What Happens When God Is Not Impressive In My Life Anymore? with Special Guest Dr. Michael Horton

I've been a Christian for a while now, but I don't find God appealing anymore. What can I do. 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 with your question. At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us with your questions at questions at core, Christianity.com and you can post your question are Facebook or are Instagram page or having to have our good friend Dr. Michael Horton join us today and for our listeners who are new to core Christianity. Dr. Horton was on this program for a long time. He's also on the senior leadership team at core, Christianity, and is a professor at Westminster theological seminary in Escondido, California and Mike great to have you back.

Thanks, Bill. Always good. The with you in a drill. It's nice to catch up. We try to start off each of our programs with good news story and this one guys comes from the state of New Mexico. Jos� Romanus is 19 years old and he was on a mission to buy socks for his grandfather. He had just helped him find the right socks online after he didn't have any luck finding them in stores and Jos� needed just to deposit the money into his bank account to make the online purchase, but as he pulled his truck alongside the ATM machine. He spotted a clear plastic bag on the ground. It had foot long stacks of 50 and $20 bills that it will rather than keeping the money Jos� called the Albuquerque Police Department. Two officers arrived, the teenager gave them the money back at the station.

The officers counted the cash it totaled $135,000.

The police did some checking and they found out the money was mistakenly left outside the ATM machine by a bank subcontractor that was supplying various ATMs with cash and boy I hope the bank gives Jos� a reward for his honesty and I do to a night. I'm also really thinking that that would be a great process to continue with I never can remember my pin so we just leave the money outside. I just couldn't take what you know what you need you right yeah right know that's a great story really gives you. You know there's so many negative things in the news these days about young people and that just gives credible hope in young people America that's great. Well, guys, let's go to our very first call of the day calling the white why do I constantly hear negative last year I lays back pay that a year ago. The second time that I bring in my Christianity and accepted Christ as my Savior before I just felt like it was Christian I right now and tougher and maybe because now I have the Holy Spirit any but why do I keep hearing. And I know I've been told, impacted those I want to push through this six will thank you for your question Brenda my my wife's grandfather died earlier this year, is in his mid-90s I was able to do the funeral service and prior to his death.

We had a lot of conversations about the Lord would tell the story of when he asked Jesus into his life in Sunday school, almost 100 years ago and he remembered his Sunday school teachers name and could tell you exactly how he felt on that day. He said it was the feeling unlike anything you'd ever experienced is so interesting because he was baptized years and years later, but he said I don't know if the baptism really stuck. He explained that he didn't have any spiritual feeling when it happened and he was looking for. Feeling kinda like he had, you know, when he was a little boy there and that Sunday school class when when he asked Jesus into his life. It didn't happen again. So he was really concerned that sometimes we have expectations for the Christian life that don't line up with our experience rent is a follower of Jesus, you're going to experience the accusations and discouragement of the devil you have to fight the lust of the flesh every single day.

Some days are better than others. Some seasons it seems like the lure of temptation or discouragement might be less powerful but then it comes right back again. If you're going to follow Jesus you can expect it to be a struggle, a battle effect. If there's no struggle that I think there's probably a serious problem. Paul said in Galatians chapter 5 verse 17 for the desires of the flesh are against the spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, and these are opposed to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do when you were in a war you don't sign up for the military with the expectation that you're going to be going to Disneyland. That's exactly the point that Paul makes in the verse that you referenced for the we walk in the flesh.

We are not waging war. According to the flesh for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God and take every thought captive to obey Christ. That's Paul's words in second Corinthians 10 when Satan comes against you with condemnation. You confront that thought with the gospel.

When Jesus did battle with Satan in the wilderness and in use the Scriptures to conquer him, you need to know the word so that when Satan or your feelings contradict God's word. You can place your confidence in what God has said instead of how you feel and so I think you can expect sister that the Christian life is a battle they're going to be times for you.

You get these discouraging thoughts. The thing you have to know is God's word so that when you're feeling those thoughts and your having that sense of condemnation. You can go back to the gospel back to God's word and put your hope in that instead of how you feel. Yeah. Makes me think of the pieces of armor that Paul mentions in Ephesians 6, all of them belong to somebody else feel the breastplate of righteousness is the righteousness of Christ. When Satan says oh you know you fallen out of good favor with God. I say I am breastplate of righteousness.

Christ is my righteousness and what can you do about that Satan done and then the shield of faith, the sword of the Spirit which is the word of God.

All of this is outside of us, Brenda, and you've got a look outside of yourself.

Take the armor which is Christ, and at a time like this. People pile up to do list will Brenda if you would just pray more. If you just read your Bible more if you just follow these steps or if you would just you know declare this demon cast out or whatever. What you need at as pastor Angel is just said is you need to hear the good news of the gospel. Why, I've heard that know you need to hear every week. Brenda I do to.

That's the only way we can have confidence not just in the past, but in the present that we are accepted before holy God you guys we receive so many calls and emails similar to Brenda's. Anna just convinces me more and more the importance of writing Scripture on our hearts.

On actually memorizing it so that when these situations come up, it immediately comes to mind and and we we don't have to waiver we can say okay Lord I know you made me this promise, and I can count on it. Yeah, that's the important point bill because you know it's not just read your Bible more because that will kind of trigger something good in your life or God will love you more or give you more favor whatever it's know we got to read his word more so that we can hear his promises that extinguish the fiery darts of the devil. Your listing the core Christianity with Pedro Sanchez and Dr. Michael Horton and Mike here's an email question that came in from Benson Benton says, who are the cloud of witnesses mentioned in the Bible. I do not believe our loved ones in heaven can see us on earth, but some are teaching this. Can you please explain this to me. Sure Benton was best as I can of the passage is Hebrews 12 verses 18 to 24. Let me read that first, for you have not come to what may be touched the blazing fire and darkness and gloom and a tempest in the sound of the trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers begged that no further messages be spoken to him terrified they couldn't endure the order that was given even if the beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses that I tremble with fear. So you think you haven't come to Mount Sinai but you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. You know, we do come to church Benton first celestial theater. It's not that the entertainment that we can concoct it's it's the celestial theater that God stages when he opens that hole in the boundary between heaven and earth, and his Holy Spirit descends to draw us up into the heavenly were told by the apostle Paul that we are already seated with Christ in heavenly places. The picture here is like an Olympic stadium. They would've known what an Olympic Stadium is the Coliseum and is not. It is not a metaphor, it's reality. In fact, it's more real. Benton then the mall or the freeway or your daily office that you could work at or your your house.

It is not just a metaphor. The saints above really are cheering us on.

In this race. I don't know exactly what all that means you know I don't know if they were to sit down with a sandwich and watch it was like it all on a big screen, what's what. I don't know but I do know in Revelation 610.

For example, the souls that are waiting for the resurrection cry out with a loud voice, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, how long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth there crying out for for judgment day, the souls of the martyrs. There's definitely a sense that even though were in the presence of the Lord until the resurrection happens even our souls in the presence of the Lord are not complete. Even they still are saying were still in the middle of the movie when is the climax you know when when will this pain-and-suffering be over pain-and-suffering will yeah I mean there crying out how long the Lord there enjoying the goodness of the presence of God and yet longing still for the resurrection and judgment day and I think that that's an indication that they do know what's going on. Sure they do now. We don't pray to them because they can't do anything about it. We pray to the want one and only mediator between God and man Jesus Christ and yet we know that the saints above our praying with us. That's why we are to think about it, not that we ask them for help or we pray through their mediation. But we do know that when we pray in the name of Jesus Christ alone. They are cheering us on in the stands. Every time we go to church Benton every time were gathered as the body of Christ. There's a church above the church.

Below we become one church as we we hear God's word and we are baptized we receive the Lord's supper we share in the fellowship of the saints.

They are sharing with us in that fellowship. It's a marvelous thing this marriage between Christ and his church, you know, I had the privileges preaching through the book of Hebrews. Some time ago like it was when we were doing the program just you and I together. I remember in the book of Hebrews and Atticus yeah and Leviticus yet because I was preaching to Leviticus for something the boy what a way to shrink a church, you know, just to set but that text you know that the cloud of witnesses comes on the heels of what you have been in Hebrews 11 where you have the hall of faith. You know, sometimes referred to in that way and what witnesses do, they they speak to us.

I think part of it is you know you read these stories of that the saints of old, who are described there in the hall of faith it's it's almost as if they're witnessing to us there, testifying to us through their stories that are recorded in holy Scripture of the hope that we have in the gospel Scripture speaks to us in one sense, you know, the cloud of witnesses. I think there in Hebrews 12 is also a reference to that great group that the author the Hebrews to just mention talking about Chapter 11 who is speaking to us through the Divine Scriptures and and we want to hear their testimony about faith in Jesus Christ, that would be Hebrews 11 is all about is a really cool picture that we get there.

That's a great point Micah drill. Thanks so much for that response. By the way, if you have a question for us to record Christianity. You can call us at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

Now we have a great offer for our listeners. Today a drilling factor we are offering the book that helped launch this very program that's right were excited to share the book that was a big catalyst for this show. Dr. Horton's book core Christianity over the years we've heard from many Christians who share their struggle to see how the Bible is relevant for life in the 21st century Christianity focuses on the essential Christian beliefs and show why they matter for our lives today. Basically, this book will will help you study who God is and what he's done for you like.

This is a wonderful book we read through it with members of our church some years ago and you really do dig into some of the core doctrines of the Christian faith like the Trinity, the incarnation, even the Bible how we understand God's word right yeah it really is written for a new believer or for someone is been a Christian for maybe a long time, but they they feel like they don't really know the basic doctrines of Scripture and I didn't write this is a theological textbook.

You know it's not deep water, its deep truths. It's an introductory way of presenting it. You know, Mike, one of the things I love about the book is that it helps believers helps the average person in the pew to explain their faith the non-Christians because there are so many questions, especially with Alda. The neo-atheists dove buzzing around in our culture right now and many times believers feel inadequate.

They feel like I really don't why I can't really explain that the the basic tenets of my faith and that's what this book does. Thank you for saying that, Bill. I hope so, because you know we know we really know it. If we can sure it was somebody else. By the way, if you like the book you can call us at 833-843-2673 for any of our offers here at core Christianity will go to another question, and a drill.

This one's for you.

It comes from a Matthew who posted from Singapore.

He posted on our Instagram page and he says I am a question about Matthew 614 to 15 where the Bible says, for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. Does this mean the forgiveness of our sins from God is conditional on whether we forgive the sins of others and is Jesus's statement here mean that our forgiveness is dependent upon whether or not we forgive others. What a great question let me just say you know on a surface reading of the text, it would seem that way wouldn't it if you don't forgive others when they sin against you, then how can you expect God to forgive you two things are worth noting here one our forgiveness of others presupposes that we have been forgiven, there is this painting from the 16th century that is supposed to depict the parable of the unmerciful servant from Matthew chapter 18.

Maybe we can even put it in our show notes and in that parable a great king for gave one of his servants, and immense debt that same servant went and acted harshly exacting. The smallest payment from one of his subjects that was under him will him in the painting. The wicked king is pointing his finger at a man who looks desperate. The man's hands were clasped he's begging for mercy and next. If you have someone keeping a precise record of the poor man's debt you have another guy counting coins look on the poor man's faces is just desperation. It's almost as if his face is speaking to us saying please show me mercy. Tragically, if you know the parable, and in Matthew 18, the servant who had been forgiven and immense debt turned around and showed no mercy, and forgiving a much smaller debt and shows us how abominable it is for us.

We who seek the pardon and forgiveness for our offenses for our immense debts to turn around and be harsh and unforgiving towards those who sinned against us. So in one sense, we have to say that our forgiveness of others is rooted in our having been forgiven first by God and not that are being forgiven by God is rooted in our forgiving others.

Second, God's pardon of our offenses is never something that you and I can merit. If sin is a debt that's growing right many crushes that enslaves there's no payment we can offer God for our deliverance, God forbid that any of us would would dare to go to God and say God I did this but I forgive somebody else know you have to forgive me. There's nothing more. Contrary to the gospel and it is even makes sense considering the fact that we have this huge debt that none of us could ever pay for. So here's what Jesus is doing here.

He's making an argument from lesser to greater is really meant to give us confidence that God will indeed forgive us when we come to him it's it's as if were sent to God. God in your kindness and your mercy. I know that you're so good and that your merciful to forgive those who come to you who have sinned against you if I forgive someone how much greater is your mercy and I can come to you boldly and know when I asked for your forgiveness you extended to me. So I think that's part of what's happening here. Yeah and alternatively, on the other flipside of it which seems to be what Jesus is focusing on if you say somebody has really wronged me, and I can't forgive this one, then why should you have any confidence that God will forgive you when you've wronged him 80 times, no in a given hour. Why should you expect forgiveness from him. He's not saying you have forgiveness from him because you forgiven this other person, but it is you're saying it really saying. Why should you expect God to forgive your logic isn't right here. Your argument is your thinking isn't in line with what God has given you. I think that's totally right. Yeah man, this is really helpful to because I made. Otherwise you think about a text like this and it's well am I forgiven I really forgiven this other person think about how difficult where we go. Forgiveness is for for so many of us, and it's one of those things that you do over and over again you could forgive someone any next day feel like I got forgive them again because in my heart I feel those feelings of bitterness rising up again. Well with our forgiveness is is never perfect. So if if God forgiveness of us was dependent on our perfect forgiveness of others will be would be now in big trouble for not getting guys that God's forgiveness is perfect and that's the amazing hope of the gospel. Your listing the core Christianity and Mike. We had a call come in.

We wanted to let you respond to this one will roll out from the city. I would just like to let you know what happens when God no longer is impressive in your life. I need an answer for that meeting. I don't find anything anymore about God I've been a Christian for a while and doing much yeah well Raul thank you for your call flow first thing I have to say and I'm not saying this glibly. I'm saying it because it's true.

I feel the same experience from time to time, especially in times of distress. I felt even more. Part of that because in times like we've experienced when you can go to church your watching sermons on the Internet it's good but it's not. It's not the same as being there and Raul, if you're married, I'd like you to substitute your wife's name when you say what happens when say Cheryl isn't impressive anymore in my life I've been married for a while now, nothing's not a man being absolutely serious is marriage like that. I mean there. There are ups and downs.

There really wonderful times will meet our spouse is impressive to us and then other times when we feel like were not loved, were not cared for were lonely were distant and then we come back together and it's up ups and downs while we are united to God the father through the mediation of Christ his son in the power of the Holy Spirit. As Paul says, our earthly marriage is but a likeness to the greater marriage between Christ and his church were all members of his body. So if you want to see Christ you will experience God go to church.

There you will have the preaching of God's word that good news that you're justified in Christ alone. You'll have baptism were Christ is present by his Holy Spirit, through the word in the water. You'll have the whole holy supper were Christ dines with you and makes himself, your meal. Good grief that you talk about present, confirmation of his promise and then you also have the other members of his body work little Christ to you even though you might not think so. At first praying with them. Confess your sins with them embrace Christ forgiveness with them and you'll come more and more to realize that this is your family and it's a strange family, a family you didn't choose but God chose for you. Embrace them in love and Thanksgiving looking up to God in faith and out to your neighbors in love. You gotta get connected role is here where you're going to find the presence and the love and goodness of God, you got here. Christ himself tell you who he is and what he's done for you.

Don't die off the vine be grafted into the vine and you will bear much fruit. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers and 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