Christian Questions Bible Podcast

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Does Christian Liberty Give Us Freedom of Choice? (Part I)
The freedom, the liberty we obtain when we have been called to be disciples of Jesus is so much more than just a feeling of relief and joy. The fact is, having liberty in Christ actually defines a state of being, as it describes our freedom from whatever previously held us captive in our lives. It’s no wonder we feel the thrill of liberation! Here are the practical questions: What does it mean on a practical daily level to have this freedom so firmly set in our lives? What freedom of choice does it give? What freedom of choice does liberty in Christ take away? How are we supposed to know the difference? What is liberty? What isn't liberty? To begin with, we need to understand what Christian liberty is and is not. Upon examining several scriptures, it becomes obvious that Christian liberty is not unrestricted autonomy. It is not a free pass to do as we please. Rather, it is a divinely granted freedom from sin and spiritual bondage, which is only possible through Jesus’ sacrifice. To truly understand this, it’s important to define liberty through both secular and biblical lenses. While secular definitions include "freedom from restraint" and "the power to act as one pleases," biblical liberty, as defined in the New Testament refers to moral and spiritual freedom, and not license for indulgence. The Greek words for "liberty" show how freedom in Christ involves being freed from the law of sin and death, and not from moral responsibility. What about licentiousness? Though “licentiousness” is a biblical form of liberty, it is directly opposed to Christian liberty. Licentiousness is derived from the same root word as our English “license.” It is described as a counterfeit freedom, an unrestrained indulgence that leads to spiritual corruption. False teachers, as warned by Peter and Jude, distort grace into permission for immoral behavior, undermining the transformative power of Christian freedom. While liberty in Christ brings privilege it also comes with responsibility: It requires being a “doer” of the Word, not just a hearer (James 1:22–25). It involves the personal cost of sacrifice, transformation and application (Romans 12:1–5). It is not social liberation but spiritual elevation, lifting believers above worldly constraints. Ultimately, our Christian liberty is framed as a gift from God, granted through His spirit and meant to guide us into holiness. It is a freedom with guardrails, designed not for self-indulgence but for loving service and spiritual growth.
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30:12
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30:12
Was Paul an Imposter Apostle or Appointed by Jesus?
The Apostle Paul wrote a significant portion of the New Testament. There are 27 different books in the New Testament, and Paul is credited with writing about half of them. For the vast majority of Christians, his writings provide extremely practical teachings and examples for us to build upon the single and solid foundation of Jesus Christ. That being said, there are some Christians who believe Paul was an imposter, a self-appointed apostle who was actually diminishing the power of the Gospel of Jesus. What would make someone question the validity of Pauls’ writings? It turns out there are several varied reasons for this perspective. The question is, are they legitimate and what do they imply? A major challenge One of several major challenges to Paul’s apostleship we confront in this episode is that Paul never listed the Ten Commandments in full. While true, this actually mirrors Jesus’ own approach. Neither quoted them entirely but both emphasized their moral essence. Paul affirmed many commandments individually: he quoted the Fifth in Ephesians 6:1–3 and referenced the Sixth, Seventh, Eight and Tenth in Romans 13:9. He also implied the First and Second in Acts 17 and taught truthfulness in Ephesians 4:25, echoing the Ninth. Though he never explicitly cited the Third (against taking God’s name in vain), neither did Jesus, although reverence for God’s name was clearly implied. Another objection Another objection claims Paul’s stance on circumcision contradicts Jesus. A key point about Paul’s teaching in Galatians 5 is that he opposed legalism, not circumcision itself. He warned against using rituals for justification, emphasizing that salvation comes through Christ alone. Paul even had Timothy circumcised—not for salvation, but to aid in the ministry work among Jews. Further objections—such as the claim that all churches in the Roman province of Asia rejected Paul (2 Timothy 1:15) or that Revelation 2:2 denounces him can easily be answered by contextual study. Such study reveals that Paul’s abandonment was due to shame over his imprisonment, not doctrinal rejection. The denouncing of false apostles in Revelation clearly refers to later imposters, and not Paul himself. Ultimately, Paul’s gospel is given to complement Jesus’ message, as it is tailored for Gentile audiences unfamiliar with Jewish law. His teachings emphasized love, transformation and Christ-centered righteousness, not ritual observance. Scriptural evidence clearly points to Paul as a faithful apostle, not an imposter.
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37:11
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37:11
How Do We Keep Ourselves Separate from the World? (Christian Conduct Series)
If we are serious about our Christianity, then we know that the bottom line of everything in our lives is to be more like Jesus. If we call ourselves disciples of Christ, if we call ourselves his footstep followers, then any and every other objective in life must by definition become secondary. Our last seven episodes have been examining several of Paul’s pointed statements regarding our separateness from the world in 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24. Having God “sanctify us entirely” is the dramatic conclusion of this powerful set of teachings. So, how does it work? What are the secrets of Jesus’ true followers living their daily lives in a truly holy fashion? Does God just set us apart? What are the standards we must adhere to? How do we know if we are on the right track? The call for Christians to live sanctified lives is truly profound. To be "sanctified" is to be set apart from worldly influences and wholly devoted to God’s purpose. Sanctification is not only an individual journey but a collective responsibility of the entire church. It’s both a divine gift and a developmental process requiring intentional effort. God initiates sanctification, but we must sanctify ourselves by actively pursuing holiness. Paul taught the Thessalonian Christians that they had a threefold unity: spirit, soul and body, representing the spiritual harmony, shared mission and coordinated action of the church community as a whole. God helps us rise to these challenges by giving us His sanctifying spirit and His undefiled words in Scripture as instructions. We are given everything we need; now we need to do our part! When reviewing the previous seven lessons of our Christian Conduct Series, we need to keep Paul’s conclusion in mind: 1 Thessalonians 5:24: "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass." God's faithfulness in proven by His care in: • giving us diligent, spirit-driven and humble shepherds to guide and teach us. • setting up His church in a mutually upbuilding way. • providing a spirit-driven environment that invites a thriving state of being. • setting up his church with a continuous line of communication through prayer. • providing us with abundant reasons for daily gratitude. • giving us His spirit and giving us ways to feed its influence. • setting up His church in a mutually upbuilding way. Ultimately, Paul’s message is that God is faithful—He provides the tools, the spirit, and the community for us to grow in holiness and preserve spiritual integrity!
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50:48
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50:48
How Do We Know What Teachings and Prophecies to Believe? (Christian Conduct Series)
All upbuilding and spiritually mature Christian thought and action inevitably have their foundation in Scripture. The Bible gives us clear truth. Just as importantly, it gives us clear direction as to how to apply those clear truths to our lives in practical ways. In 1 Thessalonians, the Apostle Paul teaches us to NOT despise "prophetic utterances." Why would we make light of any teachings given for our benefit? As we shall see, Paul’s teaching here is showing us to be open and accepting towards what our brotherhood is proclaiming to us, but not without caution. Next, he warns us to examine everything! Is this a contradiction? Are we supposed to embrace what we hear, or are we supposed to be skeptical? The key to answering this question lies in understanding how Christians can discern which teachings and prophesyings are trustworthy, especially in a world filled with conflicting spiritual claims. Biblical truth must be rooted in Scripture, not personal feelings, traditions or charismatic personalities. It is vital to not accept teachings simply because they sound good or align with popular opinion. Instead, the Apostle Paul urged us to test all spiritual claims against the Bible’s consistent message, historical context and prophetic accuracy. In this journey, it’s important to highlight humility, study and spiritual maturity in evaluating doctrine. We also need to address the danger of false prophets and misinterpreted signs, remembering that genuine prophesying aligns with God's character and long-term plan of redemption. A few key takeaways • Scripture is the ultimate authority: All teachings and prophesying must be measured against the Bible’s consistent message. • Emotions and tradition can mislead: Just because something feels right or is widely accepted doesn’t mean it’s biblically sound. • False prophets and teachers are real and can be persuasive: The Bible warns repeatedly about deception, especially in the End Times. • Prophesying must align with God’s character: True informative and enlightening teaching reflects God’s justice, mercy and long-term purpose. • Spiritual maturity is essential: Discernment grows through study, prayer and humility—not through quick conclusions or viral teachings. Our bottom line is the importance of examining the Scriptures carefully as a testing ground for what we hear. God's word is sufficient and trustworthy, even when cultural voices or influencers claim new revelations. Ultimately, the path to truth is paved with careful study, accountability and a deep reverence for God’s Word.
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52:52
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52:52
What Does It Mean if I Quench the Spirit? (Christian Conduct Series)
God’s spirit—His power and influence—is a power we can't even begin to comprehend. His spirit was introduced to us as the mighty power of His will in Genesis 1:1-3 as His creative process began with “Let there be light." This same power and influence is described as taking root in us in Ephesians 1:13 where it says we were sealed with God’s spirit through the salvation of Jesus. With all of the marvel of this mighty power of God working in us, how is it that we can "quench" it? Why would we ever even think of doing such a thing and most importantly, what do the Scriptures tell us about handling this awesome privilege with reverence and humility? The biblical warning from 1 Thessalonians 5:19 to “not quench the spirit” has important meaning in regard to Christian conduct in our day. Quenching the powerful and transformative force of God’s spirit means stifling or extinguishing that divine influence through neglect, disobedience or self-deception. Critical elements for avoiding this spiritually destructive behavior were laid out by the Apostle Paul in his previous teachings about rejoicing, prayer and gratitude, as these behaviors “fuel” the spirit. Conversely, bitterness, distraction and indifference can suppress it. The Bible provides vivid metaphors—like hiding a lamp under a basket or forgetting one’s reflection in a mirror—to illustrate how spiritual neglect can lead to eventual quenching of the spirit. While there is a difference between grieving the spirit (through harmful attitudes or behaviors) and quenching it (cutting off its influence entirely) we as disciples are urged to remain attentive and disciplined, feeding the spirit through active faith and humility. Key Takeaways: • To "quench the spirit" means extinguishing God’s influence through neglect or resistance. • Joy, prayer and gratitude are essential "spiritual fuels" that keep the spirit alive. • "Grieving the spirit" through such things as bitterness or gossip can lead to quenching if left unchecked. • Distraction and indifference are common modern threats to spiritual attentiveness. • Active faith involves doing, not just hearing—responding to conviction, not suppressing it. • The armor of God, especially the shield of faith, helps extinguish Satan’s attacks. In this context, "quenching" is a good thing! • God’s mercy ensures even a flickering ember of faith is precious and worth fanning into flame.
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32:27
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32:27