Should I Question My Salvation If I Keep Repeating the Same Sin?

A visiting preacher at her church said that if we continue committing the same sin over and over again that our salvation should be in question. Is that true 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. If you have a question you can call us right now at 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 and as always you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com you can also post a question on our Instagram or Facebook accounts. We have a good news story for you an 11-year-old boy in England is being celebrated as a hero after he jumped into the harbor near his home to save a toddler from drowning. Eli Harrison had gone down to the beach and states England with his parents and two siblings earlier this month, as the family was walking toward the peer Eli noticed a small boy floating approximately 30 feet from the shore without hesitating, he dove into the water maneuvering around several small fishing boats to rescue the toddler although the little guy had swallowed some water. He made a full recovery. I just these stories about young people are so many bad things about youth around the world these days, but there's just so many redeeming stories like this one yet, get free live album. Thinking back in the other story that you shared. Not too long ago about the little boy who dove in the way of a dog coming to attack a sister. I mean I just really need examples of bravery, even at a very young age courage. So thanks that's that's really awesome good for Eli.

Let's get to our first question of the day and see all posted this on our Facebook page and he says what is the second death talked about in Revelation. If there is a second death would it follow that there is a first death and her first resurrection. How can this be explained yeah your you're talking about. Revelation chapter 20 actually in the same place. John talks about the second death. Of course John is the author of the book of Revelation that same context. We talked about the second death. He talks about the first resurrection as well go first.

What is the second death. While the first death for the nonbeliever refers to physical death. The second death refers to their internal state at the final judgment when the when the ungodly are raised there there raised unto the second death is the divine judgment so Revelation chapter 20 verses 14 and 15 says this then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire and if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire into the lake of fire synonymous with the second death. In Revelation chapter 20 earlier, John mentions the first resurrection look back at verses 4 to 6. John said this, then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection. Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and they will reign with him for a thousand years now. The two best ways I think that to take the first resurrection are that it refers one to regeneration of the words when someone becomes a Christian they are filled with the Holy Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ for, and this actually is is my preference.

This idea that the first resurrection refers to death for the believer.

That is when a Christian dies. It's coming to life if you will. It it it's referred to as the first resurrection now you have to understand that death for the believer has been transformed by Jesus's death and resurrection.

This is actually something it's very clear from what Jesus says in the Gospel of John Redwood, Jesus told Lazarus his sister in John chapter 11 verse 26. Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.

Do you believe this, I think about that for for moment. How can Jesus make that statement made me wonder about that that verse before John 1126 you for Jesus to say the one who believes in me will never die.

Will the fact of the matter is, no every Christian who is lived from the death and resurrection of Jesus until now, has experienced physical death. And so what can Jesus be referring to their well for the believer death has been transformed is not this judgment anymore if you will. It's a it's coming to life is the first resurrection it's entering into the presence of the Lord to reign with Jesus Christ. So here's a big take away for you. If you're Christian death is in a judgment on you anymore. It's in entering into life. But if you don't belong to Christ. Your physical death is the precursor to the second death. The second death is that lake of fire judgment.

The first resurrection for believers in Jesus Christ is when we die and enter into the presence of the Lord awaiting the final resurrection. The resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come. Thanks.

I definitely don't want to go to that lake of fire thing that you know now I'm in there someplace you want to visit, and there are others, not so much, and definitely the lake of fire is the what you don't want to build this score cursed yesterday with Pastor Israel Sanchez and let's go to a call that came in from Mica in New York City in order to where do you think item warrior when he was being thank you very much Micah But you know that's a really good questions are to speculate about this, but Scripture does make it absolutely clear that he was held responsible for the sin he might've said it was the woman you gave me Lord with the truth is he was not helping to protect Eve from the serpent now. Who knows what he was doing better know what was happening in that moment, but I think what's being highlighted here is Adam's failure. Obviously, through Adam, you have original sin, so we inherit guilt corruption. From what Adam did was white when Scripture talks about us being born in Adam it talks about the corruption the debt that came as a result of that you think of the text like Romans chapter 5, but really what that should point us to is Jesus and the new abdomen actually Romans chapter 5 Jesus is set up side-by-side with the old Adam the Adam, through whom death came and he is portrayed as this new Adam, in whom we have righteousness, forgiveness and eternal life, and that's one of the amazing things about Jesus that I think we all have to understand in Romans five and first Corinthians 15 Jesus described as the second Adam. He's the one who came to do what the first Adam failed at namely obeying God protecting his bride's saving her from the serpent that's precisely what Jesus did. He protected his bride. He redeemed her protected her from the serpent and who is the bride of Jesus Christ. It's the church, the body of Christ is and what it what a wonderful hope that we have where in the true Adam, the second Adam, who doesn't leave his bride at the mercy of the serpent.

No, Jesus crushed the head of the serpent. And that's precisely the promise that we have in Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 so I don't know Mike aware you know where Adam was or what exactly he was doing when Eve was having that conversation with the serpent in the early chapters of Genesis. I do know that he was sitting he was responsible for the fall and I know that the hope that we have is in Jesus who came to reverse the works of the first Adam, so that in him we might have life and protection from the serpent so thanks for your question.

Your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez I Bill Meyer and we often receive questions about heaven on this program and we actually have a great resource on that topic.

We want to make available to you today yeah I know. Especially, you know, after we talked about the lake of fire in the second death and all that that it might be good for you to spend some time thinking about heaven is that we have this wonderful resource over core, Christianity.com called seven things you need to know about heaven really one of the greatest topics a Christian can think about is our eternal life with Jesus Christ. Unfortunately, though, there's a lot of confusion today about what heaven will be like and that's why we made this resource you can have a biblical view of heaven. So head over to core Christianity.com/offers to download seven things you need to know about heaven. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any one of our offers again the number is 833. The core federal here's a question that came in by email from Donna and it's a tough one. She says if a mother committed sexual sins. While her child was growing up and later repents will those consequences still have an effect on her adult daughter now David was forgiven, but none of his children went to heaven. According to the Bible.

Was it because of the consequences of his sin of murder and adultery.

While your question reminds me of a story that we find in the Gospel of John.

In John chapter 9 start reading in verse one it says as he passed by, he saw a man blind from birth. This is Jesus and Jesus's disciples asked him, Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents that he was born blind and Jesus answered it was not that this man sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be displayed in him. We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day night is coming when no one can work as long as I am in the world I am the light of the world. Having said these things, he spit on the ground and made mud with the saliva that he anointed the man's eyes with the mud and said to him, go wash in the pool of Siloam which means sent and he went and washed and came back seeing what an interesting question it. And that's really you know what were tempted to think immediately when something bad happens to us to our loved ones to our children immediately right. This is huge temptation to blame ourselves for the bad things that happen even in our children's lives. I'm not saying that you know we need to avoid taking responsibility for what we do, how we parent for our own sins, but we also have to be careful, we can choose our sins, but we can't choose our consequences but we shouldn't just assume that every bad thing that happens every sickness we experience is the consequence of some sin. Rather than try to figure out the why behind certain events may be something difficult that your children are facing, you need to do a few things Donna one rest in the fact that when you confess your sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive you and cleanse you from all unrighteousness is what John says in first John chapter 1 verse nine, a year forgiven if you're in Jesus Christ, Donna, and I think that is so important because we can walk in this sort of sense of.

I just feel so crushed by my sins still where we were. We thought of walk through the Christian life. Even though we might say yeah I know I'm forgiven, we think to ourselves.

God is just to holding all of this against me. He just waiting to to crush me, waiting till I fail one more time so that he can completely disown you will. That's not how the Lord is God is merciful and we go to him.

We confess our sins.

He forgives us he cleanses us number two recognize that the ultimate consequence for your sin Kirsten death was borne by Jesus Christ on the cross. This is why we can receive forgiveness now death. Like I said in in the answer the first question related to the fact that rabbit that has been transformed for the believer so that even death for us is different now as believers in Jesus Christ, our sins deserve death of God is so merciful to us, even when were chastised.

God is gracious because that the reality is we deserve death because of our sins. Number three. Recognize that God can even be glorified.

Despite what we perceive as bad of me think again about that text in John chapter 19 why was this man born blind and Jesus said that the glory of God might be revealed in the hymns that the works of God might be put on display. I don't know you don't know you can't know for sure why certain things happen and and rather than like I said try and you know rack your brain about it. Is this happening because of some sin that I did a long time ago no rest in the forgiveness of Jesus cling to him and no that God is able to make all things work together for the good of those who love him. Like Paul says in Romans chapter 8, not just one of the things Donna you said you brought up King David and you said I know that none of his children were saved or went to heaven. According to the Bible. I don't think that we actually do know that mean that the Scripture doesn't clearly say one way or another we do know that some of David's children did fall into grievous sin we don't know what happened after that is, I think we want to be careful. Yes, there were consequences to David's sin with Bathsheba but the Lord was still merciful to him and the Lord continued to pour out his blessings upon David and so sister I I pray for you and and maybe Bill. We can pray for Donna right now because it sounds which is really struggling with this and let's pray father we know how easy it is to grow discouraged and more to look at the circumstances in our lives. And just to assume this is because of my failure. This is because of my sin, Lord, and sometimes sometimes it is the case, Lord, and you promised that because you love us, you will discipline us, and yet Lord, you are not a harsh father or cruel father and you say in your word that you delight in giving good gifts to your children that when we ask for bread. You don't give us the scorpion Lord, and I pray for Don, it would help her to know that you are good that in Christ you forgive all of her sins and whatever it is that she's going through or her children are going through board.

I pray that you would raise them up.

I pray that through the circumstances you would be glorified. You would draw near to them and you would bless the Lord and be with them in and ultimately Lord give them a sense of your forgiveness, your love and your presence in Jesus name, amen man you're listening to core Christianity so nice to have you along.

By the way, we are listener supported.

If you listen to this program on a regular basis and you feel that God might be prompting you to make a donation, we would certainly appreciate that was go to a question that came in from Aaron on our website.

Aaron says a visiting preacher said in his sermon that if we continue committing the same sin over and over again. Our salvation should be in question. This struck me as being wrong biblically, but I couldn't come up with a specific passage of Scripture as to why was this person correct in telling us this. Thank you for that question. I was struck not too long ago as I was preaching through the book of Galatians by the fact that Paul had to rebuke Peter for what he identifies as Peter not walking in step with the gospel.

In other words, the implications of the gospel.

The truth of what God has done for us in Christ. They were being denied anyone since the gospel was even being denied by Peter insofar as he was unwilling to embrace those implications of the gospel left it in the context of the book of Galatians. The problem was.

Peter was unwilling to eat with Gentile believers for fear of what Jewish quote unquote believers would think of him. It was it was really the fear of man that Peter was struggling with and it opened my mind about that is you remember another time and in the New Testament were Peter struggled with the fear of man about during Jesus's crucifixion when Jesus is been crucified, Peter was confronted by that the servant girl and Peter denied Jesus he Kirsten said I don't know him.

Jesus had to restore Peter in a remember Leno at the end of the gospel of John, Jesus be so awesome.

He cooked breakfast for Peter basically asked him three times. Peter do you love me. He restores Peter after Peter died in three times Jesus restored him and will blew my mind is here you are. Years later for Peter having this conversation with Paul where essentially he struggling once again with the fear of man will look Aaron, if Peter the rock can struggle with the same thing for years even after he's sat in the presence of Jesus.

Even after Jesus cooked them breakfast on the beach and restored him.

If Peter can still years later struggle with the fear of man and who are we to think that the were not in a struggle in the Christian life and sometimes even with the same sins. I think pastors have to be really careful when when they say things like that you know there are a lot of I feel like ministries that the focus of their ministry is trying to convince people that they're actually not saved like getting that the doubt their salvation. What we want to do is is focus people not on themselves but on Jesus because the fact of the matter is if you look to yourself. You might question whether your see him. It's easy to look within and say I see still so much sin, even though I hate my sin.

I struggle and that's what we have to look outside of ourselves. That's what we have to look to Jesus and that's why our only hope ultimately is not in how well we've done this week or over the last year, but in Jesus is perfect obedience.

We cling to Christ we're going to struggle in the Christian life.

That doesn't mean that sanctification is in a real thing of the spirit of God is and in us working in us renewing us, but it is a slow process and sometimes a very painful process and it takes time, a lot of time, and so Aaron, you and I would just be sensitive to those who are struggling and they hate their sin. They hate their sin because they they know their Savior and they love him but like Paul in Romans chapter 7.

They can say wretched man that I am who will deliver me from this body of death, they still feel that battle between the flesh and the spirit are there people who are self deceived the there are people out there who you know they fed the quote on quote sinners prayer. I asked Jesus into my heart.

Years ago, and yet they have no relationship with the Lord. They don't truly believe on Jesus Christ. They live for themselves. There a part of a church stated that could care less about God and his word, but they tell themselves and I got my fire insurance. I asked Jesus into my heart.

I think I'm good, that's foolish, but I think for those who are concerned and worried about their salvation because they feel like a struggle there crying to the Lord in their sin. God be merciful to me because they know the depth of their state and while they want to walk with Jesus. They feel like they keep on stumbling well to that person.

I would say away from yourself. Look up to Christ and rest not in your own faithfulness. But in the faithfulness of Jesus. This is core Christianity, we have time for one last question made real. This one came through our website from Nahum.

He says when it comes to fighting addictions. What role does or will power play in our restoration doesn't play a role or is the work all God's.

And I think about what Paul said in the book of Philippians chapter 2 and he gives this this really kind of scary warning or exhortation, he says, work out your salvation with fear and trembling as you you you have a responsibility here at then he adds, for it is God who is at work in you both to will and to do for his good pleasure. The words, even our will is being renewed by the grace of the Holy Spirit when it comes to repentance just means that the change her mind to turn away from something and fighting our addictions will the will is very important to your will is very important but it is God was working in you both to will and to do ultimately I think this is key here. We need the help of the Holy Spirit, God works in us, but with addictions. It's so important that we also have the support of others first and foremost we need the Lord.

We need the grace of God the grace of the Holy Spirit, especially because it's so easy to get discouraged. As I was that you think about Paul in Romans chapter 4 that battle between the flesh and the spirit that he talks about in Galatians chapter 5 it's easy to get discouraged to feel like I failed again and so we need to go to God for grace and derive strength from the Holy Spirit.

Rest in him.

Paul says very clearly in Romans six through eight. It's only by the spirit that we put to death the sinful deeds of the body, but we also need when fighting addictions the help of others that could be something like an AA group. Certainly the church. We need that God has made us for community. Yes, the will is important, but God is the one who is working in us and we need to rely not on ourselves but on him first and foremost, and the people he's put around us. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers and 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