Hard Passages

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

Our new Friday teaching is "Hard Passages". No matter if you are a Bible scholar or new to reading the Word, there are passages that we have trouble understanding. Today we look at passages that people use to question eternal security. It causes us to question, "Have I done enough?" or "Is God so mad at me that he will remove my salvation." The key is to keep your eyes on Jesus and you will be secure in the Lord. We look at Matthew 7:21-23, Matthew 12:32, and Revelation 3:5 as they pertain to eternal security.

Categories: Hard Passages

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

Today we look at hard passages that speak to being filled with the Spirit, tongues of fire (Acts 2:2-4), the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:7-11), and being filled with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 5:18 ). Sunday is Pentecost Sunday - one of the most significant celebration of the Christian calendar. When we come to Christ by faith, we experience our own personal Pentecost. The Holy Spirit's whole purpose is to point us to Jesus. Anything we do "in the Spirit" that diverts our eyes from Jesus can't be truth.

Categories: Hard Passages

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

We continue with our Hard Passages series. Today we look at two passages that often become a stumbling block to our assurance of salvation. Many times we might overlook the book of Hebrews, thinking it's only applicable to Jewish people. If we will pay attention to the words of that book, we will find it to be an incredibly beneficial, practical instruction in the Word. The book of Hebrews is written primarily to assure us that the New Covenant is superior to the Old. Hebrews 6:4-6 and Hebrews 10:26-29 must be filtered through the truth of eternal security. Once you become a child of God, there is no going back. You are eternally a child of God because Jesus lives forever and he has given his life to you. You can rest in that truth.

Categories: Hard Passages

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

Today we're looking at three hard passages.

• Romans 3:31 "Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law."
• Romans 4:15 "For the law brings wrath, but where there is no law there is no transgression."
• James 2:24 "You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone."

Categories: Hard Passages Law

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

One of the most confusing passages in the Bible is 1 John 1:9. We have been asked about this verse about a million times in our 35 years of ministry because it seems to contradict all the other verses that proclaim forgiveness of sins. Do we have all the forgiveness or do we need more? Is 1 John 1:9 the Christian "bar of soap"? Understanding this passage is key to clearing up any confusion about forgiveness. It's all about context ...

Categories: Hard Passages Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

These hard passages often cause great confusion:

• Matthew 5:48- "You therefore must be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect." The context is in the Sermon on the Mount; a sermon where Jesus deals with subjects like anger, lust, divorce, retaliation, loving our enemies. All of this leads up to this command, be perfect. Jesus is teaching us that we cannot be perfect in our own power ... only the blood of Jesus makes us perfect inside and out.
• Malachai 3:10. "Bring the full tithe .... I will open the windows of heaven for you..." This verse has been used as what amounts to extortion for generations. People are in fear that God will not provide if they don't pay tithe. Instead we are called by grace to give generously.
• Matthew 23:23, 24 is often used as a verse for tithing. Really it is Jesus' encouragement to grow in the grace of God and learn to excel in the grace of giving, not a command to tithe.

Categories: Hard Passages Christian Living Money/Giving

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis

The hard passages we are looking at today speak to grieving the Holy Spirit. In Ephesians we are told not to grieve the Holy Spirit, In 1 Peter 1 we are called to be holy in all we do, and in 1 Peter 4 we are warned that "the end of all things is near". How do these Scriptures relate to one another and how can a believer be confident in their eternal security when faced with these seemingly impossible commands? Those are the questions we deal with on today's Hard Passages.

Categories: Hard Passages

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

What does it mean in the Lord's prayer to "forgive as we forgive our debtors" (Matthew 6:12)? Why did Jesus use wine and wineskins to illustrate the difference between the New Covenant and the Old Covenant in Matthew 9:4-17? What is the discipline spoken of in Hebrews 12:5, 6. Is it something to fear or something to be grateful for? These three hard passages make up today's teaching series.

Categories: Hard Passages Holy Spirit Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

The first "hard passage" is 1 John 5:16, 17. What is the 'sin that leads to death'? Aren't all sins forgiven? Context is important in this passage. The next passage is Matthew 22:1-14. Verse 14 says "Many are called but few are chosen". Does God pick and choose who will receive salvation? Romans 9:14-16 is the last hard passage. "What shall we say then, is there injustice on God's part?" Does this speak to predestination? This passage is not about individuals; it is about Jew and Gentiles.

Categories: Hard Passages Sin God's Will

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

Psalm 51:10-11 "Create in me a clean heart" is the most quoted part of this passage but this really is not a prayer for us who live in the New Covenant—it was an appropriate Old Covenant prayer for David. This prayer follows David's sin with Bathsheba. In this Psalm, David has seen the consequences of his sin and he is appealing to God's mercy. In Jeremiah 17:9 it says "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?". What is the heart? The center of life—if your heart stops beating, you will die. In the Jewish world, the word heart represents the whole person. Today, the center of the heart is in Jesus. Matthew 5:17-18 says "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished." This is often held up as a proof text that we need to abide by the Ten Commandments. The passage points directly to Jesus, who came to fulfill the Old Covenant and usher in New Covenant.

Categories: Hard Passages Holy Spirit New Covenant

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

We address 3 passages from 1 Peter. 1 Peter 3:3, 4 addresses women on the issue of adornment. It often is turned into a list of rules and regulations on the behavior of women. The message of this passage is respectful and pure conduct of a believing wife married to an unbelieving husband. 1 Peter 3:7 encourages husbands in how to treat their wives. It is not about a command. It is about an internal desire to love your wife. Be considerate; i.e., wisdom and understanding. Get to know your wife from the inside out. Treat her with respect; to honor and esteem your wife. Why? Because husbands and wives are fellow heirs with Christ equally. 1 Peter 3:18-22 is actually a passage of comfort. We can be certain and confident in our life even in times of suffering. This passage may be one of the most confusing in the entire Word of God. Listen as Bob brings insight into it's meaning.

Categories: Hard Passages Marriage Love

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

Romans 9:13 has caused anger from every side. God chose Jacob to be the child of promise. Esau rebelled against the plan of God and the people of God. "I hated" means a rejection of Esau's rebellion. Romans 9:17 refers to the hardening of Pharoah's heart. Did God cause that to happen? Does He do that to us? Romans 11:20 seems to suggest that we can lose our salvation. Can we be broken off because of unbelief? This passage talks about people groups, not individuals. The gospel message went first to the Jew, who rejected Jesus. The Gentiles were grafted into the message because of grace. Neither group should be boastful but be humble.

Categories: Hard Passages

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

The hard passages we look at today will confirm the finished work of Jesus Christ and give you comfort instead of fear. 2 Corinthians 5:10 is our first passage. What is the judgment seat of Christ? Will my life be flashed up on some huge movie screen? Here's the good news - your sins have already been judged. Jesus took the punishment you deserved. This judgment has nothing to do with sin and there is nothing to fear. John 20:21-23 is troubling because it begs the question of when the apostles received the Holy Spirit. Is the Holy Spirit given twice? And what does it mean when it says "if you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." Do believers have the authority to forgive sins? Richard and Bob take a deep look at this passage and clarify what it means for the believer.

Categories: Hard Passages Holy Spirit Forgiveness/Repentance

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

Matthew 5:21-30 is a troubling passage that seems to hold commands about behavior. Is it true that anyone who says, "You fool!' Will be in danger of the fire of hell? What does it mean to be cleansed of wood and clay to be an instrument for special purposes? Galatians 5:19-21 describes acts of the flesh. What does that mean in light of our freedom of Christ? 2 Timothy 2:20-21 is a confusing scripture. How does this apply to us?

Categories: Hard Passages Christian Living Righteousness/Justification

Bob Christopher, Bob Davis, Richard Peifer

Do the elements of communion actually become the flesh and blood of Christ? Is that what John 6:53 is saying? Certainly the Catholic religion believes it to be true. This verse is a metaphor of what a life of faith is all about.

• Romans 6:20-23 is an often puzzling passage. Does this passage indicate that we can lose our salvation? Or is this passage a wonderful message of eternal security?
• Romans 7:1-3 is most often used in the context of divorce and remarriage. Is remarriage a sin? What was Paul trying to communicate in this passage? Is it really an indictment against remarriage or is it a wonderful illustration of dying to the law to live in grace? This is by no means a legalistic passage although it is often interpreted that way.