This episode mostly addresses the transition from the kingdom of fools to the kingdom of God's beloved son. All saints once partook of the kingdom of fools. Indulging in lusts is the tell-tale sign of fools, and Paul, an outwardly righteous Jew according to Philippians 3:6, acknowledges that he also pursued lusts: "we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath."(Ephesians 3:3) Forgiveness marks the believer's transfer from the kingdom of darkness (fools) into the kingdom of God's beloved Son (Colossians 1:13). Confession that Christ is Lord begins the life-long process of extracting residual foolishness from saints in Christ's kingdom. The episode emphasizes cooperation with the Holy Spirit, who constantly convicts and corrects believers, admonishing them to abandon all sympathy with fooldom. The program also includes 3 criteria that hearers can use to assess their progress in repudiating fooldom.
Graciously Grant Me Your Law
This episode emphasizes the necessity of God's grace for sanctification and the keeping of God's law. The law is an excellent mirror, revealing the disconnect between ourselves and a holy God. It is nevertheless powerless to transform us and sanctify us, since we are fundamentally sinful apart from God's grace. Paul highlights this fact in Romans 8:3, "what the law could not do, weak as it was through the flesh, God did.." The law reveals our weakness and our desperate need for Christ. It is the "tutor that leads us to Christ." (Gal. 3:24) Christians commonly acknowledge dependence on the grace of God in conversion and infancy in Christ, but trip up later when they revert to relying on their flesh, apart from grace. This was my experience, and I testify how God overthrew my smug self-reliance and gave me a sense of my utter dependence on His power. This gracious power transforms us, helping us keep the law. "I will run the way of your commandments, for you will enlarge my heart." (Psalm 119:32)