My Church Excommunicated Me. What Do I Do?

What do I do with my church has banned me from worshiping with them.

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 Pedro Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We would love to hear from you, and you can call us right now for the next 25 minutes or so with your question. Here's the number it's 833. The core might make a note of that for future reference 833, the court or 1-833-843-2673.

You can also post your question on one of our social media accounts, Facebook, Instagram, or twitter, you can watch us and send us a message through our YouTube channel and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners at the question what you're talking about the manuscripts that were used to translate the New Testament into English, the agent managed to have me there are thousands of them. I think some somewhere over 5000, and there they're not all in one place so you can go to do just one place for all those manuscripts are put together there in different museums and libraries people have them in private collections, and it is those manuscripts that that translators will use textual critics will use in order to get to the original text of Scripture and so that if if you're asking a where can I find or maybe just look up if I want to look at the Greek word as I'm studying the New Testament on my own to meet go online and are websites like blue letter Bible.com, for example, that that oftentimes unique type in a Bible verse and will show you that the Strong's concordance you know to give you some of the definitions there for a Greek word it so that that's can be a helpful resource for you. They also sell interlinear Bible, so you have kind that the Greek and the English side-by-side. If you're just looking for the particular word or want to see what it looked like, but as far as the main skits are concerned there they're really all over the place and they're still discovering new manuscripts. You know even today, and so yeah, thank you for that question. The last year just before COBIT hit my family and I visited the Museum of the Bible in Washington DC and got to see many of those original manuscripts and see the Hebrew you see the Greek they had some of the Dead Sea Scrolls. I mean it's fascinating yeah yeah here in San Diego for a while they had that the Dead Sea Scrolls on display and it was so cool to be able to go in and look at these very ancient you know little fragments of Scripture and to see that the Hebrew writing the Army really is quite remarkable, and it's a this is cool anything for like Indiana Jones and artifacts just keep the snakes away.

That's all I ask. That's right, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible of the Christian life.

Give us a call 833 core 833. The core let's go to glory in Modesto California glory. Welcome to the program morning I question question is, in light of everything happening over in Israel as a Christian, is it okay to openly support Israel and our Jewish brothers and sisters and my second question is why it is replacement theology a glory to really good questions.

Well, first I think as far as supporting Israel, the nation of Israel.

Today there are some there are some churches is that you really did.

You just have to support Israel because the Bible you think about with the Psalm say and what not and that there the people of God, that kind of thing and united we have to be careful with understand what the Scriptures mean when you name the Old Testament you have Israel in the New Testament when scripter talks about Israel and even in places like Romans chapters 9 to 11 where it talks about a great revival that God is can it bring about among the Jews. In particular we should stand against injustice wherever we see we should stand against terror wherever we see it, whether that's against you know that that the nation of Israel, or any other nation, or any other people for it. For that matter. And so I think that that's just something that, as Christians were called were called to to pursue justice and to uphold justice and that which is right and to stand against evil and in wickedness everywhere in the world.

And so, insofar as and you know there are injustices that are being done and terror acts of terror that are being carried out yet.

We should condemn those things and seek to support people that are suffering at at the hands of of those who would commit those acts of terror and so and that again that that's not that of having to do with you something special about the nation of Israel, but we should do that for any any people any people group that is suffering now. You mentioned to phrase it sometimes put out there replacement theology and typically you know when people use that phrase replacement theology will they believe in replacement theology symptoms. It could it could be used pejoratively, negatively, and in it's the idea that this group believes that the church has replaced Israel so that God doesn't care about Israel anymore and so I think sometimes that language is an entirely helpful the way I understand the New Testament glory and I think in you read this, I am places like the book of Ephesians. It seems to be very clear that God has one people you'll see this and in Romans chapter 11 that has one people throughout redemptive history and the church, the body of Christ has been grafted into the people of God.

If you will, all in particular in Romans talks about this, through faith in Jesus Christ.

We are we are one people of God and Jews who believe in Jesus Christ are a part of that people of God to fall in in the book of Romans talked about some branches being broken off. There is referring to unbelieving Jews, and in particular so nobody has a relationship with God or is a part of the people of God in Lester united to Jesus Christ by faith and is I think instead of using the language of replacement theology. I think it's better to just say hey the church for Israel in the Old Testament is a type of her or a picture of the church in the New Testament under the new covenant and God isn't just through with the juices and haven't cast them aside. In fact in in places like Romans chapter 11 it seems to indicate that there's an to be this great revival.

At least that's how I would understand that passage of Scripture.

But we have to be careful that we don't put this idea out there that there are two separate peoples of God, you have like the Israelites and their God's people still today whether they believe in Jesus or not. And then you have the church and God has these two assertive plans of salvation for these two different groups.

There is one people united by Jesus. The part of one body and another a really wonderful passage of Scripture to look at that I think unpacks his glory is the book of Ephesians chapter 2 beginning in verse 11 and following maybe check out that that part of Scripture and so glory. Thank you for your for your question you would you have a follow-up, you do know that I don't quite a lot. There are no very helpful. Thank you. Okay hey thank you God bless thanks glory appreciate so much you really delving into God's word on a regular basis and calling us with these very insightful questions. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to another voicemail that we received from one of our listeners named Nadine one man or around well Nadine, I mean the Bible speaks with the adoption question that the Bible does talk about adoption toward this using the Bible particular in the New Testament. A number places we can go there, but regarding you know losing children. There are several individuals in the Bible who lost children, even infant children. I think of King David. For example, you know that the child that he had with Bathsheba was died me got sick and died. And later on his life, his son Absalom died as well. Later in life and that was a very tragic event. David Morse is something that the people of God have experienced and do experience still today and there's a lot of hurt. There's a lot of grief on the one one passage of Scripture that I might go to that I think can be comforting is in the book of Matthew in Matthew chapter 10 beginning in verse 28. Listen to what Jesus said about God's providential care and control power over all things he says have no fear of them for nothing that I could be verse 28.

Do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell are not two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore you are of more value than many sparrows and one of the one of the big takeaways there from Jesus's words, is the fact that what our father cares about us that not even a sparrow falls to the ground apart from God's power in Providence.

God knows these kinds of tragic events of the loss of a child they don't catch God by surprise. Another doesn't make it necessarily any easier for us as were experiencing the suffering we need to be able to grieve through these things, but just knowing that the Lord loves us that he cares about us and that he still in control.

I think that's one of the things of Jesus highlighting or even even down to it, to being able to say the very hairs of your head are numbered, and God knows us so intimately. So there's that there's that and that there are other passages of Scripture at that you could go to, but I think that's that's one that I would I would begin with and then as far as adoption is concerned. The Bible does talk quite a bit about adoption in the New Testament.

In particular, it uses it as this illustration for what God has done for us and so the Bible casts a positive light on adoption in the ancient world. They had adoption legal adoption just like this like we have today, and oftentimes especially in Paul's writings. You see this in the book of Romans.

In Romans chapter 8 Galatians chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 1 is what you talks about us being adopted. We were predestined. Ephesians chapter 1 says to adoption as sons. That is to say that God chose us to be a part of his family and how is it that God adopted us into his family will through his son Jesus. Sometimes you know the way in which Christians have talked about this in the past as if said Jesus who is the eternal son of God by nature eternal son of the father that the second person of the holy Trinity has made us the sons and daughters of God by grace. Such a beautiful thing. Yeah.

And because were adopted. We have these rights, these privileges have been as the children of God. He's filled us with the spirit we received the spirit of adoption we have confidence, joy in the Holy Spirit. We know we are in Christ and that everything that belongs to Jesus belongs to us because were part of the family and so the Bible that we put put a very positively. Adoption really is such a beautiful picture of the gospel, God is done for us and so I think it's something that we as the people of God should be open to an even even that pursuing supporting those who are interested in adoption. I know it can be a really difficult process and so I think it's wonderful when churches come together to support those who are pursuing adoption and it it's really I think a beautiful implication of the gospel you're listening to a core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way we want to mention we are not supported by a particular church or denomination. We rely on people just like you to make donations to keep us on the air and if you find this program helpful. We ask you to prayerfully consider making a gift of any amount you can do that on our website at core, Christianity.com just click on donate at the top of the page and by the way, a huge thank you to our listeners who join what we call our inner core. Those are people who support us on a monthly basis. They receive some very special benefits by being member of the inner core, including some special devotionals from pastor Israel so check that out at her website core, Christianity.com.

Let's go to Brandon in Charlotte, Tennessee Brandon, what's your question for pastor.

Israel and reading through your spirit doing amazing things that need to be filled with the Holy Ghost of the Holy Spirit and how did that happen. That's a great question. So first I would say everyone who is a Christian has the Holy Spirit has been sealed by the Holy Spirit and the apostle Paul told the Corinthians. You can even say that Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit. So part of part of the promise of the new covenant is that God is good to fill all his people with the spirit. This was a promise way back in Joel chapter to its fulfillment. You been reading the book of acts is fulfilled in acts chapter 2 on the day of Pentecost the entire church is filled with the Holy Spirit of God. So one if you are a Christian you have the Holy Spirit you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit.

Now the same time though, were called in Scripture to be filled with the Holy Spirit.

I'm thinking of places like what what Paul says in Ephesians chapter 5 verse 15 look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is and do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the spirit addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the father in the name of the Lord Jesus. I think right here you're already starting to see some of the signs of being filled with the spirit, what does it look like looks like Thanksgiving, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

Joy we went. When Paul talks about the fruit of the Holy Spirit in the book of Galatians, it's love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control. Those are the signs of the spirit, if you will know sometimes people say what about that the miraculous gifts like tongues and and and prophesying and whatnot and you you look at places like the book of Exodus, I think those those particular signs were primarily associated with the advancement of the gospel early on and in the work of the apostles, which is not to say that God can't work in extraordinary ways today, but I think that was something that God was doing at that point it was very special. If you want to know whether or not your filled with the Holy Spirit. I would say you know the fruit of the spirit is is what we should look to what we should think about is there that love that charity that is that is created by the Holy Spirit in our hearts is there joy is there peace oftentimes are looking. I think for the wrong things you want to see these supernatural manifestations and if we don't see those things.

We feel like I must not be filled with the spirit, and that can be a huge burden Brandon Frick for Christians to carry thinking I must not really be that that great of a Christian I don't I don't speak in tongues. I must not be filled with the Holy Spirit. No other question you have to ask yourself is, you know I'm in my growing grace is the word of Christ dwelling in me richly that's exit you know it in Colossians and in Colossians chapter 3, I believe it's verse 16.

This is parallel to that that expectation in Ephesians 5 words is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. It says that happens when the word of Christ dwells in us richly to how to get filled with the Holy Spirit in Oakley. Meditate on God's word pray draw near to the Lord go to church here, the preached word and receive it into your heart with faith. That's how the spirit is at work in us cultivating more and more the fruit of the spirit and Brandon. That's we want to look at look for an ark for four on our own lives not in the sort of you know what were fruit inspectors kind of thing you know, like, but you know just just