I’m Finally Taking My Faith Seriously. Do I Need to Get Re-Baptized?

If I have enough faith will God always heal me.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today we have a good news story to share with you. It's about two Ohio cops who went above and beyond the call of duty Malika Hill lives in Cincinnati and she was at a basketball court with her three sons and their friends went to police officers came by on patrol. After talking to the kids, they realized they needed a new basketball net so the officers headed to Walmart buying a net and a new basketball as well. When I got back one officer. Let 16-year-old Mikell when you say shoulders as a ladder while they attach the new net federal how is that for some positive community policing yet. I love you and that's great I love it � I actually like to play basketball. I'm not very good and so I could use a new net. Are you teaching your kids how to play them in their other pretty small they can't really shoot that well yet. Yeah that's right they throw the ball up and it falls back on his on the headset right now for you know three-year-old euros first step today story that's relevant to you, where you live, the governor of California is now going to prohibit any church from meeting indoors. This of course is in response to the fact that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly in California. The pastor of one large church has said he is going to defy the governor's order and I'm curious what what you think about that.

Yeah I'm weeping having outdoor services.

Fortunately for us, were were red or at least last week when when the governor said her two weeks ago whenever he said that the churches were not to be meeting inside we said let's move the service outside in the fact the matter is his worship is not worship because it's indoors and there are pews and you know crosses adorning the walls and so on and so forth. Worship happens and were gathered together under the preaching of the word of God to do the stuff that Jesus told us to do and so I know that these are frustrating times, difficult times for for the church and that our worship has been hindered worship hasn't technically been bad to me. No one saying don't worship there.

Just saying hey, please don't worship inside because of the fear related to the coronavirus and I know that a lot of believers are also afraid there are concerns that there are some people with these comorbidities were more susceptible to the virus and so I think passed orally. We want to be sensitive to the people in our church. We want to respect and honor governing authorities. While recognizing that Christ is the head of the church. He's the one that rules the church that they don't rule the church at the same time you know why I think we can get creative about ways to worship the Lord, and do so in a way that's respectful and sensitive to the members of our church who are concerned, really concerned about the coronavirus so I think it's been a great opportunity to teach about the fact that the circumstances of our worship don't technically make the worship service is not the amount of songs that we saying or whether were inside or outside or in a parking lot or in the forest.

It's is the word of Jesus Christ being preached are those gifts ordinances being administered baptism, the Lord's supper. Are we praying as the body of Christ and that's what makes a worship service and so I'm happy to worship the Lord outside of course, here in Southern California. It's quite beautiful outside so not that bad of it ever seem to have in the midst of worship or prayer.

Of course, is that many churches will continue to thrive and be able to minister to their congregations in whatever creative way they come up with rings these difficult times.

That's right.

Let's get to an email question that came in just one from Carmen and Carmen says in John 1428. Why does Jesus say I am going to the father for the father is greater than I. If Jesus is God, wouldn't he be the same as God the father. Could you please explain this to me. Yeah hey thanks for that question Carmen and this is one of those first sits oftentimes brought up by cults like the Jehovah's Witnesses and those they look, here's a verse that clearly teaches that Jesus is not equal with God, he says so clearly there in John 1428 you have heard me say I'm going away and I will come to you if you loved me you would have rejoice because I'm going to the father for the father is greater then I and I think if were not careful we could be really shaken our faith in the Trinity and the deity of Christ can be shaken by people who bring this verse up and say see Jesus as an equal with the father. Well, we have to remember that John 14 is in the context of what's called Jesus his upper room discourse is talking to his disciples about the departure that he's about to make is going to go to the cross is gonna die. He's can arise again, and ascended to heaven and one of the things he's focusing on here in in the context this context of John's Gospel is how he's going to send the Holy Spirit, the comforter to be with the disciples is knocking to leave them as orphans. He tells them that he's going to come to them by the grace of the Holy Spirit is a what it was he getting at here. The father is greater than I will meet throughout the gospel of John. If there's any gospel that really emphasizes the equality between the father and the son in terms of their essence being God. It's discussed we think about John begins in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. Jesus in John chapter 5 verse 23 says this, that all may honor the son just as they honor the father. Whoever does not honor the son does not honor the Father who sent him. One of the things I like to ask people who reject this idea. This is reality of the equality between the father and the son in terms of essence in terms of their power and glory in one God outlasted you honor Jesus the same way you honor the father. This Jesus says in John 523 that all should honor the son just as they honor the father even in John 858 where Jesus says to the. The religious leaders before Abraham was I am. He's identifying himself as God of the Scriptures, Yahweh. I am that I am Jesus says that I am that I am absolutely clear and so we get to this verse in John 14 verse 28, and have all these things that have led up to it make it absolutely clear that Jesus is God equal with the father that we should honor him just as we honor the father. So what is he getting at.

Well here's the answer. Carmen in the plan of salvation, the eternal son of God. The word of the father was always with the father equal in power and in glory assumed humanity came to earth sent by the father and took the form of a servant, he humbled himself, were told that you think about what Paul said in the book of Philippians. For example, in Philippians chapter 2 is so beautiful the way the if possible put a lot of people think this might've actually been in a really early Christian him. Look at Philippians chapter 2 beginning in verse five have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even that death on the cross.

Therefore God is highly exalted him, and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that if the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the father. Why can Jesus say that the father is greater than he is there in John 14 will because in the plan of salvation. Jesus humbled himself, took the form of a servant came to earth assuming our humanity bearing our guilt in sin so that he might save us, and in that plan of salvation, he humbled himself before the father and like he can speak in this way, and there's absolutely no contradiction.

He's God, the great I am the one who all should honor just as they honor the father and get the glorious thing. The remarkable thing is that in the incarnation God the son humbled himself to perform of the servant for us, for you and for me so we can say there in John 1428 am going to the father. You should rejoice. The father is greater than I. He's going to have that glory that he had with the father before the world began, and that's what he's talking his disciples about their and I think that's the answer to your question, Carmen Carmen, thank you so much for your question. If you have a question for us.

You can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com or you can call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 core Blaine of Martinsburg � first of all, I have a question I was baptized as a newborn at a Presbyterian Church child and I recently came to faith in Christ. I was wondering what your thoughts were on getting rebaptized. Thank you very much Blaine thanks for listing into the program appreciate your question and a what an important one and it is a question that a lot of people have asked member some years back. My wife's grandfather recently died not too long ago you share with us his experience that he had when he was just five years old being in Sunday school class and praying with his Sunday school teacher and feeling the presence of God. He says I've never felt anything like that.

I was little kid I was praying with my Sunday school teacher and it was just the feeling was so good and it was it was actually pretty amazing because he you know he died in in his mid-90s and yet he be remembered that thing that happened almost 100 years prior. It left an impression upon will fast-forward many years later he actually wasn't baptized until I think it was his later 80s. He talked to me sometime after his baptism and he said you know I I was expecting that feeling to come back that that feeling of that was good feelings. The feeling of the presence of God.

But when it happened. I didn't feel anything and he asked very sincerely maybe it did my baptism work. Did it stick to do it was supposed to do it. I've known people. Blaine, who have been baptized several times and I said baptized in a quote unquote there after infant baptism or after a period of rebellion. They think I just want to get my baptism right and so I don't know if I was truly saved and I was baptized I was 14 and that I had this period of of walking away from the Lord in an engaging in sinful practices. Now I think I really should be baptized with the fact of the matter is baptism. Blaine is never something that you do. I think that the main point here. We have to get this God is the baptizer the legitimacy of your baptism is dependent upon your obedience.

But God's word and that's what baptism is.

It's this visible word from God to his people.

It's it's this vivid picture of the gospel that exhibits conveys the promises of the gospel before us in this objective way and were called to lay hold of those promises by faith receive if baptism is dependent on what you do, your level of obedience to what I think is a minister that was the case I would never know whether or not I was truly baptizing someone to me. Maybe it would seem like this person really is faithful to the Lord and and yeah I think that there obedient, but it would just be a big gas because if if they did do enough or have enough faith or whatnot. What would it really be a legitimate baptism will baptism is not dependent upon you or me is dependent upon God and his promise. Now there are people who should be baptized, and there are people who should be baptized in the New Testament for adults.

The prerequisite is repentance and faith that's to say that. However, if you've been baptized you've been baptized, and God's promise is true regardless of whether or not you were faithful to Jesus.

Her unfaithful Jeep to Jesus that promises real if you been baptized in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit that it may be that now years later you feel like I'm really starting to understand the reality that my baptism pointed to. And that's great lay hold of those promises that were extended to you in your baptism is a look at forgiveness of sins. That's my I lay hold of it by faith Blaine, I'm I'm really want me to say praise God meant it. It's awesome to hear that now you you really come to a deeper understanding repentant faith in Jesus Christ, as you say you know I think one of the things you ought to realize is that maybe years back when you did get baptized, whatever that was you said you know as a child that was God extending his promises to you, God speaking to you his love for his goodness.

His gospel and and maybe now all these years later you're finally laying hold of it by faith. That's wonderful. I don't think you need to go and get dumped again in the water or something like that answer your question your listing to core Christianity by Bill Meyer with Pastor Israel Sanchez and we have a very special offer to tell you about today. Yes we do bill.

It's our hundred page softcover workbook for the gospel of John. We designed this Bible study with Sunday school classes, Bible study groups and even individual students in mind. Students of the word. Each weekly lesson includes selected passages from John's Gospel reflection questions and explanations of the key lessons every Christian should know about passages from John's Gospel. Here's the bottom line. This study is going to help you gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus is, of the trauma of Scripture at the relevant historic Christian doctrines and key themes of John's Gospel. John's Gospel is may I were talking about earlier with a focus on the deity of Jesus Christ that was various IM statements in the Gospel of John is just so so rich and we want you to dig into it so check out this resource is hundred page softcover workbook on the Gospel of John, had a record Christianity.com/Gospel of John to get your copy of our new Bible study today and I want to borrow longtime supporters. Your core Christianity receive this study, and he was so encouraged by that. He said we have got to get this out to more people and he gave us a special gift to do just that. So if this is your very first time requesting a resource from us want to give this away to you for free as a special gift from us here at core Christianity. So get your copy today@corechristianity.com/gospel of John. You can always call us for any one of our resources at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to another question. This one is from Nico who posted on our Instagram account. Nico says being that I'm not Catholic. How necessary is it to confess our past sins to other people.

I know it's not required for salvation because only Jesus forgives our sins. Once we repent. But is it necessary or even important to confess the sins of our past to a pastor or two other believers. I think that question a very practical question Nico and I think that there is a benefit to confessing our sins to people to a brother or sister in law to a pastor as a brother sister and me know if you're if you're woman Estrella someone going to an older sister in the Lord, are a mature sister in the Lord who knows Jesus who loves Jesus loves you can speak the truth of the gospel in your life and and hold you accountable. Same thing with with man. You know going to speak to a brother somebody could hold you accountable or or go talk to your pastor, the elders of your church. That's what they're there for her there to speak the truth of God's word to you and to remind you of the forgiveness that you have in Jesus Christ. I've talked to believers who sometimes just good for them to talk about their past and they want to know that they think about something that they did a long time ago some sin that they engaged in it and it just always on them and whenever they think back and could happen years ago, but I think back to them. They just wonder of God. Do you really love me that you really forgive McCammon I can't believe I did that. So I think in the circumstances, it can be very helpful to go and talk to your pastor and and have them encourage you and remind you of the power of the blood of Jesus Christ that you're forgiven I don't know that you have to relegate me you have to go to your pastor and confess my memo effect. I know that you don't have to clean all the things that you did in your past, but for some people it can be helpful to talk about it to bring it up to be reminded of the gospel other people.

I think they realize, I know I've been forgiven. I know that that's been washed away by the blood of Jesus that is not really weighing on them anymore. But I do think it's helpful, especially when were in the midst of a fight with sin.

A struggle with some recurring sin or habitual sin to bring into the light to go and talk to a brother or sister and say look, I'm struggling with this. I'm sending and I don't know how to beat this. I need help were called to mortify the deeds of our body. Paul talks about this in Romans six through eight to put to death those sinful deeds.

I think one of the ways we do that is by bringing our sin into the light by confessing and I can confess is you say directly to God and receive forgiveness. But there is something powerful about talking to an elder or your pastor and saying help me it I think a lot of times were struggling with sins we want to convince ourselves.

It's really not that bad. I got this under control. I can handle this is not can it is not going to do me in. The reality is still trying to find ways to cling to our sin. We don't want to let go of it when you confess that when you bring it into the light missing.

I don't want to cling to this anymore. I want to I want part ways with this. Help me Lord, you're going to other people and asking for prayer and I think that can be a really good thing the James talks about this in James chapter 5 experiencing the forgiveness of the Lord John in first John chapter 1 verse seven says, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sins.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, that in the context there is probably best. It is not just confessing to the Lord effect of having fellowship with the body of Christ. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us. But here's what we need. I think in our churches today. We need to have such a big view of the gospel, the forgiveness of Jesus the grace of our Lord that were able to walk in the light were not afraid to confess our sins because we know that we have a Savior who loves us. I think one of the reasons why a lot of us are hiding in the shadows.

A lot of people are hiding in the shadows because they don't hear that big gospel preached every single week.

They feel like there's nowhere for me to take my sins if if I talk about this. People are going to think the worst of me and so on is over, but the fact of the matter is sin is just the reality. Even for believers were still in us struggle with sin until the day that we die and so we can confess that were sinners, but we can boast in the cross of Jesus Christ were not witnessing our sin is okay were not glorying in our sin were glorying boasting in the cross of Jesus because we know his blood is sufficient and is as we confess our sins and cling to the gospel that I think more and more by the grace of the Holy Spirit were putting to death those struggles that want to do a sin that want to remain hidden in the darkness. And that's where sin grows, it festers and continues to take our lives over if we just sort of hide it can steal it will no brothers and sisters.

You can be honest about the fact that you're a sinner because there is a Savior in heaven who loves you who forgives you and who wants to sanctify you put your sins to death.

We don't have to confess our sins to a person in order receive forgiveness, but there is something that can be so helpful in terms of the fight against sin.

To say hey I want accountability I want other people praying for me and I want to bring this into the likes I want to cut it off thinking to go. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez we have time for one last question.

This was a question posted on our website at core, Christianity.com Lewis says my arm hurts really bad and I keep praying and fasting, but it still hurts a lot of people are telling me that I need to draw closer to God to get healed.

But when I read about Job and Paul, it seems like God allows some hardships to happen so we can get closer to him without being healed. How can I know what God's will is a great question. Lewis really simple.

If God heals you. It's his will. If he doesn't, it wasn't. And I mean that MEA I think that you have to be careful that you don't buy into the lie that God just wants to heal everyone in its our fault when he doesn't. You didn't have enough faith that doctrine that theology is so destructive because it takes people who are already suffering it makes them suffer more and makes them feel like they're there not sufficient like they're not godly enough, they don't have enough faith and that's why God didn't feel them but the fact of the matter is you bring up the instances in Scripture. Just look at Job look at Paul. Paul writes to Timothy. At one point he tells them. Hey, take a little bit of wine because of your frequent stomach ailments. He doesn't say Timothy you're not praying hard enough you don't have enough faith if you did, God revealed that stomach problem you have by now know that's not how it works. It is a lie from the pit of hell that the reason God is not healed you is because you're not godly enough or you don't have enough faith. The fact of the matter is, the people of God. Lewis even some of the St. Louis people in people who have given their lives to follow Jesus. Those same people have experienced some of the greatest suffering sickness loss.

That doesn't mean that God doesn't love them because the apostle Paul says so clearly in Romans chapter 8 in all these things and he's talking about suffering, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all of creation and pain in your arm will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. 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