Life – Page 3 – Bob Christopher

Basic Gospel — Your Sins Have Been Forgiven

Posted on August 5, 2013 by Bob Christopher

Forgiveness ranks as the number one topic of discussion on the Basic Gospel broadcast. Here are three things we have learned from all the questions that have been asked about this critical issue:

The forgiveness of God is greatly misunderstood,
People like to argue about forgiveness,
People long to have forgiveness.

You can understand why forgiveness is such a hot topic. All of us sin. This reality raises numerous questions in our minds.

What do I do when I sin?
How can I know that God has forgiven my sin?
If He has forgiven me, why do I keep doing the same sin over and over?

Here is the good news. All of these questions are answered by the three words Jesus uttered from the cross, “It is finished!”
Jesus paid the debt in full. Nothing more needs to be done, or can be done concerning forgiveness of sins.
I wished I had known this truth early in life.
With each sin I committed in those days, I felt I needed to do something to get it forgiven. I prayed. I promised. I studied the Bible. I made deals with God. But nothing changed. The sad reality was I believed what I did after I sinned was more important in securing forgiveness than the shed blood of Jesus Christ.
I wanted His forgiveness so badly, but in spite of all my efforts, I never felt forgiven.
The glorious truth is that there was nothing I could do to gain God’s forgiveness. Jesus had already done the work. He forgave all of my sins. His shed blood took them away once and for all.
When His finished work finally hit my heart, the weight of guilt lifted from my shoulders. And something even better happened. The love of God broke through to my soul. It was the first time that I knew, I mean really knew, that He loved me.
This is what I wanted more than anything. I think we all want to truly know that God loves us. Forgiveness is the truth that makes God’s love real to us.
Just three simple words comprise the most powerful, life-changing phrase in the entire Bible.
It is finished!
These three words can change your life.

What Does God Do When You Sin?

Posted on July 30, 2013 by Bob Christopher

I used to think God turned His back on me every time I sinned. It was up to me to figure out some way to get Him to turn around.
Here is what I did. I confessed my sin, asked God to forgive me and then hoped He would turn around to face me again. Sadly, I was never sure He ever turned around. If He did, the next sin turned Him back around.
What was really important to me back then was figuring out what I was supposed to do when I sinned. I never really asked the question, “What does God do when I sin?”
According to the Bible, He does not punish us when we sin. Jesus took the punishment we justly deserved. Here is the good news. God has already done something about my sin and your sin.
The writer of Hebrews gives us the full implications of Christ’s death for us. “Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more. And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (Hebrews 10:17-18).
But what about today? What does God do today when we sin? Here are seven actions God takes on our behalf. (This isn’t an exhaustive list, simply the seven that have been most beneficial in my life. Please add to this list in the comment section.)

He reminds us of Christ’s death on the cross and the forgiveness we have in Him – “I write to you dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of His name” (1 John 2:12).
He assures us that we are children of God — For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children” (Romans 8:15-16).
He shows us the consequences of our sin, how our actions have affected others and moves us to be reconciled to those we have hurt – “Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.” (Romans 13:10). God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in His holiness” (Hebrews 12:10).
He teaches us to say “no” to sin – “It (grace) teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” (Titus 2:11).
He encourages us to put off the old, and put on the new — You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). (See also Colossians 3:5-14)
He works all things together for our good – “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).
He continues to fulfill His promise to complete the work He began in us – “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).

Contrary to what most people think, God does not turn His back on us when we sin. He actively loves us and works in us to “will and to act according to His good purpose.” This is what God does when we sin.
Knowing what He does when we sin better equips us to know what we should do when we sin.
In what ways have you seen God work in your life when you have sinned?

The Verdict

Posted on July 22, 2013 by Bob Christopher

My good friend, Frank Reed, hosts the morning show on KLTY in Dallas. The breaking news Saturday, July 13th was the George Zimmerman verdict. Frank wanted to say something and knew he needed to say something about the case that next Monday morning. As he prayed about what to say, his mind turned to his relationship with the Lord and a verdict that was given that changed his life forever.
I read his words yesterday. I immediately asked Frank if I could share his thoughts with you. I know you will be blessed and encouraged. Please post your comments once you read Frank’s article.

The Verdict. By Frank Reed July 15, 2013 (as heard on 94.9 KLTY)
The prosecution continued to make their case. It was quite a team he assembled. The best of the best. One by one the accusations came. It seemed to go on for hours. I tried to keep a stiff upper lip, you know, play the poker face thing. But my demeanor sooner, rather than later, had the look of total defeat. Every accusation was true, what could I say, what could I do?
You know the story of the kid with his hand in the cookie jar? Multiply that feeling a thousand times, and it still wasn’t even close to the way I felt. One by one the offenses were laid out. Pride, arrogance, selfishness, greed, lust, envy. The list went on. The weight on my heart felt like the size of an ocean liner. I was utterly, totally, helpless. There was nothing I could say. I was guilty and I knew it.
The only thing left, was the verdict, and my sentence. I had done my homework. I knew what the sentence was. I knew my prospects of surviving this nightmare were absolutely zero. Just when I thought things couldn’t get any worse, the lead prosecutor, the accuser, began his closing argument. This guy made his associates look like school children. Every wrong thought, motive, and action, was told. Then, it ended. “Your honor, the prosecution rests”.
At that moment, there was only one thing I could think of; The Verdict. I sat there, totally ashamed, humiliated, defeated. And then, it happened. A touch on my shoulder. It was him. He was there next to me the whole time. “Frank” he told me. “Hold your head up son, I’ve got this”.
With those words, he stood up and approached the bench. His voice was loud, strong, and crystal clear. “Father”, he said. “On a train heading into Manhattan, in June 1982, Frank made a conscious decision of his heart to follow me. He has not done things perfectly, far from it. At many times I thought, son, what in the world are you doing? But here’s the bottom line; when I died on the cross, I took away his sin. Every single one, past, present, and future. It is written, there is now no condemnation for him. He is undeniably, without a shadow of a doubt, one of mine. I paid his penalty”.
And then I heard it. The words that would set me free. The words that would give me purpose and a reason for living while on earth, and the words that would usher me one day into heaven. It was The Verdict. And it was not guilty. And you can be declared not guilty, too.

Do You Have Assurance of Salvation?

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Bob Christopher

Can a Christian have assurance of salvation? According to the Bible, the answer is “Yes!”
The Apostle John wrote in his first letter these encouraging words: “And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:11-13).
assurance There is no wishful thinking in John’s statement. He boldly asserted that we can know with full confidence that eternal life is ours, that our salvation is sure.
For John’s words to become a reality in your life, you must understand what salvation truly is and what Christ accomplished for you through His death, burial and resurrection.
Paul gives us the most succinct statement concerning the nature of salvation in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
You and I come into this world under the wages of sin, dead spiritually. Ephesians 2:1 puts it this way, “And you were dead in the trespasses and sins.” In other words, we were not just sinners in need of forgiveness; we were spiritually dead and in need of life.
Salvation, then, is God’s act of making us alive in Christ. The following passages spell this out in detail.

But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ– by grace you have been saved– Eph 2:4-5 (ESV).
And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with Him, having forgiven us all our trespasses Col 2:13 (ESV).
To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory Col 1:27 (ESV).

So, salvation is going from death to life. Jesus described it this way; “I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life” (John 5:24).
Jesus’ death on the cross guarantees that your salvation is secure. Through His death, Jesus took your sins and paid the penalty that you justly deserved. Your sins were judged. The verdict was guilty, and the punishment was death. God was satisfied with Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf. Jesus dealt with sin once and for all.
The writer of Hebrews shows the completeness of Christ’s sacrifice: “Then he adds: ‘Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more.’ And where these have been forgiven, there is no longer any sacrifice for sin” (Hebrews 10:17-18).
Your eternal life is secure because of the eternal consequences of the cross.
When Jesus saves, He does so completely. Because of the cross, you can know with confidence that “He will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

What Did You Hear?

Posted on July 9, 2013 by Bob Christopher

Paul wrote these famous words: “Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word of Christ” (Romans 10:17).
hearing Note the importance Paul places on “hearing the message.”
The message is Jesus Christ. He is God’s good news to man.
Yet, often times, the message regarding Jesus is not the message that is heard.
For the longest time, I thought Christianity was nothing more than a self-improvement plan. I could improve if I followed the rules and regulations.
But I never improved.
Here is the reason. I didn’t hear the message correctly. I listened with legalistic ears. I wanted to know what I was supposed to do for God.
My own sin and pride turned the good news about Jesus into a message about me and all the things I was supposed to do and be. Turns out, that isn’t very good news at all.
But life has a way of humbling us. I thought I had what it took to become a better person, with God’s help of course. Years of trying proved otherwise. I reached a point where something had to change.
Something did – my hearing. Being humbled by life tuned my ears to the truth.
I attended a Bible study and I actually heard the message of Christ. I heard and understood that His death took away my sins. I heard and understood that He would make me new through His resurrected life.
That is when faith came for me and everything changed.
Perhaps, the fix for some of the problems within the church is a spiritual hearing test.
How was your hearing when you first were told the good news about Jesus? What did you hear?

Why is this so hard to say?

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Bob Christopher

“I’m wrong.”
I'm wrong It is hard for these words to roll off the tongue.
Pride doesn’t want to admit it. Fear won’t allow us to admit it.
Our pride tells us we are basically good people. Admitting that we are wrong might sully that good reputation.
Our fear doesn’t want to deal with the “potential” consequences.
Neither is of the Lord.
God calls us to walk in truth. Often times that means admitting we are wrong. The Bible calls this confession. It is simply agreeing with God.
Knowing that Jesus loves us puts our fleshly pride and fear in their place. Trust Him. Walk in truth. Go ahead and say those dreaded words, “I’m wrong.”
It will work together for good, just as He promised.

I Can’t Let Go of the Past

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Bob Christopher

Oh, the things we have done in the past.
past Maybe it’s not things plural. It could be just one thing that haunts us and makes life miserable for us today.
Like the guy who thought he was eternally condemned because of something he said about God during his teenage years.
Or the lady who bases her self-image on a one-night-stand she had in college.
Yes, these sins have their consequences, and in both of these cases, the consequences have been severe. So severe, that the sins of the past are ruining their lives today.
Is there a way to let go of those sins? Is there a way to leave them in the past?
The Bible answers with a resounding “Yes!” And this answer is tied to forgiveness.
The word forgiveness means to send away or to let go. When the Bible says that your sins have been forgiven, it means that Christ has…

Removed your sins from you – Psalm 103:12
Sent your sins away – Hebrews 9:28
Dismissed your sins – Romans 4:7
Let your sins go from His further notice or care – Hebrews 10:17, 18
Released you from your relationship with sin and death and set us free to experience new life in Christ – Romans 8:1, 2.

Here is the good news. Jesus Christ does not dredge up your past sins and use them against you.
He judged your sins and suffered the penalty of death for them. Then, He sent them away.
Let this truth soak in.
You will realize there is no need to let your past sins enter the equation in determining your present or your future.
The work of Jesus defines who you are today. In the past you were a sinner. But not now. Through faith in Jesus Christ, you are a child of God, totally forgiven and perfectly loved.
Have you struggled with letting go of the past?

How Many of Your Sins Have Been Forgiven?

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Bob Christopher

My favorite passage is in the book of Colossians. (It is hard to pick a favorite, I know, but if I had to, this one would be it.)
Here it is.

For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority. In him you were also circumcised, in the putting off of the sinful nature, not with a circumcision done by the hands of men but with the circumcision done by Christ, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Colossians 2:9-15 (NIV)

Here are the reasons this passage tops my list of favorites.

It starts with Christ and ends with Christ. In six verses, Paul explains who Jesus is and the meaning of His death, burial and resurrection.
I learned that my real problem was spiritual death, and that something had to happen to me before change could take place in my life. I had tried to be God’s guy, but my efforts came up woefully short.
In the plainest language possible, it states that all my sins have been forgiven.
It also tells me that the law of sin and death has been taken away.
It declares that my enemy was defeated and disarmed through Christ’s triumphant victory at the cross.
It tells me that I am complete, or have fullness, in Jesus Christ.

Some thirty years ago is when this passage hit my heart. I was confused about Christianity, and why I was such a colossal failure as far as my Christian life was concerned. Paul’s straight forward words flipped a switch in my understanding. I felt forgiven and that there was hope for me. The weight of trying to do it on my own was lifted. But more than anything, I felt alive.
Perhaps you feel defeated in your Christian life, or that you are mired in guilt and shame. It could be that you sense an emptiness deep within your heart, or that something is just plain wrong with you. If so, read this passage carefully. Jesus knows where you are. Who He is and what He accomplished through His death, burial and resurrection can change who you are. This passage was the catalyst for me to look to Him. I pray it will be the same for you.

A New Book That I Highly Recommend – Get 25 Free Gifts If You Get It Now By May 7th

Posted on May 1, 2013 by Bob Christopher

My friend Frank Viola has just released a new book called God’s Favorite Place on Earth that could literally change your relationship with God, help you defeat bitterness, free you from a guilty conscience, and help you overcome fear, doubt and discouragement once and for all.
This is a book that will jar you out of your “Christian rut” and give you new eyes for looking at EVERYTHING. It’s a quick, inspiring, and entertaining read.
In addition, if you get the book between May 1st to May 7th, you will also get 25 FREE GIFTS from 15 different authors including Jeff Goins, DeVern Fromke, Pete Briscoe, Frank Viola himself, and me. Order Frank’s book this week and you will get a copy of my book Love Is.
Over 47 Christian leaders have recommended the book, including me.
Here is my endorsement for “God’s Favorite Place on Earth.”
“This book fastened my heart and mind on Jesus Christ. I count it as Frank Viola’s best work. His passion for and love of Jesus Christ are on full display. But more importantly, Jesus Christ is on full display. The setting is Bethany, a little village atop the Mount of Olives. The story is told by Lazarus. It is powerful and moving. Be prepared to step into the story, to take a place in Bethany and encounter Jesus like never before.”
The premise of the book is simple and 100% Biblical: when Jesus was on the earth, He was rejected everywhere He went . . . from Bethlehem, to Nazareth, to Jerusalem. The only exception was the little village of Bethany.
The curtain opens with Lazarus, who is now ready to die, telling the incomparable story of Jesus’ interactions with him, Martha, and Mary. God’s Favorite Place on Earth blends drama, devotion, biblical narrative, and first-century history to create a riveting book that you’ll find difficult to put down. Within each narrative, the common struggles Christians face are addressed and answered.
Go to GodsFavoritePlace.com to claim your 25 FREE GIFTS, read a Sampler of the book, and watch the gripping video trailer.

What is Holding You Back?

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Bob Christopher

At some point in your life, you responded to the Gospel. At that moment you experienced new birth. You were made alive. New life in Christ is now yours.
The encouragement of Scripture is that you take hold of the eternal life to which you were called (1 Timothy 6:17). The Christopher translation reads, “Grab it and live it.”
It sounds so good and simple. It’s what you want.
What is holding you back?
Here are three issues I’ve wrestled with.

Fear of the unknown – New life is just that, new. That means it’s different, unfamiliar and requires change. Change is not something we take to readily, because we are not sure of the benefits. Turn that fear into faith. Trust the One who loves you and gave His life for you. His life is the best, nothing can compare.
What will other people think of me – The opinions of others are very important to us. What they think matters. I certainly don’t want people to think I’m a religious fanatic. I read this quote recently: “It’s been said that when people are free to do as they please, they usually imitate one another.” What really matters is what God thinks. His opinion is better than anyone else’s. Trust what He has to say.
Does the world have something better to offer – The world is an attractive place on the surface. It markets itself very well. For longest time I was “Mr. Noncommittal.” I was always waiting for something better to come along. The world doesn’t offer anything that can compare to Christ. The only way to find out is to take hold, jump in and live. It takes courage, but experiencing His life is worth everything.

Have you wrestled with any of these issues? Are there other issues that have held you back?
We are talking about this on the radio program today. Call with your story or questions. The number is 800-677-9377. Or post your questions in the comment section.