Why Did God Create Different Ethnicities and Races?

Why did God create different races if he knew those differences would lead to prejudice.

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. You can call us right now with your question.

At 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter account and you can email us at questions at core, Christianity.com right now. Let's go to chat in East St. Louis, Illinois chat welcome to the program hello can you hear me hey chat with you yeah you're on brother. Good to hear from you.

What's your question brother yes sir presses sent to this protocol questions was a listen to your program frequently will the whole project in my Bible study class. We were discussing the Scripture in Hebrews script chapter can with verse 24 and 25 was specifically verse 25. Talk about not forsaking the assembling of yourself together as a man of so goes all you talk about the Lord. We were discussing whether or not it's a command from Scripture that we should assemble together as an artist that I like to get joking on yeah hey chat not appreciate this question a lot and it's actually question we've been getting more and more recently because of you know the lockdowns and that kind of thing. I do think that this is a command that we haven't Scripture to gather together. Of course you have the fourth commandment of of the Decalogue unit. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. For the people of God.

Historically, even under the old covenant were called to gather together for worship to honor the Lord to rest and to worship him in and under the new covenant.

As believers, you know, the book of Hebrews is really focused on the new covenant were still called to gather together on the Lord's day to fix our eyes on Jesus Christ and to receive that the gifts that God has for us through his son Jesus Christ. And so one of the problems you know that the book of Hebrews is written to a group of Christians who are being tempted to turn away from the gospel they were drifting false teaching had had begun to creep into the church.

Some of them were beginning to deny the supremacy and sufficiency of Jesus Christ and and as they were doing that they were no longer gathering together with the church with other believers to hear the gospel to receive those gifts that I mentioned things like baptism, things like the Lord's supper and so the author of the Hebrews is really concerned for them. He knows that when we when we begin to drift.

When we begin to to fall out of Christian Fellowship that has a serious effect on our spiritual lives in the and that's why he says, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, it seems like some of the people there to whom he was run. They'd already started to do this, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the day drawing near. Now there's a there's a little bit of a parallel earlier in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 3 verse 12.

Take care brothers, lest there be any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day as long as it is called today that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.

We need brothers and sisters fellowship with other Christians which we can't delete live the Christian life in isolation on our own. God calls us to be a part of local churches cared for and governed by elders, deacons, Nepal talk about this in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1 and so it's a it's just so necessary. My encouragement to all of you as you listen to this.

You know you believe in Jesus you receive the gospel. Are you in a good church where your gathering together with others when you're not forsaking the assembling growing together with the gifts that God is given you and Ben being invested in by the ministry of the word, and so jet that that's my view. Yes, this is a command.

We are called as believers to gather together with the saints on the Lord's day to worship him. So thank you for your question and so excited to hear you studying this book into a Bible study. May the Lord bless your study brother thanks much for your question, Chet and Ron curious for those churches that are in states where things are still pretty locked down and churches are not allowed to meet what you say to those believers.

Yeah, I mean I would say we have to exercise wisdom.

Obviously you know what will.

Looking at this passage of Scripture and in I think that there is a clear command here, but are there ways that we can meet that are still safe. That still allow us to worship as God is called us to worship, but can also be faithful to you know respecting governing authorities. I think I think there I met I'm here in Southern California and had it's been difficult you know of it over the years. Now things are.

Over the last couple few months.

Couple years now things are starting to open up again, which I'm really really excited about what we been able to find ways to gather together safely in respect of governing authorities, while also ultimately first and foremost, honoring the Lord and focusing on his word, and so I think we have to exercise wisdom here and and seek to praise the Lord. Worship him as he calls us but also to do it in ways that are wise and and in line with you know what with what message was being asked of us and so as I was a bill I know there are some situations where where it's even more difficult. Where you know that is impossible to impossible for believers to gather together and you think of places where it were believers being persecuted and and whatnot. So I think God gives grace, but we have to exercise wisdom in these situations, and so good counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question for us. Here's the phone number to call is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 you can call for the next 15 minutes or so with your question about the Bible or the Christian life. Let's go to James in Robinson, Illinois. James what your question for pastor atrial that I can hear you James. What's your question will yeah privileged to get stock.

Really enjoy the program.

My question is in the Old Testament we see a lot of promises for Israel. Wonderful promises that some things I read lately think there for us as Christians today and then other things I read lately think know know this just applied to them at that time and I was wondering if you could help me out. Yeah I love the way that you're wanting to parse out the Scriptures here faithfully.

There are ways to misapply the promises of God that we see in the Old Testament I wanted that one of the place where seat God is happening all the time is in movements like the prosperity gospel movement where people look at these promises, you know.

Blessings for obedience under the old covenant that kind of a thing of the promise of riches and wealth to men like Abraham and and also will. This applies to us as good as Christians you know God is in a blessed me if I just do these things take these steps so they see then God is in a make me rich and and healthy and and powerful and, and so on and so forth, that would be a misapplication of the promises of God in the Old Testament, but we have to we have to realize that through Jesus Christ. Now we are the children of Abraham, the apostle Paul said that that very clearly in Galatians chapter 3, and now in Christ. In one sense, these promises do apply to the people of God.

We have to be again really careful in terms of how we parse it out. The apostle Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 1 verse 24 all the promises of God, find their yes in him that is Jesus. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory. We are as Christians in Christ. The recipients of these great promises. Ultimately, the promise of salvation that you see throughout the Bible, through faith we are the children of Abraham. Galatians chapter 3, so I would want to say we want to be careful when we think about applying those promises, but we also have to have to recognize that yeah in Jesus and through Jesus. These passages of Scripture do relate to us in some sense, and that's where it takes wisdom in applying the word of God in understanding how it fits for us today. Now let me just ask you James was there was her specific promise you were thinking about under the old covenant that you're wondering how is that for me today hello honestly thought I just you know I try to re-rent God's word every day. Just something that thought is probably that I never could quite pin down the now and it will and and again I eyes. I think it's it's really important for us to understand how to read the Old Testament, especially there a lot of believers who go to the Old Testament is think this doesn't really apply to me with regard to the promises or with regard to the warnings, but the reality is is that the warnings of impulsiveness and first Corinthian's 10 they do apply to us that those things are there for us so that we might take heed.

But even with regard to the promises. Through Jesus Christ. Now about it like this. Think of the promise of land that was given to Abraham and the land of Canaan. Throughout the book of Genesis. For example, right. Abraham is looking forward to this.

This promise to receive this land from the Lord, but ultimately that land was a type of a greater reality and insofar it was a type of as it was a type of a greater reality. It applies to us as well. Were looking forward to the heavenly Jerusalem, and think about what the author that the Hebrew says in Hebrews chapter 11 verse eight by faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance and he went out, not knowing where he was going. The text goes on in eyes as he continues these all died in faith, verse 13 not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth for people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland if they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would've had an opportunity to return.

But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. The promise right there life pointing to this heavenly land. This promise for the people of God, even today. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. And so really it's understanding.

See how the apostles themselves interpreted those promises and then applied them to us as believers under the new covenant, and so continue to dig into the Scriptures brother and and appreciate this question I think is really important when we can go wrong and in two directions.

We can say they don't apply to us at all.

Or we can misapply them to us today and so takes discernment. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez and if you have been held by an answer that you heard here on the core and you want to share a previous episode with a friend or family member you can actually send them a video of our episodes from our YouTube channel and be sure to click the subscribe button while you're there so you can follow along. For extra videos from core Christianity let's go to Bill who was calling in from Southern Illinois Bill, what's your question for pastor atrial.

I did a lot of research on different religions and philosophies, even evolution and quality stuff like that with the intent that if I run into people, which I do occasionally kind of lien lien those way the conversation with them.

If they start attacking me or attacking Christianity or something, but I had a number of people telling me I shouldn't be doing that during reading of other religions and philosophies because that might be opening the door for Satan to come into my thinking about Linda or your thoughts.

Yeah why did I do think you for engaging with somebody we want to make sure that were representing their views well that we understand their views and so first I would say I really appreciate the fact that as you are seeking to have conversations with others and and to share the gospel with them, or to defend the Christian faith that you want to be intentional about understanding where it is that this person is coming from. What is that they actually believe so that you can respond to it.

I think that's really good now, if all we do is study other religions and their beliefs that I think that that could be a problem. I think that we have to focus on the teachings of the Scripture what the Bible teaches that we can understand the word of God be shaped by it be formed by it. First and foremost and and so if that's happening if if your first and foremost being shaped by the Scriptures, but then also studying these other things on the side in order to better understand what others believe and how you can engage in a conversation with them.

I think that's great. I think of what Paul told Timothy in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 15 from childhood you've been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

Recently, brother. I've been having just meditating on the pastoral epistles first and second Timothy Titus and over and over again.

You have the sort of refrain of being rooted in the Scriptures of dang attention to devoting yourself to good works and to the public reading of Scripture and knowing the Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation.

So I think we have to you.

You have to take heed to that and say Lord I want to be shaped first and foremost by your word, but I also want to make sure that as I'm sharing your word with others that I'm able to engage in a real conversation and respond to what they believe, from from a place of of understanding and so I don't think that there is there's anything wrong with that but the one thing I will say is there is just so much out there sort of like that. The great apostasy your you're knocking to be able to keep up with there's always some new movement, some new idea. Some new twist on the Scriptures and so if we devoted all of our time to that we would just not have any time to to really fix our eyes on Jesus and his word and that's that's the one caution I would give you but if you're engaging in particular with with one idea or with a group of people who hold to a certain view, then I would say yeah understand what it is that they believe and respond to it. According to the Scriptures with gentleness, with love, with respect, so that God in his mercy might grant them repentance to come to the knowledge of the truth. God bless you and I know I drill you done that in your own life you've had relationships with Mormons and with this with the Jehovah's Witnesses were you've actually been able to lead them to the Scriptures that that show them that know their beliefs are in error. Yeah. And I do think that it really is an important part in the relationship really understanding what another person believes otherwise. If you just sort of you know, barking out information at them and and not taking the time to actually listen as well. You're not can have his effective arguments because you really don't understand where it is that you need to focus where the difference actually lies at the better you understand another view, the more you'll be able to effectively critique it from the word of God and so I think it that there is wisdom in this and and may the Lord bless bless us as we seek to engage in that with with wisdom while also focusing first and foremost on on the teachings of the Bible you're listening to core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez and if you or someone you know is struggling with depression right now, we actually have. I'm sorry. I should mention that resource. But I also want to mention one other thing, but the depression resource you can find on our website is called nine things everyone needs to know about depression and I want to mention our brand-new Bible study, which is on a book that a lot of Christians struggle with.

It's the book of Revelation. Yeah, we did have a ton of resources ability to forget it does get the depression resource which is a really really important resource in which we want people to get their hands on nine things everyone should know about depression but also this new Bible study that we just come out with hot off the press of Bible study on the book of Revelation. And as we've said before, look if you have questions about the end times, the rapture, as it says it sometimes called the persecution of Christians are experiencing today. That kind of a thing get your hands on this resource. It's it's a resource that really is can help you dig into the book of Revelation. One of the most misunderstood books of the Bible that we want to help illuminate for you and and I know to be a blessing for you to resource at yours for a gift of $20 or more. It's a beautiful booklet you a hard copy Bible study of the book of Revelation that would love to send you and to get that resource. Just go to our website. Core, Christianity.com/Revelation that's core Christianity.com/Revelation course you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673. The numbers 833 the core well let's go to Tom in St. Louis, Missouri Tom, what is your question for pastor atrial developer serve the Lord program recording of the book is about know the book of the Bible verse six was the more our love will only take about or added to the Bible the park but usually part of the Bible that leaders of the Catholic Church know already deleting some of the world. What yeah hey brother, thank you for that question.

I would say the apocryphal was a later addition by the Catholic Church so historically you think about some of the books that were included or are included in Catholic Bibles in the Old Testament, those books were were books that were written after the prophet Malachi between Malachi and the time of Jesus. Essentially, sometimes is a call that the the silent years, you know, and so that they they give us a lot of history but that that the Hebrews that you didn't believe that those were inspired by God the canon that Christ himself use would not have included those books of the Bible.

And so we would say that the 66 books that we have are the inspired word of God and these other books that that are you know and in Bibles with Roman Catholic Bible while they might have some good history and an information there not to be considered on par with the inspired Scriptures and you look at the you know some of the list you have among the ancient church fathers and you see that the it always seem like those books retreat a little bit differently.

That is, the apocryphal books when we think about the canon of Scripture were focusing on these books that especially the by the New Testament canon. You know that they have this apostolate city that is they were written by an apostle or someone close closely associated with the apostles that there were ancient antiquity.

They were there were written early on, near to the time that the events happened you think of some of these epistles, you know, the book of Revelation. Even which is considered by some to become one of the later New Testament books. But still, all of these books very ancient associated with the apostles. They fit in terms of the theology. Oftentimes you have one apostle referring to like me think of Peter referring to Paul's writings as inspired Scripture is a little. It really just this fits together and three within the 66 books of the Bible that we have are the inspired canon of Scripture, and that the other books of these apocryphal books were later additions that as I said we shouldn't treat as a part of the holy Bible, but might have some good history and an interesting reading. So ask that question. Thanks Tom appreciate your question.

Thanks for listing the core Christianity. One of the ways you can leave a question for us is by calling and leaving a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day at 833. The core let's go to voicemail that came in yesterday. I know God knows everything. He only know that there will be wasted trying white and black knows there will be wasted on a white and black.

Why did he create black and white light. He might well, thank you for for that question let me just say say this and a lot of times we talk about race in the church and issues of of race people think all man where we where we getting into this. You know that this is just this is of the world that kind of thing.

But the fact of the matter is from the very beginning. One of the biggest problems in the church in the apostolic church had to do with race had to do with how different cultures come together you think about the gospel being preached to the Gentiles and the Gentiles.

Now being included into the covenant people of God and how now you have these groups of people who are coming together, who ordinarily would not have been together needing to relate and love one another through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Now we sin we we do things that are evil that are wrong.

People are and have racist tendencies we can't deny that that's evil that's a sin that needs to be put to death it needs to be called out but but the fact of the matter is in your question, is it in light of that, why did God allow for for these different races there something beautiful about how the gospel brings together people from all walks of life and cultures around the message of Jesus Christ through the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of Jesus asked exactly what the apostle Paul talked about in the book of Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 2, he said, remember that one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called the un-circumcision in the flesh by what is called the circumcision which is made by the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, for he himself is our peace was made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, and so making peace and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross thereby killing the hostility. Paul is saying there in Ephesians and look the cross of Jesus Christ reconciled us to God first and foremost our sins are forgiven. We now have peace with God through Jesus word were justified. Romans chapter 5 verse one, but you also did. It breaks down and it broke down the walls of division that existed between people here Jew and Gentile, so that these different races, cultures might come together and worship the Lord and let me just tell you something sister. When that happens it's so beautiful it's a demonstration of the power of the gospel. When people who ordinarily would not be together in the same room with fellow shipping with one another, different cultures, ideas, when those people come together not because you know they like the same food of the same kind of the music, or because because they look the same when they come together because they've all been washed by the blood of Jesus in the world is able to look at.

At this from the outside. See will look at these people who are on the outside. You know they're there at war. They fight they don't love one another, but here because of Jesus are together and so do your why question why did God allow this.

I think one of the reasons is because the unity around the gospel. Racial unity around the gospel diverse in unity through the blood of Jesus Christ powerfully depicts the power of what God has done for us in his son Jesus and except that work of God on display for all to see. 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