Simple Gospel, Simply Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Have you ever in your life made some kind of promise to God to do better and be better? What was your motivation? Was it fear, guilt, or a desire to do better? Were you able to live up to those promises? In its 5th year, Simple Gospel is a clear and comforting journey to discover the grace of God. How is the Christian life to be lived? By faith.

• Simple Gospel, Simply Grace - https://simplegospelsimplygrace.com

Categories: Faith Christian Living

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The gospel of Jesus Christ is grace from start to finish. Grace is what draws us in, grace is what saves us and grace is what moves us forward. Many of us begin our journey thinking that Christianity is a self-improvement program. And we fail over and over again. This results in two nagging questions: How can I call myself a Christian and yet experience so little power for change? How can I be so sincere and eager yet struggle so much with temptation? When you dig in to these questions, you will discover the truth that will set you free.

Categories: Jesus Christ Christian Living

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

First Things First. When we know God's priority for us, we can begin to live as He intends. For many, changing behavior in an effort to become worthy precedes coming to God. God's priority is first to give us life, which is what makes change possible. It is the death of Christ that paid the price for our sins, the death of Christ reconciled us unto God. But the story doesn't end there. It is the resurrection of Christ that makes us alive. Because He lives, we live.

• Simple Gospel, Simply Grace - https://simplegospelsimplygrace.com

Categories: Christian Living

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the good news. To the disciples and to us, it is hard to see death as good news. But when Jesus was raised from the dead, his resurrection became our resurrection and death lost it's power. The book of 1 Corinthians remind us of the Gospel. In plain, clear language he reinforces the priority of God for us.

Categories: Jesus Christ Righteousness/Justification

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Often Christians think of coming to Christ only for forgiveness. We often limit salvation to forgiveness of sins. But the primary purpose of salvation is to have life ... and have life abundantly. Between receiving forgiveness and receiving a golden ticket for entry to Heaven, there is a wealth of joy, peace, contentment, and goodness to be had in our daily life. How do we experience that life? By grace, through faith. To be saved by grace is God moving us from spiritual death to spiritual life. God makes us alive together with Christ.

• Simple Gospel, Simply Grace - https://simplegospelsimplygrace.com

Categories: Jesus Christ Christian Living Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

What does repentance mean? The grace of God moves our hearts and minds from what we once thought was life, meaning, and purpose to the person and work of Jesus Christ. That's the true meaning of repentance - moving from unbelief to belief.

Categories: Grace Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Paul's conversion is a great example of repentance. Paul wanted to lock Christians up in chains to rid the world of the followers of Jesus Christ. On the road to Damascus, he heard the voice of Jesus. Everything changed at that moment. That's repentance. It's moving from death to life. It begins with a change of thinking - in that moment, Paul repented of his unbelief.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance Grace Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

What exactly is faith? To find out, we need to look at the life of the one who is considered the Father of Faith — Abraham. In every endeavor of life, there is a person at the beginning stages of it and because of their efforts, we look at them as the father of that endeavor. The book of Genesis chronicles the story of Abraham.

Categories: Faith Christian Living Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Abraham is considered the father of faith, for both Jew and Gentile. The essence of what we believe is traced all the way back to him. There's something that we all believe about God and Jesus Christ. When we believe that God has raised Jesus from the dead, it is credited to us as righteousness. We believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. For Abraham to be the father of faith, he had to believe in resurrection. Genesis 22 recounts the story.

Categories: Faith Jesus Christ Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Nineteen years ago, on 9/11, a woman called the broadcast asking about salvation. We were able to share the good news of Jesus Christ with her. She responded by faith and immediately went from death to life. We call that the crossover. When we come to Christ, we cross over from spiritual death to spiritual life. John 5:24 describes it this way: ""Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. ... They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life."

Categories: Salvation Grace Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The crossover is how we describe crossing over from spiritual death to spiritual life. When we come to Jesus we are severed from darkness and are free to live in the newness of life. As sinners, we were missing the mark of what God originally designed us to be. The desires of the flesh are contrary to the desires of God. Only in Jesus can we live out our purpose.

Categories: Salvation Jesus Christ Faith

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

As a believer in Christ, you and I can have great expectations in life. There is substance in that statement. Having Jesus Christ in your life, getting to know him, gives us hope. Our expectations are no longer based on our humanity, but on Him. That changes everything.

Categories: Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

When a temple was dedicated in the past, it was filled with the presence of God. On the day of your salvation, you were filled with the same spirit that filled the temple. That means God has showed up in your life. No matter what we go through, He is with us. We have been fused together with Christ, joined together as one. With that as our reality, we can change our thinking and live with great expectation.

Categories: Holy Spirit Hope

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

As human beings we come into this world and before too long we figured out there's something wrong with us. We've missed the mark and we discover an emptiness inside of us. But when we hear the good news of Christ and his finished work and we receive him by faith we are made alive in him - we are born again by the Spirit of God and God sends his Spirit to live in us. We live in partnership with the Lord Jesus Christ. Know who you are should change your expectations about life.

• https://simplegospelsimplygrace.com

Categories: Salvation

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Forgiveness is ours because of Jesus Christ's finished work at the cross. Forgiveness is the door to experience freedom in Christ, to actually flourish as a believer. There is lots of confusion about forgiveness causing Christians to continue to struggle with sin and guilt and to wonder if they are truly forgiven. Confusion on this fundamental truth hampers every other aspect of Christian life. Let's get clear about what the cross means to you. John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."

Categories: Jesus Christ Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

In spite of the distractions of the world, the most important truth is the forgiveness of sins. We all long to be clear and righteous. Solving the sin issue is what frees us to experience life to the full. Today we begin with Jesus' triumphal march into Jerusalem. He marches into our hearts at the time we believe and delivers the forgiveness of the cross.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Once we understand that our sins are truly forgiven, then we are set free to live a life of joy. We must finalize Jesus' statement,"It is Finished", in our heart and mind. You are forgiven, completely and eternally. Our desire is that you finish this study knowing that you know that you are forgiven completely and forever.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

If we don't understand that our sins are forgiven, we will live in fear of punishment and fear of not being good enough to earn Gods love. It Is through the finished work of Christ Jesus, that we are able to move from fear to faith. Jesus' cry from the cross "It Is Finished" means that the sin issue has been settled and there is nothing more to be done. This is good news.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Fear keeps us wondering when the hammer of punishment will come from God. It also keeps us asking for forgiveness. Until we fully embrace the forgiveness provided at the cross of Jesus Christ, we will continue to beg and plead for God's mercy. The good news is that, in Christ, we have redemption and forgiveness of sins. The perfect love of God casts fear aside.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

What does the word "forgiveness" mean? Forgiveness is such an important issue; yet we remain confused around the concept. The source of forgiveness is God himself. The good news is that in God's eyes, forgiveness is yours because of the finished work of Jesus Christ.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Your sins are gone. They have been removed because of the shed blood of Jesus Christ. So many struggle with the issue of forgiveness and, as a result, live in guilt, shame, and fear. Understanding the forgiveness you have received will change guilt to joy, shame to thankfulness and fear to assurance.

Categories: Sin Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

People often say "I know God has forgiven me, but I can't forgive myself". They are anchored in the past and can't find a path to peace. God never says "forgive yourself". We can only let go of our past when we recognize and accept the forgiveness provided by Christ Jesus. If God has released us from our sins, it just makes sense that we do the same. Your sins have been taken away and God remembers them no more.

Categories: Grace Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

"I know God has forgiven me but I'm having trouble forgiving myself." If you've had this thought, the answer is found in resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ. When we rest in Him we are agreeing that he has forgiven all of our sins and we are rejoicing in that truth.

Categories: Forgiveness/Repentance Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

How do we enter God's rest? It's an important topic to embrace. Everything good and powerful in the Christian life begins from a place of rest. Even creation comes from a place of rest. Adam and Eve were created on the 6th day and on the seventh day entered into rest with God. "For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins." 1 Peter 1:8-9

Categories: Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

In the world there is a lot of unrest and tension. But the same is also true of our souls until we come to a place of rest. How do you let go of anxiety and worry? The answer lies in what Christ Jesus has done for you. His promise is "I will give you rest". It is in that rest that you will find peace and contentment in your life.

Categories: Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

You are free. Forgiveness plus life equals freedom. Real freedom. Genuine freedom of the soul and spirit. The question is are you adequately prepared to handle freedom? Religion says no. Religion says we need guardrails and restraints against sin. But the power of the gospel equips us to live abundantly in this freedom in Christ.

• Simple Gospel, Simply Grace https://simplegospelsimplygrace.com

Categories: Christian Living

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Freedom is what we get when we couple forgiveness and life. Our sins have been forgiven and we've been made alive together with Christ and he has given his life to us. That's the gift we have been given. God's goal for us is freedom and that story is really foreshadowed for us in the story of the nation of Israel.

Categories: Christian Living

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Today we look at the Exodus. It's really a shadow of what Christ has done for us through his death, burial, and resurrection. Your hope of living life to the full is anchored to Christ's power and presence in you. You have the power of God living in you. You have the presence of God living in you. This is your hope of Glory.

• Audio issues

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

"I like the word 'new', and I bet you do too." We like the word "new". But when it comes to the weightier things of life we're hesitant to move. We saw that with the Exodus story. There was fear of the new. And this is true of many of us. But what the Gospel encourages us to do is to fully embrace the promises of the NEW.

Categories: New Covenant

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Bob continues with his study through his book Simple Gospel, Simply Grace. This is A Tale of Two Kingdoms from chapter 12.

• You can get your own copy here: https://simplegospelsimplygrace.com
• Please note: due to local weather, power outages kept us out of our studios this week. Added to that was a broken fire sprinkler pipe at our office building. Therefore Bob broadcast this episode from his home.

Categories: Jesus Christ New Covenant

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The life God has for us is one of freedom and He has equipped us to experience that freedom in full. Often when we leave a place of bondage, it is hard to accept freedom and we easily fall back into bondage. When we move from self-effort to dependent on the Spirit, we see that our life of freedom is Spirit-led, from start to finish.

Categories: New Covenant Holy Spirit

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

S. M. Lockridge preached a powerful evangelical sermon years ago. The tagline is "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming". For Christians, Friday represents the death of Christ on the cross and his burial But, thanks be to God, Sunday is coming! Jesus Christ is raised from the dead. For those of us who have to come to Christ, it is always Sunday ... just was he was raised from the dead, we too have been raised to newness of life. We live in a "Friday" world, but, as Christians, our reality is in Sunday...new life in Christ Jesus.

Categories: Resurrection Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

As Christians, we've been forgiven, made righteous, holy, alive together with Christ, and God has sent his spirit to take up residence in us. That is what it means to live in the newness of life. Our new life is lived by grace through faith. This is in conflict with the world we live; a world which is often chaotic, selfish, and anti-Christianity.

Categories: Christian Living Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

What is God's will for your life? That can be a perplexing and frustrating question for many. Most of us think of God's will in terms of a plan for our life... who to marry, where to work, etc. It take a shift in focus to really understand the will of God. Instead of thinking of God's will in terms of a plan, let's focus on thinking of God's will as a legal will that he has ratified through the death of Jesus Christ.

Categories: New Covenant Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

God has a goal of perfection for us - we cannot achieve that on our own. We have to rely on the perfect will of God through the finished work of Jesus Christ. The gift of God's grace to us is the New Covenant. Because of the New Covenant we have the gift of a new heart, we are a member of God's family, we can know God, and we receive the miraculous forgiveness of sins.

Categories: Grace Jesus Christ New Covenant

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The movie, We Are Marshall, is deeply moving and inspirational. After the entire Marshall football program was wiped out in a plane crash, the entire town wondered if Marshall could ever field a football team. The rallying cry of the town became "We are Marshall!". I use this story to encourage you to fully embrace the New Covenant. It's time to embrace God's perfect plan and will for you. It's time to say "I am a New Covenant believer."

Categories: New Covenant

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Christianity is a relationship. It is different from any religion. Eternal life IS about a relationship with God the Father. The defining passage as far as eternal life is concerned is John 17:3, "Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." All paths throughout the Word of God lead to this truth. We have the incredible gift of knowing God and being in relationship with him.

Categories: Christian Living

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Throughout the New Testament we see statements about eternal life. This is the goal and the prize. This is what God wants for us. There is a definition of eternal life in John 17:3 - "And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent." As we get to know God, we experience His gift of eternal life. So how does this work itself out? 1 John 2:12,14

Categories: Jesus Christ

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The purpose for the grace of God is so that we can know God and to connect us to the love of God. The work of Jesus Christ makes us spiritually alive and empowers us to live in this world of darkness as lights shining brightly.

Categories: Grace

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Grace is not only the grace that saves; it's the grace that sustains. We wrap up this study with encouragement to fully embrace the New Covenant in your life. This New Covenant is marked by a new command, "Dear friends, let us love one another for love comes from God." If you are loving others, that is confirmation that you belong to Him, for love comes from God. Truly, the Christian life begins with grace, is sustained by grace, and ends with grace. It is grace, glorious grace!