Are Miracles the Mark of a True Christian?

Are Christians today called to perform the same miracles as the disciples did in the Scriptures that is 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 up today something just for you. If you're feeling stressed by a coronavirus lockdown in your state, you're invited to let off steam by having your screams played over loudspeakers in a remote part of Iceland. Yes, this offer comes from the Icelandic tourist board which is set up a website allowing people to record themselves venting their frustration.

The results will then be played from one of seven loudspeakers set up around the country.

The campaign is inspired by primal therapy which was popular back in the 1970s as a way to attempt to tap into repressed issues and relieve stress and anxiety. Although the evidence that actually help people back that is sketchy. You might want to give this a shot.

I just feel sorry for those Icelanders who have to put up with all that screaming a drill yet. Hopefully that's not anywhere near a residential area and I have never heard of primal therapy. Bill and I know you as a counselor I mean if it one of the things you use in your own practice and no not the 1970s is that I wouldn't advise it. And yes, it's not something that is highly recompensed moderate there, but it seems like the extreme version of you know, like grabbing your pillow and screaming into the pillow heard can be cathartic for some people. I look into our first question of the day Ashley emailed us with this question. She says what book do you recommend to best start a study on the book of Revelation. Ashley, I would say what one good for you for wanting to study the book of Revelation, because I think it's one of those books that we tend to avoid in the New Testament. It's a book of the Bible that a lot of people are confused by your answer.

You have all these visions and prophecies in this language that we don't typically use and in today's day and age, referring to kingdoms and add movements in the world and whatnot and so I think a lot of Christians just avoid it. So what I want to encourage you to read it and to dig into it.

I would say as you're reading the book of Revelation, take notes, ask questions of the text in a really helpful book to read alongside of the book of Revelation. Your you're asking for resources Dennis Johnson's triumph of the Lamb is not super technical of a commentary. I think it's accessible, but it really is going to address the primary themes.

Some of the questions that are opposed by the book of Revelation at the end of the day what I love about it is it's going to help emphasize how the book of Revelation really was written as a comfort for suffering believers. How crazy a lot of people.

They don't approach the book of Revelation because they feel like it so confusing when in reality it to be a comfort to us as Christians. That's why Jesus gave this revelation to John to comfort the persecuted suffering church and so for us as believers today. I mean that there are fewer books of the Scriptures that can be more comforting to us during times of great difficulty you have all these visions throughout the book of Revelation that are kind of scary.

You know beast coming out of the sea and whatnot and pictures of world empires and and rulers, and I think one of the things that were meant to glean from the book of Revelation is that God is sovereign over all things that these kingdoms of the world that sometimes they crush the church. It seems as if they're conquering the people of God will know God is not out of control. He sovereign over all things. He sees all things, and that's one of the ways that we as the people of God are meant to be comforted from the book of rogue Revelation is a God. God is aware of the suffering that Christians experience today and he cares about us. I think about the vision that John has no closer to the beginning of Revelation receives the martyrs underneath the throne, crying out to the Lord saying how long the Lord until you avenge our blood on the earth and God response to them is a little bit longer in God hears the cries of his people. He sees the suffering that they experience and I think sometimes you're in the United States. We can feel like oh you were really suffering is best with everything going on with coronavirus, but really think about our brothers and sisters in other parts of the world and the Middle East in China where they really are experiencing suffering for their faith in Jesus Christ were called to remember them and to pray for them and to know that God is sovereign using control. He sees all things in the book of Revelation was written as a comfort for the people of God in the midst of great suffering, so Ashley dig into it. No read through the book I would encourage you to if you can. If you have a couple hours sit down and read the entire book in one sitting. That'll help you get kind of the full sense of everything going on it to get it all in its context, and then slowly going through it with the with the helpful book like Dennis Johnson's triumph of the Lamb.

I think will be real edifying for you and you listening if you've been afraid of touching the book of Revelation.

Don't be open it up and receive the comfort that Jesus has for you there in that beautiful portion of Scripture, thanks for that.

Israel you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez and if you like to post your question on her Facebook or Instagram account.

You can do that, or you can go to work twitter account as well. Anyway you want to get in touch with us.

Would love to get your question today posted this on her Facebook page. If God forgives all our sins. When we put our faith in him. What about our future sins are. They also forgiven Yahoo day we we believe. I believe that they are according to the teaching of Scripture one place that I would point you to is the book of Hebrews. In chapter 10 verses 11 through 14. The text says every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sin mount just to give you some context right there in verse 11.

The author, the Hebrews is talking about the priests under the old covenant, the Levitical priests would offer the sacrifices over and over and over again with reference to sin that he goes on to say in verse 12 but when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet. For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified the definitive miss of our forgiveness is rooted in the finality of Christ once for all sacrifice. Maybe if you're questioning this to sit down and read Hebrews chapter 10 because I think it's absolutely clear there right Christ offered this once for all sacrifice for our sins is not like the sacrifices under the old covenant could never purge the people's minds from a consciousness of sin because you're having to repeatedly offer the sacrifices every day every year you're being reminded constantly of the fact that you're lost in sin. In that sense and and that sin is not being fully and finally put away. Will those sacrifices today pointed forward to the Lamb of God, Jesus, who takes away the sin of the world by offering himself up, shedding his own blood, or having his own blood be shed for us for our sins and because this is the blood of the eternal son of God, it is forever potent.

There doesn't need to be anymore sacrifices. That's why we don't have sacrifices today you something to wonder in the Old Testament, it seems like there was all this animal sacrifice and worship, and then all of a sudden the just stop will how can we don't do that today. Under the new covenant will it's because the once for all sacrifice of Jesus by a single offering perfected for all times. Those who are being sanctified. Hebrews 1014.

So when you believe in Jesus Christ, you are justified, you are forgiven within of the sins that you commit after your having been born again and the fact of the matter is, all of a sudden, it doesn't matter how long you've been walking with the Lord. I think each one of us can confess to God every day at the beginning of the day at the end of every day.I sin against you in thought, in word the things that I say and even in the things that I do. We still sin even as believers, even as those who have been loved by Jesus and cared for and provided for. So what would we do with those sins and in our though since forgiven. Well yes because of the once for all sacrifice of Jesus. Woe to those who say, after becoming a Christian you you won't send any more minutes is crazy right at think about what John says in first John chapter 1 verses five through 10. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 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 sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, and that's were supposed to do it when we sin, we confess our sins 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 sin, we make him a liar and his word is not in us so we can hide from the fact were still good to have sin even as justified born-again believers, we confess those sins.

But when we sin, that doesn't mean that were no longer justified, or that were no longer the children of God hears what it does.

It hinders our fellowship or fellowship with God in our fellowship with the body of Christ. It gives us a sense of alienation. This this sense of discipline that we received from the Lord as his children.

If were struggling with a particular pattern of sin. We may not feel very close to the Lord that does it mean that God has abandoned us or that God is no longer our father or that we've lost our justification or something like that. No, no, sometimes. Like David said, you know that the hand of the Lord is heavy upon us and and that's a grace of God. He's leading us to repentance. He showing us that our sin is never going to satisfy us that we need to turn from it that we need to laid aside and that's what the author the Hebrews goes on to say in Hebrews chapter 12 setting aside laying aside every weight in the sin that so easily ensnares us.

Let us look to Jesus, so that we rest in the in the once for all offering of Jesus Christ for our sins and were justified were saved because of that offering. We don't have to get re-forgiven over and over again re-justify no were forgiven. We walk in the light in order to have fellowship with God and with the people of God federal that's one of the most beautiful things about the Christian gospel.

We are justified, and that our salvation is guaranteed. I can think of some other world religions that I've experienced in my travels to different parts of the world where there are people just on a daily basis. Trying to be forgiven again or hold that they've done enough that their God will allow them into heaven or not come back as a male, or whatever it might be had for as we have this amazing promise, yet definitely don't want to come back as a snail bill that would be terrible, but what I will say I think you're totally right. And here's the sad thing you know it's not just another religions that people are struggling with this. It's kind of our own band. Naturally we want to be justified by our works that we we just fall back into that we can hear about the grace of God, the love of Jesus Christ. The free forgiveness of sins, but I think even for believers. It's easy to fall back into that right of works righteousness will we think that our acceptance by the Lord comes from what we do and then if we fail we think okay well now I have to re-earn my salvation or do something with only not say it like that. But isn't that what we often do in terms of how we act feeling I can come before the Lord because I failed in this way we fall back into those patterns and so it's so important not just for people outside of the Christian church but for believers, walking with Jesus to be aware of the fact that this is our natural inclination to serve works righteousness, and the gospel does away with that gospel says God loves you. Not because of what you've done, but because he's he's good he's righteous and he forgives your sins not on the basis of works done in righteousness on the basis of his mercy receive that rest in that and embrace that the love, joy and peace that you can have through Jesus Christ and from that place serve the Lord in righteousness and protect pursue obedience to his law by man you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. I'm Bill Meyer and today we are offering our new 100 page softcover workbook for the gospel of John and Indra, can you explain why this is such a helpful study for believers yeah well it does a lot of the heavy lifting for you me it takes the deep truth of John's Gospel drops them right in your lap so that you can start living in light of those truths today. A lot of us want only read the Bible we don't always know how to make it happen.

Each of the weekly lessons during the study looks at a specific passage highlights key themes and probes your heart with reflection questions come away with a better understanding of not just the gospel of John, but the entire story of the Scriptures, the drama of the Bible. This gospel is one of my favorite books and all of the Bible in this study is a fantastic guide that will engage you from start to finish. That's why you should get a hold of it had over to core Christianity.com/Gospel of John to get your copy of our new Bible study today. By the way, one of our longtime supporters who are core Christianity even made a special donation so that any of our listeners can get this workbook for free. That's right, we are giving away our Gospel of John study workbook for free to take advantage of this special gift from us here at core Christianity just head over to core Christianity.com/Gospel of John and get your copy today. You can also give us a call for any one of our offers at 833-843-2673. That's 833, the court enrolled schedule another question. This one came from Zach. He emailed us and said my question is about.

Matthew 1119 it says the Pharisees called Jesus a glutton and a drunkard. So did Jesus actually get drunk because why would someone call someone else a drunkard if he didn't drink alcohol just to be clear on the Christian of my faith and hope are in Jesus, I'm just asking that from a secular point of view. Okay Zach will be out of the text says the Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say look at him, a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners. Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds and note that Jesus doesn't say the Son of Man too much and drank too much and they say look at him.

But Jesus ate food in it and he drank wine but he didn't abuse either. He was sinless. Think about it over and over again.

You have these repeated warnings in Scripture not to abuse food or alcohol. The fact of the matter is in our culture, we struggle with both.

Don't we. There people who abuse food me think about obesity, heart disease in the United States and throughout the world. And this is a serious thing is one of those sins that we oftentimes don't talk about a lack of self-control not just with things like alcohol but also with things like food. It's one of the things we need to confess to the Lord and said God be merciful to me. Forgive me any one of the fruits of the spirit is self control. And so it's not that Jesus got drunk Zach. He can drink wine and eat food without being a glutton or a drunkard and and I think Chris yesterday can do the same.

The warning throughout Scripture is not to abuse those things not to get drunk with wine is precisely what the apostle Paul says in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 18 do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery. But here's were called to be filled with the spirit. How does that look addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. The Christian life does not look like a life of drunkenness the life of gluttony were called to certainly not those are sins that need to be confessed and repented of were called to be filled with under the influence of Vanessa.

What happens when you get drunk. By the way, your under the influence of alcohol and it changes your behavior the way that you act the way that you think were called to be under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

The spirit guide you and your behavior.

Your speech speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord with the Scriptures call us to know that doesn't mean that alcohol or food are inherently evil in and of themselves with the fact of the matter is, as I've already said they can be abused. Jesus, however, never abuse them. He was perfect. He succeeded and was righteous in all the places that humans so often fail so that we could turn to him when we have failed and say oh you perfect one. Jesus, who was never a glutton, never drunk, have mercy upon me, forgive me for my lack of self-control.

Help me oh Lord Jesus to follow you faithfully forgive my sins and he's good Zach.

He does forgive us. He is the perfect one the righteous one, the good one and he calls us to follow him.

Thanks for your question.

Thanks, Zach. We appreciate so much for getting in touch with us. This is core Christianity and we are listener supported. If you believe in our mission. We would love to hear from you and if you would prayerfully consider making a gift. We would love that. Let's go to our phone lines. Dennis called in from Oklahoma with this question. Wrote a column about the right are all perform a miracle. Her descriptors okay so are we called as the disciples of Jesus to preach the word to raise the dead to do all of these miracles will, I think we have to be really careful here, but in one sense brother.

We are called to testify.

If the goodness of God are all called to be witnesses lights in the world sharing the love of Jesus with others know not everyone is a teacher in the same sense. This is just obvious from what the New Testament teaches because first Timothy three Titus one talks about ordained officers, elders, pastors in the church were called specifically to teach and to represent God in a unique way. This is why James chapter 3 verse one says let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment. So you have within the church.

This sort of teaching office that is unique that not everyone participates in a report fulfills. It is not not how it's meant to be but yet all of us are called in another sense to teach each other to encourage each other to speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs as I just said so there is a distinction there.

And as far as the miracles are concerned, there is a dangerous theology out there that tells Christians that they ought to be performing miracles they think why is that dangerous art miracles a good thing.

While it's dangerous because a guy give you a few reasons. One. It assumes that everyone is essentially an apostle were signs that were associated with the apostles in the first century these signs and wonders, you know that healing the sick, raising the dead those kinds of things and they were the marks of the apostles, but not everyone is as an apostle, the same way that not everyone is called to be up pastor or teacher in the church pulses very clearly in first Corinthians chapter 12 that were gifted in different ways and not everyone has the same gifts and so if were assuming that everyone is to be performing miracles were already contradicting what Paul himself says in places like first Corinthians chapter 12.

Not everyone is an apostle. That's one of the theological biblical problems with this view to. It assumes that the work of the spirit is always primarily extraordinary and it neglects the ordinary means of grace whereby the spirit of God is working in our churches and in our lives today.

I just taught a new members classes last week for our church were talking about this. You know that was a question asked by one of the one of the people taking the members must we think about the gifts of the Holy Spirit in your church and are they for today that but I guess that that the separate question but I thought look our focus is not on those miraculous things. It's on the ways in which Jesus's promise to spirit to work right now in our midst of the preaching of the word through things like baptism and the Lord's supper. The spirit of God is at work in and through those things. And when we fail to recognize that were looking for the spirit to do all these miracles in and to healing and were assuming expecting that that's supposed to be the ordinary Christian life.

We are going to be so disappointed and burned out.

Frankly, if we if we keep trying to pursue that because at the end of the day were to realize that this is just not how God ordinarily works and what happens and what so dangerous and in many churches as people begin to try to conjure up these things and it becomes a show what God can do whatever he wants. God can heal today that's that's his prerogative, but I know were God's promise to work his promise to work every time. Through his word to the faithful preaching of his word.

That's where we need to focus that we need to ground people in the Scriptures so I am concerned about the fact that there are churches that overemphasize these things that make it seem like these miraculous gifts. The signs and wonders were the marks of the apostles are supposed to be the ordinary experience of believers today know that crushes the faith of so many people for so many reasons. One, because it they quickly realize that's not their experience. But to because often they're told that the reason they're not experiencing those things because they don't have enough faith that is horrible that is false teaching. It's a bad theology of suffering sort of idea of the triumphant Christian life. We talked about wine a little bit earlier. Paul told Timothy to drink a little bit of wine because of his frequent stomach ailments. He didn't say they may don't have enough faith to be healed. Timothy, you have a problem. No no no no, God is working through the preaching of the word through these wonderful means of grace that he gives to us. That's where we focus and so Dennis if you feel like as you study the Scriptures and as you see Jesus throughout the pages of the Bible for you know that the spirit is at work in your life and the rest in that wonderful work of the spirit. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

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