Simply By Grace Podcast

How should we view the nation of Israel today in light of their past rebelliousness, present disobedience, and future salvation? Do they deserve the full unmitigated support of Christians? Charlie talks to Arnold about this and other subjects like the importance of dispensationalism when discussing Israel, understanding anti-Semitism, and the significance of the recent war with Hamas. Dr. Fructenbaum has a calm and measured response to these issues. We would do well to heed his words. He is founder and director of Ariel Ministries, which reaches out to Jews with the gospel of grace. See https://www.Ariel.org

When you hear Dr. Fruchtenbaum tell of his journey from Poland to Siberia, to Poland, to Germany, to the United States, you will see that it was truly an epic geographical shift that led him to a greater spiritual shift from Judaism to Christianity. This did not please his Hasidic parents so they kicked him out of the house. But God put Arnold on a path to a Bible education and eventually the founding of Ariel Ministries which shares the gospel and issues of Messianic importance with Jewish people. You can find out more about Dr. Fructenbaum and Ariel Ministries at https://www.Ariel.org.

There is a very common accusation against those who hold to free grace. If we are saved solely by grace through faith in Christ, why can't we as Christians live however we want? You'll often hear it said that this sort of salvation isn't genuine or that it's "fire" insurance. So, the real question is this; Is there such a thing as absolute freedom to do whatever you want to do, or is there something that governs our liberty?  Charlie addresses this very common accusation in Galatians 5:13-15. 

For further reading, see Gracenotes #35 Does Free Grace Teach License and Gracenotes #84 The Christian and the Law

In October when Charlie was in the Baltimore area, he talked with Pastor Thomas Schaller on his "The Grace Hour Show" podcast. They talked about the freedom found in Galatians and it's teaching about grace. This is a re-broadcast of that Grace Hour Show. Pastor Schaller oversees a local church, Maryland Bible College, and over 600 churches worldwide. He heads Greater Grace World Outreach which is committed to the gospel of God's free grace. You can find out more about GGWO at http://www.ggwo.org.

Many churches are dead or dying. They have a lot of activities and busyness, but are spiritually bankrupt. Even churches with great reputations and programs can be spiritually empty and not know it. The church at Sardis is an example of a church with a reputation but they were dead on the inside, useless in God's service. Still there were a few faithful that Jesus encourages the church to build upon. The reward for overcomers of not having one's name removed from the Book of Life is misunderstood by some. We will explore its meaning. We can learn how to stay alive, vibrant, and useful to the Lord.

We see a lot about Israel in the news today. That tiny nation is surrounded by huge enemies who are determined to exterminate them, but their Iron Dome is protecting them. Or is it more than that? Will Israel be victorious? What does the Bible show us about how God has dealt with the Jewish people in the past, what is He doing in the present, and does Israel have a future? Is there anything believers can learn from how God deals with Israel? God preserves Israel and God will preserve His people today. Hint: Grace makes the difference. After an overview of Israel's past, present, and future, Charlie shows analogies between their experience and the believer's experience. A key passage is Romans 8:35-39 which says no one and nothing can separate the believer in Christ from His love.

Charlie says this was a difficult message for him to share at the Free Grace Alliance International Conference because he has never shared this much detail about his own story. God created us in His image so that freedom is in our spiritual DNA. But freedom is never free and we must stand firm and even fight to keep it. The book of Galatians shows how the enemy of freedom is legalism in its various forms. Charlie anchors his message in Galatians 5:1-4 and explains what it means to fall from grace. Charlie's story includes the struggle for freedom his ancestors had to endure, including slavery, and his own liberation into the assurance of salvation and a clear conscience. We have to stand firm in the grace that God gave to set us free and use our freedom to love and serve God and others. #FreeGraceAlliance

You would think that growing up as a pastor's daughter would guarantee an understanding of grace, especially if her father preached a clear gospel of grace. But it took a few years and the story of the Woman at the Well in John 4 to deepen Samantha's grasp on the extent of God's grace. This wife and mother of six has an interesting story to tell. Part of that story is about her winning Mrs. Massachusetts 2020. She is building a ministry to women on the foundation of her father's ministry and her "crowning" achievement. You can learn more about Samantha McLaughlin Meideros's Women Prayer Warriors group and other resources at www.GBible.org.

In Charlie's Bible study, we see that a church hardly deteriorates suddenly. Usually it is a slow erosion from within starting with toleration of sin. And quite often, as in the church in Thyatira, it is sexual sin. The message to this 1st century church is that the sexual immorality of someone named Jezebel cannot be tolerated. Do we see the same toleration of sexual immorality in our churches today? It seems so. Learn what toleration means and doesn't mean. What does a church need to do to please the Lord? What do Christians need to do to acquire the rewards Jesus promises to those who overcome this sin with their faithfulness?

Never underestimate the prayers of a godly grandmother. They may lead you to a godly pastor who will show you the way to salvation. Jeff Welch was determined to figure something out before he took the Christian faith seriously. But grandma's prayers caught up with him and he believed in Christ as his Savior.  His burning desire to share the good news with others led him to Word of Life Bible School and other ministries that allowed him to preach the gospel on the streets of the US and Europe. God has used Jeff to lead many people to Christ and train many to share Him. He now works with Fellowship International Mission. If you have questions about evangelism or if you want to help support his outreach ministry, you can contact him at http://www.fim.org/give/welch or http://www.welchfamilyministry.com  Jeff is married to Phoebe and have a young daughter,