Grace Coach

Welcome to the Grace Coach Podcast! Mike and Kevin share their insights from the Book of Colossians as they dive into Chapter 2:1-15.   I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Spiritual Fullness in Christ 6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces[a] of this world rather than on Christ. 9 For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10 and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11 In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh[b] was put off when you were circumcised by[c] Christ, 12 having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. 13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you[d] alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.

Welcome to the Grace Coach Podcast! Mike and Kevin share their insights from the Book of Colossians as they dive into Chapter 1:15-29. 15 The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16 For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of[a] your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— 23 if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant. 24 Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord's people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. 28 He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29 To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.

Welcome to the Grace Coach Podcast! Mike and Kevin share their insights from the Book of Colossians as they dive into Chapter 1:1-14 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, 2 To God's holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters[a] in Christ: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.[b] 3 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God's people— 5 the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6 that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God's grace. 7 You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,[c] who is a faithful minister of Christ on our[d] behalf, 8 and who also told us of your love in the Spirit. 9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,[e] 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12 and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you[f] to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Welcome to the Romans 16 Podcast! Mike and Kevin share their insights from the Book of Romans as they dive into Chapter 16.

Mike and Kevin continue their podcast series in the Book of Romans.

Mike and Kevin continue their podcast series in the Book of Romans.

The Apostle Paul, inspired by God, urges us to let God renew our minds. Why is this renewal necessary? Because our natural inclination is to think in worldly ways, following the patterns of this world. We are born spiritually dead in Adam, separated from God—like a car without fuel or a light bulb without electricity. When you receive the Holy Spirit, Jesus comes to live within you, granting you a new power and a deeper understanding of the Scriptures. It is then that you can test the Word of God, and know the truth that sets a person free.  

Despite the prevailing global surge in anti-Semitism, it may come as a surprise that following the tribulation, God will extend His hand to Israel, grafting them back into their ancestral olive tree. That is why the Bible says " I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, and in this way all Israel will be saved. (Romans 11:25-26).  God's calling and plan is irrevocable.  

This might come as a surprise, but from God's perspective, there's no distinction between a Jew and a Gentile. Romans 3:9 succinctly expresses this, stating that both are under the power of sin and death, and thus require spiritual rebirth through the agency of God's Spirit. So, what's the remedy for this condition of being ensnared by sin and its consequences? It lies in embracing new life offered through Jesus Christ. Romans 10:13 assures us that salvation is available to all who earnestly call upon the Lord's name.

Is this really fair? "That the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; 31 but the people of Israel, who pursued the law as the way of righteousness, have not attained their goal. 32 Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the stumbling stone."   This is how God chose how people would be saved, "By the sanctifying work of the Spirit and belief in the truth" 

According to the divine plan, the Gospel was initially destined for the Jews, who were the first chosen people. However, in Acts 10, the Gospel extends to the Gentiles as well, who were also part of the divine selection. This instance illuminates the essence of predestination—it doesn't entail God choosing one individual over another, but rather reveals the sequential outreach of the Gospel. Initially directed to Israel, who ultimately rejected Jesus, the Gospel then embraced the Gentiles.

Can anything separate you from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus? Can continual sin separate you? Can anything in God's creation including Satan separate you? Yes, it sometimes feel as if we have been separated from God's love, but that's just a feeling. Sometimes feelings are not true and are not based on fact. Listen in to find out why nothing will ever separate you from the love of God.

The focus of our ministry is to help Christians understand what they have in Christ. Along the way, many unbelievers might hear the good news of the gospel and be saved. Praise God when that happens. In Romans 8, the Apostle Paul's desire is to tell Christans what they have in Christ and at the same time tell lost people what they do not have. Here's a recap: For Born Again Christians: God lives in you You are in the realm of the Spirit  God has given life to your mortal body You will live forever with God You are a child of God You have been adopted into God with full legal standing You are an heir of God and co heirs with Christ You have the first fruits of the Spirit God works all things together for your good God foreknew you You have been conformed into the image and likeness of God For People Without Christ: You do not have the Spirit  You can never please God You are hostile to God You are in the realm of the flesh  You do not belong to Christ The Spirit does not live in you You will die not only physically but die a second death, only to be thrown into the lake of fire (Rev 20:15) You remain in the image and likeness of Adam Listen in to our podcast on Romans 8:12-30. We hope you enjoy it.

The Apostle Paul loved to use contrasts to make his points about salvation and eternal life. In Romans 5:18 he said "Consequently, just as the result one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification and brngs life for all men."  After pausing on this subject, he took two chapters in 6 and 7 to say that we are no longer under the law (6:14) so that we might belong to another, that is Jesus (7:4). Paul starts Romans 8 by saying "There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." So is there then condemnation for those who are not in Christ Jesus?  To help make his point, Paul then uses many more contrast to illustrate the difference between those who are in Christ saved and those who are not lost.

Is the Apostle Paul writing Romans 7:13-25 as a Born Again Christian or is he looking back to when he was lost? Depending how you look at these verses might determine how you live. Listen in as Mike and Kevin discuss these very important verses. 

In Romans 6, The Apostle Paul used the example of a slave and master to explain that a Born Again Christian is no longer under the law. In Romans 7, Paul uses the example of a marriage that has ended because of the death of a husband to show the same thing. Once you are Born Again, the law has done it's work in your life. You are dead to the law. Listen in as Mike and Kevin discuss this very controversial subject.

The Apostle Paul answers 2 questions in Romans 6: Shall I go on sinning that grace may increase ? (Romans 6:1) and  Shall I go on sinning now that I am no longer under the law? (Romans 6:14) These are common questions that will always come up when someone does not understand the purpose of the law....which is "to make us conscious of sin" (Romans 3:20) and "to lead us to Christ" (Galatians 3:24 1984 NIV). The purpose of the law is being distorted today by many. As 2 Peter 3:16 says "His (Paul) letters contain some things that are hard to understand, which ignorant and unstable people distort, as they do the other Scriptures, to their own destruction.    

Do you know what the purpose of the law is? As Christians, are we suppose to follow the law that was given to Israel?  You might be suprised at what Romans 6 says about this topic. Listen in as Mike and Kevin talk about it. 

The phrase "How much more" is use many times in the Bible. Luke 12:24 says "Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds!" The point here is that Luke is saying that God takes care of the ravens, so he will also take care of you and that people are more valuable to Him than birds.  In the same way, Paul mentions in Romans 5:10 that "we were reconciled to him by the death of his Son, how much more (valuable), having already been reconciled, are we saved by His life"?  Contrary to most Christian teaching, we are not saved by the death of Christ, for the forgiveness of our sins. Rather we are saved by the life of Christ living in us. As Major Ian Thomas says "Jesus cleared the deck for the divine act of giving life to the dead".  Listen in as Mike and Kevin more about these important verses.

How would you define salvation? Most Christians would say this "Christ died for my sins, and when you believe that, you are saved". But is there more to salvation than believing that Jesus died for my sins? Listen in as Mike and Kevin discuss Romans 5:1-11 and how the Apostle Paul defines salvation in Romans 5:10-11. 

How would you define salvation? The most common response from a Christian is that "Christ died for my sins, and that when you believe that, you are saved". But is there more? Romans 4:25 takes salvation a step further. "He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification". Who will God credit righteousness to and how are we ultimately saved? "For us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead" (Romans 4:24). We are not saved by the death of Christ, but by His life. See also Romans 5:10 and Romans 10:9. 

Many people ask the question "How do I become right with God?" Is it by works or is it by faith?  Two Old Testament patriachs, Abraham and David believed God, and their faith was credited to them as righteous. Was it credited to them only? By no means! The words “it was credited to him” were written not for him alone,  but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness—for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. The Book of Romans Podcast series is a great way to learn not only what the Scriptures says, but what it means to you.        

From God's standpoint there are 3 types of people. lost Jewish people, lost Gentile people and then Born Again Christians who are from a Jewish or Gentile backround. Is this something you have ever heard? The Jews thought they had a spiritual advantage over the Gentiles. They were given the law, circumcision, the temple and were "entrusted with the very words of God" (Romans 3:1). But we learn in Romans 3 that both the lost Jews and Gentiles are alike under sin. There is no difference between these two people groups and that "no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law" (Romans 3:20).   

Christians Against Poverty (CAP) provides a free debt and financial health service and simple financial education courses in partnership with local churches Listen in as John Kirkby explains how and why he started Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in 1996. John believed God was calling him to sacrifice his career in finance and use his knowledge of the industry to help those in need. You are invited to join with Christians Against Poverty's Founder Dr. John Kirkby, CBE and the CAP team for a celebratory evening with delicious food, great friends, inspiring stories of God at work and a chance for you to make an impact.  Join us at CAP's main fundraising event of the year to hear the three year vision and the exciting new tools available to churches. Location: Abbington Distinctive Banquets, Corner of Route 53 and Butterfield Road, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137. Book Your Free Ticket Today... https://www.eventbrite.com/e/an-evening-of-hope-cap-america-annual-celebration-benefit-tickets-412387390787

What is the difference between a highly religious Jew who does not believe in Jesus Christ and a Gentile who does not believe in Jesus Christ? Nothing! There is no one righteous, no not one.  The Apostle Paul does a masterful job in Romans 2:17-29 of explaining why there is no difference between these two people groups. Listen in as Mike and Kevin read through these verses and comment on what they might mean to you.

After the Apostle Paul addresses the Gentiles in Romans 1:18-32, he now turns to the Jew in Romans 2. First he said that the unsaved Gentiles had no excuse and are under God's wrath, and now he says that the unsaved Jews have no excuse and are also under God's wrath. All unsaved lost people who have fallen short of the glory of God, need to turn to Christ by faith and be saved from God's coming wrath.

In Romans 1:17, the Apostle Paul makes a bold statement. "For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last,  just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.  As born again Christians, we have been made right with God by our faith, and not by our works so that no one can boast. That is the good news! But then in Romans 1:18, Paul makes a 180 and makes a bold warning to the unbelieving Gentiles so that they might be saved and escape from God's wrath. This is the bad news for unbelievers who are not born again. Listen in as Mike and Kevin talk about it.

Romans 1:8-17 talks about a few important things. First we hear that the faith of the Gentiles were being reported all over the world. Why was it so astonishing that the Gentiles were coming to Christ by faith? Secondly, the Apostle Paul mentions that in the Gospel, a righteousness by faith is revealed. What does it mean to be right with God? How can I be made right with God? Is it by my good deeds? Or is it something else. Transcript: Want   to   discover   your   freedom   in   Christ,   then   listen   in   as   Mike   Stone   and   Kevin   Smith   talk   about   it   today   on   Grace   Coach.   Hello,   this   is   Mike   with   Grace   Coach.   It   is   good   to   be   here   here.   And   I'm   with   Kevin   Smith.   What's   up,   Mike?   Yeah,   I   am   excited   about   this   podcast.   I've   been   looking   at   chapter   one   versus   eight   to   17,   and   there's   a   lot   here,   Kevin.   Well,   I'm   surprised   we're   not   going   to   get   through   chapter   one   in   two   weeks.   I   mean,   it's   going   to   take   us   three   weeks   to   get   through   it.   Maybe   not   even   three   weeks.   But   you   know   what?   God's   timing   is   perfect.   I   guess   I   just   want   to   review   the   first   seven   verses   in   chapter   one.   We   read   that   Paul   was   set   apart   by   God   to   be   an   Apostle,   that   God   met   him   on   the   road   to   Damascus   while   he   was   crucifying   Christians   and   murdering   them,   taking   them   to   jail.   It   also   talked   about   how   God   promised   this   gospel   in   the   Old   Covenant.   So   everything   about   Jesus   was   prophesied   in   the   old   Covenant.   We   read   that   Jesus   was   a   descendant   of   David   and   that   he   was   declared   to   be   God   by   the   resurrection   of   the   dead.   Amen.   We   talked   a   little   bit   that   he   wasn't   declared   with   power   when   he   died   on   the   cross,   which   is   the   main   message   of   Christmas   today.   But   he   was   declared   to   be   God   by   the   resurrection   of   himself,   which   was   very   cool   to   go   into   Romans   one,   verses   eight   to   17.   Kevin,   to   get   the   full   picture   and   the   impact   of   what   Paul   is   saying,   because   really   just   before   I   did   this   and   to   say   what   is   going   on   here,   why   is   he   writing   what   he's   writing?   I   really   had   to   dig   deep   into   some   verses   to   find   out   what   is   he   talking   about   in   verses   eight   to   17.   Jesus,   this   is   crazy   when   you   read   this,   even   when   I   Typed   it   out   and   read   it   in   Matthew   ten,   five   and   six,   Jesus   said   to   the   disciples,   he   says,   do   not   go   to   the   Gentiles   or   any   town   of   the   Samaritans,   but   rather   go   to   the   lost   sheep   of   Israel.   This   was   his   command.   This   is   God   himself   commanding   the   disciples,   don't   go   to   the   Gentiles.   The   Jew   first,   then   the   Gentiles.   Yeah,   only   go   to   the   Jews.   And   in   Acts   twelve   and   222,   after   the   Holy   Spirit   came   on   the   disciples   who   became   Apostles   at   Pentecost,   Peter   addresses   all   these   people   and   he   says,   fellow   Jews   and   all   of   you   who   live   in   Jerusalem.   And   he   said,   fellow   Israelites,   listen   to   this.   He   is   not   talking   to   the   Gentiles.   He's   only   talking   about   the   Jews.   He's   following   Jesus   command   of   going   to   the   Jews   and   not   going   to   the   Gentiles.   And   you   really   got   to   scratch   your   head.   What   verse   was   that?   Acts   214,   where   Peter   says,   fellow   Jews   and   Acts   222   and   he   says,   fellow   Israelites,   I'm   just   following   what   Jesus   said   in   Matthew   ten,   five   and   six,   that   he   said,   do   not   go   to   the   Gentiles.   Or   any   town   of   the   Samaritans,   but   rather   go   to   the   lost   sheep   of   Israel   and   you   see   that   happening.   You   see   Paul   and   Peter   following   that   command   until   Peter   goes   up   to   the   roof   in   Acts   ten.   And   Peter   went   up   to   the   roof,   and   he   prayed,   and   he   fell   into   a   trance,   and   he   saw   heaven   open   like   a   large   sheep   being   led   down   to   Earth   by   its   four   corners.   It   contains   all   kinds   of   four   footed   animals,   as   well   as   reptiles   and   birds.   Then   a   voice   told   him,   Peter,   get   up,   kill   and   eat.   Surely   not,   Lord.   Peter   said,   I   have   never   eaten   anything   impure   or   unclean.   The   voice   spoke   to   him   a   second   time.   Do   not   call   anything   impure   that   God   has   made   clean.   And   so   Peter   is   like,   are   we   talking   about   food   here?   These   were   Orthodox   Jews   who   followed   their   schedule   for   eating   foods   and   types   of   foods   perfectly.   And   God   is   telling   Peter   to   eat   what   is   not   clean,   what   is   not   kosher.   And   so   he   didn't   know   what   to   make   of   it   until   he   understood   that   when   they   were   with   Cornelius   in   Cornelius'house   and   Cornelius   had   a   vision   from   an   angel.   And   the   angel   told   him,   Go   get   Peter.   And   Peter   came   with   the   Centurion   soldiers,   and   they   were   in   a   home,   and   something   happened.   The   Holy   Spirit   came   on   Cornelius   and   all   of   the   Gentiles   that   were   with   them.   And   it   says   that   they   were   astonished.   Why   were   they   astonished?   Because   the   Gentiles   did   not   pursue   righteousness.   Only   the   Jews   pursued   it.   And   it   says   that   in   Romans   930,   the   Gentiles   who   did   not   pursue   righteousness   have   obtained   it.   A   righteousness,   that   is,   by   faith.   But   the   people   of   Israel   who   pursued   the   law   as   a   way   of   righteousness,   have   not   obtained   it.   Isn't   this   crazy?   It's   a   huge   slap   in   the   face   for   Jewish   people   that   are   hyper   legalistic   with   the   law   to   read   that   huge   slap   in   the   face.   Yeah.   Because   Jews   consider   themselves   the   chosen   people.   Yes,   they   are.   Well,   they   were   just   chosen   first.   And   that's   what   we'll   read   in   Romans   16   and   17   1st   for   the   Jew.   And   then   the   Gentile,   the   Jews   were   chosen,   but   also   the   Gentiles   were   chosen.   They   were   chosen   second.   Yes.   That   means   that   anyone   who   believes   and   has   chose   to   put   their   faith   in   Christ   are   the   chosen.   That's   right.   I   mean,   as   much   as   God   dealt   with   the   nation   of   Israel,   and   I   know   that   they're   close   to   his   heart.   He   gave   them   the   land,   he   gave   him   the   book,   and   he   gave   them   the   law,   he   gave   them   the   law.   But   I   do   agree   that   when   you   look   at   Salvation,   they're   no   better   than   we   are,   because   it's   all   about   Christ.   It's   all   about   being   in   Christ.   It's   just   that   they   were   the   first   ones   to   hear   about   God's   plan.   They   rejected   it.   The   Gentiles   came   in   by   faith,   not   by   the   law.   And   that's   where   we   find   ourselves   today.   Absolutely.   And   that's   what   happened   in   Acts   28,   where   it   says   in   a   28,   26   to   28,   go   to   this   people   and   say,   you   will   be   ever   hearing,   but   never   understanding.   This   is   about   the   Jews   you   will   be   ever   seeing,   but   never   perceiving   for   this   people's   heart.   The   Jews   have   in   callous,   they   hardly   hear   with   their   ears   and   they   have   closed   their   eyes.   Otherwise   they   may   see   with   their   eyes   and   hear   with   their   ears   and   I   would   heal   them.   Therefore,   I   want   you   to   know   that   God's   Salvation   has   been   sent   to   the   Gentiles   and   they   will   listen.   The   good   news,   man,   when   you   were   reading   that,   I   was   thinking   of   the   term   stiff   necked   people.   Well,   the   problem   was   that   they   thought,   Kevin,   that   their   righteousness   came   about   by   the   law   which   God   gave   them,   but   they   made   it   a   law   of   righteousness.   And   the   Gentiles,   as   we   read   in   Romans   930,   did   not   pursue   a   law   of   righteousness,   but   have   become   righteous   by   faith.   Yes.   Not   by   works,   not   by   the   law.   And   this   is   stunning   to   most   people   to   even   hear   this   today.   Yeah.   A   lot   of   people   don't   really   understand   that   huge   aspect   of   God's   plan.   God   had   a   plan   all   along   to   the   Jew   ones.   They   rejected   it.   Even   in   the   Old   Testament.   It   even   goes   back   that   far.   God   wanted   them   to   go   to   all   the   nations   and   tell   them   and   they   wouldn't.   They   kept   it   to   themselves.   And   God   was   like,   okay,   stiff   neck   people.   Yeah.   And   they   considered   the   Gentiles   unclean.   One   of   the   laws   of   the   613   law   is   that   in   Acts   1028,   you   could   read   this.   And   Peter   says   to   Cornelius,   when   he's   in   the   house   with   these   Gentiles,   he   says,   Are   you   aware   it's   against   our   law   to   associate   or   even   visit   a   Gentile?   Right?   Yeah.   But   God   has   shown   me   through   the   vision   of   the   four   corners   with   the   unclean   animals   that   I   shall   not   call   anyone   impure   or   unclean. PARTICIPANT #1 10:41 Yeah. Wasn't it Peter that got called out because he was hanging out with the Gentiles? But then when Paul came, he didn't hang out with them and Paul called him out on it. Exactly. PARTICIPANT #1 11:02 I wanted to give that backstory because when we read in Romans eight and nine and ten, do you want to read that, Kevin? Romans one, eight through ten. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, it's my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times. And I pray that now, at the last, by God's will, the way may be opened for me to come to you. All right. So what is he saying? That your faith has reported all over the world? He's talking about the Gentiles faith. It's being reported all over the world because they were excluded. They were on the outs. It says in Ephesians at one time you were excluded from the promises and of God, the Commonwealth of Israel. Yes. This is Ephesians 212. And you are excluded from the promises without hope and without God in the world. Chapter two, verse 13 in Ephesians. But now in Christ, you were once far away talking about the Gentiles have been brought near by the blood of Christ. Beautiful. That's a summary of Peter's vision, that this gospel was going to go to people who were excluded from the promises of God. God was going to also go to the Gentile as he had gone to the Jew. Yeah. And that's why their faith is being reported all over the world, because it's like, wow, who would believe this huge news. That's right. I'm going to get it. Big news. It depresses. All right. So eleven to 13, I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong. That is that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith. That's what happens when you get together with a believer or you go to a conference with other believers and you see all these other people believing what you're believing, and you're really mutually encouraged by each other. Amen. Just when I do a podcast with you, I get very encouraged by your faith and knowing who you are. Absolutely. Feelings mutual. And it says in verse 13, I don't want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I plan many times to come to you, but have been prevented from doing so until now in order that I might have a harvest among you, just as I have had among the other Gentiles. So definitely you can see the direction of his message going to the Gentiles here. In verse 1314 and 15, he says, but I am obligated to both Greeks and non Greeks, both to the wise and the foolish. And there Kevin, I think he's mentioning Greeks and non Greeks. I really think he's referring to Gentiles and Jews here. Sure. He just calls them something different. Greeks, non Greeks. And then verse 15, it says, that is why I am so eager to preach the gospel also to you who are in Rome. So he preached to Gentiles in other parts of the world, and now he's preaching the gospel to the Gentiles here who are in Rome. Again, if we remember in Acts 28, he says the Jews would not listen, and he is now the Salvation. His message is now going to the Gentiles and they will listen. Absolutely. And we're off and running 2000 years ago. Yeah. So here is what I think is the meat of the first chapter in verse 16 and 17. You want to read that? I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for Salvation of everyone who believes first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the Gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written, the righteous will live by faith. Those are powerful words that are just really have real deep meaning. And Paul says, I'm not ashamed of the gospel. And don't forget, he was the headphiracy. So if he thought back that I was once the headphoracy, and if he ever thought that I was going to be preaching this gospel message of Jesus Christ, he would be embarrassed. He would be ashamed. Oh, yeah, he would. But he's saying, I'm not ashamed, even though this is what I was doing in my past life. But it says that the power of God that brings Salvation for all who believe first to the Jew. So in verse 16, it talks about the power of God that brings Salvation to everyone who believes first to the Jew and to the Gentile. You know, we think of John 316, John 336, John 524, that anyone who believes is born again, has eternal life. And that's because, you know, the Spirit of God comes to live inside of you. That's the power of God. Amen power of God is him living inside of us. Yeah. Not around us, not behind us, not among us, but inside of us. Yes, absolutely. The living God. And again, first to the Jew and then to the Gentile. And that's how God planted again, Jesus said, don't go to the Gentiles, go to the Jews. Only battle switched in Acts Ten, with the spirit of God coming on the Gentiles. The Jews wanted in Acts 15 to put the Gentiles back under the law. Peter. And Paul says, no, we couldn't obey the law. Why would we think the Gentiles could obey the law? And finally, again in Chapter 28 in Acts, Paul says, I'm going to the Gentiles and they will listen. I love how I know it's. Somewhere in there it says, you couldn't even obey the law yourself. And you want to put the Gentiles under the law. Come on. Now, that's real hypocrisy. Exactly. I mean, that goes on today, right, when somebody puts you back under the law and says, Are you doing this? Are you going here? Did you get baptized? Are you giving to the poor? What's your service? It's hypocritical, yes. You know, as I was been reading this chapter this week and just preparation for this, I think one of my realizations is how Paul is basically, of course, setting up the whole book of Romans in this first chapter. He's just setting up the whole book and he's making this righteous versus unrighteous. This is kind of the beginning of it. And it goes on and we'll read this next week. But talking about the unrighteousness, this is the righteous up to now and how you can become righteous, then he's going to come into the unrighteous and he just goes on and he just continues to build the case. But it's like building blocks. And as we go through the whole book of Romans. He just built this absolutely rock solid case for Salvation in Christ through faith and through belief. Yeah. In that word, righteousness that gets thrown around a lot usually gets associated with self righteousness because it makes people nervous when they hear righteousness. Righteousness of God is the imputed right standing. Jesus is the only righteous one. He's the only right one. He's perfect and Holy and blameless. And when he comes live inside of us by association. He makes us righteous. He makes us Holy. He makes us blameless. He makes us perfect in God's sight. I'm so glad you said that, because people listening to this may take that upon themselves to become righteous in their own strength. And that is absolutely not what we're saying. But it's the imputed righteousness of Christ. It's a gift. It's a free gift. As we read on in chapter three. Yeah. That says in chapter 321, we'll get there probably in a month or so, but it says, but now, apart from the law of righteousness of God has been made known, which the law and the prophets testified. Abraham testified to this righteousness by faith because he believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness. Absolutely. He was the first one. Yeah. Verse 22, chapter three says this righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There's no difference between Jew and Gentile anymore. No, the wall has been broken down. The wall of hostility has been broken down. Kevin, read Romans 424. There sure God will credit righteousness for us who believe in him who raised Jesus, our Lord, from the dead, man. That's the whole enchilada right there, man. Yeah. If we believe that God rose Jesus from the dead and that's so crucial, we're not just talking about Jesus dying on the cross. As good as that is, as important as that is for us, that our sins are taken away. We're talking about faith in the resurrection, believing that a dead man named Jesus is now alive and wants to come live inside of you. Now you're saved from your condition, which was spiritual death. We have a bigger problem that being a sinner in need of forgiveness, that's a big problem. But our bigger problem is that we're spiritually dead and we need life. And the only way to get that is through faith in Jesus, where we become righteous or right with God. You know, there's another cool I don't hate because I love the chosen, but I'm making all these references to the chosen people. Please watch that series. It is awesome. But there is a really cool scene in it. Often they will at the very beginning of the show, they will kind of do a story of the Old Testament and remember when the nation of Israel I don't want to get into the whole story, but they were dying because they were being eaten by snakes and Moses puts a snake on a pole and Aaron's like they're dying left and right. I can't even bear fast enough. What are you doing? Putting a steak on a pole? I'm just doing what God told me. I can't question it. We just got through with the Red sea. I'm not questioning God anymore. He says, do something. I'm going to do it. But he says, whoever looks at this snake as I walk through the camp, all you PARTICIPANT #1 25:08 have to do is look up and believe in Christ. There's no do ten things to become righteous. It's just look up, believe and receive. And then once you're righteous, there's nothing we have to do to stay righteous. I mean, that sometimes is a bigger stumbling stone for people. Once they are saved is thinking they need to stay saved or they go when they sin, they go out of fellowship with God and they ask God to forgive them and he comes back and it's like a roller coaster. It's a terrible life. It's a roller coaster. I love roller coaster. You're saved. You're not saved. You're in the fellowship. You're not in the fellowship. No. This is imputed righteousness. And that's when verse 17 says, for in the gospel, the righteousness of God is revealed. A righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it has been written, the righteous will live by faith. Yes, that's Romans 117. Yeah. So it's an amazing thing. Most people, as Hebrews 513 talks   about,   are   not   acquainted   with   these   teachings   about   righteousness.   Hebrews   513   says,   anyone   who   lives   on   milk,   still   being   an   infant,   is   not   acquainted   with   the   teaching   about   righteousness.   It's   a   stumbling   stone   to   them.   But   really,   if   we   soften   our   hearts   and   realize   that   once   we're   saved,   we're   saved   completely,   can't   lose   our   Salvation.   We   don't   become   unrighteous.   Once   we   are   right   with   God,   it   is   always   in   forever.   Then   really,   peace   can   begin   and   contentment   in   your   life,   it   can   actually   take   root   in   your   life.   And   we   could   talk   more   and   more   about   that.   But   friends,   please   just   listen   in   and   we'll   unpack   this   awesome   truth   more   and   more   as   we   dig   deeper   into   Romans   and   learn   more   about   God's,   lavishing   his   love   on   every   one   of   us   who   just   look   up   to   Christ   and   believe.   Thank   you   for   listening   to   Grace   coach.   If   you   want   to   connect   with   us,   we   would   love   to   engage   with   you.   Email   us   at   the   Grace   coach@gmail.com,   visit   our   Facebook   page   or   visit   our   website.   Gracecoach.org.    

The Book of Romans may just be the most important book in the entire Bible. Listen in as Mike and Kevin discuss the first 7 verses of chapter 1, in the Book of Romans.

Why is the resurrection of Jesus the single most important event in world history? Was it to prove the Jesus was God, or is there something more? Listen in as Mike and Kevin talk about the real meaning of the resurrection and what it might mean to you.

Do you remember years ago, we used to see people walking around baseball stadiums holding a sign, which said "John 3:16"? I used to think, why are those people doing that? Now I know. John 3:16 is probably the single most important verse in the Bible. What does this verse mean? Does it apply to me? Listen in as Mike goes in to detail about this key verse.   Transcript: Well, today we're going to talk about John 316 that says, For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 316 is probably the most popular Bible verse where even some non believers even recognize that verse, maybe because that verse, John 316, was on signs that people walked around ballparks and arenas, which you don't see that anymore, probably because of it. It's too exclusive for today. And it's unfortunate that we are not walking around the ballparks because this verse is really one of the most important verses in the Bible. But let's break it down. As far as what does John 316 really mean? It says for God, so love the world. Love is the very nature of God. One John 416 says that God is love and love is an action. So yes, we have loving feelings, but loving feelings are a result of a loving action. And so feelings will follow our thoughts, feelings will follow our actions. But love is more than just a feeling. And in this case, God did take an action. It says in one John four, nine, and ten that this is how God showed his love among us. He sent his one and only Son into the world, that we might live through him. This is love. Not that we love God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins. So God took an action. He sent Jesus Christ into the world. He was fully God. He was fully human, but his purpose was to take away the sins of the world. And then on the third day, Jesus rose from the dead and came back to life. And the Spirit of God is what brought Jesus back to life. And so that was the action that God had taken. Two Corinthians 514 says that Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all and therefore all died. So this love of God, this action of God that God took on our behalf, is what really compels us when we grab a hold of what this really is. There are many different views of what God's love is. Sometimes people look at God as a vending machine and that they pray for certain things and that they expect God to come through with those prayers. But yes, God comes through with prayers in our life, but not always according to what we want. Our deepest need is to know God. It's something that is so important and to have a relationship with him not based on fear, not based on worry or anger, but based on pure love. That God is love and only love. Religion has kind of taken God's love out of context because there are so many conditions that are put onto God's love. For instance, that a Christian comes to Christ and is born again and now they're required to be obedient and follow the law. And those conditions are what make people run from God. Our obedience and our trustworthiness are just byproducts of knowing the love of God. It's nothing that we have to do to earn God's love. It's because of God's love. So it's way different than sometimes we hear in the pulpit in different religions. So God loves the world. And when you see the word world, put your name in there, that's you Mike, for instance, God so loved Mike. God so loved Frank or sue or whoever. It doesn't matter. Put your name right in that spot that God so loves you. And that was an action. Now, what did God do? It says that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son. And so God gave something. He gave his only Son, Jesus, to us. And that's a gift, right? When you give something to somebody, it is a gift. And God certainly has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit when we put our faith in him. Acts four says, on one occasion while he was eating with them, referring to Jesus, he gave them this command, do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. Well, this gift was in the heart of God from the beginning of time when he created mankind. He knew that man would fall and the Spirit of God would leave Adam at the time who was the first man, and that we are all born in Adam's image, spiritually dead. And so we need to be made alive and to be born again. And that is the gift of God is to give his life to us so that he can live his life through us and give us eternal life. And so in Acts two, one to four, this finally happened. It says, when the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. These were the disciples. Suddenly, a sound like a blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. And they saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. It says that all of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. So this was the first time that the Spirit of God had ever come to live inside of mankind. Before that God was upon them. He was around them, but he was never living in mankind until Acts two, one, four, known as the Day of Pentecost. But that is the gift of God. And it's the gift of God today is to receive eternal life and be born again, just like they were born again back in those days. Galatians 220 says, I've been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me the life I now live in the body. I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me. So there again you see the Word gave that God sent Christ into this world to give us the Spirit of Christ living in us when we put our faith in him. And so that's this meaning here that God gave his one and only Son as a gift to all of mankind. The next part of this verse, that whoever believes so for God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish. So this is a word that we need to really think through believes in Him because James 2019 says that even the demons believe there is one God. And so the word belief is different than the word faith. The word belief means that I believe that something exists. Say, for instance, a chair. I believe that this chair will hold me up and I might just stand there in front of the chair and say, I believe that chair will hold me. But faith is putting your belief into action. It's putting faith in what you believe. So when you sit down in the chair, you've just put your faith in what you say you believe. Sometimes belief and faith are used anonymously But I believe that these verses in the Book of John and other places about believing in him are referring to putting our faith in what we believe. And so we really need to know why we need to put our faith in Jesus. So God so loved this world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life. Well, that sounds a lot like John 360 NIV version, but this is the contemporary English version that says that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life. Most of the versions do say believe in him, but believe and trust are really what the writer of the Book of John is trying to get to us to put our faith in what we believe. So why do we need to believe in Jesus? Why do you need eternal life? This is what is really missing in many sermons and many online teachings is why do I need to be born again? Why do I need eternal life? And that takes us back all the way to the garden. And we have to go back there to see why we need eternal life. Because Adam was created in the image of God. He was created alive physically, but he also was created alive spiritually. Genesis 127 says that so God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God, he created them male and female. So God created Adam and the image of himself. Genesis 27 says that then God gave the breath of life to Adam. Now that was the breath of life physically in his lungs so he could breathe. But also that's where the spirit of God was given to Adam. And that only means that God was living inside of Adam. The spirit of God was in dwelt in Adam. That's the good news of how mankind was created. Now, Genesis 216 to 17 says that the Lord commanded the man, Adam, you're free to eat from any tree in the garden, but you must not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden, for when you eat of it, you will surely die. So this story of Anna and Eve, it's been talked about and sometimes ridiculed about over the years. But really, this is the crux. This is the place where the spirit of God left mankind because Adam and Eve were confused, they were lied to by Satan. In Genesis three, four and five, it says that Satan says, you will certainly not die. Go ahead and eat from that tree. The serpent said to the woman, for God knows that when you eat of it, your eyes will be open and you will be like God, knowing good and evil. So this is where Satan tricked Adam and Eve and they ate from the tree in the middle of the garden that God told them not to. God gave them only one command. And this command was, do not eat from the tree in the middle of the garden or you will surely die. Well, they did in Genesis 322 says, oh my gosh, this is an unbelievable verse. And says, And God said, the man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take from the tree of life and live forever. So that was it. And then Genesis 323 says that the Lord banished him. That's referring to Adam. But Eve was with him from the Garden of Eden, and there was a waving sword banishing and keeping them from now from the tree of life. So, oh, my gosh, this was it. The Spirit of God had left Adam and Eve and they were spiritually dead. They were condemned for hell. And this is how it all began. Genesis five, three, it says that when Adam lived 130 years, so that's how we know he didn't die physically that day when they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Here says that Adam would live 130 years altogether. He lived 930 years. But it says at 130, he had a son. Now, catch this in his own likeness, in his own image, and he named him Seth. Adam's son, Seth was not born in the image of God. He was born in the image and likeness of Adam. Now, that's so contrary to today, because we hear from the pulpit again, from sermons from everywhere, news, TV that were born in the image of God. And that is not true. We are born in the image and likeness of Adam, spiritually dead, condemned for hell. That is the way, unfortunately, as a result of Adam's disobedience, he didn't obey God in the garden. We are all born that way. That is so crucial to understand that, that we're more than just sinners in need of forgiveness because that's what we hear. Again, if you ask most people what's their understanding of Salvation, they'll say that Jesus took away my sins and it stops there. The gospel. The good news is more than just that Jesus took away our sins is that we're dead spiritually as a result of Adam's disobedience and in need of life. Romans 512, it says, therefore just as sin entered the world through one man, that's Adam and death through sin, like we've been talking about, that spiritual death came about as Adam sin and his disobedience. And it says in this way, death came to all people because all of sinned. So the spiritual death has come to all people. All means all. That means everybody. There's nobody excluded from that. Ephesians 21 says, as for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins and that's how we came into this world. Spiritually dead. Now, how many of you know that? How many of you have heard that before that this is our real problem. This is why John 316 is such a crucial verse. Romans 623 says, for the wages of sin is death, the cost of sin, of Adam's sin, of Adam's disobedience. The wages of his sin is death. But contrary to that, the gift of God is eternal life in Jesus Christ. John 17 three says, now this is eternal life, that they may know you the only true God and Jesus Christ who you have sent. So we need to know our condition. We need to know how we are born into this world more again than just a sinner. We all know that we sin. We all know we do wrong things and think wrong things. We know that. And thank God Jesus took away our sins at the cross. He took away the sins for the whole world. But if you go to a doctor because you don't feel well, before he can give you a remedy or a prescription or to help you feel better, he's got to diagnose you. He has to tell you. He has to take some tests and blood pressure and take some lab tests to find out what's wrong. What's the matter with you before he can prescribe anything? If his diagnosis is off, then his prescription and his remedy will be off. You could die or you could have a long term illness as a result of the wrong diagnosis. Well, in the same way, if we don't understand our diagnosis that we're spiritually dead in need of life, we may miss that. That is why I'm doing this podcast. That is why we started Grace Coaches, that you would know that. You would know Jesus, you would know that you need eternal life and why you need eternal life. So again, we're just not sinners in need of forgiveness. We're dead spiritually and in need of life. So the next part of the verse says that whoever believes in Him shall not perish. Well, what does perish mean? It means to die. It means to die eternally in this case, to go to hell or to stay in our condemned state of spiritual death. John 318 says, Whoever believes in him is not condemned, that him is Jesus. But whoever does not believe in Jesus catch this stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God's one and only Son. Jesus didn't come to condemn anybody. Like so much of religion teaches, that's why people run away from religion, because of the message that we come to Christ and all of a sudden we're condemned and God is watching over us and spanking us and hitting us with the great wooden spoon in the sky. Well, people run from that. And that's not true because he's taken away all of our sins. Matthew 25 46 that says that then they will go away to eternal punishment. But the righteous to eternal life. The righteous are those who believe, who put their faith in what they believe, who've come to Christ. And the Spirit of God has come to live inside of that person and that person is born again. Well, those are the righteous. They're righteous because they have the righteous one Jesus living in them. That's what makes them righteous. It's an imputed righteousness. John 1028 says, I give them eternal life and they shall not perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. So once you are born again, you will never lose that your Salvation, you are saved eternally. John 524 is one of my favorite verses for very truly, I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes in him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged, but has crossed over from death to life. You put your faith in Jesus, you have crossed over from spiritual death to spiritual life, and you'll never go back to spiritual death because all of your sins are forgiven, all of the promises of God that he says, I'll never leave you. You are saved completely and eternally. You will not perish. But those who don't believe in Jesus, they will perish, they will die eternally, they will be condemned, and they will enter a place called Hell, the day of their last breath on Earth. And so that's the reason for evangelism is to tell as many people as we can that God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish spiritually, but have eternal life. And eternal life is mentioned 17 times in the book of John. It's a 180 from perishing, isn't it? Eternal life is forever, it lasts forever. There is no end to eternal life. It's perpetual and it's forever. We can't lose that once we have it. Why is that? Because now we have the eternal one Jesus living inside of us. Why are we right with God? Because Jesus is righteous. Why do we have eternal life? Because Jesus is eternal life. And where does he live? He lives in us. And we read Galatians 220 earlier that Jesus lives in us and we'll be with God forever. And so this is so crucial It's so crucial to know our condition. It's so crucial to come to Christ for God's provision of eternal life. And I'll just end the podcast today on this last verse one John 511 and twelve and this is the testimony God has given us eternal life and this life is in his son. Whoever has the son has life. Whoever does not have the son does not have life. I pray that you ponder on these verses and ponder on this podcast pass it on to a friend. That is our goal as a result of this podcast today that somebody would come to Christ and be saved and have eternal life. God bless. Thank you for listening to Grace Coach. If you want to connect with us, we would love to engage with you. Email us at the Gracecoach@gmail.com visit our Facebook page or visit our website gracecoach.org.  

The traditional view of the Advent season refers to the coming and birth of Jesus Christ, traditional known as Christmas. This is the first coming of Jesus. But is there more? Yes! Jesus is coming back again a second time, to meet us in the clouds, all of those who are born again and all of those who were born again and have died. We will meet the Lord in the air!  

Today, many Christians are either mixing law and grace or completely under the law. The law was given to Israel only. It was never given to 21st century Christians from a Gentile back round. More than that, the law of Moses and the 10 Commandments ended at the cross (Romans 10:4). Find out how get to unentangled from legalism and come in to the grace and freedom of God.

Do you need to confess your sins to God in order for God to forgive you? In other words, if you confess you sins to God he will forgive you, but if you don't, he won't? Or does 1 John 1:9 have a completely different meaning and purpose? Listen in as Mike and Kevin discuss the single most misunderstood verse in the New Testatment.

The church of born again believers, began on the day of Pentecost. On that day 3000 Jewish converts received the Holy Spirit and were born again.    This is how things were until the Apostle Peter entered the home of Cornelius, who was a Gentile centurion.   The Apostle Peter and fellow Jews "were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit of God had been poured out even on Gentiles" (Acts 10:45)   God's predestination plan was to make one new man out of the two, thus making peace between Jews and Gentiles, who are born again.   For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him...(Romans 10:12).   Listen in to how this happened!    

The identity issue is central to our lives. Who we think we are determines what we do and how we live, but it is ever changing. Jesus, on the other hand, gives us a brand new identity, which never changes. When we put our faith in Him and are born again, Christ comes to live inside us. He gives us new life, makes us righteous, perfect and holy in His sight.  Transcript Unknown Speaker 0:01 Want to discover your freedom in Christ? Then listen in as Mike Stone and Kevin Smith talk about it. Today on grace coach, Unknown Speaker 0:10 welcome to grace coach. I am Mike Stone, and I'm with my good buddy and podcast host Kevin Smith. Unknown Speaker 0:17 What's up, Mike? How are you? Unknown Speaker 0:21 Good to be with you. Unknown Speaker 0:23 Doing great. Great to be with us. Nice, beautiful sunny day in Chicago. Unknown Speaker 0:28 Yeah, we need that here. Unknown Speaker 0:31 Yeah, I know. You said you were out in your backyard with your dog. I was out in my front yard with my dog planting grass passes today. So hopefully it will grow. That's right. Well, you know, Unknown Speaker 0:43 we put down seed. And while I was watering it, I was thinking, well, Carlos, my landscaper, he put down the seed. I'm watering it. But God makes me Unknown Speaker 0:56 Oh, amen. Well, I'm Unknown Speaker 0:58 part of this Unknown Speaker 1:01 small part. But you know, you're a part. Unknown Speaker 1:03 Yeah. So Kevin, we're going to talk about our identity today, both in the world and in Christ. So it should be a great show. Unknown Speaker 1:13 Yes, I am. So looking forward to this love just talking about the most important things in the world that we can talk about. And one of the things that I love about talking about your identity in Christ is because it's vital to understand this to enjoy your relationship with God, not just a muddle through, not just to grind it out, not just oh, okay, Sunday morning, got to wake him go to church or you know, whatever activities you're doing. But when you truly understand your identity in Christ, it really well, I would even go as far to say, you can't really enjoy your relationship with God unless you understand this. Because it's just going to be a drudgery, it's just going to be a to mark off to do list and get it done and, and go on. But when you understand that you were born in Adam, and now you are in Christ, you can you can rest. And as we get into these some of the Scriptures, when I read today, our prayer is that everyone listening, if you're not in Christ, at this very moment, that you would just surrender your heart and your life to God, and enter into a new relationship with Him. And if you are in Christ, you do understand that he is your Lord and Savior, that this would be a great encouragement. And maybe you are in that drudgery aspect. And that you can just change your way you relate to God, Unknown Speaker 2:56 our identity before we were saved, you know, up to the time of our salvation, versus in our identity, after we were saved, it's like you said, it's so different, because we did go from being in Adam, to being in Christ. But I know for me, up to the time of becoming born again, in my early 30s, I really felt like a fish out of water. I never felt like I belonged. Wherever I was, even though I might have been in a club or in a neighborhood. I never really knew who I was. I just really struggled with my identity. And then also the identity that I had was really just a 30 year old guy. It really determined what I did, it dictated my choices just like as a born again, Christian. Now, my choices are dictated because of my new identity. So dictionary.com says that identity has to do with your condition, or your character as to who a person is, and that it dictates the values that you hold. And again, it dictates the choices you make. Many of us think of ourselves as an athlete, or not everyone thinks of ourselves as an athlete. We all have these identities in the world. Maybe you're a mother, maybe you're identified by your religious affiliation, as a Baptist or as a Presbyterian or it might be based on that you're a businessman. Well, that's okay until you either go out of business or sell your business, and you're no longer a businessman. Maybe you're just now you're ready retired, and now you have a new identity, but it's always changing. That's the thing about these worldly identities, they're always changing. And we're the identity we have as a born again, Christian, that never changes, once you become a born again, Christian. Unknown Speaker 5:20 Absolutely. And, you know, we're not saying that there's anything wrong with all the other identities, whether it's a mother or a father, family member, business person, a sports star, there's nothing wrong with because it's, you can't stop that. I mean, if you're going to have that, if you're a mother, you're a mother. But what what the deal is not to put your credibility or your livelihood or who you are in those identities, because like you're saying, they all they all change at some point or another. Most most, any identity that you're going to get is going to fluctuate, you're either going to be good at it, or bad at it, or maybe not that are, Unknown Speaker 6:09 then you're always comparing yourself to other people, other mothers, athletes, other Unknown Speaker 6:16 levels. Another thing it's people's opinion of you in that role, is going to change. And that's the killer of putting any stock or value in those identities. Because compared to your identity in Christ, that as a child of God, that is never going to change that is rock solid. Hebrews chapter six, verse nine, as this hope, is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls, it leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary. And it's really the hope of having the hope of being in Christ. Hebrews is a great book, but that's just one of the anchored identities Unknown Speaker 7:07 that we haven't cried. And that's a great description. When do you think of a ship? And when they throw out their anchor, they're doing that so that it doesn't move any anywhere? And yeah, this anchor we have of being in Christ, it, it's an anchor for our soul, because it doesn't change, it doesn't move. Once you are born again, in Christ comes to live inside of you. So it's just awesome. You know, one of the things that we want to talk about is what does it mean? What does identity in Christ mean? What does it look like? Unknown Speaker 7:48 Yes. So what is your identity in Christ mean? Let me read Galatians 220. And it will kind of frame it up a little bit. In fact, it's a foundational verse Galatians 220 says, I have been crucified with Christ and is no longer I who live but Christ who lives in me, in a life which I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. And if you go through the the New Testament and just look at the word in, and I know we've talked about this, about being in Adam and in Christ, but please, readers, and listeners, don't just skim over that and kind of look forward to what is going on. But that small little word in is very pivotal to really understanding where you're at. You're either in Adam, or you're in Christ. And you can see that so many times through the New Testament. Unknown Speaker 8:54 Yeah, first, john five, I believe it's a nine to 11 says that if you have the sun, you have life, eternal life, if you do not have the sun, you do not have eternal life. So we're born into this world, spiritually dead separated from God. And that's our condition. That's our identity. That's who we are. Yes, we are in Adam. And Jesus came to not only take away our sins, but to offer us eternal life that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish. And when you believe in Him, you will now have a new identity. That is a great anchor for your soul. And you are in Christ and Christ is in you. He's not around you is not in front of you. He's not behind you. He is inside of you. And living it. Yeah, that's just great confidence to have no matter where you're at no matter what situation you're in, to know that Christ is inside of you. Unknown Speaker 10:07 So let me read this Second Peter one four says, by which he is granted to us as precious and very great promises, so that through them, you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. So we have a divine nature, we're partakers of the divine nature, that is God's God is the divine nature that comes and lives inside of us, as Peter says, and that's Unknown Speaker 10:46 actually Jesus Christ Himself. Yes, he is God, and He lives inside of us. Yeah. That's why we're partaking in the divine nature. Because he's, like Galatians 220 says, it is not no longer I who live but it's Christ who lives in me. Yes, so crucial. Unknown Speaker 11:10 Yeah, just another side note on that I think a lot about Yes, the Bible says that many, many times, you know, Christ has come to live inside of you. But think about the Trinity. And it's the whole package is the Holy Spirit. Christ said, I'm going away, and I'm going to send the comfort to you. Because it's good to send a comfort to you, because Christ could not be everywhere he was, he was limited in the sense of his human body. But the Holy Spirit is not limited, the Holy Spirit can go and live in each one of us. And as, as Jesus, in the book of john, when disciples are hiding in a room, Jesus came, he breathed the Holy Spirit on that tongues of fire came to rest on him. And he just foreshadow what's going to happen in Pentecost. So it's Christ is in every single believer, get it, get it out. Unknown Speaker 12:13 And you know, Kevin, you know, so many people struggle with anxiety. I mean, this is a an epidemic, going out, especially coming out of COVID. You couldn't get into seer counselor if you wanted to today, because there are two months booked out. So many people are dealing with fear and anxiety. And there's only one answer to that. And not any specific drug which alters your thinking, until the drug wears off. But it's knowing that Christ lives in you. And I understand some people do go on medication, and it gets them through. And I understand that. But ultimately, if they're really going to overcome fear and anxiety, it's all about them, knowing that Christ is living inside of them, and that he'll never leave them once he's inside of you. Because many teachers, you could lose your salvation. We've talked about that on other shows, that's a terrible identity to have. Because that's not an anchor for yourself. That's something that you have that you could lose based on your performance or behavior, you think that he doesn't forgive you, he doesn't, and that he left, he left you because of your sins? Well, that can happen. Because Jesus took away all of our sins. So not only does he come to live inside of you, but he never leaves you once he's living in you. Unknown Speaker 13:51 Yes. And so I just want to circle back on that, as far as the medical, you know, people taking drugs for medicine. And I know that there are many respected doctors out there that, you know, we're not doctors, we don't, we don't know, you know, all the whole ins and outs of your brain makeup. And I know there's respected doctors who do say that, you know, there's medicines that help out the brain function. And, you know, I've got two really close friends who totally ascribe to, you know, drugs, helping them out just an a, you know, being able to be in a right frame of mind, even to understand the truth of So, we're not throwing, like Mike said, we're not throwing medical medications totally under the bus. But we do have a greater hope that you definitely do not want to overlook and that is the hope in Christ and just understanding you know, this these great truths that will go So much further in your anxiety and we wholeheartedly believe that there is a battle for your spiritual soul. There's a battle for our spiritual soul. The Satan wants to destroy us He wants us to getting. He wants us to think anxious thoughts. He wants us think there is no way out that I've got to kill myself that I've got to take drugs. I've got to drink that I've got to go to other things in the world to medicate myself. Well, we're here to tell you. I'm here to tell you. I've tried many. You Sex, drugs, rock and roll? I've been down it. I've smoked crack cocaine. I've done many, many things that the world offers. And is a not not the answer. Jesus right answer. So got on a little rabbit trail. Now. Well, Unknown Speaker 15:57 thanks for sharing that. Hey, Kevin. So one another question about identity is when you when do you receive your identity. And I wanted to read Ephesians, 113 and 14 beautiful because I think that tells us exactly when we receive our new identity. And it says and you were also included in Christ, when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation, when you believed, you are marked in him with a seal, the promise Holy Spirit, who is a deposit, guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possessions, to the raised praise of his glory. So it says when you believed you were marked in him, with a seal, you are marked as a born again, Christian in Christ, you receive the promise Holy Spirit. And he is a deposit guaranteeing our salvation, our inheritance, until the rapture until the redemption of those who are God's possession. What a great verse. That was, who we are, when it happened, and where we're going. Unknown Speaker 17:25 I love that man, that just that's that is the whole deal right there. Unknown Speaker 17:30 So yeah, there's just some great, great things about our identity in Christ. You know, the confidence that we have this new identity of who God says we are, that we're a child of God, we're forgiven, we're reconciled. We're born again, we're righteous. And now we have this great hope of eternal life. We have this great hope of the coming of Jesus to rescue us from Planet Earth here one day, and that will all gonna meet together in the air with Jesus and all be together. It'll be a great and glorious day when that happens. Unknown Speaker 18:16 Amen, amen. Amen. And France, we just hope that as you've listened to this podcast, and really that you can now I just enjoy your relationship a guide, but also a part of that enjoying is resting, resting in the confidence that Christ did the work and you receive the gift and just rest in that and that's, that's really kind of goes back to the whole stress and anxiety aspect of it when when you're resting. You're not you're not so anxious. You're not striving you're not striving if you know the God of the universe who created the world thinks you are a okay 100% that he can't wait to see you that he is sealed. You are always spirit. And he is literally counting the days in order for you to go to the great wedding feast in the sky with his son. Come on now. I mean that he How can you be anxious? If that's your destiny, if that is who you are. Unknown Speaker 19:35 That is good news. Unknown Speaker 19:38 Thank you for listening to grace coach. If you want to connect with us, we would love to engage with you. Email us at the Grace coach@gmail.com visit our Facebook page or visit our website Grace coach.org Transcribed by https://otter.ai

We all have a tendency to put our hope in the things of this world. There is nothing unusual about that, it's part of our human nature. But what if we could learn to put our hope in heaven on a daily basis? Or even within each hour? What would that be like? How would that affect the way we live?

Do you know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Jesus Christ is not counting your sins against you? Or are you still struggling with this "too good to be true" concept, that all your sins are forgiven by God; past, present and future? Listen in as Mike and Kevin talk about how God remembers your sins no more.  

Some people believe the water baptism in necessary for salvation. Some people believe that because Jesus was baptized with water, they need to. What do the Scriptures say about baptism? Tune in as Mike and Kevin talk about it.

In our last podcast, we mentioned Bible verses about eternal security and that once we are saved by Jesus, we are saved completely and forever. In this podcast we discuss verses in the Book of Hebrews, that some use to teach Christians that they can walk away from God and lose eternal life. God forbid. We hope that after listening to this podcast, you will be fully convinced that you are eternally secure, forever and ever. 

The doctrine of eternal security is one of the most important doctrines in the Scriptures. Knowing that God will never leave you, no matter what, is the very essence of the New Covenant and of the love of God. Listen in and see why you can never lose your salvation, once you have it.

In the Bible, the word righteous mean to be right with God. How can we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that we are right in God's sight?  Does it come by works or by faith or a combination of the two?  Listen in to find out how this happens.

Most Christians would describe salvation this way...."Jesus died for my sins". Is there more to the message of than Jesus's death on the cross? Romans 5:10 describes it this way..."For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!" Listen in as Mike and Kevin discuss this most important topic and verse.

One day Jesus is coming back to get his Church, those who are born again or who have died and were born again. This day is coming soon and we will be with the Lord forever. Listen in as Mike and Kevin talk about our home in heaven.

Jesus used an ancient Galilean wedding to describe what the rapture will be like. After the bride accepts the bridegroom's offer, they both wait and prepare, until the bridegroom's father says "it time to unite and marry". When the bride hears the trumpet call, she knows the bridegroom is coming to get her. In the same way, when we, as born again Christians, hear the trumpet call, we know Jesus is coming back to take us to be with him forever. 

The rapture is an event in which Jesus will come in the clouds and snatch away all people who are either born again and still living, or have already died. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 says that we will meet him in the air, and then be with him forever. How can you know for sure that you are born again and rapture ready?

The single greatest event of all time is the rapture or snatching away of born again Christians. This is the day the Lord Jesus returns possibly in mid air to snatch or take away his Church. This is the blessed hope Titus 2:13 talks about-"The glorious appearing of our God and Savior Jesus Christ". 

Good Friday should be called Great Friday. So many awesome things happened when Jesus died on the cross. This is one side of the coin. The other side of the coin was the resurrection of Jesus. This was and is God's plan to offer new life to us. Listen in as Mike and Kevin talk about it. Email us with your questions or comments to thegracecoach@gmail.com.

Ever had an argument with someone? After cooler heads prevailed did you then take the first step toward them and ask for them forgiveness? If they accepted your apology, you were reconciled to them and vice versa. If they didn't accept your offer of forgiveness, you were not reconciled with them and your relationship was shaky. In the same way, God has taken the first step and has forgiven the whole world of their sins. Have you been reconciled to Him?

OK got it, Jesus Christ is coming back to earth. When He comes, what will God's judgement of you be based on? Listen in to this great conversation as Zach Maldonado joins Mike and Kevin on Grace Coach. Have a question? Email us @ thegracecoach@gmail.com or visit www.gracecoach.org.