Basic Gospel

"One of the areas that religion has it all wrong is righteousness. Righteousness is God's to give and not ours to earn. Religion claims that we can earn it. But that's not how righteousness works. Aren't you glad? "But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, but it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; ..." Romans 3:21-26 * Could you explain Romans 11:19-24 to me? * Does every born again person have the Holy Spirit? If so why do some say "you are saved but now you need to be baptized in the Holy Spirit"? * How significant are "feelings" in a Christian relationship/marriage?

"God has taken the initiate to reach out to us through his love and grace. We have a relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. But we see religious practices - man trying to reach up to God - all over the world. However what we learn in Scripture is that God has taken the initiative towards us and provides His righteousness to us. No longer in the flesh, we now live in the spirit. * Is it a sin for a husband and wife to cross-dress? * A writer asks about mothers being called "pregnant people". * I got a divorce and remarried - that means that I'm committing adultery, right? Will God forgive me of this if I repent? * Is it proper to celebrate the Lord's supper outside of a church setting? * What is the proper way to understand 1 John 1:9? * What is wrong with the statement, "God helps those who help themselves"?

"Pleasing God is a beautiful adventure of trusting God and walking with Him. When I put my confidence in the finished work of Christ I am pleasing to God. We take all His promises by faith. * "Is anyone in this room as righteous in the sight of God as Jesus Christ? Raise your hand." Is this an accurate way to show our redemption and the righteousness we have in Christ * How can children and babies go to Heaven if we were all born sinners? * Who was the Lord's prayer directed to? * Did Sarah have any knowledge of God telling Abraham to sacrifice Isaac before the event took place?

"Where did these manmade religions come into being? We need to go back to the beginning... to the story of Adam and Eve and the fall. Upon finding themselves naked they sewed fig leaves together and made loin cloths. They were trying to cover their shame from God. But it didn't work. Only God was able to make the provision for their sin and for ours. * The people who were baptized by Philip in water in "the name" of Jesus Christ, were they saved? Or, were they saved only after John and Peter laid their hands on them to receive the Holy Spirit? * J argues against "once saved, always save". He writes: "we can't take it to the extreme and say that once we're saved we can't forfeit our salvation." * UNITED October 15-17, 2021 https://basicgospel.net/united/ * Are there two Gospels? One for the Jew and one for the Gentile? Where do people come up with this idea?

"What are the things religion can't do for you? Today we look at life. There are lots of religions, but religion can't give us life. "Is the Law then contrary to the promises of God? Far from it! For if a law had been given that was able to impart life, then righteousness would indeed have been based on law. But the Scripture has confined everyone under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." Galatians 3:21-22 * UNITED October 15-17, 2021 https://basicgospel.net/united/ * Robert asks a follow up question concerning Galatians and why the Lord allowed the false apostles and why they infiltrated the Galatians. * Freida asks, "what are the works that Jesus referred to in John 14:12? * How does rest motivate us to good work?

"Manmade religions can't provide the things we need. It can only make us restless. "For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh--though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: ... as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. ... the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith..." Philippians 3:3-10 * Robert calls to say thanks for the ministry and asks why did the Lord allow Satan to infiltrate His churches? * How does the New Covenant change the way God deals with nations as well as individuals? * UNITED October 15-17, 2021 https://basicgospel.net/united/ * I have told my enemies I love them, shown them kindness, helped them physically, emotionally, and spiritually. They haven't responded. What can I do?

"We've been talking about all the things religion can't do for us. We can't find rest in religion. We only find it in Christ. We can't find forgiveness in religion. We only find forgiveness in the finished work of Jesus Christ. Religion can't cleanse our consciousness. Only the sacrifice offered by Jesus can do that. "The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death,so that we may serve the living God!" Hebrews 9:13-14 * UNITED October 15-17, 2021 https://basicgospel.net/united/ * Clay comments about pastors who claim believers will be judged by their tithe. * Was Jesus put to death on a cross or a tree? * Regarding Jesus' baptism, what does it mean that he did it to "fulfill all righteousness"? * What is your opinion on seminary school? Is it worth it? Is it necessary? * Who are the true disciples? Matthew 7

"Religion can't give you a sense of being forgiven once and for all. When humanity invents a religion, they create a formula for you to follow. However, the Gospel claims that Jesus has cleansed us once and for all. Hebrews 10 proclaims this truth. We are totally forgiven people in Jesus Christ. * Samuel wrote, "I was able to follow Christ in all simplicity by grace through faith just as Bob has been." * Daniella asks about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and the spiritual attacks she's experiencing in her life creating dought of her salvation. * There are many other verses that tell us that if we believe in Jesus we have eternal life, but the "depart from me I never knew you" is a very troubling verse to me.

"We put a lot of stock in our religious teaching and ceremonies. But the Bible tells us those are worthless. One of those things we can only find in Him is rest. "So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God's rest has also rested from his works as God did from his." Hebrews 4:9-10 Are you willing to let go of your efforts and rest in Jesus Christ? * UNITED October 15-17, 2021 https://basicgospel.net/united/ * Andrew asks about prayer and fasting and love's role as the only power in the world. * Will you all please give examples of religious restlessness, versus rest in Jesus? * Could you please speak on this subject of grieving the Holy Spirit in context, so I may begin to grasp this subject in light of the new covenant?

"When we don't know who we are, we play religious games to try to figure out who we are. But God wants us to know we are children of God. John wrote: "He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." * How do I answer someone who questions the validity of the Gospels? * I have learned that it is not by works (what we do or believe), it is by Grace. So how can I interpret that? * Can you speak a little about using verses such as Jeremiah 29:11 to prove a point even though it was spoken to a specific individual or nation?