Abounding Love Podcast with Former ”Tex” Watson

230 - Man's Questions / God's Answers

In this Abounding Love podcast, I share answers to often asked questions. You've probably found that men have a lot of answers, but many of them aren't good answers. And in reality, God has only one answer: His Word, Jesus Christ. In 1 Peter 3:15, we are to first sanctify [set apart] the Lord God in our hearts [the seat of our thoughts, choices and emotions]. We're to be set apart for God's use, because we're to be ready to give an answer to the question why we believe as we do as Christians. With this in mind, we'll look at eleven (11) questions people may ask:
#1. Is there a God? Genesis 1:1; Psalm 19:1 and John 1:1; #2. Am I accountable to God? Romans 14:12; Philippines 2:10-11 and Romans 2:1-5; #3. Does God know all about me? Hebrews 4:13 and Luke 16:15; #4. Does God charge me with sin? Romans 3:23 and Romans 6:23; #5. Will God punish sin? Hebrews 2:3 and 10:28-29; #6. Must I perish? 2 Peter 3:9 and John 3:16; #7. How can I escape? Acts 16:31 and Hebrews 12:25; #8. Is God willing to save me? Luke 19:10 and 1 Timothy 1:15; #9. Can I be saved now? 2 Corinthians 6:2 and John 1:12; #10. Can I be saved just as I am? John 6:37 and Matthew 9:13; and #11. Will I be assured of heaven? John 14:1-3 and 1 Thessalonians 4:14. Join me as we look at these eleven questions, and the answers to share with others. Selah!
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220 - Principles Governing Christian Conduct

In this passionate Abounding Love episode, I share on how to conduct ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ. Simply, the Word of Grace is to govern our conduct, while following Jesus and doing His work as "fishers of men" (Mark 1:17). He says: "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me" (John 10:27, KJV). His Word is to confirm that it's His voice. Jesus goes on to say: ". . . and I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of My hand. My Father, which gave them to Me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of My Father's hand. I and My Father are one" (John 10:28-30, KJV). 
Just as Jesus and His Father are one, we are one with Him and our Father as fishers of men. We all move out together overflowing in the Spirit, setting others free by the Word of Truth, just as we've been set free. Join me as we study other Scriptures such as 1 Timothy 3:1-16; 4:6-16, and 6:3-21; 2 Timothy 2:1-5,10;  Ephesians 4:30; 1 Thessalonians 5:19; Romans 12:1-2; Galatians 5:1; 22-25; 2 Corinthians 6:14-18; Colossians 3:15-16; Titus 2:1-16, and 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. We'll see how Jesus Christ, His Word and the Holy Spirit empowers us to conduct ourselves. Selah! 
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219 - The Actions of a Christian

In this Abounding Love episode, I share ten (10) rules or actions needed for faithful Christian living. #1. Read and Meditate God's Word, ". . . faith cometh by hearing, and hearing . . ." (Romans 10:17). When we read the Good News, we hear it in our mind and put faith in Jesus! We replace things we used to put faith in, with faith in the things God states in Scripture. Beyond reading the Word, we must meditate on what it says [Joshua 1:8]. #2. Spend Time In Prayer. If you do just these first two things, the peace of God will rule your life [Philippians 4:6-7]. #3. Testify Every Chance You Get. Jesus said, "Whosoever shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). #4. Win Others To Christ. Solomon wrote: ". . . he that winneth souls is wise" (Proverbs 11:30). #5. Attend Church Regularly, ". . . exhorting one another" (Hebrews 10:25). #6. Give As God Prospers You, ". . . for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). #7. Trust God Completely. "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart" (Proverbs 3:5-6). #8. Don't Criticize, Rather Encourage Others. "Let your light shine before men . . ." (Matthew 5:16). #9. Don't Compromise. "Neither give place to the devil" (Ephesians 4:27). #10. Make Life Mottos. I share several taken directly from Scripture that we need to guide our thoughts and actions. Join me as we look into how to live our Christian life. Selah!
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218 - Instructions for Believers

In this Abounding Love episode, I share thirteen (13) instructions from Scripture that are necessary to grow in Christ [1 Peter 2:2]. Start now or later, but without them, you will stagnate! You may question why your Christian life isn't going well, with so many difficulties? Could it be you aren't studying God's Word [2 Timothy 2:15], attending church [Hebrews 10:24-25], fellowshipping with Christlike people [Acts 2:42-47], praying [Jude 20-21], and witnessing [Acts 1:8]? If you developed these habits, your life will abound in God's love!
The apostle Paul wrote: "I beseech [urge] you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service" (Romans 12:1, NKJV). We're to be dedicated to the Lord; but how? In verse 2, Paul answers, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God." We sacrifice ourselves by renewing our mind -- taking on the mind and will of Christ. Pretty soon you're using your body and your strength to carry out God's will in your life with joy. Join me in these verses and many others to find instructions on how to live a fruitful Christian life. Selah!
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191 - Twelve Levels of Faith #2

In this continuing Abounding Love episode, I finish up a two-part series on Twelve Levels of Faith from the KJV Bible. Level #7 Perfected Faith [James 2:21-22, 26]; Level #8 Strong Faith [Romans 4:18-20]; Level #9 Great Faith [Matthew 8:5-10]; Level #10 Rich Faith [James 2:5]; Level #11 Full of Faith [Acts 6:3-5; 11:22-24]; Level #12 Overcoming Faith [1 John 5:4-5; 4:4; Revelation 2:7; 11; 17; 26-28; 3:5; 12; 21], plus as a bonus, The Most Holy Faith [Jude 20-23].
As you study these Scriptures, I pray you'll determine your level. Our goal is to grow to the highest level, doing the works of Christ [John 14:12]. We ". . . walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our faith pleases God, and He rewards us as we ". . . diligently seek Him" (Hebrews 11:6). The righteous live by faith in the victory we received through Jesus' death, burial and resurrection [Romans 1:17; Hebrews 10:38]. We're ". . . looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Like Him, we overcome the Devil ". . . by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" [Matthew 4:4; Psalm 107:20]. Join me as we conclude these levels of increasing faith. Remember, it takes time in God's Word to grow from one level to the next. Selah!
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190 - Twelve Levels of Faith #1

In this powerful Abounding Love podcast, I begin a two-part series on the Twelve Levels of Faith from the KJV Bible. We'll cover six (6) levels in this episode. Level #1: No Faith [Deuteronomy 32:15-20; Mark 4:35-41]; Level #2: Little Faith [Matthew 6:30-33; 14:25-31]; Level #3: Weak Faith [Romans 4:19-22]; and Level #4: Shipwrecked Faith [1 Timothy 1:18-20]. These first four levels aren't any kind of faith worth having, Amen? Level #5: A Growing Faith [2 Thessalonians 1:3; Romans 10:17]; and Level #6: Unfeigned Faith [sincere, not fake; 1 Timothy 1:5-7] begins your victorious faith walk.
It helps to increase your faith by understanding Hebrews 11:1: "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." God's Word gives your faith substance [essence or reality] of things hoped for [confidence it will actually happen]. It gives evidence [assurance or proof] that what is unseen is real. Are you trusting in God and His Word, or looking at the situation or circumstance? Hebrews 11:6 says, ". . . without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." We see from this verse alone how necessary faith is in the life of the believer. Join me as we consider these and other Scriptures, plus check in with me next week for Levels 7 through 12, to advance into the Most Holy Faith. Selah! 
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215 - What it Means to Believe

In this exciting Abounding Love episode, I share that we must believe in what Jesus Christ did in order to be saved. That is, believe that He came to seek and to save the lost [Luke 19:10], believe in His death, burial and resurrection, and our personal resurrection in Him. We share this Good News so others hearing it will also believe and gain all the benefits their belief in Christ secures for them. Belief means to trust in Jesus Christ alone [Ephesians 2:8-9]. We trust that Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil [1 John 3:8], and that He did so. King David wrote: "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; but we will remember the name of the LORD our God" (Psalm 20:7, KJV). David knew you were going to trust in something. It's better to be in prison and saved, carrying out my calling, than to be out of prison and unsaved. There's no way to place value on our salvation. It's priceless! And it can only be obtained through believing in Jesus Christ and what He did [Romans 10:8-13]. Our salvation is priceless, because it's eternal. It outlives our life on earth. We enter into His rest believing His plans for us are guaranteed and unending [Matthew 11:28-30; John 14:1-3]. Join me in this podcast as we look at fourteen (14) points with Scriptures demonstrating what it means for us to believe. Selah!
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214 - Salvation and Good Works

In this Abounding Love episode, I share how a lot of people don't know where "good works" fit in the Christian life. Some people believe they're saved by being good. Be good; you'll go to heaven. Don't be good enough; you'll go to hell. This thinking is false. We're not saved by what we do, but by what Jesus did. "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" (Ephesians 2:8-9, NKJV). Our "good works" are the results of what Jesus is doing in our lives today. If "good works" could get us to heaven with God, how many does it take to qualify? Just how good [righteous] do I have to be to gain eternal life with God? This is the age-old question of every religion on earth. Even Judaism follows the idea that one has to perform commandments to be right with God, plus follow rules for how to keep them. But, Spiritual Christianity does not emphasize "good works" as a means to obtain eternal life. If "good works" could save you, there would be no need for Jesus. His death, burial and resurrection would be meaningless. It is God's desire that people believe solely in Jesus Christ, and His finished works for salvation. Join me as we look at other Scriptures, such as John 6:28-29; Romans 4:3-6; 1 Corinthians 3:5-15; Galatians 2:16; 3:10-14; 5:4-6; Colossians 1:9-12; 3:17; 2 Timothy 1:8-9; 3:15-17; Titus 2:6-15; 3:1-11 and James 2:14-24, plus the role "good works" play in our lives. Selah!
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Let me hear from you - Charles
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