When Jesus Forgives But the World Doesn't

How can I be sure that God forgives me when society won't forgive me for my past mistakes. 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 a 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. You can 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. Well Pastor Israel. How did your sermon go yesterday. I think it went pretty well.

I'm not sure I mean I don't usually all asked my wife afterwards and shall say that was okay. Nobody was, it was nice get some encouragement that I'm preaching through the book of first John right now outside in San Diego's that's kinda nice were still able to meet outdoors under the San Diego sun but I was talking about. First John chapter 5 where John says this is the love of God that we keep his commandments and his commandments are not burdensome a really interesting passage of Scripture I think so many so many Christians Bill view God as Pharaoh and the church. Sorta like Egypt.

Another just weighed down with guilt and shame. They view Jesus as this new Moses, basically a new lawgiver that we have to understand that Jesus came to lift the burden to forgive our sins, to carry his people and so really got to dig into that a little bit and I was. It was a wonderful time.

His yoke is light right his burden is easy on our own and we have to do is understand that because if we don't were to live under this false assumption that you know God is just ready to strike us with a lightning bolt yeah and a lot of I think you know, faithful Christians live with that fear.

They they view God like like I was saying nothing like Pharaoh's got the hammer. He just wait in it to crush them as soon as they fail and know that's a wonderful passage to bring in the end of Matthew chapter 11, there were Jesus says my yoke is easy and my burden is light. Really wonderful man. Today we have a voicemail we received from a listener named Kevin Bill and a girl. I just want your porch all do. My name is Kevin I'm coming from a small town and occult. For my call. I am saying to Jesus, but am also convicted so and I battle with condemnation because my go out looking for work, criminal background, they end up denying you employment and so how does one live knowing in God's forgiveness while living in a society that constantly condemns keeping them trapped in an imaginary jail cell after they pay their debt to society. Thank you and God bless.

Okay sly I get to hear your question, I think we just pray for our brother want to pray for you and Lord, we come before you now lift Kevin up to you and thank you that he knows you that he has a relationship with you through your son Jesus and father I pray that you would help him to know and to rest in more and more each day. His identity in Christ that he belongs to you that he's forgiven that he's justified now through faith in Jesus Christ and Lord, whatever the world says whatever the people around him Lord put on him still Lord that that he can rest in his relationship with you. Would you please provide for our brother Lord, we know what a difficult thing it it is to find work and especially in in particular circumstances like like these.

What would you please be with my brother and encourage him to state them and provide for him in Jesus name, amen traumatizing that I think it is really important for a lot of us to hear it doesn't just apply to you but I think it it does. Specifically, it then that's you need to hear and rest and believe what Jesus says about you. First and foremost, and in the voice of Christ in your life has to drown out the voice of the world and in what they are saying about you in your particular situation, that doesn't mean that you know it's going to be easy. I've had conversations with dear brothers who weren't in a similar situation as you are and and actually this is very same question is come up you how how can I rest in what Jesus has done for me when every time I go to my parole officer. I'm being reminded of you know what's happened in the past or when I go to apply for a job and I have to share with them that I am a convicted felon you.

How can I how can I rest in what Jesus is done well.

You need to go to what the word of God says brother and one passage of Scripture that I think is really encouraging his Colossians chapter 2 beginning in verse 13, Paul said you were dead in your trespasses and the un-circumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame by triumphing over them in him.

That's that that's true of you brother by faith in Jesus Christ.

You have been forgiven and that that record of debt that stood against you has been nailed to the cross that other people might try to remind you of what it is that you've done that and put that burden back on you Kevin.

But that's what you need to go back to the word of God and what Christ has said and I think another really important piece of the puzzle here is make sure you're a part of a good church, a faithful Bible preaching church that knows you knows your situation and also loves you and that's key and I think that can be a huge comfort for you is having a community of believers around you who are aware of your situation.

That's also the way in which potential you could get connected with work just the two people and in the church who know your situation and don't condemn you because you've been forgiven and you're a part of the family and so I hope Kevin that your ear in a local church and that you been able to get plugged in somewhere so you can get that encouragement you need that encouragement, especially when the world is telling you the opposite that you're worthless that you don't deserve a job that kind of thing and other things which we belong to Jesus you've been justified and I would say you continue to trust him as you as you press for doing the things that you know you need to do in order to define work continue to be diligent and to trust in the Lord, you know federal I was thinking of Kevin situation just from a practical standpoint and getting involved in the church is so critical and yet he's in a small town in Indiana.

He may need to drive a few minutes to a larger community where he can get plugged into a larger church where they're going to be people that can get to know them who might be able to provide job opportunities because I found. I'm sure you found this as well. If you're in a decent size church there going to be employers there, and once they get to know Kevin find out that his record is now cleaned that is cleaned up his act and that he's ready to go to work in and do a good job for them.

They may be willing to look past that that you know felon background and say hey let's I want to hire you to work in my company, yellow first and foremost for you Kevin what you're gonna want to look for is a church that faithfully preaches the word of God where there's a community of people who loves the Scriptures and have been. That's key because that's where people from all different walks of life and backgrounds can come and be welcomed because we really believe that the power of the gospel is able to unite us together. The blood of Jesus makes us a family and and so you want to be a part of a church that believes that and in acts like the famine, potentially, there are opportunities there as well and so may the Lord bless you. We do pray that very soon you're able to find some some good employment. I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Our phone number is 833 the core.

If you want to call right now and talk to pastor Israel live 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Julie who is calling in from San Diego, California hi Julie, welcome to core Christianity, thanks for calling Julie what your question. Tell me more about what land is and why some Christians don't celebrate it.

Sure, I'd be happy to yet me. There are different churches with different traditions and in terms of how they think about things like the liturgical calendar the church calendar.

What I'm what I mean by that is, you know, there are events in the life of Jesus that many churches will celebrate throughout the year. Things like Easter, the resurrection of Jesus or the passion of Jesus now according to the Bible in the New Testament. In particular, that the New Testament church doesn't celebrate holy days we don't have holy days like they did under the old covenant, but over time in the history of the church.

There were there were some churches that decided to to focus on these events in the life of Christ.

The celebrate them annually as a way of remembering essentially what Christ is accomplished in history for us at the know personally I actually appreciate that to some extent. I like the idea of remembering the great acts of redemption focusing on them throughout the year at me and I think that's that's up to, but there there really is freedom for us to to think through this now lent in the history of the church that one of the ways is to develop was there was a period of time early on were many Christians would be baptized around Easter or what came to be celebrated as Easter and leading up to that they were sort of prepare by fasting and so that period of fasting morphed over time into into what became Lent and it was assertive. Of the fasting of denying oneself for 40 days.

Sort of an imitation of Christ and again I don't know that that's necessarily something that will I do know that it's something that the Bible doesn't command that we do inside. I think that's key and I that's one of the reasons why many Christians don't celebrate Lent or go through that practice, but other church traditions. Do you know Jesus that something really interesting. He said it's not what goes into the body that defiles it but what comes out of the heart, and I think sometimes with some of these traditions, we have to be careful is what we have to remember that it's not the sort of rituals that we do even related to fasting a what you eat or what you don't eat. It's what comes from your heart. And Jesus said from the heart proceed all sorts of evil things we need, ultimately, is the grace of the Holy Spirit, the forgiveness of Christ through faith.

And so, no, again I don't think churches should bind the consciences of their members to get them to to celebrate these kinds of things are to practice these kinds of things that is nowhere outlined in Scripture but different churches have sort of taken a different take on this. Julie does does the church that you're part of that practice lender do the Lent thing. I'm not sure what their practices, lambasting the practice Lent at your church know we don't.

I like to eat too much and so we don't know that but again there's nothing in the New Testament doubt that says that we have to go get me. That really there's one day that the early church celebrated and that was the Lord's day it was Sunday. Were we were. We remember that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. That was the day of worship. That's when we we have our communion meal. Christ, our Passover has been sacrificed both said that to the Corinthians or so. That's the day of celebration for believers and I think that's we should highlight does that mean we we ought not to focus on some of these other great acts and in redemptive history throughout the rest of the year. Now I think I think there's a moment for teaching there and that in so far as that's the case I think it can be beneficial, but it really is up to each individual person. Julie, thanks much for your call. This is core Christianity. Here's the number if you want to connect with pastor Israel. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

By the way, you can listen to core Christianity any time and here. Previous episodes by subscribing to our podcast and if you subscribe and leave us to review a five star review even more people will hear about the podcast and have a chance to learn about the core truths of Christianity. So just look for the podcast on your podcast at make sure to give us that five-star review. Let's get to another call, this is Debbie from Fresno, California hi Debbie, walk in the core Christianity all what I am.

Her children of Israel rely you that when did the term Hebrews. Our children of Israel will me when you're reading to the book of Genesis. You have basically the whole history of God's people there and God called Israel there in the book of Genesis is a me that's a place where I would go. I've been in my own personal devotions. Debbie reading to the book of Genesis and if if you really want to try to get a history there of of the Israelites and of their history that that's where you want to go there and then also and in the book of Exodus is God called his people out of Jeep out of Egypt from slavery and then establish them so yeah I'm yeah that's where I would point you to was or something more. More specifically, you were thinking of in terms of just that the name there. Debbie. Here real never hurt you. Yeah. And right there. It's just referring to you know God's God's covenant people. The people that he called you through Abraham and his offspring, his children, and ultimately Jesus Christ is the seed of Abraham were told in Galatians chapter 3, and that's why believers today in Jesus Christ can refer to themselves as the children of Abraham is again I would just encourage you to look at the book of Genesis. Me, that's our family history. As believers, what, what a wonderful thing to be able to to read to me that your family tree by faith in Jesus Christ and that and that's going to give you all the background that you need sister. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, if you have been helped by an answer that you heard on core, Christianity, and you want to share a previous episode with a friend or family member you can send them a video of our episodes from our YouTube channel. Just make sure to click on the subscribe button while you're there you can follow along. For extra videos from core Christianity see pastor Israel right there in the studio flipping through God's word and answering questions. Let's go to Adriana who is calling in from not exactly sure where are you Adriana I am from Maine in the day. Hey, welcome to the core Christianity what your question. Thank you. My question is how do I handle the regret of thinning because I know that God forgives and wants me to turn back him. I just don't know how to keep shame and hide grounding my immediate response that you know Adrian, I think that there are really two pieces to repentance. There is there is a sense in which and repentance. We recognize our sin for what it is I it's an offense against God. It it breaks us damages. Sin destroys us. It offends God but but the other piece of repentance is not just recognizing the sort of negative aspect, but also having the hope that we have in the gospel. Turning to Jesus away from ourselves away from our sins to the Lord and I think that that those two pieces are really really important because a lot of times when we fail we just have that first part you know we want to wallow in our sins we we feel so guilty and then I think there's a part of us that even though we might not put it this way.

Adriana would we want to try to atone for our sins bite by feeling as bad as we can and we think, I just I can't go back to the Lord until I five done better, at least for a couple of days and then I'll go back to him in prayer.

Go back to church. That kind of thing, but what you need to know is that through Jesus Christ. The moment you sin you can turn to the father and you have hope not because you're perfect because of what Jesus has accomplished for you and and so the more we realize you know how short we fall the greater of our our appreciation of the cross becomes because we flee to the cross we flee to Jesus and so it's it's recognizing that we don't have to live anymore in the shame in the. The regret what you know what we have remorse, repentance over our sin, but God doesn't want us to wallow in our sin anymore because Jesus has paid for it sister and Jesus is paid for your sin, we have this promise is very clear promise in Scripture. First John chapter 1 verse nine that if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all unrighteousness that I love that verse because so often when we confess our sins, we might still feel weighed down wondering, does God really forgive me. I don't feel forgiven, will at the end of the day don't rest in your feelings, rest Adriana and what God has said, you go to him even 70×7. The of the same struggle you go to him by faith, clinging to Jesus and he is faithful and just to forgive you and to cleanse you and so you know that that's the hope that that's that's a hope that you have and ultimately it's it's recognizing resting in the work of Jesus. Instead of letting our sins keep us from drawing near to the Lord. Amen.

What the great promise of the gospel for everyone of us. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and today we want to offer you a very special resource that Israel produced himself. It's so cool and it's called seeing Jesus yeah Bill, thanks for it for saying it that way. It's so cool I think it's a pretty cool research is seeing Jesus.

It's it's a devotional resource that really dives into four accounts in the Gospels that give a servant a different snapshot of Jesus in his ministry in his offices.

The offices of prophet, priest and king.

What he came to accomplish for us.

There is just so much confusion in the world today about Jesus.

Was he just a prophet you know is he is he really the way the truth and the life that the one through whom we have access to the father is a God, right.

Well, this is a resource to help you understand the teaching of the Bible related to the identity of crisis, one that I think you really need and so get your hands on seeing Jesus. It's free for you and a bill you can give them more information about that right.

Here's how to get one. Just sign up to receive your free copy of seeing Jesus by heading over to core Christianity.com/Jesus. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 or help getting that offer any one of our offers go to work. Show notes page for today's program and you'll find that offer and any resources that we mentioned. Let's go to Drew who was calling in from Kansas City Hydro I are you doing today doing well Drew, what's your question. Thank you for having a first of all you guys are a blessing on the radio. I wanted to ask you for a bit. I been discussing biblical principles and issues with you will and she comes more from along the lines of what a messianic Jew might believe and she got issues with Christians/believers going to church on Sundays because of the old covenant versus the new covenant. She says that the old covenant can be broken because it was a blood covenant and you know I five stated Scripture from Romans and Galatians and Ephesians about about Drew CDC saying that we need to. As Christians live under the old covenant.

Sounds like they did well. She believed that she believes as believers are Christians. We need to we need to adhere to the Sabbath on the seventh because God is never changing, and it gets heated. Sometimes I try to call me back and let well good for you I'm you deftly want to stay as calm as you can.

We as Christians are under the new covenant were not under the old covenant anymore and one of the concerns that I have an and I think that this is really important for us to understand.

Is it naturally, we should attend to go back to the sort of works mentality in the Christian life you want a list of things to do whereby we can justify ourselves before God, and no one can be justified by the law by obedience to the lime. Paul makes this very clear in the book of Galatians and he also says in Colossians chapter 2 verse 16 is you are talking them. Think about this verse therefore let no one pass judgment on you and questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. The substance is here brother me that out under the new covenant.

All of those things that we had in the ceremonial law of the Old Testament you that the temple with it sacrifices all of those things pointed forward to Jesus, the Messiah, the substance of our faith with be really careful when people try to get us to go back to those things and to observe some of these rules we talked about it a little bit. This is one thing that may concern people me earlier we are talking about Lenton and Christians observing or celebrating Lent. It is one of the concerns we can have a sort of creating these rules that look very much like the rules that they had under the old covenant, and then telling people that they have to observe them if they want to be right with God will that's not what the Bible teaches.

And so we have to be very very careful brother and I think you should continue to have conversations with with your friend, but encourage her with the fact that that you know what that passage right there in Colossians chapter 216 phone but also you're talking about that worshiping on Saturday yet understand even the apostles themselves began gathering together on the Lord's day on Sunday because that was the day that Jesus rose again from the dead, you see this in acts chapter 20 in first Corinthians chapter 16 the early Christian community gathered together on the first day of the week celebrating the resurrection and so if if that what I was as if the apostles themselves to designate the men who walked with Jesus.

It was good enough for them than it should be good enough for us as well and it's a sign of the fact that we are the new covenant church the new covenant community federal why do you think somebody Christians want to go back to the Old Testament law just burden themselves when they are free through God's grace. Do you know to celebrate their their incredible gift. The gift of God is given them through the death of Christ on the cross.

Yeah well and that is the case, we just what we want something that we can do to justify ourselves, but that's not good news at the end of the day, you know that's can exhaust you trying to obey the commandments in order for God to accept you help me nobody can obey the commandments perfectly. That's why we need the gospel. Jesus obeyed and we get his righteousness by faith. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and 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