Biblical Talks with Elder Michael Tolliver Podcast

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“The Vital Doctrine of Regeneration “By Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“Here, then, is this great central and vital doctrine of regeneration. From our standpoint, this doctrine of regeneration, together with the doctrine of the atonement, is incomparably the most important doctrine of all, and there is a sense in which we simply cannot understand Christian doctrine and Christian truth without being clear about the doctrine of regeneration. And yet I would suggest that this doctrine is seriously and sadly neglected amongst us. Oh, I know that lip service is paid to it and that people talk very glibly and generally about being ‘born again’. But to what extent do people study it? To what extent have we really looked into it and discovered exactly what it means?

Saints of the living God, this doctrine is absolutely pivotal.

Background Music “All things well”, by Myron Butler

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Now if I do what I do not want, I agree with the law, that it is good.
So now it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me.
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin. Romans 7:16-25.

There’s a conflict between two parts of us: the old nature and the new nature. These are like two different "I's" within us. The first "I" represents the old nature, which insists on its own way. The phrase "For what I would" refers to what the new nature wants to do, but then the old nature rebels and refuses to do it. The phrase "But what I hate" represents what the new nature hates, yet the old nature goes ahead and does it anyway.

Do you experience this struggle in your Christian life? Do you find yourself doing things you later regret and feel guilty about, crying out to God, "Oh, how I've failed You!"? I think every believer goes through this. Paul talks about his own experience with this struggle. He went through three stages in his life. First, as a proud Pharisee under the Mosaic law, he deceived himself by thinking that sacrifices and rituals could make him right with God, even though the Law was condemning him. Then, after he met Christ on the road to Damascus, Paul turned to Christ as his Savior but still believed he could live a Christian life on his own. His new nature wanted to live for God, but he kept failing and struggling. Eventually, Paul found victory not through his own efforts, but through yielding to Christ and allowing the Holy Spirit to live the Christian life through him. John Piper deals with the text of this Scriptures.

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This is a Spotlight on the Scripture. Let’s continue to look at Psalms 23: 1-2 (part 2) The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

David said, “I shall not want.” What is it that I need? Well, sheep need safety and protection. I'm a sheep, a stupid little animal and so are you. Therefore, my Shepherd sees to my needs. He protects me, he defends me, He keeps me, He guards me. When a little sheep says, “I shall not want,” my spiritual needs will be met, my directional, emotional, and physical needs will be met, and when everything is said and done, my eternal will be met. “I shall never perish,” it is because I have a wonderful Shepherd. “I shall not want” looks into the future and gives assurance to the child of God. The security of the believer rests upon the Shepherd. And the believer's conclusion rests upon his declaration.

Not only do sheep need safety and protection, but Sheep also need tranquility and contentment. That’s why “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures.” That is tranquility. If you talk with any shepherd, he will tell you that a hungry sheep will not lie down. When sheep are lying down in green pastures, it means they have their stomachs full. And Christ is our tranquility and contentment. “And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst” (Joh_6:35).

The shepherd also leadeth me beside the still waters. “Listen Sheep are frightened by choppy water. And they don't like stationary water. They don't want to drink where the pigs drink. All of this applies to us, the people of God. We need rest in our day—not so much physical or mental rest, but rest of the soul. Remember what David said in Psa_55:6: “Oh that I had wings like a dove! for then would I fly away and be at rest.” He wanted to get away from it all. (Do you ever feel that way) But he found out that getting away from it all did not solve his problems. He had to learn to put his trust in the Lord, rest in Him, and wait patiently upon Him. The Lord Jesus says, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will rest you” (Mat_11:28). Remember that our Great Shepherd Jesus Christ, (according to Colossians 2:14-15). has canceled the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Listen to the Illustration that I heard, In 1954, there was a landmark Supreme Court decision. It was Brown v. the Topeka Board of Education, which ended segregation in public education. Did it stop racism in school? Absolutely not, but since then when a lawyer stands up in a courtroom, he can reference the Brown v. Topeka, Kansas Board of Education case today. It was a landmark decision.

In 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment abolished slavery. It was a landmark decision. In 1870, the Fifteenth Amendment gave the right to vote and it was a landmark decision. In 1964, was the Civil Right Act, another landmark decision that gave equal opportunity to all. Now, does that mean that all of the evils that those decisions were designed to address went away? Absolutely not, but what it does mean is that there is something in the past to use in an appeal when mess shows up in the present. Listen when mess shows up and somebody wants to deny a child the right to attend a certain school, a lawyer can reach back to the legal decision made in 1964 that frees people of color to go to any publ

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Understanding true faith in Jesus Christ requires recognizing Him as more than just a gentle teacher or spiritual guide. He is God's representative on earth, and our response to Him is our response to God Himself. This means that authentic faith demands complete devotion and transformation of our lives, not just mental agreement or cultural acceptance.Many people reject or ignore Jesus because they prioritize human approval over God's, prefer to keep their faith private, or treat His words as mere suggestions rather than divine commands. Even believers can fall into the trap of ignoring Jesus by not consulting Scripture for important decisions, trusting worldly wisdom over biblical truth, or relying on feelings rather than God's Word.The consequences of ignoring Jesus are profound and eternal. Those who reject Him remain in spiritual darkness, and His Word will judge people on the last day. True faith must produce evidence through active obedience, public identification with Christ, and complete submission to His authority in all areas of life.

Each month, Elder Tolliver offers a spiritually encouraging book to help you in your walk with Christ for any size donation. Please go to biblicaltalks.com website to take advantage of this opportunity.

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Can grace alone justify a believer, or must it be paired with good works? In this thought-provoking episode of Biblical Talks, we unpack Dr. R.C. Sproul's teachings from the 1970s on the doctrine of justification by faith alone, while emphasizing the indispensable role of good works. Dr. Sproul cautions against the heresy of quietism and urges Christians to pursue excellence actively, making it clear that genuine faith naturally produces good works. This delicate balance between faith and works is essential for personal sanctification and impactful cultural engagement.
We then venture into the historical influence of Christianity on culture, highlighting the monumental contributions of figures like Bach, Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Shakespeare, Milton, Dostoevsky, and scientists such as Galileo, Kepler, and Newton. Each artist and scientist's faith profoundly shaped their groundbreaking work, yet we also ponder why Christian influence in culture has diminished over time. The discussion underscores the timeless nature of great art and ideas, insisting they will eventually rise to prominence despite secular opposition.
Finally, we reflect on the importance of recognizing and utilizing our God-given talents to their fullest potential. With anecdotes from personal experiences and analogies like piano lessons and golf, we emphasize that excellence is achieved through relentless effort and perseverance. Inspired by Dr. Sproul's insights on grace and gratitude, we encourage listeners to strive for greatness in their faith journey, dedicating their gifts to the glory of God and the betterment of society. Join us for an inspiring episode that challenges and motivates towards a life of impactful Christian excellence.

Each month, Elder Tolliver offers a spiritually encouraging book to help you in your walk with Christ for any size donation. Please go to biblicaltalks.com website to take advantage of this opportunity.

Support the show

Have a blessed day, and thanks for listening! Visit my website to learn more at https://www.biblicaltalks.com