What is the Difference Between the Bible and Other Holy Books?

What's the difference between the Bible and the other holy books of other religions. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Gabriel 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 right now and you can call us with your question 8833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts.

You can always watch us live or by delay on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Chris in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Chris what your question for pastor atrial take Chrissy there yet.

I will hey thank you for that question.

You and I just started preaching through the book of Genesis, and that you know that the beginning of the Bible makes it very clear that God created all things created all things from nothing and we think about that the creatures of the world God created all of them. I would say including the dinosaurs you read in Genesis chapter 1 beginning in verse 24 and God said, let the earth bring forth living creatures according to their kinds, livestock and creeping things and beasts of the earth according to their kinds, and it was so. God made the beasts of the earth according to their kinds and the livestock according to their kinds, and everything that creeps on the ground according to its kind. And God saw that it was good. Now terms. If no specific discussions. There are some people that will point to one passage in the book of Job where this great creature is being described in the book of Job, Job, chapter 40 that the behemoth in Job chapter 40 beginning in verse 15 Allison what the text is there in Job section 1 of the oldest books of the Bible of the of the Old Testament behold behemoth which I made, which I made as I made you he eats grass like an ox. Behold his strength in his building strength is in his loins and his power in the muscles of his belly. He makes his tail stiff like a cedar. The sinews of his thighs are knit together his bones are tubes of bronze his limbs like bars of iron. He is the first of the works of God. Let him who made him bring near his sword and then in the very next chapter you have this description of this this great sea creature the Leviathan and are there for people to point to these passages and say always. This is a biblical description of dinosaurs well maybe I'm not hundred percent sure but I think it's the closest thing that you're going to get to Chris in terms of the Bible specifically addressing dinosaurs and so I point you to those passages. Thank you for your question.

You're listening to core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez.

We would love to hear from you.

Our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes or so, here's the number it's 833.

The core 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Conley in Bentonville, Arkansas, calmly what your question for pastor atrial say that I will repent of their change or ask for forgiveness in order to be saved. Yeah, good question that I think it's an important one because you know how we define repentance is key in the New Testament, the Greek word repent, repent means a change of mind. Essentially that's what the Greek word Matt Inouye means and repentance and to life the sort of initial turning to the Lord is something that I think God does requirement Jesus he went out preaching John the Baptist without preaching repent for the kingdom of God is at hand and we see in particular, Conley in Peter's Pentecost sermon so that the spirit of God was poured out on the day of Pentecost, Peter is preaching the gospel to everyone there and then we read in acts chapter 2, verse 37 that when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, brothers, what shall we do and Peter said to them, repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise is for you and for your children for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself. Sometimes, we we think about repentance is a sort of negative aspect of faith, even repentance is turning away from myself and turning toward God positively ultimately turning towards Jesus and what he's done for me laying hold of his work of salvation on the cross, by faith, and so if you're thinking of repentance and that way turning from from our sins, turning from ourselves really in anything that we would try to do to justify ourselves before God and looking to Christ laying hold of him by faith and then it's something were all called to do in bed and preaching like Peter does there in acts chapter 2 ties with the apostles that they preached repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and of course we also know that repentance is something that is ongoing in the Christian life in the sense that word day by day called put to death to to mortify the sinful deeds of the body to by the grace of the Holy Spirit walk with the Lord and and so it's it's something that repentance is something that we do throughout the Christian life and that doesn't mean that our justification is based on, you know, our ongoing ongoing repentance that sort of the thing but initial repent is repentance and to life.

We might call it is turning from our sins from ourselves and looking to Christ and laying hold of him by faith and that's what Peter was calling the people to do there in acts chapter 2. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez by the way, you can listen to core Christianity any time, and her previous episodes by subscribing to our podcast and if you subscribe and leave us a five star review even more people will hear about the podcast have a chance to learn more about the core truths of Christianity. So look for our program in your podcast app and give us that review, that would be a huge blessing to us.

Let's go to Sandy in St. Louis, Missouri Sandy what your question for pastor atrial about parachurch and I've been involved in note for most of my life and someone told me recently that they weaken the church by taking leaders and teachers from the church and that parachurch was really not got plan and God designed the church to train and disciple. It's all in and out there's any truth. And if there's any Scripture to the port parachurch organization's yeah what a great question and thank you for that question Sandy United as a pastor of a local church. I think that this is a really important one, because we we don't want to try to create a substitute for the local church. It is true that Jesus said I'm in a build my church. He he promises to be with his church and to operate in the church through the means that he is given that the preaching of the word of God, the administration of those ordinances the left of the church baptism and the Lord's supper.

This is that the work of the church and and that's what Christ is building in the world today.

Now I think where parachurch organizations can be unhelpful and I've seen this happen before, sadly, is when they take people away from the church when they tried it when they try to take upon themselves the sort of role of the church and they're doing baptizing in the Lord's supper and those kinds of things it and nobody's you know really becoming members of local churches, even parachurch leaders are involved in local churches that I think that's a really big problem.

I've seen this sadly at times with with different campus ministries and that kind of a thing, but I also think that parachurch organizations can be very very helpful if they are supporting the local church if they're coming along side of the local church is as a system to to funnel people into the local gym. That's one of the things that we want to do here core Christianity. Sandy is were always pointing people to the local church.

I know it. It is wonderful to be able to answer these questions about the faith but I know that that our listeners more than anything that we all need is to be plugged into solid churches were hearing the word of God.

Every week the promise of the gospel where we can go and be baptized. If we've never been baptized.

We can receive the Lord's supper were working to have the accountability in in the structure that God himself is has set up for us through the apostles and in and what they outlined in holy Scripture. And so I think I think that there can be a danger with parachurch organizations if they are drawn people away from the local church, or if they're trying to become a substitute for the local church, but if there pointing people to the local church, and if there supporting the church in her worship and work and and serving in that way, almost as is for the missionary wing of the local church. I think it's a wonderful thing and and we should be encouraged to to support those organizations in so far as there supporting the church great perspective. Thank you for that atrial. This is core Christianity. We would love to hear from you. Here's the number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Let's go to Mary in Cedar Hill, Missouri Mary what your question for pastor atrial Bible where God out of heaven. I had a lady come by and say it like you thought cannot catch you on the left not yet read the Bible, but I can't remember what was that I did and I cannot find it and I don't know if that ADA could point me in the right direction yeah think you will that's interesting.

I'm not sure why this friend would say, you know, 1914. I like to give you a specific day, but there are passages of Scripture that you can go to two in particular in the Old Testament, one that I would send the New Testament the two in the Old Testament are Isaiah chapter 14 and Ezekiel chapter 28 there it talks about the fall of Tyre and the arrogant king of Tyre essentially being being brought down and there's a parallel there with with Satan and then in the New Testament you have this language of Satan being cast out of heaven. In the book of Revelation chapter 12 versus seven and following. But I was in a read that that text in Isaiah 14 beginning in verse 12 it says how you are fallen from heaven, O DayStar son of Don, how you are cut down to the ground, you who laid the nations low.

You said in your heart, I will ascend to heaven above the stars of God.

I will set my throne on high. I will sit on the mount of assembly in the far reaches of the north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds, I will make myself like the most high, but you are brought down to show the old to the far reaches of the pit is the Satan was cast out of heaven if you will, because of his pride because he wanted to ascend to be like the Lord and to be greater than the Lord there was this pride that was found in this angel.

This very prominent and powerful angel. And so the Lord brought him low in those of the passages that you're going to want to go to again Isaiah 14 Ezekiel 28 and then read Revelation chapter 12 versus seven and following.

Thank you for your question Mary. Great question, dealing with God's word and thanks for pointing her there and realize never heard about the devil being cast at heaven in 1914.

That's the interest of my equipment was having a bad year that year and just but this is got a fever must've happened just now but yeah this is core Christianity with festering drills such as and by the way, we have a wonderful booklet that we would love to send to you is a devotional booklet that a drill wrote himself. Yep, you haven't gotten a hold of seeing Jesus yet. I hope that you will take advantage of this offer today. It's a really booklet a devotional booklet for chapters just helping us to dig into the word and have a better understanding of who Jesus is what he came to do and so I get a hold of this resource. Seeing Jesus, here's how you do it, go to our website at core, Christianity.com/Jesus. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any one of our offers. You can also leave a voicemail with your question at that number. It's 833 the core. If you want to spell it out on your phone right now let's go to a voicemail we received yesterday wondering if you could explain the difference between the Bible and other religion like Islam and the Koran and how do we know which one is true and now that is a very big question what's the difference between the Bible and other religions like what let me up on the senior sinking of the Christian faith in other religions like Islam, one, one thing that I often will point oftentimes a point to is the fact it in Scripture in the Bible we have is God's revelation of how he has redeemed humanity and it isn't a list of you know, here are a number of rules that you need to follow in teachings, you need to embrace an innocent to jump through these hoops and maybe one day God is can let you into heaven, that sort of the thing. It isn't the sort of works-based system of salvation that I think you found it fine and so many other religions it's you know if if I obey these certain rules may be. God is good. Let maybe I'll be good enough in my good works will outweigh my bad works.

That's not the good news of Christianity.

And so that's one thing that I think distinguishes Christianity from the other religions of the world's it's not how you can climb your way up to God.

It's how God sent his son down to us sinners who had not obeyed his law, who didn't follow him like we should have and yet he shed his blood Jesus shed his blood for the forgiveness of our sins so that we might have communion with God, you're knocking to find that in Islam you know can find that in Buddhism you not to find that in the other religions of the world. Peter, I love the way he puts it in second Peter chapter 1 verse 16. Listen to this for we did not follow cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his Majesty. For when he received honor and glory from God the father in the voice was born to him by the Majestic glory. This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven, for we were with him on the holy mountain, not just a quick note there. Islam rejects the truth that Jesus is the eternal son of God, the second person of the holy trade so there's a big difference right there. Now Peter goes on to say in verse 19 and we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 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.

Men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit that promised their piercing look, we didn't we didn't make this stuff up this gospel that we experienced we were eyewitnesses of his Majesty.

Not only will we eyewitnesses we have the prophetic word and this is one of the things it makes again Christianity unique in the Bible unique. When you compare it to other other quote unquote holy books in the Bible, we have the revelation of Almighty God in a way that we don't have that in in in the Koran just in essay one of the ways we know that this is true, is that prophetic word that Peter talks about here, God himself appeals to this in Isaiah 46 verses nine and 10.

He says I am God and there is no other. I am God and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, things that have not yet been done. In other words, God says here's one of the ways that you can know I am the true and the living God to tell you what happens before it ever happens, and that's the prophetic word that Peter is is appealing to hear those are things that I think we can point to say what Christianity is distinct, we have the gospel, the good news of how sinners are redeemed. It's the hope of the world and so that's why we cling to the truth of the word of God, thank you for that question. This is core Christianity with pastor Pedro Sanchez would love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

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Or you can go to our website. Click the little microphone icon and leave a message there 24 hours a day. Our website is core Christianity.com. Let's go to Sharon and Tyler, Texas Sharon, what your question for Pastor Israel battled anything about hunting my family think that body in the presence of the Lord.

How can there be gaps and can't think if it gets.

That's a great question. I agree with you, you know I'm you referring to second Corinthians chapter 5, you know, Paul says in verse a yes we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord and there. He's talking about the fact that when when a believer dies, we are immediately in the presence of the Lord. It really is a great comfort that we have in the book of Hebrews Hebrews chapter 12 of the author.

The Hebrews has this vision of worship in heaven he sees that the saints perfected into the souls of the righteous made perfect there in the presence of the Lord. That's what were going to be when when a believer dies were immediately in the presence of the Lord and so that that something of the Bible makes absolutely clear or not, you know, disembodied and floating around Earth trying to get in touch with our relatives, that sort of thing know the Bible to me. There are a few passages of Scripture you have this instance in the Old Testament.

First and second Samuel, the story of Saul, Saul, going to the witch of Endor, and and essentially you know trying to invoke that the spirit of the prophet and anything of the sort of interesting scene there and there's a lot of controversy around that text but I think sticking with the clear passages of Scripture like the one you mentioned ingredients five, eight just being able to say hey when we die as believers were in the presence of the Lord. We also know that there are evil sinister sinister spiritual forces at work in the world today trying to deceive people, and so I don't doubt that you know when you we hear about some of these quote unquote hauntings. These these things that people see these operations.

I don't doubt that there are evil forces at work at time supernatural forces at work, at times, leading people astray and so I think that's one thing that we could point to that we could appeal to we know as Christians that that's just a reality, and we also know that the reality is for for believers that we are in the presence of the Lord.

The moment we die. Thank you for for your question, Sharon Stern.

Thanks so much for your call and thanks for listening to core Christianity let's go to Carlo in San Diego, California.

They Carlo what your question for Pastor Israel. Israel question about the doctrine of election. I know that I have followed faithful ministries such as yours.

You ministered to me a couple years back like Justin peters and many others. Some election deadline.

You know God's election seems to be interpreted as salvation, but I've heard people such as like a Dr. Michael Eisner saying that election does not mean salvation yeah Carlo thank you for for that question, going deep here talking about the doctrine of election and what you're getting at is justice. This idea election.

It is this is his idea that God chooses passages of Scripture, we can go to go to the Old Testament were talks about the election of Israel God choosing them. Deuteronomy chapter 7 talks about this specifically him choosing the nation, not on the basis of the fact that they were great or mightier than any other nation or more number but because of his love and because of this promise. They get to the New Testament you have passages of Scripture, the talk about God choosing people like Ephesians chapter 1 in love he predestined us for adoption as sons. You see this also. And in Romans chapter 8 you see it in Romans chapter 9 as well. I am of the belief that this is a area where there's a lot of talk about the sovereignty of God, the mystery of God's sovereignty. So there are differences of opinion within the church and faithful believers who disagree on this, but I believe that the Scripture teaches that yet God chooses people even on to salvation. One passage of Scripture that I think you can go to that bit outlines this very clearly is the book of Romans chapter 9. Again, we never want to be ashamed of God's word. Sometimes the word of God will challenge us and will come across a doctor and we just think I don't know how that makes me feel you know like God choosing people for salvation. That kind of a thing. What if you didn't choose me that's not one of the questions that a lot of people have initially but the fact of the matter is what this highlights we look at a passage like Romans chapter 9 is the absolute mercy of God that is not on the basis of anything we do or don't do it solely on the basis of God's grace, his goodness, his kindness to us in his son Jesus.

And that's key. When we think about this doctrine of election it it it it's always tied to Christ. We were chosen in him.

Paul says in Ephesians chapter 1 is so we can separate this from Christ and what he's done for us. Thank you for your question, for giving us a call and may the Lord bless you we have time for one more quick question from Chris in Bethany, Missouri Chris what your question for Pastor Israel two-part question here. I now attend a very small church in which I actually get the message that asked me to preach and so every week every Sunday. It's tradition in this church to partake in the Lord's supper wanted to know is that normal, because any church I've ever been to.

Not every week hey Chris, thank you for that. That question well really quickly, because you know that the programs about and let me just say the Lord's supper is a means of grace.

It's this visible no picture of the gospel with the grace of God is exhibited to us in this very clear way and so I am in favor of churches having the Lord's supper every single week because it's this wonderful reminder of the grace of God. That's for us in Jesus and that God gives that to us by faith, and so I would encourage Ed, I think that that's a wonderful thing that the church does that. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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