Simply By Grace Podcast

Charlie is speaking a conference about spirituality, specifically about people who are full of the spirit. There is a spiritual life available to all believers but realized only by some. Each Christian is led by the Holy Spirit in their own timing and in their own way. But we have a responsibility to the third person of the God-head (1 Thess. 5:19). Charlie discusses how Lordship salvationists believe they are filled with the spirit. More specifically, how believers in their view will demonstrably progress in their spiritual life…and in doing so they will have the opportunity to evaluate their presuppositions.

Discipleship...what are we to do?  Are disciples born or made?  How to we train disciples? In this episode Charlie is speaking to a church group and talks about how a disciple is made. Charlie focuses on Peter as an example, someone who was a crude rugged fisherman and became someone like his master.

So we want to understand what the discipleship journey entails; the difficulties, the hardships, the rewards. But one of the questions Charlie addresses is why Peter?  Why should we use Peter as an example?  Listen and find out!

For more information, checkout Charlie's GraceNotes Are Disciples Born or Made?

In this episode, Charlie is speaking at an FGA conference where he discusses the essentials of Free Grace. But what is Free Grace anyway and what are the essentials?  Is there agreement of those essentials within the community and if not, what can be agreed upon?  These questions and more are directly addressed by Charlie in this episode!

For more information, be sure to checkout Charlie's Gracenotes entitled "What is Free Grace Theology?"

Are you curious, convinced, or committed?  In John 6 we see three groups of people. Some followed Jesus at a superficial level, others believed in Him as Savior, while some followed Him as disciples. In this chapter we see how Jesus related to all three groups. 

It's important to keep in mind there's a distinction between those who believe in Jesus as Savior and those who commit to follow Him as disciples. There are conditions for salvation and conditions for discipleship.  One is free, the other requires extensive work.

Everyone in the world belongs to one of the three groups and each group needs to be addressed accordingly. Where are you in the progression?

For further reading, be sure to checkout Charlie's GraceNotes where he answers the question Are Disciples Born or Made? 

Not all who call themselves Christians act like it. How should we think about them? Can Christians be worldly? The parable of the soils in Luke 8 shows that people have different responses to the gospel. Other Bible passages mention Christians who are not living correctly. 

Is it possible that some who call themselves Christians have lost their salvation? Maybe they were never really saved to begin with. It is possible that Christians can be immature in their spiritual growth and so also in their conduct. The Bible calls these "carnal" Christians or "babes in Christ." Perhaps these Christians have backslid or fallen back into sin or are struggling with sinful urges and habits. 

We should not deal with the problem of worldliness in Christians by changing the gospel to demand works or commitment up front or later as proof. These faulty gospels rob people of assurance of salvation. The best option is to teach a clear gospel of salvation by grace through faith in Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose again and promises eternal life to all who believe in Him for it.

For more reading, checkout "The Reality of Carnal Christians" and "What about a Christian Who Doesn't Act Like One?"

Many people struggle with the assurance of their salvation. It is a huge problem. Some Christians teach that it is good to have doubts about your salvation using 2 Corinthians 13:5. But that is not at all what that passage teaches. 

You will see that there are many reasons why people may doubt their salvation. Doubts are spiritually crippling, but assurance is essential to the gospel and to growth in Christ. When we understand the gospel of grace, we will have assurance. It is not helpful to look at our works or try to evaluate our faith. We have to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ. First John 5:11-13 and Romans 8:31-39 are important passages that help those in doubt.

Jesus is Lord of all, but how does that relate to salvation? What's the difference between the objective lordship of Christ and the subjective lordship of Christ? Charlie examines some of the issues with the Lordship Salvation view and compare it to the gospel of God's free grace. You will hear about the lordship of Jesus Christ in relation to salvation in Acts 16:31. Also, you will hear what it means to confess Jesus as Lord in Romans 10:9-10. The lordship of Christ is essential to Christ's saving work, but that does not mean that someone must make Him master of all of his life in order to be saved. Salvation is through faith in Jesus who is Lord, but sanctification is by submission to Jesus as Lord and Master of one's life. 

We must distinguish between justification truth and sanctification truth and between the condition for salvation and the conditions of discipleship. The Bible has examples of those who believed for salvation, but did not fully confess Jesus as Lord or submit entirely to Him.

What is the content of gospel? What is the condition for salvation? A look at the issues in Galatians 1 and First Corinthians 15 make clear the content and the condition of the gospel. There are distortions of the gospel, so beware. Make sure your gospel is clear! 

The apostle Paul explained in Galatians 1 how he received the gospel directly from God and warned about false gospels. Then in 1 Corinthians 15 he declares the two great propositions of the gospel--the death of Christ for our sins and His resurrection. He reminds the Corinthian church that this is what he preached and what they believed unto salvation. You will hear about four different gospel presentations. One is based on works, another on faith plus works, another on faith that works, and finally faith alone.

About 2000 years ago, the apostle Paul (with his co-laborer Silas) answered a frightened prison guard’s question, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” He answered simply, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.” Since then, that simple answer has generated debate about its meaning.

Charlie discusses his latest GraceNotes regarding some common misunderstandings of Acts 16:31 which can be found here.

What is your motivation for serving God? What is your story? Why do you serve God? 

Many come from an illegitimate perspective where they are motivated by status, power, popularity, or money. These stem from pride. On the other end of the spectrum, Lordship theology looks at things you should be doing to prove you're saved or to prove you're one of the elect. But can you really serve out of a pure selfless heart when this is your motivation? Is this really motivation out of love for God?

But why study motivation in the first place? Charlie found that there wasn't much written on this, especially from a free grace perspective. Grace is tied to the answer, we don't serve God in order to be saved, we serve God because we have been saved. Charlie focuses on legitimate motivations for serving God which includes things like love, gratitude, duty, and rewards. 

For further reading checkout Charlie's Gracenote on this topic and be sure to share it with your friends!