Program 102: A Gift Beyond Price

Yahushua’s blood covers your sins, but the merits of his sinless life are applied to your account as well! It’s a gift beyond measure.

Welcome to WLC Radio, a subsidiary of World’s Last Chance Ministries, an online ministry dedicated to learning how to live in constant readiness for the Savior's return.

For two thousand years, believers of every generation have longed to be the last generation. Contrary to popular belief, though, Christ did not give believers “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, he repeatedly warned that his coming would take even the faithful by surprise. Yahushua urgently warned believers to be ready because, he said, “The Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” [Matthew 24:44]

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

* * *Part 1: (Miles & Dave)

Miles Robey: Greetings! And a very warm welcome to another program on World’s Last Chance Radio.

I’m your host, Miles Robey. Joining me is Dave Wright.

Dave Wright: Hello! Welcome to today’s program. I’m so glad you could join us.

I have to say, I’ve really been looking forward to today’s program. I’ve got some really exciting news to share with you.

Miles: Before we get into that, I want to take just a moment as we always do to help our first-time listeners understand some words with which they may not be familiar.

The Bible tells us to “call upon the name of the Lord,” but it doesn’t actually say “the Lord” in the original Hebrew. After all, “lord” is simply a title, not a name. What Scripture actually says is that we’re to “call upon the name of Yahuwah.” That’s the Creator’s actual name.

Dave: Yahuwah or Yah.

Miles: Right. You can find Him referred to as “Yah” in Scripture as well. It’s an absolutely beautiful name. It comes from hayah, which is a verb of being. We don’t do that in English. We give our babies nouns for names. But the name of the Almighty is a verb of being.

Dave: It’s quite profound, actually. Am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been: they all are equally applicable to the source of all life. And, as we’ve said in a previous program, when said in combination with your need, His name becomes a powerful promise you can claim.

You’re in danger? BE safe.

Miles: If you missed that program, you can still listen to it. It’s on our website, as well as YouTube. It’s called “The Most Powerful Promise In The Universe.” On our website, click on the WLC Radio icon and scroll down through the program titles until you find it.

Dave: The name of the Saviour is quite similar. It’s Yahushua, which means “Yahuwah’s salvation.” That’s what he is. He’s Yahuwah’s salvation.

Miles: El, eloah, elohim – those are all Hebrew titles that appear in the Old Testament and refer to Yahuwah. Theos is the Greek equivalent of our English word “god” and that’s what appears in the New Testament. We typically just use Yah or Yahuwah instead so you always know who we’re talking about since titles are generic.

So. Dave. What have you planned for today’s program?

Dave: Well, like I said, it’s a topic I’m really excited about. Here on WLC Radio, we’ve discussed a wide variety of topics, covering everything from prophecy, to godly living, and more. But today I want to discuss the core essence of the gospel message. I don’t think we, as Christians, talk about it enough and certainly on WLC we’ve not focused much on the pure, gospel message.

Miles: “Gospel,” of course, meaning “good news.” That’s the definition of the word.

Dave: Right! And have I got good news for you!

Miles: I’m all ears. We can always use more good news!

Dave: All right. Let’s start with the basics. You want to be saved, yes?

Miles: Well … of course! Doesn’t everyone?

Dave: No.

Miles: Well, every Christian. You know what I mean.

Dave: Right. The writer of the book of Hebrews refers to the Christian hope as “an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil.” [Hebrews 6:19]

The promise of an eternal life spent with Yahuwah has comforted believers since the fall of Adam. It’s what has kept martyrs steadfast.

Now, here’s the thing: in order to be saved, you must be perfect. And not just in your words and actions. You have to be perfect in your thoughts and emotions, too.

Miles: Perfect from the inside out just as Yahushua was. Not even by a thought could Satan get the Saviour to sin.

Dave: He was perfect! In every particular. What’s more, he kept the law of Yah perfectly, too. He kept the letter of the law and, what’s more, he kept the spirit of the law, too: perfectly. No mistakes. No sins of omission. Perfect.

And that’s what we have to do, too. If we want to inherit eternal life, we have to be perfect just as Yahushua demonstrated in his life that he was.

Miles: Yeah. That’s not really good news because I already know I can’t do it.

Dave: I know you can’t.

Miles laughs: That obvious, huh?

Dave: Well, I can’t either. No one can. But that’s not the good part.

Miles: What is, then?

Dave: Yahuwah knows you can’t. In fact, in 1 Samuel 16, verse 7 we read: “For Yahuwah does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but Yahuwah looks at the heart.”

Again, Yahuwah knows you can’t keep His law perfectly—

Miles: Even though, in order to be saved, we must.

Dave: He knows you can’t, so He doesn’t expect you to! But He’s worked it out. He’s got it all under control and that is the very essence of the gospel I wish to discuss today.

What does Romans 3:23 say? Could you read it for us? Or just say it, if you know it.

Miles: It says for all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of Yah.

Dave: Right. Go ahead and turn to Romans 3 anyway. I’d like you to read verses 10 to 12 once you have that.

Miles: All right. It says, uh …

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after Yah.

They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.

Dave: So, this is what Yahuwah has to work with. We’ve all sinned. None of us are righteous. We’ve all “gone out of the way.” Matthew 5, verse 8, says: Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see Yah.

Miles: Reminds me of something Yahushua said. I think it’s in Luke 6 …

Here we go. It’s Luke 6, verse 45. It says: “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”

Unquote. But the truth is, as you said, none of us are “good.”

Dave: No. Remember Yahushua’s words to the rich, young ruler? He said: Why are you calling me good? There is no one good except Yah. [See Matthew 19:17.]

And that’s the dichotomy we’re dealing with here:

On the one hand, in order to spend eternity with Yah, we must be perfect.

On the other hand, none of us are perfect and there is absolutely nothing we can do to generate righteousness in ourselves.

Miles: Out of the “evil treasure” in our heart, we bring forth evil.

Dave: And Yah knew that was all we ever could do. So, He worked out another way by which we can be saved.

What does John chapter 3, verses 16 and 17 say?

Miles: For Yah so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For Yah did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

Dave: Just as soon as there was sin, Yahuwah purposed to provide a Saviour. This is the good news of the gospel; the “good news” of salvation: you can still be saved, even though you cannot meet the requirements of salvation.

You can’t, by yourself, generate the righteousness that is required by Yahuwah’s law.

Do you remember what John the Baptist said when he saw Christ by the River Jordan?

Miles: Behold, the lamb of Yah that taketh away the sin of the world. [See John 1:29.]

Dave: “Behold.” Look!

We can do that! We’re to look to the lamb of Yah that takes away the sins of the world.

What is the punishment for sin?

Miles: Uhh … Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of Yah is eternal life in Christ [Yahushua] our Lord.”

Dave: And how many did we say have sinned?

Miles: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of Yah.” [Romans 3:23]

Dave: This is why Yahuwah provided a Saviour. His son was born through Mary. Yahushua was a perfect human being. He was born free of the inherited tendencies we have all inherited from our parents. He was pure and sinless, just as Adam was before the fall.

Miles: Okay. Wait a minute. Are you saying you believe in the immaculate conception of Mary? I know you’re not Catholic. Are you saying Mary was sinless in order for Yahushua to be born sinless?

Dave: Not at all. Romans 3:23 tells us that all have sinned and come short of the glory of Yah. That’s an all-ness statement. It’s all-encompassing and includes Mary.

Miles: So, how was he born sinless and without any of the tendencies to sin the rest of us have inherited?

Dave: I don’t know. And, honestly, at this point, I don’t need to know. I’d like to know, but it’s not necessary. How did Yahuwah speak the universe into existence?

Miles: I don’t know!

Dave: How did He raise Christ from the dead? Again, we don’t know. The important point is that He did.

Christ was born a perfect human to redeem the world from Adam’s fall. He didn’t have to be born with every inherited sinful tendency through Mary. The point was that he redeemed the world where Adam sinned.

Miles: I suppose, when you put it like that, it makes sense. I mean, here we are, living—and sinning—two thousand years later. How many generations is that? It still wouldn’t be fair, because we’ve inherited an additional two thousand years of cultivated tendencies to evil than Christ would have inherited.

Dave: Right. Christ was indeed “tempted in all points like as we are, but without sin.” [Hebrews 4:15] Again, he didn’t need to inherit any tendencies to evil because the point of his overcoming was to overcome where Adam fell.

Paul talks about this in Romans, chapter 5. It’s a fairly long chapter, so I’ve printed off some verses I’d like you to read. Go ahead and read those for us starting at verse 12, please.

Miles:

Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned— (For until the law sin was in the world, but sin is not imputed when there is no law. Nevertheless death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who had not sinned according to the likeness of the transgression of Adam, who is a type of him who was to come. [Romans 5:12-14]

Dave: Notice: sin and death reigned from Adam because of inherited tendencies to sin, even when the individual had not committed the exact same sin as Adam had. Then Paul adds that Adam was a type of him who was to come.

Again, Yahushua didn’t need to inherit sinful tendencies. His mission was to redeem Adam’s fall.

All right. Go on.

Miles:

But the free gift is not like the offense. For if by the one man’s offense many died, much more the grace of Yah and the gift by the grace of the one man, Yahushua Christ, abounded to many. And the gift is not like that which came through the one who sinned. For the judgment which came from one offense resulted in condemnation, but the free gift which came from many offenses resulted in justification. For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Yahushua Christ. [Romans 5:15-17]

Dave: Condemnation came as a result of the first Adam’s sin, since we all inherited tendencies to sin and became sinners ourselves because of his sin.

But the gift of justification came as a result of the second Adam’s sinless life and death.

Okay. What does Paul say next?

Miles:

Therefore, as through one man’s offense judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one man’s righteous act the free gift came to all men, resulting in justification of life. For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one man’s obedience many will be made righteous.

Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more, so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Yahushua Christ our Lord. [Romans 5:18-20]

Dave: Adam sinned and condemned all of us to sin, too, because we inherited his sinful nature.

Christ came to redeem Adam’s failure. He is the second Adam. He was born perfect and sinless, just as Adam had been created pure and sinless. His perfect life resulted in justification for all men.

Justification is a free gift and that is the core essence of the gospel message.

* * *

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* * *Part 2: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: We’ve been focusing on the heart of the gospel message today. Yahushua is the second Adam. His mission was to redeem the world from the sin and death brought by the first Adam’s sin.

Dave: In our last segment, you read from Romans 5 how the second Adam’s life resulted in justification for all men. So let’s talk about the science of salvation now. How it all works.

Yahushua is the only human being ever to keep the divine law perfectly. When he died on the cross, he willingly took on our sins.

Miles: His death paid the penalty for our sins.

Dave: Yes. And the thing that’s important to you and to me, is that he died a conqueror. If he had sinned even a single time in so much as a thought, Yahuwah could not have raised him from the dead.

Miles: Because “the wages of sin is death.

Dave: But because he never sinned, not a single time, Yahuwah could and did raise him from the dead. That was justice. It was just and consistent with the divine law to restore life to Yahushua precisely because he had never sinned.

Miles: All right. Let’s talk about justification. Precisely, what is it? How would you define it and how does it factor in to making us sinless like Yahushua is sinless?

Dave: Justification is what Yahushua obtained for us by his atoning sacrifice.
Sanctification is what Yahushua does inside us, once we are justified.

Do you remember what he told the disciples when they were sad that he’d be going up to Heaven?

Miles: Yeah. I always thought it was a rather strange statement. It’s in John, I think. Give me just a second to find it …

Here we go. It’s John 16, verse 7. It says, quote: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you.”

Dave: The Comforter, of course, is the spirit of Yah. When Yahushua was on earth, he was bound by space and time just as we are. However, when he was resurrected, Yahuwah poured out on him a special outpouring of His own spirit.

Miles: This was what Yahushua poured out on the disciples on the Day of Pentecost.

Dave: Exactly! Yah’s spirit was the active agent in the creation of the world. It is also the active agent in our re-creation. It is given to us by Yahushua, and dwells in us by faith. It is this same spirit of life that does the work of transformation.

Miles: Okay! Okay! I’m making some connections here. There’s another passage in John, shortly after this one, that—again—I always thought was a bit strange, but it’s starting to make sense.

It’s talking about when Yahushua was reunited with the disciples the evening after his resurrection. It’s in John, chapter 20.

Listen to this! It says:

Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, [Yahushua] came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.

So [Yahushua] said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” [John 20:19-22] Unquote.

So. There you have it. Yahushua was gifted with a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit that he can then pass on to us.

Dave: Yes! And it is this spirit, dwelling in us by faith, that transforms us into the divine image.

Now, getting back to your question on what justification is and how it works. When a person repents and, by faith, accepts Yahushua’s death on his behalf, Yahuwah takes the merits of Yahushua’s perfect life, his perfect obedience, and credits them to the believer.

Miles: This reminds me of something Paul said in his letter to the Galatians. He said, I am crucified with Christ, therefore “I” no longer live. Yahushua now lives in me and the life I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the son of Yah who loved me and gave himself for me.

Dave: When you accept Yahushua as your Saviour, he becomes your substitute. His death pays the full ransom for the sins you have committed.

But that’s not all. Remember, Yahushua died after living a perfectly sinless life. So, while the merits of his blood cover your sins so you don’t have to die, the merits of his sinless life cover you as well, and you stand before Yah as though you had never sinned.

Miles: That’s imputed righteousness, right? Our sins were imputed, or in-put in Christ, so that his righteousness could be imputed to us.

Dave: Yes. This is called “forensic justification.” We’re talking legalese here.

Turn to 2 Corinthians, chapter 5. Paul explains it best, so let’s just read it direct from Yah’s word: 2 Corinthians 5, verse 21.

Miles: All right. It says: “For He made him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of [Yah] in him.”

Dave: This is justification by faith and it is the very heart of the gospel message. Our sins are applied, or credited, to Yahushua, so that his righteousness can be credited to us. “Justification by faith” is “righteousness by faith.” It’s the same thing.

Miles: It really is. I learned recently that in ancient Greek, as well as in some modern languages, like Arabic, the word for justification is the exact same word as we translate “righteousness.” Like you said, it’s the same-same.

Dave: As long as we remain in Yahuwah, trusting in the atoning merits of Yahushua’s life and death, we are covered by his righteousness. When Yah looks at us, He sees us through the lens of Christ’s righteousness. He looks at you, and He sees Christ’s perfect life, not your sinful one.

Miles: So, how long does justification last? Until we’re sanctified?

Dave: Uhhh … no.

Let’s talk about this. You’re not understanding this quite yet.

Once Yahushua comes and recreates the earth, once eternity starts, will you ever sin again?

Miles: No. I mean, if I make it there, I won’t be sinning anymore!

Dave: Correct, but you weren’t always sinless. You will always need the merits of Yahushua’s blood to cover—or justify—your past sins. Correct?

Miles: True.

Dave: So, justification is … it’s like a donation. A donation that is on-going and never taken away.

Miles: The gift that keeps on giving.

Dave: Without end and forever. This is the good news of the gospel! When Abraham had been instructed to offer up Isaac as a burnt offering, he gathered up a couple of servants, some wood and fire, Isaac, and they sent off. When Isaac said, “Hey, Pops! I think you forgot something. Where’s the lamb for the offering?” What did Abraham say?

Miles: Yah will provide for Himself the lamb.

Dave: This was an acted-out parable, demonstrating the plan of salvation.

Miles: So, what role, if any, does justification play in sanctification. You’ve said that we’ll always need justification for sins past. How does this tie in with sanctification?

Dave: Everyone who accepts the gift of Yahushua’s imputed righteousness will, of course, want to live their lives in conformity to Yah’s will.

Miles: Naturally. They love much because they have been forgiven much. They’re not going to want to go and do what they know He doesn’t want!

Dave: Of course not. You accept the gift of salvation, you’re going to want to do what pleases your Redeemer. That’s the natural response of the heart that loves.

But here is where a lot of people make a mistake—and, I’ll be honest, it’s one I’ve made in the past, too. It’s easy to assume that once you have Yahushua’s righteousness imputed to you—or put within you—you will somehow magically transform into a holy, sinless person, just like Yahushua.

Miles: … You’re saying we don’t quit sinning.

Dave: No.

Miles: Ever? We just … what? Sin and go on sinning until Yahushua comes?

Dave: Yes and no. Until Yahushua returns and gifts us with a higher nature, we will still be sinful human beings that make mistakes. This is different from sinning knowingly.

Turn to James, chapter 3, and read verse 2. This is an important point. People think that if they sin after they’ve been justified, that somehow, they’re no longer saved and that isn’t true.

Go ahead and read it once you’ve turned there.

Miles: “For we all stumble in many things.”

Dave: Does that sound like perfection to you?

Miles: No … but is it really sinning?

Dave: Awww! You’re seeing the difference. “Iniquity” is sinning knowingly. It’s purposeful rebellion. That is different from stumbling, or being weak, or making a mistake.

Even after justification, James admits, there will still be failings. This can be due to ignorance, or weakness, but this is not the same thing as sins of presumption. Sins of weakness—due to our fallen human nature—are very different from sins of presumption which are due to an unconverted heart. Do you see the difference?

Miles: Yeah. Yeah, and I agree. If you’ve truly repented, you’re not going to willingly continue in known sin just because the ransom for your sins has already been paid.

This would also explain why sincere people might continue to struggle with addiction, even after they’ve truly surrendered to Yah.

Dave: Sure! It’s been 6,000 years since we’ve had access to the tree of life. The thing is, though, when Yahuwah’s spirit reigns in our hearts, we will come to view sin just as Yahuwah view it. We will develop an ever-increasing hatred for sin, because we’ll see clearly that sin separates us from Yah, the source of joy.

Read Romans 6, verse 14, for us. Paul, here, is explaining the growth that takes place after the moment of justification.

Miles: It says: “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”

Dave: The “law” he’s talking about here is what, in Romans 8, he calls the “law of sin and death.” We’re not under that any more.

We all obviously need the covering merits of Yahushua’s righteousness. We’re all sinners in need of justification! But, as we make the choice every day to trust in Yah’s gift of grace, a change starts to take place.

When we actively seek to know and do Yah’s will, He writes His law on our hearts.

I want you to read Ezekiel 36, verses 26 and 27, and as you read it, emphasize the personal pronouns in these verses. I want you to see just who causes this transformation to occur.

Miles: “I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and [I will] cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them.”

Dave: Who will give us a new heart and new spirit?

Miles: Yahuwah.

Dave: And who will write the divine law in our hearts?

Miles: Yahuwah.

Dave: From justification through to sanctification, salvation is always Yah’s gift, and His work. And just as justification is a gift, so is sanctification.

Here’s the thing, though, sanctification is a lifelong process. It’s not instantaneous. It’s begun the moment you are justified and it transforms you into the divine image.

Miles: Hmmm … could you say it generates righteousness in the heart?

Dave: That’s a good way to put it. Sanctification is the work of the spirit of Yah and it generates righteousness in the heart. This process continues until we are gifted with a higher nature at glorification when Yahushua returns.

And it’s all a gift. Justification is a gift. Righteousness is a gift. Sanctification is a gift. And, glorification will also be a gift. There’s nothing we can do to earn it or deserve it. All we can do is gratefully accept it by faith.

* * *

You are listening to World's Last Chance Radio.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.

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* * *Daily Mailbag (Miles & Dave)

Miles: Gabe and Emily Anderson from … Wollongong, Australia, have sent us a question for our daily mailbag.

Dave: Australia’s such an interesting country. You’d think Charles Darwin went there instead of the Galapagos. In fact, did you know that when a duck-billed platypus was first sent to Britain, people thought the Australians were playing a joke on them by sewing the bill of a duck onto a rat.

Miles laughs: I can see why! Well, I’ve got a fun fact for you.

Dave: Have you now?

Miles: Yeah! Your trivia is getting my competitive spirit going. Did you know that Australia has the world’s largest population of camels?

Dave: Not Egypt or Saudi Arabia?

Miles: Nope. Australia. In fact, Saudi Arabia actually imports camels from Australia. Primarily for meat production, but whatever!

Dave: I did not know that. You’ve taught me something new!

Miles: All right! Have to keep up with on you the Trivia Games!

Dave: So what’s our question today?

Miles: It’s a really interesting one. It’s something I would never have thought to ask, but now that it’s been asked, I’m curious, too.

Gabe and Emily ask: “Could you tell us what, precisely, are the ‘unspeakable riches of Christ’? Does this idea lend support to the prosperity gospel doctrine? If not, what does it mean?”

Dave: Hmmm. Interesting question. First, some definition of terms. The “prosperity gospel,” of course, refers to the idea that if you’re in need, all you have to do is give to Yah, and He is obligated to return more to you than you gave to Him. So, if you’re down to your last dollar, give it to Yah and you’ll get 10 in return. That’s the basic concept, although there are some variations.

Miles: I don’t think that’s what “the unspeakable riches of Christ” refers to, though.

Dave: No. It doesn’t. It’s actually a phrase used by Paul. Let’s take a look at that first, if you know where it’s found.

Miles: Yeah. Got that. It’s, uh, Ephesians chapter 3, verses 8 and 9. It says:

To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in Yahuwah who created all things through Yahushua Christ.

Dave: We’re talking spiritual riches here. This isn’t the “prosperity gospel” heresy. The phrase, “unsearchable riches” can also be translated as “boundless riches” or riches that have no limits.

Of these limitless riches, what is the greatest wealth of all? What has the greatest value to us?

Miles: Well, I’d have to say the gospel itself.

Dave: Absolutely. That gift of Yah whereby, just as soon as the individual accepts salvation he is saved. Full stop. No need to add anything to that. You choose to accept salvation and that instant it is yours.

Obviously, Yahuwah, as the life-giver, owns everything. But in Romans 8, we learn that when we accept salvation, we are considered children of Yah. Do you have that?

Miles: Yeah, I just turned there.

Dave: Read verse 17, would you please?

Miles: “And if children, then heirs; heirs of Yah, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”

Dave: When we accept the gift of salvation, the righteousness of Christ covers us and we are accepted in the Beloved. We become heirs of Yah and joint-heirs with Christ!

Just let that sink in for a moment. We are accounted sons and daughters of Yah. We become the heirs of the monarch of the universe!

Miles: You spell it out like that and it really is hard to wrap your mind around the reality, isn’t it? 1 Corinthians 2, verse 9 says: “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which Yah hath prepared for them that love him.”

We can’t even conceive the reality of what Yah has waiting for us.

Dave: And, of course, the greatest of these limitless riches is that, because of Yah’s grace and the righteousness of Christ, we stand before Yah as though we had never sinned! And the gifts don’t stop there. He writes His law on our hearts so we ourselves become transformed into the divine image. What greater riches could there possibly be than for a sinner to be fully transformed into the divine image?

Miles: There couldn’t be. This reminds me of John’s opening salutation in 3 John 1, verse 2. He says: “Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.”

I really doubt he was talking about material prosperity there!

Dave: No. You’re right, he’s not. He’s talking about spiritual prosperity. Read—no, don’t close your Bible yet. Read the next two verses: 3 John 1, verses 3 to 4.

Miles: “For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.”

Dave: John obviously wanted them to prosper in physical health. That’s important. It’s difficult to think clearly when you’re sick. But more than that, he wanted them to prosper by “walking in the truth.”

Obviously, in context, John wasn’t writing about material wealth, but prospering spiritually and physically.

Miles: It’s really clear when it’s read in context, isn’t it? I think this verse has been taken out of context so much it’s practically the theme song of the prosperity gospel. Kind of their mission statement. So, it’s interesting to see in context that John’s clearly speaking of spiritual wealth here.

Dave: Over and over in his parables, Yahushua likened the kingdom of heaven to a pearl of great price, to a man that went and sold all that he had to obtain hidden treasure, etc., etc.

There’s nothing in the physical universe that can compare to the gift of our salvation. Because of this gift, we aren’t condemned! We are forgiven, accepted, and saved! That is the greatest treasure of all.

Miles: I remember this cartoon I saw once. This guy is standing at the pearly gates, telling St. Peter that he’d made special arrangements to be allowed to bring all his gold with him.

In the cartoon, St. Peter’s calling over his shoulder: “Another bag of asphalt!”

Dave: Yeah, in a city where the streets are paved with gold, the human soul has much more value than a bag of asphalt!

Our greatest gift is salvation; our greatest treasure is the very real experience of entering into an intimate, one-on-one relationship with our Maker. THAT is the limitless, boundless riches available to us through the gift of salvation.

Miles: Amen.

Okay. We’ve got time for one more really quick question. Ezekiel Mwangi from Kenya is asking about resources for sharing. He says: “Greetings brethren in Yahushua. My family and I are greatly blessed by your broadcasts. We share everything we learn with friends and family. Are there any resources available for sharing these truths?”

Dave: Yes! There are! If you will go to our website, WorldsLastChance.com, you will find a number of resources we’ve made available for you to use in sharing truth.

We have full color tracts we will send to you. Also, at the top of each article are a couple of little icons. You can download each article as a PDF file, or you can print it off to share, too. Each article is available in a print ready format.

Now, just so you know, not everything is available in all languages, but everything is available in English, if the person you’re sharing with speaks English. But we also translate into many different languages, so check it out! There’s a lot available in dozens of different languages.

Miles: And don’t forget the videos.

Dave: Right!

Miles: We’ve got hundreds of videos on the website. They’re also uploaded to YouTube, so they’re readily available. Some people use them for Bible studies or worship services.

Dave: So, yeah. There’s quite a bit available.

Miles: Keep sending us your questions and comments. Even prayer requests. We pray over these daily. There’s great power in prayer. And please pray for our ministry, too. It’s good to uplift each other in prayer.

If you have a question, comment, or prayer request, just go to WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. We always enjoy hearing from our listeners around the world.

Once again, that’s WorldsLastChance.com and click on Contact Us. If we don’t get your question answered on air, we’ll do our best to answer it in the Q&As on our website.

* * *Daily Promise

This is Elise O’Brien with your daily promise from Yah’s word.

A lot of young people like to go to the beach for spring break. Bill, Dan, and Buck decided instead to go backpacking in the mountains of northern Michigan, in the United States.

The teens packed lightly. They didn’t even take a tent, just a plastic tarp to keep the rain off. They hiked and roamed about, enjoying the wonders of Yah’s creation. Unfortunately, they packed a little too lightly. Toward the end of their week-long trip, they ran out of food.

The guys weren’t worried. True, they were far from any regular camp spot, but they could always fish, so that’s what they did. After tying their tarp in a pretty spot near Lake Superior, the young men tossed their fishing lines in a small stream that ran near their camp.

They didn’t catch a lot, but enough to satisfy their hunger. After eating their fill, they tossed the bones and other remains into the woods near their campsite.

Sometime during the night, they heard something big crashing through the woods nearby.

“Uhhh … squirrels?” Bill asked hopefully.

“Nah. Too big,” Buck replied.

Simultaneously, the young men remembered the ranger’s warning when they had checked in at the ranger station: “Watch out for bears!”

They lay still, scarcely daring to breathe, as they listened to what they were sure was a bear prowling far too close for comfort.

Dan quietly suggested they pray, and so they did. Dan specifically asked the Father to send the bear elsewhere, claiming the promise of divine protection offered every child of Yah.

After a while, the guys went back to sleep and slept undisturbed until dawn. The next morning, the young men found fresh bear scat about 100 yards down the trail. They also learned that two couples on the other side of them, up the trail, had a bear come right into their camp! They had cowered in their tents watching it rip apart their packs in its search for food. The bear had also consumed 40 hits of speed, an illegal drug, as well.

And there were Bill, Dan, and Buck, right in the middle between two places where the bear had been. Bill’s young faith was strengthened as he saw the proof of Yah’s protection. But that wasn’t all. Almost as though the Father wanted to drive the point home, something else happened.

Buck went down to the shore of Lake Superior to collect wood for a campfire. As he was about to toss one log on the fire, Dan spoke up: “Wait!” He said. “It looks like there are words on the log.”

Dan grabbed the wood and brushed the dirt off as his friends crowded close. There, on the piece of drift wood, carved by some unknown hand, were the words: “God answers prayer.”

And He does! Yahuwah is a prayer-answering god. When you need help, He is right there, waiting to answer your call.

Proverbs 3, verses 24 to 26, says:

When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet.
Do not be afraid of sudden terror,
Nor of trouble from the wicked when it comes;

For Yahuwah will be your confidence,
And will keep your foot from being caught.

We have been given great and precious promises. Go, and start claiming!

* * *Part 3: (Miles & Dave)

Miles: The thing that, to me, is the most beautiful about today’s discussion is the fact that it’s all a gift. It was done at the cross, and all we have to do is accept it. No righteousness by abstinence. It’s righteousness by faith in the merits of Yahushua.

Dave: It’s Yah, all the way. I’ll tell you what I find encouraging and inspiring: as our will becomes entwined with the will of the Father, He cleanses and sanctifies us from the inside out! Then, when we’re obeying Him, we’ll simply be carrying out the desires of our own hearts!

Miles: Because His law is written on our hearts.

Dave: It’s an incredible transaction of grace, isn’t it?

I read a religious writer say once that holiness is agreement with Yah. That really resonated with me. As we are sanctified, our thoughts, desires, and motives become aligned with the Father’s and we are at peace with Him.

In fact, that’s exactly what Paul said in Romans 5. Here: read verses 1 and 2.

Miles: “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with Yah through our Lord Yahushua Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of Yah.”

Dave: As believers, we tend to toss about these big words: justification; sanctification; righteousness … and we never really stop and think about what it means and what it looks like in the Christian life.

Miles: Okay, so let me see if I’ve got this right.

• Justification declares you to be righteous.
• Sanctification is the process, begun at justification, that transforms you into the divine image.

Dave: That’s a good way to put it. To state it another way, you could say that sanctification is the fruit of justification. And this, right here, is the very heart of Yahuwah’s plan for our redemption.

The moment you choose to accept salvation and trust in the merits of Yahushua’s righteousness, that very moment, you are accepted as perfect in the Saviour.

Every time the Father looks at you, He sees righteousness even though the process of sanctification has not yet yielded a morally perfect being!

Miles: That’s powerful.

Dave: That’s divine grace.

Miles: It’s encouraging, is what it is!

I have to admit that, in retrospect, I’m realizing a lot of my life has been spent doing things I thought would somehow make me sanctified.

Dave: Well, I’m in the same boat. I’ve done it, too.

Miles: And it wasn’t anything so obvious as trying to purchase my ticket to the Glory Train. I believed in righteousness by faith. But I also believed that, in order to be righteous, I wouldn’t do This, or I would do That. It became a works trip without my even realizing it.

Dave: I hear you. Looking back, I can see where I’ve done the same thing. But that’s not good news! That’s the burden we were laboring under; it’s the law of sin and death, not the good news of the gospel.

The sheer beauty of the gospel message is that as long as you remain in Christ, you are covered by his perfect righteousness even though sins of ignorance, omission, or weakness and addiction may continue to be committed.

Miles: So, justification continues. We’re always justified by grace. What about sanctification?

Dave: Well, we’ll obviously continue to grow in knowledge and intimacy with Yah throughout all eternity. But the process of sanctification that was begun at justification, climaxes at glorification. This is when our sinful body is changed into a spiritual body.

It’s not something we talk about all that much, but Yahushua, as the “first born from the dead” was gifted with a spiritual body at his resurrection. We will be, too.

There’s a passage in the New Testament that talks about it. Paul again. Let’s take a look. It describes this culmination of the sanctification process at glorification so beautifully.

It’s 1 Corinthians, chapter 15, verses 50 to 53. Would you read it for us?

Miles:

Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of Yah; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption. Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

Dave: Uhhh … keep reading through verse 57. There’s a text I want you to read.

Miles:

So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written,

Death is swallowed up in victory.

O death, where is thy sting?

O grave, where is thy victory?

The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

But thanks be to Yah, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Yahushua, the Christ.

Dave: That is

• Justification
• Sanctification, and
• Glorification

It’s all right there.

Miles: I appreciate your sharing this with us. It’s good to keep in mind the basics, because it is the basics of the gospel—Yah’s undying love for us, His grace that makes it all possible, that draws us to Him!

Dave: Agreed. What’s truly important is that we know Yahuwah for ourselves. That we accept the gift of justification for ourselves, and that we learn to trust Him in all things. Only then will we make a full surrender and allow the transforming power of the spirit of Yah to work in our hearts and minds.

Miles: John 17, verse 3: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Yahushua the Christ whom You have sent.”

Dave: Amen. From first to last and everything in between, it is always a gift of grace, accessed by faith in the redeeming merits of Yahushua.

Miles: Join us again tomorrow, and until then, remember: Yahuwah loves you . . . and He is safe to trust!

* * *

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This program and past episodes of WLC Radio are available for downloading on our website. They're great for sharing with friends and for use in Bible studies! They're also an excellent resource for those worshipping Yahuwah alone at home. To listen to previously aired programs, visit our website at WorldsLastChance.com. Click on the WLC Radio icon displayed on our homepage.

In his teachings and parables, the Savior gave no “signs of the times” to watch for. Instead, the thrust of his message was constant … vigilance. Join us again tomorrow for another truth-filled message as we explore various topics focused on the Savior's return and how to live in constant readiness to welcome him warmly when he comes.

WLC Radio: Teaching minds and preparing hearts for Christ's sudden return.