Is The Gospel Just About Getting to Heaven?

Does the gospel impact my life in any practical way or is it just about getting to heaven best 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. Our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes or so. So now is the time to call if you have a question for Pastor Israel. Here's the phone number it's 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 at questions@corechristianity.com. First up, today we have a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners in California Sacramento.

I show every day). I guess lately a hard time doing the best I can face I want to spend eternity with God. But it's difficult when something so far away and so abstracting.

I guess I'm just wondering if there is any practical application to the gospel to the Christian faith here on this earth.

Or we simply following the proper steps to get to heaven I think. Return yes will not appreciate a question and I'm also encouraged to hear that you listen to the broadcast. Every day I hope we continue to be a blessing to you in your walk with the Lord and that I meeting the answer to your question is yes, there are a ton of our entire lives, because the gospel have been transformed have been changing that. That really affects us personally. It ought to affect us personally in in terms of the peace that we have the assurance of God's love, joy in the Holy Spirit the joy that we have you think of the fruit of the spirit that's described by the apostle Paul in Galatians chapter 5 and a lot of that comes from from the fact that we've been justified that the passage of Scripture that I think about is what Paul said in Romans chapter 5 that beginning in verse one. I think really important text for us to to to go to here is, therefore, since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

In other words, the conflict that that existed between sinful humanity between us as sinners and God as the righteous judge is the holy one that we have peace now because of the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ his pro pitcher Tori offering this this wrath removing sacrifice so that by faith were justified.

Now that that affects us in the present day, in that it gives us. As I said that peace and what Paul is talking about their Romans chapter 5, but also there. There are the practical implications of how now the Spirit of God is transforming us day by day Philip so that we reflect more and more the image of Jesus in the world means that me the way that I think about the world about the people around me.

It is being transformed is being changed and Paul talks about this later.

And in Romans chapter 12, you know that the renewing of our mind.

It's happening through Jesus Christ in the way which we engage each other in society. I think sometimes you know people can have this sort of sense of the Christian life of the way you put it, you know that I've accepted Jesus into my heart.

I got my fire insurance on it a minute dying go to heaven at and then we don't think about the practical implications of day by day walking with Jesus. That's not that's not Christianity that if we had a real encounter with Christ if we been justified by day were going to be sanctified as well. There was this book written a few years ago by a sociologist named Rodney Stark. It's called the rise of Christianity, and he talks about you know how and why it was that the church grew so quickly in the in the early days of of the apostolic. We might say and I and into the you know that a time on the Roman Empire.

One of the things that he he highlights there is how Christians responded to great crises that were taking place during the Roman Empire in a number of pandemics, epidemics that took place thousands, tens of thousands of people dying in Rome and how the Christians because of their faith because of the fact that embrace this message of the gospel were willing to go and care for those who were sick and do and how.

Basically, they nursed so many people back to help it that it was it was transforming. Essentially, the society there in the sense that people were turning to Christ and embracing him by faith they were being transformed.

They were the repenting of their sins and a and is it was amazing to see just kind of how you know this this this faith in Jesus and in the hope of heaven transform the way they were living their day-to-day lives, we should change the way we live our day-to-day lives as well. And that's why it's so important for us to continue to grow in our faith. Philip and and to study the word of God, because as we do. God is shaping us. As I said more and more into the image of Jesus that changes everything that changes everything. And so I thank you for your question brother. I trust that encourages you and please keep listening the program to the program. So glad you mentioned that Rodney Stark book Israel. In fact, one of the things he mentions in this particular story about the Roman Empire is that these Christians are cared for the victims of the plagues, like the black plague even though they were putting their own lives at risk because they had the hope of heaven. Yeah, it really is. I'm a pretty remarkable when you think about Alice a book out action encourage people to read is short, but it's it's neat to see how essentially the Christian church had this massive impact on society and it was because precisely because of their faith in Jesus. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Here's the phone number to call if you have a question it's 833 the cordial spell that on your phone, 833, the court or 833-843-2673.

By the way, we have folks watching our stream, our live stream on YouTube right now including one of our listeners in Saskatchewan, Canada. So if something thankful that you have joined us here on court.

Christianity let's go to Crystal calling in from Beggs Oklahoma Crystal what your question for pastor. Israel really nicely granted a book of Genesis and and I'm really thinking about chapter 4, and after Cain had murdered his brother Abel of the Lord that you know that person is better than I can bear. And thank you so kill me, and I'm competing how the girl became populated because as far as I know Abel is the oldest time and Cain was the second line and so who would kill them kill Cain.

I'm sorry. That's an excellent question in that question exit comes up frequently and then a lot of people wondering where did Cain find his wife because there in chapter 4 and verse 17 says Cain knew his wife and she conceived and bore Enoch and so your your essay reminisces this is a good question. If we if we just have Adam and Eve and their populating the planet and you have these two brothers and and it seems like Cain's concern based on his banishment.

This cursed God is put upon them for murdering his brother is hey, other people are going to harm. He says in verse 14 behold, you have driven me today away from the ground and from your face I shall be hidden.

I shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth, and whoever finds me will kill me now.

I it's possible that he had other brothers and sisters that aren't mentioned in the text. If you look at the very next chapter in chapter 5 of her sports. As the days of Adam after he father Seth were 800 years and he had other sons and daughters as I think the best answer to your question is that Cain is afraid that essentially has his relatives, you know, his brothers, his nieces so on. So for this time goes by. They find him that there can hurt him that there in a Harmon for what he's done and that's that's the most you know it based on what we have there in Genesis chapters 4 and five that that's the most natural way of of reading the text. I think that's what he's concerned with. And so there's your answer sister. Thank you for giving us a call. This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez.

We would love to hear from you.

Let's go to Don who is calling in from Northwest Iowa Don welcome to core Christianity hey Don, can you hear SS today welcome to the broadcast brother, what's your question on if you turn the radio down, though, that might be helpful. Okay hey Don, thanks for calling into core Christianity.

What's your question brother I was concerned about the origin of demons. I've heard different pastor say one thing and another, but where did the demons come from well there there creatures having the created beings and we would say that God didn't create demons evil in the Internet's of their angels that fell and so as a part of God's creation of God made everything good. They chose to rebel left of the freedom of their will. We might say and so we would say that demons essentially were created by God but the guy didn't create them evil.

He created them as good angel servants of his May 15. I was just in the book of Genesis there answer that question about about Cain. But if you look at the very beginning of Genesis Genesis 11 it says in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, and I think it bit you know when this is being written is not just referring to the heavens and the stars and in the side and the planets, and so on and so forth.

I think it's talking about the heavenly beings as well.

You see this in places like the book of Nehemiah chapter 9 verse six or Psalm 148 verses one through four that evening. Colossians chapter 1 verse 16 where it talks about these these heavenly beings all things created through Jesus Christ and ultimately for Jesus, including the Angels, but the those angels fell and so that's that's I think what we would say in terms of the origin of angels important for us to understand that there creatures there created beings that didn't always exist alongside of God is sort of good versus evil, that's another thing that we see at the very beginning of Genesis is God is this cosmic King.

He's this cosmic creator, there's no one that can put up competition with him.

He makes all things good and yet the angels rebelled in and so did so did Adam and Eve in their first sin.and so that's the answer of of the descriptors. Thank you so much for your question brother Greg question Don, thanks so much for listening to core Christianity let's go to Peggy from La Plata, Missouri Peggy, what's your question for pastor Averill like I lost my 63 Eric Brand lost his wife and they been married 63 years while we have a lot in common but for us to see each other. He had children. I have children, you will Peggy, thank you so much for your question and I'm sorry that you recently lost your husband. I can imagine how how difficult that must be the night I pray that the Lord comforts you in this time and and as to your questioning of the apostle Paul makes it clear in first Corinthians chapter 7 that went when our spouses died were for free to be married again. He talks about this in first Corinthians chapter 7 free to be married. The only stipulation he puts on that is that the person that we marry is in the Lord. That is there a believer, trust in Jesus Christ that that's that's I think the key question and then as to you know how soon is too soon that that's a wisdom issue that that you're going to have to think through Peggy, and I don't think that I can give you a specific answer there. It sounds to me like you. You know this person and he is in a similar situation, but that the key question that I think that the Scriptures would ask that Paul asked in first Corinthians 7 is are they in the Lord. Is he a believer and so if he is then there's freedom there for you to pursue marriage remarriage in this in this context. So thank you very much Peggy for your question and may the Lord bless you.

You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez and a lot of Christians today aren't particularly comfortable in defending the Christian faith when talking to unbelievers, especially with somebody who abuse antagonistic like an atheist or agnostic. Today we are offering an excellent book that will equip you to do just that. That will continue to offer more than a carpenter by Josh McDowell, brothers and sisters get your hands on this resource and we want to know why we believe the things that we believe so that we can defend those truths to the people around us not to get into an argument because Jesus really rose from the dead and we want the people around us to know that and to understand the reasons that we believe that this is true, and so that there really is so much wonderful information here in more than a carpenter, not just proof for the resurrection, but also some of the archaeological evidence that that really confirms the teaching of the Scriptures we don't believe the Christian faith because it makes us feel good. We believe because it's true because Jesus rose from the dead and because in him and through him we have eternal life and and it should be our desire as followers of Christ to share that message with others and I think that this book is can help you do that, so get a hold of more than a carpenter by the way, this is an updated and revised version of the book by Josh McDowell. So if you read it years ago. This is a great time to get the newer addition to learn about some of the other ways that we need to respond to people in the world that unfortunately has moved more and more towards a postmodernism well if you'd like to get a copy of more than a carpenter. Here's how you do it you just go to our website at core, Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers or call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting back to book or any one of our offers, let's go to Anita from Phoenix, Arizona Anita, welcome to core Christianity. Thank you for what you do you really need to learn the word Genesis 127 so God created man in the image of God he created him growing up in the faith that God is high and lifted up, and we are terrible or told you could think of this passage yeah wonderful legal back just a few verses in inversely six and by the way he let me to say I'm so glad to hear that you are in currency are blessed by the broadcast. I hope that it continues to be a blessing for you, but you go back a few verses verse 26 and God said, let us make man in our image, after our likeness, and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth now. Now I read that section because I could actually in verse 26 also be translated as a purpose cost.

Got to let us make man in our image, after our our likeness, so that they might have dominion over the fish of the sea and one of the things that you see in the early chapters of Genesis is as I mentioned earlier that God is like this great King who rules over the whole world, and Adam and Eve are his. We might say vice regents, the sort of lesser kings and queens were called to rule in imitation of God to care for the good creation to tend the garden that the Lord has given to us. So one thing I would say in terms of being made in the image of God is that it's a calling. It's a calling that God gives to us. Each of us as human beings made in the image of God are called to reflect the light and love of our Creator. Isn't that beautiful to me. It really is wonderful and there are other places in the New Testament I think is especially that associate the image of God with knowledge, righteousness and holiness. I think you see this in Ephesians chapter 4 verse 24 Colossians chapter 3 verse 10.

I believe there again. The image of God associated with with the knowledge of God with righteousness with holiness.

I'm sometimes people talk about being made and in the image of God is as yet having free will and and you know pollution and the ability to make choices. I think that's a part of it as well, but thinking of it holistically. It's this calling that we have to reflect the Lord is light his love. Now we know based on you know how the story continues with the fall of Adam and Eve that the image of God was smarting humanity that is much as we we want to, or at least should want to reflect the love and the light of our creator that the mirror has been broken. We might say.

Now we we have the sort of distorted image that we put out before the world and that image is restored in Jesus.

Jesus is one of the reasons why Jesus came. He is the true image of God. If you will, though, that he might restore the image of God and humanity, so that in him that original righteousness knowledge and holiness might be restored in us. And so when were having conversations about the image of God with friends with family and I think I think that's want to emphasize that were called to reflect the light and love of the Lord and that we can do that through Jesus. The perfect image of God you for your question Anita, a man, thank you so much Anita for being a regular listener there in Phoenix Arizona.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, you can listen to the program any time and here. Previous episodes by subscribing to our podcast.

If you subscribe and leave a five star review even more people will hear about the podcast and have a chance to learn more about the core truths of Christianity. Let's go to glory his calling in from Modesto California glory. Welcome to core Christianity and what your question for pastor. Israel when we're talking about the Lord or praying sharing anything about him.

Should we refer to him as God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit. Sometimes I get confused so want to hear what you have to say about that. Yeah well I think all of the above, a BNC unit week we can talk to the Lord and pray to the father. We can pray to the sun. We can pray to the Holy Spirit. These three are are one God, the same and substance equal in power and glory. Oftentimes, you do have the sort of formula in the in in the Scriptures, and we pray to the father in the sun through the grace of the Holy Spirit. That is, we approach the father glory through the mediation of Jesus Christ. So ordinarily I think you know what we direct our prayers to the father and we come to the father through Jesus our great high priest and one of things I love about that is that because Jesus is our great high priest glory. We can come to the throne of grace to the throne of the father boldly, not our own righteousness, not in our own standing, but in what Jesus has done for us and we pray in the Holy Spirit. You see this language throughout, especially Paul's writings and I think what that means were praying in line with God's word and God's will is a we we approach the father. His throne of grace, through the son praying in the spirit that the Holy Spirit, and so that's one way of looking at it but is it's also clear and in and you see this in the New Testament that there's nothing wrong with praying directly to Jesus the son. I'm crying out to Jesus and that mean that Stephen when he was being stoned at the end of acts chapter 7, he cried out to the Lord Jesus was printing. Jesus himself said in the Gospel of John. If you ask me anything in my name I will do it and so you don't have to feel bad about praying to Jesus bring to the Lord bring to the father meet were praying to God, the holy Trinity, but I think that that the approach of bring to the father through the sun in the in the Holy Spirit ordinarily is what you see in the New Testament. So thank you for your question. Glory may the Lord continue to bless you. I appreciate so much the glorious questions about the faith and how she's really no attempting to understand and live out our Christian walk is in the believer super encouraging. We are we are so blessed by by your calls glory.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Andy from St. Louis, Missouri, and what your question for pastor.

Israel I was wondering church where you perform like quite a number of essay and they were just a note to another church to wear their clap and cheer and then go to other churches with a date and I know David when he was rejoicing for the Lord because he was so happy and I was just trying to figure out what is not biblical. But what is seen because a lot of churches have different lives differences of opinions yeah some of this might be cultural. I mean, I certainly would not bless anyone if I tried to dance would edify anyone you know if it would be pleasing to the Lord that sucks but but the fact that matters is in Scripture you have these different postures that are associated with worship.

You see this in particular throughout the Psalms. You know, raising their hands, bowing down before the Lord, that kind of a thing, and there are some churches where where that takes place what were its reflected in the worship service and I think that that's totally okay.

Frankly, I think it one of the things it does, it helps to exhibit in one since the attitude of the heart, raising our hands. For example, is is is this picture of vulnerability and openness before the looking of ready to receive what he has or or bowing down before the Lord, saying God I am. I am humbling myself before you, approaching you with humility, knowing that I'm a sinner but one thing personally that I would say it is a pastor thinks important for us in worship to do things decently and in order. Paul talks about this in first Corinthian's 14 a so I don't know that it's it's helpful when everybody's kinda doing their own thing sometimes.

Today people view corporate worship.

The gathering of of the saints as still their own sort of individual personal time with Jesus and we should really I think do whatever were doing together as a body.

So for example in our church you at the at the end of the service we sing we call the doxology we all raise our hands together in unison as as a congregation to praise the Lord and so I don't think Mandy that there's anything wrong with these these different postures. I think we want to be careful that were doing everything decently and in order and that the focus is on the Lord in it.

One danger I see with this is that we can draw attention to ourselves in these these different motions can be a way of saying hey look at how holy I am a look at how pious I am and that's that's never supposed to be what Christian worship is note worship is a time to gather together around the throne of God and to bring him praise the sacrifice of Thanksgiving, and in we should do that together as a whole church in unison in whatever it is that were doing and so I appreciate your question, I will not be dancing in church this Sunday, but I will try making a joyful noise to the Lord. 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 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