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This episode is part 40 and the final episode in a series going through the story of the Book of Mormon.
This episode covers the books of 4 Nephi, Mormon, Wisdom of Mormon, and Moroni. As prophesied, the Nephite people remained righteous until around 200 A.D. Schisms and pride caused the church to split. Lamanites restored their former identity. Gadianton robbers somehow became a thing again.
A young man named Mormon led the Nephites to some pyrrhic victories, but he couldn't get the Nephites to repent of their pride and wickedness. Both sides agreed to a final battle at Cumorah around 385 A.D. The Lamanites slaughtered all but a few Nephites from the army. The Lamanites took control of the whole land and oppressed the remaining Nephites. Mormon's son Moroni hid his father's abridged plates in a hill at Cumorah for future readers. Moroni's brief book has mostly records of church doctrines including a letter from Mormon harshly condemning infant baptism.
After examining Moroni 10:32 for "impossible salvation" then "Moroni's challenge" in Moroni 10:4 to see how Mormon missionaries use it to try to get converts through a subjective experience. Finally, I close the series by reflecting on the lack of historical evidence for the Book of Mormon and how its transmission was fundamentally different from how we have the Bible.
Further research:
Didache, EarlyChurchWritings.com, trans. Charles H. Hoole.
Tertullian, On Baptism (Chapter 18), NewAdvent.org, trans. S. Thelwall.
Clay Gorton, "Is a child considered a member of the Church before age 8 without receiving a baby blessing?" Ask Gramps, March 19, 2025.
Book of Mormon in video
Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration
The Book of Mormon online: 4 Nephi, Mormon, Wisdom of Mormon, Moroni
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In this riveting installment of Apologetics Live, Andrew Rappaport engages in an intense dialogue with Phil Bear regarding the complexities surrounding Calvinism and its implications on free will and divine determinism. Central to their discussion is the assertion that Calvinism espouses exhaustive divine determinism, a principle that claims God's will dictates all events in the universe, including human thoughts and actions. Bear articulates his contention that such a view leads to the conclusion that God is the author of sin and deception, raising profound moral questions about the nature of God and human agency. Rappaport, in turn, defends the notion of human responsibility and the compatibility of free will with God's sovereignty, emphasizing that individuals possess the capacity to choose their beliefs. The episode delves into theological intricacies, including the interpretation of scriptural passages, the nature of God's will, and the existential implications for believers. This thought-provoking exchange challenges listeners to reconsider their understanding of salvation, divine foreknowledge, and the interplay between God's sovereignty and human decision-making, making it an essential episode for anyone seeking to deepen their theological insights.
Takeaways:
The discussion centers around the theological implications of divine determinism and human free will, with both speakers presenting their views on how these concepts relate to Calvinism and Arminianism.
Phil Bear argues that Calvinism's doctrine of exhaustive divine determinism leads to logical contradictions regarding God's nature and human accountability, emphasizing the importance of human choice in salvation.
Andrew Rappaport presents a counter-argument that emphasizes God's sovereignty while also affirming human responsibility, advocating for a harmonious understanding of both in the context of biblical scripture.
The podcast delves into the nuances of biblical interpretation, examining specific scriptures to highlight the complexities of soteriology and the interplay between divine grace and human action in the process of salvation.
Phil Bear emphasizes that the warnings in Scripture indicate a genuine possibility for believers to stray from faith, while Andrew Rappaport argues that these warnings should not be interpreted as an indication of losing salvation.
The episode concludes with a mutual respect for each other's theological positions, recognizing that despite disagreements, both participants are committed to a robust engagement with Scripture and Christian doctrine.

Mentioned in this episode:
What do We Believe by Andrew Rappaport

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 07/30/2026) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include:
Ephesians—God Choosing and Jesus Saving People From their Sins-Free Will Considerations/
Trying to Understand The Trinity/
A Discussion on The Nature of Jesus/The Righteousness of God as Part of His Nature
Does God Love The Reprobate?/
July 30, 2026

Bill Johnson told a crowd at the 2026 Southwest Believers Convention that he has personally watched people healed the way the sick were healed in Acts 5, when Peter's shadow passed over them. Justin Peters' answer is blunt: no he hasn't. Everyone carries a smartphone — where is the video? And where does the text even say the shadow healed anyone?
Working clip by clip through the Bethel Church pastor's message, Peters tests each claim against Scripture. Johnson's line that recognising "the actual presence of God" is the supreme value collapses under Psalm 139:7-10 and Jeremiah 23:23-24, where God fills heaven and earth. His claim that the Holy Spirit indwells every believer but does not rest upon every believer runs straight into Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 and Galatians 4:6 — and Peters argues it is charismatics, not cessationists, who hold the low view of the Spirit, since "spirit-filled Christian" is simply redundant.
He also takes on "your shadow will always release whatever overshadows you," the twisting of "seek first the kingdom," and Johnson's heaven-to-earth divine health teaching, which Peters names as an over-realised eschatology — noting, without joy, that Johnson's own wife died of cancer, and that the faith healer still wears eyeglasses.
This one matters because meaningless spiritual-sounding platitudes are how false doctrine gets past discerning ears. Acts 3:6 shows what a real miracle looked like.
➡️ Click here to find all of Justin’s essential links.

Matt Slick Live (Live Broadcast of 07/29/2026) is a production of the Christian Apologetics Research Ministry (CARM). Matt answers questions on topics such as: The Bible, Apologetics, Theology, World Religions, Atheism, and other issues! You can also email questions to Matt using: info@carm.org, Put "Radio Show Question" in the Subject line! Answers will be discussed in a future show. Topics Include:
Matt Discusses One of The Errors of Annihilationism/Is Punishment Eternal?/Soul Sleep/
A Lengthy Interaction About The Millenium—or Not/
The Beast of Revelation and The False Prophet of Revelation/Amillennialism and Premillennialism/
July 29, 2026