Will God Reward My Good Works When I Reach Heaven?

Will God reward my good works when I reach heaven.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adrian 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 and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today we have a good news story to share with you. Police in Kansas City are raising funds for a single mom after she donated her $100 lottery winnings to a police officer who was shot in the line of duty Sentara Sims is a single mother who lost her job because of the coronavirus pandemic. She said she had seven dollars left and several bills due, but she found a one dollar bill in a grocery store parking lot, bought a scratch off lottery ticket and one $100 or 12-year-old daughter Ricky suggested they donate the winnings to a police officer who was shot on July 2, while chasing a suspect. On July 10. Mr. Sims made that $100 donation anonymously.

Police spent days tracking her down and when they learned about her situation. They set up a go fund me page for her and her daughter, and as of last week. That site had raised more than $60,000.

So wow that's so cool gray. I mean you just keep her daughter. I guess said her mom. We gotta do this we got a help this officer and now they have this just a total blessing from the police department and the community there and cancel that was just so beautiful.

Yeah let's get to our first question of the day. Ian emailed us and ask us this getting to church with our children is often stressful. This last Sunday was particularly hard. I raised my voice and said some harsh words to my kids threatening them with discipline in the moment, I felt justified but I also know that I spoke out of anger, not love this Sunday. I felt like such a hypocrite. Walking to the worship service late again but weighed down by guilt for my own sinful actions.

I really want our family to be a church to hear the call to worship, but I'm terrified that my behavior is only making my kids despise going to church. What can I do while in man thank you so much for that email and after asking your question I wanted take a moment to pray for you right now and for your family father, thank you for Ian, thank you for the desire that he has to raise his children, Lord, to love you and God.

We know that we desperately need our children to know you. We need your grace in their lives and we need your grace to parent them.

Lord, as you call us doing so. I pray for him that you would fill him with that grace you give them a sense of your love and forgiveness you would give them wisdom as he parents his children as he seeks to bring them to church so that they might hear your word and be a part of the worshiping community, old Lord, would you cause much fruit to be born through his efforts.

Pray that his kids Lord would love you and walk with you and know you and Lord for all the parents right now who long for their children to know you, to love you who are working hard to raise their children in the truth of your word God, would you give them strength to encourage them right now. And Lord, which you will help all of us to honor you, Lord. As we seek to raise our children well. In Jesus name, amen. I can definitely sit with Isaac giving our kids are 864 and one I think that's their ages. If my wife listens to this, and indeed you got one of them wrong again because I always tend to get one of them wrong, but I can totally sympathize with you men know the struggle.

And I know the struggle of me and you know you you get into a scuffle before church. We know an argument at home or something like that and then you show up and you just feel so guilty to share a story with you will be a little vulnerable. I remember one time getting into an argument with my wife prior to church. This is doubly about six years ago because we are living at the place we were at before we started renting where we are now and I forget what we're even talking about them. It was so silly and then we get into this this argument before church and what you're thinking. The pastor getting into an argument tortures well. I walk outside and headed to church time dressed in my Sundays finest you have ever had this white shirt on these nice pants.

You know the slick black shoes and it had been raining here in San Diego and the front door to our apartment.

At that time into the early steps from like 15 or 20 steps that led up to it. So my wife and I are talking and and it's frustrating and I set Yemen I walked to the church tonight and I leave and I start walking down the steps in and meet immediately on most of the tops that I slip and basically slid down on my back all 15 or 20 steps and that they were these wood steps that had been painted.

They were kind of treacherous and of course my wife she hears this. I'm at the bottom of the staircase, you know, getting up and she sees me she looks at me and I look at her and we both just burst into laughter like this list. While she and she. I think she set up and like see God is on my side, or that it was much most of all I think my pride it was just hurt, but that's often what it is, isn't it in its our pride with our kids know why aren't you listening to me what's going on. We get frustrated.

And that's when, as you say week. We become threatening and that's not the way we want to be with our children and so I think it's so important in those situations that we humble ourselves. Sometimes God will humble us like she did for me there on that staircase, but that we humble ourselves and we say you know what that was not. Okay, that was not okay for dad to do please forgive me daddy's a sinner to I need grace it's it's so important with our children that were able to do that were not pretending like everything is okay. Like other people need Jesus to need his forgiveness. But mommy and daddy don't need Jesus for his forgiveness. One of the ways Ian that we lead our children well is by showing them what it looks like to repent, showing them what it looks like to ask for forgiveness to to say you know what I was wrong.

I need Jesus to, and I think that that that is so powerful and it is so important because if we don't do that we communicate to our children even if were not intending to is that we at least don't need forgiveness.

While I kids knows better than anyone else. They know that were sinners to they know that we need forgiveness. And so we should model for them what it looks like for us to repent now just say continue to press and there are times where it is very difficult to get everyone up and and in church and in its work, and then you get there and you're just flustered and frustrated because of the arguments in the car. Whatever it is well just being faithful taking your kids every week instilling in them that habit of hate working to go and worship God because he's been good to us because we love him but I think that over time as we do that as were consistent as were faithful we do begin to see fruit and growth. And it's not always overnight right like there's difficult Sundays there difficult Sundays for for my family minutes not always easy but we can keep pressing in and seeking the Lord and humbling ourselves and asking for forgiveness and worshiping him because he forgives us and so Ian brother. I am encouraged by your question and I think you're on the right track. You're doing the right things continue to do them. Even when it's difficult to ask for forgiveness. When you fail to get up in the keep pressing forward into the church to hear God's word to receive God's grace and to be encouraged with God's people appreciate that response.

I think we have to be careful as Christian parents that a lot of times we want our kids to respect us, but sometimes we think that if we admit failure were somehow losing their respect, but in reality I think that whole idea of being repentant, being vulnerable, being authentic with our kids is going to go a real long way toward them adopting authentic faith themselves. You're absolutely right. You want to know what the biggest problem I think is with children were being brought up in the church today.

One of the things it's driving them away is, I think that in authenticity that they see in the home with parents so it's it's being told all you need to love Jesus, you need to follow Jesus.

God is the most important thing so on and so forth. But then they don't see that in us see us loving Jesus, extending forgiveness, being gracious prioritizing worship with the people of God looks ordinarily speaking, I don't think our kids are just gonna love Jesus more than we do mean obviously right and it's a work of the Holy Spirit. We know that God is sovereign and yet at the same time God uses means and he's commanded us. He's called us as parents to lead our children well in the nurture and admonition of the Lord and when we tell them you need to do this you need to love God. Need to follow Jesus and yet we do the opposite in our own lives. What were setting them up for failure were really a me that that's I think what's so harmful is that hypocrisy that they can see that makes the whole thing disillusioning right and so we I think us as parents want to humble ourselves and say Lord help me to love you to set that genuine example for my children so that they can see that something artificial, not a show I'm putting on but the fate that you've granted to me as I seek to love you and serve you and walk in the light that's where kids need to see it as they see that. I think it's caught. It's not always taught the spirit of God working in and through those means. So I think you're right on Bill let's go to another question that came in here. Oncor Christianity. Our number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 and Doug called him from Iowa with this question, I was wondering if no matter how you know God believing you are not on plan line or whatever.

Thank you. Yeah hey Doug, thank you so much for your question. You know when we come before the Lord. I think sometimes we can think a case that is there like a no magic words that I have to use my got a pray in old King James English for God to hear me. You know the and thou in all that stuff God wants you to come before him. Doug with faith with sincerity, with confidence and to pray according to his will and just talk about about each of those God when we come before there is a right way to pray in a wrong way to pray. I think a minute. And Jesus talks about this in the preface of the stuff leading up to the Lord's prayer that he gives. He says don't pray like the hypocrites and don't pray like the Gentiles don't pray for other people to see you know you're trying to put on a show and don't pray like the Gentiles superstitiously another sort of babble on and on it and it started this mindless prayer that they're not really engaging their minds and they just think if I if I can just say the right words or if I repeat this enough times and maybe God is going to hear. And Jesus says don't pray like that many teachers his disciples there in Matthew six the Lord's personal was a one Doug if you're looking for a prayer to pray and some guidance.

Just listen to what Jesus said there are father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one but you also want to pray in faith about what James says when James talks about praying for wisdom, he says, but let that man ask in faith if we don't ask in faith, if you don't ask in faith, he can't suppose that your gonna receive anything from the Lord. Faith is so important, we come before the Lord, believing that he is and that he is the rewarder of those who diligently seek him as the author. The Hebrew said, you also want to pray sincerely not like the hypocrites. Again, I think of what the psalmist said God is near to all those who call upon him in truth.

And I think honest prayers are so important. Sometimes were afraid to pray. That way, but that's one of the reasons I love the book of Psalms is because throughout the book of Psalms, Doug, you have these honest prayers were these these worshipers of God are saying to God, where are you I don't feel you. It seems like you've abandoned me him and there are times reread some of the Psalms of lament and you think boy is it okay for someone to pray that way just seems so raw so honest sometimes even even questioning God. Well, you know what got us want pretend prayers he doesn't want us to put on a show were not acting before God, to try to get his attention to spray sincerely to the Lord and pray with confidence.

Jesus taught us to present our father who art in heaven.

When you pray, Doug.

If you're coming to God through Jesus Christ.

If you've been forgiven because you have faith in Jesus. Jesus is your mediator, your advocate before the father and through him. You've been adopted into the family of God. And so you can call the father your father we pray our father, it's a sign of intimacy that we have with God. And so we can pray confidently, not just because he's our father, but because he's our father who is in heaven. What is that mean it means he sovereign overall, it means he's all-powerful, you can pray to him because of bad and you pray according to his will.

That's the last thing that will save the is. We pray according to God's will because we know that we pray according to his will. This is what John says in first John, he hears us and working to receive those requests and so Doug come to God in faith. Sincerely, with confidence, through Jesus Christ, praying according to his will and how do you know God's will open up the word study the Scriptures. That's Kennedy with can I guide you. Thanks for your question. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez on Bill Meyer when let you know about a very special offer that features one of Our Favorite Ct., Bible studies have built minute we created a new 100 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. Each weekly lesson includes selected passages from John's Gospel reflection questions and explanations of the key lessons every Christian should know about from John's Gospel. Here's the bottom line. The study is going to help you gain a deeper understanding of the drama of Scripture, the relevant historic Christian doctrines and the key themes of John's Gospel.

So head on over to core Christianity.com/Gospel of John to get your copy of our new Bible study today.

You know, one of our longtime supporters here core Christianity received this Bible study, and he was so encouraged by it that he said we've got to get this out to more people and he actually gave us a special financial gift to do just that. Now 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 all of us here at core Christianity. So go to get your copy today@corechristianity.com/Gospel of John again. Core, Christianity.com/Gospel of John, and you can also call us for any one of our offers at 833-843-2673. That's 833.

The core another question. This one was posted on our twitter account from Jordan.

Jordan says does Ephesians chapter 2 verses eight and nine contradict Revelation chapter 22 verse 12 is Jesus returning with the reward that is something other than salvation that can be earned by our works or is the what they have done mentioned in Revelation 22 simply the act of believing in Christ.

Hey Jordan, thank you for that question and I can see how on the surface. You know might feel like a contradiction of an yup.

Ephesians 2 where Paul seems to say it's all grace.

For by grace you have been saved through faith and that not of yourself that is the gift of God not of works, lest anyone should boast were not saved by our works.

It's not what we do that justifies us it's faith in Jesus Christ is receiving that free gift, Paul talks about this in Galatians all over the place. As well, and in the book of Romans images seems like over and over. You get this and yet Paul also in places like the book of Romans heavy throughout throughout his letters talks about the fact that there is a judgment coming. There is a judgment coming. Paul is not confused on this end. Jesus is not contradicting Paul Jesus in Revelation chapter 22 verse 12 says behold I am coming soon, bringing my recompense with me to repay each one for what he has done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the first and the last, the beginning and the end and then he says this blessed are those who wash their robes so that they may have the right to the tree of life that they may enter the city by the gates.

Will you know we wash our robes and according to John in the book of Revelation we don't wash our robes in our good works.

I think they'd actually still look dirty if we tried. We wash our robes in the blood of Jesus Christ. So it isn't that were saved that we enter into heaven on the basis of our works, but through the blood of Jesus and and that's even indicated there in Revelation chapter 22 and then also in John chapter 5 when Jesus talked about the judgment he said this in John chapter 5 verse 24 truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. That is by faith in Jesus Christ right now. You have already passed from death to life. You have eternal life.

This is one of the shocking things that Jesus taught.

One of the glorious truth that we received as followers of Jesus Christ and so then the question is, what's the deal with this judgment. If idea of a recompense well the books are going to be opened and we are going to give an account still for everything that we've done. Now that doesn't mean that were not justified, or that were not saved and there is going to be it seems like, and you see this in various places of the New Testament. A reward that God gives now it's speculation to think about you what that is something that will, in order to have bigger mansions in heaven are bigger crowns with more gems or that kind of thing we don't know what that's going to look like we do know two things. One, were saved by faith and faith alone, and we enter into the gates of heaven through the blood of Jesus Christ not to what we've done and yet at the same time we know that working to give an account before the Lord and that he's going to reward us for the good things that we've done and what those rewards are going to be like well, we can speculate all day long, but we don't know entirely.

We do know their thinking to be anyone in heaven.

It feels like there left out man. I only got the one bedroom one bath heavenly mansion and I wish I would've gotten that the bigger place on you know next to the tree of life or something like no no no no no, it's not going to be like that it's going to be perfect joy, love and peace. Thanks for your question.

Your listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to get your question, you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. You can now post your question on our Instagram or Facebook accounts. Anthony posted this on Instagram. He says this past weekend my pastor read a verse out of Matthew 22. That said, for in the resurrection they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.

What does this verse mean well I no longer be married to my spouse in eternity.

If God instituted marriage for us here on earth. Why would he remove it in the afterlife.

Yeah, that's a really good question. My wife is made me promise to her that were going to be married still in the new creation and I know I said maybe I can promise you anything that was a joke. But what is interesting that tax there in the Gospel of Matthew, you raise a good question. Well, why would that be in a like why is there no more marriage in heaven.

What here's what we need to understand earthly marriage is the type of the reality in heaven.

What is the reality, the reality is the marriage that exists between Christ and the church your marriage. My marriage is the shadow of the marriage that exists between Jesus and his bride.

That's why in Ephesians chapter 5. When Paul talks about husbands and wives and marriage. She can say in verse 32 this mystery is profound, but I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. One of the beautiful things about marriage this side of heaven is that it's supposed to depict the love, the self giving sacrifice that Jesus has for his bride, the submission that the tender care. That's what our marriages should be whatever I do premarital counseling with a couple as they're preparing to get married. This is the thing that I like to focus on, especially early on, you know a lot of people think marriage is all about unity. Find someone that you be just really like her that you really love and they want to spend the rest of my life together with you. Let's let's do this while it's more than that. It's recognizing that our marriages are pictures of the gospel or they should be. Now the fact of the matter is they aren't always, we can still you know have issues and we do because were sinners and so every marriage depends on the gospel, even as it is called to be a picture of the gospel and so were receiving the grace that God has for us in marriage, clinging to the Lord and looking to him, looking to Jesus and the love that he has for his bride as our model and the submission of the church and so you ask Anthony why wouldn't there be marriage in heaven.

Why are people given in marital it's because the reality is, and have been what our marriages on earth are a picture of is ultimately realize there in the new creation, more beautiful, more filled with joy, more filled with goodness eye has not seen, nor ear heard God has prepared for those who love him and we look forward to that. Jesus through his sacrifice for us.

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