What Does It Mean to Hand Others Over to Satan?

The New Testament says that certain people will be handed over to Satan. What does that mean that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition 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. You can also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com hey Bill, I was thinking about yesterday's broadcasting answer to how we ended.

We had an excellent question on discipleship and in particular one to one discipleship, and I mentioned this on the program before betting a lot of believers should have this idea that discipleship looks like.

I meet with one other person at a Starbucks or something like that in and were going to a book together and I'm discipling some when someone is discipling me, whereas we really need to recover the sort of holistic understanding of discipleship that we see in the New Testament had a friend who really struggled with this idea of discipleship because he felt like he couldn't meet one-on-one with another person and teach them something he just thought that was in my gift and I said before, he had the gift of of barbecue in particular card inside of my left is my favorite kind of food to eat and that in his home. There was so much fellowship so much hospitality that took place the people were being disciple that he wasn't doing all the teaching he was just using his gift like the gifts that the Lord given to him for the good of the body of Christ, and I want to encourage everyone to use the gifts that God is given to them for the building up of the body. That is how discipleship takes place. You know if your buddy wants come over to my house and exercises get sought to let him know here okay folks, let's get to a one of our calls. This is Daniel from Kansas City, Kansas. Daniel welcome to core Christianity are, you know, yeah, you're out living God will raise up I really want to hear your on my problem. Maybe it is a problem hey Daniel, thank you so much for that question, no I don't have a problem with cremation.

The Bible speaks to this. Specifically, at the end of the day right that the hope that we have in the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come is not the manner of our burial. It's the fact that Jesus himself was raised again from the grave that that's that's a weakling to first Corinthians chapter 15 because Christ was raised from the dead. We too are also going to be raised from the dead, not because of how we were buried, but because of who we are united to by faith and so you know I think for some people, you might be a matter of personal conscience.

Were they really struggle with this idea and for them.

They do say you know I don't want to be cremated, but there there's this is a sin issue on I'm saying is not an issue of it's right or wrong, are you know you shouldn't do it because it's inappropriate know what Christians believe that the body is a good thing and and I think for many of us you know who might be concerned with this idea that my desecrating the body that you think we realize now I'm not about desecrating the body and frankly for for my family. Maybe I'm trying to make it a little bit easier because burial is so expensive is we know, but it the other day. The Bible does not say there's anything wrong with cremation. Our hope is in the fact that were united to Jesus by faith I meant.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Here's the number to call if you have a question it's 833. The core let's go to Duncan calling in from Ottawa, Canada Duncan, are you listening online or to a local radio station there. I have a question relating to Earth Day coming up in April.

I believe okay, how should we Bible believing Christians responded. Don't get me wrong I'm all for being wise stewards of God's creation. At the same time I feel special interest groups are trying to ram their agenda down our throats for climate change. The climate is changing your continuous detailed on this access is naturally warm up by several to see.

So Duncan is mean IIII know where you're going with this, and it's it's a good question because there are all sorts of people that are trying to shove their ideas down our throats and we need to make sure that were first sticking to what the Scripture teaches and one yeah I mentioned a little bit ago with the previous question related to the body. Christians are people who have always had a high view of creation. We want to be good stewards of this world that God is given to us. I think sometimes believers can have this idea that everything is going bad and and one day it's all going to burn and so you know what's the big deal. Who cares about the earth but the fact of the matter is, God calls us, as you said to be good stewards of this world and that looks like taking care of the world now there is a way in which we can abuse this and and one of the big problems you see this in Romans chapter 1 is that our temptation as human beings is not to receive God's good gifts and give him thanks for them it's actually to worship the creature rather than the creator. That is what we do is we turn to this world and we essentially bow down to it we worship it, and that is a problem that's a huge problem, and so I think that there are people all around us today who that's exactly what they're doing when they think about the world and they think about how we should treat the will and I think that there there can be abuses here, but that's not to say that we as Christians are called to take care of it so you think of something like Earth Day you know if it's if it's an opportunity for you and your family to give thanks to God for his good creation to look to the one who made all things for his glory and for our good. Wonderful.

But don't don't let it become what it what it might be for so many people, which is just an opportunity to to bow down to and served the creature rather than the creator we we don't view this world as ultimate we open our hope in this world we put our hope in the God of heaven and earth, who has overcome the world. Jesus says in John chapter 16 and through whom we can enjoy the world that he's given God bless you great counsel there a drill. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. By the way, we should tell you that some of the radio stations that air our program aired on a tape delayed basis.

So if you have a question for Pastor Ed really like to talk to them live here are the times to call you want to call us at 11:30 AM Pacific 12:30 PM Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time. That's an able to get the names of talk to pastor a grow life. Let's go to a voicemail that came in on our line. Actually, this person called him yesterday and this is Paul. Hey guys, I love your show. I wanted to know in first Timothy 120. Paul is talking to Timothy and he says that he hand he has handed over Irenaeus and Alexander to Satan for blossoming what what does that mean if you love them why we hand over anybody to Satan and what did he do that knowing full well that he would get them back.

I'm really confused about this verse.

Thank you. You have poly and there's a lot that's not said there mean obvious you have this idea of these these two people who are engaged in in grievous enemy.

Paul mentions their blasphemy there dishonoring the holy name and worship of God and so he says I've delivered them over to Satan, it could sound like will. That's not a very nice thing to tell me what Paul what are you what are you doing here what I think if you go to another passage in the New Testament were Paul also uses this language helps to clarify things. So I would say if you have a Bible turn to first Corinthians chapter 5. This is another issue of more instance of church discipline that is dealing with sin in the worshiping community.

First Corinthians chapter 5, Paul said it is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not even tolerated among the pagans for a man has his father's wife and you are arrogant.you not rather to mourn. Let him who has done this be removed from among you, for though absent in body, I am present in spirit, and if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing when you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus, and my spirit is present with the power of the Lord Jesus, you are to delivered this man to Satan. Now here's here's the. The purpose behind this and it's so important you see this first grant in chapter 5 verse five your to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord that he's talking here again about the context of church discipline. The church is assembled together when you're gathered together in the name of the Lord Jesus to deal with sin in the community. Jesus talked about this in Matthew chapter 18, and the goal here is restorative right you're delivering him over to Satan. That is a look if he's continuing in this pattern of unrepentant sin. Just say okay hands off.

Do your own thing you're essentially putting yourself in the hands of Satan for the destruction of the flesh that is there going to begin to reap what they sow and as they reap what they sow as they experience what Paul describes here is to describe destruction of the flesh, the hope, the goal is that they would be brought to repentance that they would be humbled so that they might be restored to the community of the church. It's it's so important that we we realize this church discipline is never about punishing someone sometimes abusive churches can can use church discipline. In this way it it's it's punitive church discipline is actually always with the goal of restoration of restoring an individual who is turning away from the Lord is engaging in unrepentant sin, turning them back to Jesus, restoring them to the fellowship of the church and so that's that's the point they are ceasing look deliver this one. Are these ones over to Satan.

Ultimately, so that they might see the error of their ways so that they might begin to taste the bitter fruit of their sin and be reminded of the sweet fellowship that exists within the body of Christ so that they might be restored so that as he said in verse five is spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. And so Paul, thank you for that question and appreciate you listening to the program.

Lord bless you all. Thanks so much. By the way, if you'd like to leave us a voicemail. You can leave it on our phone line 24 hours a day, 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33 the core. You can also go to our website at core, Christianity.com look for the microphone icon click right there and you can record your message for Pastor Israel. Let's go to Mike from Kansas City, Missouri Mike, welcome to core Christianity. Thank you.

I enjoy the show very much and become a recent listener and I really appreciate the way you guys answer each of your questions with a lot of grace and patient. Thank you, my hand, what your letter and I will. I wanted to ask. I am listening to the show.

It appears that you guys believe in the will. There's a cliché called once saved always saved yeah and I know that that's that's that's really a cliché full of a lot of really doesn't answer the question, but I wanted asked specifically about warnings in the book of Hebrews about specifically falling away from the living God, which kind of to me, it presupposes that the person is in Christ, but then called away. Yes, at San Corzine I'm you know I'm I I've studied both sides of the issue and slowly I II really appreciate the US is question because often times is is you as you noted will get calls you know, can a person lose their salvation.

We say no and like yesterday we got a call about this and I went to John chapter 10 and other the promise that Jesus gave that he gives his sheep eternal life. No one can snatch the sheep out of his hand. It's a go to passages like that but then I know that there are others who are listening like like yourself who you know you think about these passages in the book of Hebrews or elsewhere in the New Testament that seem to indicate that a believer can fall away and what what is that mean can they lose their salvation. Now here's how I parse out the warnings in the book of Hebrews received some really strong ones both in Hebrews chapter 6 and then also in Hebrews chapter 10 I take them to refer to individuals who are in the church who are experiencing the ministry of the wording that they've tasted of the heavenly gift, the powers of the age to come is that the author the Hebrews that says there in chapter 6, verse five there really a part of the worshiping community in the real tangible way. And yet they haven't mixed the word that they're hearing day in and day out with faith. And that's the problem. It is a lack of faith in that's white earlier in Hebrews chapter 3 the author the Hebrew says take care brothers, lest there be in any of you when evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another, day by day as it is called today that none of you be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, for we have come to share in Christ, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end as it is said, today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, and then he goes on to say in verse 18, to whom did he swear that they would not enter his rest, but to those who were disobedient.

So we see that they were unable to enter because of unbelief. See that's the problem we can hear the truth of the gospel, day in and day out, but if we don't mix that word of the gospel with faith well were were in trouble were lost. We are missing the gospel if you will, because it can be all around us we can be in the proximity of it to the preached word to the ordinances that Jesus gave any yet harden our hearts to it and that's the problem with with that the people in the book of Hebrews is yes.

They were part of this visible worshiping community.

But some of them were departing altogether. They were essentially saying you know what Jesus and his work is not sufficient to save me. In Hebrews chapter 10 the author the Hebrews is going to say they trampled the son of God underfoot, counting the blood of the covenant of a common thing that they're there treating Jesus's work is if it was an unholy thing as if it didn't really and couldn't really save them and that's that's the problem they're abandoning the fate their unbelieving now know what what the author the Hebrew says just a little bit later in verse nine of chapter 6 as though we speak.

In this way. Yet, in your case, beloved, we feel sure of better things.

Things that belong to salvation so while there hearing the gospel and while some of them I think had not mix that word with faith there there but there now beginning to abandon the faith altogether decent look. I am hopeful. I'm hopeful for the things that accompany salvation.

I am hopeful that you are going to cling to this and embrace it so that you might be truly born again, if you will, and I think the warning here, for each and every one of us those of you who go to church every single week with it. It's one thing to be in church and to sit in a pew. It's another thing to lay hold of the gospel for yourself. Do you believe in the sacrifice of Jesus for you. Do you cling to him by faith is that your confidence or are you just there, hearing and hardening your heart that that's what was happening for some of the people there in Hebrews chick chapter 6 and that we have to watch out for it so I don't think that Hebrews 6 or Hebrews 10 teach that we can lose our salvation. I think they teach. Actually, that we ought to cling to the gospel for our salvation.

That's our only hope. And that's what's really reiterated over and over again in this book, and so thank you so much for your question rather thanks Mike. We appreciate your being one of our regular listeners. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and you know many Christians today are particularly comfortable defending the faith when talking to unbelievers and today we are offering an excellent book that will equip you to do just that. Yeah it's this wonderful book by Josh McDowell more than a carpenter and but we we want to equip you with the word of God, brothers and sisters. We've said it time and time again the core doctrines of the Christian faith have really been forgotten by a lot of people who go to church weekend and week out. We need to understand them all over again. We understand how to defend the faith and that's why were offering this resource to you and it just so many helpful chapters on questions that people ask criticisms that that others have of the Christian faith.

How you respond will get a hold of this book more than a carpenter. It really has been used by the Lord in a mighty way believer not over 15 million copies in print. We really really just amazing to see how God is uses book. I know will use in your life to such a great book and so helpful for all of us to really get those core doctrines really firmly in our minds that we can have those discussions with unbelievers, with maybe even people who are antagonistic to the faith. You can get a copy of more than a carpenter today for a donation of any amount just go to core Christianity.com/offers to find that book is core Christianity.com/offers or call us at 833-843-2673 let's go to Patty who is listening to us in Fresno, California Pat Petty welcome to core Christianity program really helping all my to learn about the word of God Bible and from where the Bible and my daughter.

She's asking me questions about energy the you know where the Bible come from and I have an idea I want to make sure that I know I look that bad either. You know the lentil well all know their name that I will ask you will Patty one. I'm so grateful that you've been encouraged by this broadcast and that you're having conversations with your daughter about this man who wrote the word of God.

Now, obviously, we would say that the Bible was written over a long period of time. 66 different books would save me around 40 different authors and in the beautiful thing about the Bible is this. But despite the fact you have this diversity over time and authorship really is behind the whole thing. The Holy Spirit of God, and that's what the apostle Paul said in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

In other words, all Scripture first and foremost originates from the Lord himself from the Holy Spirit as he inspired different people to write down these things for our benefit. In another passage of Scripture that that you might want to look at is the words of Peter in second Peter chapter 1 he says this in verse 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. In other words, the spirit of God inspired these individuals carried them along to give to us his inspired word so that again. We could benefit we could be encouraged and challenged and grow in our own faith in so many different authors inspired by the Holy Spirit so that we might know the will of God for us and so that we might know Jesus himself. Jesus said it, he fitted to the religious leaders in John chapter 5, you search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life, and these are they which testify of me. And that's another beautiful thing about the inspired Scriptures of God is, they point us to Jesus.

Patty may the Lord bless you man.

Thank you Patty, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Albert in Kansas City, Missouri Albert what your question, I was calling social justice and I like to hear a lot from different sources, but I haven't heard much from Christian sources of know what is God's heart on that and how is a Christian believer. How do we act upon that and Albert. Thank you. This is a discussion it's been happening in the church quite a bit lately and it I like to think about it in the context of God's law. In particular, the second part of that the 10 Commandments and how we relate to each other.

We are called as Christians to love our neighbors who are neighbors. Jesus makes it absolutely clear it's not just the people who look and think like we do.

It's even the people who disagree with us on all sorts of things. Even our enemies. We Jesus called us to love our enemies and so what does it look like to do good to and love even our enemies and and you know and there there are ways in which people have defined social justice that we might agree or disagree with but but I would boil it down, and Elisa for thinking about this biblically.

To what does it mean for me to love the people around me to do good for them to pursue their their best interest know you think about this with regard to things like abortion. For example, what does it mean for us to love our neighbors who are in the womb to stand up for and speak out of out about these great injustices are what about others who are who are suffering and marginalize me.

I think it's Christians were called, as I said to love everyone is just a matter of God's law. Now our loving others does not save them. They is an implication of the fact that God has loved us immensely and we love each other because in others because God has loved us. But that's not the gospel. The gospel is what God has done for us in Christ.

And because God has reached down to sinners and been merciful to us. We are called to reach out to others, even to our enemies extending love to them, and ultimately the gospel as well.

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