License to Sin?

When you’re discouraged or weighed down by difficult circumstances, God can start to feel distant. It’s easy to think you might need more faith to carry you through.Thankfully, it’s not the size or quantity of your faith that’s important. If you’re a believer, you have all the faith you need! It’s where you direct it that matters.As I recently shared with a caller, you can stop striving to get more faith. Instead, you need to feed your faith! Soaking in the truth of God’s grace and your union with Christ is what fuels you up and sets you free to enjoy life in Jesus.So, if you’re struggling or looking for extra encouragement, check out this short episode and be inspired. The Gospel is great news from start to finish and even better than you can imagine!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

2 Nov 20236min

Given its pagan roots, some Christians question whether Halloween is an appropriate holiday to celebrate. A recent caller to our program asked to what extent Christians should participate and how to respond to family members who might think differently.While it’s important to be sensitive to a weaker brother and steer clear of anything celebrating witchcraft or evil, does our freedom in Christ allow us to enjoy the candy and costumes?In this episode, I share how Paul’s response to the Corinthians regarding meat sacrificed to idols is an incredibly helpful perspective on enjoying holidays – even those with questionable roots like Halloween!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

26 Okt 20237min

In my book “God Without Religion,” I wrote that “self-improvement is a sin and an impossibility.” That’s right, a sin! In Galatians 3, Paul chastises the Galatians for trying to perfect themselves through self-effort.This is very different from what popular religion teaches, and a recent caller asked for clarification. Doesn’t God want the world to self-improve? Doesn’t it please Him when I do my part and work toward bettering myself?As I share in this episode, God never calls you to improve yourself. Instead, He wants you to count yourself alive or agree with Him about being the new self. Simply put, you can’t improve on what God’s already done for you and to you.Check out this surprising truth and be encouraged!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

19 Okt 20236min

Christians today have access to more translations and versions of the Bible than ever before. But which one is most accurate? A recent caller heard the King James Version was the best, and many today still believe it contains the fewest errors.There’s a lot to consider when we talk about translations, versions, and inerrancy, but we should be careful about labeling any version the “best” – including the King James, which can be problematic in some cases.As I share in this episode, while there are no perfect versions of the Bible, there are a number of great options we can study and enjoy. Even more important is not losing sight of the big picture: It’s the Gospel message that matters most!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

12 Okt 20239min

“The church needs revival!”It’s a message Christians often hear preached, and the underlying theme is there’s something wrong with the body of Christ. The church isn’t doing enough to please God. Maybe you’ve even heard the church today is “falling asleep” or “dead.” They say the church needs to plead for mercy and show more commitment.This sort of talking down to believers conveys a message of rejection. I don’t think it’s healthy, and I don’t think it reflects how God views the church at all. God is not frustrated or disappointed; He’s delighted in the church!Yes, we all deal with struggles and can become distracted, but the believer’s new identity means that God esteems us – both individually and corporately – more than we can possibly imagine. Check out this episode and be encouraged that God loves what He sees and that we are His beautiful, perfect, spotless bride!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

5 Okt 202311min

Is it OK for divorced Christians to get remarried if their former spouse is still alive? A listener called recently for clarification after his friends said he’d be committing adultery if he were to remarry while his ex-wife is still living.This type of Scripture twisting around divorce and remarriage is damaging, unhealthy, and rooted in a misunderstanding of New Testament instructions. It leaves people feeling controlled by a former spouse instead of free to remarry with a clean slate.In this episode, I share the context of several relevant passages, including 1 Corinthians 7 and Romans 7, to explain why a remarried believer is not sinning or in perpetual adultery, even if their ex remains alive.If you’re in Christ, you can give thanks. No matter your marital status, you are holy, righteous, and FREE!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

28 Sep 202315min

Throughout the New Testament, the Gospel is clearly announced. It declares that we are saved by faith and not by works. But did you know that James 2 seemingly contradicts this? That’s right. Three times in a row, the apostle James writes the phrase “justified by works”:“Was not Abraham our father justified by works…?” (v 21)“Was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works…?” (v 25)“You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone” (v 24)I’ve literally seen some people sweep these under the rug, acting like they don’t exist. I’ve seen others do mental gymnastics to say that James is talking about works after salvation. But clearly James is indeed referring to the kind of faith that saves a person.So, how do we resolve this seeming contradiction? Martin Luther went so far as to claim James should not be part of the Bible!Don’t worry. I believe there is a simple answer, and it’s perfectly consistent with us being justified by faith, not by good works. It has everything to do with James’ definition of “works” in the passage. You see, James is NOT talking about a laundry list of good works. Instead, he’s simply talking about a real response to the Gospel.When we open the door of our lives to Jesus (like Rahab opened the door!) or when we offer ourselves to God (like Abraham offered Isaac), then we are expressing living faith. This is exactly what Jesus meant when He said “the work of God is this: to believe in the One He has sent” (John 6:29).Living faith is what sets us apart from nonbelievers. Remember, James says even the demons could pass a theology test! But your response to Jesus at salvation was more than accepting theological facts. You actually opened the door of your life to Christ and offered yourself to God. Now that’s living faith!In a recent call, I confronted head-on what “justified by works” means in James 2. Check out this clip and see how simple it is to resolve the “justified by works” dilemma when you recognize the living faith that saves!We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

21 Sep 20239min

The concept of “dying to self” is a widely embraced belief in Christianity, suggesting an internal struggle between good and evil within believers. This teaching emphasizes the importance of eliminating the “negative” part of you that otherwise needs to be overcome daily.However, it’s worth noting that the phrase “die to self” does not actually appear in the Bible. The closest resemblance can be found in Jesus’ words, urging followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him. Nevertheless, this statement pertains to the call for salvation rather than providing instructions for daily living. (At salvation, you followed Jesus into death as your old self was crucified with Christ.)As a Christian, your old self has already perished, eliminating the need for further dying. God loves the new version of you and considers you to be remarkable! In this episode, I explain to a caller that what God desires from you is not self-denial, but rather embracing and expressing your true self. In short, don’t deny yourself; be yourself!Enjoy this encouraging truth…We hope you enjoyed this episode. Since we're a nonprofit organization, episodes like these are only made possible by friends like you. You can help us continue sharing God's message of grace with the world here: https://andrewfarley.org/donate/ Connect with Dr. Andrew Farley here: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrAndrewFarley Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drandrewfarley Twitter: https://twitter.com/DrAndrewFarley TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drandrewfarley Website: https://www.andrewfarley.org/

14 Sep 202311min