How Can Jesus Belong to the Royal Line of David if Mary Did Not?

How could Jesus belong to the royal line of David.

If Mary did not. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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.

Would love to hear from you if you got a question. The numbers 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673 and you can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. You can post your question on our Facebook account or Instagram account to start off with today we have a good news story to share with you Madison Holberg is a music major at Portland State University in Oregon last month. She was being filmed singing the national anthem on campus for her University's virtual graduation as she started singing she heard the beautiful voice of a stranger suddenly starts singing along from somewhere nearby.

It turns out that professional opera singer Emmanuel Hein Reid was visiting the campus when he heard Madison singing on the other side of the group of trees. She asked him to join her for an impromptu duet, which was then shot by the video crew.

Now here's another interesting detail. Madison is white and Emmanuel is black and seeing the two of them come together for stunning rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner provided an uplifting moment during these challenging times in our country and we will post a link that video on our show notes page@corechristianity.com/radio and it really got to tell you I watched as brought tears to my eyes. Yeah that's that's an awesome story. I mean, especially in in the days that were living with all of the continued racial tension sing something like music, bringing people together and it just always the eyelet.

I like to think of how how the gospel really is ultimately supposed to do that for us within the church and for the world. It brings together people from every tribe and tongue and nation to sing to Jesus to worship him. And so what a cool clinical picture I'm looking for to watch that video will go to our first question of the day we received this email from Carl in Virginia, and Carl says I've heard some Christians claim that acts 16 six proves that God does not want to save everybody.

Since Paul was forbidden to speak in Asia. Yet Paul and those with him were not the only evangelists.

Sometimes it seems like the church in the US acts like the rest of the world doesn't exist and I'm wondering if this tendency can be traced even to how we read the Bible what you think. Yeah, what I what a sad thing right. I think I think the trip to the US that even us as individuals, we continually have to confess to the Lord God, I am selfish hi I need to admit to you Lord that I need your grace to help me to love people outside of myself and it's so easy for us.

I think to be turned inward Carl with regard to acts chapter 16 beginning in verse five it says to the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increase the numbers daily and they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia and when they had come to IEC they attempted to go to Bithynia, but the spirit of Jesus did not allow them so passing by my easy as they went down to trust in a vision appeared to Paul in the night a man of Macedonia was standing there urging him and saying come over to Macedonia and help us. When Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to go to preach the gospel to them. So, I think what we want to make sure that we do is we don't let this or don't think that this text is saying something that it isn't saying this passage is not saying that God does not want the people of Asia should be saved is simply telling us that God had other plans for Paul on that particular occasion, namely that the Macedonian call. He has this vision of a man in Macedonia Macedonian man thing. Come help us and will call went to the disciples in Jerusalem talk about how the Lord had called him into the ministry as an apostle. One of the things he said in Galatians chapter 2 in verse nine. Beginning verse nine is is this he says when James and Cephas, and John who seem to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me. They gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised that you have here is is really practical.

Carl with the division of labor. I know personally, as a minister the gospel that I am not going to reach every single person in the city that God has me different people are gifted in different ways and God calls us to particular places and in people to share the love of Jesus, I think there is something to what you're saying here though no American Christians have read the Bible incorrectly for a long time. I don't mean to paint with with a broad brush, but especially when you look at movements like the prosperity gospel movement, which trains people to read the Bible with themselves at the center it's all about your best life now you being blessed. It's easy to see why we can become closed off or how we can become closed off to the outside world said it before and I think it bears repeating it. It's really the heart of this ministry core Christianity. We want people to know what the Bible is really about. And it's about Jesus.

It's about his mission, not yours. In the objective of Jesus's mission is making disciples from every language tribe and nation. So when God is leading the disciples here in acts chapter 16 it's not. These leading them to Macedonia because he doesn't care about the people in Asia not at all. As you say, you know, there are there are many evangelists called by the Lord to go to different places that ultimately the gospel is going out to the uttermost parts of the world. This is one of the things that Jesus indicated very early on in the book of acts you're going to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judeo Samaria.

The uttermost parts of the world. So God intends the message to go everywhere because the gospel is good news for all people turn to Jesus and be saved.

Carl, thank you so much for your email.

We appreciate that this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and if you have a question for us. Feel free to call anytime.

Here's the number 833 the core it's 1-833-843-2673 federal this call came in from Joe all people. When God is on like what in his in his heart that is been generated. If the right feeling to be able to say you stiffnecked people whenever he didn't change it on. This doesn't make sense to me. I just think that question yeah, we believe, according to the teaching of the Bible that God is the one he changes the heart and you see this in in the book of acts with Lydia later on in the book of acts in here that the exit you're referring to acts chapter 7 verse 51 Steven says you stiffnecked people uncircumcised in heart and years.

You always resist the Holy Spirit as your fathers did, so do you. And so I think it's a fair question that you're asking how can how can Stephen say this if God is the one who changes our stubborn hearts they know it's interesting about the statement that Stephen makes your joke is that Stephen is the first one to call the Jews stiffnecked you know who was it was actually God in the in the context of when God did. This is really quite fascinating. If you open your Bible to the book of Exodus. In Exodus chapter 32 ice want to read this passage this is the first time that God refers to Israel as stiffnecked. It's Exodus chapter 32 beginning in verse one, and you might be familiar with this story says when the people saw that Moses delayed to come down from the mountain, the people gathered themselves together to Aaron and said to him up, make us gods who shall go before us. As for this Moses, the man who brought us up out of the land of Egypt.

We do not know what has become of him. So Aaron said to them, take off the rings of gold bitter in the ears of your wives, your sons and your daughters and bring them to me so all the people took off the rings of gold that were in their ears and brought them to Aaron and he received the gold from their hand and fashioned it with the grieving tool and made a golden calf and they said these are your God.

So Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt.

When Aaron saw this, he built an altar before it, and Aaron made a proclamation and said tomorrow shall be a feast of the Lord. They rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings and the people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play and the Lord said to Moses, go down for your people whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt have corrupted themselves. They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them they have made for themselves a golden calf and have worshiped it and sacrificed it and said these are your God.

So Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt and the Lord said to Moses, I have seen this people, and behold, it is a stiff neck people of the Lord's point there Joe and Stevens Point.

In acts seven is that despite God's repeated acts of kindness is deliverance.

These people keep going astray. There like a wandering calf effect Exodus chapter 32 verse 25 says, when Moses saw that the people had broken loose. For Aaron had let them break loose to the derision of their enemies that language of breaking loose it's it's as if God is saying in effect when you worshiped the golden calf you became like cattle stiffnecked wandering about in rebellious sin stupefies you that I've seen this time and time again otherwise intelligent people will begin to do the most foolish things because their clinging to some idle to some sin you become like what you worship. This is the principle that we see throughout the Bible. And that's exactly what we have there in Exodus chapter 32 they worshiped the golden calf and they become stiffnecked and Stephen is echoing that language there in acts chapter 7 because despite all of God's redemptive acts. They still have not turned to him now more to your question Joe. You're right. Only God can change the heart but that doesn't remove human responsibility. God calls them stiffnecked because despite everything God had done in and through Jesus.

The Jews were still unbelieving and so were presented with this truth in Scripture, God is absolutely sovereign and yet we are totally responsible for our sin for the decisions we make. Jesus could weep over Jerusalem and say Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who stones the prophets and kills those who are sent to her how often I wanted to gather you together as a hen gathers her chicks but you were not willing from Matthew chapter 23. By the way I used to own a chicken. We hatched it at school and my teacher let me take it home. My mom wasn't too happy about it, lived in our garage in San Diego with our dogs back in the early 90s we had no idea what we are doing caring for a chicken but they became a pet dad that we kept it in in the garage and let me tell you what the chicken would escape from the garage and I'd have to chase it down the street. It really was not very fun.

It was sort of funny thing to see in San Diego a young boy chasing a chicken down the street in the middle is that he will wear like that chicken we run away from home were prodigal's were stiffnecked.

We wander and that's our sin.

But you know what is the other truth God by his spirit works in us wooing us, drawing us to Jesus. And if it wasn't for God's gracious work by the spirit you and I would never have believed, so you have these two things. The Scripture gives to us the absolute sovereignty of God.

The fact that apart from God's grace apart from God's spirit we would be lost and I would not have believed and yet at the same time, the responsibility of mankind that God calls all people everywhere to repent. Because of that the work of his son, Jesus, and we are responsible before the Lord and Stephen knows that and that's why he can look at the Jews and say you were stiffnecked. You're listening to core Christianity, where we answer the questions that you have about the Bible and the Christian faith and we have an amazing team of people behind us that are producing the show with her writing the core articles for website producing our core Bible studies in our prayer is that these resources are helping you more fully understand the gospel and also have the confidence to share your faith as you can imagine, producing a program like this requires many people to come alongside us to support our work and we can't do it without your prayers and your financial support. That's why were asking you to come alongside us in become a regular supporter with a monthly donation of $25 or more, you can join what we call the inner core.

You can be part of the team that makes this show possible and if that's something you feel God is calling you to do head over to core Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more or you can call us anytime at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to an email question that came in Israel. This one is from Mike and it's kind of an interesting one because it deals with the book that came out several years ago.

He says I know someone who is believing and accepting as truth, a book entitled the sacred mushroom and lacrosse. A study of the nature and origins of Christianity within the fertility cults of the ancient near East. I've skimmed through this book and I find it very disturbing. I tried searching for critiques but I haven't found too much. I wonder if you could steer me in a good direction to properly address this book and its contents with knowledge and grace. Thank you. Hey Mike, thanks for your question.

Good on you for for interacting with this friend and wanting to talk about Jesus and the truth of Scripture with this friend.

I want to just pray for your friend. Father, I thank you for Mike and for this friend of his and for the discussion that that they're having. Lord, thank you. You open the door for this discussion. And Lord, we know even as we are just saying earlier with the previous question that you are the one who opens the heart that apart from the work of your Holy Spirit Lord were blind were unable to see the truth of your word so we ask that you would be working even now in Mike's friend you would help this friend to see the errors in this book.

In particular, and ultimately to have the truth of your word illuminated for them if they would understand it and grasp toward the glorious truth of the gospel of your love for us in your son Jesus. So, would you be with this individual and be with Mike as he seeks to share your truth with his friend in a loving way and in a gracious way.

Father, we ask this in Jesus name, amen. So I I'll admit you and I first I wasn't in there with this title. When I look the book up, but it sounds like one of the things that is argued in this book is that Jesus of Nazareth didn't actually exist. Instead, the disciples were consuming psychedelic mushrooms and making everything up.

Actually, according to the author, none of the disciples actually existed its mushroom mythology. Years ago, but I remember being a conference it was I think was a prophecy conference here in Southern California where I lived was probably 16 or 17 at the time but I remember over overhearing two older gentlemen talk about some new false teaching that was springing up and one guy said to the other guy and I'll never forget this. It's it's always stuck with me said to him, the great apostasy you just can't keep up with it. Yes, it's true. Satan is always trying to come up with clever ways to get us to deny Jesus's existence or that he is who Scripture portrays him to be.

It's what John calls in first John the spirit of the antichrist.

You know it so interesting. Mike is this was one of the problems that the early church that the apostles of our Lord were confronting people that were denying the physical bodily presence of Jesus Christ that the people are doing this they were called the Gnostics so John, especially in first John, he makes it a point to say no.

We've seen the word of life. We've handled it with our hands.

We proclaim this life to you.

Jesus the spirit of the antichrist. John tells us wants to deny Jesus. So we have to be discerning when when we look at these different things and and the ideas put forward in this book. I think it was published in the 70s really don't stand up to legitimate historical study, the overwhelming majority of historians of Christianity and textual scholars, Christian or non-Christian. Don't deny the existence of the historical Jesus because there's just so much evidence that the writings of the apostles. The writings of extra-biblical historians like Tacitus and Sue. Tony is Josephus, Jesus existed when someone says that he was in a real person. They were just all eating mushrooms. The argument just does not carry very much weight you have to remember these disciples didn't just claim to believe Jesus existed their lives were transformed by the risen Christ and many of them suffered and died for the faith that they preached.

Look, I've known people who use psychedelic drugs. It's hard for me to believe that these kinds of people are responsible for the writings of the New Testament.

It just doesn't add up, and certainly it goes against the historical evidence that we have that Jesus really did exist and really the historical evidence that points to the fact that he truly rose again from the dead, that I think of a resource that could be helpful for you. Mike is called the story of reality by Greg Coco you want a good book on Jesus on the early disciples on why this isn't just a myth mushroom mythology and just another thing that I would say is you know in these discussions. It's so easy to get sidelined to talk about. You know that the intricacies of the argument and and what I think that's okay want to respond with the truth of God's word with historical evidence, but pointing out some of maybe the faulty presuppositions that your friend might have, but always go to the gospel go back to the Scriptures that you're talking to your friend Mike pointing out that look of this and people eating mushrooms and making making up these stories, Peter says in second Peter chapter 1 verse 16 we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eye witnesses of his Majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the father and the voice was born to him by the Majestic glory. This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. See what Peter is saying there we didn't make this stuff up. You guys, this is a cleverly devised myth.

We were eyewitnesses of the majestic king of kings who came assumed humanity for us bore our sins on the cross and then rose again from the dead and we have laid down our lives for this Savior, brother. I pray that your friend us to this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we have time for one more question and this one came in through Instagram account.

Doug says the Bible teaches that Jesus is the promised seed of the woman.

The seed of Abraham, to whom belongs the everlasting throne promised David a lot of work went into preserving that seed. But then in Matthew chapter 1 were told that Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary, even though it was Joseph who was connected to the royal line of David. How does this work. Yeah, you know, Doug.

We opened up that today's program by saying the Bible is in all about us. It's all about Jesus and I love your question because it's just another reminder of the fact that that's just so true. You're right.

Jesus is the heir to the promises that were made to David E. Think of second Samuel chapter 7 the Davidic covenant, but he's also the heir to the promises that were made to Abraham, you have both of these need a coming together in your question about Paul specifically in Galatians chapter 3 verses 15 through 18 talks about how Jesus is the seed that was promised to Abraham.

It is really interesting because Paul and that passage emphasizes that Jesus is the seed singular.

He's probably referring back to the promise was made to Adam and Eve, way back in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 that the seed of the woman would crush the head of the serpent. Paul says Jesus is Abraham's seed, and we followers of Jesus by faith in him are heirs of the promises that God made to Abraham, but Jesus is just the heir of the Abraham, it promises is also heir of the Davidic promises. The promises that were made to King David that he would rule over the whole world. The question that you ask will.

How can that be the case if he's the son of the Virgin Mary and Joseph is the one who has that the Davidic lineage well Jesus legally was Joseph's son. Even though right of we know that the birth of our Lord Jesus was miraculous. The virgin birth, overshadowed by the Holy Spirit.

Mary conceived and bore a God man Jesus. The word, and yet he was still legally, the son of Joseph.

And so Jesus is the heir to the promises that were made to David the King of Kings was gonna rule over the whole world and who right now is ruling over the whole world seated at the right hand of the father raining from heaven, and at the same time he's the heir to those promises that were made to Abraham and ultimately note those promises .2 the new creation the kingdom of God.

All of Scripture is pointing us forward to Jesus and the promises that are his and belong to us all Scripture is pointing us to Jesus. In Jesus, you and I find a place in that story to. 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.

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