When Will Christ Return?

I accepted Jesus many years ago but I still sin. And I don't always perfectly obey will I make it to heaven when I die best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Adrian 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 step today we have a sweet story to share with you about a little boy and his dog Kyle Hansen has cancer and when he was undergoing chemotherapy at Children's Hospital in Wisconsin. Therapy dogs were what made him feel better after being diagnosed with stage IV Hodgkin's lymphoma last year. Kyle was told he was eligible for a wish from the Make-A-Wish foundation.

Well, Kyle's wish was for his family's two-year-old poodle Cooper to become a therapy dog. The Make-A-Wish team got Cooper into therapy dog classes. They had a trainer visit his home and now Cooper is just waiting to get certified Make-A-Wish is also granting Kyle a private shopping spree for Cooper at a bargain scratch outpost in Milwaukee and what it what a sweet story building and maybe right now would be a good time to pray for Kyle and for his healing father. We want to lift this young man up to you, Kyle, and pray for him, Lord, you would bring healing in his body. Let me know. Cancer is such a devastating thing were not hard to break to hear that he's been suffering from this and so we asked Lord as we lift them up to you, that you heal, and that you strengthen his body, that you would cause into recovery.

Thank you for that sweet story that were able to hear. We pray for your presence to be with him in Jesus name, amen, amen, thanks for that federal let's get to our first question of the day, Everett posted this on our twitter account. Everett says why does Paul say that those who have faith are children of Abraham.

When Hebrews says that Jesus mediates a better covenant than the old one. These seem to me like two opposing attitudes toward the Old Testament.

How can I make sense of this.

Yeah Everett thank you for that question.

One thing that we have to keep in mind when were thinking about the contrast that we often see in the New Testament in places like Romans or Hebrews or Galatians between the old covenant and the new covenant is that when the old covenant is being talked about.

It's not really primarily referring to Abraham.

Actually, the focus is on Moses and on the Mosaic covenant, so I want to read the section that you quoted from in Hebrews chapter 8 to do it in context, beginning in verse six it says, but as it is, Christ is obtained a ministry that is much more excellent than the old as the covenant he mediates is better since it is enacted on better promises. For if the first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion to look for a second you think there will wait a minute was God's first covenant with faults.

Listen to what the author the Hebrew says in verse eight for he finds fault with them.

That is the problem is not the covenant is the people who failed to keep the covenant he finds fault with them when he says and then here you have a quote from the prophet Jeremiah behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will establish a new covenant with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah. Not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt. For they did not continue in my covenant, and so I showed no concern for them, declares the Lord, for this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord. I will put my laws into their minds and write them on their hearts. And I will be their God and they shall be my people, and they shall not teach each one his neighbor and each one his brother, saying know the Lord, for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, for I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more than the author. The Hebrews adds this in speaking of a new covenant, he makes the first that is the covenant that was made with Moses obsolete and what is becoming obsolete and growing old is ready to vanish away. And so, so you don't have a contradiction here, the focus is on how the new covenant is better than that covenant. The people of Israel broke the Mosaic covenant because they didn't keep God's law and that's what led to the exile in all sorts of other judgments that God poured out on the nation of Israel because of their unfaithfulness to the covenant, they broke that covenant and God said, here's what I meant to do. Make a new covenant instead of writing my law on on tablets of stone.

Get this, I'm going to write it on the tablet of your heart to write my word, my law on your heart and when Jesus remember what when he's at in the upper room with his disciples administering the Lord's supper for the first time, instituting the Lord's supper.

He says take. This is my body given for you. This cup is the blood of the new covenant shed for the forgiveness of many other words, this new covenant with the law of God is written on our hearts.

Everett is instituted by Jesus we are as followers of Jesus Christ, members, participants in the new covenant, that cut is made with his people with you and with me by faith. Every time you take the Lord's supper. It's the sort of covenant meal reminded of the fact that God's law is written on our hearts, so there's no contrast that with the children of Abraham by faith, because ultimately those covenant promises were rooted in the promises that were made to Abraham you really get this in places like Galatians chapter 3 even in Romans chapter 4 Paul talks about the faith of Abraham. We follow in his footsteps by believing in God and in his promise, and in the promise that he gave to Abraham that one day his seed would bless the whole earth, and Paul says in Galatians that see that offspring is Jesus.

Will Everett by faith in Jesus we are adopted into the family of God and we are the children of Abraham. And that's why there's no contradiction again ever. Thanks so much for your question. We appreciated there are some confusing thing. Sometimes a warmer looking at the old covenant that's great to have a Israel clear those up for us. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and Adm. here's an email that came in from Peter he says I'm a believer and I'm wondering whether I should have a traditional burial or if I can get cremated when I die. Cremation is much cheaper than a traditional burial. But I know someday I will be resurrected. Will God be angry at me for taking the cheaper option financially. I don't get an answer when I pray. This is a matter of personal conscience the way we are buried does not determine whether or not were going to be resurrected. I love going and taking my kids to the Museum of man over here in San Diego.

This Egypt exhibit where they have all these old you know mummified. What are they called sarcophagus is or whatnot and there painted and they have, you know all these you know really colorful images on them and NSU. No probably just through some of the history courses you might've taken growing up in a few Egyptians were really serious about how they bury someone because they had this belief in their religion that the way in which someone was buried in the things they took with them to the grave in one sense, would contribute to their existence in the afterlife. That's not what we believe as Christians, it isn't how your buried gets you into heaven, the question is do you belong to the one who was buried, and rose again. That's the ultimate thing. Do you belong to Jesus. That's what gives us the hope of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. And so I think that this question here. In particular you none, then this is one that we also have received a few times on this program I think it's a matter of personal conscience. I don't think there's anything in the Bible that would forbid you from being cremated, or from having a more traditional burial. I think it's a decision that you have to make it and that you want to be able to make with a clear conscience.

There are some people who for one reason or another they don't have a clear conscience about being cremated and they feel like it would be of no form of desecration of their body or something like that. If that's the case for you will do it if you can't do it in faith.

But if you're confident right you belong to Jesus and you know look innocent. Whether I'm buried or cremated that's connected me into heaven, working to be raised again by the power of God and God can can raise us up. Whether were cremated or buried in, and I don't think you US. It will God be angry at me for taking the cheaper option financially know how I don't think so because there's anything God's word clearly states that you have to be buried. In this way I'm set your breaking any any of the commandments of Scripture here.

Hopefully that frees up your conscience to make this decision obvious you want to make this decision together with your family as well and and with them in mine. It sounds like you're doing that. So God bless you brother there I was like in a drill. There's also an historic precedent here. If you think about the martyrs that were burned at the stake.

I mean they didn't have a choice of him had matter or what happened with Nero when in Rome. Those believers were burned and yet we know we can have complete confidence that they are going to be with the Lord. There are with Ford right now.

Yeah, one of the earliest stories of the Christian martyrdom that we have. It's the martyrdom of Polycarp. It's recorded for us to give. You can read it. He could find online. I'm sure and that it describes kind his journey to martyrdom, a sort of interesting because it seems like he's is eager to die for his Lord and he was burned he was burned alive as a follower of Jesus, and you're totally right. We know that he's in the presence of the Lord faith in Jesus and so you're right, Bill Deming, there are plenty of examples of different ways that believers have died and gone to be with the Lord in their bodies being treated in different ways, but the hope that we have is in Jesus not in how our bodies were buried there, man, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez if you got a question for us. You can submit it through our website at core, Christianity.com/radio Justin went to the website and he says approximately when will Christ be returning in how many years I think it's between four and five Justin that I would give you so know they're just it's so funny. I would love to know. Wouldn't we but no one knows and that's precisely what Jesus said in Matthew chapter 24 in verse 36. Listen to what he said concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the son but the father only as were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and they were unaware until the flood came and swept them all away, so will be the coming of the son of man. I heard recently from someone in my church that a well-known pastor had declared that we are now living in the end times.

Just think about everything going on with coronavirus and in government and what not like this is pastor came out that we we've reached the end times that I don't know what day it was that he you determine this, but their issues with this or theological problems. One is read the New Testament you you read the words of the apostles and and they very clearly believed that they were living in the end times at the end of all things had come now you know where were waiting for the imminent return of Jesus Christ. It wasn't like they thought to themselves of the end times are to be some time in a long ahead of us 2000 years from now, or that kind of thing that they believed they were living in the end times we've been living in the end times for since the book of acts is also historical problem with this idea. Now were living in the end times and I think we like to think that we are at the center of history that we have it worse than everyone else.

But now is that the key moment in history and were kind of at that center stage at the reality is that I don't want to minimize our current experience, but the fact is, if we think we have it worse than the previous generations of believers. Then we just don't understand your sister and I were just talking about Polycarp was burned alive for following Jesus. Whatever it is that were suffering here in the United States were not suffering that kind of persecution and so II think we want to be humble about this and and realize look we live right now between the first and second coming of Jesus and this time is a time of great trial for the church. There are difficulties there are blessings that we experience, but there is also suffering and persecution throughout the world right now there are more Christians being martyred every day that Ben was happening.

I think in the days of the ancient church because there's just so much persecution in places like the Middle East and North Korea. So these are difficult times, but to say now were for sure. In the end times and in Jesus is skinny, let me give you a date. What we can't do that. We've been in the end time since the book of acts. Our job as followers of Jesus.

Right now Justin is to be prepared is to fix our eyes on the Lord there's this passage of Scripture that I think is really helpful in thinking about this is in first Peter chapter 4 verse seven. Listen to what Peter says I think that this is just so fascinating. Peter said the end of all things is at hand. Therefore what he doesn't say he doesn't say the end of all things that hand.

Therefore, let's sell everything we have in moved to the wilderness and stockpile on guns and and food. He doesn't say that is the end of all things is at hand.

Therefore be self-controlled and sober minded for the sake of your prayers. Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. Show hospitality to one another without grumbling as each has received a gift use it to serve one another as good stewards of the varied grace of God. Think about that for a second appears at the end of all things that had were living in the end times. Therefore be hospitable but that each other over for dinner. Let's extend the grace of God to each other. Let's let love and forgive each other. Let's pray that's were called to do right now.

Yeah these times are difficult for many of us, but I think we want to be careful that we don't begin guessing that the Lord is coming tomorrow, or on this day or that day and that we focus on loving each other praying and serving the Lord with the time that Jesus is given to us. Justin thanks so much for your question. This is core Christianity, where we answer the questions that you have about the Bible and the Christian faith and we have an amazing team of people behind us producing the show, they write the core articles for the website they produce our core Bible studies.

These are the resources that are helping you and other believers more fully understand the gospel and have the confidence to share your faith, and as you can imagine, this requires a lot of different people to come alongside us and support this work, we can't do it without your prayers and your financial support, and that's where were asking you to come alongside us and become a regular supporter of core Christianity with a monthly donation of $25 or more, you can join what we call the inner core and be part of the team that makes this show possible just head over to core Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more or give us a call at 833 the court. That's 833-843-2673 federal here's an email question that we received from a listener named Allison. She says I accepted Jesus many years ago but I still sin. How will I make it to heaven when I still sin. I do not always perfectly obey. I'm still sinful.

What if I'm not close enough to God. What if I don't read my Bible and pray enough, or if I don't do enough good works yeah well Titus chapter 3 verse five he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit. Meditate on that verse.

Allison, he saved us he saved you. Not because of works that you did in righteousness, but according to his own mercy in Ecclesiastes chapter 7 verse 20 we read Shirley there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and never sins your experiences. The experience of every single other person who is sought to follow after the Lord the apostles themselves, and you just think about them.

Peter, for example, sticking his foot in his mouth. Over and over and over again, even in the book of Galatians needing to be rebuked by the apostle Paul because he wasn't walking in step with the gospel. Paul himself and the various troubles that he had a talk about the thorn in the flesh that he experience or Romans chapter 7 that continual battle in Galatians, he talks about the battle between the flesh and the spirit our flesh that wants to do things that they're sinful that are wrong in the spirit of God, who is leading us to holiness to the fruit of the spirit to righteousness. There is this battle and there is in a righteous person on the earth. Allison, who does good and never sins if I John makes it absolutely clear in his first epistle in first John chapter 1 verse nine he says 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 that we have not sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us that were to if we say I don't have any sins or if you talk to a believer. This is the I just I've overcome all sin.

Through this great thing this victorious Christian life. What you can say to that person.

Actually, you're still struggling with not telling the truth because John says in first John chapter 1 that if we say that we don't have any sins were lying or making got to be a liar because his law condemns us.

Then he says in chapter 2 beginning in verse one my little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin but if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Who's the righteous one Allison, it isn't me and it isn't you, it's Jesus and he is our advocate and he is the propitiation for our sins. First John 22 not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world not just one thing I want you to know and it's so beautiful and I think it's so encouraging Allison for all of you for you listening right now. You struggle with a statement the sin that keeps recurring in your life and you just feel beat up and you're wondering got a done with me. I would be done with me.

You must be so fed up with with this continual struggle in your broken your way down by this talk to believers who they have this weight that they feel and they're just so discouraged because they don't know what to do with this continual struggle. They long to be freed from it.

Let me tell you something when you send. John says here in first John two. Do you have an advocate with the father. In other words, Jesus has not abandoned you. He hasn't said I'm through with you. You failed again all might not again. I can't believe it.

No, that's not what he says he stands on your behalf.

He pleads your case before the father. Just think about what Jesus told Peter, Satan has desired to sift you.

He wants to just eat you alive, but I have prayed for you. I have prayed for you. You're going to be restored brothers and sisters, we have a high priest in having Jesus who continually makes intercession for us as the people of God and when we say and he doesn't say I'm through with you. I'm done.

Get away from me. He prays for us. He prays for you. What a comfort that you can have knowing that even when you fall Jesus your high priest not only has he made propitiation for your sins forgiven you all your sins through his blood, and by faith in his name, but he still prays for you right now. He ever lives to make intercession for you so that when you fall you have an advocate with the father and so your hope Allison is not in your perfect obedience is in the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ look to him when you're discouraged when you fall in when you feel like I can't get up.

Raise your eyes to Jesus and cling to him and rest in the fact that not only has he forgiven your sins by faith he's praying for you and through his prayers.

His people persevere, Allison.

I pray that that gives you a comfort in your situation. Thank you so much for your email. This is core Christianity and we have time for one last question I drill this one was posted by Monique on her Instagram account she says is the kingdom of God. Something that exists today or is it something that we are waiting for in the future. Both Monique is what I would say and I think you see this in the New Testament. I'm Jesus when he talked about casting out demons.

He said the kingdom of God is come upon you, Jesus came preaching and teaching the kingdom repent and believe the gospel, for the kingdom of God is at hand. There's a real sense right now in which the kingdom of God is here present.

How is the kingdom of God. Your present will through the ministry of the word the author to the Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 6 says that work tasting experiencing the powers of the age to come, that is God's kingdom right now is breaking in on six if the rays of heaven are beginning to shine through the dark clouds that cover the earth and illuminate the world and one day the glory of God is going to cover the face of the whole world and the kingdom of God is in it to be here in its fullness and end the picture there is the new creation at the end of the book of Revelation that were awaiting the consummation of God's kingdom. So there's a future element to it as well and you see that as I said at the end of Revelation. The new creation where where there is no more son or moon, but the light of the Lamb. The glory of God is what illuminates all things. The whole world right now Monique, that light is already shining and breaking through the darkness through the proclamation of the gospel through the work of Jesus and those whom Jesus sends into the world to share the light of the truth the light of the gospel.

So it really is this this wonderful thing that the kingdom of God exist today. Right now it's been inaugurated.

It's here presently to the ministry of the church in the life of believers. We are Paul says new creations. The new creation is already here. It started with you all those who have faith in Jesus and one day that new creation is going to cover the whole world and the consummation of God's kingdom. We await with eager anticipation.

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