Does God Punish People Through Disease?

In the Old Testament, God's 10 plagues, famine and disease, but does this mean that God punishes people with sickness and disease.

Today that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi Bill Meyer, along with pastor Adm. 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 also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram account and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com hey Bill, and I know you always open up the episode with a good news story and I thought I'd give you a break today.

Did you hear the good news story about the guy who didn't get eaten by the cougar news click crazy think my wife and I watched this video last idea happened a few days ago there was a guy who was hiking in Utah or I think is going on a run actually got a trail and a cougar was stalking him and ended up stalking them for like six minutes of this is video of him walking backwards on this trail. While this beast is about to jump a minute.

It was really kinda crazy and actually pretty nerve-racking to watch because the whole time you're seeing this thing to start approaching him and he's trying to scream and yell and whatnot. But it was really interesting what I think the good news is the cougar to meet the guy that's great party finally get away from that. The beast eventually after walking backwards for almost 10 minutes. It seems like the cougar just turned in and ran. When I do know for picked up a rock to throw or something like that, but it looks like he just got spooked and so yeah I mean that's my greatest fear. Thankfully, here in San Diego there aren't cougars and you know, lions and tigers and bears and I can think not that you know that I worry about the skunks and the raccoons are possums you know that so anyways we were it's pretty, pretty easy around here all right will stay out of the hills up there north Sevier County. Because there are few cougars around there so you would be a high due to baked tasty snack.

Yeah, I bet I taste horrible all right will do our first question of the day and this is a call we received from Pat in Pennsylvania law. She cursed tree, what did Crete do not little rich right see carbo load is real right. Hey Pat, you're on the right track.

Is it a parable of Israel. I think I think that it is. I think that this figtree is a symbol of something else really. And Jesus is trying to illustrate. Ultimately, the fact that Israel is a nation at least at that time was being cursed by God mean they were rejecting the Messiah Jesus state they didn't have any fruit and that's one of the things that we see with the figtree now Jesus does this in Mark chapter 11 and at the peril account is in Matthew chapter 21 Jan just the context really helps us to recognize that that's what's taking place because it happens in the context of the triumphal entry when Jesus enters into Jerusalem as the King's writing in asked the king, and yet the people eventually reject their king, the Messiah, the Savior, and the fact of the matter is that you reject Jesus.

The results is cursed to read Mark 1112 25 just to give you that context we understand on the following day when they came from Bethany, he was hungry and singing the distance a figtree in the leaf he went to see if he could find anything on it and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves for it was not the season for figs and he said to it. May no one ever eat fruit from you again. His disciples heard it, and they came to Jerusalem and he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple. Eddie overturned the table of the money changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons and he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple and he was teaching them and saying to them, is it not written, my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations but you have made it a den of robbers and the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city and as they passed by in the morning, they saw the fig tree withered away at its roots. Peter remembered and said to him, Rabbi looked the figtree that you cursed is weathered. Jesus answered them, have faith in God.

Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, be taken up and thrown into the sea and does not doubt in his heart but believes that what he says will come to pass. It will be done for him. Therefore I tell you whatever you ask in prayer, believe that you received it and it will be yours him to stop right there. It is really interesting. You have this cursing of the fig tree, and right there in the same kind to me. You have the triumphal entry Jesus riding into Jerusalem.

You also have him cleansing the temple cleansing the temple mount going there and casting out the money changers, driving them out. Is it really interesting in the Gospels. It's the same word that's oftentimes used to describe Jesus casting out demons from people who were demon possessed. It's as if Jesus is performing an exorcism on the temple, the place where God's presence is supposed to reside with the people of God. The priests are to her to worship the Lord will it had turned into a den of thieves. And so Jesus is is driving them out, and he's essentially cursing the temple here hee hee for keeping people from buying and selling from bring their sacrifices. Ultimately, because he's the one who is the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world. He's he's that the ultimate sacrifice and so he's abolishing if you will.

Those old covenant sacrifices, preparing the way for the sacrifice that he's about to offer and he's bringing this judgment against Israel because they rejected him and look that there's an application for us today to reject Jesus the Messiah.

If we turn away from him. All that's left for us is curse judgment. So when you turn him by faking a several times. The prophets actually describe God as inspecting Israel for fruit for figs.

We see this in different places in Hosea chapter 9 verses 10 through 17 are in Micah chapter 7 verse one and so there's this relationship between Israel being this fruitful vine or this figtree and here in Mark 11 and Matthew 21. The tree being cursed is the symbol of Israel.

Having rejected her Messiah and experiencing now a spiritual drought dryness. Now there's more to say about this but was a stop there and I think you're right on this.

This is a parable is not just Jesus is upset. This is a lesson that Jesus try to teach through this figtree is not just that he's doesn't like figs and so he curses the figtree's nice teaching of something greater and ultimately it's that those who reject him are cursed. Thanks for your question Pat. Great food for thought.

Thank you for that. A drill this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez, one of the ways you can ask the question is by posting our Facebook page.

That's exactly what William did and here's what he said Israel is Islam a false religion yeah will think the question William Islam I would say is a false religion. Yes, I eventually heard Islam describe similarly to Mormonism and I think there are some similarities there.

In one sense Islam is cultlike when it comes to the Christian faith because it takes the teachings of the Bible and even the claims of Christ and changes them. Islam has a theology of Jesus, the theology of the Bible you know that.

There's a lot but it does take from the holy Scriptures for like Mormonism arriving Mormons have a theology of who Jesus is the theology of the Bible, but then what happens is they take that truth and they twisted and they twisted in such a way that if you believe what they believe about Jesus about the gospel about who God is. Well, you can't be saved from your rejecting core Christianity the cardinal truths of the Christian faith in Islam. Jesus is not God. Jesus didn't die and rise again from the dead. They reject the revelation of the holy Trinity. What we see in Scripture related to who God is and how God has revealed himself to reject the inspiration and absolute authority of holy Scripture. You oftentimes when you when you get into a discussion with someone who embraces Islam in your appealing to the Bible and the same thing with Mormons. By the way have had the same thing happened when I get into a discussion with with someone who believes in Mormonism appealing to the text of Scripture and say look, look at what the Bible says the response oftentimes as well. You know the Bible has been corrupted and we can't really trust the Bible and and that's why we have this new revelation.

This greater revelation in the Quran are in the book of Mormon well know, that's the reality is that it makes it really difficult to have a conversation about these things because if where the Scriptures contradict what they've embraced her come to believe about God and and religion if they just rejecting stable, that can't be trusted. Well they can believe whatever they want to believe Islam is a false religion.

Others not to say that there aren't people who are wonderful people who are Muslims and Mormons for some of the greatest neighbors I've ever had been born just really nice people but that's not what saves us, what saves us is not that were good people that were good neighbors, what saves us is the gospel of Jesus Christ, who is Jesus. Think about the conversation he had with Peter who do men say that I am said you know some people say you know a prophet like Elijah and Jesus.

What you say that I am in and Peter said you are the Christ, the son of the living God. The book of first John. John talked about the spirit of the antichrist is at work in the world today and you know that the antichrist wants to do that spirit of the antichrist. False religion what it wants to do as it wants to confuse us about who Jesus is. It wants us to embrace another Jesus of false Jesus the Jesus of Mormonism, the Jesus of Islam, a Jesus that is not God that cannot save so we have to be discerning. We have to be wise we have to know who Jesus is, on the basis of the teachings of Scripture, so that when other people come and claim something different we can rejected and hold fast to the truth and so as I said yes Islam is a false religion that takes a lot of the teachings of Christianity and twist them who Jesus is who God is and twist them in a way that that is destructive. That's not a knock on people who are Muslims know they can be. As I said wonderful people. But the question is who do you say Jesus is. That's the most important thing I man this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you're a regular listener to this program or to our podcast.

We appreciate you so much. Now, in case you don't know core Christianity is listener supported.

So we rely on people just like you to help keep us on the air yeah and we do hope that you will support us by joining what we call the inner core for a monthly donation of $25 or more. You can be a part of our team.

The team it's helping to spread the word so you know, our desire is to see Jesus glorified to see the church grow to see people come into a deeper understanding of who God is and what the Bible teaches and and if that's happened for you as a result of listening to this program a couple of things one would you reach out to us and let us know how you been blessed and we love to hear those stories. It's so encouraging for us and to what you consider partnering with us. As I said, join the inner core $25 or more a month and it's one of the ways you can help us continue to get the good news of Jesus out so to join the inner core just head over to core Christianity.com/inner core, or you can give us a call at 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 would love to have you part of that inner circle. Here we call the inner core. Here's another question that came in Israel. This one is from Dale who emailed us and he says, is the third use of the law legitimate. It seems that if people have a good sense of justification by faith alone that the third use of the law is not necessary. It we've got a few questions about the different uses of the law here on this program and I like to explain the three uses of the law or at least what will referring to when we when we talk like that because a lot of people have never heard a cement I was I was walking with Jesus for many years became a Christian in high school and studying the Bible in his study theology, even for a while before I heard anyone talk about the three uses of the lawn, so that might be you. Maybe you walk with the Lord for a long time, but you never, never heard about this so what what are the three uses of the law will we talk about that were just referring to the fact that the law of God functions in these different ways. The first use you think about how the law reveals to us our sin. You know when when you hear the preaching of God's word and you hear the law of God proclaimed and you just look at yourself and you think man I don't measure up. I fall short. You feel that sense of condemnation, even that can come through the law of God, the law is like a guillotine that puts us to death. It shows us that were lost were broken. This is sometimes referred to as the pedagogical use of the law, that language is taken from Galatians chapter 3 in verse 24. Paul is talking about the law and the loss function. He says the law was our guardian or pedagogy until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith other words, the law functioned in this way, showing us our sin and leading us to our Savior Jesus because we realize that the law can save us now. Another way that the law functioned as the first. Use the pedagogical use of the laws like this guillotine. That puts us to death at the second use of the law is that the law constrains us and society. It sometimes referred to as the civil use of the law of God's law holds back the wickedness of society is like a guardrail. So the law think of a guillotine. But it's also like a guard rail you think of what Paul said in Romans chapter 2 for example, I'm thinking of versus 14 and 15 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law of the law of Moses there by nature do what the law requires barrel law to themselves, even though they do not have the law to show that the work of the law is written on their hearts. While their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accused or even excuse them the Paulist indicating that the law of God is even written on the hearts of people district general natural law and and it functions to restrain the evil of societies is not just in terms of the church that were thinking everything about the whole world has this sense of right and wrong. Because of this natural law that God is given to them and that sense of right and wrong helps to restrain evil and wickedness in society and so the law is like a guardrail is the second use of the law. The civil use of the law. Another third use of the law refers to our relationship to the law. Now as Christians were no longer under the law so that it condemns us in Jesus Christ. We died to the law and we have a new relationship to it now. It's like a guide for us. Paul later in the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 8 verses reinforce that this for God has done with the law, weakened by the flesh could not do. By sending his own son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the spirit we as followers of Jesus Christ filled with the Holy Spirit now, having been justified to fulfill the righteous requirement of the law, which is ultimately what to love God and to love our neighbor. Not because were under the law condemned by the law like the first few says, but because were free in Jesus we died to the law were already justified. Now were free to keep the law to let the lobby a guide for us. This is sometimes referred to as moral use of the law. The normative use of the law Dale to your question. I'm sorry it was kind of a long introduction but I really want people to understand this because I want to leave anybody out site is I answer your question, that third use the sort of normative moral the law as it functions for the Christian, is it necessary because of it.

We've already been justified. If we realize were sinners. We've been justified. We really need someone to come and bring the law around to us that to help us follow it as a guide.

Don't we already know that stuff will Jesus didn't abolish the law, he fulfilled it God's law hasn't been erased for the believer, but we have a new relationship to it.

Like I said, and so we should let it guide us and let me just say pastorally. I know it is a minister of the gospel when I'm preaching God's word.

The key is helping people to understand this crucial distinction between the law and the gospel. The law can't save me right. It shows me my sin. Only the gospel can save me what God has done in Christ to redeem me to forgive me to embrace me into his family. Now I get to follow Jesus and and I think it is helpful to apply God's word specifically and what God calls us to. As Christians, to ourselves and to the church.

It's so easy for us to think that God's commandments just don't apply to us. God does call me to live a life of holiness, a life of love for him in a life of love for my neighbor and that actually looks like something it looks like this. It looks like that. And in this particular context. I think that that can be helpful. So in that sense, Dale yes I think that the third use of the law is really helpful. And again, because Jesus didn't abolish the law, but fulfilled it because he gives it to us as a gift as a guide for believers will then I think that it is totally legitimate in its third use. So thank you for your question. God bless. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and you can call us with your question anytime at 833-843-2673.

That's 833. The core federal here's a call that came in from Shelby in Texas. Marianne why God C clearly state the Bible that God gave somebody why today people think that God – these things and not God wouldn't punish him at a three or three sense.thank you for your time.

Yes, shall be referring to numbers chapter 12 where Miriam was. First, she was given leprosy for a time, and the reason was because she spoke against Moses numbers chapter 12 to read it. Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses because of the Cushite woman whom he had married, for he had married a Cushite woman and they said, has the Lord indeed spoken only through Moses as he not spoken through us also. The Lord heard that the man Moses was very meek, more than all the people who were on the face of the earth and suddenly the Lord said to Moses and to Aaron and Miriam, come out you three to the tent of meeting, the three of them came out and the Lord came down in a pillar of cloud and stood at the entrance of the tent and called Aaron and Miriam.

They both came forward, and he said, hear my words.

If there is a prophet among you I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision. I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses, he is faithful in all my house with him. I speak mouth to mouth clearly and not in riddles.

He beholds the form of the Lord. Why, then, were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses the anger of the Lord was kindled against them, and he departed that when the cloud removed from over the 10 beholds Miriam was leprous like snow. Wow.

Pretty scary them is very clear as you say, Shelby. This is the judgment from God on Miriam, in particular because she was disrespecting the prophet of the Lord Moses now. You're right.

I think a lot of people today they just assume that God isn't going to judge or doesn't judge or doesn't act today is not at work anymore. He was working in the days of the Bible doing miracles and amazing things. Now he's just sort of taken a break.

He's just sort of watching from afar.

Will there were unique ways that God has worked throughout redemptive history. But let's not assume that God is no longer at work today just because he's not doing some of the miracles that we might read about in the book of acts or something like that.

I meet God is by his spirit working today to save to justified to give people new heart, so that they might know him through Jesus and he also judges us for our sins. I think of what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 11 verse 30 was in the context of the church gathering together for holy communion and impulses. This is why many of you are sick and even weaken some of even died because we don't judge the sin in our lives. We gather together to take the Lord's supper and so God judges us seek there's a couple dangers we need to avoid shall be one assuming that all sickness is a punishment from God.

That's a very dangerous theology, but to assuming that God can't or doesn't judge or chastise people because of sin, know the Bible says that he does and that's why he rebuked Miriam because he loves her and God does the same for us when we continuing a pattern of sin. He loves us.

He chastises us he's a good father who wants us to follow him faithfully easier for people to assume that God doesn't do that kind of thing anymore today, but that's not what the Bible teaches. God is very active today. Judging people for their sin. But guess what is also active, saving us from our sin. 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 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