Can the Bible Solve America’s Immigration Issues?

How does the Bible speak to America's immigration issues. That's just 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. You can call us right now with your question. At 833. The core our phone lines are open and pastor a drill is waiting for your call 833-843-2673 if you want you can post a question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts.

You can always watch us on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to David calling in from Arkansas. David, what's your question for pastor a drill talked about forgiveness, restoration, each and every one we've ever heard hundred people asked for forgiveness store things so that each circumstance I dammit think that question super practical, and I imagine you know like men were sinners.

So you think about all the people that you've sinned against in your entire life. You know the people you sinned against you were kidding as you got older teenager that kind of a thing into being a young adult I don't think that we need to go you know and and seek out every single person that we ever may be offended. In that way.

I think I think, really, more specifically, you know you look at passages like Matthew chapter 5 where Jesus is talking about being reconciled with your with your brother. If you have something if they have something against you.

You he says in verse 23, so if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. In other words there that text here indicates that going to this person is actually a real possibility that I note that there are there are people in our in our pastor midweek were not able to go to them. We can't meet up with them like like we would have been able to in the past. Maybe they moved away and so is not always even a possibility to do that sort of reconciliation, restoration thing, but were called to pursue it.

Especially in those situations. David where where maybe someone in the church. Someone close by and the family and your family were you know they have something against you've done something and there's tension in the body of Christ because of it and and in instead of just brushing it under the rug and and single hope that they get over it. Jesus encourages us to go to that person and to be reconciled and so so Yep so real, real practical there. I don't I don't think you need to go to every single person in your life you throughout your entire life that you that you've offended with the people that are there right now. At the present who who you've hurt or sinned against it needs to be reconciliation and so thanks for that question David is that answer your question hey thanks Alice. Thank you, David, a drill, you're 1/3 grade teacher Mrs. McGillicuddy's on line 6. You see what I tell you what if she wants to meet up for coffee and then I can just own up to you know the drawing pictures in class and that kind of thing that balls yet the spitballs definitely lie. I have a lot of repenting to do it.

You know the thing is build that I love that question because the reality is I've talked to believers who are way down as they think about their past sins and they think I got it I got it do something about this, and even though they confess their sin. They've gone to the Lord. Dave Dave experienced his grace and his forgiveness think the clinical back to it over and over again. They feel like I need to make atonement in some way, and there are times where it is possible for us again to go into reconcile into to restore those relationships sometimes it's not possible and I don't think that God holds that over our heads and so it really is a practical question.

Good way to start the day good counsel. This is a core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Here's the phone number to call if you have a question 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Zach from Fort Smith, Arkansas Zach, what your question for pastor a drill. The question I have is in the apostles Creed. It talks about Jesus descending into hell and basically are no what that means and where that is coming from the Scripture had a dozen questions on it and nothing no real clarity yet learn about Zach.

I love this question.

Getting us into the Creed at me to talk about core Christianity, the apostles Creed for those who aren't familiar with it. We don't really know who wrote the apostles Creed for a long time. There were there were people who were saying.

A lot of people believe action the church.

It was written by the apostles that each of the apostles started to get a different article of the Creed and penned that article, but over time with me and we come to realize that probably isn't the case, but it does communicate what we might refer to as the apostolic faith, the faith once for all delivered to the saints that the real heart of the gospel and if you're not familiar with the apostles Creed.

You really should familiarize yourself with insight.

I just want to read it and then Zach and we get to your dear question the apostles Creed I believe in God the father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. There's that clause are talking about the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of the father, God the father Almighty.

From thence he shall come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church in the word Catholic there just means universal. You know that the universal body of Jesus Christ faith in Jesus, the communis saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting.

Amen. This is we might say core Christianity need that clause right there in the middle of the Creed. He descended into hell and a lot of people wonder what was Jesus in the hell for three days. Suffering for our sins that kind with a mold that can't be the case. Zach because he told the thief on the cross. The day you can be with me in paradise. Jesus when he died on the cross right he he in his body.

Read the body was buried. But Jesus was in the presence of the father there in paradise and a lot of times I think what people will say about this dissent clause of the Creed and I and I tend to agree with this is it refers to the sufferings that Jesus experienced on the cross for us. Really the curse of the law that he bore the wrath of God for us for our sins so that we might be saved. Now there's debate right about how to really understand this clause in particular but outfit that's a really good way of looking at it. The one thing that I can tell you for sure and that no one in church history has has believed is that Jesus was in hell for three days. Suffering you know I am. You should imagine hell as the pictures painted for us in the Gospels by Jesus himself in a weeping and gnashing of teeth.

The sort of unquenchable fire. That's not where Jesus was. No, his body was resting in the grave he was in paradise, as it were, had conquered death and he was cleansing if you will, the grave for all those who would believe in him and so really is a wonderful hope and that's that's the answer Zach thank you for the question. Do you are you part of a church church that acted that confesses the apostles Creed that uses the apostles Creed know I'm not honestly ovulating American gospel study and waited, like somebody asked me about a part of the Lutheran Church and I never read before Sgt. looked at him and had a good conversation with Betsy was coming. I'm glad that you're looking at it and getting into it because one of the big problems that we see in the church today is just a lack of understanding when it comes to the basics. The fundamentals and when when we asked that question. What are the fundamentals of the Christian faith. A lot of people don't even know what ago we can say the Scriptures, but will give me something a little bit more brief something that's that short that I can say this sums up the essence of the Christian faith really the holy Trinity and the life, death and resurrection of Jesus in the hope of eternal life will that's what the apostles Creed was was always meant to do, actually. Initially early on in the history of church was probably used as a sort of guideline for new members as new members as it is converts were joining the church was discrete, essentially, that they were being taught prior to their baptisms and so really just a wonderful resource something that's good for you to dig into and I'm glad you asked that question brother God bless Zach thanks so much Zach is one of our reviewers on AG TV. We appreciate you watching of the program on a regular basis.

By the way, you can watch on HDTV or if you want you can watch on YouTube.

We'd love to have you join us and you can actually OCA drill doing this thing live in the studio, melt one of the things that we should mention is that some radio stations air this program on a delayed basis, so the time that you're hearing it may not be the time that were actually live taking calls.

So if you'd like to talk to Pastor Israel live and ask your question here is the time to call 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time. You can talk to Pastor let Pedro live in the studio or you can leave a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day at our number which is 833 the court let's go to glory in Modesto California glory. What's your question for Pastor Israel. So I feel like I should know that. But whenever I try to share the gospel in a quick manner. Now with someone might, for example, in my just comes out wrong.

If there like in 30 seconds, 60 seconds or you know two minutes or less.

Is there. What's the best way to describe the good news with the best way to share the gospel yeah glory such an excellent question.

One. Don't feel bad. I think a lot of people can identify with you special. We have an opportunity to share the gospel and then we fumble.

I've been there. Not not long ago is probably couple years ago now. We had some friends invited us over for dinner after Sunday service. Now these friends don't go to church with us to just know them from the neighborhood. They know that I'm a pastor and they invited us over and go to church and they asked me what were at dinner in a no go to church. He was said what what what did you talk about today and what a great opportunity for a Pratt pastor Christian pastor be able to share the gospel. So I talked about Jesus what he did for us, but instead I fumbled that was preaching through Peter at the time. Is it all well you know I'm I've been preaching to the epistle of Peter and when I said epistle.

This person looked at me like, what did you say and add he's writing to the Christians scattered abroad in the Diaspora and Diaspora. It was his name over the river after was the boy Lord you really set me up for that one and I just dropped the ball totally and so glory.

I've been there and and God is gracious and he gives us these opportunities and so how can we communicate what God is done for us in 30 seconds or less. What is really hard. It is sort of encapsulate everything in that, but I would focus on this. The gospel is the good news of what God has done to unite us to himself through his son Jesus. And it's good news it's not what you do or your obedience to God. That's the law we distinguish glory between the law in the gospel losses. Here's what you need to do and we all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

We believe we've broken God's law so we can be saved by the law and that's what's really important to distinguish there and a lot of times when people I bring this up glory because some people think about the gospel you ask the average person on the street with the good news of Christianity. What they do is they point you to the law they say will be a good person.

Love your neighbor love God. That kind of thing. Those are good things.

That's not the gospel. The gospel is not what we do. It's what God has done for us in Christ what God is done for sinners, for people who don't deserve it and so I would say if you're emphasizing anything in 30 seconds and 60 seconds.

Emphasize the goodness of God towards people who don't deserve it. In Jesus, there are a lot of wonderful verses of Scripture that you could go to you know real quick summaries. I think John 316 for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. There is God loves you and he gave his son so that your sins might be forgiven.

It's not what you do. It's laying hold of that good news and and so that that's what we want to focus on what God has done the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ for us. Thanks for thanks for calling us a man that is beautiful and real and I think you would probably were not not not naturally always going to see a conversion on the first attempt God does tell us. The Bible does tell us that some water. You know some plant that seed, some water and not everybody harvest and there there may be a long process for some. Rewrite your ear to listen to what Paul says to the Corinthians. And that's absolutely right, you some sometimes were just planting a seed and you never know what's going to happen years down the road it could be that that seed blossoms I know grows up 10 years later and you never got to see the fruit of that but were called to be faithful and to share the good news of the gospel with the people around us and that's what supports rest for us to know it for us to be able to communicate the gospel clearly what God has done for us in Christ.

So amen this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We are very excited to announce a brand-new Bible study we have to offer you. And it's on the book of Revelation. Yes, this is the book of Revelation written by the apostle John envision that Jesus Christ gave to him about the things that were going to happen, you know, the book of Revelation was written to be a comfort for Christian suffering. Suffering persecution and suffering difficulty in life.

That's the focus of the book of Revelation and so it's one of those books of the Bible that we today can really benefit from immensely in our walk with the Lord. But a lot of people don't understand the book of Revelation. So that's why we created this resource. You could use it individually go through by yourself maybe for your morning devotions with a group of people friends from from your church Sunday school class that kind of a thing get a hold of this resource. It's yours for gift of $20 or more. The study will really help you understand one of the most challenging books of the Bible of a book that a lot of people get confused about to request a copy of the Revelation study. Just go to core Christianity.com/Revelation that's core Christianity.com/Revelation or you can call us at 1-833-843-2673 four that offer or any one of our offers. Again, it's 1833.

The core let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners named Virginia border comment on immigrant thinking in the US need to have her own but we are all God's people.

Could you point me to references. We are welcoming the stranger, Virginia… Not too far from the border as well. And yet I am glad that you bring up that this this crisis is great for me really is tragic because were talking about people children made in God's image I saw the video not not too long ago of a little boy I think he was about 10 years old was all over the news and in he was wandering around in the desert should know you can't come with a group of people to try to cross the board and they'd abandon him and so is picked up by the border patrol in the video to see the fear that the pain in this child's eyes and you know your heart just wells up. God is a compassionate God.

So I think it's really important for us and is weak as we think about these things is is people getting debates and arguments about policy Hayward dealing with souls dealing with people made in God's image, deserving of dignity, love, care, and respecting God cares for the vulnerable.

Think of what the psalmist that Isaiah actually the psalmist in the book of Psalms Psalm 146 verse nine, the Lord watches over the sojourners. He upholds the widow and the fatherless, but the way of the wicked. He brings to ruin or error in the book of Leviticus. You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with US and native among you, and you shall love him as yourself or you were strangers in the land of Egypt.

I am the Lord your God. Those are passages in the Scriptures talk about welcoming the stranger.

One thing that we need understand is that you know it. In that context, those laws were given to Israel as a political body assess need of God's kingdom on earth the United States America is not God's kingdom on earth.

So when we think about how to apply some of these principles we have to be discerning really the kingdom of God on earth right now is the church of Jesus Christ, which is universal. That made up of people from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

So this is a quality for us as Christians to have compassionate hearts towards people who are in need to be welcoming absolutely to be welcoming. I think that's what you what you see there in the ultimate one of the think it's so interesting is God told his people to you guys were strangers. You know what it's like to be a stranger.

You were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Therefore, you should be loving and brothers and sisters we to were strangers alienated were told by the apostle Paul from God from his grace from his goodness from his covenants and yet God reached down to us through his son Jesus and welcomed us into his family, so that should should shape the way we think about the world around us and the people around us and and and cause us to have hearts that are full of compassion. I know there's a broader question about policy and all of those things book, but we really have to first and foremost I think start their Virginia where where I've just started thinking about God's heart as he's revealed himself in his word what he called his people to we calls us to. And so may God help us to be compassionate to be wise, to be loving, and to recognize again the word were dealing with people made in God's image and so so the way in which we speak about them want to be. We want to be very careful because were talking about God's image bearers S you. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Kevin in Perryville, Missouri Kevin, what's your question for past radial for a few minutes ago about the apostles Creed and I just got in on the first or the call in your red. The Scripture that I did not hear whether you said were the Scripture was you were reading from yes yes I just want to know that hey Kevin, I'm glad you called to help me clarify there because when I was reading was the apostles Creed and the apostles Creed is not whereas I would say it's based off the Scripture every every article in the Creed right we can we can point to passages of the Bible to the summary of the teaching of the Bible.

The real basic teaching of the Bible. So the focus on the Trinity, the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus and and I mention that this is early on in the history of the church is used for people who were joining the church people who were coming to be baptizes was the basics that they needed to receive what we might call what Jude called the faith once for all delivered to the saints that we know that these kinds of things were were the basics. These kinds of things with the things that the Christians early on, even from the days of the New Testament were focusing on will listen. What the author the Hebrews said in Hebrews chapter 6. Therefore, his retina church. Let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ is the basic stuff. The ABCs and go on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of this so you imagine this is what what they were teaching to people who were joining the church a foundation of repentance from dead works and faith toward God, instruction about washings and the laying on of hands probably reference their dicta, baptism, and maybe even church government. The laying on of hands ordination. The resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. What is it one of the board of the basics of people need to be brought up in. Is there coming into the church and and what is that we need to lay hold of and let take deep root in our hearts will it's it's those things, it's that the truth about repentance towards God, faith in Jesus Christ.

The gospel idea of the life, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus washings baptism via the life of the world to come and and at the eternal judgment. Those are all the things that are that are essentially brought up in the apostles Creed and that's the very things that from the very beginning at least as early as the book of Hebrews is written that new believers were being brought up in.

And so, so, really important to understand the apostles Creed was written after the Bible was written.

We don't know exactly when was probably finalized somewhere in the middle, fourth or fifth century that kind of the thing, but it really is a faithful articulation of the basics that the teaching that we find in the Scripture. So Kevin, thank you for that question and for helping us make that clarification one click to email question before we go. Today this one before you Israel.

This person wants to know what is the nature of the resurrected body of Christ doesn't take up physical space yes boy that can be a quick question bill or we could just spend the entire broadcast on that one, but I think that definitely when you look at the New Testament and Jesus rose again from the dead and working our bodies just like the Lord Jesus glorified bodies. Paul brings us up in a good passage of Scripture that you could go to if you wanted to get into this discussion is in first Corinthians chapter 15 were Paul outlines the lot of really good stuff related to the resurrection and the resurrection body, but we also know that it is a physical body.

When Jesus what you do for Peter after Jesus it had raised from the dead Jesus hanging out by the beach and cooking up a meal breakfast for Peter. They have a meal together member went when Thomas at the end of John's Gospel a little bit prior to that seen sees Jesus and Jesus is here. You put your hand here. Where were the nail prints were put it right here where where the spear had pierced my side and I don't be unbelieving, but believe this was a real physical resurrection from the dead, and that's really important to me. Again, this is core Christianity because that's what gives us the hope of the resurrection, because Jesus rose from the dead one day we to are going to rise again from the dead. 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 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