that every person who turns who tunes in to the Scripture Matter podcast feels a real connection to Jonathan and me, as well as what we're doing here.

SPEAKER_00 37:42

So, with that in mind, if you've got any questions, any thoughts, or those things that you are working through, we would love to hear from you.

SPEAKER_01 37:51

Please, as we said at the beginning, use the email address and social media information you see on your screen.

SPEAKER_00 37:58

Yeah, and folks, before we end the day, let us give you this encouragement. Please take a moment to share today's episode.

SPEAKER_01 38:07

And folks, if you haven't subscribed yet, now is a good time to hit that button and do so.

SPEAKER_00 38:14

And as we've said, we feel incredibly encouraged by your continued support.

SPEAKER_01 38:20

The increased viewship, the messages, the engagement, it has meant so much to us.

SPEAKER_00 38:28

And to say, folks, listen, we're just getting started. And we we we look forward to seeing how this thing will continue to grow, Lord willing.

SPEAKER_01 38:37

Uh, but above all, to God be the glory. Yeah, for everything we do here on Scripture Matter Podcast.

SPEAKER_00 38:44

And listen, once again, let us say we are grateful that you have joined us here today.

SPEAKER_01 38:49

And we hope you'll join us next time as we continue this study together. Remember, every Friday at 3:30 on YouTube, Facebook, and all the major plat uh uh podcast platforms.

SPEAKER_00 39:02

That's how you say it, Cliff. We'll come out until then. My name is Jonathan Sanford on behalf of my good co-host here, Cliff Thompson, our producer, Billy Sanford.

SPEAKER_01 39:14

Folks, stay grounded, stay focused. And remember, as always, good folks, Scripture Matters.

SPEAKER_00 39:23

Goodbye, everybody. Goodbye. Thanks for spending part of your day with us on the Scripture Matters Podcast. We'll be back with a new conversation every Friday at 3.30 p.m. on YouTube, Facebook, and all major podcast platforms. Until then, may the word guide you and your week and as always remember Scripture Matter.