Using New Tools Without Losing the Old Truths

One of the questions I hear more and more these days is, “What do you think about AI?” Since it has become part of my daily life and ministry, I thought I would share a few thoughts.

Over the past year, I have found AI to be a valuable assistant in sermon research, lesson preparation, PowerPoint development, writing projects, and various administrative tasks. It can quickly organize information, summarize large amounts of material, suggest illustrations, and help improve the clarity of my writing. In many ways, it functions like a research assistant sitting at my desk.

However, AI is only a tool. Like any tool, it must be used wisely.

There is an old computer saying: GIGO, “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” The quality of an AI’s response often depends on the quality of the instructions it receives. Learning how to communicate effectively with AI is called prompting. Clear, specific instructions usually produce more useful results.

Because of my theological background, I wanted AI to better understand the perspective from which I approach Scripture. In a project I jokingly call “How I Trained My AI,” I developed a custom prompt that guides AI to function as a biblical research assistant from a Traditional Free Grace and Normative Dispensational perspective.

The prompt directs the AI to prioritize Scripture, distinguish carefully between competing theological viewpoints, and present information from the doctrinal framework I hold. It has become a helpful starting point for research and study. Notice that I said starting point.

One important lesson I have learned is: Trust, but verify. AI can make mistakes. It may occasionally misquote sources, confuse facts, or present inaccurate information with great confidence. For that reason, I never treat AI as an authority. God’s Word remains the authority. AI simply helps me work more efficiently.

As with any technology, the key is discernment. New tools can be useful servants, but they must never replace careful Bible study, prayer, and dependence upon the Lord.

Blessings,

Bob

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Mercy Versus Grace

When a condemned criminal receives a reduced sentence, we say that the judge has shown him mercy. Imprisonment rather than death is an act of mercy. Grace is better than that. It acquits the guilty sinner, imputes righteousness to him, and silences the law’s condemning voice.

–William MacDonald

 

Jesus said, “It is finished.”

Recently, I have been working on a message for our church about the freeness of salvation. As I have contemplated this subject, I have been reminded again about one of the most profound statements Jesus ever made from the cross: “It is finished (Jn. 19:30).”

Those three words carry tremendous significance. The Greek word translated “finished” is tetelestai. It speaks of something completed or brought to its intended end. In the context of an obligation, it means paid in full. That has profound implications for how we understand salvation. Salvation can only be truly free to us because Christ completely paid the price for it. The cost of our sin was not ignored, reduced, or postponed. Jesus Christ paid it in full. He did not make a down payment on our salvation and leave the remainder for us to pay through our works, obedience, commitment, or perseverance.

For the first ten years of my Christian life, I was confused about the freeness of salvation. I believed that salvation was by grace, but I had not fully grasped what it meant for salvation to be completely free. Like many Christians, I struggled with the thought that perhaps there must be something more I needed to do—something I needed to give, prove, or maintain.

But if I must contribute something to the payment for eternal life, then Christ did not finish the work. If salvation is for those who “give their hearts” or “give their lives” to Jesus as a condition for receiving eternal life, then what exactly did Christ finish? If my contribution is necessary to complete the transaction, then salvation is no longer entirely the gift of God. If that is true, then it means that Christ paid part, and I supplied the rest.

But that is not what Jesus said. As He hung on the cross, He said, “It is finished.” In other words, the work necessary to provide our redemption was complete. The payment was complete. The sacrifice was complete. There is no remaining balance for us to pay.

That truth has brought me tremendous encouragement. My eternal security does not rest on the consistency of my performance but on the completeness of Christ’s payment. My performance changes. Christ’s payment does not.

When Jesus said, “It is finished,” He meant it. And because it is finished, we can rest—not in ourselves, but in Him.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

Religion vs Christianity

There is a vast difference between religion and genuine Christianity.

Religion consists of two letters: D-O.

Christianity consists of four letters: D-O-N-E.

So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit. John 19:30

This Independence Day Remember Your Greatest Freedom

As Americans, we look forward each year to celebrating Independence Day. It is a time to remember the freedoms our nation enjoys and to give thanks for those who sacrificed to secure them. Freedom is something we naturally treasure. Yet as wonderful as our national freedoms are, they remind us of an even greater freedom that every believer possesses through Jesus Christ.

The Biblical Resource Group is currently working on a new paper entitled Sanctification by Grace: How the Christian Life Flows from Our Position in Christ. Although the paper is still in progress, one of its central themes has been both refreshing and encouraging to study: the believer’s freedom from the Mosaic Law.

This truth is often misunderstood. Some assume that if Christians are no longer under the Law of Moses, then they are free to live however they please without experiencing any consequences. Others believe that spiritual growth requires placing believers back under the Old Testament Law as a rule of life. Scripture teaches neither of these positions.

The apostle Paul plainly declares, “For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace” (Rom. 6:14). He also explains that believers have “become dead to the law through the body of Christ” (Rom. 7:4). These are remarkable statements. Through our union with Christ, we have been set free from the Law’s condemning authority and from its role as the governing rule of life for the Church.

This does not diminish the value of the Old Testament. God’s Law is holy, righteous, and good. It reveals God’s character, exposes our sinfulness, and points us to our need for a Savior. But the Law was never designed to produce sanctification. It can tell us what is right, but it cannot give us the power to do what is right.

That power comes through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Under grace, the Christian life is not driven by external regulations but by an internal transformation. We obey Christ not in order to gain God’s acceptance, but because we have already been accepted in Christ. As we walk by faith and depend upon God’s grace, the Spirit produces genuine holiness from the inside out.

As we celebrate Independence Day, we value the political freedoms we enjoy. But even greater is the spiritual freedom Christ has secured for us through His finished work on the cross. We have been delivered from condemnation, liberated from the Law as a means of sanctification, and invited to walk in the freedom of God’s grace.

On a personal note, I had a colonoscopy June 12^th. My doctor reported that my colon was clean and I had no polyps. PTL!

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

The Believer and the End of the Law

According to the New Testament, the Christian is “delivered from the law.” This is the central argument of Romans 7. Any failure to see and accept it leads inevitably to that moral and spiritual defect pictured so vividly later in the chapter. … The same book sums up the argument in one irrefutable statement, “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 10:4). The Greek arrangement of the words here puts the word “end” first in the sentence. This is where the emphasis must be put—the end of the law has come for all believers in Christ. God says “end.” Let there be no equivocation here. –Alva J. McClain

 

Can I know for certain that I have eternal life?

One of the most important questions a person can ask is this: “Can I know for certain that I have eternal life?” Sadly, many Christians live with uncertainty about their eternal destiny, constantly looking inward at their performance, emotions, or spiritual consistency for assurance. Yet the Bible directs believers to look outward—to Christ and His promises.

Assurance is not grounded in how faithfully we serve, how strongly we feel, or how well we persevere. The basis of assurance is the trustworthy promise of God to all who believe in Jesus Christ. As 1 John 5:13 says, “These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Over the years, many sincere believers have struggled because assurance has been tied to self-examination rather than to the finished work of Christ. Some have been taught that good works, endurance, or obedience are necessary proofs that one is truly saved. But if assurance ultimately rests upon our performance, then certainty becomes impossible.

The latest paper produced by the Biblical Resource Group addresses these issues in detail. The Certainty of Salvation: The Biblical Basis of Assurance distinguishes assurance from eternal security, demonstrates that assurance rests on God’s promise rather than human performance, and examines key passages that are often misunderstood in this discussion.

The paper also addresses common objections and provides practical guidance for helping believers grow in their confidence before God. Its aim is not to minimize the importance of spiritual growth or obedience, but to place them in their proper role—never as the basis of assurance, but as the outworking of a secure and settled salvation.

We believe this study will be both clarifying and spiritually encouraging to believers who desire confidence rooted in the finished work of Christ and the trustworthy promises of God.

If you would like to read this paper, it can be found here: https://www.sanfordbiblechurch.org/gallery/BRG_The_Basis_of_Assurance.pdf

Last month, I mentioned that I have an appointment for a colonoscopy. That procedure is scheduled for June 12th. The reason for it is that my Cologuard test came back positive. I will let you know the results once I have more information.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

Assurance of Salvation

Assurance of salvation has disappeared in the minds of many of the children of God. They daily look at their lives and wonder. They wring their hands and ask for the thousandth time the question “Am I really saved?” Having been subverted, they forget that the answer to the question “Am I really saved?” is really “Do I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God and that He died for my sins on Calvary’s cross?” “Do I agree that the death of Jesus Christ, His burial, His resurrection is in fact the Gospel?” In the midst of today’s confusions, many have ceased to believe that the death of Christ is enough to work the work for their salvation from sin’s eternal penalty. –Dave Breese

Is Repentance Necessary for Salvation?

What exactly does the Bible mean by “repent”? And how should it be presented in evangelism?

Believers often hear repentance emphasized, yet definitions can vary widely—sometimes leading to confusion about the gospel itself. Is repentance a change of mind? A turning from sin? A commitment to reform one’s life?

Years ago, J. F. Strombeck wrote, “It is often said, and that most earnestly, that ‘to believe’ is not sufficient for a man to be saved. In addition thereto one must repent and also confess one’s sins. If these two are needed in addition to faith, why does John not mention them in his Gospel? He does not do so a single time, and still he claims to have written for the purpose of enabling man to receive eternal life (Ch. 20:31). Is it possible that he leaves two vital conditions out of his message? If so, then one who possesses the Gospel according to John and no other part of the Bible cannot find eternal life thereby.”

He then asked, “Are repentance and confession, then, not necessary to salvation?” That is an excellent question. The latest paper produced by the Biblical Resource Group addresses that question and more. The Role of Repentance in Evangelism carefully examines the key passages, clarifies common misunderstandings, and seeks to bring biblical precision to how repentance relates to faith in Christ. If you would like to read this paper, it can be found here:

https://www.sanfordbiblechurch.org/gallery/BRG_The_Role_of_Repentance_in_Evangelism.pdf

The next paper we will tackle is The Basis of Assurance of Salvation.

On a personal note, I recently received the results of a Cologuard test, which came back positive. In previous years, it has been negative. I have made an appointment with a gastroenterologist for a colonoscopy. For me, the hardest part is not knowing what the future holds. My personality tends toward pessimism—the cup being half empty—and the enemy can certainly use those thoughts as a tool for discouragement.

I am reminded of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You.” For me, the challenge is to keep my mind from drifting toward pessimism and instead to look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

The Object of Our Faith

Some people say faith moves mountains. That is not true. God moves mountains.

Faith is no better than its object. Faith in faith is nothing but positive thinking. If you put faith in positive thinking, you are going to become discouraged.

There are some who teach that if you will simply believe God for something, that He will give you that thing. That is simply not true.

If you try to apply that teaching to your life, after a while Satan is going to say, “You really don’t have what it takes.”

Don’t get the idea that because your faith is weak that your prayers are not reaching heaven. Weak faith in God is better than strong faith in anything else. Faith is what counts. It is not the size of your faith, it is the object of your faith that really counts.

—Adrian Rogers

 

The Simplicity of Faith

In a world filled with confusion about the gospel, even the most basic question is often misunderstood: What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? Many definitions add complexity where Scripture offers simplicity.

The Biblical Resource Group is developing a series of resource papers addressing key aspects of the doctrine of salvation, also known as soteriology. We have recently completed the second paper in this series: The Simplicity of Faith.

This paper addresses a question that is central to the gospel, yet often misunderstood: What does it mean to believe in Christ?

By examining the language of Scripture, this study shows that faith is not a complex or technical concept, but simply being persuaded that what God has said about His Son is true. It also clears away common misunderstandings that can unintentionally shift the focus from Christ’s finished work to the believer.

In this paper, we explore:

• The biblical meaning of “believe” and “faith”
• The proper object and content of saving faith
• Common misconceptions that complicate the gospel
• Why Scripture presents faith as simple and accessible
• How assurance rests on God’s promise, not our performance

Our aim is to preserve the clarity of the gospel and help believers communicate it with confidence.

If you would like to read this paper, it can be found here:
https://www.sanfordbiblechurch.org/gallery/BRG_The_Simplicity_of_Faith.pdf

Please pray for clarity, precision, and faithfulness to the Word as we continue working on this series of papers.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

The Value of the Gospel
by Lance Latham

Down through the ages of history, Christianity has been subjected to a multitude of influences. There have been creative ideas, new programs, fascinating personalities, fresh approaches to theology, evangelism, missionary activity, and a myriad of other diverse developments in the ongoing mission of the church. It is probably undeniable that, with true spiritual discernment, these developments should be viewed with guarded favor, and given the opportunity to have their part in the cause of Christ.

However, that special and changeless message called "the gospel of the grace of God" must never be subject to creative ideas or diverse developments. The hope of eternal life, the central message of divine revelation, is based upon the finished work of Christ on Calvary's cross and the offer of divine mercy which issues therefrom. The death of the Son of the living God in space and time and the meaning of that sacrifice is what constitutes this glorious message called the gospel.

Should that message ever be changed, then the door to life is instantly closed and Christianity becomes a mere humanistic religion, fascinating perhaps, but valueless. The most valuable and sacred commodity, therefore, on the face of the earth is the truth of the gospel. This is a sacred message worth living for, worth sacrificing for, and worth gladly dying for. It is the only real value on earth today; it is the truth of all truths to which the church must be dedicated to propagate and protect.

 

Keeping the Gospel Clear

Few issues are more important—or more confused—today than the doctrine of salvation. The gospel is simple, but it is not always presented clearly. To assist our missionaries, the Biblical Resource Group is preparing a series of resource papers addressing key aspects of the doctrine of salvation, also known as soteriology. Below is the list of papers currently in development:

• The Nature of the Gospel
• The Simplicity of Faith
• Justification Versus Discipleship
• The Basis of Assurance
• The Role of Repentance in Evangelism
• Sanctification by Grace
• The Results of Salvation

We have completed the first paper—The Nature of the Gospel—and are currently working on the second paper—The Simplicity of Faith.

Our goal in this series is to provide clear, biblical, and carefully reasoned explanations of foundational doctrines related to salvation. There is considerable confusion today regarding the content of the gospel, the meaning of faith, the relationship between justification and discipleship, and the basis of assurance. These papers are designed to address those issues directly from Scripture, using a consistent literal, historical-grammatical approach.

The completed paper on The Nature of the Gospel defines the gospel message precisely and distinguishes it from related but separate biblical themes. The upcoming paper on The Simplicity of Faith addresses common misunderstandings about belief, persuasion, commitment, and works, demonstrating from Scripture that saving faith is simply being persuaded that Jesus guarantees eternal life to the one who believes in Him.

If you would like to read this paper, it can be found here: https://www.sanfordbiblechurch.org/gallery/BRG_The_Nature_of_the_Gospel.pdf

Please pray for clarity, precision, and faithfulness to the Word as we continue writing.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

Keep the Gospel Clear!

Keep the issue clear:

·        The issue is sin, and Who is going to forgive it.

Keep the direction clear:

·        It is from the Giver to the recipient. The gift of righteousness is given when you believe.

Keep the requirements clear:

·        It is salvation through FAITH. There is nothing more!

—Charles Ryrie