Did God Create His Own Enemy?

Did God create his own enemy, Satan, that's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answered your questions about the Bible and the Christian life. We would love to hear from your doctor. Phone lines are open right now for the next 25 minutes and you can call us with your question. At 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673 is a couple other ways to ask questions you can post a question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts.

You can also post a question on our YouTube channel, and where live on YouTube right now and you can email us at questions@corechristianity.com first up today let's go to Lee in the state of Kansas highly welcome to the program. Good afternoon. I'd like to read and explain to me saved Christian that appears to be full of unforgiveness and hate and main behavior can they be like Damon inflicted along with the Holy Spirit or you may some clerk clarification on their behaviors. Yeah Lee well. Forgiveness is one of the most difficult things for many people. I was a bar in a study they came out some time ago that said one in four Christians has someone in their life that they feel like they simply cannot forgive and I was thought that that was just really interesting 25% of professing believers saying that there's just a person of my life I will not cannot forgive and end there really is a serious issue with this.

Not to minimize the ways in which we've been hurt by others and sinned against by others, but but the fact of the matter is, is Jesus calls us as his followers to be characterized by forgiveness and mercy.

It's very clear in the Gospels in Matthew chapter 16 when Jesus gave his disciples the Lord's prayer in one of the petitions. Verse 12. There forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. Then he goes on to say in verse 14 for if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses, forgiveness, forgiving others is is supposed to be a mark of of what we do as Christians because we've been forgiven so much. The apostle Paul talked about this also in the book of Ephesians in Ephesians chapter 4, he says in verse 31 let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ forgave you that that last part of the verse there. Lee is really really important as God in Christ forgave you know I think that one of the reasons many people struggle with forgiveness is because they are so focused on the offense. What this other person has done and they're not thinking about the forgiveness that they've received through a whole through the work of Jesus by you know from a holy God.

And so I think that there's a disconnect that sometimes we can have as Christians and we have to do is fix our eyes not so much on the offense and again that's not to minimize the ways in which we've been sinned against that there are things that should make us angry and and should cause us to say hey I need to be careful in this situation are with this person with this relationship. Maybe build some some boundaries but but the fact of the matter is called to forgive. As Christians, and we forgive as God in Christ forgave us and so I think when you have a believer someone is a professing Christian who's who's fighting with bitterness. Or maybe they just given into it and are not willing to forgive him just never get a forgive.

I think they need to be reminded of the gospel of God's mercy to them in his son Jesus of the fact that we were all enemies of God we had sinned against God in grievous ways and yet God didn't cut us off.

He sent his son to bleed so that our sins might be forgiven.

I think when we lose sight of that reality, we lose sight of the great mountain of sin that God is forgiven in us. It's really easy for us to begin to be judgmental and to look at others and and to withhold forgiveness and so we need to recover that that vision of what Christ is done for us of the of the mercy that we've received and then extend that mercy to others thanks are given as a collie. Great reminder for all of us, not to mention the fact that resentment and bitterness can just eat us up psychologically and cause health problems. It's obvious why God wants us to let go of those things and and forgive others on units best for you know, our spiritual and are physical and emotional well-being as well. This is core Christianity is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. We give you the phone numbers you can call us at 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673.

Our phone lines will be open for the next 20 minutes or so. So give us a call. Let's go to buck in Kansas City Missouri. But what your question for Pastor Israel, the Lord, and cost you like, you're not not forgiven you. Ask him to forgive you every single day site does buck and and I think it's a struggle that many believers have and use that word. There is a keywording in your question, the worst feeling when I've asked for forgiveness. When I've given my life to the Lord. Maybe you know you talking about saying a prayer something like that or just trusting in Jesus and yet I still don't feel like I'm forgive what is that mean there are times in our lives.

I think brother, where we experience you know that the presence of the Holy Spirit in that sense of know my sins have been forgiven there other times aware that those feelings aren't there were it's harder for us to believe, but I think it's really easy for for us to believe were sinners. Nobody has to convince us of that. Typically, you know, we know deep down inside as as believers we looking there's a lot that needs forgiveness was really hard for us to believe is that God is gracious to sinners that requires faith that requires faith to say God I know I messed up, but I believe that you forgive me and I think that's where were many people struggle and what I would say is you have to put your confidence not in how you feel when you wake up in the morning, but in what God has said in his word that that that's that's the key.

The book of first John chapter 1 verse nine makes it absolutely clear if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not seen we make him a liar and his word is not in us to get to think about the language that John uses here. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just that this is a part of God's promises. This is this is who I am. I am faithful and I'm just to forgive your sins. When you confess them. But what if God didn't forgive our sins when we came to him and confess those sins truly in repentance.

If he didn't do that we would go against his very nature who he is just and holy God. And so buck you can be confident when you go to God broken and contrite spirit like like David says in in Psalm 51. When you go to him, saying, Lord, I know I've sinned, I need your mercy that he forgives you and that you are forgiven. Now we do continually throughout the Christian life confess our sins every day, day by day that's a part of how we experience that continued fellowship with the people of God in and with with the Lord himself and so so yes continue to confess your sins, but rest in the fact that you are forgiven not on the basis of how you feel but to what Jesus Christ did for you when he died on the cross. That's our objective. That's real and it's yours. When you go to the Lord in faith, a man by the way buck.

We have a wonderful resource. Our core questions. What's the difference between justification and sanctification, and it might be helpful to you as you learn about growing in Christ and what that looks like on a daily basis. You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/questions. Again it's called. How is called the difference between justification and sanctification or learning about personal growth. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Mason in Springfield, Missouri, Mason, what your question for Israel in regard to ecumenical unification within the church water doctoring door believe that we are as Christian church leaders that would associate from all over other churches in the water. Some secondary issues that we can while we don't necessarily agree unified anyway to get your thoughts on that first let's let's talk about the issues that we can and should divide over me and it really gets to the heart of the gospel and I think even biblical authority. The apostle Paul made it absolutely clear. First Corinthians chapter 15 for I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures the of the vicarious atonement of Jesus Christ that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas and then to to the 12 and then he appeared to more than 500 brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, but some have died. Paul says his look, this is this is what's of first importance what was delivered to me and the language that he uses theirs is exiting sort of technical language.

Further, the sort of passing on of this this tradition. This gospel tradition from Jesus to the apostles and from the apostles to other faithful men, who would be able to teach and continue to pass the baton on to subsequent generations and so at the heart of it.

This is what sometimes you know it. In the ancient church. The church fathers referred to as the rule of faith. The regular file it, it's that the the central doctrines of Christ's life, death and burial, resurrection from the dead.

The gospel. If you go to a church that rejects those things then think you're nodding communion with one another.

If somebody rejects Jesus the identity of Jesus is his divinity. If they reject that the vicarious work of Jesus on the cross.

His actual physical resurrection from the dead.

If they just are to try to spiritualize that nine of those kinds of things that are outside the faith there outside of core Christianity.

It's I think that those are those are some of the key issues there that we really have to hold fast to and I and I also mentioned the importance of biblical authority and the reason that's the case, is because the moment churches begin to reject the authority of Scripture. That's really when they start also to reject these other core doctrines of the of the Christian faith.

They begin to deny that the, the identity of the God man of Jesus Christ. They begin to reject salvation by grace through faith. Now, with regard to secondary issues. You know, things that you know what we can still love one another as brothers and sisters in Christ you know I still think in and trust that you're a believer, even though we disagree on this think some of some of those things might be you know it reference to things like church government. You know it, I might have a brother who doesn't agree with my understanding of church governance, but embraces the gospel and and and that person is truly a brother or a sister now just because they have a different ecclesiology that his understanding of the way in which the church is supposed to be governed doesn't necessarily mean that they're not a believer and so things like that I think would be more secondary issues and issues that throughout the history of the church, you know, Christians were were willing to work together, even though they had differences with regard to things like church government.

So those are just a couple of examples, but core Christianity and at the heart of it is is those those elements of first importance. It Paul describes in first Corinthians 15 and another thing I could point you to is just that the historical creeds of the church like the apostles Creed and the Nicene Creed, which I think really helpfully summarize those core doctrines is vital doctrines that all Christians need to hold onto a masonry love to send you a copy of our book core Christianity. We think that will really be helpful to you in discerning some of these particular issues, and so will sit once and that you hang on the line for one moment, if you would your listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. Today we want to offer you a wonderful book that will help you grow in your faith and and really get a grasp of God's tender heart towards each of us.

Yeah I am excited about offering this book is a book that I benefited from.

I shared with many people in our church is called gentle and lowly by Dane Portland really getting to the heart of Jesus and Jesus's love for and care for sufferers and sinners broken people if if you struggle even even with assurance mood.

We've Artie talked about on the broadcast today and it frequently comes up you know how can I know that I'm really saved. I don't feel forgiven if you struggle with that to get a hold of this book because and help you understand the love of Jesus for you even though we fail even though even though we do indeed struggle and so again the book is called gentle and lowly, and a bill would you let them know how to how to get a hold of this resource. Just go to our website. Core, Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers and look for that book gentle and lowly would love to get that to you for donation of any amount this week. You can also call us for that resource for anyone of our resources at 833. The core one of the ways you can leave a question for Israel is by calling our voicemail.

It's open 24 hours a day at 833 the Corinth let's go to a voicemail we received from Tom what you do in your ministry here been very and many others by question is about Satan being raised in church. I've always been told and heard many people say that Satan and is a fallen angel. He was in charge of music in the name Lucifer, now having come into my own, and learning to study the Bible and how important context is see that the verses you in Ezekiel and in Isaiah, referring to the fallen angel on the music is actually talking about the king of Tyre and the king of Babylon in the New Testament it said that Satan was a liar and that he had been from the beginning was Satan created as an evil being or do you believe that he really was an angel, love your reading the Bible so carefully, and that you want to understand it in its context, and you brought up to verses or passages of Scripture that are oftentimes pointed to as as talking about the fall of Satan both in Isaiah Isaiah chapter 14 and in the book of Ezekiel Ezekiel 28 and and you noted, I think rightly that it in their immediate context are talking about these wicked and arrogant rulers in Isaiah 14 for example, it's the. The hottie king of of of Babylon, and so so I think that that's a really good thing to know because of that to realize that sometimes passages like this in these prophetic texts of Scripture have multiple reference or dual reference. That is, it can refer to this wicked king, but it can also refer to the evil one Satan. It seems to me like Jesus actually says that this passage in Isaiah 14 does refer to Satan, the evil one. Verse 12.

Isaiah 14 says how you are fallen from heaven, oh DayStar, son of Don, how you are cut down to the ground you are 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 and then it goes on to talk about him being brought low because of his pride because of his arrogance because of his conceit will Jesus in the Gospel of Luke in the context of him talking to his disciples, if after they had gone out and and had been casting out demons. Luke chapter 10 verse 17 the 72 returned with joy, saying, Lord, even the demons are subject to us in your name and he said to them, it sounds like he's quoting Isaiah 1412 here. I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. The correlation there. Jesus's words and in Luke 1018 and then Isaiah 1412 how you are fallen from heaven, oh DayStar, son of the done so Jesus seem to apply this text to say and so seems like there was this fall that is to say that God did not create Satan as evil but as good and it was pride, the sin of pride in Satan caused him to fall. In fact Paul in first Timothy chapter 3 he talks about elders in the church, not being new converts so that they don't become conceited and fall into the same condemnation of the evil one and so God created Satan you know this angel good and yet he fell and that's what you have described in Isaiah 14 and confirmed by Jesus in Luke 1018 thanks for your question. Thanks for the great explanation, Israel your listening to core Christianity and let's go to Joe in Memphis, Tennessee. Joe what your question for Pastor Israel here or under we going to always do as Christians and saying that Jesus bore on the cross I speak about forgiveness. And if you don't forgive somebody will Christ Jesus for all your experience since you did forgive you not let my question is on the Judgment Day. If we be judged for director of the Christian Jesus took away all sin at the cross. Hey, thank you for that question. It does seem to me like when you look at the passages that talk about the final judgment that we as believers are there, you know it's something that we experience.

Acts chapter 17 verse 31 second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 Revelation chapter 20 when Jesus talks about this this great white throne judgment.

This judgment where were all people are standing before the Lord. And yet for us as Christians, we don't have to be afraid during the judgment because Jesus bore our sins and because we've been forgiven and and John, I think makes this absolutely clear in the book of first John and first John chapter 4 verse 17 he says. By this is love perfected with us so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in the world.

There is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. We love because he first loved us what what what comfort that is that we can have confidence in the day of judgment, not because of what we've done per se, not because we've you to live these perfect lives and we fail, we said we struggled to forgive Joe I'm sure you know this. I know this all those listening right now you know this, and yet John says you and I we can have confidence for the day of judgment. Wow, how is that well because we've already passed from death to life. Jesus said that in in John chapter 5 in ice is that the one believes in him shall not enter into judgment, but is already passed from death to life. So while our works are our examiner were to be commended for those things.

On the day of judgment, the good things were not can it be destroyed because of our failures because Jesus has borne our curse. We can have confidence in the day of judgment, not in our own righteousness, but in the righteousness of Jesus Christ amount hey Joe, thanks so much for your call and for listing the core Christianity let's go to grade in Mount Pleasant, Texas, Greg.

Welcome to the program what your question for Israel. Thank you for my question is, the Bible says to keep holy the Sabbath and even when cross was walking amongst us the Sabbath for Saturday. Why is the Christian church gone through worshiping on Sunday hey Greg, thank you so much for that question will the Sabbath writing the first time. We even have that word is in the early chapters of Genesis where God rested on the seventh day, and that rest that God entered into a something that we as believers in Jesus Christ are called also to enter into this is something that you see in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 4 it's ultimately up a picture of the heavenly rest of the. The rest that is God's very own rest that we enter into, through faith in Jesus Christ. Hebrews chapter 4 verse three for we who have believed enter that rest, that is God's Sabbath rest. Jesus himself said in Matthew chapter 11. Towards the end of the chapter come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, so that rest that heavenly rest that that was really given to us are pictured in the Sabbath. God's very own rest of the early chapters of of Genesis is something we enter into by faith in Jesus Christ who worked perfectly, obeying the law of God, fulfilling it then died for our sins and rose again from the dead on the first day of the week and ever since the days of the apostles. Greg Christians have been gathering in commemoration of what Christ accomplished on the first day of the week. We see this in acts chapter 20 we see this in first Corinthians chapter 16 the Christian church began to gather for worship.

The apostles themselves gathered for worship on Sunday. Why because something monumental. It happened God the son came to earth accomplished salvation rested in the tomb on the Sabbath day and then rose again from the dead for us. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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