Episode Overview

Episode Theme:
How Many Conditions Are There in Order to be Born Again?
In this concise episode, Bob Wilkin and Sam Marr address a listener's question about a five-point plan for salvation presented by a retired Baptist pastor. They go point-by-point, evaluating the biblical basis for each condition, while emphasizing the core Free Grace distinctions between justification and sanctification. The discussion navigates assurance of salvation, faith, Calvinist language, and the dangers of adding conditions beyond belief in Christ for eternal life.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction: Listener Question and Five-Point Plan (00:58–02:38)

• Set-Up:

  • Listener Paul asks for thoughts on a Sunday school lesson that outlined five conditions necessary for being born again.
  • Bob and Sam note these are not the typical "ABC" type steps and express immediate skepticism toward complicating the gospel.

• Quote:

  "It's a little more than the ABCs we got." – Sam Marr (01:26)

2. Examining Each “Condition” for Salvation

1. Repenting from the Attitude of Being Equal with God (02:38–04:50)

• Bob and Sam React:

  • Find this step both oddly specific and problematic.
  • Bob: Never met anyone, outside of Satan, who thinks they're equal with God.
  • They note repentance, especially in these terms, is absent from John’s Gospel—the biblical source for evangelism.

• Notable Quote:

  “When you look at the Gospel of John … he never says repent of your sinful attitude that you think you're equal with God in order to be born again. In fact, there's nothing about repentance in the entire Gospel of John.” – Bob Wilkin (03:54)

2. Asking Forgiveness for That Attitude (05:18–06:03)

• Critique:

  • Bob flags this as “out there;” it isn’t a biblical condition for eternal life.
  • The hosts agree this introduces unnecessary hurdles that scripture does not set.

• Quote:

  “Nowhere in the Bible are we told if you ask for forgiveness you have eternal life or that this is one of multiple steps.” – Bob Wilkin (05:43)

3. Believing by Faith that Jesus Fulfilled the Law and Imputes Righteousness (06:03–07:34, repeated at 06:52)

• Appreciation and Nuance:

  • Sam says this point is "pretty good" but notes confusion in phrasing (e.g., Abraham was justified before the law was given, so the law isn’t always central).
  • Bob: Core of the gospel is Christ’s righteousness being imputed through faith.

• Quote:

  “Abraham believed God and it was reckoned or accounted to him for righteousness. So there is Christ's righteousness which is imputed to us.” – Bob Wilkin (07:01)

• Later Nuance:

  • Sam gives “one thumb up” due to the unnecessary legal language and lack of clarity on “believe in Jesus for everlasting life.”

4. Inviting Jesus into Our Heart to be Lord and Savior Using the Faith He Gives Us (08:21–09:49)

• Critique:

  • The hosts critique this for its Calvinistic undertones (“faith he gives us”) and lordship language.
  • Bob: There’s no biblical basis for “inviting Jesus into your heart.”
  • Sam: “Lord” relates to sanctification (discipleship), not justification.

• Notable Quote:

  “That's Calvinism. That's not the Bible... The issue was they were unwilling to come to Christ, which in John's gospel is believing.” – Bob Wilkin (08:58) “There's no verse anywhere in the Bible that says if we invite Jesus into our heart, we have eternal life.” – Bob Wilkin (09:04)

5. Spiritual Birth Happens When We Invite, and Then We Must Continually Believe (10:04–11:34)

• Critique:

  • The timeline is flawed—spiritual birth comes at believing, not “inviting.”
  • Introduction of perseverance (“continually believe”) reveals a lordship/Calvinist perspective: salvation is only certain if one keeps believing.
  • Bob: This is "a reformed Baptist … trying to simplify Calvinism down … but it’s clearly from a lordship salvation perspective."

• Notable Quotes:

  “The implication of his fifth point is if we stop believing we are being saved, then either we lose our salvation or prove we weren't saved in the first place.” – Bob Wilkin (11:08)
  “It sounds to me like this guy is a reformed Baptist. A Baptist who is a Calvinist. He talks about the gift of faith, but he's couched it in terms that a lot of people wouldn’t exactly hear.” – Bob Wilkin (11:34)

3. Free Grace Perspective & Final Encouragements (11:34–12:26)

• Call to Listeners:

  • Bob encourages listeners to "be a Berean," to examine the Scriptures for themselves.
  • Affirms that the simplicity of faith alone in Christ alone is the clear standard of the New Testament.

• Quote:

  “I would encourage every one of you be a Berean, search the scriptures to see if these things are so. Because if we are, then one day the Lord will approve of us and he'll say, well done, good and faithful servant.” – Bob Wilkin (12:26)

Notable Moments & Memorable Exchanges

• On Repentance and Pride:
  Bob’s analysis points out the lack of biblical precedent for the claim that pride, in the sense of thinking one is God, is the core barrier to salvation (03:19–04:50).
• On the Dangers of an Over-Complicated Gospel:
  The hosts consistently return to the importance of not adding extra steps or requirements to the simple, scriptural message: believe in Jesus for eternal life.
• Humorous Interlude:

  "I think if they said I'm God, I would say, look, let's go check you into the hospital. Either they're being sarcastic ... or if they literally think they're God, they shouldn't be on the loose." – Bob Wilkin (05:06)

• Defining Terms:
  Discussion of “Lord and Savior” and how traditional usage confuses sanctification (living as a disciple) with justification (receiving eternal life) (09:49).

Summary Table: Five Points Critique

| Point | Presenter’s Description | Free Grace Critique | Timestamps | |-------|------------------------|---------------------|------------| | 1 | Repent from thinking you're equal with God | Not biblically defined or found in John | 02:38–04:50 | | 2 | Ask forgiveness for attitude | Not a scriptural condition for salvation | 05:18–06:03 | | 3 | Believe Jesus fulfilled law/imputes righteousness | Mostly right, but unclear phrasing | 06:03–07:34 | | 4 | Invite Jesus in, using faith He gives | Unbiblical, Calvinistic, sanctification confusion | 08:21–09:49 | | 5 | Spiritual birth upon invitation, then must persevere | Lordship/Calvinist error—adds requirement for perseverance | 10:04–11:34 |

Conclusion: Clarity and Simplicity in the Gospel

• Bob and Sam emphasize the New Testament message: Eternal life comes by faith alone in Jesus Christ, not by a series of steps or ongoing conditions.
• They warn listeners to test all claims by Scripture and be wary of systems that move toward Calvinistic or lordship salvation ideas.
• Listeners are reminded to “keep grace in focus” and rest in the assurance offered by the Free Grace model.

For deeper engagement:
Visit faithalone.org for more discussion, articles, and Free Grace resources.