Are Paul’s Writings Equally Inspired as the Gospels?

Since Paul wasn't one of the 12 apostles during Jesus ministry are his writings still inspired by the Holy Spirit. 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. We would love to hear from you, and you can call with your question and talk to pastor a drill live to call us in the next 25 minutes. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 18 332-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram account.

You can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Stephanie in Yonkers, New York Stephanie what your question for pastor a drill.

My question is regarding Matthew 12 3118 or anything in black shall be forgiven men blacking against the spirit shall not be forgiven him, wondering what's the difference between the two kinds of blasphemy mentioned. What makes blasphemy against the spirit unforgivable. Thank you for that very clear question Stephanie. I don't know why.

In particular, you're asking that I know for a lot of believers. Stephanie, there's this deep concern that have you have I committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit have I done something that is going to cause alert the Lord to forever turn his back on me.

And usually when I'm talking to Christians who have that concern.

I try to reassure them and say look if if that's something that you're concerned about. If you're worried about the Lord turning his back on you because of something you've done really, you don't understand what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit was in the context here and so it's really important for us to understand the background of this passage in particular, Jesus is been doing miracles and the religious leaders have seen these miracles with their own eyes and get there continuing to reject him. In fact, in the context there in Matthew chapter 12 there saying that the miracles that Jesus was doing the healings that he was performing were being performed essentially by the evil one by Satan by be eligible but what if you go back to verse 22 of Matthew chapter 12 it says a demon oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw and all the people were amazed and said, can this be the son of David, so people are cursing with this is that the Davidic king is this is this really him, the Messiah, the one who's come to save us and how to the religious leaders respond verse 24 but when the Pharisees heard it, they said it is only by be eligible, the prince of demons that this man cast out demons. So in other words what they're doing is they're not just rejecting Jesus not believing that he is the king, the son of David, the Savior, the Christ. There saying that the miraculous works of Christ were accomplished by Satan forces us. There's this attitude towards Jesus towards his gospel towards his work. The work ultimately of the Holy Spirit here that is is just absolutely rejecting Christ as a what is the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will in the context here it's attributing the works of Jesus to Satan it's not you know a Christian who struggles with some sin pattern or base needle struggling even with with doubts those kinds of things. This is this is a group of people, religious people who knew better and yet continually rejected Christ even though they had seen him work right there in front of in front of them now that there actually is a great reassurance in this passage because Jesus says I tell you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven.

People we have a great degree of hope Stephanie that no matter what we've done no matter what sin and blasphemy.

We've committed the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin. But there's one thing that will cause us to perish eternally and it's rejecting Jesus it's not being willing to embrace who he truly is the Christ, the Messiah, the Savior of the world.

And that's precisely what these religious leaders were doing effect.

They were just rejecting him they were saying he was the devil and for people who do that for people who you know just completely cast Christ aside reject the gospel attribute the works that change lives to to the evil one. There is no hope. And so that that's one of the things that we see in this passage Stephanie does help clear this text, in particular in particular up for you. Yeah, thanks so much.

Thank you for calling us and may the Lord bless you so much Stephanie. We appreciate you being a regular listener to core Christianity. We got a call coming in from Arkansas.

This is Avery, who has a question about tithing Avery.

Welcome to the program. Thank you for having me out with regard to regard my question is in regards to targeting topic up in the churches words taught as a doctrine that it's always spot. It's our duty. If the commandment from God. It was supposed to pay 10% of our income to the local church every time you pages can't come about a doctrine there. When I look at the Scripture. I just don't. I don't seem to find that as one of the things that Paul taught as a doctrine.

You see, it brought up in the New Testament in Hebrews, but he was referring to the book of Hebrews written to Hebrews and it's referring to the fulfillment of the covenant that Jesus all that will be filled in Jesus. So where do we stand on. Yeah, well, thank you so much for the question.

I was in the tide was something that was given to the Jews as you mention under the old covenant and and part of it was you bringing the type to the storehouse. This is a part of how the Levitical priesthood was provided for in that time it was the third Temple upkeep those kinds of things and in it when you actually look at all of the things that were tied.

It was probably more than 10% under the old covenant. There were there were a lot of things going on there and I think a lot of believers now to the new covenant we just are disabled 10% as it is a is a good number in terms of giving to the local church.

We know from places like first Corinthians chapter 16 that when the church would gather on the first day of the week that they would give an offering at the first Corinthian chapter 16 verse one says concerning the collection for the saints as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do on the first day of every week.

Each of you is to put something aside and start up as he may prosper so that there will be no collecting when I comes he's talking about Christians giving up on the Lord's day for the good of the body of Christ and the advancement of the gospel, but you don't see the language of of tithing there percent. I think it's because the tide was especially associated with the old covenant and with the worship of the old covenant when we look at the New Testament we are called as followers of Jesus to give and to get to the work of missions to give to the local church. Abolition what the apostle Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 9 verse six. The point is this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, but whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver with a number that he slick give as you've decided in your own heart. Not not under compulsion and so I think that there's a problem when when churches that you have to give X amount and it's it's a sort of obligation that there laying on the people. Buses that you give us. Each has decided in his heart, but were called to be generous givers and so I know that there are there are many believers under the new covenant who could give a tithing. And I think that's kind of a helpful baseline. I know that there are other believers. Avery who who give more than that to say you know what the Lord is just blessed me so much and and this is how much we've sort of opted to give as a family or for me as an individual. I think when we when we think about this this subject of giving. We have to think of it in light of the gospel. How merciful God is been to us how generous God has been to us in his son Jesus we give to the work of missions to the work of the local church in response to the fact that God has given to us so much grace it should be something that we do joyfully excited about the gospel continuing to advance near the last thing I'll say here's what I'm getting at is, you know, doesn't seem to me like the tie this this New Testament command. But Jesus himself had no problem talking about money and possessions.

We think about that. The parables that he told them the importance of not clinging to our possessions putting our hope. Ultimately, in God and in his kingdom, storing up treasure. Not on earth but in heaven I think one of the reasons Jesus repeatedly talked about money and possessions is because he knew how out. Often we tend to put our hope, our confidence in those things to live for those things Jesus said where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also. And so I think each of us as believers ought to ask ourselves the question, where's my treasure, what am I investing in my investing in this world. First and foremost, is this what I'm living for, or am I storing up treasure in heaven, and my investing in God's kingdom. Am I giving to the work of the local church where where the gospel is being proclaimed and in missionaries are being sent out. Am I aligning myself with those purposes or or am I holding onto these things.

It is agreed that sort of taken over my heart. I think an important question for each of us to ask, and so I would say go to that Texans and Corinthians 9 read that passage and think about giving in light of the new covenant.

How gracious God has been to us brother, thank you so much for your question and I'm curious Israel. In addition to offering our money.

What would you say is a pastor about offering our time and our talent to God.

Yeah I would say mostly just money. I think I think the time it absolutely right in and God has gifted us in so many different ways you I know that there are some people who are really struggling, but what they struggling financially, but what they do give is there time and their service in other ways, and I think there's something there something wonderful about that.

You know all of us. Everything that the Lord gives to us is is a part of these gifts that he's even he's that he's entrusted to us in it were called to give it all back to him and to the advancement of the gospel and so yeah the light I think that that's that's certainly something we should be thinking but it's not just even giving our our money to sometimes people can think I've done I've so check the box off. Five. I've given a tie that kind of a thing know God wants your heart. You want your heart and so I appreciate the fact you brought that up because God is gifted us in unique ways and were called to to use those gifts for the building up of his body. This is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Here's the phone number to call.

It's 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail that we received from Arthur L. My question is, is writing all New Testament update all inspired by God, like the rest of the Bible, or if it is only plainly opinion opinion human opinion will Arthur for some to say thank you for partnering with us assessing encouragement and grateful that you're blessed by the broadcast really great question you if Paul wasn't walking around with the rest of the disciples will Jesus was alive on earth can we say that his writings me wrote a lot of the New Testament can we say that they were really inspired or do we just need to look at them. The writings of Peter as inspired by God and and John and others who were there in the presence of Jesus. While I think what we can do Arthur's take Peter Peter's word himself.

Listen to what Peter said about the writings of the apostle Paul and this is in the book of second Peter chapter 3, beginning in verse 14 Peter said, therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these. Be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace and count the patience of our Lord is salvation just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you, according to the wisdom given him as he does in all his letters when he speaks in them of these matters. There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction as they do the other Scriptures that think about that right there. Arthur Peter himself referred to the writings. The letters of the apostle Paul as Scripture. Now another thing I think that really helps us to to recognize that Paul's writings, that there were just his personal opinion this is that the word of God. This is Scripture is what Paul himself said in the book of first Corinthians in first Corinthians in chapter 14 verse 37 he's exhorting the Corinthian church and listen to what he said there he said about 1/3 verse 36 or was it from you that the word of God came east talking to the Corinthian series and the word of God come from you or are you the only ones.

It is reached.

If anyone thinks that he is a prophet or spiritual. He shed it. She should acknowledge that the things I am writing to you are a command of the Lord. In other words, not only does Peter recognize that the writings of Paul are Scripture, the word of God.

Paul himself in first Corinthians chapter 14 seems to recognize that what he's writing is the very word of God to the Corinthian church, he sang that they ought to acknowledge it as such. As well, and so so the church and of the Christian churches embrace the writings of the apostle Paul is a part of what we call the canon of Scripture, inspired of the Holy Spirit for our benefit for our growth in grace and typically there are a number of criteria that that the church historically looked at in terms of determining which writings were indeed inspired when we were looking at the New Testament that is things like apostolate city was this written by an apostle or someone who was associated with the apostles, and of course Paul himself was we know that he went to Jerusalem to meet with the apostles to talk about the gospel that he was preaching antiquity. Are these writings old were they there, around the time of Jesus and the apostles and and shortly thereafter was a something was written much later catholicity. That's another word that we use in other words, did the church early on, receive these writings as inspired Scripture and were looking at the writings of the apostle Paul, it's clear that they did and then in the just the sort of general coherence to these do these writings all fit together with the broader message that were receiving in the Bible and we look at Paul's writings, we can we can check the box on all of those and as I said, Peter himself recognize them as the word of God and so did Paul and so hard to thank you again for your support and for that question you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. Here's the number to call if you have a question about the Bible or something in the Christian life. It's 833-843-2673 or just spell it out on your phone, 833 the core while Easter is coming up just less than two weeks away now and just as you might be inviting friend or neighbor or relative.

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Just go to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers or give us a call at 833 the core for that offer or any one of our offers, let's go to Paul from Johnston Rhode Island Paul welcome to core Christianity hello hi Paul, thanks for calling us what your question brother I would like to if you could tell me the you would say the best equipped to lead for physical healing in our body yeah will will Paul, can I can I just follow up with you there are you are you praying for healing for yourself or for someone else said, I don't know okay well there's this expectation. It's given to us in the New Testament when were suffering with some with some physical sickness as is found in the book of James in James chapter 5 verse 13 and James said is anyone among you suffering.

Let them pray. Is anyone cheerful let them sing praises anyone among you sick let him call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick. The Lord will raise him up, and if he is committed any sins, he will be forgiven. I love that verse because sometimes people will will look to for faith healers today that kind of a thing someone it does work a miracle on them.

Sort of like Jesus did in the Gospels, but you don't really see that in the ordinary life of the church.

Actually, what you do see is precisely what James talks about here is brothers coming together, brothers and sisters coming together in the context of the body of Christ and praying for one another in Paul's Paul's encouragement. There is looking for if you're sick go to the church go to the elders of your church and ask for prayer. Ask for prayer.

Now what I what I will say, Paulist the Lord never promises to heal less physically of our of our physical sickness is whatever they may be. I think of you know that the words of Paul to Timothy, his sort of sign in the faith where he encouraged them to Timothy was having these frequent stomach ailments and and bald and say hey you needed his name and claim your healing.

He said no you should you should have a little bit of wine every day to settle your stomach because of your frequent ailments is sometimes God does heal miraculously. Sometimes God uses doctors and physicians to help us get better and sometimes sometimes we don't get healed and that doesn't mean that God doesn't hear our prayers. We don't always know why God answers some and not others, but we are encouraged to go to him and to pray and to pray in faith and so I guess another follow-up question I have for you. Paul is are you a part of a church, a Bible believing church where you can go to the elders is James talks about there in James chapter 5 and ask for prayer, but I I want to back another question. Two of I could does it have to be done at her to cook and you do this at home.

You could even do it at home brother at you� There's this story in the gospel were man came to Jesus that she a soldier came to Jesus and he asked Jesus to heal one of his servants and Jesus healed the guy not by going to his house but but just from a distance amid that the Jesus healed him immediately and in the soldier had faith that the Lord could do and so God can can can work whether you're at church or whether you're praying at home, that's okay, but what what I'm getting at. There is the expectation that James tells us that I think we are all encouraged to pray for one another in an Paul I would like to pray for you right now if that's okay. Can I pray for you brother. Let's let's pray for Paul and ask for the Lord's healing hand in his life gracious God, thank you for this opportunity to to be able to pray for Paul, thank you for his question for his desire to know you and to know Lord, how to approach this thing and we know Lord that you call us to pray to you to pray in faith is to seek your face and and I pray for him, Lord, that you would bring your healing in his life that you would strengthen him that you would strengthen his faith. I do ask Lord even that that the people in his church would pray for him and God that you would do a great work in his life, and I pray father that you would help him do these current circumstances to trust you to grow in his faith to grow in his love for you to look to you no matter what what happens. Lord, knowing that you love him and that you are in control and so would you be with our brother Paul would you bless him today would you fill them with your spirit would you grant him healing. We ask in Jesus name, amen. I meant Paul, thanks so much for your call will continue to pray for you here at core Christianity, we have time for one more question.

This is from one of our listeners who went live on Facebook and here's the question work, the scribes and the Pharisees. The priests from the trip.

The tribe of Levi. If so, what happened to them to make them so far from Jesus during his time on earth yeah will they were the priests of the damning the religious leaders. They were the ones that everybody looked at and said, oh man, that person date they really are probably close to God. They are so holy look at them and yet Jesus over and over again in the Gospels. He he rebukes them, and he exposes hypocrisies is on the outside, you guys look really good egos go through all of the sort of pious rituals. You know you you pray really long prayers so that other people notice you, but I I know what's in your heart. I can see beyond the mask now why why did this happen or how did this happen. The reality is it just it's it's in. It's the insidious nature of sin were prone to take good things that God gives to us, even his word and his worship and to try to make ourselves great to those things and that's what the Pharisees did. And when Jesus the son of God. The truly great one showed up on the scene. They didn't recognize him. They rejected him effect they hated him now. I think with with the Pharisees. There's a great warning for each and every one of us we can read the Bible study the Scriptures do quote unquote religious things. If we recheck Jesus if it's all about making ourselves great making our name great getting other people to look at us will then we are in real danger of the beautiful thing about Jesus is he extended grace and mercy not just of the sinners were outside of the church.

But even to the sinners who are within the church, even to Pharisees you think of a guy like Nicodemus was a really religious leader. In John chapter 3, so no matter where you are struggling with hypocrisy. There's hope for you in Jesus. If you turn to him and that's what we have to deal. 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