Are “Soul Ties” Taught in Scripture?

Does the Bible teach. There are such things as soul ties. 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 a 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 our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes or so and we would love to hear from you again. That's 833-843-2673. By the way, you can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch us right now on YouTube and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com will first up today let's go to Philip in Houston, Texas. Philip what your question for pastor atrial. I only question we can be done and you don't realize how they Philip, thank you for that question and it's a question that we often get on this program you in the Gospels where Jesus talked about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. What exactly was he talking Basie was in Mark chapter 3. Are you also seek see this in Matthew chapter 12, the first thing I'll say is no. This is not something that you can do accidentally. I know a lot of believers who had this question they think of that I did I accidentally commit the blasphemy. The whole affair was that sin that I did yesterday or last month. The unforgivable sin.

And if you're concerned about that you have not committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. The people who committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in the Gospels were people who wanted nothing to do with Jesus. In fact, they were attributing the miraculous works of Jesus to Satan. Jesus cured healed a demon possessed man cast out the demon and the religious leaders said you he does this, Jesus does this by Beelzebub. In other words, Jesus is working for Satan it's in that context that Jesus warned about the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. He says in in Matthew chapter 12, for example, verse 31 therefore I tell you every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven. People in other words, there other kinds of blasphemy that you are speaking against God, his name, his worship, that Canon and will be and are forgiven, but this is something very specific here ever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven either in this age or in the age to come, so there you have this language of an unpardonable sin and I think what it is is is persistent, hardhearted unbelief, the rejection of Jesus Christ, the rejection of the gospel. So much so that there even attributing the works of Jesus, the miraculous works of Jesus wrought by the Holy Spirit to Satan there that confuse there that lost her that hardhearted and they get to a point where they these religious leaders in particular were there given over to this the sort of debased understanding and where there just lost forever and so brother if you're concerned about this if your concern.

Have I committed the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit in the very fact that you're asking that question to me indicates that you haven't then then there really quite an encouragement. There were Jesus is all sins and blasphemies will be forgiven. We have a great hope in the gospel that when we fall and we failed when we sin, we can turn to the Lord in faith and he does forgive us no matter what you've done you can go to him when you come in faith. You receive forgiveness you know it or alarm confused why so many Christians are constantly asking this question have I committed the unpardonable sin have I blaspheme the Holy Spirit. Do you think it's because they don't understand the context of this particular section of Scripture or you think it's just that there there racked with guilt, thinking maybe maybe I've done something so bad that God could never forgive me.

Well part of it is you know not understand the context that's an issue we talked about that a lot on this broadcast the importance of understanding Scripture in its context.

But I think that this is just such an important question and for for you for us when when we come into relationship with Jesus Christ. We experience his presence, his grace is forgiveness, the fear that we might lose that or maybe do something to to forever compromise that you know it's terrifying.

I remember as a newer believer really struggling with with that fear is well thinking okay great Jesus to save me. But what if I mess this up. You know, I know I still fail and so you know we really have to understand these passages in their context. I think we comfort those who are concerned concerned about their salvation. I tend to worry a little bit more about the people who just say all that need of the word of God, yet not that big of a deal. I'm a Christian.

I said a prayer many, many years ago. I don't go to church don't really care about you know walking with Jesus, or the sin in my life that kind of a thing you know, in my mind that's indicative of real heart problem spiritual problem when people are concerned about their salvation is a sensitive conscience.

I think that's a sign that the spirit is at work and so should be comforting to us.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Here's the number to call right now 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Michelle in Post Falls, Idaho. Michelle, welcome to the program regarding Matthew 27 by defendant man is going to pan in his father's glory, like an angel and then he will be Lord.

Each person according to let I'm trying and I'm curious about the reward each person's heart. I'm not sure anything and topic of conversation in our household the last weekend trying to figure that out to Michelle, thank you for your question is this is just the language of the final judgment.

Typically, Jesus, or even the apostles and in the letters that they wrote when they talk about the final judgment. They talk about this final judgment. You know work were God is essentially giving us dealing with us as to what we've done so a lot of people get concerned about that language they think well will does that mean that you know I'm saved by grace, but then when it comes to the final judgment.

If I don't have enough works. God's not can you let me into heaven, and so they go.

How can I ever be confident before the Lord, that kind of a thing which you need understand his first when we believe in Jesus Christ when you believed in Jesus, you were justified. That is, God declared you righteous, not on the basis of your own righteousness that that's inside of you.

That's infused into however you want to put it but on the basis of the righteousness of Jesus Christ that is given to you. It's as if you're clothed in the righteousness of Christ, so that you can stand before God on the day of judgment with confidence, and this is actually something that John talks about in in his first letter talk. He talks about the importance of us being able to have confidence in the day of judgment and we confidence from the love of God. The fact that God loves us these forgiven us that is cleansed us, but you still have this line which another place, shall receive the flames.

At the very end of the Bible and the book of Revelation chapter 20 John says yes this vision I saw a great white throne and him who was seated on it. From his presence earth and sky fled away in no place was found for them. And I saw the dead, great and small stand before the throne and the books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the book of life and the dead were judged by what was written in the books, according to what they had done there again sort of echoing the words of Jesus, and in Matthew chapter 16 is the judgment that includes everyone you see this in the in the New Testament. Acts chapter 17 verse 31, Paul talks about you to the fact wrong to stand before the judgment second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 10 that it's a very detailed judgment all our works are to be taken into account. So again people think boy, I'm in trouble, but believers have confidence in the day of judgment. Not only does it take you to one other passage of Scripture to the gospel of John Michelle. Maybe this'll clear things up for you. It's in John chapter 5.

Listen to what Jesus said about the judgment and about those who believe in him entering into judgment. He says this John five verse 24 truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life.

He does not come into judgment, but is passed from death to life. That is to say, you're not going to be you not to be on the day of judgment.

You're already justified you been justified or you been declared righteous on the day of judgment, your works, your your failures or your sins are sins we still struggle with everyday market to keep you from eternal life because you're clothed in the righteousness of Christ working to be commended.

I think for the good things that we've done that and you know working here the words of of Jesus.

Well done good and faithful servant. But Jesus is right there very clearly. Michelle, we have already you have already passed from death to life through Jesus justified in him and we will not enter into the judgment, not not be condemned. I think what Jesus is referring to there and so thank you for your question sister.

I love how so many of our listeners dig into God's word and then have these great questions very yet what I mean really good questions and important question because I think again we are talking about context and if we are assuming that okay you know I'm saved by grace now but then on the day of judgment. I'm saved by my works. That kind of thing will get in a lot of trouble. We could never have confidence in the day of judgment and yet that's that's precisely what John says were supposed to have on the day of judgment is confidence before the Lord. We actually have a great core question that delves into this topic. What's the difference between justification and sanctification.

You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/questions and read up on that topic. Let's go to Tommy who's calling in from San Diego, California Tommy, welcome to the program. Thank you for having me and I appreciate the work that you do the tests are requested on the second commandment amendment violation utilized a going to places churches where there really is really very tentative that they'll put stickers on the face of Jesus or whatnot and there are storybook like the Jesus storybook Bible, or so you know and I wonder that the extreme word that is that, and if I would go out for Apple and by an art piece of the Salvatore Monday, for example just as obvious exaggeration, but is that long to buy without worshiping the image.

Can you clarify hey Tommy, thank you for your question. I just want to give our listeners a little bit of background here.

You know, because of the reality is I think most people who are listening right now might say what's the big deal with that part of the issue is we sort of lost sight of some of these commands in Scripture. The second commandment in particular you don't make any images of God, and it seems to me when I read the New Testament. The focuses is never uncertain trying to depict God or Jesus or the Holy Spirit to painting or that kind of thing.

The way in which the apostles depicted Jesus was through preaching. So the apostle Paul said in Galatians chapter 3, I placarded Jesus Christ and him crucified before you Galatians the word that he uses there. It was an ancient word that simply meant to billboard his bill boarding Jesus before you how not by you know acrylic paint that thing that I did II did it to the preaching through the preached word.

It's the same thing that you see in first John, I love the way John introduces first letter says that which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, the apostle saw Jesus which we looked upon and have touched with our hands concerning the word of life. The life was made manifest, and we have seen it and testify to it and proclaim to you the eternal life which was that the father and was made manifest to us to John does their Tommy says look we apostles, we saw Jesus. We were with him and we proclaimed him to you. That's how we met. That's you know Jesus through the preaching of the word, and so I think I the one concern that I have is when we focus a lot on these sort of images and depictions of Jesus we can get confused about who Jesus we know Jesus through the preached word that's a that's really what I I think you know it in terms of where we should focus is the church we need it. We need to help people see Jesus through the Scriptures. I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. How does God want us to worship him, and how does the Bible define worship we have a wonderful resource which is free and will help you answer those questions and here we go again I'm at Wetzel were just talking about the second commandment really is focused also on worship. How to worship God and how it did not worship God and historically and in the history of the church.

That's how it was understood. There are certain ways in which God wants to be worshiped and there are certain things we can do worship that are displeasing to the Lord. I think of that story in Leviticus chapter 10 verses one through three were you have these two priests. Nate Abbott of by who offer strange fire to the Lord and the Lord consumed them with farm. It really is this kinda crazy text descriptor it just highlights the fact that God cares about how he's worshiped and and so it's important that we understand this NetSuite we have this resource for you nine things you should know about worship friends. This is something that God cares about, and something that we should care about to get hold of the 346 yours for free. Nine things you should know about worship. You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers to download the PDF again. It's nine things you should know about worship. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting any one of our offers again that number is 833.

The core let's go to a voicemail that we received from one of our listeners named Noel was one or so and I they mentioned in the Bible.

I care about Christian influence in my and even some pastors. I now realize talk about some ties why God warns against sex before marriage but I never actually see any vices in the Bible are referring to social ties. I just want to know if this is something that is actually real, that we should be wary you pay Noel thank you for your question assess to me like you're discerning. I love that your your being Breen about this yet pastors"" Christian influencers can talk about soul ties but the real question you ask yourself is, is that biblical where does the Bible talk about quote unquote soul ties and I think when when I've heard some people talk about the sultans of the idea is you know when you get involved in a particular sin you mentioned Tina sex outside of marriage that you are now sinfully bound to this person. There's this there's a sort of soul pie that requires maybe spiritual warfare to to to break that bond to break that time. I think really what's happening here is maybe just an over spiritual is Asian of the for the fact that sin does have consequences. You know, we didn't in relationships that we shouldn't be in that can be traumatic that can be painful that can give us memories that that stick with us, that are burned into our mind and their ways of dealing with that healthy ways of dealing with that and and obviously there's forgiveness and grace. But my concern is that people are are being put in bondage when they're told how you have the soul ties you know you have to try to to figure out what those are in and in you really you are given the materials the resources to be able to do that one thing I'll say is this. If you are a Christian you have a new identity. You're no longer attached to your scene if you will. It doesn't have you under it anymore. I think of what the apostle Paul said in Romans chapter 6 yours your ears your identity as a follower of Jesus.

What shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means how can we who died to sin still live in it. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we need to might walk in newness of life goes on to say this, we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again death no longer has dominion over him for the debt that he died he died to sin once for all, but the life that he lives, he lives to God, so you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus.

That's our identity as followers of Jesus were dead to sin were alive to God, we present the members of our body as instruments for righteousness, for the Lord service and will be caught up in all this talk about soul ties. I fear that they're beginning to to look at themselves in a way that's not biblical. Oh yeah I'm a Christian, but I have all these in a demonic soul ties from past relationships that I needed that I need to deal with an end and maybe that looks like some some kind of a spiritual worth what prayer is important friends.

Yes we pray we get the healing that we need when we experience these these traumatic things are. We've been sending answer when we've engaged in some sin and and and thoughts still plague us, but this is that the natural consequence of of you know what it looks like to live in a fallen world.

Those experiences that are burned into our minds and so we do pray we ask God for healing. Another thing that could be helpful just processing through those things you think of maybe getting a counselor. Sometimes we tend to, and in some churches over spiritualize the stuff we start talking about soul ties and whatnot but the Bible doesn't say anything about that. If you're a Christian, no matter what your past is you've been forgiven. You are now alive in Christ, dead to sin. That doesn't mean that your past sins, or can it I can creep into your mind. The work through those things and process that but you're forgiven, you're no longer tied down and I would add a drill for our young people are listening better thinking about the decisions they make. As far as relationships and sexuality. God has designed us to function in a certain way and he's designed us is designed sex for a marriage relationship and that no covenant for life. When we go outside of that design.

There are going to be psychological consequences, and there there could be no emotional baggage that we carry. So what is God wants to do. It tells us right there in his word. You know to leave your mother and father cling to your wife and that's where you that's where the sexual does relationship is designed to take place and I'm glad you brought that ability because like like we were saying there are natural consequence of psychological consequences, even to our sin that we wrestle with and there are ways to process that, and to heal and obviously you know there's a difference in being forgiven, which we are as Christians and not struggling with those thoughts that were so that maybe struggle with those with those thoughts, but that doesn't mean that were in bondage to some soul tie.

It just means that we need to we need to pray and process through those things and receive the healing sentence that takes time. You know, just just but yeah I might. My concern is that in some churches, people are being burdened with these ideas of you know you have all the soul ties and and then they're trying to cast the devil out of themselves.

When in reality the Bible says if you're in Christ, your new creation. Man, what a great promise for each one of us. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to David in grand Island, Nebraska David, what's your question for pastor a drill and thank you all for what you do on your blessing in my life, but it's about the immigration unstuck from overseas. We have a lot of local churches are not just Catholic and you know they go to the use of hug us poor warring countries like Sudan and Somalia and things like a lot of the funds and money they spend. It seems like they bring them over here separating him from their culture and their customs instead of using those funds to try to make life better for them in their home countries and I've seen so many try to assimilate here in our region and they just seem to be tribal kind of in our own area. I mean, they're not encouraged to learn our ways are customs learn our language and things and so I just have a question on what is the church's purpose on how they deal with spreading God's word across other countries, but then again, bringing their people here the church's purpose was given to us by Jesus himself. In Matthew 28 when he said, going to all the world and make disciples make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father and of the son of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe not what our particular cultural preferences are, but everything that Jesus Christ is commanded.

That's of the church does the church, whether it's here at home or abroad. It sounds like you're talking about missions and in the work of missionaries even go to make disciples to share the love of Jesus Christ with people and to instruct them in the word of God. I'm not as concerned with whether or not people are adopting my particular cultural customs I'm more concerned with are they growing in grace are there, are they growing in their understanding of what God's word is and that's that's the concern of the church that we should be focused and and we should devote our energy and and so churches are doing that by sending missionaries to other countries.

That's wonderful. I think typically that that can be really helpful if if they have people on the ground there already who know the language and are able to identify with the culture and share the love of Jesus there if if others in the where I live in Southern California said it we have we have a lot of refugees a lot of people coming in to beautifully sums it is of the Lord is bringing the mission field to our doorstep keynote with with with these neighbors.

Different cultures, but it's a wonderful thing that the kingdom of God. The kingdom of heaven is made up of people from every tribe and tongue and nation that was one of the beautiful things about the new covenant that God's church does not just consist of one people group or one culture. It's all these different peoples and cultures and nations coming together and what unites us together is not the week we have the same dress. Not that we have the same food. Not that we like the same kind of music is that our sins are forgiven is that were sinners united by the blood of Jesus, united by baptism and and that's something that we should celebrate and pursue even within the life of the local church that you know local churches should be reflection of the communities were God has them and I think that really depicts in a powerful way. The gospel at least that that the power of the gospel to unite people who ordinarily would be united because were different. We have different cultures.

Such a beautiful thing and so the church brother.

The job of the church is to make disciples of all nations to bring us together into that one new man that the apostle Paul talks about in the book of Ephesians that when you let one new man with Christ as the head were united together in Jesus. Neither Jew nor Greek, yeah, it's pretty clear that we all are under. We were obviously we have different ethnicities, different cultures and traditions, but under Jesus. His headship were all together and here's a thing sometimes in the church. We want people to adopt our culture not our Jesus, we have to be careful that were focusing on Jesus, not about people becoming more like us. It's about people becoming more like Jesus. And that's the church does helps people to to grow in Christ through the preaching of the word. 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