No one is truly neutral about Jesus. In John 15:18-27, Jesus warns His followers that the world will hate them as it hated Him. Dr. Toby Holt explains why there is no spiritual middle ground. Because they belong to Christ, the disciples no longer belong to the world, which will treat them as it treated their Master. Holt takes apart the idea that people are born neutral "free agents"; the Bible says we are by nature turned from God until He changes our hearts. But Jesus promises the Helper, who testifies of Him.

Questions this study answers:

1. Is anyone spiritually neutral? No. The Bible teaches we are naturally turned from God until He changes us. Everyone is on one side or the other.

2. Why does the world resist the gospel? Because believers are fundamentally different, and that difference provokes hostility. Jesus said the world hated Him first.

3. What hope is there for those who face hostility? Jesus sends the Helper, the Holy Spirit, who bears witness to Christ and strengthens His people to stand.

"If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you." — John 15:18 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

In John 1, Nathanael scoffs, "Can anything good come out of Nazareth?" — until he meets Jesus. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt shows how Christ meets honest doubters and turns them into devoted disciples.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why was Nathanael skeptical? He doubted that the Messiah could come from lowly Nazareth. His was an honest, reasoned doubt, not mere stubbornness.

2. How did Jesus win him over? By showing He already knew Nathanael — revealing a knowledge only God could have. The skeptic was convinced.

3. What does this show us? That Jesus welcomes honest questions and reveals Himself to those who come. Doubt is not the end of the road to faith.

"Nathanael answered and said to Him, 'Rabbi, You are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!'" — John 1:49 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this study answers:

1. Does the Bible really teach Jesus is the only way? Yes. Peter says there is salvation in no one else, "for there is no other name under heaven … by which we must be saved." The New Testament repeats this truth.

2. Why was this so offensive to Peter's audience? The rulers had crucified Jesus, yet Peter told them this same Jesus was their only hope — a claim that challenged their power and pride.

3. What does this mean for other religions today? Salvation is not one option among many. Christianity claims Jesus is the only Savior, which is why the message both draws people and provokes opposition. "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." — Acts 4:12 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

The kings of the earth plot to throw off God's rule, but God in heaven is unmoved. Psalm 2 is a Messianic psalm pointing to Christ, God's appointed King, who will one day rule the nations. For now, God shows patience, calling rebels to "kiss the Son" before judgment comes. "Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."

Questions this study answers:

1. Why does God "laugh" at earthly rulers? Because their rebellion against the Almighty is futile. Nothing they plot can shake His throne.

2. How is this psalm both political and prophetic? It speaks to real rulers who oppose God, and points ahead to Christ, the King God has installed over all nations.

3. How should we respond to God's King? By trusting and submitting to the Son rather than resisting Him. Those who take refuge in Him are blessed.

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?" — Psalm 2:1 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Where does faith come from? From hearing God's Word. If you have come to faith, it is because someone shared the gospel with you.

2. Why is preaching so important? Because people cannot believe in One they have not heard of, and they cannot hear without someone proclaiming the message.

3. What does this mean for us? That we are now the ones sent to tell others. Having received the gospel, we pass it on.

"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." — Romans 10:17 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why does it matter who we listen to? Because everyone is being shaped by someone. The voices we take in — from media to school to church — are forming us, for better or worse.

2. What does Paul warn against? Being "cheated" through philosophy and empty deceit "according to the tradition of men," rather than according to Christ. Not every source is trustworthy.

3. How do we guard ourselves? By measuring every voice against Christ and His Word, in whom "are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." "Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men... and not according to Christ." — Colossians 2:8 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Is being "born again" just a figure of speech? No. It describes a genuine spiritual new birth — God making a dead heart alive. Something truly changes when a person is brought to Christ.

2. Can we give ourselves this new birth? No. Just as no one chooses their natural birth, the new birth is God's work in us, received by faith, not achieved by effort.

3. Why is it necessary? Jesus says plainly that without it no one can see the kingdom of God. Regeneration is not optional; it is essential to salvation. "Jesus answered and said to him, 'Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.'" — John 3:3 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. What is "original sin"? The biblical teaching that we are born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam — not innocent or neutral, but fallen from the start.

2. Why does this doctrine matter? Because if we are merely "basically good," we don't need a Savior. Scripture says we do; our problem is deep and requires Christ.

3. Is there hope? Yes. Paul's point is that what came through one man, Adam, is overcome by another — the grace that comes through Jesus Christ. "Therefore, just as through one man sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned..." — Romans 5:12 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

In 1 Peter 3:15, Christians are told to be ready to give a reason for the hope within them. In this sermon, Dr. Toby Holt considers some of the reasons for faith in God and His Word — and why every believer should be able to give an answer.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Are we required to defend our faith? Peter says to "always be ready" to give a defense for our hope. Faith is reasonable, and believers should be able to explain why they believe.

2. Does belief in God require leaving reason behind? No. Both belief and unbelief come with reasons; the Christian faith rests on solid ground, not blind feeling.

3. How are we to give our answer? "With meekness and fear" — humbly and respectfully, pointing people to Christ rather than winning arguments. "But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear." — 1 Peter 3:15 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.

Questions this sermon answers:

1. Why do worldviews collide? Because the world's wisdom and God's wisdom are fundamentally different. What seems wise to the world is folly to God, and vice versa.

2. Why can't everyone simply see the truth? Because spiritual truth is spiritually discerned. The "natural man" cannot receive the things of God's Spirit on his own.

3. Where should our confidence rest? Not in human wisdom or clever arguments, but in the power of God and the truth of His Word. "But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." — 1 Corinthians 2:14 (NKJV)

Dr. Toby Holt is President of New Geneva Theological Seminary, and his sermons have been downloaded more than 1.9 million times on SermonAudio. Find more verse-by-verse Bible teaching at newgeneva.org; support this ministry at newgeneva.org/give.