Simply By Grace Podcast

Almost 2000 years ago, a very frightened man asked "what must I do to be saved?" The apostle Paul gave a very simple answer...yet theologians have been arguing about it for centuries. It takes a theologian to do that right? But what does it mean to be saved? The issue involves the gospel itself. What is the condition for eternal salvation? Paul said "believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." Compare that to an answer from a modern day preacher where after his message, one of his listeners came up to him and the preacher asked him, "is there any reason you should not become a Christian tonight?" The man responded "No". The preacher's response was "well, let me give you a few." So for the next few minutes the preacher began to explain that there was a cost to become a Christian and that he needed to surrender his whole life, his future, his ambitions, his relationships, his possessions, and everything he was to God. Only if he was prepared to do this could Christ then begin to give him eternal life. The preacher leaned in and asked "so, can you still think of a reason not to become a Christian tonight?" The man responded "well, now I can think of some." The preacher said, "Well, don't become a Christian until you're ready to surrender to Jesus Christ and you've dealt with every one of those reasons." So what is the Biblical truth? In this weeks' podcast Charlie deals directly with this question.

Charlie was interviewed by Rev. John Crawford on his YouTube channel called Preach the Word TV. This weeks' podcast is part 2 of 2 of the audio from that interview. The following is from Rev. Crawford's Youtube Channel, Point of Defense. We discuss the differences between salvation and discipleship from the book, "Lordship Salvation: A Biblical Evaluation and Response. Does a lost sinner have to hate his family to get saved? Does a lost sinner have to give up everything to the poor, deny self, take up a cross to follow Jesus just to be saved? Does a sinner have to abide in Jesus in order to get saved or stay saved? Is following Jesus the same as coming unto Jesus? According to lordship salvation, a sinner must commit, obey, and promise to do good works in order to be saved. Is this what the Bible teaches about receiving Jesus Christ as Savior and the free grace that He offers? This confuses justification with sanctification and front loads the gospel with good works in order to be saved. There are many differences between salvation and discipleship: Salvation is a one time event Discipleship is a life long process Salvation happens when one believes and receives the gift of everlasting life Discipleship happens when a saved person obeys Jesus on a daily basis Salvation is belief in Jesus Discipleship is something that you do Salvation results in eternal life Discipleship results in eternal rewards Salvation cannot be earned, returned, or lost Discipleship is either rejected, neglected, or maintained In this podcast we discuss the clear differences between salvation and discipleship.

Charlie was interviewed by Rev. John Crawford on his YouTube channel called Preach the Word TV. This weeks' podcast is part 1 of 2 of the audio from that interview. The following is from Rev. Crawford's Youtube Channel, Point of Defense. Lordship salvation is a view that is typically held by Calvinists. This is the teaching for a person to get saved, the person must not only trust Jesus Christ as Savior but also as the Lord of his life, submitting his life to His sovereign authority by promising to commit to Christ, obey Him, persevere in the faith and repent by turning from and ceasing from sin (repentance). This a view that has caused much division, confusion, and it has clouded the very message of the gospel of Jesus Christ and His message of free grace to lost sinners. Is repentance part of the gospel? Does a sinner need to repent or just believe on Jesus Christ and His promise of eternal life and the forgiveness of sins? What are the different views on repentance? How does that fit into the context of the gospel? What does repentance mean in the Bible? Does it mean to turn from sin? Does it mean to change the mind? My special guest on the show today is Dr. Charles Bing. He has an earned Ph.D. from Dallas Theological Seminary. He is the founder and president of GraceLife Ministries. He is an active author, conference speaker, and adjunct professor. We discuss some chapters from his book, "Lordship Salvation: A Biblical Evaluation and Response. You can download the book and other helpful resources for free on his website: grace life.org

There is life after salvation believe it or not. In fact, the desire God has for the believer is an abundant life. Salvation is just the beginning, not the end. It's the beginning of a whole new life. But how do we mature and have we matured as Christians? Many people live their entire Christian life living off the milk of the word, not the meat. In first Corinthians chapter three, Paul calls the church in Corinth babies. He fed them milk not meat because that's all they were ready for. (So we have a pathetic picture; Paul was expecting them to mature out of their baby status and move on to chewing solid food.) So how do we move from crawling to walking to running as Christians? In this podcast Charlie helps us understand the steps to growth and moving on from stagnation. not only that, but why it's important and why moving on helps us gain that abundant life God has prepared for us.

How do you disciple believers in grace? Sometimes you ask this question of pastors and other believers and you get multiple answers. Many have come up with their own ways while some copy others. But what does the Bible say and what principles should be emphasized? What are the important ingredients and is there more than one way to do this? In this podcast Charlie answers these questions and more and provides his own experience in doing so.

In this podcast we finish out 2020 and look ahead to what the new year brings. This episode reminds us that Grace Means Go! Charlie speaks of his story about how GraceLife came to be and become the focus of his ministry. The idea is to get the gospel out around the world. To share the gospel of grace with the unsaved and the grace of the gospel with the saved. That is to say, for unbelievers that salvation is free and it's simple. For believers, it's living in the family of grace and helping them not get ensnared in works based systems and understand their assurance of salvation, knowing that they are secure in Christ forever. Charlie has a passion for clarity of the gospel and I hope you will too. So make your new years' resolution a passion for keeping the gospel clear and sharing it where ever you go!

In the last podcast Charlie focused on keeping the gospel clear and simple. In this one, Charlie spoke at an FGA conference and presented "The Gospel of No Regrets." In it he expounds on how it's a privilege and a duty. Charlie turns to 1st Corinthians chapter nine. When we read this passage it kind of gives us an x-ray to the heart of one of the world's greatest evangelists, the apostle Paul. Do we hold up to Paul's standard, are we as faithful to preaching it clearly and with the proper motives as Paul was? We hope you enjoy the podcast this Christmas Eve and use this as a springboard into 2021, keeping the gospel clear both in words and in your motives, knowing that to do so is a privilege and a duty.

There's an old saying, that you really don't know something unless you can teach it. This has never been more true especially with the gospel. So how well do you know the gospel? Do you share and teach it clearly? Sometimes believers carry a lot of "intellectual" baggage with them and what may seem clear to them, can be very unclear to the recipients. Other times people have been influenced by other believers and speak using "Christian lingo" which might as well be Greek to the unbeliever. So the goal is to preach it, teach it, and share it with clarity. Keeping it simple also has another side effect, which is gaining confidence...you'll realize "I can do this!" In this podcast, Charlie shares with you four important ingredients to getting the message out. We hope you find them useful for gaining that confidence and keeping your words clear.

What does Grace mean and how does it, or should it, shape our lives? In this podcast Charlie emphasizes what is contrary to Grace, the great grace killer. What is it you ask? It's legalism...living under rules as opposed to living under grace. Trying to fix ourselves on the inside by enforcing rules on the outside. But are we to live this way as believers? One of the key things to remember in the Christian life is living by Grace. You can always legislate behavior but you can't legislate morality. Grace is an inward motivation...not because of the laws or rules, but because of how God has transformed us on the inside. It's easy to get caught up in the rules and laws and put ourselves back into chains. So how do we go from legalism to liberty? How do we avoid the legalism pitfall, the great grace killer? Find out in this weeks' podcast.

This podcast is an exerpt from a series Charlie preached at Burleson Bible Church. In it, he explains what Grace is and how important it is to the people of God. Charlie defines Grace and shows that it's not just a theological experience but something that must be lived out. We are commanded in the Bible to be strong in grace, and to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. We should strive to be "grace-full", a people full of grace. When you are full of grace, you will be at peace with your neighbors and those around you. So find out how Grace is liberating and essential to the Christian walk and how it all begins with God.

Evil happens. Sometimes it is intentionally inflicted on others, maybe on you. We all have had someone do us wrong and sometimes get away with it leaving us suffering for their evil deeds. Evil happens and it does not help to ask the philosophical questions about "Why is there evil?" or "Why does God allow evil?" The important question for us is "How can God use this for good?" The fascinating story of Joseph shows how God can take wrongdoing by others and use it for the good of many. Charlie illustrates this from his own story also. How would you apply this to your story?"

In this Podcast, Charlie speaks at the Word of Life Conference and discusses evangelism during the pandemic. He starts with Philippians chapter 1 where Paul was in Prison. Paul was literally locked down, but it didn't stop him from sharing the gospel. He shares many things that are very applicable to our circumstances today. So Charlie hopes you find encouragement and gain a new and focused perspective on our role in this world.

"Silver is purified in fire and so are we. It is in the most trying times that our real character is shaped and revealed." ~ Helen Keller All of us go through difficult times at one point or another. How do we react to those times and challenges? The truth is, our true character is often revealed in the way we respond to those challenges. Do we play the victim and pass the blame to others, or do we seek out the positives of the situation and become a victor? In today's podcast, Charlie looks at Philippians 1:12-18, in it, Paul, who is imprisoned, takes advantage of the horrible situation and proclaims the gospel. Through his actions it not only keeps his spirits alive, but he also recognizes that it emboldens others to do the same. So how will you respond to your challenging situation?

The Bible is really a miracle when you think about it. There are 66 books with over 40 different authors; and each of those authors their occupations range from kings to shepherds, rulers to fishermen. It was also written over a period of 1600 years in different cultures, times, and places. There are various themes as well including nations, the future, etc.. but it's all brought together because there's only one divine author. In it, there's one practical goal and there's also one story in the Bible. In this weeks' podcast, Charlie talks about this story. What is the story you ask? You'll have to listen to find out!

Ever been accused of "easy believism" or "antinomianism"? Ever wonder how to respond when you are asked to defend your faith...from other Christians? In this podcast Charlie is at the FGA 2020 conference and addressing common objections to "free grace". Other accusations include.. How can Free grace can reject Christ as Lord but still be saved? aka the "no Lordship view". Free grace doesn't teach that one must "repent" in order to be saved, how can that be? If salvation is free, what prevents a Christian living however they want? Our hope is that as you encounter objections you are better equipped to share grace graciously with other believers and keep he gospel clear for unbelievers. In other words, share the gospel of grace with the unsaved, and the grace of the gospel with the saved.

Have you found your new life? There are some people who teach that disciples are born not made...in other words every Christian is a disciple, thus in order to be a Christian, you must first meet the conditions of a disciple. The problem is that this removes grace and takes away what God has done and focuses on what we must do. It in effect, makes salvation a work. But what we find is that scripture teaches disciples are made not born. In this podcast, Charlie focuses on the conditions for discipleship focusing on Peter and new Christians in the Bible who are looking for answers. Charlie defines what is required for salvation and contrast's that with what is required for discipleship. What you'll find is that the condition for discipleship is first to be a believer, and then to follow in the footsteps of Christ finding your new life in Him. For further reading, checkout Charlie's GraceNotes, Are Disciples Born or Made?

Ever had a problem trying to figure out certain passages in scripture where it seems to indicate work for salvation? Hebrews 6 comes to mind or Philippians 2:12-13; there are numerous examples of difficult passages. The key to helping one understand this is context of course and understanding that scripture makes a distinction between salvation and discipleship; one is freely given, the other requires work. In this weeks' podcast, Charlie breaks this down into A Truth vs. B Truth and helps us see distinctions between salvation and discipleship. Without understanding and making this key distinction eternal life salvation becomes something that must be earned as opposed to a gift. In addition, scripture can also be very confusing as it will seem to contradict itself. For more information on this topic checkout Charlie's Gracenotes #23, Are Disciples Born or Made? and you can also follow-up with his book, Grace, Salvation, and Discipleship (also available in Spanish).

Mark Twain once said the difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. What if you don't understand the difference between diesel fuel and regular gasoline? What about the difference between salt and sugar; one could easily make a cup of coffee enjoyable, while hilarity would ensue with the other in coffee. Biblically speaking what if we don't understand hellfire in the Bible to potentially mean hell or simply an image of God's wrath? What about the word salvation? This is important because in our podcast today, Charlie will focus on the Judgement Seat of Christ (JSOC), not the Great While Throne of Judgement. Many mistakenly believe that only unbelievers will be judged. But The Judgement Seat of Christ focuses on the believer. Charlie helps us understand the JSOC and how it is important to the Christian in our daily walk and how we can better understand the scriptures.

George Barna did a survey some years ago, and 48% of those who claim to be born again Christians agreed with the following statement: "If people are generally good, and do enough good things, they will earn a place in heaven." When we come to a passage like Matthew 7:15-23, we find it's often used to express judgement on someone's salvation. But when we look at the passage is that what it's teaching? Certainly there's a recurring idea about fruits...but what is "fruit"? How much "fruit" is necessary? Can we know if someone is saved by their "fruit"? ...and are we to be "fruit" inspectors? This passage is often used to support the idea of works for salvation. So it's pertinent we understand what it is teaching and maybe more importantly, what it's not teaching. Charlie expounds on this in this weeks' podcast. For further information checkout Charlie's GraceNotes #51, Fruit and False Prophets

Perseverance of the saints? Is this biblical? Can we rely upon our works to prove we're truly saved? The concept of Perseverance of the Saints has been a part of various Christian theological systems from early Christianity. Simply stated, this teaching says that a true Christian will persevere in faith and good works to the end of life and so proves he or she is eternally saved. If a professed Christian does not persevere to the end of life, it proves that person was not a true Christian after all. Charlie breaks it down for us in this episode. For more information and further reading, checkout Gracenotes #49 Perseverance versus preservation

Charlie shares a message on Col. 2:16-23 and gives examples of how churches fall from grace into legalism. Many churches create rule after rule squeezing out grace. Paul warned of these types of churches and warned not just about legalism but to not be swayed by anything other than Christ. So what is your attitude about the Law (Mosaic Law) and how does it apply in your life today? Are you still trying to earn God's favor and righteousness by doing things like keeping rules? If you're in a legalistic church, what can you do, where should your attitude be? How should we respond to legalism?

Uncertain of where you'll go after you die? Questioning whether you have enough faith or the right kind of faith? Many people, after they believe in Christ and are saved, question their faith and question their salvation. Eternal security is a central part of the gospel message and many in the church do not understand this and try to live a good life in order to prove their salvation or so they won't lose salvation. This is why at GraceLife Charlie shares the gospel of grace with the unsaved, and the grace of the gospel with the saved. Charlie helps us understand that we are secure in God's hand and by His grace. For more information checkout Charlie's related gracenotes entitled Eternally Secure

In this podcast, Charlie is preaching on Ecclesiastes chapter 5 starting at verse 8 where the focus is on being wise with our wealth. How should we view our wealth, things that we have and things that we don't have? Recall that we're not to love the world nor the things in the world. One of the dangers about being wealthy is that we neglect our spiritual needs. Charlie expounds on this providing practical application and helping you keep your eyes and focus on your treasure in heaven.

Life has been different for all of us. GraceLife is no different and has had to adjust and trim some travel, but this hasn't stopped how GraceLife reaches the lost. Life goes on and there are many things to find joy in. But there are many people in this world who are just miserable. Carl Young once said many people live a life of quiet desperation. Many have wealth, power, popularity, but they can't enjoy what they have because they desire what they don't have. So what would it take to make you happy in life today? Are you enjoying life the way God intended you to enjoy it? Solomon, a wealthy king, reflects on his life in Ecclesiastes from a human perspective. In it he asks the tough questions we've all had and what we find is that the rest of the Bible answers them. But the fact is, we can enjoy life and enjoy it abundantly. Listen to this snippet from a series as Charlie walks through Ecclesiastes chapter 6.

In many churches you won't hear about rewards. It's actually a vast study and much of it is ignored. It permeates Christ's teaching and Paul's teaching. There is a day coming where our works will be tested by fire and we'll be rewarded...or not. The Christian does have accountability, and comes down to what Jesus pronounces at the Judgment seat of Christ. This is not a judgement about whether we go to heaven or hell. This is a judgement for rewards not salvation. Some of the things we'll be judged for is our treatment of others, for our service, our use of money, our leadership, etc.. In this podcast Charlie takes us through our opportunity where we make account for how we live in this life. What foundation have we laid and how do we build on it? Are we serving to gain? Be sure to checkout Charlie's GraceNotes on a related topic: Why Teach About Rewards?

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!

Have you ever known a Christian who didn't act like it? How do we deal with these folks? How do we know if they're saved? People are always asking..."what about my friend, he says he's a Christian, but he doesn't go to church, doesn't read the Bible, so is he saved?" The quick response is to assume they were never saved to begin with because they aren't showing "fruit". Some suggest that their salvation didn't stick or wasn't genuine. Still others suggest that they might have been saved, but have lost it. These responses are typically man's way of looking at it, both compromise the gospel to some extent by either front-loading the gospel or back-loading it. Front-loading adds works to do in order to be saved where-as back-loading adds works to prove to yourself and others that you are saved. In either case, it's works which are highly subjective. So how can we know if someone is a believer or not? Charlie dives into this providing several practical answers that don't involve compromise but stand on the authority of God's word. For further reading, checkout Charlie's GraceNotes on this specific topic.

Have you ever wondered how GraceLife Ministries got its start and what its purpose is? In this brief episode, Charlie explains how GraceLife Ministries started in response to the need for more teaching on grace and the clear gospel. GraceLife makes disciples how grace around the world who are making disciples of others. Hear how this is done in multiple ways. For more information on GraceLife and resources available visit https://www.gracelife.org

How does grace relate to salvation? Is it free or costly? What is grace? In this podcast Dr. Bing discusses the relationship between grace and eternal salvation. He compares and contrasts grace as unmerited favor or unconditional favor given to sinners as opposed to the idea of "costly" grace. As Dr. Bing notes, Grace is not expensive, it's not cheap, it's free. Additionally Dr. Bing provides a primer on how grace relates to Faith, Repentance, Lordship, Assurance & Security, and our Motivation for Serving. For more reading be sure to checkout GraceNotes.

Who is Dr. Bing? When was he saved? When did he become Free grace? When did he start GraceLife? What is his life verse? ...these questions and more are answered by Charlie in this special podcast episode where Charlie talks about his story and his prayer for you. So check it out and be sure to follow Simply By Grace! You can also read more about Charlie, GraceLife, and his vision here at GraceLife.org.

Are you growing and if so in what direction? Are you like a well cared for rose bush or more like a wild vine, growing unchecked? This message recorded from Charlie's studio focuses on Philippians 1:9-11; specifically how to pray for growing Christians. The prayer Paul uses is a model for praying for believers and helping with each other's spiritual needs. It starts with love, centers on authentic character, and ends with being fruitful. Phil. 1:9-11 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ, being filled with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Assurance of salvation, it is the bedrock of growth in a Christian's life. You can't be all that you should be when you doubt your salvation. Some of the NT's most vehement passages of warning and rebuke refutes the legalism and works theology that threatens to subvert a Christian's assurance of salvation. Dr. Bing takes us through the importance of assurance and how it impacts a believers growth and spirituality. Read more about security of salvation with Charlie's GraceNotes.

Do you find yourself in difficult circumstances? You may be going through some type of suffering be it from COVID reprecussions or some other infirmity. Dr. Bing walks us through 2 Corinthians 12:7-10 and describes how to use grace to help us through trying times. Grace is not just a theological term, but becomes practical when we need help. It is when we feel weak that we can find the strength that God provides through the grace of the Lord Jesus. His grace is sufficient.

This is a discussion led by Charlie on helping Christians graciously engage those who hold to Lordship theology. In this discussion we should be reminded of 2 Tim. 2:24 - And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all, able to teach, patient, in humility correcting those who are in opposition. With an attitude of grace we want to talk with other believers and ask key questions to understanding their perspective. Charlie's has 10 questions, some include the following: 1. How do you know when you've really believed? 2. If salvation depends on your perseverance in faithfulness and good works, how can you know for sure you are saved? more...

Dr. Bing speaks at a GES (Grace Evangelical Society) Conference on why lordship salvation misses the mark. Dr. Bing expounds on what Lordship salvation is and why it fails as a theological system as well its failure as a principle for living by grace. For further reading, be sure to visit https://www.gracelife.org/resources/gracenotes and checkout Dr. Bing's GraceNotes: The Lordship of Jesus Christ

The last in this series on Ecclesiastes, Dr. Bing takes us through the warnings about watching your words, knowing that a fool's voice is known by his many words and a wise person by few. Honor God by the things we say.

Ecclesiastes written by Solomon as an honest perspective about the world. Some things are still a puzzlement to him though and he mentions the word vanity 38 times. Solomon expresses it as a form of futility. In this chapter Dr. Bing walks us through Solomon's view on work and how work can often be futile. So how do you make work worthwhile? What attitude and perspective should you have on work? We all have to work, but there are extremes, laziness to making it your entire life. So let's look at why work can be a vanity or futility and how to have a proper perspective on this gift God has given us.

"under the sun"...this phrase appears 29 times in the book of Ecclesiastes, and it is used by Solomon to describe what life is like in the human dimension without God. It's what life looks like here in our world. In this chapter Dr. Bing walks us through Solomon's observation that there's injustice in the world. From shootings to pandemics, iniquity is there. If there is a good God, why does he let bad things happen? Why would he allow them? How do we deal with it? It's not until the end of the book that Solomon describes how to view life differently, from God's perspective.

Ecclesiastes is really about when we don't really understand life, we should trust God anyway. Dr. Bing takes us through chapter 2 and in it he talks about the timing of events in our life, not just why, but when. We seem to question why things happen, but not often think about when. For example, how do we make sense of the timing of tragedy or challenges in life? Let's remind ourselves of life's vanity (incomprehensibleness) and see what the wisdom of Solomon helps us understand God's timing in our lives.

We all want to have a good life, we all want to chase a good life. Do we ever really catch the good life by chasing after wordly things like a better home, location, cars, or other possessions? Most people don't find the good life by catching success, but by rejoicing in something that's beyond this world. People look for fulfillment and some people try to fill that emptiness with many things. So what do we fill our life with?

Dr. Bing begins walking us through Ecclesiastes and addressing questions like, How do we find success to significance? How do we find meaning in our life? Most people live a life of quiet desperation, yet we should number our days with wisdom (Psalm 90:12). Don't just count your days, make your days count. Don't just measure success, measure significance in the eyes of the Lord. By following the wisdom of King Solomon in the scriptures, we can find true significance and meaning in our lives.