Join us for an inspiring episode of the International Gospel Hour where we explore the theme of grace within the Bible. From the story of Ruth and Boaz to the letters of Paul, discover the profound lessons of how grace shapes our faith and service to God. Delve into theological insights on redemption, righteousness, and the teachings of Ephesians and Colossians.
SPEAKER 01 :
Let’s glean and collect little by little with the beautiful subject of grace. That’s coming up from the International Gospel Hour. Let’s glean, shall we?
SPEAKER 03 :
Hi, this is Jay Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God’s Word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archie of International Gospel Hour. Let’s begin.
SPEAKER 01 :
Well, thank you always to our J-Web and greetings to all of you. It’s great having you with us and how thankful we are that you have the interest in God and the things there be of God through His Word as we study together from the International Gospel Hour on the air since 1934. And you have helped us to do that good work through the years. Thank you for listening. Maybe you have seen the beautiful painting by Millais known as The Gleaners, where it shows three peasant women stooping low as they glean a field of wheat. Now, that brings to mind the book of Ruth and how Ruth gleaned the field that belonged to Boaz. Now, Boaz was being charitable, as it was an offering for others to gather wheat left behind after a harvest or to glean in the corners where the cutters could not get to that. And that was a matter of charity. People could glean from the field. It’s like Boaz was paying taxes to help those in need. Well, you know, you think about it, how that field was accessible to everyone and as is the grace of God. Today I want us to just glean a little, if you will, take away something that is accessible to everyone, the grace of God. And when one hears the word grace, you know, that affords a moment of refreshing and peace. It’s like the word mercy, similar. Let’s glean a little bit from the following. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6 and verse 8. Are we not thankful for Noah? especially when we see how the first seven verses of Genesis 6 shows us how bad a shape the world was in. You know, I mentioned Ruth a little earlier, and unto Boaz she exclaimed in Ruth 2 and verse 10, When she fell on her face and she bowed herself to the ground, she said to him, Why have I found grace in thine eyes, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger? That little bit of gleaning reaps much, for are we not thankful for Boaz, of whom we read within the lineage of Jesus Christ in Matthew 1? To the Christians in Rome, Romans 3, 24-26, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. whom God had set forth to be a propitiation through faith in His blood, to declare His righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God, to declare, I say at this time, His righteousness, that He might be just and the justifier of him which believes in Jesus. That’s a lot of reaping from gleaning. I mean, glean the word grace, redemption, propitiation, righteousness, and so on. Well, friends, we’re going to glean a little bit more about God’s grace. But first, we’d like for you to share the following with your Spanish friends and neighbors. Yes, our Hispanic podcast. Here is our J-Web.
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International Gospel Hour, in collaboration with SpanishBibleSchool.org, presents a biblical podcast for our Spanish-speaking friends. Please join Marlon Rotana for Christianos Fieles, also known as Faithful Christians, at your favorite podcast platform. That’s Christianos Fieles with Marlon Rotana. You can also hear the broadcast at our website, internationalgospelhour.com.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, let’s glean from God’s grace and let’s see salvation. What about Ephesians 2, 8-10? For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast. For we are his workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. God’s mercy and grace is patient and persevering in the past. And we think of 2 Peter 3 and verse 9. And is patient with us in the present as we walk with him. Have you ever considered how the Ephesian brethren were saved by grace through faith? Well, Ephesians 1 and verse 13 tells us how they had heard the gospel and thus believed in Christ. We go back to Acts 20 and verse 21. They understood repentance and confession. They understood in Acts 19 and verse 18. But you know they were baptized in Acts 19 and verse 5. I love this thought by one named Copeland, that their faith together with the working of God is how one is raised with Christ in baptism. And that’s affirmed in Colossians 2 and verse 12. Buried with him in baptism in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God who raised him from the dead. Well, see, the Ephesians, they were baptized into Christ. Acts 19 verse 5. Someone says, well, that is a spiritual baptism. Well… No, friends, because later, remember, Peter and John came, or rather, Paul laid hands on them to receive the Spirit. You see, when they were buried with him in baptism, someone says, well, now, that’s a work of man. No, friends, baptism, according to Colossians 2 and verse 12, buried with him in baptism, in which you also were raised with him through faith in the working of God. Baptism is a work of God. Now, where does the idea of His workmanship come in? Verse 10. Well, we are created unto good works. Our works are expressed by our faith. Or our faith, rather, is expressed by our works, James 2. Works that glorify the Father, Matthew 5, 16. Works that consider one another to help one another, Hebrews 10, verse 24. And works of which we should be zealous thereof, Titus 2, verse 14. All of this is learned through the saving grace of God. Now let’s glean a little bit more from God’s grace. And let’s see not only salvation, but where to stand. Have you considered that we stand in the grace of God? 1 Peter 5, verses 10-12 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you, To him be glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I consider him, I have written to you briefly exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. You see, the Christian not only is saved by the grace of God and obedience to God, But also, the Christian has a place wherein to stand in the true grace of God, a saving grace and, yes, a standing grace. Look at what all God provides of those that suffer. How about perfect or mature grace? That we learn from those sufferings, those challenges, and our faith is strengthened. How about the word established? That is a concrete term, if you will, which means established or settled strong. And then the word strengthened is enhanced, going back to perfection, and then settle the same. We see how God’s grace helps us and just keeps us rooted and standing as we walk in Him, as we stand in Him. Let’s glean a little bit more from God’s grace and let’s see how to serve. I see salvation, I see standing, but now serving, how I respond. Hebrews 12, 28, Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. You see, receiving the kingdom and the church and the kingdom are one and the same. We see that affirmed in Matthew 16, verse 18, Colossians 1, verse 13, of those who are conveyed into the kingdom. And friends, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, we can serve God from that kingdom. What a beautiful thought to serve God. His grace that we may serve God to tell others of what God has done for us. In Titus chapter 2 and verse 11, the Bible says, Friends, when you think of the grace of God, And what all God grants us through His grace. What a joy that we may respond to His grace. And no matter, it is worldwide. It’s international, if you will. That’s the blessing of sharing Christianos Fieles with you. so many of you through the favorite podcast platforms and even opportunities for over-the-air radio, how thankful we are for that opportunity. And, friends, we’re thankful that we can go worldwide with our broadcasts, and how thankful technology of man has opened many doors for us. You see, friends, as we glean from God’s grace, we glean and we take, we see salvation, we see a place to stand, a place to serve. Friends, maybe we’ve talked about some things that you would like to study a little further on your own. And I’d like for us to go back to the Bible in all of our studies. But you know, our friend Rob Whitaker has an awesome online study that I’d love for you to check out. And it’s called Back to the Bible. Here is our J-Web.
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Let’s go back to the Bible, shall we? On International Gospel Hour, we always desire to go back to the Bible for our studies, and now we are delighted to offer a special video series through our friends at World Video Bible School. It’s called Back to the Bible with our friend Rob Whitaker. A simple yet thorough study that deals with authority in religion, the church, and your salvation. It’s free, friends. Call us at 855-444-6988. Tell us your email address, say back to the Bible, and we will send the link to you. It’s that easy. You can go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab, leave us your email, type back to the Bible in the message box, and we will send the link right away. We look forward to hearing from you.
SPEAKER 01 :
Friends, we greatly encourage you to take a view of the Back to the Bible study with our friend Rob Whitaker. It is a tremendous study, and we hope that it will be of advantage to you. We’re grateful to offer Christianos Villalos our Hispanic study. And to also check out the WVBS Spanish Bible School website. YouTube channel to see the great work of our Marlon Ratana. I’m thankful you joined me today that we could glean from God’s grace. Let us put it to use, and friends, we’ll study together at another time. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
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Thank you for listening to our broadcast today, and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God’s Word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com God be with you till we meet again.