How Do I Pray Through the Psalms?

Does the Bible justify capital punishment. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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 core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post a question on our Facebook or Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions@corechristianity.com will April. This is our second week of live broadcast here on core Christianity. We are so excited to take our listeners calls live in one of the questions that I have for you is, did you always know you wanted to be a pastor. No, I think I actually when I was younger boy I went to wanting to be all sorts of things I wanted to be a football player. I wanted to be in the Army I wanted to be a court reporter at one point, so I know some of that. My grandmother worked in in a prison. She would talk to me about her job and and I thought about how she ended up talking about the court reporters, but I iron everything on that. Be kind of a cool job I could to type all day. That kind of a thing, so I wasn't I wasn't brought up in the church, particularly if it wasn't until later in high school that I really I think had an encounter with Christ through the word of God, and it was there that I I started to feel a sense of call to the ministry is as I studied the Scriptures and more and more came to understand what the word of God teaches and how wonderful the gospel is, I just wanted to to be able to share with others and so and also to teach the word of God. So really, I would say that was kind of the beginning for me. Did you know as a teenager that God was calling you to be a pastor someday yeah I mean I was in 100% certain I knew I wanted to serve the Lord. I thought initially.

Maybe that would be in the context of missions, so maybe be a foreign missionary and then as I kept reading Scripture, studying the Scripture. I just had this this desire to teach the Bible and so over time. II felt more of a call to pastoral ministry. In particular, and of course you know it at that age, you never know hundred percent what you're going to do when when you're older, but I just wanted II pursued that basically I sent him to pursue this and God in his kindness began to open doors for me actually build the first sermon I ever preached I was 18 years old. It was a little tiny church in Southern California and the pastor invited me to to give a sermon and I think the sermon was probably 14 minutes longer, like I was so nervous and if you're listening and you were there for that sermon. I just want to say I'm sorry. So we are so thankful that God called you to the ministry because obviously if it's a calling that he's placed on your life in a big way and he's using you and for our listeners that don't know a drill a pastors a church that was a church plant in San Diego, California, and it is grown, it is thriving and the his his parishioners. This congregation just loves hearing the word every Sunday from a drill. So thank you Lord for leading federal Sanchez into the ministry. Thanks, Bill. Let's get to our first call of the day and this is Alan calling in from Brea, California with a question about the book of Matthew hi Alan, I support your question for pastor Israel. I want to thank you so much for your program. It's it's great to have you on the Air Force listeners on.

Thank you. I apologize if someone else's asked this question recently, but it's one that crosses my mind lately, especially in the times were living in it come from Matthew 24, 34, truly I tell you, this generation shall certainly not pass away until all these things have happened on our wheeze this generation.

Jesus is talking about the Scriptures you have really good question has been asked before but I think it's one of those questions that we want to keep taking because there there is so much confusion and also you don't look like you say, a lot of people read this passage and they wonder is this talking about my generation are generation. Specifically, as I think it's really important for us to understand the context and if you go back Alan to the beginning of this chapter. In verse one of chapter 24. Jesus left the temple and was going away when his disciples came to point out to him the buildings of the temple but he answered them.

You see all these do you not truly I say to you, there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down now. One of the reasons why the disciples are saying this is because when you looked at the temple there that, but the disciples were looking at him. He was absolutely magnificent. The Jewish historian Josephus talks about how when the sunlight would hit the temple near just right. It looked as if the thing was on fire glowing. These white stones meal overlaid with gold. Absolutely beautiful.

And so the disciples think hey check out this wonderful temple. And Jesus responds and he says you know there will not be left here one stone upon another that will not be thrown down and then you look at verse three. As he sat on the Mount of olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, tell us, when will these things be and what will be the sign of your coming and of the end of the a sense he is seems like Jesus is talking about two different things here in this chapter 1 the destruction of the Temple, when will these things be.

That is when will one stone not be left upon the other and what will be the signs of the end of the age.

Your your second coming, and I think when Jesus says, this generation will not pass away until then, till all these things that come to pass think is referring there specifically to the destruction of the Temple and that's something that happened in 70 A.D. the Roman legion came and just laid Jerusalem to waste the temple was destroyed, and that something that was prophesied and so a lot of what you have happening there in terms of Jesus teaching in Matthew chapter 24 is referring to the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem and so now that doesn't mean that this passage doesn't relate to us and obviously there's all sorts of teaching there that I think we can glean from. But he also is talking about in Matthew 24 that the end of the age is his second coming. One of the things that he specifies later in this text is the important the importance of being ready of being watchful of being filled with the spirit as we anticipate the second coming of the Lord.

And so that's our job as Christians is to be watching and waiting and walking with the Lord as we see the quote unquote signs of the times, but specifically the generation that he's referring to was the generation there that saw the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Alan, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Here is our phone number if you have a question 46833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Rachel from Tulsa, Oklahoma hi Rachel, welcome the core Christianity ideas on sexuality and gain their current cultural climate.this is one of the things Rachel that I think for for believers is growing more and more difficult is seems like that the biblical sexual ethic is completely rejected by our culture made it really is that everything that the Bible says about sex and sexuality meet seems to me that our society are our our broader culture is rejecting that and so that the question is how do we as Christians hold fast to the truth of God's word while still engaging in broader society broader culture first and I think we just have to be confident. What the Scripture teaches and I think the Bible in various places makes it absolutely clear that homosexuality that gay and lesbian relationships are the sin there there condemned in the Old Testament places like Leviticus 18 very clearly in Romans chapter 1. This is something the apostle Paul says, Romans chapter 1 beginning in verse 26 for this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men with men committing shameless acts with men with other men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error and so there there been people who tried to sort of get around these various passages of Scripture in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. And frankly, I just think there's there's no way around it. This is how the church historically for the last 2000 years has understood God's revelation and so when people nowadays say things like oh well, you know, everybody else's been reading those passages incorrectly. I think I think that's us that is out there mean Paul. Paul is very clear. The Old Testament is very clear. So again the question is how do we how do we engage the broader culture will one. I think we don't treat gay and lesbian relationships are homosexuality as the sort of unpardonable sin is like other sins that ultimately are forgivable by the blood of Jesus Christ and that actually what the apostle pulses in another letter in first Corinthians chapter 6, he says beginning in verse nine do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God. Do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor greedy nor drunkards nor violators nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and such.

Paul says were some of you but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God is why I think it's really important for us to understand is that there is hope that the gospel is bigger than this sin that the blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient and so we point people to that hope in in Christ we don't downplay the reality of what sin is there now homosexuality is a sin, so we don't we don't embrace the sort of cultural narrative on sexuality and and homosexuality. In particular we we stick with what the word of God says that we hold out the hope of the gospel to those who struggle with sexual sin and who are engaged in these kinds of relationships and we we recognize that that I mean that's why Jesus came he came to seek and save the lost.

And so we want to have that kind of heart that missionary heart that engages the people around us, with the hope of the gospel not minimizing their sin, but maximizing the power of the gospel to forgive sin by pointing people to the risen Christ Rachel. Rachel, thanks so much for your call.

Thanks for being one of our listeners there until so we appreciate you have a great day this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we answer your questions about the Christian faith every day. We have an amazing team of people behind us producing this program people that write the core articles for our website and produce our core Bible studies.

These are the resources that help you and other believers more fully understand the gospel and have the confidence to share your faith but you know we can't do any of it without your support and that's why would like to ask you to come alongside us and become a regular supporter with a monthly donation of $25 or more, you can join what we call the inner court and be part of the team that makes this show possible now by becoming a member of the inner core will also send you a signed copy of the book that started it all. Core Christianity finding yourself in God's story.

That book was written by our founder Dr. Michael Horton know much like a radio program. The book unpacks the essential beliefs that Christians share in a way that's easy to understand and it also shows why these beliefs matter to our lives today so to join the inner core and get a copy of that book just head over to core Christianity.com/inner core. That's core Christianity.com/inner core, or you can call us at 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 let's go to another question. This is the email that we received and Trent says this in Genesis chapter 9 it says whoever sheds the blood of man by man shall his blood be shed for God made man in his own image. Does this mean that capital punishment is endorsed in the Bible yeah will mean capital punishment is something that was practiced throughout the pages of Scripture, certainly under the old covenant, the sort of Mosaic civil law.

There were grounds for capital punishment you think about the various things that are described in places like the book of Leviticus and then and a lot of that is rooted.

This is you note there in the book of Genesis and in the covenant that was given with and to Noah and so you also think of another place in Scripture that that oftentimes people will go to it in Romans chapter 13 again related to the job of the civil government in society says in Romans chapter 13 verse one. 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. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God is appointed, and those who resist will not or will incur judgment. For rulers are not a terror to bad to good conduct, but too bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority then do what is good and you will receive his approval, for he is God's servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain is a right there. If Paul is referring to the exercise of capital punishment on Camino, by the by the civil government deceit also in Peter in first Peter chapter 2 I believe it's something that that is within the sphere of what government the civil authorities can do now that doesn't mean that every situation or in every situation.

It is being endorsed per se by the Bible or even encouraged primarily by think is this is just what Paul is saying in terms of hey this is within the sphere of what the civil government can do part of the job of the civil government in broader society is making sure that you know evil wrongdoing gets punished and really that evil should be defined by Scripture what the word of God says and how God reveals that which is good to us to just natural revelation you think about this idea that everyone has of right and wrong. From their very birth, is the part of the civil government to help to enforce that reality and carry that out. And so, so the Bible allows for this. I don't know that I would say that it's you know trying to endorse it in in every case per se, though, and so that's how I would approach that question in particular. Romans 13 is a great passage to look at your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and Indra let's get to a question from Katie in West Covina, California hi Katie, thanks for joining us I'm really wanting to growl and my prayer life thinking or wondering how to approach through Katie, that's awesome.

For one, I think what it would exceed a lot of times you know when we start the new year we is Christians will talk about you. I really want to read through the Bible in a year and so were getting our Bible reading plans together and that kind of thing but I love that you're focusing on prayer and yet I've never talked to a believer Katie who who is that you and I think II just get prayer right you know that's one of the areas of my life that I just have it done. I think all of us could grow in our prayer lives and and so using the book of Psalms is one of the ways. One of the tools that I think God gives us to do just that. To grow in our prayer lives and I think that there are a couple of different ways that you can approach using the Psalms as as a tool for for growing and in your prayers. One there are different genres of Psalms throughout the throughout the Psalter. There are some Psalms that really focus on those times in life where we feel like God is distant. Those Psalms are called laments you think about singing the blues and in typically and in the Psalms of lament. The psalmist is saying to the Lord God white wife you left me.

Oh my God, my God, why have you forsaken me. Psalm 22 or Psalm 88, for example, that's that the darkest loneliest lamenting all of the Bible, and sometimes I think when we as Christians are experiencing those feelings in our own lives. We can go to the Psalms of lament and so they just sort of where our heart is in that moment and and I encourage people late when you're there, go to those lamentations in the Psalms.

The Psalms of lament and make them your own now were not always there, though, lamenting, sometimes it's it's Thanksgiving that we bring to the Lord. So there's an entirely other dear different genre in the Psalter called the Psalms of Thanksgiving were the psalmist is praising God for something wonderful that the Lord has done for God's forgiveness or for God's provision and so we can use the Psalms of Thanksgiving or the Psalms of praise or the Psalms of wisdom all these different genres that were able to pull from and incorporate into our own lives.

No matter what season were in as believers. One of the other things I just love about this is sort of a side point is that the Christian life has the seasons. It's not always the mountaintop experience is not always you know, the victorious Christian life like you sometimes hear people speak of it a lot of time to think the majority of the Psalms are lamentations. It's it's the people of God coming near to the Lord and sing God since your presence. I don't I don't feel you right now I'm struggling I'm I'm struggling with my circumstances. I'm struggling with my sin. It's crying out to the Lord so you can, I think Katie you can go to these different genres within the Psalter and use them depending on where you are in a particular place in in your life that one other thing you can do is you can just say hey I want to pray through the entire Psalter so maybe every day dominant dominant pray. I different Psalm or pray through the Psalms and just make it my own. I'm in a pray it as if it were my words I'm aligning my heart with with what the psalmist is saying.

I think that's another really wonderful thing that you can do as well and and just that that that point there that I just made about making it your own and aligning your heart with what the Scripture is saying with what the psalmist is saying that's key because we don't want to just pray mindlessly. And Jesus talked about that in Matthew chapter 6 I love this passage. You know he introduces the Lord's prayer in Matthew chapter 6 he says when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, because they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them and so as you're praying the Psalms don't just pray them mindlessly but really, as I said seek to align your heart with what the psalmist is saying and I think it will just have a real powerful effect on your prayer life.

Katie Katie, thanks so much and we appreciate your commitment to God's word and prayer. Psalms yet how excited my thank you for thanks for being a regular listener core Christianity.

We really appreciate you. Well here's a question that came in just in question that came in from James. She says I believe that God is three persons in one.

But every single time I hear Jesus referred to as God's son. I flinch. I can explain the teaching of the Trinity to someone else. But in my head. I don't understand why Jesus calls himself son when he is God.

He seems more of an emissary when he says he is God's son. I want to know and believe with all my heart that I can't get a grasp on it.

Even enough to fathom it. Can you help me understand this. Yeah well I don't blame you for not fully understanding the Trinity Jane omission really is the great one of the great mysteries of the faith God has revealed himself to us as one God. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one with three distinct persons. The father the son and the Holy Spirit in these three persons are one God. There there distinct differentiated by what we might call their personal properties that the father is unbegotten the source if you will.

The son is eternally begotten of the father, he's the eternal son of God the Holy Spirit eternally. Proceeds from the father and the son.

That's how theologians have have talked about this great mystery, and the reason we refer to Jesus as the eternal son of God, is because that's how the Bible speaks in various places in John chapter 1 verse 14 in John chapter 1 verse 18 a in John chapter 3 verse 16 in John chapter 3 verse 18 Jesus is referred to as the only son of the father. The Greek word that's used there is Monaghan Ace and is sometimes translated as unique or one-of-a-kind, but really and in the way it's used in the ancient world.

In the context of of being begotten this eternal son of the father and that's how the earliest Christians understood this, that Jesus is eternally, the son of the father. Now that's different than what we are when we think about son ship and and and those kinds of familiar with relationship, you know that that's just sort of an analogy that God gives to us when we think about the mystery of the tributes. It's really not an easy thing to define what it means that Jesus is the eternal son of the father, but one of the things that highlighted and that Christians have highlighted for really long time is that Jesus, as the eternal son of the father by nature that is easy equal with the father in power and glory one God has made you and I the sons and daughters of God by grace you see by nature. We are not the children of God actually work were told that were the children of wrath by nature. Jesus is the eternal son of God by nature, and he's made you and I the sons and daughters of God by grace, how through adoption. We've been adopted into the family of God is. That's why it's so important for us to understand these crucial doctrines that the doctrine of the Trinity how God has brought us into his family by faith through his son is eternal son by nature brothers and sisters, we belong to the Lord through Christ, listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us@corechristianity.com and click on offers and the menu will call us at 18338432673334.

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