Is There A Time When Christians Should Stop Evangelizing?

In the Bible.

I don't see Jesus through the apostles running after anybody once they've heard the truth and turned away. Should this influence how often I try to share the gospel with my unsaved relatives. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity. I 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 core that's 18 338-4326 Avenue three and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today we have a good news story to share with you a nurse in Nebraska is being hailed as a hero for stopping to save a life well on the way to her daughter's wedding. Jody Demirel was headed to her daughter, Haley ceremony when she came across a two car pileup about a mile from her home near the Nebraska Kansas border. Jody kept a woman's airway open while she waited for paramedics to arrive.

She also called a life flight helicopter to the same. She did all this while dressed in her long formal gown for the wedding. After the paramedics took over. Jody headed for the church and she arrived just 10 minutes before her daughter's wedding ceremony was scheduled to start. I thought I had a busy day yesterday I not save a life. You know, go home and wedding your daughter's wedding, all in a days work, and she probably did the tag out the reception as well to home and that is very impressive. Later let's get to our first question of the day and Mary posted this on our website at core, Christianity.com/radio. She says I have a friend whose grown children show no interest in God, the church, the Bible or prayer. He says that he's trusting the baptismal covenant, that his children will return to the faith.

Is that a correct view of baptism.

It sounds almost like baptismal regeneration to me.

Hi Mary, thank you for that question and before I forget, I just want to point you to resources over at our website. Core, Christianity.com, you might want to share this with your friend. It's called five ways to help your kids keep the faith. This is one of the things that were seeing right now all around us in the church in particular young people brought up in the church who are leaving the church and want nothing to do with the church as they get older and so there are also the questions as to why that's happening and what is it the church is parents families are missing that would put this resource together. It might be helpful for your friend and I and even for used to check that out that in your question.

You have a lot of phrases that I think it's important for us to define but that this friend is trusting the baptismal covenant, that his children return to the faith. What is this idea of the baptismal covenant will baptism in the Bible is the sign of inclusion in the visible church, the covenant community of the covenant is being referred to here is the new covenant means it's written about in places like the book of Jeremiah in Hebrews chapter 8 the author, the Hebrews contrasts the old covenant with the new covenant in a covenant to think of it as God's solemn promise to his people. Closest thing we have to the idea of covenant today in our context is the picture of Mary's disorder love bond. This relationship brought together on the basis of this legal contract that you kinda get some of the covenant idea there, and often times there are symbols tokens of that covenant you think of marriage. For example, I wear a wedding ring right minutes, the symbol of the fact that I'm in this relationship. This marriage with my wife will similarly in Scripture.

These covenants have signs associated with them in baptism is the sign of entrance into the new covenant community at its source, similar to how under the old covenant you had circumcision for the infant children while under the new covenant in the New Testament we have baptism and what that is. Mary is it's God's promise to his people, his goodwill as surely as water cleanses filth, the blood of Jesus Christ washes away all of our sins by faith really is this beautiful vivid picture of what God does for his people. He washes us when we come to him helpless needy longing for mercy.

So baptism really is this beautiful thing and it's a gift that God gives to us. I think a lot of times you know we hear over and over again in the church that sort of mantra baptism is an outward sign of my inward faith is primarily something that I'm doing that I'm declaring to the world well for adults who convert to the faith, and that is something that baptism is it is a demonstration one sense of our faith.

But first and foremost, what baptism is gift.

It's God's good word visible word coming to us.

It's a means of grace.

It's one of the ways that God and if you ever thought about baptism. In this with this how the Scriptures talk about baptism. This is how God by the power of his Holy Spirit is working in our lives today to preaching the word through baptism through the Lord's supper and so I think that there's something there and I think it's okay for us as parents you know of children that are baptized as they looked at an object of promise.

God's goodwill towards me towards my children has been extended in this visible way. But the fact of the matter is, all of us are called to lay hold of the reality that those signs that baptism signified by faith. That's the key. We don't want to treat the superstitiously worthwhile Mike. My kids were baptized. Therefore, there for sure going to be save they're going to have a no not not at all. Right.

That's just not the case were saved by faith in baptism is this sign of the gospel the sign and seal of God's goodwill towards his people, but we are called to lay hold of these promises by faith I think of what the author the Hebrews said to the people that he wrote to you know they were a church that had experienced a lot of these wonderful blessings from the Lord like baptism in chapter 6 he talks about how they had been enlightened, how they had tasted of the heavenly gift, probably a reference to the Lord's supper and yet there seeing all these things there experiencing all these things and yet the question is have you laid hold of the reality that the word points you to Jesus by faith. He gave the author the Hebrews says to them, and in chapter 4 verse one therefore, while the promise of entering his rest still stands, let us fear lest any of you should seem to have failed to reach it for good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them because they were not united by faith with those who listened for we who have believed enter that rest, as he has said as I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest as I think there's a really important point to be made here in baptism, the promises of God are coming to us and to our children. We are called to lay hold of those promises by faith and so we don't want to just superstitiously assume that we are saved or that our children are safe simply because they've been baptized know this is a sign of God's love his promises goodwill toward us and were called to lay hold of that by faith. So there's a balance here Mary that I think needs to be struck realizing one the objectivity of God's promise to us his goodwill toward us. The fact that he works in baptism, by the power of his Holy Spirit into the fact that were called by the preaching of the Word by the signs that God gives us to lay hold of the good gifts that God showers upon us every day as his people by faith. Thanks for your question federal thank you for the clarification on that issue. What confuses a lot of people because somebody different to churches and denominations have disparate views on baptism and and what it means the apt "you're right, and we recognize here at the core that there are all sorts of different views on this and maybe what I just said is is new for you. Well, give us a call honey, that's why we love digging into the Scriptures and thinking through these things me my my own views over the years have have evolved on baptism as I've studied the Scriptures more than I think that's what we want to do together is dig into the Scriptures and and come into a deeper understanding your listing the core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Luke emailed us with this question. He says it seems to me that the law is different from the gospel because the law is something we do. While the gospel asks nothing from us, but first Peter 417 speaks of those who do not obey the gospel of God. Can you help me distinguish between the law and the gospel at Lefty Lucas Smith, one of the one of the distinctions we think is so important. Would love to talk about on this program and and the reason why it's so important is because so many people, when you asked them what's the good news of Christianity.

What does Christianity offer what they respond with is not actually the good news, not the gospel but with the law. I remember just a few years back talking to someone who is visiting our church and and I asked this very question them when when you think about Christianity. What is the good news of Christianity and they responded by saying all you know you love your neighbor and God wants to make us better people and I think of like the commandments and in the Bible and how those help us to be better people and I think that that answer actually is what a lot of people think of when they think what is Christianity about wealth, the law is a good thing, like loving your neighbor who's going to disagree with that. That's a wonderful thing that something that were all called to, but the law is different than the gospel because the law tells us were supposed to do.

It tells us what God calls us to obey in his word, but it doesn't have the ability to save us well, we don't have the ability to save ourselves by the keeping of the lot.

This is something that Paul, for example, brings out especially in places like the book of Galatians we read the book of Galatians because there you have this back and forth over and over again in a bit to this distinction between obedience works based obedience keeping the law and being justified solely on the basis of faith is what we want to help people understand Lucas that the gospel isn't what we do necessarily that justifies us.

It's the good news about what Jesus has done for us so that we could be accepted into the family of God, not on the basis of our works, but on the basis of what he's done so that if that's the case why do we make sense of verses like first Peter chapter 4 verse 17. Those who do not obey the gospel of God, will I want to set this verse in its context a little bit more, really Peter is focusing here on suffering in the Christian life. He begins by saying, beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you as though something strange were happening to you, but rejoice in so far as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ. You are blessed because the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let no one of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evil door as a meddler. Yet, if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name for it is time Peter said for judgment to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us. What will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God sees talking about suffering here he's talking about one of the things that distinguishes us as Christians is suffering for righteousness sake, not suffering as evildoers, but suffering because we follow Jesus suffering because we taken his name upon ourselves because we love him because we are walking in the light, and in the truth and and some people aren't going to like us.

Because of that Luke and in the process of having this discussion, he makes it very clear that that one of the things that suffering does is it purifies the church. It is time for judgment.

He says to to begin at the household of God, and if it begins with us will what hope. What will be the outcome of those who do not obey the gospel of God. Sometimes belief and obedience are set side-by-side and think of John 336 whoever believes in the son has eternal life.

Whoever does not obey the son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him a little bit later you note. Jesus says in John 629 this is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent so I take obeying the gospel to be primarily receiving believing in embracing the truth of the gospel and that's what's distinguishing the people in in first Peter 40 St. look if we would've embraced the gospel right for being purified by this suffering what's going to be the hope of those outside of the church with not embrace the gospel, who do not believe in Jesus would have rejected him. That's how understanding on and sometimes I just add Luke we can have very simple ways of describing things like you know the law says do the gospel says done and I think that that's helpful. I think that's a good thing, especially in a society where most people just don't understand the basics of the gospel, we want to point them to what Jesus is done and why. That's good news. Of course Rick Morgan come across passages like this, we have to think of it, what does it mean to obey the gospel. And so while I think that you know those kinds of phrases are are good and helpful and especially important for us to communicate in a culture where people just don't get the gospel in the distinction between the law and the gospel. I understand why this text might've been a little bit confusing for you at first thank you for reaching out to us, though, thank you Luke this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and it really been talking about the book mere Christianity for several weeks now and I wonder, can you explain why our listeners should read this book. Oh boy, though.

While there are just so many reasons. I mean, it's one of those Christian classics that that I think is one just extremely well-written.

CS Lewis is an excellent writer is one of those guys you need pick up the book end and you start reading. It's hard to stop because it's just so easy to keep going on but to especially in our day and age where people have lost.

I think mere Christianity the core tenets of the Christian faith. What it looks like took to walk with Jesus to follow Jesus needed to know why it is that we believe the things that we believe, how do we defend our faith. Those are all things that Lewis touches on in mere Christianity in a very practical way, as I think it's one of those books that should be on every Christian reading list, and I even quoted a section in my sermon this last Sunday, actually. So that's what we talk about.

We think the really helpful resource and were offering it today for a donation of any amount so if you still not picked up mere Christianity head over to core Christianity.com/offers to get your copy for a donation of any amount and you can call us for that, as well as 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core and your donation helps us get the gospel out. So thank you so much for partnering with us your core Christianity. We are listener supported and we can count on people just like you. Let's get back to another question. This one came in our phone line at 833, the court found that mining can I not protect interpretation of the verse that elements the director has been outlined he sat there, husband authority, some newer interpretations out yesterday was incorrect and had more about the poets all being the incarnate unalloyed pendant format and the right to assume dentistry 120 Authority you had some dangerous indication, particularly in regards to you that you want to follow Scripture correctly. Thanks so much and God bless you and your ministry hey Jan this is such an important question in the church today and it has been for really long time.

Let's just read that section of judging is important for us to understand in this context, the Lord said to the serpent because you've done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman in between your offspring and her offspring, he shall bruise your head and you shall bruise his heel. There's that first promise of the gospel we call the proto-UN galley on and then he says to the woman I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing, in pain you shall bring forth children at Genesis chapter 3 verse 16 says your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you and to Adam he said, because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten the tree of which I commanded you, you shall not eat of it, cursed is the ground because of you in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you and you shall eat the plants of the field by the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken for you are dust and to dust you shall return. The curse is not a happy thing.

It seems like you have a lot of good things that have now because of sin been twisted and the question is what what do those words their desire and rule mean will there's a parallel in the very next chapter in chapter 4 verse seven where Mrs. Cain and Abel. God speaking to Cain, why are you angry and wiser face falling verse seven if you do well, will you not be accepted and if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door and its desire is the same word is for you but you must rule over it yet, but that this repetition there and a lot of people are taking that to mean that desire of the wife is going to be to usurp her husband's authority as I get that the concern that you have will does this mean then that every wife just wants to have control over her husband and that it's the job of the husband to control her and to rule over her, and that can lead to abuses. If we misunderstand this passage.

One of the things that I think is so important to understand about the curses that we see here in Genesis 3. Is there taking good things we see is good things, childbearing that now because of sins entrance and into the world have been twisted. Now the childbearing is is in pain or work work is something that was given to man prior to the fall.

Adam and Eve were called to tend the garden and yet now atoms in a do it with sweat and toil in thorns and this post was taking good things and twisting them.

And isn't that what sin does. It takes the good gifts that God gives to us good gifts like marriage relationships and twists them and it causes pain and hurt and I think one of the ways that it does, that is immediate if of a husband thinks that you know they read this text and they think I have a justification for dominating my spouse and no wonder you know she's always complaining or what I should try to take my power try to take my third lie. I don't think that that's the proper interpretation. If you want to know what it looks like with the husband-and-wife relationship is supposed to look like go to place like Ephesians chapter 6 husbands ought to sacrificially love their wives give themselves for their wives considered their needs as even more important than the relevance is something that the that the Scriptures call us to and so I think the kind of rule if you will that husband is supposed to have us modeled for us by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, so that when somebody says I need to dominate my spouse there totally missing the point.

They don't get it to look to Jesus, the perfect husband the bridegroom.

He's the one that reveals to us what it means for us in in marriage and Christian marriage to love our wives and delete our families as the head of the house the right way. It looks like sacrificial love federal thanks so much for that explanation of that that thorny issue. This is core Christianity, we have time for one more question. This one came in from Carolyn. She emailed us and said I have a question which nags me because I have so many unsaved relatives. How often do I present them with the gospel. They never seem to come to me to ask a question of any kind that might lead to a gospel conversation I've gone to them over the years they've all heard the gospel from me, and I pray for them all the time this weekend at me that I don't see Jesus or the apostles running after anybody once they've heard the truth and turned away. Should that be my example to yeah well Carolyn. God bless you and it sounds to me like your you're doing the right things in terms of praying I mean that's that's key because ultimately this is the work of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of God is the one who opens the hearts of people and so pray that the Lord will do for your family members what he's done for you that he would cause the glory of God in the face of his son Jesus to shine open their eyes so that they might come to him by faith. I think that me there there a couple of different ways we wanted approach this one. It's really easy for us. A lot of times to be ashamed of the gospel, and not speak the truth to our families and you think of what Jesus said a prophet is not without honor except in his own country, his hometown, and I think a lot of us have felt that you know you go to your family and they just think how gosh you know what you getting on about all over again.

You know, yet they know you. They know you. Unlike anybody else better than anyone else.

That's really easy for them just to cut gonna discount what you're saying but I think that we want to continue in love to pray for and pursue them and that doesn't mean being obnoxious per se or you know not having a relationship with them taking interest in them walking with them through life and looking for those opportunities and praying for those opportunities for God to open the door for us to be able to speak the truth of the Lord to them and and encourage them so so look, I think that there's a balance here Carolyn we don't want to push our family away by only wanting to talk to them about Jesus making them feel like we actually don't care about them personally know it. You don't want to give them that, since I think it's important for you to continue to cultivate those relationships and said grow together as a family and pray Lord open up opportunities for me to be able to share the faith that might be that those things don't ever naturally present themselves in and so you feel like well maybe maybe it is time for me to just grab a cup of coffee with this family member and say hey I want to talk to you about this because it's so important to me. I love you and I want you know the great peace and joy that I've come to experience through the risen Christ.

What is done for me and the fact that he calls all people to himself, including you. It's really one of the great privileges that we have Carolyn to be able to share the truth of the gospel. We can't just do it by living in a positive lives us that we share the gospel and we accepted speak the truth of the gospel to people.

So pray, continue, pray the Lord gives you those opportunities and take advantage of them when you get them because there's nothing more important.

Carolyn and the gospel and embracing the truth of the gospel. 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 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