Man’s Free Will Doesn’t Determine the Course of the Universe

Greg answers questions about whether it’s okay to quote a single verse, why Jesus didn’t heal everyone, recommended study Bibles and commentaries, persevering with someone who isn’t responding well, and whether couples should agree on secondary and tertiary issues.   Topics: Commentary: It’s okay to quote a single verse...if you understand the context. (00:00) How many lepers and blind people did Jesus not heal, and why? (16:00) Which study Bible and commentary would you most recommend? (25:00) Should I keep trying to talk to someone who isn’t responding well? (38:00) Should a couple agree on every secondary and tertiary theological issue? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Never Read a Bible Verse by Greg Koukl #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd, edited by Alan Gomes Institutes of Elenctic Theology by Francis Turretin Systematic Theology, Second Edition: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl

Greg adds another thought to the objection he addressed in the last episode, then he answers questions about possible proof Proverbs 21:30 is objectively true, drawing lots to get a message from God, grace for sanctification, and blaming God for bad things that happen.   Topics: Commentary: Man’s free will doesn’t determine the course of the universe. (00:00) Does the fact that reason, logic, and deduction seem to be irreducibly complex prove that Proverbs 21:30 is objectively true and not just religious jargon? (06:00) How should we take the Acts 1:23–26 passage, where they drew lots to get a message from God about who should replace Judas, and when is it our place to challenge leaders who are teaching something that isn’t biblical? (14:00) Does the Bible teach that grace is required for sanctification? (29:00) Why does God get the credit for all good things but doesn’t get the blame for bad things (like natural disasters or disease)? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Greg’s response to the challenge that it’s arbitrary for God to limit our opportunity to repent and believe to this lifetime Greg’s illustration in last week’s episode about a man stealing the planks from his neighbor’s porch one by one The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin by Kris Lundgaard Related Links: How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall

Greg responds to the challenge that it’s arbitrary for God to limit our opportunity to repent and believe to this lifetime, then he talks to callers about a contradiction in Genesis, the lack of spiritual growth in babies who are never born, and whether God or parents create souls.   Topics: Commentary: Why does God limit our opportunity to repent and believe to this lifetime? (00:00) How would you respond to an atheist who claims Genesis 1:11–12 and 1:26–27 conflict with Genesis 2:4–9? (28:00) If our spiritual growth happens here, what does that mean for babies who die in the womb? (47:00) Does God create souls and set them in bodies, or do parents create the souls of their children? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason Related Links: Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall

Greg responds to objections to his view that God’s voice can’t be missed, then he answers questions about thanking God for his goodness when something bad doesn’t happen, defending penal substitutionary atonement, Iran and the Ezekiel 38 prophecy, and the nature of identity.   Topics: Commentary: Challenges to Greg’s view that God’s voice can’t be missed (00:00) Am I wrong to object when people say God is good when something bad almost happens but doesn’t? (19:00) How should I respond to my deconstructing friend’s objections to penal substitutionary atonement? (32:00) What are your thoughts on the theory that the Iran bombing in June was the start of the prophecy in Ezekiel 38? (45:00) If a man switches the boards in his porch with the boards in his neighbor’s porch one at a time until he has all of his neighbor’s boards, has he stolen his neighbor’s porch? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner When God Speaks by Greg Koukl Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl Precious Unborn Human Persons by Greg Koukl Related Links: Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl Isn’t God Faithful Even if He Doesn’t Give Me What I Prayed For? – Greg and Amy respond The Danger of Building Your Theology on Anything Other Than the Bible by Amy Hall (on why deconstructionists who reject penal substitutionary atonement end up in legalism) The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers

Greg explains that a relationship with God doesn’t look the same as one with a human being, then he talks to callers about an apologetics approach, why Jesus seems to downplay being called the Son of God, and why God doesn’t always answer prayers for someone’s salvation.   Topics: Commentary: We have a relationship with God on his terms, not on ours. (00:00) Am I committing any logical fallacies in the approach I’m using with skeptics? (25:00) Why does Jesus seem to downplay being called the Son of God in John 10:33–36? (38:00) In light of Ezekiel 18:32, 2 Peter 3:9, and Luke 18:1, why doesn’t God answer our consistent prayers for someone’s salvation? (45:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner When God Speaks by Greg Koukl Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Related Links: #STRask: What Does a Personal Relationship with God Look Like on a Practical Level? – Greg and Amy respond Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl

Greg talks to callers about a challenge to what he said about the transcendental argument last week, how someone can find his way to believing in God or anything supernatural, and a suggestion about how the life of Christ in us might relate to how God speaks to us.   Topics: Contrary to what you said last week, doesn’t the existence of a microphone require the existence of God? (04:00) How would I find my way to believing in God or anything supernatural? (28:00) What do you think about my understanding of how the life of Christ in us relates to how God speaks to us? (48:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Red Pen Logic – YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook Thoughts on the Transcendental Argument – Last week’s episode Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers   Related Links: The Universe Had a Beginning: Why That Shook Einstein by Stephen Meyer A Scientist’s Answers May Reflect His Worldview More than Science by Amy Hall A Simple Explanation of the Cosmological Argument – Reasonable Faith video Links to more short Reasonable Faith videos explaining some basic arguments for the existence of God

Greg chats with Alan Shlemon about transgenderism and intersex conditions, then they talk about why the popular idea that Jesus’ identity was embellished over time and evolved in the Gospels is incorrect.   Topics: Greg talks to Alan Shlemon about transgenderism and intersex conditions. (00:00) Alan Shlemon explains why the popular idea that the Gospel writers embellished Jesus’ identity over time is incorrect. (42:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Red Pen Logic – YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook STR Outposts What Is a Man? What Is a Woman? by Alan Shlemon Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier What Is a Woman? – Documentary Did the Disciples Embellish Jesus’ Identity over Time? by Alan Shlemon   Related Links: The Date of John’s Gospel, Revisited by Shane Rosenthal

Greg answers questions from callers on the transcendental argument, the scapegoat theory of the atonement that’s popular in progressive circles, and an objection an atheist would make to Greg’s “blind beach-writer” argument for intelligent design.   Topics: What’s your opinion on the transcendental argument? (03:00) What response can I give to the scapegoat theory of the atonement that’s popular in progressive circles, which is against penal substitution and is more political in how it frames the implications of the atonement? (30:00) What objection would an atheist make to the comparison between Dawkins’s blind watchmaker and Koukl’s blind beach-writer, and how would you respond? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl Related Links: Philosophical Naturalism Limits Science by Amy Hall But What If God Did Do It? by Amy Hall

Greg responds to objections to his view on hearing the voice of God, then he talks to a caller about Columbo #3 questions he can use in conversations with a family member about whether or not it’s wrong to be angry at politicians.   Topics: Commentary: Objections to Greg’s view on hearing the voice of God (00:00) Can you help me with Columbo #3 questions to use in conversations with a family member about whether or not it’s wrong to be angry at politicians? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner When God Speaks by Greg Koukl Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA Related Links: How Should We Handle Outrage? by Amy Hall

Greg answers questions from callers about what makes being gay or lesbian harmful, whether apologists are unwilling to give straight answers to certain questions for tactical reasons, and miracles Greg has witnessed.   Topics: What makes being gay or lesbian harmful? (04:00) Is there a tactical reason why so many apologists seem unwilling to give straight answers to certain questions? (15:00) What are some of the coolest miracles you’ve witnessed? (35:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy Iron Curtain Diary by Greg Koukl The Screwtape Letters – Read by John Cleese (a few chapters are missing from the playlist)