The Caldwell Commentaries Podcast

First John 5:13 is likely the most important verse in the entire epistle, for it is John’s summary statement as to the central purpose for it. He had other reasons (see Part 1 and Part II on our podcast), but his ultimate objective is that every true believer be confident is his or her salvation. Assurance of salvation is for the here and now; it is not something only attained when we leave this world and then find out we made it! Faith is not something we are always hoping to grasp "enough of" in order to “make it” in the end. We can have confident faith right now. Hebrews 11:1 – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. As God’s children, we are to know we have been saved. The word know means absolute assurance. The words “know, knoweth, or known” appear 38 times in this short epistle. Can a believer really know the joy (abundant life) of the Lord without being perfectly certain he has eternal life – and cannot ever lose it? Not really, for it is to live in doubt and even fear. As the Puritan Thomas Brooks wrote, “Assurance is the believer’s ark where he sits, Noah-like, quiet and still in the midst of all distractions and destructions, commotions and confusions . . .” Isaiah 32:17 tells us that where God imputes righteousness in a believer, the effect of that righteousness is peace (“quietness”) “and assurance forever”. There is no reason for a genuine believer to be on his way to Heaven in a kind of mist – hoping he or something or someone else doesn’t cause “the ark” to sink into the judgment waters of God’s wrath! The ark is Christ! If you entered it, He closed the door – and what He closes is secure and no one can open! He is the Good Shepherd Who promised “He that cometh to Me, I shall in no wise cast out”. IMPORTANT STUDY! We examine many reasons for why believers doubt their salvation - including the fact that many have been wrongly taught that they can lose it! Many many passages of Scripture teach the exact opposite and we look at a lot of them!

Seventy percent of the world’s population today is non-Christian, and even among the 30% who label themselves under the broad umbrella of “Christendom,” only 7.9% are evangelical. The Lord Jesus said, “strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it” (Matthew 7:14). The tragic truth is that many who think they are “Christian” will one day hear Him say, “I never knew you; depart from Me” (7:23). This is why the Apostle Paul tells us in II Corinthians 13:5 we are to examine ourselves to see whether we are in the faith. He says we are to prove or to test our own selves – if we are in Christ. That is likewise exactly what John essentially invites us to do in his first epistle. He presents us with a kind of series of self-examination “tests” by which we may know that our salvation is genuine; whether it is authentic and not artificial; whether we truly "possess" the indwelling Holy Spirit or merely "profess" to know Christ. Presented from the epistle of First John are such self-examination "tests" as the 1. Belief in the Full Deity and Full Humanity of Christ Test, 2. The Life Test, 3. Fellowship Test, 4. The Sensitive to Sin Test, 5. The Obedience Test, 6. Reject Evil World Test, 7. The Maranatha Mindset Test, 8. Ministry of the Holy Spirit Test, 9. Love the Brethren Test, 10. Answered Prayer Test, and 11. Suffer Rejection Test. This self-examination series of tests may well be the most important introspection of yourself you ever make! Be absolutely sure you have eternal life through faith in the one way Divinely provided for man to be forgiven and thoroughly cleansed of sin, and that "Way" is Jesus Christ, the God/Man, our Kinsman-Redeemer Saviour Who laid down His life and shed His sin-atoning blood for our sake.

To explain up-front, this is not an exegetical (verse-by-verse) look at the Apostle John's first epistle; rather, it is an overview of the main purposes of the book (full-joy fellowship, holiness, discernment, salvation assurance). This study was done in a setting that was inter-active - meaning with questions and answers from the attendee/participants. Since their readings of Bible passages, answers to my questions, and other comments could not be heard on our audio recording, we had to make some "cuts" and "pastes," which accounts for the rougher places in this audio. Sorry, We discuss many interesting subjects, including why John was called both a "Son of Thunder" and "The Apostle of Love," and why boldness for truth and compassionate love need to go "hand-in-hand" in every believer's life and testimony for Christ. We took a brief review-look at John's life before, during, and after his physical time spent with "the Word of life" - Jesus. We discussed the prophetic reason why John outlived the other Apostles - as well as how each of those other men was so horrifically martyred for their rock-solid faith in the Gospel Truth of Christ's sin-atoning death, His burial, and third-day bodily resurrection! We spend time explaining the various lies the false teachers had begun infiltrating into the Early Church, and why John was so intense in his warnings against such "antichrists". Included, also, is our discussion about having full-joy fellowship with God, His Son, and one another in spite of difficult circumstances.

A very interesting lesson and an interesting "swap" between sisters: mandrakes for the man! Do you even know what a mandrake is and what is was believed to do?

Genesis 28:1-9 With this lesson, we embark upon a study of the life of Jacob, the third patriarch of Genesis. The next 20 years of his life would be spent in God's "School of Faith" (in Jacob's case, it was more like "The School of Hard Knocks"). He had to leave home to save himself from Esau's rage and desire to kill him. Jacob would never again see his beloved mother, though he did not know it at the time. Twenty years of separation from his family would be a time of heavy and hard reaping of all he had sown, but he would return a far better man.

"I will go" were the three most significant words Rebekah ever spoke! They formed the prompt and definitive answer to the question posed by Abraham's servant regarding her willingness to become the bride of his master's son (Isaac). Rebekah had come to a quick and firm conviction that the call of God on her life was to be Isaac's wife. She never met Isaac, but she committed herself to him based on the words about him from his father's servant (Eliezer). The beautiful love story of Isaac and Rebekah goes much deeper than the surface level of the account. It presents us with a marvelous picture - in many ways - of the great marriage arranged in Heaven by God the Father, Who sent His faithful Servant, the Holy Spirit, to call out a Bride (the Church) for His only begotten, beloved Son, the Lord Jesus.

Genesis 22:7-14 This is the continuation of Lesson 49 ("Clear Vision"); we left off with Abraham and his son Isaac alone on Mount Moriah (leaving the two servants at the base of the Mount). To this point, Isaac's faith had not been tested, for he did not know what the Lord requested of his father. How would he respond when he learned he was to be "the lamb for the burnt offering" (22:7b)? There is an incredible prophecy given by Abraham in this passage of Scripture - Genesis 22:8. Every Christian needs to know and understand the depth of that prophecy! It is also important to know and understand why Isaac was never going to actually BE the sin-sacrifice and why he was replaced with a ram. Did Abraham understand "the Gospel" of the future from this experience? Yes. Jesus tells us he did (John 8:56). You may also want to also listen to our podcast Lesson 11 under the tag "CHRIST in GENESIS" entitled "The Gospel of Moriah".

Genesis 21:11-21 One of the most difficult separations Abraham faced in his life (and he faced many) was his separation from Ishmael, his illegitimate son born by Sarah's Egyptian handmade, Hagar. The separation was necessary for the accomplishment of God's purposes for both Isaac and Ishmael, so Abraham obeyed by casting out both Hagar and Ishmael, even though it broke his heart. It is wonderful to learn how the Lord God took care of Ishmael (and Hagar) and blessed him! It is also interesting to learn how the Apostle Paul used the separation of Hagar and Ishmael from Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac as an allegory involving Law and grace (Galatians 4:21-31)! A lot to discover in this deep lesson!

Genesis 15:1-21 Following his physical battle against Chedorlaomer (king of the four-king coalition) and his spiritual battle against the temptations of Bera (King of Sodom), Abraham was concerned the wicked invaders he humiliated by defeating them with his much smaller band of men might return in vengeance. He was getting old and still had no child or land, as per God's promises (12:2-7). Lot returned to live in Sodom (a great disappointment), and Abraham was drained, physically and emotionally. He needed some divine assurance, and the Lord delivered! He graciously answered every one of Abraham's concerns. In this powerful lesson, we discuss (1) A Mighty Shield (the first of God's great "I AM" statements), (2) A Multitudinous Seed, (3) A Monumental Statement (the doctrine of justification by faith is set forth for the first time), and (4) A Mysterious Ceremony (to seal the Abrahamic Covenant).

Genesis 14:17-24 It is often the case for a believer to encounter a great temptation and/or danger after winning "a battle". Abraham experienced a miraculous victory over a powerful four-king coalition from the East (which had just defeated a five-king confederation near the Dead Sea). He outrageously rescued Lot from captivity, but as he was returning home from the physical battle, he was unexpectedly faced with a spiritual battle. He was tempted with great wealth and acclaim by the King of Sodom. But, in God's providence, Abraham first encountered "the King of Salem" (meaning "Peace"), who is also called "Melchizedek," which means "King of righteousness"! This mysterious man (the pre-incarnate Christ?) brought bread and wine (first mention of these elements in Scripture) for Abraham and his men. Melchizedek was "the Priest of the Most High God" - the very first Priest mentioned in Scripture! We discuss 5 interesting truths concerning Melchizedek: His Provision, His Priesthood, His Proclamation, Abraham's Payment (to Him), and His Person (identity). This is intriguing, to say the least! The lesson concludes with a detailed discussion of Abraham's meeting with the King of Sodom (named Bera) and how Abraham (like Christ) resisted temptation!

Genesis 13:5-18 This lesson provides us with a sharp contrast between Uncle Abram and nephew Lot. Both men had journeyed down to Egypt (out of God's will), but one returned wiser, while the other returned worldlier. Abram learned his lesson, through Divine chastisement and by way of great humiliation, to walk by faith in God's Word. He learned not to use circumstances or even self-preservation as his guides (although he would later slip in this area by repeating his sin about Sarah). Evidently, Lot did not learn any significant spiritual lessons while in Egypt. When Abram departed Egypt, there was no place for Egypt in his heart. On the other hand, when Lot left Egypt, he took "Egypt" with him in his heart.

Genesis 12:1-9 We begin the spiritual journey of the man called Abram (Abraham). His walk began where our walk with God begins, which is with God taking the initiative! God spoke, and it was the revelation from Him that pierced Abram's soul and began to break the hold the world, the flesh, and the devil had over him! It was the Word of the God of glory that generated a response from Abram and began leading him down the path to eternal salvation. It is fitting that God began His summons to Abram with a call to separation! He was not only to leave his country (idolatrous Ur of the Chaldees), but also his idol-worshipping family!

Genesis 10:8-12; 11:1-9 There are four main subjects found in Genesis chapters 1 to 11: (1) the Creation, (2) the Fall, (3) the Flood, and (4) the Tower of Babel. This lesson is on the Tower of Babel and the Lord's miraculous intervention at the time of its building, which was almost as critical as His Flood intervention. As we learn of the humanistic reasoning of the ancient people to deliberately disobey God and eagerly, instead, follow a proud and wicked man named Nimrod "to make a name for themselves," we see a reflection of our own society at large. Man has not changed since ancient times. In fact, from the Babel of Nimrod (Genesis 10, 11) to the Babylon of Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:30) to the one-world "Babylon" of Antichrist (Revelation 17, 18), natural men remain focused on the same goals: to gain their own fame, to find a "security-utopia" on Earth without from God, and (if he is religious) to attain Heaven by his own effort. Those are all efforts in futility.

Genesis 9:18-29 It would have been "nice," humanly speaking, if the Bible's account of Noah had ended with the beautiful rainbow placed in the sky as God's token "sign" of His covenant promise with Noah and the perpetual generations of mankind. But, this is not where Noah's story ended - it moves from rainbows to shadows because Scripture does not conceal the "spots and blemishes" of men, including the "heroes" of faith, such as Noah (and Abraham, Jacob, Isaac, Moses, David, Peter, Paul, etc.). It presents the truth about man, which thereby demonstrates to us that no individual is above sin. "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), which is why we so desperately need a Saviour! In this lesson, we look at (1) The Descendants of Noah, (2) The Drunkenness of Noah (three parts - Noah's Disgrace; Ham's Disrespect; Shem's Decency), (3) The Declaration of Noah {fascinating prophecy about the descendants of his three sons), and (4) The Death of Noah (the third longest living member of the human race).

Genesis 9:8-17 Noah and his family members had no doubt been "wounded" in their souls from the traumatic encounter with God's wrath upon sinful man. Knowing they, too, were sinners, they needed reassurance that they and their descendents would survive and still have the wonderful prospect of the coming Savior Who would redeem them from their otherwise hopelessly lost condition. These concerns were addressed by God to Noah in what theologians called "The Noahic Covenant". As we discuss this important covenant, we will look at its substance and its sign (the rainbow).

In this lesson on Genesis 8:1-19, "The Ark on Ararat," we learn again of the incredible faith of Noah, as evidenced by his great patience in waiting to hear from God for the proper time to exit the ark. We also learn of the faithfulness of God in keeping His Word by "remembering" those who belong to Him. We discuss (1) the remembrance of God, (2) the recession of the flood waters, (3) the rest of the ark (on Ararat), (4) the restraint of Noah, and (5) the replenishment of the earth. Did you know that the ark of Noah came to its rest on Mount Ararat on the very same day Christ, after going down into the deep "waters of judgment" for us (His death), resurrected from the dead! [For a deeper study on the Ark as a type of Christ, see lesson #6 from our study on "Christ in Genesis" on this podcast.] We discuss the significance of the raven and the dove sent by Noah out of the ark, as well as the importance of the word "ruach" (Hebrew) for "wind" in Genesis 8:1. These facts, plus a whole lot more in this study!

Genesis 4:25-5:32 We discuss what Scripture says about Seth (son of Adam and Eve) and his godly line of descendants (up to the time of the Flood). When Seth was born, Eve understood he was the son (in replacement of Abel) from whom the Promised Seed of the woman (the Saviour/Messiah) would come. With Seth's son, Enos, we read of the first spiritual "revival"; Genesis 4:26 says men began to call on the name of the Lord, recognizing their dependence on Him (quite the opposite of Cain's descendent Lamech, who boasted of his self-sufficiency). We discuss the antediluvian (pre-Flood) patriarchs: Adam, Seth, Enos, Cainan, Mahalaleel, Jared, Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech (not the same Lamech of Cain's descendants), and Noah. When we look at the Hebrew meaning for the names of these 10 men, we AMAZINGLY FIND A DESCRIPTION OF JESUS CHRIST! We also learn about four antediluvian prophets (amazing men): Enoch, Methuselah, Lamech, and Noah.

Genesis 2:8-17 A Special Paradise (with one special Garden, two special trees, and four special rivers), a Specific Project, and a Single Prohibition! The name "Eden" comes from "edhen," a Hebrew word that means "delight". A "garden" is a place enclosed, protected, and sheltered. Eden was the place in which the garden was planted. It had a special delight for man, not so much because it was more perfect than the rest of Earth (which was all perfect at that time), but because God specifically made it for man's delight. Matthew Henry said, "God did not put man in a palace made of silver and gold, nor in a house made of ivory, but in the most beautiful and artful place of all: nature - a Garden furnished and adorned by God Himself". We discuss so much more it is impossible to put it all down in this brief description! You just need to listen yourself.

Genesis 2:1-7 The second chapter of Genesis is not only a record of the seventh and final day of the Creation Week, but it provides some details about the prehistoric earth and the creation of the first man and woman not included in the first chapter. The chapters do not contradict, as some have claimed - and we discuss why they do not. We also discuss the timing of Lucifer's fall. We talk about why God created everything in stages, rather than all at once, and the answer is interesting and another testimony to His care and concern for man. From this look at Genesis 2:1-7, we talk at length about the Sabbath rest. Also included in this study is a brief look at how wondrously the human body is - and what a testimony to the Creator we are!

Genesis 1:24, 25a This is Part I of the sixth day's creation activity regarding land animals. We discuss all kinds of amazing creatures and how they testify of an Intelligent Creator. Share this lesson with the whole family - together learn how God's creatures, from the smallest to the largest, testify against evolution! Learn about the incredibly complex self-defense system of the Bombardier Beetle, the mimicry phenomenon of many creatures, which baffle evolutionists and testify to a Creator. Learn about the sophisticated vibration sensors of moles, the upside-down pouch of the female wombat, the communication frequencies of frogs, the hibernation process of ground squirrels, the duckbill platypus, the elephant's built-in cooling system, the incredible neck of the giraffe, fire-breathing "dragons," and much more!