Simply By Grace Podcast

This is a rebroadcast of C4C Apologetics interview with Charlie. It is one of our longer podcasts but we think you'll enjoy this because of the breadth of topics covered. Daniel Weirback talks with Charlie and focuses on a number of items including the accusation that Free Grace gives believers a license to sin. 

Some of the questions addressed are:

• What is "Free Grace Theology"?
• Is Free Grace Theology a new view about salvation? 
• What is meant by the derogatory terms "Cheap Grace" or "Easy Believism"?
• What is "Lordship Salvation", is it just a Calvinistic term or something other?
• Are there Christians who are not disciples; are they born or made?
• What is Antinomianism? How does the law of Moses apply in our lives today?
• What is Necronomianism? Are we under law or under grace?
• What is the difference between entering the kingdom versus inheriting the kingdom?
• Are there grey areas related to Free Grace Theology?
• What is the "Outer Darkness" mentioned in Matthew?
• Can a Christian fall away from the faith? (hint: Christians are capable of doing anything)
• What is the meaning of Hebrews 6:4-6?
• Is continual belief required to keep your salvation?
• Do we have to "Work out" our own salvation to see if we're saved?
• Is it good to have doubts about your salvation to motivate you to serve? (hint: can a marriage thrive under the continual threat of divorce?)

Daniel let us rebroadcast this so be sure to checking his great ministry, C4C Apologetics, here.  For further reading on any of these topics, be sure to checkout GraceNotes!

We would love to continue providing great content so please be sure to help us out by commenting on this and other podcasts and giving as you're led.

Charlie takes a quick look at Hebrews 11 during a conference and addressing how and why we are to live by faith. But what is faith, what is the nature of faith? What does faith look like? Who exemplified faith? How do we emulate it? Christians are to live by faith and wait for the kingdom of God. But what does that mean?

Charlie answers these questions and more in this episode of SimplyByGrace.

Speaking from his office Charlie attends a virtual Word of Life Conference in the Philippines. In this podcast, Charlie focuses on Evangelism during this pandemic time and focuses on Philippians chapter 1 where the Apostle Paul was imprisoned. He was literally locked down, but it didn't stop him from sharing the gospel and evangelizing.  The things that occurred to Paul gave him an opportunity to witness to guards and those within the palace; from the servants, to other inmates, to the Pretorian guard. So the gospel made headway in spite of his condition. 

The other aspect of his presence in jail, also emboldened other evangelists to be more bold about their witness. So Paul should be an encouragement to us to continue to spread the gospel. 

In evangelism many people focus on the methods, but the key is to start with the message and the method can come naturally. Methods need to adapt and change constantly, but the message never changes.  So what message do you share? Do you keep it simple? Find out more about how and what to share in this episode.

For more information checkout GraceNotes #40 The Content of the Gospel of Salvation and #27, Sharing Grace Graciously

This is a rebroadcast of Charlie's discussion on another Podcast, Hope Builders Ministries. This discussion focused on the Gospel of Grace and making Disciples. They address a number of things in Charlie's book, Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship; answering questions like are all Christians disciples? What does a disciple look like? When Jesus says come to me vs. come after me, what does that mean? 

From their podcast:

We hope you enjoy the discussion!

Ever done something in vain? To do something that produces nothing or has no meaning? I think at one point or another we've all experienced this in our lives. In this podcast Charlie focuses on 2 Corinthians 6:1-7. In this passage, Paul warns his brothers and sisters in Christ, to not receive the grace of God in vain. In other words don't prevent the purpose of the gospel from reaching the goal; that is to prepare us for eternity. Paul wants to bring his readers forward in terms of harmony with God and with each other. So find out how the grace of God should reach its fruitful purpose. 

What if someone promised you everything they owned?  They say it's free, but there's a catch...you have to live a good life and do everything right, from keeping the speed limit to not arguing,  paying taxes to loving others, not lying to speaking the truth in love.  If you messed up once, or twice, you wouldn't get anything. Sounds like good news, but then reality sets in. Who can possibly do that?

So what if God did the same thing? He'll give you eternal salvation but you have to be good and do x,y, and z. How would you feel about that?  Questions would arise, how much would I have to do? How often? For how long?

This is one of the problems when people read this passage, they interpret it to mean you must "work" for the gift. (note: if you have to work for it, it's not a gift) Do people have to "work" for their salvation? Do they have to earn it by being baptized, going to church, being good, etc.. People add work in two ways, either before or after salvation. People will frontload the gospel by adding works to be saved or they will backload it by adding works to prove you were saved. Either way works becomes consequential to receive the gift of eternal  life. 

As can be seen, work, at any level, becomes an impossible standard. In this podcast Charlie expounds on the meaning of Paul's words; rest assured, salvation IS a free gift, no strings attached.

Grace can be a theological concept, and we know grace sometimes as an abstract concept. But  have you ever thought about how grace meets us in our suffering and how it makes us stronger as believers? There's probably no better time when Grace takes on in important role and teaches us, shapes us, and mold us as God works through our lives. 

In 2 Corinthians 12, Paul is feeling very weak, he's having to defend himself against false motives. They are trying to capitalize on his weaknesses. But what does Paul do?  Find out in this podcast as Charlie walks us through this chapter and teaches us how Grace can meet us in suffering.

Ever been accused of teaching license to sin or worse, being called a heretic for believing that once you believe in Christ you can never be separated from God? It might come as a surprise but eternal security is not well understood at best, and at worst, is simply not well received by many.

So it begs the question, why? What would cause someone to deny that eternal life is eternal? It's really a critical doctrine and sets the stability for a Christian and their growth in the Christian life.  In this episode Charlie walks us through what eternal security is and why it's important in our everyday life.

For further reading be sure  to checkout GraceNotes #24 Eternally Secure  and  GraceNotes #39 How Do We Explain Hebrews 6:4-8

If you wish, you can help support this podcast and other GraceLife material by donating here.

Ever wondered why we call Grace...Free Grace? Isn't Grace Free by definition? Often times, particularly in theological discussions, it's important to define terms. The word Grace is often thrown around, but it can mean different things to different people.

In addition, when we don't understand the freeness of God's grace you can end up stunting your Christian growth. Not only is grace the basis of our initial salvation (justification), it is also the basis of our growth (sanctification). By God's grace we are born into His family and by God's grace we are free to grow as His children. Unfortunately, this life of liberty can be lost unless we stand firm in grace.. (cf. Rom. 3:24)

In this podcast Charlie walks through 10 things to help you understand what Grace is and why it matters. So what is Free Grace? How does it make a difference?

For further reading checkout Charlie's  GraceNotes #67, What is Free Grace as well as GraceNotes #12 The Grace Life

So who are you and what do you see when you look in the mirror? Do you see who you are or do you only see what others see?  Often times we get caught up at what other people think about ourselves and we shape our perception of reality around that. Many of us are confined by the voices of others. These voices can come from various places including the culture, graceless religion that condemns people, unaccepting  parents, even childhood experiences, and legalistic churches.  These and more can influence the way we think about ourselves. These influences are grace killers and produce people who feel insignificant. 

So how should we view ourselves? Where does God fit into the picture and how does grace move us into a healthy perspective about ourselves?