If We Go to Heaven When We Die, What is the Point of Our Resurrection?

If the Bible says that the dead will rise first. When Jesus returns. Why do we say someone has gone to be with the Lord when they die. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity by Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will as you know high schools across the country have had to cancel their graduation ceremonies because of the coronavirus, so a Walmart in Dublin, Georgia has honored its employees were graduating this month with a special celebration last Thursday.

Staff decked out a hallway in the store with balloons and streamers and congratulations banners then dressed in their caps and gowns. The graduates paraded through the store as their fellow employees lined up along the way cheering them on for a Walmart employee called out every graduates name on the PA system. As he walked cool. What a great way to use the Walmart. I know all afflicted schools are trying different things to be creative for graduation. But I know some are even doing driving graduation ceremonies now so that identity well. It's great that people are thinking great about her to check fillet did something very similar for their employees that were graduating so it's nice when these corporations acknowledge their seniors something special for let's go to our first question of the day and really posted this question on our Facebook page he says hello I'm from Brooklyn New York.

I've been taking the time to study the Bible and your show has been very helpful. My question is, in Romans 331 Paul asked if faith nullifies the law.

He answers not at all.

Rather, we uphold the law. Does this mean that when our faith is sincere and we start to have victory over sin or do good works that are work somehow uphold the law and a really good question Rudy and this is something that comes up over and over again in the book of Romans. Specifically, I mean just in a couple chapters both in a say in chapter 6, what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may increase may it never be. How shall we who died to sin still live in it and so is is that tension of when we preach the free gospel of God's forgiveness.

The fact that we go to the Lord.

Sincerely we will repent of our sins. He forgives us he doesn't require anything up with pardons.

All of our sins. Well that the objection becomes well why don't we just go on sinning that if if God's grace is so free and so immense, why don't we continue in sin so that grace can abound in pulses. No, not at all, and the grace of God isn't against the law of God in that it leads us to be what's called antinomian against the law that some of the grace of God should do rather, it should cause us to be people who want to serve and love Jesus want to obey the Lord not as a way of earning God's mercy God's forgiveness for salvation but as a way of responding in gratitude for the mercy and grace that we've already received through Jesus Christ and hears that the.

The amazing thing is that by the spirit we as believers now are those who fulfill the righteous requirements of the law in some sense, and that's exactly what the apostle Paul's and iguana say even a little bit later in Romans chapter 8 and I just want to turn there really quickly. Romans chapter 8 beginning in verse one verse one is a verse that were pretty familiar with.

He says therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus for the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death for what the law could not do week as it was through the flesh, God did sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh so that the requirement of the law. There is might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the spirit, here's the amazing thing now, as believers as those justified by faith and filled with the Holy Spirit. God is at work and you sang to find you that the righteous requirement of the law.

Ultimately, love might be fulfilled in us again that that doesn't mean that we perfectly obey the law of God. Nobody does.

Only Jesus did, but it does mean that we as believers under the new covenant have the law of God written on our hearts, and because of that week we get to serve the Lord and love the Lord and obey his law as something that's good not to be justified, but to honor the Lord into shine as lights in the world. Rudy, thank you for your question. Your listing the core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and our number if you have a question 46833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to will call that came in from Andrew called from Sacramento, California how to buy. How do you react to your pastor's teaching that you don't agree with what a great question.

Well Andrew, I would say if it's your pastor, specifically mean that the minister that you sit under every week you hearing him preach and teach outside to talk to him just what you don't want to do you want to go run everyone else in the church and talk about how you disagree with what is teaching go to him that could be difficult, then let me just say as a pastor and I know that sometimes it can be hard for us as well to receive criticism.

That's where I think pastors also have to be humble and open to listen to what the requirements are bringing to them. Ultimately what we we should all want is to be submitted to the word of God because there's no authority above God's word, the pastors and about God's word, and so we should be willing to listen when there's some question related to what the Bible actually teaches a prayerfully and with humility appealed to him.

I think we as pastors should commend the Peruvians in our church and really want every member of our church to be Paris and you remember the Peruvians were listen to what we read about them in acts chapter 17 verse 11 says of the Koreans.

These Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica, they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so that heart want to examine the Scriptures as it is what my pastor is teaching true and if there's a question if there if there's something that's been taught that seems often I would say you go to him with with humility in a gentle way. I will, I would encourage as well. You know, Paul said to Timothy in first Timothy chapter 5, verse one. Do not rebuke an older man but encourage him as you would a father younger men as brothers and don't go in with guns blazing Athena going again with that attitude of humility willing to search the Scriptures and to submit to them. No matter what.

I think that's that's the key. Now if were talking about pastors teaching who is just out there you disagree with them. Pastor is teaching in another state or resident popular ministry somewhere. I would say no maybe be a little careful there because I think it so easy for us to get caught up in disagreements week that we have an and can have with all these different kinds of ministries and pastors that we can get lost in that I think focus on the work is happening in your local church. Encourage your pastor when you feel like there's a disagreement by by humbly approaching him and having a discussion about the Scriptures and then be willing to yield to the Scriptures. Whatever it is that they teach and then in terms of of other pastors and ministers outside of your church.

I would say you know it's okay to have an opinion but I don't know how helpful it is to try correct them. I think that could be a big waste of time and maybe a headache more than anything. So enter out that you take those two things in account were told about the brands in acts 1711. Want to diligently search the Scriptures is a good thing but also with humility.

Just rebuke your pastor but go to him and appealed to him and to encourage him in the process as well and really understand you have a complaint box that your church, you have to set it's full to the brim. Every Sunday, so weird you known as the size of a refrigerator and what used to stoke our fireplace.

The thrill and I having there's just so much in there that it keeps us warm at night now will I do II mean I just speaking for myself, I do appreciate it when the people in my church come to me and they bring a biblical question or even after I preached a sermon you have had. I've had times where people come up to me afterwards that I didn't really understand that point. Or what about this text in Scripture and I know that some pastors can get really defensive. You know, but it's not always an attack people have honest questions and were reading the Scriptures and so I think it's good and healthy for members and churches to ask those kinds of questions and to have these kinds of discussions ultimately want to get to the bottom of what the Scriptures teach so that we can submit to them and grow in our faith and in our relationship with the Lord. So I think it's a healthy thing. I think it's a good thing if it's done with charity and love and with openness when he opened the Scriptures great perspective your listing the core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

I'm Bill Meyer and we will let you know about a great opportunity to get personally involved in the core Christianity ministry, yet they still want to invite everyone you consider coming alongside of us. We have this great group called the inner core. So thankful for each member of the inner core.

They give regular gifts to help us to accomplish our mission every day new listeners discover the core Christianity show all the time and your support helps us to keep reaching people all around the world with your monthly donation of $25 or more can be a part of the team, making it possible for us to answer these questions and to share the core truth of the Christian faith. So when asked if you been blessed by this program. If it's helping you to come into a deeper understanding of the Scriptures record, Christianity.com/inner core in consider joining the inner core with the monthly donation of $25 or more. You can also give us a call at 833. The core would love to hear from you. You can call us at 833-843-2673 to join the inner core or to find out more about core Christianity let's go to another question.

This one came in from Kate who sent us an email about a particular Bible passage she says in first Kings 1911 through 13 God spoke to Elijah through a still small voice. A friend of mine recently indicated that she wanted to hear from God more and that she needs to quiet her mind and wait for his still small voice is the way God spoke to Elijah for all believers today.

How does God communicate to his children these days. Yeah, it just reminds me at one time I was walking on the street with my family.

Kate and my daughter asked the question is one of those questions is pierced my heart stopped me in my tracks and it came out of the blue existed. It wasn't like we were having a conversation about God and how he speaks to us.

My daughter must've been three at the time the Poppa Holcomb God don't talk and seek had heard she's used to us praying and praying before meals.

Praying before bed praying at church talking to the Lord, but she was wondering how can God never seemed to speak back to us. You know, why haven't we heard his voice and it just struck me. It actually for a moment like Matt.

My heart was just like oh no, but he does speak to us in and I try to explain to her the different ways that God does.

Does speak to us today, but it's such a good question Kate and it's a question that a lot of people have a lot of of us have asked that question.

How can God, don't talk I don't hear his voice and data in a special reading the Scriptures and we come across passages like the one you reference first Kings chapter 19 God is speaking to the prophet Elisha with the still small voice. And we wonder okay God when Mike and I hear that that voice. It makes sense. What actually was happening there in first Kings chapter 19 is this picture of God revealing himself. We use this word theophany is the self revelation of God, God revealing himself to the prophets in a special way to his people in a special way.

We know that this is what's happening there because in that text in first Kings 1911 to 13 you have the language of God passing by. You think about when Moses and in the book of Exodus asked the Lord to reveal his glory to him and what we read in the book of Exodus that God caused his glory to pass by in Mark chapter 6 this is really interesting scene where Jesus is walking on the water and the disciples or by themselves. They're scared there in the middle of the storm and it says in Mark chapter 6 that Jesus intended to pass by the disciples, that's Mark chapter 6 verse 48 is a sort of an interesting phrase that when we see it in the Bible. It's this language of God revealing his glory. His identity that he is the Lord of heaven and earth and so this is a really special kind of revelation that God gives to his people that this theophany but I don't were supposed to expect you know in our day-to-day Christian lives. Now God can.

If he wants speak audibly today. God is not limited by anything, or by anyone but ordinarily Kate is not how God has chosen to speak to us.

You got speaks to us through his word, through the voice of his spirit speaking to us in Scripture. We really need to see the ordinary ways that God is speaking to us all around us. Hebrews chapter 1 verses one through three talks about how Jesus upholds all things by the word of his power towards you know what the world is held together right now the third providential things that happened day-to-day passing of time.

All of it is sustained by the very speech the word of Jesus Christ. The whole universe is upheld every single molecule because Jesus is speaking is also speaking to you now through his word.

As I said, boy, what if we believed that whenever we gather together for church to hear the priest toward God himself was the one who was speaking to us. We need to understand that in Scripture you have these instances were God's is speaking in a powerful way. He's revealing himself this this theophany's passing by his disciples, first Kings chapter 19, 11 to 13 with the lies your Exodus with Moses for the disciples of Jesus. And in Mark chapter 6 God reveals himself to us now by his word and spirit. So if you want to hear God speak. We need to be committed to hearing the word opening up the Scriptures to studying the Bible and what you'll find is that there you'll hear the voice of God is, as the Spirit illuminates the Scriptures to you and brings you into a deeper understanding.

That's exactly what were trying to do on this broadcast escrow in our understanding of the word and dig into the Scriptures so that we might hear the voice of God. Kate, thank you so much for the great question and by the way, if your question force your core Christianity. We would love to hear from you.

Here's the number it's 833-843-2673 or you can spell it out. 833 the core let's go to another call right now hello my name is Thomas South Carolina. My question is in the Bible it says. When Jesus returns done will rise first. To him, but I am confused because I hear people all the time so they want a friend or relative has passed away. So he's gonna want to be with the Lord.

If you could please shed some light on that I would really appreciate it. Thank you God bless a really good question.

I can see why weather might be some confusion so that the text you're referring to is in first Thessalonians chapter 4 verses 14 through 17 misread that text also in verse 16 for the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. This is referring to the second coming. By the way, then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words is so. As Paul is writing the Thessalonians. He's trying to correct some confusion that there was about the resurrection of the dead he sang with this is a future event were were waiting for the Lord to come in for the final resurrection and we want you to be comforted by the fact that those who have died and gone to be with the Lord there can arise again.

They're not lost parish eternally. If you will, but there anticipating awaiting the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come. The new creation.

So if were waiting for that resurrection if if the dead in Christ will rise first. How can we say when someone has died. They've gone to be with the Lord will referring to and I didn't learn this until years into my Christian walk is that is called the intermediate state see when someone dies in Christ today.

Their body goes into the ground there buried their spirit or soul is in the presence of the Lord with joy experiencing his goodness in worship what Paul said in Philippians chapter 1 he said in verse 21 for me to live is Christ to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh.

This will mean fruitful labor for me, for I do not know which to choose, but I'm hard-pressed from both directions. Having the desire to depart and be with Christ. But that is very much better you see help policies thinking about his dad coming here and that Texas is right in the flippancy say look, I don't know whether I should stay here for your sakes to continue to preach the gospel, or just go and be with the Lord. I really want to be with the Lord because that's far better.

She knows that when he dies, he's can it be in the presence of Jesus. Now that doesn't mean that the resurrection is already happened.

He is going to be in the presence of Jesus. It is spirit is going to be in the presence of Jesus, but his body is awaiting the resurrection of the debtor he's awaiting the resurrection of the dead were he's reunited with with the body that is done into the ground at the last day, but in the intermediate state were were in the presence of or thinking. Second Corinthians chapter 5 were posted to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord so we can talk about dying and going to be with Jesus. Even though we know that the resurrection of the dead is still at a future point because while our bodies are in the ground. Our spirits are in the presence of the Lord, which is far better and will be far better than anything we've ever experienced this side of heaven in this life to be in the presence of Jesus with joy. Thank you for your question. Tell us. Thank you. Thomas appreciate so much you are calling us from South Carolina we been hearing from people all over the country are core Christianity would love to hear from you. We've heard from a gentleman in the United Kingdom a couple weeks ago about how this program has been helping him. He was one of the most encouraging stories I've heard of just such a cool thing to see how the program is impacting people not to hear the United States, but throughout the world and here's a guy who was not going to church has not been baptized as an ever really professed faith in Jesus Christ and yet has been listening to the program and growing in his understanding of the Scriptures and then told me once the coronavirus lockdowns are over. I want to find a church to get baptized and I'm just growing in my understanding of the Scriptures, and that's exactly why we do the things that we do and we love hearing these kinds of stories. If you're a regular listener of this program. Would you please contact us and let us know how you've been encouraged helped by core Christianity.

We want to hear from you as your listening to the program in your being encouraged for your coming into a deeper knowledge of the Scriptures shoot us an email to reach out to us. We'd love to hear from you so we can share with others the wonderful impact that the word of God is having on people's lives. The email address is questions at core, Christianity.com. We have a question from Tara who posted this on our Instagram page.

I haven't been born again very long and I was living with my boyfriend when Jesus came to me. We immediately ceased having sex as we are not married, but we continue to live together since I'm not working due to an injury I sustained work.

I can't afford to move out. Am I still saved hi Tara and I'm so happy to hear about how you recently come to Jesus. I love the way you put it in in your question. Jesus came to you, isn't that so beautiful and I know as a new Christian from many new believers. One of the big questions that we frequently get on this program.

It was a question that I even had is a new Christian is if I sin, am I still saved one text that I was one appointed to Tara is Titus chapter 3 verse five he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit and you can rest in that salvation rest. Ultimately, in Jesus, not what you do or do or don't do, or how well you perform on a particular day, but you cling to Jesus Christ and the free forgiveness you have in and through him. The first question I want to ask you terrorist do you have a good church I know is that as a new Christian sometimes you know what we don't have church community yet and so I think it's really important for you to find a local church so that you can continue to grow in your relationship with the Lord want to point your resource over core, Christianity.com in our libraries and article what to look for when choosing a church some helpful direction for how to find a good church of the question. I was have you been baptized know what one of the things that Jesus said at the end of the gospel of Matthew as he told his disciples, going all the world and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the signing of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you get baptized and continue to grow in your understanding of God's word who Jesus is not there and I would just add as a pastor, you know, I would say in terms of wisdom.

I would encourage someone couple if they weren't married to live under the same roof.

I think that's just opening the door for temptation were were were humans were were sinners, we don't want to put confidence trust in ourselves were not able to. And so I think there are certain choices that we can make it make it more difficult for us to walk in a manner that is pleasing to the website to say that it's sin to be under the same roof, but it could open the door for sin.

So maybe one of the things you might consider doing.

Finding a another living arrangement. Just because you want to make wise decisions and you don't want to put yourself in a in a compromising situation or one that would open the door for temptation that sounds like you made a conscious effort to abstain from sin. That's a sign that the spirit of God is at work in your life. You never to be sinless because the spirits you want to fight for sin.

Sounds like that's what you're doing if you have faith in Jesus Christ turned to him you are saying thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 core when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together