The Berean Call Podcast

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>March 2025 Newsletter</p><p><br></p><p>Originally published January 1, 1994</p><p>And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.</p><p>—Acts 17:10-11</p><p><br></p><p>As we approach the end of our second year as a ministry, we think it worthwhile to review two basic questions people often ask regarding the work of The Berean Call: “What exactly is a Berean?” and “What does TBC do?”</p><p>Although we’ve covered many aspects of those questions in various issues of our newsletter (and, in general, The Berean Call is an ongoing reflection of our work), we thought it might be helpful to our readers if we addressed “what we’re about” in some depth.</p><p><br></p><p>Luke writes in Acts 17:10-11 that the Apostle Paul, having left Thessalonica and recently arrived in the city of Berea, preached in the synagogue of the Berean Jews. Paul’s encouraging experience with the Bereans caused Luke to commend them. He wrote that they were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica because they received the Word of God from Paul “with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily” to know whether or not what he had to say was true.</p><p><br></p><p>The purpose of this ministry is to call believers in Jesus Christ to be like the Bereans. They not only had a heart to hear the things of God but, more importantly, were able to discern what was truly of Him because they regarded the Scriptures as the authority in ascertaining the truth of what they were hearing. The Bereans practiced what Isaiah preached: “To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them” (Isaiah 8:20).</p><p><br></p><p>TBC’s chief concern is the spiritual welfare of the body of Christ, and in particular, the encouragement of biblical discernment. We believe the times reflect the necessity of our calling. Even a cursory review of what has taken place in the church during the last 25 years will reveal a fierce undermining of “the faith which was once delivered unto the saints” (Jude 3). You might even say that the Bereans of Paul’s day “had it easy” compared to this generation. In those days the opposition to truth was in the secular world around them—it had not yet infiltrated the church under the guise of a more enlightened or advanced Christianity. While there were pressing pagan influences as well as some heretical teachings and practices here and there, they weren’t subjected to anything like the flood of false beliefs, teachings, and practices surging in on the tidal wave of today’s Christian media.</p><p><br></p>

<p><br></p><p>Chris, before we get into what the emerging church is and the spiritual damage that it’s doing to the body of Christ, I’d like to get your perspective as a pastor, as a shepherd of the sheep, regarding how you deal with protecting your congregation from the flood of false teachings and other corruptions of the Scripture that seem to be coming from every form of Christian media. </p><p><br></p><p>You know, Chris, most pastors - it’s my guess, but I would say on the average, spend less than a couple hours a week teaching their congregation, especially…it happens especially among evangelicals that most of their members get spiritual input from Christian media, maybe more so than from their church. So given what’s being promoted today on Christian radio and TV, that can lead to confusion at least, and deception at worst. So, Chris, how do you handle that sort of thing?</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: Can you help me with this question: “If Jesus died for all and has legally purchased all through substitutionary atonement, then how can those people go to hell? That would be a ‘Double Jeopardy’ of the sins of those people being paid for twice.” This is my husband’s main question and I would really appreciate help with it based on Calvinism.</p><p><br></p><p>Response: The Bible says that God wants all to be saved: “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Pet 3:9). But the Bible also says that not all will be saved (Matt 7:21-23; Lk 13:22-27, etc). Nevertheless, the Bible also tells us that God is all powerful (Ps 147:5; Jer 32:17; Matt 19:26, etc).</p><p><br></p><p>Calvinism has its own explanation. They strive to make things add up. “If God is all powerful,” the reasoning goes, “and God wants all people to be saved, then all people will be saved. Since not all people will be saved, Christ must have died only for some; God must not want all to be saved.”</p><p><br></p><p>This is unbiblical according to the much-explained John 3:16 (what “world” means), and the blunt statement of 1 John 2:1-2: “And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.” But to some, it makes nice, theological sense. This is, however, putting one’s reason above God’s Word; believing what makes sense rather than believing all of what God has said. </p><p><br></p><p>As Dave Hunt wrote in Calvin’s Dilemma: God’s Sovereignty vs. Man’s Free Will (pp 9-10), “William L. Pettingill wrote, ‘God insists upon His sovereignty and also upon man’s responsibility. Believe both and preach both, leaving the task of ‘harmonizing’ with Him.’ In a similar vein, A. T. Pierson, although a leading Presbyterian, declared that both ‘the sovereign will of God and the freedom of man’ are taught in Scripture and that ‘if we cannot reconcile these two, it is because the subject is so infinitely lifted up above us. Man is free.... Thus the last great invitation in God’s Book is an appeal to the will.’</p><p><br></p><p>“Unfortunately, neither John Calvin nor many of his followers today have been willing to accept both sides of this biblical teaching. The result has been devastating in its consequences for the gospel: that man can only reject Christ; he cannot accept and believe in Him unless he is sovereignly regenerated by God. Calvinism refuses to accept what so many great evangelists have recognized is vital. Edgar Mullins expresses very well the essential balance that is missing:</p><p><br></p><p>“‘Free will in man is as fundamental a truth as any other in the gospel and must never be canceled in our doctrinal statements. Man would not be man without it and God never robs us of our true moral manhood in saving us.... The decree of salvation must be looked at as a whole to understand it. Some have looked at God’s choice alone and ignored the means and the necessary choice on man’s part.’”</p><p><br></p>

<p><br></p><p>Well, this is our…part 2 of our program in which we’re addressing the Strange Fire Conference that was held at John MacArthur’s church, Grace Community Church in Sun Valley in Southern California, and my partner in addressing this is Anton Bosch.</p><p><br></p><p>As you’ll recognize from Anton’s accent, he’s originally from South Africa, which…you know, when I ever have somebody on here from New Zealand or these countries, you guys are so much more articulate (laughing) that it’s a thrill. You know, Paul Wilkinson from England as well. I go, “Oh brother, Tom. You’d better take some elocution lessons!”</p><p><br></p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Response: It is true that Isaiah 9:6 says that Jesus’ name will be called “Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father,” etc. What it does not say is that Jesus is the Everlasting Father. As God, He obviously has the characteristics of God. Simply put, Jesus being part of the godhead has the attributes of God. This includes everlasting or “eternal life.”</p><p><br></p><p>Micah 5:2 agrees with this: “But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.”</p><p><br></p><p>It has been asked why if Jesus’ name is “Everlasting Father,” then why don’t we call Jesus “Everlasting Father”? Or why not call him “Wonderful Counselor” or “Mighty God” or “Prince of Peace”? Isaiah 9:6 speaks of a “name,” and there are four characteristics associated with that name. Again, this reveals it is the characteristics of the coming Messiah that is in view here. The fact that the Messiah is God is shown in Hebrews 1:3 when it says, “Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high….” Why shouldn’t the Lord subsequently say, “…He that hath seen Me hath seen the Father” (Jn 14:9)? Jesus is the “express image” of God the Father as His prophesied name establishes.</p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: During the past Sunday evening Bible study, the following was presented: Some [astrological] constellations corresponded with the tribes of Israel: Judah—Leo; Dan—Scorpio; Benjamin—Gemini. Further, the tribes in the wilderness were arranged around the Tabernacle according to the “mirror reflection” of where their corresponding constellation was located in the heavens. How does one research whether or not these things are true?</p><p><br></p><p>Response: First of all, is this idea anywhere taught in Scripture? Certainly not! Secondly, it has been pointed out numerous times that the “Signs of the Zodiac correspond to the position of the sun relative to constellations as they appeared more than 2,200 years ago” (<a href="https://bit.ly/3CsoGxi" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/3CsoGxi</a>). However, practitioners of Astrology, and in particular those who make their living on it, would say (without any evidence) that this makes no difference. Further, their argument is in direct conflict with verifiable science as much as it is with the Word of God.</p><p><br></p><p>Indeed, the Lord says in Jeremiah 10:2, “Thus saith the LORD, Learn not the way of the heathen, and be not dismayed at the signs of heaven; for the heathen are dismayed at them.”</p>

<p>On this program, this is following the first installment of A.D.: The Bible Continues, which we’ve been talking about. We mentioned it on the - well, we started to address it in our first part of this program. But now, many of you viewers - I don’t know how many - but you’ve had an opportunity to see the entire production - that is, the first installment. What they’re hoping to do is have a series which runs for, I think, 12 programs, but that’s going to depend on how well it did in terms of its ratings. </p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>On this program and next week, the subject is the upcoming NBC special broadcast on Easter Sunday titled A.D.: The Bible Continues. It is a followup to the series aired on the History Channel and its theatrical spinoff Son of God, and my guest to discuss this production and the problems with translating the Bible visually is J.B. Hixson. J.B. is the author, Bible teacher - he’s a Bible teacher and radio host. His ministry is Not By Works, and can be found at <a href="http://www.notbyworks.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.notbyworks.org</a>, and you can go on his website to order his latest book The Great Last Days Deception.</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: Psalm 40:6 reads, “Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required.” Why did David say this verse when a good chunk of Leviticus made rules on sacrifice?</p><p><br></p><p>Response: First of all, because he was inspired by the Lord to write this down. Secondly, he’s referencing 1 Samuel 15:22, where Samuel was inspired to say, “Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”</p><p><br></p><p>Further, he is speaking prophetically of the Lord Jesus. Verse 7 of Psalm 40 reads, “Then said I, Lo, I come: in the volume of the book it is written of me.”</p><p><br></p><p>Hebrews 10:5 explains further, “Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me….”</p><p><br></p><p>Simply put, David wrote this verse because he was inspired by the Lord to do so and it speaks emphatically of the end of the Levitical sacrifices. In Hebrews 10:9, God inspired the writer to say, “Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.”</p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>There are three closely related statements by Christ to His disciples which have created much controversy over their interpretation: 1) "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven" (Matthew 16:19, 18:18); 2) "Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching [concerning] any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 18:19); and 3) "Whose soever sins ye remit, they are remitted unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained" (John 20:23).</p>

<p>The topic for today is Roman Catholicism - in particular, and fundamentally so, the gospel that the Church of Rome teaches and preaches, and I guess it’s about a billion and a quarter or so Catholics accept, or actually are obligated to accept. And our guest to discuss this subject is Jim McCarthy. He’s the author of a number of books, including The Gospel According to Rome and Letters Between a Catholic and an Evangelical. He’s also produced a terrific documentary, a DVD titled Catholicism: Crisis of Faith.</p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>

<p>Question: I have a question which simply asks, “In view of all the Lord has done for believers, why do some fall away or go into apostasy?”</p><p><br></p><p>Response: First, as Scripture tells us, there are those who claim to be believers, who have never been saved (See—<a href="https://bit.ly/41D6NWQ" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://bit.ly/41D6NWQ</a>). Apostasy has been a part of every generation since the beginning and fall of mankind. Scripture tells us that it will culminate in the last days when the Antichrist is revealed. His religion will be an apostate Christianity—it will accommodate all religions. Although the apostasy will not be fully realized until after the Rapture of the church, its development has been ongoing from the time when sin entered the human race. Furthermore, down through biblical and church history, many true believers, either in ignorance or because of the weaknesses of their flesh, have contributed to apostasy. Solomon seems to exemplify this, he also married pagan women, which was contrary to Scripture. These women turned him to idolatry and he built temples for them to worship their false gods.</p><p><br></p>

<p>The message of this treasured epistle is just as clear and convicting today as it was to the early churches of Galatia: We are justified by grace through faith alone - not by works of the law.</p><p><br></p><p>Join T. A. McMahon and radio guests (Greg Durel, Mike Gendron, and Jim McCarthy) as they discuss this powerful Pauline epistle and its relevance to your daily walk.</p><p><br></p><p>View the full series: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/galatians" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/galatians</a></p><p>More about the Bible: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/topic/bible</a></p><p>Our website: https://<a href="http://www.reachingcatholics.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.reachingcatholics.org</a></p><p>Our main website: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Store: store.<a href="http://thebereancall.org" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">thebereancall.org</a></p><p>Download our app: <a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/app" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/app</a></p><p>Sign up for our email updates: https://<a href="http://www.thebereancall.org/subscribe" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">www.thebereancall.org/subscribe</a></p><p><br></p>

<p>Join Dave and Tom as they engage in an in-depth, verse-by-verse examination of the Gospel of John. We hope you will be challenged and convicted as you listen to these insightful, exegetical discussions compiled from nearly four years of Search the Scriptures Daily radio programs. Open your Bible and get ready for an edifying pilgrimage into God's Word.</p>