Transcript

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

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

Alex McFarland: Romans chapter two calls out hypocrisy

Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Alex McFarland: Did you ever hear that old saying, do as I say, not as I do? And, and maybe if you've known somebody that said one thing but did something else, sometimes we think, well, that's hypocritical. Well, welcome to Exploring the Word because we're going to get into Romans chapter two. And really, in the first couple of verses of Romans Chapter two, it calls out what you and I would say is hypocrisy. Well, my name is Alex McFarland, along with Bert Harper. This is the American Family Radio Network. And Bert, I'm deeply grateful that we have this wonderful network over which airwaves we can proclaim God's truth. And I'm very honored that you and I together get to look at one of the greatest pieces of writing in world history, the Biblical book of, Romans.

>> Bert Harper: I agree with you, Alex. It is a blessing and a responsibility. Most blessings bring with them a, responsibility to whom much is given, much is required.

Alex: Romans chapter one says humans have no excuse for sin

So we want to dig into chapter two, and all of a sudden it kind of makes a turn from, I would say, obviously, how horrible life is and sin and running its course into a reprobate mind where they promote such practices to God. Looking at the heart to see. You can't always judge a book by its cover. they may look good, they may sound good, but God looks deeper than the surface, Alex. And, that's, you know, that's what's wrong with us as men trying to judge others. we can only look at actions, and they do tell us something. we can only look at what it looks like. And that does tell us something. But God looks deeper, doesn't he? He looks straight at the heart, the motives, the reality of what an individual really is.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, that's true. And, I want to read these words. And, then I've got a comment from a great Christian leader of times past. But Romans, chapter two, the word of God. Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou are that judgest for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself. For thou that judgest do the same things. But we are assured that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things. Okay, Chapter one has gone through. And, he greets the Christians in Rome, but then he talks about the wrath of God is revealed against sin and that humans really are accountable. And, Bert, let me just say we've gotten at many a college, people would raise their hand and they would ask me and they would say, you know, how can you believe God would, bring some to heaven and some would go to hell? And, and the poor soul and their only crime, they were born on the wrong continent and they didn't hear about Jesus. Well, the fact is, God judges people based on the response they gave to the amount of light they had. And, people that go to hell from unreached areas. It's not the crime of being born on the wrong continent. It's the guilt for, for having rejected the revelation that they really did know. And that's why in developed nations like America, and there's a church on every street corner, it seems like. And, you know, there's a Gideon Bible in almost every hotel room. And 24 7, the knowledge of Jesus is over the airwaves. I mean, there's much, much, much accountability. And so Romans chapter one over and over talks about the fact that we have no excuse. But then Romans chapter two, and by that, Bert, let me say this. Nobody is ever going to close their eyes in death, stand before God and say, oh, my goodness, there was a God. I had no idea. No, nobody could say that, because deep in our heart, we all did know. And Bert, whenever somebody has thrown at me the, question, well, what about those who haven't heard? I try to gently say, well, sir, you can't say you haven't heard, you know. So we get into chapter two, and again it says we have no excuse. And we don't, do we?

>> Bert Harper: We do not. And notice what it says. God is judging. And what does he do According to verse 2? He judges According to truth. Now, that's truth for those in chapter one, and it also will be true for those in chapter two. it looks like he's talking about a world gone mad. Horrible. Rejecting God and not. Not looks like. But it is. But in chapter two, it looks to me, there's been this. Some discussion about who's he writing to. But it seems like he's really right into the Jewish, culture there. The people there that are Jews, and they're looking at themselves more highly than they should because, oh, we have the law. there's a difference in having the law and living the law that God had.

Alex McFarland: God's judgment in verse 2 is according to truth

But I want to notice this. God's judgment in verse 2 is according to truth. Look, if you would jump ahead, verse 16. Look what it says there. In the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ. According to what? My gospel. According to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. So the judgment that you've been talking about. Whether wherever a person is born, no matter where. And like you said, Alex, there's no excuse. It is whether they're born at a place where there's not, a church on every corner. Or if you're born in a place that's got a church down every street, every corner. The two judgments is going to be real truth and the gospel. In other words, the truth of the individual. Did they respond to the life that they received? And when they received the gospel of Jesus Christ, what did they do with Christ? So all judgment according to what the Father says in John. He's given all judgment to his Son, and it's, according to what they do with Jesus. And that's the gospel. So God's judgment will be right. True. And I can say this. He wants grace because of the gospel. That Jesus Christ came, lived that perfect life, became the perfect sacrifice. His death on the cross, buried, rose again, and is seated at the right hand of the Father. So, Alex, there's no excuse. No wonder he would start out chapter two again. Now, in the original, there was no chapter division, so just keep this in mind. But there is a complete break from verse 32 to verse chapter 2, verse 1. Therefore. What's it? Therefore, he's switching corners. But he said everyone is excused. no excuse for anyone, Alex, whether you Jew or gentile.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, and. And let me say this. that, look, we're. We're all fallen sinners. Now, if you're a Christian, you're a forgiven sinner. You, in fact, in the eyes of God, you're a saint. but here's the thing. whenever we say. I've heard people say, I don't go to church because the church is full of hypocrites. Well, you may as well, come on over, because you're a hypocrite too skeptic. So let me read what God's word says about this. But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth. And thinkest thou this, O man that judges them which do such things and do the same things. That you shall escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance. So here's the thing. I've had people say this when people say, why do you take this or that position? And Bert, as a speaker and writer and preacher, I've always done my utmost that whatever positions I would take and whatever words I would say were in harmony with God's word, Alex McFarland's opinion means nothing. But the word of God tells us all that we need to know about life and salvation. So here's the thing, that somebody will say, well, you have no right to judge. And I'll say that is absolutely true. You, in and of myself as a fallen sinner, you're right, I don't have the right to judge. But the Word of God and the Son of God most certainly do. and God is quite in a position to pass assessment on the spiritual condition of all people. So when Romans 2, 3 and 4 talk about this, that, you know, people are prideful, arrogant, judgmental. let's remember we are all accountable to God, who absolutely has the authority and the righteous nature to judge all. And that's why verses four and five, we should not, ignore the patience and the grace of God, who is putting up with us a long time, you know, to melt our heart and lead us to repentance. And verse five. But after the hardness of the.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, let me interrupt just one second. I hate to, but let me get this. What he's doing in verses three and four, these people that he's talking about, they're saying we're not as bad as them, you know, I mean, notice that. And do you think this old man who judge those who practice such things. What such things? Those that I've talked to you about before. And in other words. Oh, surely God's all right with me because I'm m not as bad as them. And listen, they're not the standard. The standard is Jesus Christ. I just. That is so clear to me in verses three and four. And we do people have that way. Well, I'm not that bad, you know, Alex, it's. Except for the grace of God, no one comes in. But just because you're not as bad as somebody else is, does not make you right.

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. And, I'm going to get to verse 11, then we'll come back and, tread over these precious verses. But verse 11, there is no respect of persons with God. You know, Vance Havner, speaking of Nicodemus, said he had money, morals and manners. And yet Christ Said you must be born again. And these verses, you know, you're right, Paul is really giving, rebuke here of the people that maybe think because of their religious, pedigree or their ethnicity or whatever, that they're right with God. But, he talks about verse four. The goodness of God leads to repentance. So part of salvation is that we must repent. And Bert, we often talk about, turn from sin to Christ. And that's true. The, the Greek word metanoia means to turn around. But I also think, first of all, in coming to Christ, repentance, there's the admission that we are sinners, the admission that we are hopeless and cannot save ourselves, and the admission that God's judgment is right, we're guilty, and, as the Reformers would say, worthy of his just displeasure. Yeah, we need, we have to admit we're sinners. We've known the right, we've done the wrong, and we really do deserve the judgment of God.

>> Bert Harper: We really do.

Today is the day of salvation where you're not treasuring up

And that's what verse five is all about. The hardness of your heart, you, you're just hardened and let me just share with you, it grows the more you say no to God, the longer you stay away from God, the harder your heart grows. Now, it doesn't mean you're hopeless. I wanted to make sure everybody hearing me. But it does mean today's the day of salvation where you're not treasuring up. This is what it says in verse five in, in the new King James. It says you're treasuring up for yourself. Wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God. You're treasuring up. You're storing it up. So listen, that's why it's so important that it be emphatic that you need to be saved today. Those of you that are never been born again, you can be a church member just like these Jews. They were members of the synagogue, but they still needed to get right with God. And so if you're not right with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, you need to do it today and not store up the wrath of God for that day of, judgment when God will judge in righteousness, in truth and according to the gospel. That is his standard. It is Christ. But Christ has paid the price so you can come to him. We'll be back with more of exploring the Word in Romans chapter two right after the break.

>> Bert Harper: Will you take a moment and celebrate life with me?

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>> Alex McFarland: Right now. Want that mountain to move right now Want the ocean apart right now God, I'm looking for you and I'm wondering where you are. Why do I worry God, I know you haven't failed me yet. Why do I worry?

>> Bert Harper: I'm going to stop it there. Why do God hadn't failed me yet. He's never failed me as well. I hope that's true with you. Well let me tell you something that our friend Pastor Joseph Parker heads up and it's the Ten Commandment speech challenge, Alex. It's a great, great time for young people and ages from 7 to 17 to present a speech concerning one of the Ten Commandments. The one this year that Joseph wants someone to those people that would to make a speech, they can do it on their cell phone whatever way they can. And I'll tell you the place, you can send it in a moment. But it says in Exodus 23 the first commandment, you shall have no other gods before me. Now take that, you can do the studying, you can help people to help you. You can ask people to find some information on that and make a speech. And they're asking it to be around three to five minutes, not much more than that, Alex. And that needs to be in by June 30th. So they got about a month and a half to do so. So and, and when you do that there's we want to say thank you. You get a free 10 Commandment T shirt, a bookmark and then a shipping coupon code that you can go to AFA Resource center and order a gift. So there is a reward for making that speech concerning thou shall have no other gods before me.

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Okay, so youth ages 7 to 17 can do this, do a three to five minute speech before June 30th. And so please, you know, write down your speech and record it and you can email it to faqfa.net or jparkerfa.net and if you need some or if you have a question, you can call Joseph Parker here at the ministry. And the number if you need to talk to Joseph Parker at 662-844-5036, extension 381. And again, the topic is Exodus 23. You shall have no other gods before me. And Bert, I've heard some of these in years past and it is just precious. These young people, ages 7 to 17, the insights they have. And they give a speech on really defending God's word and what God's word tells us to do. It's a wonderful ten, commandments speech challenge, isn't it?

>> Bert Harper: It really is. And so do that and we hope that listen, Joseph is able to help us to see those and he lets us see them and hear them and we enjoy them. So do that and do it before June 30th and send it in. And Joseph, will listen. And we're excited about you doing that.

Paul is talking about judging according to their works in chapter two

Well, Alex, we're in chapter two again we got to verse six. And again when we get to verses six through ten, he's talking about judging according to their works. In other words, what is done in chapter two, verse 1:5. It's kind of the truth. But now he's looking at the evidence of there and listen to it. Who will render to each one according to his deeds, eternal life. To those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor and immortality. But to those who are self seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish on every soul of man who does evil of the Jew first, but also to the Greek. But glory, honor and peace. Now listen to this. Glory, honor and peace to everyone who works what is good to the Jew first and also to the Greek. Listen what God is doing, he is making these judgments again according to truth and according to the gospel, according to what he knows. And again, I want to read verse 11. I'll let you take it away. And this is kind of tough on these Jews, for there is no partiality with God. Hey, just because you got, you're a Jew doesn't make you any better to come before God in judgment than than a gentile. So Alex, again, God looks deeper than surface, doesn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: Exactly. And let me say this about seven, eight and nine. verse seven is not teaching salvation by works. And eight and nine are not Saying that you're lost because of works. I mean, you're saved by faith in Jesus Christ. And those that are unsaved are. Are unsaved because of the rejection of salvation. But what it really means is, verse seven, continuance in well doing, glory, honor and immortality. Eternal life. In other words, if a person has a relationship with the true and living God, the Savior, the outflow of that life is well doing and righteous living. If a person does not know the Lord and they are, led by the world, the flesh and the devil, the outflow of that life, contentious, do not obey the truth. Unrighteousness, indignation, wrath, tribulation, anguish. And so I want to be clear. Salvation or lostness is not by good works or bad works, but if you are saved, good works follow. And if you reject God's revelation, sin and the flesh follow. And what's interesting, chapter one, verse 16, you know, the gospel is to the Jew first and also to the Gentile. And verse nine really reiterates those words, to the Jew first and also to the Gentile lostness. So Paul is being clear that salvation and 9 and 10 both use that phraseology. There's no respect of persons with God. You're either saved or you're lost. And salvation is by the grace of God. It's a gift we receive. It's not something we earn. But if we have received that gift, a changed life is the result.

>> Bert Harper: Alex, does this not make you think of the book of James? You know, amen. Because the book of James talks about not being doers. you know, not being just hearers, but doers. And he goes and it says, faith without works is dead. And so here, I, think he's put it on Jews. Hey, there's more to it than just your outward things. There's an inward, that you do, and the outward is the response to that which is inward. You can make the outward look pretty good. But listen, only God can. Can come in and change that heart of man. So with God, there's no partiality. And now he, judges this way, verse, 12. For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law. And as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law. For not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified. I think James may have read, some of the. No, it probably is the opposite. James was written first, and Paul may have got Ahold of the letter that James wrote and says, man, I want to speak on that because it's so much just like it. Hearers and doers of the law. Let me read verse 14 and I'll throw it back to you. For when Gentiles who do not have the law by nature, do the things contained in the law, those, although not having the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts, accusing or else excusing them, in the day when God will judge the secrets of men. And here it is by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel, Alex, when you see that he's going to judge, and this shows you he looks deeper and it talks about they do those things that's contained in the law. In other words, it sounds like they responded to nature, creation, they responded to their conscience, and they can look at that. And they've responded as much as the light that's been given to them. They've responded, and it's changed their life, hasn't it?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. That's true. You know, talking about the book of James, I mean, this is right. I mean, Paul would have definitely known of James, the brother of Jesus who wrote the book of James. And, he's mentioned in Acts, chapter 15, which, would have probably taken place and been written maybe as much as 20 years before the writing of the.

Burt Lewis: Somebody is not absolved of guilt merely because they haven't law

Yeah, but, we're going to get down to one of the most important realities, honestly. And I've taught on this a lot. I think it's a very important thing to point out, verse 12. For as many have sinned without the law shall also perish without the law. And as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law. Okay, there are people that don't have the law of Moses, and yet they are still guilty. Somebody is not absolved of guilt merely because they had not read the Mosaic Law. But then those that had read it and could be observant Jews could still be lost because there had not been the change of heart. Verse 13. For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. And of course, Habakkuk 2, 4 says that we're justified by faith. Now, the Old Testament people, in faith, that they believed God for the Messiah that would come. In faith, we believe in Jesus who did come. Same Jesus, just two different sides of the cross. Now, Bert, this is Profound. And I will tell you, there's nothing else in the whole of antiquity comparable to God's word here in Romans 2:14. Huge truth here, folks. For when the Gentiles who did not have the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these having not the law, are, a law unto themselves, which show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts, the mean, while accusing, or else excusing one another in the day when God shall judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel. This is huge. Romans 2:14, 16. Okay. The law of God, written on every heart or every person's conscience. Bert, not everybody has read the ten Commandments, but every culture throughout history has essentially had the ethical standard. You shall not commit murder. You shall not lie, you shall not steal, you shall not commit adultery with your neighbor's spouse. You shall not bear false witness. And so here's the thing. And the founders of the country, Jefferson, wrote, we hold these truths to be self evident. In other words, you may or may not have a Bible, but deep in your heart and soul, in your heart of hearts, you know right from wrong. But the law of God, written on the conscience of all people, evolution has no explanation for that. Secularism, atheism cannot explain it. Explain it. But every human has a moral compass within them, don't they, Burt?

>> Bert Harper: And that is so true. Only God. Alex, just let me say that only God, as you said, has this through the word. And this is how God operates. And notice the term in verse 7:16, the secrets of men. Alex, again, when you get into that, I know this is about the third time I've mentioned it, that God looks deeper than we can. God is able to. So that's the good, the bad, the whole aspect of it. In other words, when he looks at these people and why they are obeying, the law that they don't have even written, but they do it in their heart. God looks deep in that to see where it comes from, where does it start? It starts in that recognition there is a God. Because you go all the way back to Romans chapter one. It says in, verse 21, although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God. The opposite of that. If you knew God in creation, in conscience, that then there's a different response than not being thankful, not knowing him and going darker and deeper. Here is the secrets of men. God looks at that, and there's nothing hidden. Alex, let me see. God sees in the darkness as well as the light. He's not limited the way we are. And God can see this. And he does it again. There's that term according to, according to truth. And now according to the gospel, God makes that determination. Only God can make those judgments. You and I can't. No one else can. But God does. And he. He can and he does, doesn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: He really does. And listen, I want to say, CS Lewis wrote a book in 1943 called the Abolition of Man. And he was basically saying, if we lose morality, culture will ultimately unravel. And he was right. Now, at the end of the book, the abolition of man, C.S. lewis, there's a page, well, several pages where he lists all the major cultures throughout history. Asian, Egyptian, Arabic, European, cultures. And he shows, and he uses the term natural law or traditional morality, or he calls it the first principles of truth. Now that's a term from Aristotle, folks, just hang with me a little bit. But anyway, the basic reasoning capacity of a human being. And C.S. lewis said, if we reject moral truth, we're rejecting all value. And he says that the human race, and this is not salvation. Salvation is believing in Jesus. But just to have an orderly, safe, sustainable society, you have to have moral guardrails. And folks, let me say this. I love this nation, but this thing of redefining marriage, this thing of, we have rights except if you're unborn. And there's the. I hear people, even professed Christians, argue for, quote, a woman's right to choose. Well, we don't have the right unless it is self defense or national defense. We don't have the right to kill another human being. And that's what abortion is.

Alex: America wants order and liberty, but we want to suppress morality

And Bert, here's the conundrum in which we find ourselves for about five decades, America, we want or order and liberty, but we want to suppress morality. I'm going to say one last thing. And what gave us, I'll put it this way. If you want what we've had, which is a free, safe, stable, prosperous America, you have to tolerate what gave us that. And what gave us the greatness of this wonderful land is God and more truth.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. Thank you, Alex. Hey, we're going to take phone calls in the next segment. That number 888-589-8840. Call us with your Bible question.

>> Jeff Chamblee: Hey, have you considered becoming a Great Commission partner? If you do, you'll be joining others who believe like you and are determined to defend against those who want to destroy God's institution of the family. You'll Also receive some great benefits like full access to AFA Stream, a monthly subscription to our magazine, access to exclusive donor events, and more. As our thanks for your support, please stop by afr.net donate today for all the details.

American Family Radio's Encouragement live Saturdays at 7:05pm

Afr.net donate hello, I'm Don Hawkins here to tell you about encouragement live. 55 minutes of industrial strength radio encouragement featuring resourceful guests, plus practical biblical insights to help you face life's challenges. We'll be taking your phone calls, so plan to join us for Encouragement live Saturdays at 7:05pm Central, 8:05pm Eastern, here on American Family Radio.

>> Alex McFarland: The Lord is my savior, so why should I doubt my victory? Why would I question the rod and the stuff that comes between? Welcome back to Exploring the Word. This is the part of the show where Bert and I take Bible questions. any and every question, we'll do our best to give you an answer. The number is 888-589-8840. That's triple 858-98840. And Bert, are we ready to begin?

>> Bert Harper: We ready? And by the way, we've got lines open, so let's go to the first one. And some people, There they go. Quick as I say that, they light up. Alex, who's first?

AFR listener calls in to discuss upcoming Cedar Falls Bible Conference

>> Alex McFarland: Well, we're going to begin in Iowa, with, Is it Isaiah? Do I have your name correct?

>> Caroline: Yes, I do.

>> Alex McFarland: Well, I'm going to tell people that I have talked to Isaiah. That's a Bible name.

>> Caroline: Well, you know what, you said that the last time I called in when you were on, Ed Hamilton's show.

>> Alex McFarland: Oh, wow.

>> Caroline: I don't know if you remember that. That was a couple months ago.

>> Alex McFarland: Thank you for being a faithful, AFR listener and we appreciate that. And, hey, by the way, I got to tell you, the Cedar Falls Bible Conference, which is in August, it's a regional wide Bible conference, been going on for 100 years. It is my great honor this summer. I don't know the date exactly, but if you Google Cedar Falls Bible Conference, I. I'll be one of the keynote speakers this summer. So my wife and I, we'd love to go to Iowa.

>> Caroline: That is cool to hear. Didn't even know about that before.

Bob in Georgia asks question about repentance that leads to saving faith

So I'm going to jump right into my question. Which question? Sort of statement, thing, which is, so I was reading just a couple days ago, in the book of Matthew, and I'm going to say about chapter 28, it's talking about Judas and obviously he betrays our Lord and he then Says, Judas repented himself. Pretty close to a quote. and so my question point is, you know, we, we tend as Christians to say people need to repent of their sins to be saved. But Judas repented himself sort of of his sin, but that didn't make him saved by any means. What, what he did was he turned from his sin, but he turned. I'm not really sure what to what, but it seems like he turned to suicide instead of turning to the Lord. So I think it'd be much better if we said believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, because when you give people the idea they're turning from sin, well, sure, they. We can't turn from sin. We're humans. We'll. We'll continue to sin even after being saved.

>> Alex McFarland: So, yeah, this is Matthew 27, three, and following, Bert, let me just say this. there's remorse and then there's repentance that leads to saving faith. And I think that, Judas realized he had done a wicked thing and he was remorseful, and he tried to undo by throwing that money on the temple on the floor. But it was not saving repentance, was it?

>> Bert Harper: It was not. I heard this, and I think it's a good illustration of that. Biblical Peter denied the Lord, now Judas betrayed the Lord. They're two different things, betraying and denial. There's still sin, but Judas, what he did, he. Oh, man, look, I've been caught. And there's that idea, oh, I didn't mean for this to happen. And he was sorry for that. He repented of what had happened because of what he had done. But there is no turning to. He turned from, but no turning to. On the other hand, the Peter denied the Lord, and, when he saw the Lord's face, it says he went out and wept bitterly. There was some repentance. There was that turning to Christ. And so that is a good observation, Isaiah. And, we want to turn away. It's not enough to just turn away. You got to turn to.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. And like in Luke 13:3, where Jesus says repent. And then in Matthew 27:3, it says in the King James, he repented himself. I looked it up just now. In the Greek lexicon, they're two completely different words. And in Matthew 27:3, because we've had people who called in and said they thought Judas was saved. I don't believe that. it's literally Judas regretted what he had done. So to regret what you've done is not the same thing as turning to Christ in faith is it.

>> Bert Harper: It is not. Thank you, Isaiah.

>> Alex McFarland: Okay, Bob in Georgia. Bob, thank you for holding. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Well, hey, can you hear me?

>> Alex McFarland: Yes, yes. Welcome.

>> Caroline: Oh, hey, thank you very much. Say, listen, I, I'm an avid listener to your program. and there are some things that I agree with and some things that I don't. One of them is, you know, a first Thessalonians, chapter 4, verse 15, 16, 17, you know, regarding the return of Jesus Christ. You know, and everyone calls that the Rapture. I don't believe in the Rapture. I believe that we'll be here like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. I also, ah, take offense to everyone who is crying out that, you know, Jesus is returning, and at the Rapture. Now we know there is a second coming, and that is, you know, at the seventh, trump. So I, I have a hard time with just listening to all of everyone almost speaking. I believe that the devil has gotten into the Bible, and I believe this is one of his, the greatest, greatest sins, of, making everyone turn to think that Jesus is returning.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Bob, thank you.

The issue is when will the Rapture take place, Alex says

Let's do this. Going to do it shortly. Let me share a word. The word caught up that you have in first Thessalonians, Latin word is rapture. And the difference is Jesus coming in the clouds, and we're caught up to meet him in the, in the air, to be with the Lord forever. And then at the second Coming, he comes to Earth, sets his foot on the Mount of Olives. There is two different. Now the issue is, when will this Rapture take place? There is discussion on that. Alex, you know, will it take place before the seven years? I got friends that believe it's halfway through. And then I do have some friends. They believe the word caught up, the Rapture is going to take place because the word caught up means that to be with the Lord. But the issue may be when it would happen. But taking offense, Bob, I do not take offense to people that say, oh, we're going to go through it. I know he'll be with us. But I think, to be honest, it's caught up in First Thessalonians, the word is caught up, isn't it, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah, it is. And, you know, let me just say this like in John chapter 14, where Jesus says, you know, let not your heart be troubled. you know, if, if I go away, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also. So, one of the points of Orthodoxy is. Yeah, Jesus is coming again. And, Philippians 3:20 says, or 3:21, he will transform our lowly bodies. And then, of course, another is First Corinthians 15:51 and 52. In a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, the dead in Christ will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. So, brother, I love, you in the Lord, but, regardless of the fine print about the end times, that's one of the points of orthodoxy. Christ is coming back.

Daniel in Michigan says he believes in capital punishment for convicted murderers

let's go to Daniel in Michigan. To Daniel. Thanks for listening. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: I just want to tell you I love your program. I try to listen to it every day.

>> Alex McFarland: when you're going through Romans and it talks about, with no excuse. Do you think there will be, people with an excuse, like special needs children? Oh, great. Great question.

>> Bert Harper: Let me just say this. Let me. Yeah, let me go in. You take it away. They don't need an excuse. They're. They're. They're all right. They. They do not need. It's sort of like missing, school. If you have, you know, certain things you don't need an excuse for. And here, they are right with God. Alex. Pastoring as long as I did, I had the opportunity, the privilege of knowing several special needs, in our church that I would help with a funeral and do those things. And I want to just tell you, they're with the Lord.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. because we've talked much about the phrase age, of accountability. And Bert, scholars throughout history have said this, and I concur. Those that, for whatever reason, are incapable of understanding and calling out to God. Yes, there are, as the caller said, special cases and special needs people that were perhaps mentally handicapped. God is not going to demand somebody do something it's impossible for them to do.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. I had a cousin, Bobby, listen, down syndrome. And, he listen. For all my cousins that are listening, Bobby was my favorite. Okay. I just make it plain. And, listen, that guy, as much as he could understand, he loved God with all his heart and testify, he, you know. So, Daniel, it was a good point. I'm glad you asked that, by the way, Alex, because that was something we, we could have said. And Daniel caught on on it, didn't he?

>> Alex McFarland: Amen. Exactly. joy in Louisiana. Joy. Welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hi.

>> Alex McFarland: Thanks so much for taking my call. I was checking in the, Old.

>> Caroline: Testament, the New Testament, the Ten Commandments.

>> Alex McFarland: Stand, and thy shalt not kill and steal, etc. Etc.

>> Caroline: where does the New Testament stand on capital punishment and incarceration and solitary confinement?

>> Bert Harper: Okay, Alex, go ahead and do that, because we got callers and it's. You can take care of this one easier than both of us.

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. Versus a, capital punishment, meaning like the death penalty for convicted murderers. Well, one of the classic passages in the New Testament about the role of government, and it says, they do not bear the sword in vain, and that's in Romans 13:1 7. You know, let me just say the New Testament firmly, affirms the Old Testament, right? And over and over, Jesus said, well, in like, John 10:35, the scripture cannot be broken. So, Bert, the Old Testament definitely affirms, capital punishment for convicted murderers, and the New Testament affirms, the Old. So I think that's just one of the clearest, words that we could say. Say about that. and, I believe in that. I believe in capital punishment for convicted murderers. And when the state executes a convicted murderer, that is not murder. It might be killing, but it's not murder.

>> Bert Harper: And in the Ten Commandment, it's thou shalt not murder. It's not thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not murder is the Hebrew word.

>> Alex McFarland: Yes. so, you know, one of the greatest books on Christian ethics was written by a man named Norman Geisler, simply called Christian Ethics and Capital Punishment. Because people ask, how can you be a Christian and support the, death penalty for convicted murderers? Because it actually affirms the value of human life.

Alex: Where was the veil at the time Jesus was crucified

Pam in Texas, welcome to Exploring the Word.

>> Caroline: Hey, how are you guys today?

>> Alex McFarland: Blessed. Good to hear from you.

>> Caroline: Good, good. Yeah, yeah. So I have a question. So when Jesus, died on the cross and the veil was rent, it was torn in two. My question is, where was the veil at the time he was crucified? Was it in the temple? There, you know? and was it close to where he was, or was it just figuratively? I was just always curious where that actually was when it was torn.

>> Bert Harper: Okay, you're right, Pam, when you say the temple. And Jesus was just on the outskirts of Jerusalem proper, and there in the middle, the City of David was the temple, wasn't it, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: Yeah. There was, the outer court, the inner court, and the holy of holies. And behind the holy of holies was, where a priest would go once a year with a blood sacrifice. And so it was sequestered away. Now, history tells us that, this veil, this curtain, was almost like Woven rope three inches thick. And there was a golden symbol, sewn on there, of a cherubim with a flaming sword. And when that, you know, I know that pious Jews must have been horrified because they wouldn't go behind the curtain, much less look back there. And it was torn in two. This is in Matthew 27, 51, 54. And also Hebrews 10, 19, 20 talks about Jesus, in dying on the cross, rent the veil. And so, it made clear, made open the way to God. And Bert, I think that because of that torn veil and the way to the holy of holies is now open. That's why the Bible. And we can say whosoever will, may come.

>> Bert Harper: Amen. And it was torn from top to bottom. Pam, they weren't next to heaven. Amen. And there was no man quite that tall that could do that. Amen. Pam, thank you for your question.

Alex: There's a subject that really bothers me about James

>> Alex McFarland: Tom in Texas. Welcome, Tom.

>> Tom: Hi. How are you, gentlemen?

>> Alex McFarland: Blessed. Good to hear from you.

>> Tom: Yeah, we are, aren't we? My wife and I listen to you all the time. And there's a subject that really bothers me, and it has to do with James. And really what it boils down to for me is that if we approach any scripture which is mandating works, for an outcome, as if the outcome is everlasting life, we're going to struggle to reconcile our understanding of that passage to the gospel. And if we take an approach to James where we assume by the words save judgment, justified and dead, that he is speaking of matters of eternal life and death, when the evidence doing proper exegesis shows us that that's not what he's talking about, we're going to think that he's saying that if you have faith, you will have works, and if you don't have works, you don't really have faith. But the reality is James is not questioning people's faith and salvation for lack of works. He's questioning the absence of works given their faith.

>> Bert Harper: Real quickly, I would say this, Tom. Even that it says, even the demons believe and they tremble. Faith without evidence. Evidence, you know, you're a new creature in Christ once you come to Christ. And that does make a difference, doesn't it, Alex?

>> Alex McFarland: It does. This is really in James 2. Maybe we'll talk some more about this tomorrow. Tomorrow is fire away Friday, so call with your questions. In the meantime, pray for us. In the meantime, tell somebody about afr, but most importantly, tell everybody that you can about Jesus.

>> Bert Harper: The views and opinions expressed in this broadcast may not necessarily reflect those of the American Family association or American Family Radio. M.