Did Old Testament Believers Fight Sin without the Help of the Holy Spirit?

How should we understand the role of the Holy Spirit in the lives of believers today compared to the spirits role in the Old Testament. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity this is 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.core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can email us your question anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today want to share good news story with you every May, the Waldorf school in Santa Fe New Mexico brings their eighth grade students on a class trip. It's a trip that the kids have been working toward all year long by raising money doing things like selling burritos and pieces but when their trip got canceled because of the coronavirus students decided to help those in need. They donated $2800 worth of supplies to the Navajo nation which is suffering one of the highest per capita cobra 19 infection and death rates in the entire country last week, mom Jessica falcon Hagen rented a van so she could drive with her older daughter to window rock Arizona to the reservation.

The van was stuffed with food and toiletries paper products school and cleaning supplies, thermometers, handmade masks and 60 gallons of drinking water, all purchased with the money for the class trip that kudos to those kids. Yeah, teachers, and I'm struck by the fact that instead of just being upset and complaining because they were unable to go on this trip, which it sounds like you know to be a wonderful time there, redirecting their focus and wanting to help others and what an example that is for all of us.

You know I I I know that a lot of people because of the coronavirus are facing very difficult times and it's usually times like this were all about ourselves. You were upset. We were frustrated and were thinking about me me me me me well what a time where we can also about those who are in need and maybe redirect her attention like these high school students that I think that's really a beautiful story.

I'm guessing that there are some parents and some teachers that encourage that as well so that's no kudos to them for raising some great kids go to our first question of the day. This one comes from Anthony who says Jesus is often called the son of David in the New Testament. However, his genealogy given in Matthew is connected to Joseph, his adopted father Luke's genealogy differs, but he also traces Jesus lineage through Joseph, how is Jesus the son of David, and thus the Messiah if he is only related to David through Joseph, who wasn't his real father. This has caused a lot of doubt for me. Yeah, great question and I want to spend some time explaining just the relationship between Jesus and King David. Because if it's one that I think people may not understand fully why was important back in the book of second Samuel, in chapter 7 we have what's called the Davidic covenant.

If you remember, David wanted to build a house for the Lord and God responded to him second theme of chapter 7 and God made a promise to David and it really is a beautiful text of Scripture in verse 12 of second Samuel seven we read when your days are fulfilled.

This is God speaking to David when your days are fulfilled and you live down with your fathers. I will raise up your offspring after you shall come from your body and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever and I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son likes the matching what a promise to receive from God's. David is seeking the face of the Lord, wanting to build a house for God to glorify and worship the Lord.

The Lord response to David and says I'm gonna build a house for you. I'm in it. Build a house through one of your offspring.

Now he's referring to the Messiah, the messianic King.

The promise was something that Jewish people clung to. Especially in those times of of suffering that they experienced this promise is also at the heart of the book of Psalms. Think for example of Psalm chapter 2, where God talks about establishing his king was going to rain over the whole world now.

Jesus identified himself as the son of David, the one who right now is building a house for God's name actually. Jesus even took a step further is not only David's son in the legal sense because he's Joseph's son the adoption. He's also Jesus says David's Lord what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 22 beginning in verse 41 of the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question saying what you think about the Christ, whose son is he. They said to him, the son of David and he said to them, how is it then that David in the spirit calls him Lord, saying, the Lord said to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.

If then David calls him Lord I was he his son, no one is able to answer him a word, nor from that day.

Did anyone dare ask him any more questions. I just love that right. But Jesus is legally speaking through Joseph and and because Mary and Joseph were together. The legitimate heir to David's throne. He is the one who is promised in second Samuel chapter 7.

The one is to build a house for God's name a kingdom it's gonna last forever and ever.

But he's also David's Lord of it must've been a great mystery for the people of God, at least initially, it is there thinking about these passages of Scripture like the one that Jesus quotes there, Psalm 110, but the reality is, Jesus is the legitimate heir to the throne of David and that means his wife so important means that he is the ruler of the whole world. He's the king.

I just think right now, at least for many of us that's what we long for. Is that just righteous perfect ruler who loves his people and cares for his people back to Jesus is. He's the Davidic king who reigns over the whole world and ultimately his can bring his kingdom in everlasting righteousness, and that's why this is so important. Anthony, we have a king, Jesus was going to rule over who is ruling over the whole earth, and is ultimately get establish his kingdom in perfect righteousness and peace in perfect justice boy right now we know that we need that. This promise given to the Messiah, given to David initially that the Messiah would would be ruler over the whole earth is good news for us today.

What a great promise in something that all of us who trust in Jesus Christ can look forward to your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you like to call us with the question. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

You can also post a question on the core Christianity Facebook page or Instagram page and you can email us as well and let's go to our first call of the day.

Hello, my name is Rhonda from Boardman, Ohio, and my little niece, who made God in that she wanted to know who is the Holy Spirit. I appreciate you answering this question. Thank you. I love it.

Rhonda, by the way, if you have kids, please have them call. We would love to me in the system of the best questions and the reality is that there questions that we never stop asking for this we get older so who made God and who is the Holy Spirit well run. What I would say to your nieces God is different than we are in a we have a beginning starting point, but God according to the Bible is eternal.

He never had a beginning. There's there's no starting point for God. Isaiah chapter 55 verse 17 says this for thus says the one who is high and lifted up who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy. I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. What a beautiful contrast. You have there.

You have God the high and lofty one who inhabits eternity.

He's eternal there's no beginning. There's no point where God began to beer.

He was never created. He's uncreated, and yet he dwells with his creatures with those who are of a contrite and lowly spirit. God, the eternal and uncreated. One enters into a relationship with us sinners.

So God did not have a beginning, he was never made. That's just what the Scriptures teach, who is the Holy Spirit, though. Well, he's God equal in power and glory with the father and the son one God in three persons.

This is the doctrine of the holy Trinity, the Holy Spirit is the third person of the holy Trinity is God. Acts chapter 5, verse three, Peter said to be little bit of the background here. The context is this couple, Ananias and Sapphire headlight sinned against the Lord and Peter says Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back for yourself. Part of the proceeds of the land. You have not lied to men but to God. He cosigned to say, Holy Spirit, and in Scripture it's very clear that the spirit is God.

You remember when Jesus was about to leave his disciples, he gave them this group of teachings recall in the upper room discourse. In John 13 through 17 kind of there at the heart of his teaching in the upper room discourse. He said to them, in John 14 verses 16 and following, I will ask the father and he will give you another helper to be with you forever, even the spirit of truth in the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you right now. The Holy Spirit is with us and Jesus said that he is leading the people of God into all truth. John chapter 16 verse 13.

He's sanctifying them that this is really interesting. Sanctification is often associated with the work of the Holy Spirit among the persons of the holy Trinity. Peter said, for example in in the book of second Peter Z opens up Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. According to the foreknowledge of God the father in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood may grace and peace be multiplied to you. That's what Peter said so as I tell your niece the Holy Spirit has always been. He was never created. He's a person, and he is with us and lives in us by faith in Jesus. And here's what he's doing. He's making us more like Jesus every day. He's sanctifying sees this a gift given to us by Jesus, but is not a thing. He's a person. He lives in us.

Thank you for that question.

Please if your niece has any more questions. Have her call would love to hear her to. So thank you was a your daughter has the other day, daddy, why don't God talk: we've had some some pretty good ones from our kids. In fact, I wrote an article over it. Core, Christianity.com. It's called did say the darndest things. Theology addition one time been digging a laugh at this one Bill one of our children while they were potty training asked is God ever have to go poop so I mean it got me thinking. These are the kinds of questions that your kids lessons that will know with anything but wait a minute, what about the incarnation and how do you parcel these things and so if you want to know the answer that question. Check out that article to be God, did say the darndest things.

Theology addition your listing the core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and you know we often say that our goal here is to answer the hard unsettling questions of our times, and there are a lot of them. We want to help skeptics and committed Christians alike to see why Christianity is not only true but also why it's good and it's beautiful and one of the most beautiful expressions of the truth and goodness of Jesus is the testimonials we receive from our listeners about how core Christianity has helped them to live with hope and joy and confidence in Christ. That's the best part of working here which you prayerfully consider helping us continue with our mission as a thank you for your gift of $20 or more, we will send you our new core Christianity Bible study on Paul's letter to the Romans.

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Now if you like to make a donation and receive that study on Romans head over to core Christianity.com that's core Christianity.com or you can call us at 1833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 in federal spent so encouraging just in the last week or two. Some of the comments we received from people saying this program is really helping me to understand who God is what the Bible says, and for the first time there.

It's almost like the scales were falling from their eyes. Yeah, it really has been such an encouragement.

I just want to encourage you as you listen in and your blessed by the program. Just reach out to us. We want to hear from you.

Let us know you know the ways that you're growing in the Lord and how this program is benefited, you can email us or give us a call so we love hearing the stories we actually have an email question that came in at questions at core, Christianity.com is one from Chris he says your show has been a great encouragement to me. My question is in reference to the role of the Holy Spirit today verses in the Old Testament, specifically in the lives of believers.

I know that we are sealed with the spirit at conversion.

When we repent and put our faith in Jesus and I know the Old Testament Jews were saved by faith in the same way we are today, but when I look at my life of sanctification how God has delivered me from some very egregious sin patterns. It makes me wonder how Old Testament Jews would fight sin in their life. My understanding is that the Holy Spirit would indwell only select individuals and only temporarily during the time of the Old Testament. If this is true, does that mean that the vast majority of Old Testament Jews would fight sin without the help of the Holy Spirit, the growth I've seen in my walk with Christ is without a doubt a workable Holy Spirit. I can imagine fighting the same battle without the work of the Spirit. In fact, I know that apart from Christ I wouldn't even seek a life of holiness. I'd appreciate your thoughts on this. Yeah Chris amen I get it, you know, if it wasn't for that the work of the Holy Spirit.

Sanctifying us as we are just talking a little bit ago we would be in big trouble right because our own hearts. You think of it, they him come, thou fount of every blessing prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, prone to leave the God I love. Here's my heart, O take and seal it, seal it for thy courts above the reality were prone to wander, even as justified believers. Our hearts that we still have this this struggle and out.

I don't think that in the Old Testament believers didn't have the Holy Spirit, but the difference here is the extent of the spirits work under the new covenant versus under the old covenant under the new covenant. It's far greater in the Old Testament there was a dependence on the external law of God. I think for example of Psalm 119 over and over again. It's repeated the centrality of the law, someone 19 verse one. Blessed are those whose way is blameless to walk in the law of the Lord Blessed are those who keep his testimonies to seek him with their whole heart a little bit later. Verse nine how can a young man keep his way pure by guarding it according to your word with my whole heart I have sought you do not let me wander from your commandments yet. This is focus on the law of God in setting the law of God before us as this guard to keep us from sin very clear all over the place in the Old Testament. Actually, we just started again this week preaching through the book of Galatians are preaching through Galatians before all the coronavirus stuff started in over the last couple of months few months so it took a hiatus from Galatians and was preaching more topical sermons, you might say, focusing on different text of Scripture but but passages I think were and could be encouraging for people in the midst of this difficult time that were in or getting back into the book of Galatians that just happened this last Sunday to be in Galatians chapter 3 verses 15 through 29 where Paul talks about the reason God gave the law and there are several, but one of the reasons this was given because of transgressions, it's like this fence around the people of God to protect them and to guide them ultimately to Jesus. So the lot had that function for believers in the Old Testament under the old covenant have that function for us today, but in a unique sense because now under the new covenant, your God has placed his law on our hearts by the power of the Holy Spirit. Ezekiel chapter 11 verse 19 and I will give them one heart and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh or Jeremiah 31 verse 33 and this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord.

I will put my law within them and I will write it on their hearts. I will be their God and they shall be my people see this is one of the big difference is where is under the old covenant, the people guiding the date of the spirit of the law of God was was something there were fixing their eyes on now the law of God under the new covenant has been written upon the hearts of all those who trust in Jesus Christ that you're right.

The law apart from Christ only shows us how lost we are and and again I think that's one of the things we see throughout the Bible as late as I said in in the book of Galatians, in particular, now were filled with the spirit and the law is on our hearts. And that's what by the grace of God helps us to live lives of holiness and think of what Paul said in in Romans chapter 8 by the spirit we are putting to death the sinful deeds of the body so it is the believers under the old covenant didn't have the help of the Holy Spirit.

They did and they had the law, it's just that now we have the spirit in a unique way to a greater extent and the law of God is written on our hearts and so we should praise God for his goodness and for his work in us under the new covenant so that we might love him and follow him.

Thank you so much for your question a great one.

You can call us with your question anytime at 1833 the core here's a question we received from Chris hello I have a question about acts five.

Once Ananias is the fires were found out, and each of them had died on the spot. Did they go to heaven or were they sent to hell. Thank you wow yeah acts chapter 5 verses one through 11 minutes. That's a really hard one to answer because were not told that they were condemned forever. Certainly this is the judgment and for those of you who aren't familiar with this passage we just read some of it.

Acts chapter 5 a man named Ananias, with his wife. The fire sold a piece of property, and with his wife's knowledge he kept back for himself. Some of the proceeds and brought only a part of it and laid it at the apostles feet. But Peter said to Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit to keep back for yourself. Part of the proceeds of the land while it remained unsold did not remain your own and after it was sold, was it not at your disposal. Why is it that you have contrived this deed in your heart you have not lied to men but to God. And when Ananias heard these words, he fell down and breathed his last.

And great fear came upon all who heard of it, and the young man rose and wrapped him up and carried him out and buried him. And then of course is the text continues, his wife, the fire also suffers the same fate. We can think this is certainly a divine judgment from God on sin reminds me of what we get in first Corinthians chapter 11 where the apostle Paul talks about people who take the Lord's supper in a manner that is not right. Without faith, Paul said to the Corinthian church. This is why many of you are sick and weak and some have even died because instead of judging the sin in their own lives. God was judging them because they were coming before the Lord in the sinful manner.

Look, I think the big take away from a passage like this. Acts chapter 5 is God cares about how he's worshiped and in the church.

God does not take sin lightly know we oftentimes do take sin lightly you think about this passage you know you have these people. Ananias and Zafar, they're giving essentially a portion of the proceeds to the church.

To me this seems like a good work. The problem is there lying. They said they gave it all, but they held back some for themselves. There lying not just to men but to God because they're doing this quote unquote good deed so as to look as if they're pious and yet their withholding some of what they have said they are giving.

In other words, or try to make themselves look better than they really are and God sees right through it to say something. A lot of times in the church we do the very same thing. Don't we. We try to make ourselves look better than we really are. We put up this front for other people. This mask like hypocrites there wearing a master pretending to be better than they are when in reality they know that there is sin and are not willing to confess it, and God judges them because of it. Now I think we as believers can struggle with this very same thing and I think what God did hear the very inception, beginning time of what God is doing here at the this very early stage in the life of the church is he's I think making an example he showing us how serious sin is within the church. The church friends is not game. If this is something to play with, you know, we are playing with fire.

Fire of God's judgment same time it's in love. We encourage each other and exhort one another because of the goodness of God in the gospel to us were compelled to encourage each other and to speak the truth in 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, the court 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