S1: From the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Dallas, Texas. It's
S1: open line. Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line. This is
S1: Moody Radio's Bible study across America. My name is Michael Wright.
S1: I'm professor of Bible and Jewish studies at Moody Bible Institute,
S1: also the academic dean there. And also with you every
S1: week right here on Open Line, answering your questions every
S1: week we talk about your questions about the Bible, God
S1: and the spiritual life. Normally, people will call with those questions. However,
S1: we've got a live audience here today. They are living people.
S1: They are going to ask the questions and that's what
S1: we're going to do. So no phone calls today. This
S1: is a pre-recorded program. Uh, the people here in the
S1: audience will be asking the questions. And if you would
S1: like to send a question in, in, but you can't
S1: today because you can't call. What you can do is
S1: go to our website, openline radio.org. There's a link there
S1: that says Ask Michael a question. Click on that and
S1: you'll be able to post your question and we'll get
S1: to it in weeks to come. Now Tricia McMillan is
S1: our producer. Today. Just as always, Christi is handling all
S1: things technical, and I have a special guest with me
S1: for the first few minutes of the program just to
S1: kind of let us know what we're doing here. Uh,
S1: my friend Ed Cannon is here. Ed and I used
S1: to work together at Moody. He has moved to become
S1: the president of Far Eastern Broadcasting Company, one of our
S1: partners on Open Line. I am so glad you're here, Ed.
S2: It's a real honor. It's always a joy to be
S2: with you, Michael, on my all time favorite program in
S2: the world, Open Line on Moody Radio.
S1: Oh, you say that to everyone?
S2: No, I don't. No, I don't.
S1: But now let's talk about Far Eastern Broadcasting Company.
S2: Yeah.
S1: Uh, I always talk about it because, uh, we partner
S1: with us to bring the Far East, the Febc mailbag.
S2: We call it. Right?
S1: Right. The middle of the program. We always take questions
S1: that people have mailed in, and I'm so grateful for
S1: your partnership with us. But one of the things I
S1: really appreciate is how Febc uses media to reach the world.
S1: Tell us a little bit about that.
S2: Well, for 80 years, Michael, that's been our our mainstay.
S2: It's our mission statement is we use media to proclaim
S2: the gospel, to inspire people to follow Christ. And the
S2: subtitle under that is we work in areas which are
S2: the hardest to reach, places where people have never heard
S2: the gospel. And when you meet people who say, I've
S2: never heard of the name Jesus and tell them the gospel,
S2: it's interesting how open they are to hear and listen
S2: and understand. So we have staff in 50 countries. We're
S2: broadcasting in 154 languages. Yeah, the gospel of Jesus Christ.
S1: Now, the thing that I love about Febc is it's
S1: not just media. There's there's actual people. Right. That that engaged.
S1: Tell us about that.
S2: Yeah. What we learned a long time ago is if
S2: you just broadcast the word and scatter the seed, it's
S2: it's effective because God's word will accomplish what he intended
S2: it to accomplish. It's Isaiah 55, but we think it's
S2: much more effective when people come along afterwards and fertilize
S2: and water the seed that's been planted, meet with people,
S2: answer their questions, become part of the community. It's our
S2: staff are frequently having listener gatherings. They meet with people.
S2: They give out tracts. They pray with them. We hand
S2: out radios. As a matter of fact, I'm leaving tonight
S2: to go to Cambodia for that very reason, and we're
S2: going to have a number of gatherings with our listeners there,
S2: give out some radios, and hopefully spread the gospel more effectively.
S1: I love the idea of giving out radios.
S2: Yeah.
S1: Are they transistors like from the 1960s, like I used
S1: to listen to when I was into ball games after
S1: my parents?
S2: They're about the same size. But it's interesting, the thing
S2: that most people don't know about the radios we give
S2: out is that they're fixed tuned. So we give out
S2: the radio for the purpose of listening to our gospel presentations,
S2: not listening to Elvis Presley Cambodia. So people love to
S2: get the radio, but then they're trapped into listening.
S1: That's the only station they have, right?
S2: Actually, it's very interesting because we have a partnership with
S2: the Cambodian government. They wanted us to give out radios
S2: so they could listen to the government station, which provides
S2: information about vaccines for kids and education and election and,
S2: and disasters coming. But so we said, yes, we'd be
S2: happy to do that. So we fixed tuned the radios
S2: to the government station and to our station. And what
S2: we hear from the people is we never listen to
S2: the government.
S1: That's great.
S2: So we've been doing that for 80 years.
S1: Yeah. That's wonderful. And now you've been with you're on
S1: the board of directors of National Religious Broadcasters.
S2: Quite a number of years.
S1: I'm sure our listeners don't know what the NRB is.
S1: And so tell us about that.
S2: Well, the NRB was originally formed around 1945 for the
S2: purpose of protecting religious liberty to broadcast Christian content on
S2: US government supported FCC radio stations. So any radio station
S2: in the United States that you listen to is under
S2: the control of the FCC, Federal Communications Commission. And at
S2: one time, there was a threat that Christian content was
S2: kind of like not favorable on that. So that's why
S2: they were formed. But now it's a meeting place for
S2: everybody radio, radio stations, even new media, social media, Christian broadcasting.
S1: TV broadcasting as well.
S2: And it makes an enormous difference for the ability for
S2: these communicators to get together. Just like I'm here today
S2: to talk to you and other people. I met with
S2: a Transworld Radio guys this morning because we're in partnership.
S2: It's become a meeting place. It's become a place where
S2: you can voice your concerns and get the NRP to help. Um, yeah.
S2: It's a very, very highly functional organization.
S1: Well, it's great to have you here. And most people
S1: don't know you were the one that said I should
S1: go on the radio and answer Bible questions.
S2: I did.
S1: I remember when you were the CEO of Moody.
S2: Yeah, right. Yeah. That's right. And and I still think
S2: it was a brilliant move.
S1: I think so too.
S2: I started I started listening to Open Line, by the way,
S2: with Don Cole and Tricia McMillan. And so, no, it
S2: was Tricia Boyle back in those days.
S1: Back in the day?
S2: Yeah. I've always been a fan. It's a very important program.
S2: Proclaiming the gospel on radio, I think, is one of
S2: the most undervalued ministries anywhere in the world. We see
S2: it in hundreds of places. You see it right here
S2: in the United States. So for those of you who
S2: are listening, I hope you appreciate Moody Radio. I hope
S2: you appreciate the fact that you can hear God's Word
S2: on radio freely without the without the possibility of persecution.
S2: So let them know that you appreciate.
S1: Okay. Tell us about your podcast though.
S2: Yeah, we have a podcast until all have heard Wayne Shepherd,
S2: who's a familiar voice on Moody Radio. Wayne Shepherd and
S2: I do this podcast. It's, um, available on any podcast
S2: site until all I've heard we interview. Listeners in countries,
S2: we interview our directors in places and they tell you.
S2: What is it like to be a Christian in Indonesia,
S2: the largest Muslim country in the world? Or how is
S2: the gospel getting spread in Communist China where it's being
S2: blocked every time we turn around? Very interesting program provides
S2: a lot of information for for those of us who
S2: want to know how effective the Great Commission is about
S2: getting the gospel to places that they have never heard.
S1: Oh, that's great, that's great. I hope everyone will check
S1: out until all have heard. Check it out on your
S1: your podcast, uh, search whatever you want to find. I
S1: guess you're on all platforms. I think.
S2: So.
S1: Yeah. I tell people to go to Febc. Org. You'll
S1: you'll be sure to find until all I've heard. Thank you. Editor.
S1: Thanks for joining me.
S2: Always a joy to be with you. And God bless
S2: Moody Radio.
S1: Thank you. We're going to start with a question right now.
S3: I am Jasmine and my question is how to read
S3: the Bible in accordance with God's will.
S1: How how do we read the Bible in accordance with
S1: God's will. Well, the first thing I would say, it's
S1: always God's will that you read the Bible if you
S1: want to know God's will. He gave us his word
S1: so that we would read it. Uh, that's that's why
S1: he took it and put it in there. But I'm
S1: not exactly sure what you mean. Ah. How do you
S1: read the word? To find out God's will? Is that
S1: what you mean?
S3: Yes.
S1: Okay. Okay. So. Well, when we think about, uh, God's will,
S1: there's his, uh. You know, so often we think of
S1: his will as being some nebulous thing that we have
S1: to seek, you know? But he has his revealed will.
S1: That's in Scripture. And, uh, most of the time, I
S1: think we will have most of our questions answered if
S1: we're reading the word on a regular basis. Uh, and
S1: we see his revealed will there. I think that's a
S1: really important point to make. I think God doesn't care
S1: if we choose to use Colgate or Crest toothpaste. You know,
S1: people struggle with. Hmm. What should I do? Is it
S1: God's will for me to get Colgate? No. Uh, you know,
S1: the Bible reveals how we are to engage with other people, uh,
S1: to love them. Uh, we love God. We love people.
S1: That's clearly in God's word. It teaches us how to
S1: do that. Uh, it teaches us what we should be
S1: saying and doing our control of our lips, uh, and
S1: and what we should be talking about. There's so much
S1: in the word of God that is revealed to us. Uh,
S1: so it may not tell us who to marry in
S1: the sense of, you know, marry John Smith or or
S1: Audrey or whoever it is, but it will tell us
S1: that we should. It's clear in the scriptures that if
S1: if a person is a follower of Jesus, that they
S1: should only marry not only a follower of Jesus, but
S1: someone as committed to that faith as they are. So
S1: that narrows the, the the options for us. And so
S1: it's really important that that when you're reading the Word
S1: of God, anything that it deals with in terms of
S1: our behavior, that's God's revealed will for us. And then
S1: I really think that God opens doors, closes doors. Uh,
S1: he enables us to follow that revealed will in terms
S1: of individual special aspects, his special will that he has
S1: for us. And and he we pray, we seek God.
S1: We ask him. We don't just open a Bible and
S1: point our finger and say, oh, this is what I
S1: should do. But rather we're now praying, seeking, looking at
S1: open doors, closed doors. We allow the Holy Spirit to
S1: speak to our hearts. And those are some of the
S1: ways that, uh, God reveals his special will. But most
S1: most important, to become a student of the word and
S1: understand his revealed will. Okay, we're going to take a
S1: break here. And when we come back. There's a lot
S1: of questions here in this room. And so we're going
S1: to get to all of them. I hope you're listening
S1: and saying, oh, that's my question. Because what we're going
S1: to do is answer all these questions and hopefully you'll
S1: find the answers that you're looking for. Uh, this is
S1: open line with Michael Radonich at the National Religious Broadcasters
S1: Convention in Dallas, and we'll be right back. Jewish people
S1: completed our annual Passover observance last weekend. This festival was
S1: such a meaningful celebration of redemption to learn the rich
S1: teaching of this holiday. Chosen People Ministries, one of our partners,
S1: is offering a free booklet, Passover A time for redemption.
S1: Besides explaining the significance of the Exodus from Egypt, this
S1: booklet will open our eyes to the way the Passover
S1: foreshadows the death and resurrection of Yeshua, Jesus our Passover Lamb. Additionally,
S1: comprehending Passover will deepen our understanding of the Messiah Yeshua,
S1: the Bread of Life. Celebrating the Lord's Supper will never
S1: be the same. After grasping the significance of this festival
S1: for a free copy of Passover A time for redemption,
S1: just go to the Open Line website. That's Open Line radio.org.
S1: Scroll down and you'll see the link that says A
S1: free gift from Chosen People Ministries. Click on that and
S1: you'll be taken to a page where you can sign
S1: up for your very own copy of Passover. A time
S1: for redemption. Welcome back to Open Line. We're at the
S1: National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Dallas, Texas. It's a pre-recorded
S1: program with a live audience. Uh, but it's prerecorded, so
S1: don't call in today. My name is Michael. We're talking
S1: about the questions that these folks have about the Bible,
S1: God and the spiritual life. And hopefully those are the
S1: same questions you have and we'll be talking with them
S1: right now. Let's go right to the questions.
S4: I'm Jared from Wctg and radio in Lima, Ohio. And
S4: my Bible question is can we lose our salvation?
S1: That I think, is I used to think that the
S1: Genesis six question was the number one question, but I really,
S1: truly believe that fear of losing salvation is something that
S1: is prevalent. It's the number one question I get, and
S1: I think it's so important that we understand where we
S1: are in terms of relationship with God. And so in
S1: John chapter six, uh, this is what the Lord Jesus
S1: had to say. And I think it's where we ought
S1: to start when we discuss this, this question, uh, he
S1: says in John six that all that the father has
S1: given me will come to me. That's in verse 37.
S1: Let's see if I can find it here. Uh, it says, uh.
S1: Here we go. Uh. Everyone the father gives me will
S1: come to me. And the one who comes to me,
S1: I will never cast out. And so the the point
S1: of that is, uh, that everyone that the father opens
S1: the hearts of people to come to the Lord Jesus,
S1: and he will receive us. The Lord Jesus will always
S1: receive us. Then he says, for I have come down
S1: out of heaven, uh, not to do my will, but
S1: the will of him who sent me. The Lord Jesus, saying,
S1: I always do the father's will. Now that's imperative that
S1: we understand that because the proof that he really is
S1: the Messiah, the Son of God, who he claimed to
S1: be is, is in the fact that he obeys what
S1: the father has sent him to do. He always does
S1: the will of the father, and this is the will
S1: of him who sent me. What's his will? Well, obviously
S1: there's lots, lots of aspects about God's will. But he
S1: says this is the will for me, that. That the
S1: one who of the one who sent me that I
S1: should lose none of those he has given me, but
S1: should raise them up on the last day. So it's
S1: really clear what the Lord Jesus says is not only
S1: will he receive us, but he will keep us. And
S1: if if he could lose one of us after we've
S1: come to know him, that means he's not doing the
S1: father's will, and he is not who he claimed to be.
S1: The Lord Jesus stakes his entire identity on the fact
S1: that he can keep you and me secure. And so
S1: that is, people often say, do you do you believe
S1: in perseverance of the saints? I don't I think we're
S1: pretty bad at persevering. I do believe in perseverance of
S1: the Savior. He's very good at keeping his word. And so, uh,
S1: that's my my hope and confidence. There's one of the passage,
S1: I think, because this is such a such an important question,
S1: it's so common. Uh. Is what the Lord said in
S1: this passage. He says, uh, in John ten about his followers,
S1: his sheep who hear his voice. I give them eternal
S1: life and they will never perish, ever. No one will
S1: snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has
S1: given them to me is greater than all no one
S1: is able to snatch. Snatch them out of the father's hand.
S1: The father and I are one, he says no one
S1: can snatch anyone out of my hand or the father's hand.
S1: That's John 1028 through 30. Why is that so important?
S1: Just imagine yourself as a toddler walking along and you
S1: have one parent holding your hand and the other parent
S1: holding your other hand. And now, I used to walk
S1: with my son when he was a toddler. We lived
S1: in Queens, New York, and there was a huge boulevard,
S1: Queens Boulevard, with about 8 or 10 lanes of traffic
S1: right in front of the courthouse. We'd walk over there
S1: and cross the street, and my wife and I would
S1: hold his hand as we crossed the street. People would say, well,
S1: couldn't he run out of your hand? Not on your life.
S1: I had him so secure he might have if he
S1: tried to leave. There was no way, because that was
S1: a very dangerous street. We would hold hands as we crossed,
S1: as we cross the dangerous aspects of this life. The
S1: father and the son have us in their hands, and
S1: nothing will ever rip us out of their hands. We
S1: can't even jump out of their hands. We are safe
S1: and secure. So that's why it's so crucial to know
S1: that you get up one day and you have a
S1: wonderful day, and you read the Bible and you pray
S1: and you, you know, if you're a woman, you got
S1: your your hair done right and your makeup's good. And
S1: the kids have gotten off to school great. And you've
S1: packed their lunches and everything's great, and you get to
S1: work and everything is doing fine. And and you think,
S1: of course, God loves me. I am safe and secure. What?
S1: What couldn't he love here? And then the next day,
S1: you get up and you realize you've overslept and the
S1: kids have overslept. And you have to rush them, throw
S1: them out of the house without even getting them dressed.
S1: Go in your pajamas, get on the bus. And now
S1: you eat lunch. No breakfast today and you don't have
S1: any time in the word. And you're not praying, and.
S1: And you get a ticket on your way to work,
S1: and and you get to work and it says, you
S1: say God doesn't love me. I who could love this?
S1: And here's the best news we have. He loves us
S1: as much every day. We can never earn more of
S1: his love or less of his love. The Bible says
S1: nothing for those of us who have put our trust
S1: in Jesus. Nothing can separate us from the love of
S1: God which is in the Lord Jesus. Romans eight. So
S1: that's that's what I would say about that.
S5: I'm David Woodworth from our Moody Radio affiliate relations area,
S5: and I my question is related to a recent social
S5: media post. Recently, a well-known pastor among the greater Christian
S5: community equated Jesus position on the center cross at Calvary
S5: S Hill when he was crucified to a political statement
S5: that Jesus today would be a middle of the road
S5: political standing, that is, versus being on the right, a
S5: conservative or on the left like a liberal. Uh, and
S5: he was subsequently criticized by all kinds of Christians for
S5: making that kind of a statement. And he later retracted
S5: that statement from the social media. My question, though, is
S5: how dangerous is it to draw modern parallels to Scripture
S5: references such as one he was pointing to?
S1: I would think that. That you think it's pretty dangerous,
S1: don't you? Yeah.
S5: Oh, yeah.
S1: Yeah, yeah. That's a pretty loaded question, is all I'm
S1: going to say. Yeah. Well, I don't think that the
S1: Lord Jesus would be. I should be identified as a centrist.
S1: And I'm glad he pulled that back. I think he
S1: should be identified as a supervisor. He's over it all. And, uh,
S1: he's he's ruling us from the right hand of the father.
S1: He's our king. Uh, and, uh, so we have to
S1: kind of think of him as being sovereign over us
S1: rather than in the center or the right or the
S1: left with us. And I think that's a better way
S1: of you. But I think so often what we do
S1: is when we read Scripture, we want to impose our
S1: own meanings and applications onto it. And I think what
S1: we have to do is draw out the meanings from Scripture.
S1: So we have to understand what the text is actually saying.
S1: That text, for example, about how the Lord Jesus was
S1: crucified between To criminals. It's really more about how in
S1: Isaiah says, he was counted to be among the criminals.
S1: It's it's not about a political position. So it's sort
S1: of a linkage, a fulfillment in some respects of Isaiah 53.
S1: That said, what we need to do is read what
S1: the text is saying in terms of what it means,
S1: and then draw a principle from it. Now there's an application,
S1: and when we get that principle, we can apply it
S1: to our own lives. So for example, the principle he
S1: was associated with criminals, he was not understood for who
S1: he really was and was rejected. And that's why he
S1: was crucified between two criminals. That's what we see as
S1: a principle that very often we can be rejected. We
S1: can be associated with people who maybe aren't as really
S1: who we are. but might be rejected because of our
S1: associations or identifications and things like that, because we want
S1: to identify with all kinds of people. And, uh, and
S1: so as a result of that, uh, we have to
S1: be ready for rejection what they did to the shepherd,
S1: they'll do to the sheep. And and hopefully we won't
S1: be crucified. But that, you know, in some cultures, in
S1: some places that did happen. So I would say that
S1: we have to understand what the text is actually saying,
S1: draw a biblical principle from it and then apply it
S1: to our own lives. That's really how we study the scriptures,
S1: not with trying to impose our political views into it.
S1: So yeah.
S6: My name is Maddie. And my question is, does God
S6: ever change his mind?
S1: Uh, right now he's changing his mind about having me
S1: do this program. Uh, the Bible says that he does. Uh,
S1: for example, the Lord changed his mind about it, says
S1: that he regretted that he created humanity because they were
S1: so sinful. In Jonah, he changed his mind about, uh,
S1: destroying Nineveh. So it sounds like he can change his mind.
S1: And then, on the other hand, in the book of Numbers,
S1: very you know, this is like the foundational book of
S1: the whole Bible, the Torah, uh, the the Pentateuch, the
S1: law of Moses in numbers 20. I believe it is, uh,
S1: it says that God is not a man, that he
S1: should lie, nor the Son of man, that he should
S1: change his mind. Uh, I'm looking for that verse. Uh,
S1: but the point of that is that, uh, that may
S1: be numbers 23. I think I got it wrong. Yeah.
S1: Numbers 23, verse 19. God is not a man who lies,
S1: or a son of man who changes his mind. Does
S1: he speak and not act or promise and not fulfill?
S1: So God doesn't change his mind, but he does. What
S1: does that mean? I believe those passages that where it
S1: says that God changes his mind is a figure of
S1: speech called anthropomorphism. That means attributing to God human characteristics.
S1: And the reason we have anthropomorphisms in the Bible, for example,
S1: the ear of the Lord is not too dull to hear,
S1: nor is his holy arm too short to save. I
S1: think that's in Isaiah 59. I want to tell you something.
S1: God is a spirit and he has no body, so
S1: he doesn't have an ear and he doesn't have an arm,
S1: and yet it uses that. So what is it? That's
S1: a figure of speech to help us understand that God
S1: hears and acts in the same way. We cannot comprehend
S1: how the sovereign God and how, uh, our interaction with
S1: him works. Human responsibility. It's beyond our ability between God's
S1: sovereignty and human responsibility. And so, as a result, there
S1: are figures of speech that are used to say, listen,
S1: it's okay to pray and God will respond. He'll change
S1: his mind. He'll change his actions based on the people
S1: of Nineveh repenting. Doesn't mean he that was part of
S1: his whole sovereign plan altogether, but we cannot comprehend it.
S1: And so the Bible, kind of the way Scripture does,
S1: is it kind of accommodates us by giving us these
S1: figures of speech so that we still would pray that
S1: we will still look to God to act in our lives. Uh,
S1: and it's not that God gods think of watching a
S1: whole parade. You know, if you're standing on the side,
S1: you can only see the the ones coming in front
S1: of you. Gods on top of the building. He sees
S1: it from beginning to end, and that's how he's going
S1: to accomplish his purposes. And so it looks like he's
S1: changing his mind to us. So anyway, we're going to
S1: come right back with more of your questions. In fact,
S1: we're going to do the mailbag, the Febc mailbag in
S1: just a moment with Tricia McMillan. Stay with us. We'll
S1: be right back. We're so glad that Febc partners with
S1: Open Line with Doctor Michael Ray Melnick, bringing the Febc
S1: mailbag every week. Learn how Far East Broadcasting Company is
S1: taking Christ to the world at febc. Org on their
S1: weekly podcast. Until all I've heard with Ed Cannon, you'll
S1: hear stories of lives changed by Messiah all across the globe. Again,
S1: you can hear the podcast when you visit febc. That's Febc. Org.
S1: Welcome back to Open Line. We're at the National Religious
S1: Broadcasters Convention and we're having a great time here in Dallas, Texas.
S1: It's prerecorded so no calls today. But we're still going
S1: to have our mailbag aspect of the program. The Febc
S1: mailbag is sponsored partnership with Far Eastern Broadcasting Company. It's
S1: a wonderful ministry that brings the gospel through media and
S1: personal follow up to people all over the world. I
S1: hope you'll check out their website and check out their
S1: podcast until all have heard. And joining me right now
S1: is Tricia McMillan. She's part of the team here with
S1: Open Line. Uh, how long have you been part of
S1: the team.
S7: At Open Line? Yeah. Oh, goodness. No.
S1: Nine years.
S7: Nine, nine and a half years.
S1: Yeah. And. And how long have you been working for
S1: Moody Radio?
S7: Uh, almost 25, 25 years.
S1: And she started when she was two.
S7: Mhm.
S1: Yeah. Uh, now I've, I knew her before. I knew
S1: Tricia before she was married. Uh, she worked in all
S1: kinds of things in Moody Radio. I think right out
S1: of school as a student. Right.
S7: I did, yes, I did my internship my senior year. Yeah.
S7: And then started working.
S1: Well, that's. And I, I remember when we needed a
S1: producer for Open Line. I said there are only two
S1: people in Moody Radio that I would accept. I won't
S1: say who the other one was, but I was really
S1: obnoxiously insistent that Tricia McMillan be the producer of Open Line,
S1: and I was so grateful that I didn't get fired.
S1: But instead, I got Tricia to come and join us here. Uh,
S1: but anyway, that that is, uh, you know, the partnership
S1: that that I feel with everyone that works on Open
S1: line with everyone at Moody Radio. It's it's just a.
S1: I just have this great sense that we're all working together, uh,
S1: towards that, that goal and of bringing the good news
S1: to people, helping people understand the scriptures and live them
S1: out better in their lives. Uh, that's what we're about.
S1: We really do believe at Moody Radio, and we're all
S1: partnering together, that the gospel changes everything. And that's we
S1: want to bring the word to life, uh, to everyone. And, uh,
S1: one of the things I love about this partnership is
S1: that as a result, what we can do is we
S1: can bring the good news to people, and there are
S1: people out there who will partner with us as well.
S1: We call them kitchen table Partners on Open Line. These
S1: are people who commit to give every week, every month
S1: to open line so I can be on the air
S1: every week, and I'm so grateful to them. So they
S1: give a monthly gift. And not only that, uh, they're
S1: just really partners with the program. I know they pray
S1: for us, uh, and I do pray for them as
S1: they send in prayer requests. I love that, uh, but
S1: another aspect of this partnership with our Kitchen Table partners
S1: is Tricia, and I produce a Bible study moment every
S1: other week. Uh, it's a it's an audio brief Bible
S1: study that they get in the email and they click
S1: on it and they get to hear it. And it's
S1: one of the ways that we can say, hey, thanks
S1: so much for being a kitchen table partner. If you
S1: are interested in becoming a kitchen table partner, uh, just
S1: call 886447122. That's (888) 644-7122. Or you can just go to
S1: open line radio or call or open line radio. Org.
S7: All right. Our first question from the mailbag is from Noelle.
S7: And Georgia listens to WNBA. I'm studying the book of Ruth,
S7: and a commentator referred to this book as part of
S7: the Bethlehem trilogy. What is the Bethlehem trilogy?
S8: The Bethlehem.
S1: Trilogy?
S7: Yeah.
S1: I have never heard that expression before.
S7: Okay.
S1: Did did you ever hear it before?
S7: I did not.
S1: Wow. I can tell you what the Book of Emanuel is,
S1: is chapter seven through 12 of Isaiah. But I've never
S1: heard of the. That's a very creative thing. I don't
S1: know what he would. Well, obviously, Bethlehem is where these
S1: events take place. Uh, maybe he the gospel, the story
S1: of the birth of Jesus. That's from Bethlehem. And I
S1: would guess that the the story of David coming from Bethlehem. So, uh,
S1: the story of David, the story of Ruth and Naomi.
S1: And then thirdly, I would guess the third book, and
S1: that would be the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. How
S1: am I doing?
S7: Uh, I'm not sure. I probably should have done more research.
S7: I'm so sorry for springing this.
S1: I'm going to just say that's my Bethlehem trilogy, and
S1: I will go with that.
S7: All right, so one one says that three stories, two
S7: at the end of Judges and Ruth make up what
S7: is frequently referred to as the Bethlehem trilogy.
S1: Okay, there we go.
S7: Three events occur in or near Bethlehem the city of David.
S1: You know, part of the reason why that's someone who
S1: reads the English Bible. Only that would come up with that,
S1: because Judges and Ruth are in our English Bibles right
S1: next to each other. But Ruth actually follows the Book
S1: of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible.
S7: So that's actually the next question I had for you
S7: is from Colleen in Wisconsin, who you had mentioned that recently. Um,
S7: and she wanted to know why and when did the
S7: order of those books get, get redistributed and moved around?
S7: And are there any current English Bible translation that arrange
S7: it where Ruth would come after Proverbs?
S1: Yeah, okay. Well, first of all, let me just say
S1: why it is that Proverbs 31 is I mentioned this
S1: on the radio a few weeks ago, but, uh, Proverbs
S1: 31 talks about the woman of noble character. The Hebrew
S1: phrase is Eshet kale. Uh, a woman of valor is
S1: what it is. And it's got that sort of theoretical description.
S1: I once preached on Proverbs 31 for Mother's Day and
S1: I titled the sermon how in the world did I
S1: get so tired? I mean, that is one active woman.
S1: She's selling real estate. She's she's making textiles. She's, uh,
S1: she's feeding her family and makes her husband look good
S1: at the gate where all the elders sit. It is, uh,
S1: she's really an amazing woman. And if you want to
S1: know what a real amazing woman like that looks like,
S1: the very next book is the Book of Ruth. And
S1: what does Boaz say of her? I have heard about you, Ruth,
S1: that you are an asset. A woman of valor. And
S1: I really do believe in the Hebrew canon. That's why
S1: Ruth follows Proverbs 31. It's a description of Ruth, who
S1: is a living example of that woman in Proverbs 31.
S1: I think it's so interesting that it's a moabitess that
S1: is the one that's the. So that's that. Well, later on,
S1: when the Bible was translated into Greek in the Intertestamental period.
S1: It's called the Septuagint for reasons that I do not understand.
S1: I don't think anyone does. They reordered the books and
S1: they reordered them into the order that we have in
S1: our English Bibles. And so even though we translate our
S1: Bibles from the Hebrew, they follow the order of our
S1: English Bibles. They follow the order of the Septuagint in
S1: the Old Testament. So that's that's where we get it from.
S1: And then are there any English Bibles that have the
S1: Hebrew Bible order? I would say yes. There's the Tree
S1: of Life translation, which is a translation done almost entirely
S1: by Messianic Jewish scholars. And it's a good translation, and
S1: it follows the Hebrew Bible order. I think there are
S1: some others that, for example, the American Bible Society has
S1: put together a an Old Testament translation without chapter divisions
S1: or verse divisions. How do you find anything? But, but.
S1: And it follows the Hebrew Bible order. Okay. So. All right. Okay.
S7: Well, thank you for that question, Colleen. Next question is
S7: from Nancy in Illinois, who actually listens to the Florida
S7: station on the Moody Radio app?
S1: Oh, there we go. That's a it's probably because it's
S1: cold in Chicago and she wants to listen in Florida.
S7: What is the difference between likeness and image in Genesis
S7: 126 which says, Then God said, let us make man
S7: in our image according to our likeness.
S1: I don't think there's much of a difference in Hebrew. Uh,
S1: there's a form of poetry that doesn't rhyme like our poetry.
S1: The rhythm is much more about. And this is written
S1: in poetic fashion. Okay. It's what's called parallelism, where it
S1: says the same thing two different ways with with a
S1: different nuance, perhaps, but it really is repetitive. And so
S1: to be made in the image of God, uh, indicates that, uh,
S1: it's there's something that we represent. God. Uh, and and
S1: so God made us in his image and in that passage,
S1: and we're like him in some respect. So image, likeness. Uh,
S1: in the ancient world, what they would do is they
S1: would say, we're going to make an image of the God,
S1: and they'd make an idol, and they'd put it in
S1: their temples, and it would represent God there. And they
S1: get that's sort of the concept of the image of God.
S1: But we're not little gods. What God did is he
S1: made us after his image. He made us in his image,
S1: and he put us here on the earth to represent
S1: him just as so that similar idea and, uh, what
S1: does it mean to be made in the image of
S1: God in this text? It does appear to me that
S1: part of it is that there's only one God, and
S1: yet there's a plurality. Here's what I mean. It says, uh,
S1: God said, let us make man in our image and
S1: according to our likeness. Who's God talking to you? The angels. No, man.
S1: Humanity is not made in the image of God, of angels.
S1: We're made in the image of God. Who's he? Maybe
S1: he's being like Queen Victoria. You know, plural of majesty.
S1: Always talking about himself in the plural. I don't think
S1: that's the case either. Well, what is it? Well, the
S1: text tells us God created man in his own image.
S1: He created him in the image of God. He created them. Plurality,
S1: male and female. So just as there's one God but
S1: plurality in the Godhead, so there's one essence of humanity
S1: made in the image of God, but there's plurality, male
S1: and female. And so it hints. Part of the image
S1: of God is plurality and oneness. Uh, that's one uh,
S1: another aspect is because of this, we could engage humanity,
S1: can engage with God. We have a spiritual capacity. You see,
S1: in Genesis two, with the creation of the animals, they
S1: do not have a spiritual capacity to relate to God.
S1: God made humanity in his image. So we have a
S1: spiritual capacity also. He gave us dominion over the earth
S1: and to guard and protect the earth, uh, as God's
S1: representative on earth. And I think that's part of the
S1: image of God. So those are the the aspects of
S1: image and likeness that we have as part of humanity. Okay, okay.
S1: We're going to take a break here. And when we
S1: come back, we're going to take a few more questions
S1: from people here in the room with us at the
S1: National Religious Broadcasters Convention. My name is Michael Zelnick. That
S1: was Christian McMillan. And we are you're listening to Open Line.
S1: We're going to come right back with more of these
S1: questions in just a moment. So stay with us. Have
S1: you ever wondered how we got the Bible? The story
S1: of the Bible by Carl Laney takes you on a
S1: fascinating journey through scriptures from divine inspiration to modern translations.
S1: Doctor Laney reveals how God gave us his word. This
S1: book will deepen your confidence in the Bible's reliability while
S1: answering questions you've always had. If you'd like a copy,
S1: it's yours. When you give a gift of any size,
S1: just go to our website, openlibrary.org or call 886447122. Welcome
S1: back to Open Line. This is a special pre-recorded edition
S1: of Open Line from the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Dallas, Texas.
S1: And so today's not a day to call, uh, but
S1: to listen. We have a live audience here and they
S1: are the ones asking the question questions. And we're going
S1: to go right back to those questions right now.
S9: So I'm Rob, I'm the executive director of Crossway Radio,
S9: Moody affiliate in new Jersey.
S1: New Jersey.
S9: Nice to be here. Yes.
S1: What town?
S9: Where? In Dover. And also in Washington, new Jersey. Great.
S9: And we have another station.
S1: I'm from the East Coast, so. Yeah, I love Jersey.
S9: Yeah. So my question is what translation of the Bible
S9: do you use and why does it matter which translation.
S1: I happen to use the Holman Christian Standard Bible, the CSB.
S1: It's been revised. Revised. Now it's the Holman CSB, but
S1: I use the original one. I like it because I
S1: think it balances. Uh, you know, there's three different schools
S1: of translation. There's formal, uh, word for word translation, like
S1: the New American Standard. That's a great translation. My wife
S1: thinks that Moses and the Apostle Paul actually translated that. Uh,
S1: so she's a really committed person to the new American standard.
S1: Then there's, uh, dynamic equivalence instead of formal equivalence, which is, uh,
S1: thought for thought, uh, because it's really hard to take
S1: an ancient language and update it so that it makes sense.
S1: And so there's, uh, that's like the New Living Translation.
S1: A dynamic equivalence. And then, uh, what they was decided
S1: with this translation, the CSB was to go with optimal equivalence,
S1: to try and be as literal as we can word
S1: for word, except where it doesn't make any sense or
S1: it's just too bumpy. And then to to use some
S1: thought for thought to straighten it out. And I think
S1: it does a good balance of doing that, and that's
S1: why I use it. Uh, but when I'm studying, uh,
S1: in depth, I might start with the new American standard
S1: because it's word for word, uh, and less interpretive. Uh,
S1: if I'm reading quickly, I'll use the New Living Translation
S1: or the NIV because it gives me a quicker, smoother read.
S1: So there's I think there's place and value of all
S1: the different translations. The ESV is a very good translation,
S1: so I'm not at all saying that this is the
S1: only one that we should have. Uh, I people think
S1: I'm down on the King James Version. I'm not. I
S1: think that there are better manuscripts that are used for
S1: the the than the King James. But if people like
S1: the King James, they should read it because it's a
S1: good translation. If you're in the 17th century and uh, uh,
S1: my wife says, which translation should we read? The one
S1: that we would actually read. That's the one that we
S1: should read. That's the best translation for the person.
S10: So what's the easiest way to explain the Trinity to
S10: a non-believer?
S11: Uh.
S1: Don't try. I think in the book 50 Most Important
S1: Bible questions. There's a question that said, is there a
S1: simple explanation? Could you give a simple explanation of the Trinity?
S1: And my first answer were the first words of my
S1: answer are I wish I could. There is no simple
S1: explanation of the Trinity. So the way I mean, we
S1: could go through what the Bible says, that the Bible
S1: teaches that there is a father, there's a son, there's
S1: a Holy Spirit teaches that they all are God. But
S1: the Bible also teaches that, uh, that God is one. Hear,
S1: O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Uh,
S1: even in the New Testament. One Lord, one faith, one baptism,
S1: one Lord. You know Ephesians four four. So, uh, the
S1: Bible teaches that there is only one God, and yet
S1: there seems to be this three persons. You know, uh,
S1: I think the clearest way that's presented that's sort of
S1: surprising to us is in Matthew 28, where it says, uh,
S1: that the, uh, baptizing them in the name of the father,
S1: son and the Holy Spirit, you would expect the word
S1: name to be plural, but it's not. It's the name
S1: singular of the father and the son and the Holy Spirit.
S1: 3 in 1. So theologians have done this with, uh,
S1: in the past, in the fourth or fifth century, six centuries,
S1: they've used terms like ousia, the essence of God, that
S1: there's one essence of God, and that there are three
S1: hypostases three persons. But I always say this. I know
S1: the Bible teaches it. I'm not sure I could explain
S1: it to myself, let alone to anyone else. And so
S1: the the best thing I can do is it says
S1: in Isaiah 55, as high as the heavens are above
S1: the earth, so far are my ways higher than your ways,
S1: my thoughts higher than your thoughts. God understands the Trinity.
S1: I just have to believe it. I don't have to
S1: understand it. Uh, the verse in Second Timothy without controversy.
S1: Great is the mystery of God that God was manifest
S1: in the flesh. He says, if Paul could talk it,
S1: call it a mystery, why can't we? So Ed Cannon
S1: mentioned at the beginning of the hour.
S12: Donald Cole, I know you learned a lot from him
S12: and how he answered questions. Have you learned anything or
S12: what have you learned from your listeners?
S1: Yes, just like I learned from my students at school. Yeah,
S1: I would say I was thinking about that question. One
S1: of I see the questions that come in, and sometimes
S1: people are reading the Bible so carefully and they're comparing
S1: kings to Chronicles, and they're saying, well, the story seems
S1: a little different here than it is there, or they
S1: compared the different gospels, or they want to know the
S1: exact genealogy genealogy of every apostle. Why does James the
S1: son of Alphaeus and not James the sons of Zebedee,
S1: you know the son of James and John. So one
S1: of the things that I see is a really careful
S1: reading of the scriptures, and I really appreciate that. And
S1: it reminds me over and over to read the details,
S1: go for the details. The second aspect that I think
S1: I've learned from them, and that's even sometimes when they
S1: misapply the Bible, uh, they're really trying to have the
S1: scriptures affect their lives. And as a result of that,
S1: sometimes they go a little too far with their application.
S1: But it's a good motive. They want the Bible to
S1: guide them in everything that they're doing and how they're living.
S1: And that's also a great reminder for me and something
S1: that I need to be doing as I read it.
S1: I can't be just reading it to fill my head.
S1: I need it to affect my heart and and then
S1: change my life, transform my life. And and those are
S1: two aspects that I think I learned most from, from
S1: listeners who call with their questions because they're calling, because they, they,
S1: they really are reading the Bible carefully. And then secondly,
S1: they're they're wanting to change their lives. So, uh. Well,
S1: I can't believe that that's the fastest hour I've ever
S1: been part of. And I'm so glad that you've been listening. Uh,
S1: this is a special time of open line at the
S1: National Religious Broadcasters Convention. Hope you enjoyed that. Uh, first hour,
S1: but we're going to come back with a second hour
S1: right here at the convention, so don't miss out on that. Uh,
S1: while we're in the break, check out our web page,
S1: Open Line radio.org. That web page has everything you're looking for,
S1: whether it's past programs, how to become a kitchen table partner,
S1: or how to get our current resource. Uh, we're going
S1: to come back with more of your questions in just
S1: a moment. Open line. Our Bible study across America will
S1: continue in the second hour, so stay with us. Open
S1: line with Doctor Michael Radonich is a production of Moody
S1: Radio and ministry of Moody Bible Institute.