In this episode, we delve deep into the wondrous gifts given to us by God. Our speaker highlights the essential teachings of divine salvation, bringing clarity to the Bible’s message on living a life in Christ. Discover the meaning of true joy and spiritual fulfillment through the gospels that call for faith, baptism, and a commitment to God’s will. With heartfelt insights and a reminder of the free resources available to grow in knowledge, this episode is a spiritual guide to understanding God’s rich gifts.
We all have received a gift, haven’t we? Well, coming up, let’s talk about some gifts we should accept. God’s Wonderful Rich Gifts, just ahead from the International Gospel Hour. We’ll be right back.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
SPEAKER 03 :
Amen. Amen. Amen.
SPEAKER 01 :
And greetings to all of you. I’m grateful for each and every listener to our work here at International Gospel Hour. You know, we’ve been on the air since 1934. That is well over 90 years. And how blessed we are. And the only reason we’re on the air? Well, a couple of good reasons. One, the greatest message. And we can reach the greatest audience. And we’re thankful that you’ve tuned in. Now, friends, allow me to mention something from the very outset. I want to mention a website, addedtothechurch.com. That’s addedtothechurch.com, one word, addedtothechurch.com. This is a great effort by our friends DJ and Sarah Curry of Parkersburg, West Virginia. You’ll find some exceptional articles by them and others. And you can also subscribe free to two digital publications, The Mountain Messenger and The New Testament Expositor. So please check them out at AddedToTheChurch.com. Once again, that’s AddedToTheChurch.com. And let them know the International Gospel Hour sent you. Now, we’re going to pick up with our study from our previous broadcast of God’s wonderful rich gifts. In part one, we noted how God gave His only begotten Son, John 3, 16 and 17, and only through Christ we have any opportunity of salvation, for there is salvation in none other, Acts 4 and verse 12. Other texts for the Christians, such as 2 Peter 1, 1-4 and 1 Timothy 6, 17-19, that tell us how God continually gives gifts to those who obey Him, how He is continually a giver unto them. From Titus 2, 11-14, we see the teaching grace of God expressing these gifts given. gifts such as salvation, how to live, what to avoid, and again, giving Himself for us to be redeemed and to become His. And from the greatest gift, Jesus Christ, and through Christ, God wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth, 1 Timothy 2 and verse 4. So let’s conclude our study of God’s wonderful rich gifts, and there’ll be more to come in a moment, but first… Let us grant you a gift, an opportunity, to check out an awesome online video series that you can study at your pace. Here is our J-Web with those details.
SPEAKER 02 :
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, a gift of God, salvation in Christ. Let’s talk about this a little bit. If the gift of God is salvation in Christ, let’s pause for a moment and think about being outside of Jesus Christ. Let’s think about such definitions as lost, separated from God, evil, a slave of sin, without hope, without Christ, damned, condemned, aliens in darkness. None of those words are pleasant words. Nothing among those words should be something that we pursue. Friend, to be outside of Christ, to be lost, to be separated from God, and to be involved in a way of living, that’s just simply not profitable. But oh, my friends, when we are in Christ, let’s think about that. You know, in Christ, only in Christ is there salvation. 2 Timothy 2 and verse 10, Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. To think about being in Christ is one who is saved. In Acts 2 and verse 47, the Bible tells us how the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. So to be in Christ, you have to be in His church. What did they do to get in Christ, to be saved? In Acts 2 and verse 38, based upon their faith, they gathered, they believed, they were on a feast at Pentecost. Paul said when they asked men and brethren, what shall we do? Peter, rather, said, repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. We find with many other words he testified and exhorted, telling them to save themselves from that untold or perverse generation. And verse 41 said, They that gladly received his word were baptized, and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. I want to throw something at you, friends. I remember a young good friend with a Bible dictionary, online little handheld dictionary, tested it. Folks, the only way one can get into Jesus Christ is to be baptized into Christ. The passages of Romans 6, 3-6 and Galatians 3, 26 and 27 affirm such. And friends, we need to be in Christ Jesus. Those that obeyed the gospel in Acts chapter 2 were added to the church. They were placed in the church, which is his body, Ephesians 1, 22 and 23, and Colossians 1, 18. Added to the church. Did you know, friends, you can be added to the church we read of in the New Testament? Not a denominational body in which to be voted in. but to be added to the church that God will add you to through obedience to His will. That is His gift unto us. Oh, to be in Christ. One is a new creation, 2 Corinthians 5, 17. Reconciliation is in Christ, 2 Corinthians 5, 18. What about redemption in Christ, Ephesians 1, 7? Forgiveness in Christ, Colossians 1, 14. All spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ, Ephesians 1, verse 3. Friends, a gift of God, salvation to be in Christ Jesus. What a joy. How about another gift? Through the death and the resurrection of Christ, that indeed is a gift from the Father. You see, without the shedding of blood, there is no remission, Hebrews 9 and verse 22. And Jesus, upon that last supper, took the cup and said, This is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. That blood which is shed to redeem us, according to Peter in 1 Peter 1, 18 and 19. And as we noted moments ago of Romans chapter 6, 3 and 4, We are baptized into the death of Christ, wherein at His death was His blood shed. And in Romans 6, 3 and 4, Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into His death? Therefore we are buried with Him in baptism into death. And like as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we should also be raised to walk in newness of life. That is the victory that is in Christ Jesus, 1 Corinthians 15 and verse 57. Friends, through the death and resurrection, that is a gift from the Father, for through the death and the resurrection, sin is defeated, death is defeated, the wrath of God is overcome, and there is a victory that is assured, to where Paul said to the Christian in Romans 8, 37, yet in all these things we are more, more than conquerors, through Him, through Him. who loved us. Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. To God be the glory. Oh, friends, God’s wonderful rich gifts. What a joy for us to embrace them, to walk within them. And, friends, to think of the blessing that is before us. You know, as those on the day of Pentecost, we can believe and repent of our sins. We can be baptized into Christ. We can be added to His church. Maybe you’d like to think more on that. Maybe you’d like to study that further. Friends, we are always blessed to offer a number of free Bible courses. And we love to hear from our listeners who may have some questions in their study. I’m going to pause and defer to our J-Web who will tell you about the Bible course by mail that we’ve offered for so long here at International Gospel Hour that thousands have studied with. And here is our Jay Webb of how you can receive your free Bible course by mail.
SPEAKER 02 :
Our long-time free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988. And leave your name, address, and just say, Home Study. That’s it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the Contact tab, and leave us the same information, name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it’s free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.
SPEAKER 01 :
And friends, let me add here, not only can you receive our free Bible study course by mail, but also earlier in the broadcast, the Back to the Bible online study is available too. You may want to work on both of them. And again, just let us know your desire at 855-444-6988 and leave your name and address and let us know which one you desire. Before we go, friends, this lesson is from our series, A Sermon I Heard. I’m thankful for my brother and friend Paul Sane of the Cedar Grove Church of Christ in Rogersville, Alabama, for the lesson today and in our previous broadcast simply titled, God’s Wonderful Rich Gifts. There are so many wonderful things that come from God. God is a God of love, 1 John 4 and verse 8. We understand His goodness and His severity, Romans 11, 22. Let us study and know more of God’s will. Thank you for joining me today on the International Gospel Hour. I’m Jeff Archie, and friends, as always, keep listening.
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God be with you till we meet again.
SPEAKER 02 :
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.
