Is God Sovereign Over Governments?

Is there such a thing as a second-class Christian. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity high on 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. You can also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com go to our Facebook or Instagram page and post your question. There will every day we like to start off the program with a good news story and this one comes from the town of Rochester, Washington when an 88-year-old man was sent to the hospital with a broken hip.

The firefighters who responded to the emergency call returned to his house to finish his yardwork. Check this out. Howard Starley was mowing his lawn when he fell and broke his hip. Now he injured himself and isolated part of his yard so no one could see him laying on the ground for four hours. Mr. Starley was unable to move, but thankfully, a group of three middle schoolers were walking in front of his house and they heard cries for help and they called 9113 fire department first responders arrived on the scene and they whisk Mr. Starley off to the hospital when they were finished with their duties that evening, they all agreed to go back to Mr. Starley's house and finish all of his yardwork.

How is that for going above you on the call of duty Israel in how I love a site reminds me of what Jesus said you know when someone asked to go 1 mile with them. Go 2 miles so cool. Thanks for sharing that story will love stories like that was go to our first question of the day here in core Christianity. This one came in from Wendy she says hi. I keep hearing from a good meaningful believer that God's promises are conditional and that if we don't forgive others our heavenly father will not forgive us this person lives his everyday life, making sure God is happy and when he does then he says oh no, I just made God so sad. I'm trying to make sense of all this. Is this healthy or am I the one who needs a heart check yeah Wendy will some of the promises of God in the Bible are conditional and some are unconditional and when it comes to salvation.

The only condition is faith in Jesus Christ.

And that's not a condition in the sense of you know that our faith earns salvation that faith is like an empty hand faith or by faith we reach out and lay hold of Jesus is robes of righteousness that Jesus saves in faith is the instrument by which he saves us that our talking your friend I would want to make sure he understood a couple of things one our sins grieve God. We mustn't imagine that God is and have been on this emotional roller coaster because of what we are doing God is in complete control.

He doesn't have bad days. You and I have bad days, but our sins and circumstances don't shake God this is you know about me give you a big theological word, the doctrine of impossibility. God is not overwhelmed with suffering with our suffering. That's what the doctrine of impossibility teaches and it's really important because it it shows us that you know when everything seems like it's falling apart in our world and were struggling. We don't understand what's going on. God is not at a loss God is in complete control.

God is not overwhelmed with our suffering now. Even if we understand that God is an up and down. That doesn't mean that sometimes we as believers can't get into the right of basing our relationship with God on our performance and I think that's it.

That's a real concern that I would have here as I was talking to your friend.

If I feel like I'm doing a good job serving Jesus reading my Bible being patient with my children. I'm confident in the Lord with the moment there's a lapse and I miss a day or two of devotions or lose my temper.

I start to wonder if I'm even save that's that's a some people operate in their relationship with God. Performance driven Christianity as God accepts me and loves me on the basis of how I'm doing in any given moment, but biblical Christianity roots God's love and mercy toward his people, not in our performance but in what Jesus has done for us in his sacrifice on the cross, not in performance.

We might say, but in propitiation that that big word that Paul uses in places like the book of Romans to talk about the sacrifice of Jesus for us, saving us than what is Jesus talking about when he says forgive, and you will be forgiven. Doesn't that suggest that our forgiveness from God is based on how well we forgive but I prefer to understand it a different way. Here's what I would say a forgiving attitude is the sign of a forgiven person so often we are stingy and unforgiving because were not receiving the grace and forgiveness. We need to be receiving from the Lord. They were into the whole performance-based Christianity. So when others don't live up to our standard we don't forgive them. So often we won't forgive others when we won't forgive others it's because were not fully understanding God's gracious pardon of our sins. Your sins against God are a greater debt than any person sins against you, and yet God has forgiven you.

I don't think that your off here, necessarily, or that you need the heart check per se that you're asking about. I think it's important that we understand one that are standing with God is not based on our performance, but his grace appreciation the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us and when we get that it makes us want to serve the Lord out of love, not out of a sense of obligation. Wendy, thank you so much for your call and for your care and concern for your friend.

We really do appreciate that your core Christianity by the way, you can email us your question any time our email address these questions at core, Christianity.com you can also call us at 833 the core and we had a call come in from Abraham government go over the promises to fulfill Abraham thank you for your question, dammit. I think we look at the Scriptures we would have to say yes made so a few verses come to mine, obviously in thinking about government. The first person comes to mind. The New Testament is Romans 13 one were Paul said, let every person be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God, then going to the Old Testament. My mind goes to Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon, God revealed to Nebuchadnezzar the secret behind his dream he had to remember what Nebuchadnezzar said.

It's in Daniel chapter 2 verses 20 and 21 Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, to whom belong wisdom and might key changes times and seasons, he removes kings and sets up kings now.

Later in his life when Nebuchadnezzar got arrogant and he thought that it was by his power and might, that he had gained the kingdom that he had all the wealth all the land God judged him and Daniel told him that the judgment would last.

Daniel chapter 4 verse 32 until you know that the most high rules. The kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will.

So the answer Abraham to your question is, is yes, God is the King of the whole earth, and even when the nations rage against him in sin and rebellion the Lord is not swayed from his throne. Jesus told Pilate he would have no authority unless God had let him have that authority. Now, does this mean that God is responsible for the sin of wicked rulers.

No absolutely not heat me he wasn't responsible for Nebuchadnezzar's pride and he is responsible for the sin of tyrannical rulers today, but they are permitted to continue in their office solely by God's power that we don't know why God might allow that we should be comforted by the fact that even when it seems like the world is turned upside down.

Our God isn't shake and he has lost control.

Earthly rulers are going to be held accountable by the Lord, there is this guy's story of the martyrdom of a Christian named Polycarp's one of the oldest accounts of the Christian dying for their faith outside of the Bible, the government was calling him to recant his faith or to be burned alive. It's been a while since I've I've read the account, but in general, Polycarp responded to the official that was threatening him by saying you're threatening me with the fire that burns for a short while Juergen have to answer to God who threatens you with the fires of eternal judgment to talk about a real bold bold thing to say.

There is are about to be put to death.

The point is, earthly governments right there their legitimate part of the world that God created but there also accountable, and God can use even evil rulers to accomplish his good purposes in the world and we see that, certainly, with what happened to Jesus, don't we. You have wicked rulers delivering Jesus up to be crucified, putting him to death. And yet we know that it all happened according to the predetermined plan of God. Why to accomplish salvation for us.

There is a great mystery there Abraham but I think it's comforting to us because it shows us that no matter how bad things get, our God is in control and he is able to bring good even out of the most terrible situations that we can imagine. Thanks for your question, Abraham, and federal. I was also thinking that's another example of how we can't necessarily look at our current circumstances, or even the earthly circumstances of politics or government because in the end, all things will be made right by her heavenly father. Yeah, I mean boy I just keep going back to the book of Daniel, but I think again of Daniel chapter 2 were talks about the kingdom that God is building the kingdoms of this world are going to be like chaff and the wind but God is building a kingdom right now through the preaching of the gospel. Jesus said I'm in a build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. But there's a comfort that we have as believers during uncertain times that no matter what's going on around us, even the persecution of the church experiences, we have the promise of God Almighty that his kingdom is here and it is coming in power, more and more every day to the preaching of the gospel in one day. As you said, God is good and make everything right you can to heal all the brokenness that we see when that kingdom is at last consummated, when when the new creation arrives the final judgment, the resurrection of the body.

What I hope we have as Christians. This is core Christianity with Bill Meyer and Pastor Israel Sanchez and Pedro, we want to tell our listeners about an exciting opportunity that we have for them today.

Yeah, I really hope that you'll consider joining what we call the inner core. I am so grateful. I know you are to bill for the inner core members that we have the regular gifts to help us to continue to share the core truths of the Christian faith that hope that we have in the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to, and this is what grounds us in the midst of days, and in times of uncertainty that new listeners are discovering core Christianity. This program every day and your support helps us to get that message out with the monthly donation of $25 or more. You can be a part of our team. The team it's making it possible for us to answer these questions and share the core truths of the Christian faith so nasty go to court, Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more or give us a call at 833 the core. Thank you for your support. We vascular prayerfully consider supporting core Christianity because we are depending on people just like you to keep this ministry going and Israel. Here's a call we received from Stuart calling from Grafton, North Dakota, and I'm just wondering if we can have the Holy Spirit through asking to be filled. I know that we receive the Holy Spirit when we become a Christian, you know, like the early disciples after Jesus had risen into heaven they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.

So how can we receive the Holy Spirit like about this great question. Couple of things I think it's it's really helpful to distinguish between what we call the order of salvation and the history of salvation. These might be new concepts for you. They were for me years ago. We don't often talk about this distinction, but the order of salvation refers to those distinct acts in redemption that you see in the Bible God calls us. He regenerates us he justifies us he adopts us he sanctifies a CD cause this to persevere in the faith, he glorifies us New Testament uses this kind of language in places like Romans chapter 8 or in John chapter 3 is the order of salvation those distinct acts of God throughout the Christian life whereby he communicates to us the gifts of Jesus Christ by faith.

That's key that something that we all experience as believers now that's to be distinguished from the history of salvation. What's the history of salvation it's it's redemptive history you think of the incarnation, the life and ministry of Jesus Christ, his death on the cross for our sins. His resurrection from the dead. The day of Pentecost is a part of the history of salvation. When Jesus ascended into heaven and then poured the Holy Spirit on the church there in the book of acts as was prophesied in Joel chapter 2 Mrs. the history of redemption being accomplished that the order of salvation applies to us what Jesus accomplished in the history of salvation and I make that distinction to make the point that we don't relive the history of salvation that was once and for all.

When Jesus, for example, he died on the cross when he rose again from the dead. That's not something that were reliving or reexperiencing same with Pentecost. Pentecost is a part of the history of salvation that we experience as believers today. The benefits and the blessing of what Jesus accomplished on Pentecost pouring out the Holy Spirit on the church were sealed with the Holy Spirit, we come to faith in Jesus Christ, as you say you were at work indwelt with the Holy Spirit.

If you're a believer in Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in you. But we do pray for and ask every day we ought to at least that God would fill us with his Holy Spirit. Now that doesn't mean that were not sealed with the spirit and it doesn't mean that were reliving Pentecost to be filled with the spirit, you know you know how that happens, it happens when the word of Jesus Christ dwells in you richly that it's a command to be filled with the spirit. The apostle Paul said in the book of Ephesians chapter 5 verse 17 do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart now parallel passage in the book of Colossians in Colossians chapter 3 verse 16.

Paul uses the same terminology he says let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. In other words, the way were filled with the spirit. The way you are filled with the spirit right now. Stuart says the word of Jesus Christ dwells in you richly, I think that sometimes as believers we complicate things we say I want to be filled with the spirit and wish to go off on our own and we pray fill me with the spirit was of waiting for this lightning bolt to strike us instead. If you want to be filled with the spirit, you should do dig into the Scriptures let it dwell in your heart richly and what you'll find is this the word of the Lord dwells in you become filled with the spirit just begins to flow out of you the fruit of the spirit that the apostle Paul talked about in Galatians chapter 5, love, joy, peace, patience, that's what it looks like to be filled. This core Christianity would love to get your question you can call us anytime at 833-843-2673 and let's go to another call right now. John from bronco character. My question regarding the difference between the soul and spirit and the flesh. One of the difference between the soul on the earth.

The same thing. Yeah, well, what we as humans know of one person in your body is who you are. Use aerator your soul is part of who you are is who you are. Some people have distinguished between the soul. The spirit but my position is I think it's best to view them is interchangeable and this is how the Bible treats them often time. Sometimes people who have died are referred to as spirits. Hebrews chapter 12 verse 23, the author of the Hebrews talks about when we gather together for worship are coming before the spirits of the righteous made perfect there in the presence of the Lord. Sometimes those who have died are referred to as souls.

Revelation chapter 6 verse nine talks about the martyrs who have died for their faith under the altar, crying out to the Lord Jesus said, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but loses his soul Mark chapter 8 verse 36 so I don't think we should drive to Sharp of the distinction between soul and spirit.

We are one person in our souls and bodies are integral to who or what we are and that's why the resurrection of the body is so important to the Christian faith. God is not just saving our spirits, but our bodies need to restore the whole creation to we sometimes I think miss that today when we talk about salvation. So many Christians just assume salvation is going to heaven when I die.

Jesus is saving my spirit in this old beat up body. You know this is good. I go into the ground and and turn into dust and that's it and we imagine ourselves bouncing around on clouds and heaven to me.

Who knows what that's gonna look like we think. But the reality is salvation in the Bible is so much more than just going to heaven when I die, the intermediate state, we call it.

We talked about that before on the program is the hope of the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. If you if you wrestle with the sickness with disease with you know and aged body and you think, man. Oh to be young again will there something even better than that in store for you. If you are in Christ, a resurrected, restored, redeemed body. God is saving all of us.

Another thing that this emphasizes that there's more to us than meets the eye. You were made in the image of God, and that's what we have dignity.

Is this God's creations. People read a book a while back by an atheist. He argued that babies human babies are no more precious than piglets. Why because we don't have a soul, he said were just animals but that's not what the Bible teaches.

The Bible teaches that we are made in the image of God. Body and soul, we have dignity we were worthy of respect, honor, goodness, because God is good and he's made us in his image. So it's really important for us to understand this, but John II would draw to Sharp of the distinction between spirit and soul. I think the Bible is just speaking it in a way that what were to understand is that we are just one person or more than just our bodies were spirit as well.

So thank you for that question federal here's our last question of the day on core Christianity. This one came Emma through our email I heard someone pose the question, do you mourn over your sin, instead of do you know that you're a center I honestly don't remember actually mourning my sin. I just knew that I was a sinner. God showed me that I could not make myself good enough for him and I needed Jesus this question has been bothering me. God is definitely showed me my sin in having felt guilt that led to repentance. I almost feel like I'm mentally torturing myself to see if I'm truly saved.

I keep going back to the cross but I can't stop thinking about what it really means to mourn your sin. What am I missing. Thank you for that question will look in repentance.

We have a true sense of our sins and what is repentance and units turning away from our sins its change of mind and turning to Christ and there is grief and hatred of our sin associated with repentance. But you have to be careful that you're not engaging in self-flagellation for Jesus know if you recognize your sin, you know your guilt turn to Jesus and the turning to Jesus part is key.

Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 7 verses 10 and 11. Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas worldly grief produces death foresee what earnestness this godly grief is produced in you but also what eagerness to clear yourselves. Paul said, what indignation, what fear, what longing with zeal, what punishment at every point you prove yourselves innocent in the matter. Right before Paul said that as he talked about the difference between godly grief and worldly sorrow. He said to them, to the Corinthians in second Corinthians 7 as it is.

I rejoice not because you were grieved because you were grieved into repenting the truth is, we couldn't feel sorry enough for our sins are sins are against the perfectly good God who's been so merciful to us.

Not only did he create us giving giving us all of these gifts, you know all of the many blessings that we have taste smell site when God is such a generous giver, but he also gave us redemption in his son Jesus Christ. He forgives our sins that we still fail. We still fall but God doesn't forgive us, because we feel sorry enough because we beat ourselves up pretty good. He forgives you solely because of Jesus and what Jesus did on your behalf. See repentance does not mean sitting in sorrow and I think a lot of us but we missed this we think of if I can to show God that I'm I'm really really sorry if I can, you know be sad enough will, then maybe I can be forgiven. We have to be careful that we don't try to earn God's forgiveness by our wallowing. God wants us when we sin and we experience guilt to look up to Jesus. And when you look up to Jesus and away from your sin, your forgiven receipt. 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 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