What Happens If I Die Before I Am Baptized?

What happens if I die before I'm baptized.

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 court, 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 after Chris Evans plays the part of Capt. America in the Marvel movies. Chris was so moved by the story of a boy saving his younger sister from a dog attack that the actor reached out with a message and a gift.

Here's the story the and of six-year-old Bridger Walker of Cheyenne, Wyoming posted the story of how the boy saved his sister from a dog attack and was seriously injured in the process. The captain America actor saw the story and responded in a video message. Chris said how your hero what you did was so brave. So selfless your sister is so lucky to have you as a big brother. Your parents must be so proud of you. He also told the boy he was sending him an authentic Capt. America shield from one hero to another. Hey that's so cool Bill yeah I mean talk about a real hero. I heard that story to about that little boy who I mean basically saved his sister's life with that dog coming at her and and I just a remarkable story of courage evening in someone so young, I thought that was so cool. I know I saw that as well and drink that little guy with his recovery because he was seriously bitten by that by the dog will schedule our first question of the day.

Liam posted this on our twitter account and he says in Matthew chapter 12 Jesus said that an evil and unfaithful generation asked for signs but in the previous chapter. When John the Baptist doubted Jesus was the Christ, why did Jesus point to his miraculous works and why would he perform so many miracles. If only the wicked and faithless desired them alien. Yeah, I guess it could look like a contradiction right there in Matthew 11 and then in Matthew 12, but it really the focus here is who is Jesus speaking to, and what is the heart behind the question that they're asking so in Matthew chapter 12 you have Jesus speaking to the Pharisees verse 30 it says in some of the scribes and the Pharisees answered him saying teacher we wish to see a sign from you but he answered them an evil and adulterous generation seeks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. Now right there. He speaking of the resurrection from the dead. He goes on for just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so will the Son of Man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth, the man of Nineveh will rise up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it, for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and behold, something greater than Jonah is here. In other words, the Pharisees had these signs before they were going to see and experience the power of the resurrection they heard the preaching of Jesus and yet they would not repent that the people of Nineveh repented when Jonah went and preached to them they didn't have all those same signs that Jesus demonstrated their and yet they repented. Jesus is really rebuking the Pharisees here that if you go to the previous chapter in Matthew chapter 11, where you have John the Baptist asking sort of a similar question in chapter 11 verse one it says. When Jesus had finished instructing his 12 disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in their cities.

Now when John heard in prison about the deeds of Christ. He sent word by his disciples and said to them, are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another and Jesus answered them, go and tell John what you hear and see the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear and the dead are raised up and the poor have the good news preached to them, and blessed is the one who is not offended by me know what you need understand, especially right there is Matthew 11.

Five is that Jesus is alluding to, referring back to these prophecies that you have throughout the book of Isaiah that the messianic age were God's ruler was going to come, the blind were going to have their eyes opened that the lame Morgan to leap the good news the gospel was going to be preached to the poor.

You see this in places like Isaiah 29, 18, and following. Isaiah 30 554 Isaiah 61 verse one that we just read what that one says the spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort those who mourn, so interesting right there you can sort of understand why John the Baptist is so confused to be sure you have this promise of of the messianic ruler King coming proclaiming liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound where is John the Baptist as he's asking this question.

He's in prison see the Pharisees their testing Jesus missing Jesus you will believe if you do this or that in Jesus that already done so many things and said so many things and he was gonna rise again from the dead. The reality is they they're not going to believe they're just trying to test Jesus a lot of people today do the very same thing I do know if you've ever heard someone say to you, or maybe you've said this yourself. I would believe in God if he just revealed himself to me if he just did this that or the other, then I would believe in him will be careful if that's kind of your your stance, you probably wouldn't. You might be testing the Lord because the fact of the matter is that God has already given a sufficient evidence.

Romans chapter 1 says that the whole world knows that God is the creator. In one sense, just by virtue of the magnificence. The beauty of the created order all around us. We know that he's the king that he's the creator and yet we suppress that knowledge in unrighteousness and here, the Pharisees have Jesus revealing himself not only as the great Lord of creation.

But as the Redeemer of the people of God, delivering people from demons, forgiving people's sins. And yet there testing him, rejecting him that's very different than what John the Baptist is doing and in Matthew chapter 11.

John the Baptist is a child of God in the middle of a very sticky situation he's in prison and he's having doubts you know it. Sometimes you might as well you can be a genuine Christian, a genuine follower of Jesus and because of circumstances because of difficulties in life sometimes wonder Jesus what's going on and I think that's what's happening with John the Baptist is saying are are you the one who was to come, or should I look for another, I'm still in prison.

Here in what is Jesus do. He points him back to the word again. He quotes from places like the prophet Isaiah.

This is who I am. I am the Messiah. I am healing the sick, opening the eyes of the blind proclaiming liberty to the captives, not wasn't the kind of liberty that John the Baptist maybe was anticipating. This is a liberty from sin, death and Satan. Jesus basically reminds John the Baptist of the gospel and in the middle of the sticky situations. That's what we need to be reminded of. As well, so the Pharisees are testing Jesus Liam John the Baptist is a child of God, whose wonder you got these doubts. He's not trying to test Jesus. He's afraid you know what that man can happen to us to we go to Jesus and and then we look to the word and we rest in what God has said what Jesus is said and that's exactly what he calls John the Baptist to do when and thank you so much for your question.

We appreciate you contacting us. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and here's the number to call if you have a question it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

By the way, you can also record your question on our website.

If you go to core Christianity.com/radio will feel a microphone icon on the side of the page. There you can click on that and record your question right there. Kami called us from Nebraska with this question. I do have a question in a different religion as far as going out to find a church to find one that fits what we believe is there a doctrine or something that the churches have that we could call or check online to see if they steadier believe in the same way we do. Thank you. Stay Kami thank you for that question is such an important one, because we need to be in good churches and the churches or churches that are faithful to the Scriptures that are preaching the Bible so I will say one when a certain baseline thing that that is so important is is the church that you're a part of teaching Scripture maybe got somebody getting up there and just sharing about their own personal experience and and in a couple jokes sprinkled and maybe some Bible verses for further encouragement and that's I think that's the wrong approach.

We want to grow deeper in our understanding of the word of God and stuff you think about what Paul told Timothy in second Timothy chapter 4 preach the word I would say but that's one of the first things you need to ask is, is the church that I'm going to preaching the word. And I've noticed in recent days that a lot of churches are kinda shy about what they believe more and more churches are are aren't even putting a statement of faith on their on their website. I do know part of that is just this the sort of progressive postmodern society that we live in world we don't want to you know hold that dogmatic truther or what it is but the fact of the matter is we should as churches.

Be transparent about the truth that we believe and confess because we believe that those truth or what are going to change people's lives and so if you're going to a church. It should be the case that it's easy to see what it is that they believe that their open about that because think they're proud of it, would believe the gospel. The truth of God's word. One of the things that we be sometimes refer to Kami in terms of looking for good church are the marks of the church of the marks of the church is how you find a true church. If you will you is are they preaching the word of God.

The truth of the gospel. Faithfully, the preaching of the word.

That's key because if there's no preaching. There's no church but the church is formed by created by the preaching of the word of God, you think about what Paul said in Romans chapter 10. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word. People are said pastors, missionaries are sent to preach the gospel and as that word is going out. God begins to create faith in our hearts to create the church out of nothing.

If you will, through his holy word in the preaching of the word, but you also have… This is important Kami the right worship of God.

The administration of the ordinances that Jesus gave to the church baptism and the Lord's supper. These are things that Jesus left for us as believers to follow after. And so if you have a church that that isn't doing those things will there's a serious problem. Here's another mark of the church discipline church discipline. A lot of churches just don't do church discipline today that doesn't just mean you know Matthew 18 and going to the process of something like excommunication but it's just that that building up in the faith that every day encouragement that we received from the body of Christ through the preaching of the word through the oversight of pastors and elders who are deigned like Paul talked about in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1, and so as were looking for a church. We want to keep in our mind those marks of the church front and center is the word of God being preached. Are we worshiping Jesus like he commanded in his word need the ordinances are they being administered here. Is there discipline is there oversight, pastors, elders, those kinds of things that is so important.

So often when were looking for churches Kami when people are looking for churches today are not focused on that.

What's the church believe one of a teaching it's it's very much a look at a program so they have it and is it entertaining do I enjoy being there because they have a great music program or what I will those things are the things are insignificant but the main thing is is the gospel being faithfully preached in a church that doesn't have a high view of God's word is in the church worth going to. And sometimes you might have to do a little bit more digging to determine whether or not that's the case in any given church because churches are being transparent. I think if that's the case, that would be a red flag in my mind.

Kami, I know that there's also some resources over core, Christianity.com on how to find a good church rectory check this out. And of course if you go to the website for aid rules. Church will find out exactly what they believed. That's right yes 408 pages of the date that no just joking you know I I'd I do think one of the things Bill, it's helpful because it keeps us as pastors accountable to. If somebody came to me is that hey you're not, you claim to believe this but now your teaching something different will that hold me accountable be tripping transparent about our beliefs.

This is a safeguard for pastors for teachers but also for the church so that they know exactly what they're going to get when they show up in your listing the core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. I'm Bill Meyer and today we are offering our new 100 page softcover workbook for the gospel of John and Pedro, can you explain what makes this study so special that will bill you and I think a lot of people want to read their Bibles and find wisdom for how to live. They have a hard time knowing where to start or they get bogged down in the process with the gospel of John Bible workbook will have a reliable guide that engages you from start to finish each weekly lesson includes selected passages from John's Gospel reflection questions and explanations of the key lessons every Christian should know about the gospel of John. This study will help you gain a deeper understanding of what the Scriptures teach the relevant historic Christian doctrines that churches should believe and hold you and the key themes throughout the gospel of John, so you're gonna want to check this resource out head over core, Christianity.com/gospel of John your copy of our new Bible study today.

By the way, one of our longtime supporters here core Christianity was so encouraged by this Bible study that he gave us a special gift. He said you've got to get this out to more people. So if this is your very first time requesting a resource from us.

We want to give you the gospel of John study workbook for free to take advantage of the special gift from us here core Christianity by heading over to core Christianity.com/gospel of John and get your copy today and for help getting any of our resources. You can also call us at 833-843-2673. That's 833.

The core let's go to another question. This one came in from Alan who posted on our website and he says I have a question about baptism I'm saved as are my children. But we've never been baptized. I'm currently looking for a church to call home, so I'm not really sure where to go for this. What happens if I die before I baptized. Also, are there rules on exactly who can baptize you. Hey Alan, thank you for that question.

Well I guess I would start by saying were saved by faith in Jesus Christ. Now that faith can can happen if you have faith in Jesus prior to your baptism effect for adultery.

This is what you see in the New Testament.

People would believe, and then they would be baptized when it was somebody in my church comes to faith or when when somebody joins the church and they've never been baptized, they typically believe prior to being baptized right and and so that we get them baptized so I think it's unhelpful to think of it is like okay I believe I'm saved now I have to complete my salvation by being baptized. Or maybe I believe I'm not really saving so I need to be baptized in order to truly finally be saved. Something like that. And yet at the same time than in this get that kind of in the previous question talking about the marks of the church. I know right now that baptism is just not emphasized in a lot of churches, or if it is it's almost like this thing where it's it's for having baptisms because we want to show as a church that were having. Baptism is baptism Sunday and were to set up the cameras in the in the video and all that stuff and it becomes a theatrical production. Baptism is a holy ordinance given to us by Jesus Christ. It's a sign of our union with him in his death and resurrection, and its commanded by Jesus in Matthew 28 all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Jesus said verse 19 go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.

Baptism is really the first part of Christian discipleship and I think it's a shame that in so many churches will have people who have come to faith would been walking with the Lord.

For years, even teaching Bible study classes and yet baptism is just sort of overlooked is this picture this visible picture of our union with Jesus Christ and our being in grafted into the body of Christ.

And so, Alan, I would say you need to be in a good church and you need to be baptized and I talked to a lot of Christians who they're kind of embarrassed to help getting baptize because they've been walking with the Lord for so many years and they just think, oh boy, you know people are people that think now I'm doing that is what you do it because Christ calls you to it.

It's not just something that you're doing actually first and foremost, it's a promise of God to his people.

God is the baptizer. He's the one that washes us. He's the one that cleanses us. He's the one that unites us to his son Jesus by faith and he extends these gifts to us.

Baptism is a gift for you, Alan, and for your family of God's goodwill towards you. In the gospel visibly depicted conveyed, it's a means of grace and so I was Satan you need to be baptized, and in of the second part of your question there. Note, are there rules on who exactly can baptize you well if you need to be baptized in the church by a pastor or a minister that I know that there are a lot of people right now who are listening to think, wait a minute, did you say I have to be baptized by a pastor was baptized by my cousin in the bay by my friend at the pool or something like that. Today, I think, and in a lot of churches we just produced in the baptism, the Lord's supper that anybody can do that so I want you to think about this for a second, why, why is it that it's important that this is done in the church by a pastor by a minister in and by the way, I'm not saying that if you were baptized in another way that that was necessarily wrong or that that was not a legitimate baptism to me. Actually I think we have to think about each case in particular not want to get bogged down with that right now but ordinarily speaking I think in the New Testament.

Baptism was something that was done by these ministers. These people who were called to preach and teach the word of God and not everyone is called to preach and teach the word of God in the same way you think about what James said in James chapter 3 let not many of you become teachers brothers knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment. Paul makes it absolutely clear in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 that you have these officers in the church elders called to teach called to hold fast to Wingard the deposit of faith. What is that deposit is the preaching of the word and what is baptism is the visible gospel. It's a visible word to us from God. Same with with the Lord's supper and Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 4 verse one that we are stewards of the mysteries of God.

It's the job of the officers in the church to steward these ministries and to administer them in in the life of the church and I think we've done today is we've severed the gifts of God like baptism and the Lord's supper from the church so that it would. We made them these sort of individualistic things I and I'm not even a part of a church. I just went and got baptized by my cousin at the beach or something like that on the these kinds of things ordinarily ought to happen through the ministry of the church.

Alan and so again, getting a good church, a church that has those marks the word of God is being faithfully taught. These ordinances are being administered and valued.

There's discipline there's care for the people there you need it.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez in it or we have time for one last question. This was an email came in from TJ. TJ says I recently heard a sermon on justification and it mentioned the active obedience of Christ. I hadn't heard that term.

But one of my friends that it wasn't biblical but part of a man-made theology. Is there any biblical or historical evidence for this teaching, yeah TJ, thanks, and we got up real big question here for the last one will what is justification.

It's an act of God's free grace whereby this is what he does, he pardons all of our sins and accepts us as righteous in his sight only because of the righteousness of Jesus that's given to us imputed to us and received by faith alone in Galatians chapter 4 verse four says that Jesus was born under the law. He came and perfectly fulfilled the requirements of God's holy law in a way that we never could you get the sense actually throughout the Scriptures that Jesus is doing what Israel throughout the Old Testament didn't do. Jesus is obeying God's law perfectly in this life of obedience to fulfilling the righteous requirements of the law is what were talking about when we refer to the active obedience of Jesus Christ is the fact TJ that Jesus lived the perfect life so that we might be not only forgiven but given that righteous life live so that we could stand before God's judgment seat and be accepted justified because the fact of the matter is, none of us is perfect and you ask, is there biblical evidence for this one verse that I would point to is Romans chapter 5 verses 18 and 19. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, so by one man's obedience the many will be made righteous. 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 court when you contact us. Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together