Are the Children of Believers Holy?

What does Paul mean when he says that the children of Christians are holy.

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.

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, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today we have a good news story to share with you an Arizona firefighter who was hospitalized with COBIT 19 received an unusual visit from his coworkers last week. They used a ladder truck to drop by his hospital window.

Dan bull Co. is a 20 year veteran of the Phoenix fire department. He was hospitalized when his case of COBIT turned severe. Dan says his spirits were lifted by an unexpected visit from his fellow firefighters he says I was in bed and there was this beeping sound. There's a very distinct beep when you backup a truck I'm thinking to myself, that sounds a lot like a fire truck had looked out his window and he discovered some of his crewmates had backed up a truck to the building and it extended the latter all the way up to say hi through his window. Dan said he drew strength and encouragement from the surprise visit. That's pretty awesome Bill. I like that story. It is very cool and you know it just it shows you how people are really supporting their friends and coworkers who come down with this virus in in some beautiful ways and so kudos to the Phoenix fire department and those those good guys.

That's right. Let's get to our first question of the day. This one was a Facebook post we received from one of our listeners.

He says this.

I'm a 29 year old single man and I struggle with pornography.

I know it's wrong and a sin and I hate that I'm so weak when I fall I stay away from God for a little while because I'm ashamed and I feel I'm not worthy even though I know I'm forgiven my brain just can't comprehend that God can forgive me over and over again for the same sin.

It doesn't seem fair to him. I was born and raised a Christian but this is something I cannot understand.

I don't want to take advantage of his forgiveness and cleansing blood, but I'm just so weak I feel it's easier if I just keep away from him as opposed to constantly asking for forgiveness will brother it may be easier to distance yourself from the Lord to stay away from Christian Fellowship Christian community because you feel like you're in this right of sin, but but what you need more than anything is the grace of Christ is the encouragement of the gospel is accountability from the body of Christ, he that's one of the big problems is our sin will try to convince us that we need to isolate II just can't be honest about this with anybody else out the hide and that's precisely I think were the evil one wants us because it's in the dark hitting that sin grows and so what we really need to do is we need to walk in the light in John talks about this in first John chapter 1 he says in verse eight if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 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 innocent, and what you need to bank on brother is the promise of God's word right there in verse nine if we confess our sins he is faithful and just and others. This is a part of who God isn't it.

It's how he's revealed himself in his word. We come to him confessing our sins, even if it's the same sin over and over again God because he's faithful because he's righteous because Jesus is atone for the sins of his people will forgive us that's a promise that we have one thing that I think is also really comforting if you go to a little bit later in first John in chapter 2 verse 12 John says this, I'm writing to you, little children, because your sins are forgiven, get this for his namesake.

Now that phrase for his namesake.

It appears throughout the Bible, especially in the Old Testament it it emphasizes the fact that God is working in us to forgive us to sanctify us, not because were good per se or or because of something in us but because it's about his glory God for giving you when you go to him is about his glory, not your goodness, and so on the basis of his namesake on the base of his glory. When you go to him and state Lord forgive me again brother I can say to that God does forgive you of the prophet Jeremiah. He talked about this in Jeremiah chapter 14 verse seven. This is a prayer of confession, though our iniquities testify against us. Act O Lord, for your namesake for our backsliding's are many we have sinned against you and so what gives you confidence when you go to the Lord and asked for forgiveness is not the fact that you've been walking with the Lord faithfully and that you haven't fallen into this sin in a while. It's the fact that God on the basis of his glory for his namesake will forgive when we go to him and so brother I would encourage you to continue to go to the Lord and and make sure you as I said a lot of times and in situations like this, people will isolate at the you can't do that you need to be in a good church.

We are hearing the word of God preached faithfully where you can go and bring your sin into the light to to an elder or pastor who you trust.

I think that's part of how we put our sins to death is by openly confessing them that you know you can confess directly to Jesus, but I think that there's there's something there there something healing about them.

James talks about this in James chapter 5 and there are other things out there that you might look into. I know that there is different kinds of accountability software that you might want to put on your computer or your phone thinks it will help you stay away from this this sin struggle and and I know also the one thing that we we can say sexual addiction is a real thing and so consider maybe even sitting down with the counselor who specializes in addiction that individuals who use pornography often times are looking for something deeper that they're hoping to find in in pornography that ultimately they never will find there a heaven that could be a sense of power, a sense of control. A sense of being wanted desirable masculinity affection. There are all sorts of reasons why people run to sin and you need to recognize that and an address to sort of deeper heart issues, but focusing on the gospel not on your failures on God's forgiveness not hunt on whether or not you deserve it going to him and resting in his word is what I would encourage you to do you know Israel I'm so glad you mentioned that verse in James about confessing our sins, confessing our faults to one another, because I think often times were sin. Satan does try to isolate us and we feel like okay I'm praying to God but but were not confessing our sins to other individuals in the body of Christ, and that can be so healing so freeing yeah absolutely and and like I said and what we want to be very clear about this. You know, you don't need to confess your sins to a priest or that kind of thing.

Jesus is our ultimate high priest we can go directly to the Father through him. And that's how we receive forgiveness and yet I think a lot of times when when were able to go to another brother or sister in the Lord, you know, for women who are struggling with this and just and just be honest and say look, there is this sin that I've not yet put to death that I need help with. I need accountability with bringing it into the light really helps. I think to deal with some of the issues of shame, but it also helps in terms of not minimizing sinful behavior.

Identifying it as sin and saying Lord put this to death and when we need to together as the body of Christ, pray for one another and encourage one another with the hope of God's word. Let's go to a call from Raul in Bakersfield, California. Here's the phone number is 1-833-843-2673 Roe welcome to core Christianity already are so my call and long want to thank you for your faithfulness in answering all these questions, but a man and thank you for answering my question. I have is that in the biblical way correct biblical accuracy will be wrong by part in the current church as I've been here for about three years, or years now and the reason is because I have been been growing at most like that hasn't been in the sense of mental support older men, and the fate built one know and encourage each other? George cried and also my fiancé. She hasn't been my mentor by any of the women like the entire day. Think Timothy and build a man and also on pursuing into the office of ministry on the haven't been like in any way mentor door and also the bridge, and it's not shallow and felt like not really make much of months. I would say to you, me, sounds like there are a lot of things going on there. One thing I'll say is the pastors. I know this last year with the pandemic. It's been really difficult for a lot of churches visit one of the things is been a challenge for many churches is that fellowship component people not getting together like we were before it, that that's I think made it very difficult to do some of the one another during one of the that that sort of individual discipleship stuff that you were talking about so one thing I would want to say and of course speaking as a pastor.

Here is is be patient, especially coming out of such a difficult year. Certainly I think it if a church is really struggling with fellowship and with some of that that community peace me that you think of acts chapter 2 were talked about the early fellowship of Christians they were devoted to the apostles teaching to the breaking of the bread to the fellowship in the prayers and if that element there of fellowship is lacking.

I will cite what you want to maybe bring that forward have a conversation with the leadership of the church.

I think first and foremost me think about the elders of the church what they're called to do think that there that charged with shepherding the flock of God and the primary way they do that is to teaching the word of God.

And Paul said to Timothy in second Timothy chapter 4 verse one preach the word to me that that's that the call for ministers of the gospel in particular and elders need to be able to teach. First Timothy three Titus chapter 1 and so that's a huge question, there is the word of God being faithfully taught and if the word of God is being faithfully topic but there's some may be lapses in fellowship. I think that something that you could bring forward to the leadership and and you can have a conversation prayerful conversation.

I think you want to be patient. You want to be charitable, but if the gospel isn't being taught that if the word of God isn't being preached and and will that that that's a different that's and that's a different thing altogether, but I would encourage you to do it. Especially in this season, brother to maybe exercise a little bit of extra grace for your local congregation considering everything that's been happening over the last year and and realizing that a lot of churches I know many churches are trying very hard to really care for the people in the congregation while also working through some of these these broader issues related to the pandemic and gathering together and so that I will I trust that that encourages you and I also, you mentioned that you're interested in pursuing the ministries that true yes brother and out at one of the drop in any way brother will happen before every member pandemic ever hit like a cookout looking into going to seminary like one of the requirements that I need a mentor and my You have any time for that right now and all like that that happened pandemic. Let me just say one more. Thank you and again I think continue to have this conversation with the leadership in your church. I don't know your situation. 100%. So I would want to encourage you to to leave the church or or to stay at the church and this is something you have to think through for yourself and and with your fiancé. But one thing I will say in terms of a call to the ministry and sensing that call to the ministry that something that we we have internally that that ended an individual feels. I mean, Paul talks about this you if somebody aspires to the office of an overseer that they desire a good thing. That's a really good thing, but I think that also needs to be concern confirmed through the people around you in your church and so is your part of the body there, and as your serving as your getting to know people, as as you're using your gifts. The gifts that God is giving you to build up the local church, the body of Christ.

Other people around you should be single out but I will you. Your encouragement to us. God is really gifted you in these ways, and help to confirm that call to the ministry and so it really is that these two things there in an internal call in an extra call and I pray that the Lord guide you as you think through some of those things but I would say be patient, be prayerful and open up this conversation with the leadership of your church some more. Thanks for your question, no, Indra.

Looking back on your own life when you first felt a call to ministry. I think it was as a teenager, or in your early 20s, did you have individuals in your church to affirm that no I'm just joking. Excellent work there where there were quite a few. Thankfully yeah I mean it was it was something where III did I felt that internal call as a new believer.

Initially I thought maybe I'll be a missionary. I just want to serve the Lord and then over time studying the Scriptures.

I wanted to teach the Bible and it was really encouraging to be a part of a local church where other people came around me and said a atrial email. We we appreciate what you're doing and and what you're pursuing and we think that your gifted in these ways we want to encourage you and that's really really important. We don't call ourselves to the ministry individually. It's something that the church does and so we really need to have that element as well. When we think about whether or not working to pursue ministry your listing to core Christianity with faster atrial Sanchez. Here's the number if you want to talk live to a drill. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Frank who was calling from San Diego, California hi Frank, welcome to core Christianity. I doing well Frank what your question will my question is all well all the confusion around today all with the word apostles just wanted to know if you would be able to.

I would say explain how apostles are then and how we can distinguish, you know, the false apostles of today because that word apostle is getting use a lot these days. So just wanted to see like that if you can just explain that I think the position that there are no more apostles see if you'd be able to flush it out of the gutter. Thank you, a really important question in as you noted there Frank. There is a difference of opinion among Christians today know there are some who sort of throw that word apostle around and suggest that there apostles today.

Just like their apostles in the days of the New Testament, and there are others, and that happens to be my position as well who say there aren't apostles today that the office of apostle ceased essentially in the first century you had the apostles there who would receive the authoritative communication from Jesus himself, you know that the word of the gospel and they handed that down to people that they had trained up in local churches, pastors, the date established and that those pastors were called to train up others, but they weren't establishing new apostles and the apostles were foundational for the church and that's actually what the apostle Paul himself said in Ephesians chapter 2 verse 20 he referred to the apostles as foundational for the church of Jesus Christ. Let me just read what he said there beginning in verse 19 so then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone as I think it's really important that we understand this now throughout the New Testament that word apostle is sometimes used in a technical way to refer to the 12 those who were eyewitnesses of Jesus's resurrection is on that since we can't have apostles like that anymore because people work people today who claim to be apostles didn't walk with Jesus like the actual apostles did what the Greek word Compostela means I send out refers to one who is sent out so it may be like a not a technical way people convert refer to apostles but but I think it's unhelpful to use that language today because typically when we use it were thinking of the authoritative apostles the 12 and in that regard.

We don't have new apostles today and that the scary thing. This is where I think can be dangerous for the church is when somebody claims to be an apostle, but before you take that title to the himself, and they use that to exercise authority over others. The Army situations cases of spiritual abuse. It can be really concerning it. So I think that's what's unhelpful to use that terminology that Frazier. That word for today apostles for today and it's better to stick to what the New Testament says is established in local churches for all time that his elders and deacons.

First Timothy three Titus chapter 1, so thanks Frank for your question. Good counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez and today we on one offer you a very special resource is actually one that April has produced called seeing Jesus Yasin Jesus is a short four week devotional that we want to put in your hands for free excited to get this to you. One thing I want to say about this resource and particulars. There's a kind of familiarity with Jesus that is it is not good. It might shock you to hear that but there's this passage I often go to in Mark chapter 6 Jesus went to his hometown and no one there believed in him, or at least very few people believed in him because they had the sort of familiarity with Jesus.

They thought they knew who he was and frankly I think today a lot of people have that same kind of familiarity with Jesus. They don't really understand who he is, we should of been raised around the church we hear the stories we have these assumptions about Jesus. We have never been truly introduced to him, so it's really important that we have a right understanding of who Christ is from the Scriptures that we see him according to what the Bible says and that's what this resource is going to help you do to sign up to receive a free copy of seeing Jesus just head over to core Christianity.com/Jesus also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any of our offers.

Again, that's 833. The core, by the way, you can find a today's offer and all the resources mentioned on today's program by going to our show notes page at core, Christianity.com will call a voicemail that came in on our phone number 833-843-2673, Carter.

I have a question about 712 16 thing that one night and we determined that it doesn't mean that there is a salvation situation here. But what does it mean that the spouse or child is made holy. Because of the believing spouse or parent.

Thanks a lot. I really, really good question.

Let me read the text for those who are unfamiliar with it. Paul says in verse 27. Beginning in verse 12 to the rest I say I not the Lord that if her brother has a wife who is an unbeliever and she consents to live with him he should not divorce or if any woman has a husband who is an unbeliever and he consents to live with her she should not divorce him for the unbelieving husband is made holy because of his wife, and the unbelieving wife is made holy because of her husband.

Otherwise, your children would be unclean, but as it is they are holy.

Now it seems like in the context of first Corinthians in the Corinthian church. It probably reached out to the apostle Paul. There'd been some sort of communication where they had a question about you.

How do we treat our unbelieving spouse. What is the relationship to the Christian someone who's accepted Jesus, but they are married to someone who doesn't embrace the faith and under the old covenant in the Old Testament if if you remember in places like Ezra chapter 9 in Ezra chapter 10 the people of God were rebuked for being in these mixed marriages, their children were were not treated as a part of the visible family of God.

If you will, but the covenant people of God and so this was a probably a really big question on the minds of the grant is what what we do with with our children and with our spouses who are believers in Paul says here something that so wonderful about the new covenant is by by virtue of the fact that one of the spouses is a believer, he says your children are holy. They belong to the Lord that language holy unclean. It's taken from the book of Leviticus that which was holy had to do with that, the temple worship of of the Old Testament. It belong to the Lord and in Paul this really is an encouragement for them it but an encouragement for all of us.

Also, if we if we have children to know that our children belong to the Lord, that I sometimes hear Christians refer to their kids.

This is vipers in diapers just like cowboy note to know that the Lord expects us to include them in this visible worship of his people that he treats them as holy and and you're right brother. That does mean that they're just born again by virtue of the fact that there are children. No, not at all, but it does mean that they have this special status according to God there to be a part of the worshiping community and that's how God treats them and so it really is this wonderful encouragement that we see there in first Corinthians chapter 7 and so we should take it as such and in especially in a day and age where many people are lamenting the fact that children are just leaving the church, abandoning the faith will make when they go off to college is so important for us to understand this, that God expects us as his people to bring our children up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord because they belong to him with actually got a great resource on that topic for Christian parents who might be concerned about their kids faith and what will they remain in the church remain in the faith, or will they try to leave the faith on you can find that at our show notes paged at core, Christianity.com, something that all of us as moms and dads need to be praying for diligently.

Yeah, that's right, Bill, and what a great reminder for us moving talking about discipleship in today's program for passing the faith onto the next generation.

It's so important for us to cling to those truths and to hand them down to the people around us, especially to our children. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.

Please let us know how you been encouraged by this program and be sure to join us next time. As we explore the truth of God's word together