At the 2007 Grace Evangelical Society conference, Zane Hodges examines Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman and demonstrates how the living water that gushes forth into everlasting life, is the saving truth that Jesus is the Christ, and how Jesus' prophetic word in John 4:10 was literally fulfilled, that "you [Samaritan woman] would have asked Him [Jesus], and He would have given you living water."

Luke 8:19-25 Who Am I? Who Is He? Zane C. Hodges (October 22, 1989 - Coast Bible Church)

A very real spiritual identity crisis often lies at the root of the frustrations and failures that we experience in Christian living. Sometimes under the pressures of life, we forget who Jesus is and what He is like. We forget the greatness of His power, the sufficiency of His strength, the abundance of His mercy and the plenitude of His grace, and Jesus becomes like a stranger. Jesus Christ has everything we could possibly need or want and yet He is always right there right besides us. The shortest way to the end of our frustrations, difficulties and perplexities, is the companionship and friendship and the presence and power of Jesus Christ, the Almighty Son of God. The Lord Jesus Christ gives Himself to us first as our Savior when we trust Him for that, and then as we learn to obey Him, as our Brother, our Companion and our Friend.

In this second part on the Spirit of the Antichrist: Decoupling Jesus from the Christ, Zane Hodges examines the mystical movement of Contemplative Spirituality and how this movement denies the historical Jesus and denies Jesus as the Christ, the One who gives eternal life to every believe in Him.

#contemplativeprayer #contemplativespirituality #brennanmanning #centeringprayer #groundofbeing #ultimatereality

Can a person receive everlasting life by simply believing in God for it? Is it essential to know that Jesus is the One who gives eternal life to all who believe in Him for eternal life? Why is it essential to believe that Jesus is the Christ? Zane Hodges answers these questions in his paper presented at the 2001 Grace Evangelical Society National Conference. #

antichrist #jesuschrist #jesusisthechrist #freegrace #believeinjesus #faithinjesus #faithinjesuschrist #zanehodges

Luke 22:47-53 Walking on the Darkside Zane C. Hodges Coast Bible Church

May 21, 1995

In this passage we see three signs that the powers of darkness are at work. One of the frequent signs, that the powers of darkness are at work, is treachery and betrayal. Another sign, that Satan is involved in his characteristic activity, is when in disregard to the counsel of God, we act recklessly, rashly and foolishly. Insulting and demeaning behavior towards others is also a mark of the work of darkness.

#judas #judasbetrayal #judasiscariot #treachery #betrayal

Decision Making and Guidance from God 1 Corinthians 10:25-29; 2 Timothy 3:16-17 Zane C. Hodges (1972-1975; May 23, 2004)

Is there any support in the Bible for the concept that we will receive some sort of divine mystical guidance from God before we make a significant spiritual decision? Is a vague feeling of inner peace, the same as divine guidance? Do the Scriptures encourage us to take a combination of circumstances which may be ambiguous in themselves and translate it into guidance for our lives? Where should we find guidance for our lives today? Do we recognize that the Word of God within the guidelines laid down to us, give us tremendous areas of freedom within which the decision-making process is our own? If there is something you need to learn, the Bible can teach you, because it is profitable for doctrine. If there is something in which you need to be rebuked, the Bible can rebuke you, because it is profitable for reproof. If there is something in which you need to be straightened out, the Bible can straighten you out, because it is profitable for correction. If there is training that you need, the Bible can train you, because it is profitable for instruction in righteousness, that you might be the complete man of God that God wants you to be. The Bible is enough for you and your conscience.

Other passages mentioned: Colossians 3:15; Acts 8:26-29; Acts 10:1-6; Acts 16:6-9; Judges 6:14, 36-40; Luke 15:13; 1 Corinthians 5:9-10, 7:39; 2 Timothy 4:13. #Godsplan #freewill

In this sequel to Naaman's story of leprosy, Naaman learns that the mercy and grace of God are absolutely free. One of the tragedies of the American church is that there are so many churches who teach and believe, that you cannot get into heaven unless you are willing to follow the Lord Jesus Christ or surrender to the lordship of Jesus Christ. People who think that way about the God of the Bible, do not understand the God of the Bible. Elisha's servant, Gehazi, is afflicted with the disease of greed, which is similar to playing with a loaded gun. The Lord doesn't need our pennies, but if we are smart, we will invest everything we can into His capable hands, and He will return it with magnificent interest in the kingdom of God.

2 Kings 5:14-27 That Gun Is Loaded Zane C. Hodges

Coast Bible Church

May 2004

Zane Hodges explains James 2:14-26 by providing an overview of the entire Epistle of James. Zane explains the expression "save your souls" in James 1:21, and demonstrates that "save" in James is about saving your earthly lives not salvation from hell. Zane show the Greek word for "trial" and "temptation" have two meanings, (1) troubles and (2) temptation to do evil. Justification before God by faith versus justification before men by works is explained.

Dead faith is when we stop acting on what we believe. In that instance faith becomes like a dead body, a dead faith is unproductive. How do we keep our faith alive? By acting on what we believe. When people see us acting on what we believe, then we are justified by works before men.

Other passages: Matthew 7:24-27; Proverbs 11:19; Romans 4:2; Hebrews 11:31

#deadfaith #saveyoursoul #james2 #justifiedbyfaith #justification

May 24, 1992

On May 24, 1992, Zane Hodges answered the following questions at Coast Bible Church:

1:44 - In Isaiah 40:1-2, who is the speaker asking to do the comforting, the nations of the world or is God comforting?

3:04 - In what sense should believers view their adoption by God?

4:11 – What is the difference in the two terms for "child" and "son" in Greek?

5:11 – Is there a difference between being born of God and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit?

7:03 – How can we differentiate between the new creation of God, which I am, and the flesh and not be guilty of a dualistic view of man like the Gnostics? What is Gnosticism?

10:26 – In 2 Corinthians 5:11, regarding the "Knowing, therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men", in what sense will Christians experience the terror of the Lord if they fail to persuade men?

13:27 – 1 Corinthians 4:5 speaks of "the hidden things of darkness and the counsels of men's hearts" being brought to light, in what sense will our failures or sins be brought up at the Judgment Seat of Christ and how does this fit the teaching of forgiveness and cleansing of sin and of God remembering our sins no more (Hebrews 10:17)?

21:06 – Does belief require a commitment?

21:38- Are there different types, degrees, or kinds of faith, such as weak versus strong or superficial versus deep? What sort of faith results in salvation? How much faith do you have to have to be saved?

27:45 – What are works? Which works are acceptable to God? Is fruit the same thing as works?

28:57 – Do works or fruit or both prove that faith exists? If so, why is proof necessary?

30:10 – Is it our job to be fruit inspectors or work detectors? Are we called to judge ourselves and others?

31:05 – Can we be assured of our own salvation?

31:15 – Can we have assurance of another person's salvation?

36:21 – In 2 Corinthians 5:1-10, if absence from this body means to be in the instant presence of the Lord, when will we be judged in verse 10? When shall the dead in Christ rise in 1 Thessalonians 4:16? Doesn't the Greek word for "absence" in 2 Corinthians 5 suggest waiting for something while dead? Don't other passages suggest the waiting in the care of Christ until they arise first, 1 Corinthians 15:6, 18; 1 Thessalonians 4:13,15; 2 Peter 3:4?

39:00 – What about the idea of soul sleep for dead believers? Why do we sleep until we receive our glorified physical bodies?

40:55 – If believers will not come into judgment, John 5:24, why do they still go before the Judgment Seat of Christ?

42:25 – What about the idea that dead believers prior to receiving their resurrected bodies experience time outside of the normal time-space continuum? That is one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day, so it will seem like sleep and the next conscious experience will be awakening at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Some explain soul sleep this way.

43:50 – Is there an age of accountability?

45:02 - Is the term "justification" used differently by James than by Paul?

46:16 – Explain the living creatures in Ezekiel 1:15.

48:40 – When Saul goes to the witch of En Dor and she brings up Samuel, wouldn't we have assumed that Samuel is with God, so how could Samuel ascend out of the earth? (1 Samuel 28)

50:25 – What is the bare minimum components of the Gospel or evangelistic message? Do you have to mention sin? What is the information that must be communicated?

53:15 – When do we inherit the kingdom of God? What does it mean to inherit the kingdom?

55:56 – What about the omission of the tribe of Dan from the list of the tribes of Israel in Revelation 7?

1:01:09 – Do we lose rewards in heaven if we are recognized for them today?

1:02:21 – Is Matthew 25, are the goats cast into the outer darkness?

1:02:43 – Why do the goats in Matthew 25:43 go into the everlasting fire? What is going on with the judgment of the sheep and the goats in Matthew 25?

1:05:44 – Is one reason for the omission of the tribe of Dan in Revelation 7, is that the tribe of Dan was one of the first tribes to fall into idolatry?

1:06:46 - Is the 144,000 in Revelation 7 sealed so that they will survive the entire tribulation?

1:08:24 – Is the 144,000 the total sum of believing Israel or the number of missionaries?

1:10:08 – What are you looking forward to in the coming kingdom?

During this prophetic congress Zane Hodges surveys the following passages with respect to the events of the Tribulation after the rapture of the church:

Daniel 9:24, 26-27; 11:36-12:1

Revelation 8:1; 9:12; 11:3-14; 12:13-17; 16:13-14, 16; 17:9-13, 17-18; 19:11, 19-21

57:08 – Is the United States mentioned anywhere in prophecy?

59:18 – Is the rapture near?

1:10:30 – Where do Christians go at the time of the rapture?

Other passages referenced: 2 Peter 3:10-13; Revelation 11:1-14; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12; Revelation 8:13; Revelation 9:18; 1 Timothy 4:1-3; Matthew 4:8-11; Luke 4:5-8; Psalm 2:1-3; Revelation 13; Revelation 17:16; Revelation 18; Ezekiel 38-39; Revelation 20:8; Revelation 12, 14; 1 Thessalonians 5:3; Job 1-2; 1 Thessalonians 4:17.

#tribulation #rapture #manofsin #beast #endtimes #prophecy

Zane Hodges concludes his series on the Epistle to the Hebrews by answering the following questions:

0:57 – Does Hebrews 10:26 refer to Old Testament sacrifice?

2:14 – Did you ever hold to a "loss of salvation" view or a "never believed" view regarding the problem passages in Hebrews?

7:10 – How do you understand the concept of "righteousness" in Scripture and in particular the book of Hebrews?

9:15 – How are righteousness and justification related?

11:00 – Could you walk us through Hebrews 12:8, since it is often used for false professors?

13:20 – What about the sin that so easily ensnares us in Hebrews 12:1? What is that sin? Is that unbelief?

14:14 – Is the condition in Hebrews 6:4-5 regarding those that are impossible to renew the same condition as those in Romans 1 being subject to God's wrath?

17:35 – What should our responsibility to the person in Hebrews 6:4-5

20:20 – Is this the joy of bringing one back?

21:43 – If the earthly tabernacle is patterned after the heavenly tabernacle, what does that tell us about what heaven is like? Now that Christ is seated and entered into the holies of holies and yet Christ is still the minister of this tabernacle, what is Christ actually doing?

26:22 – How is that different from the intercessory ministry of the Holy Spirit?

26:42 – Is there anything we can do for an apostate Christian?

29:09 – Do you think apostasy is on the rise in our liberal society of 2002?

31:12 – How does a believer deal with an apostate? Do they treat them as a non-believer or as a believer who has fallen away?

32:54 – How would you respond to a Calvinist who says regarding an apostate friend, that your friend never believed or that only God knows if he is saved?

36:17 -In 1 John 5:16-17, what is the meaning of "There is sin leading to death. I do not say that he should pray about that."?

41:38 – Can you explain the psychology and context of Hebrews 12:15, "looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble and by this many become defiled"

44:37 – Is Hebrews 12:15 set opposed in a sense to Hebrews 6:4 and 10:25 and not having the tools to deal with those who have forsaken the assembly?

45:19 – Where do you draw the line between wandering away from the Lord and complete apostasy, is there a gray area? How do you classify someone as an apostate? Can an apostate give back his eternal life?

47:26 – Can an apostate grow spiritually?

48:28 – What happens with an apostate and his eternal rewards, can he lose his eternal rewards?

50:02 – Can you explain1 John 5:18? "We know that whoever is born of God does not sin; but he who has been born of God keeps himself, and the wicked one does not touch him."

#hebrews