Is “Deny Yourself” Good News?

What does Jesus mean when he says we must deny ourselves best is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with pastor Ed Pedro Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and we would love to hear from you. Our phone lines are open right now you can call us for the next 25 minutes or so at 833 the core, you might want to make a note of that number for future reference 833 the core or if you want die with the old way old-fashioned weights 1-833-843-2673.

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Here is the address it's questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Ralph in Long Island, New York.

Ralph what's your question for pastor atrial hello, thank you. My question okay I have a question in Philippians chapter 2 verses five through eight and is like. The NAS version.

So says possible have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped in verse seven but emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant, and remain a likeness of men.

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross so in verse seven Jesus emptied himself of born-again Christian I know Jesus fully God and fully man, but the only source of perplexity a lot.

That's a really good question there. There been some of the gun is really wrong a little.

Try to say things like what he emptied himself of his divine status or something like that.

But what were talking about the eternal son of God, that the divine person, the second person of the holy Trinity.

And so it can't mean that.

And actually I think that the very next phrase helps to explain what Paul meant by emptied himself theirs as he emptied himself by taking the form of a servant that that next part is helping to explain what he means by saying that Jesus emptied himself by taking the form of the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

In other words, in the incarnation, the eternal son of God humbled himself, emptied himself, if he will bite if you will, by assuming our humanity by by taking our our our humanity into himself, the God man that in that sense he unveiled his glory.

In fact, when when Jesus is praying the high priestly prayer in John chapter 17 one of the things that he prays in John chapter 17 verse five is you know that that the father would glorify him with the glory that they had before the world began, and in an incarnation as if that that glory was veiled. He emptied himself, he humbled himself, and you know that the humiliation if you will of Jesus Christ of the word of the eternal word of the father began at his birth. From the moment of his birth. You know, being born in this sort of humble low condition. Living his life under the law, experiencing that the things that we experiencing in this world, ultimately culminating in in his suffering, his death on the cross coming as a servant is a bondservant in that sense, the eternal word emptied himself, he is not losing his divine status is not setting aside his divinity or anything like that know he's actually assuming our humanity, our humble state. And in that way serving us serving the father and then serving humanity by offering himself as a sacrifice for sin.

Ralph great great question. Good way to start today's broadcast. Thank you for that know it's interesting Israel is. That's one of the things that Muslims tend to find most offensive that somehow God would assume the form of a man yet they're not the only one seven historically in the Christian church. A lot of the what we sometimes referred to as the Christological heresies have to do with people who had a problem with this idea that God could assume our humanity and would experience suffering of people fit with what we can't say that, but that's precisely the part of the mystery of the incarnation. It helps to highlight God's love for us in there in particular and in Philippians chapter 2. You know that the encouragement that Paul is trying to make in the context is is he's writing to the church at Philippi is. He says you know back in verse to complete my joy by being of the same mind having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you lot look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus. And that's when he gets into this this discussion about Jesus emptying himself and so this is something that we were called to in the sense of humbling ourselves before the Lord before one another considering each other's needs. Even as more significant than our own, which is so countercultural is that then today it is yeah I don't know about you, Bill. But I don't become. It's just not easy so we just desperately need the grace of the Holy Spirit to the love got to love each other as he called us to a man. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez. If you have a number on a question about the Bible and the Christian life. Here's the number to call 833 the core that's 183384 320s hop on the phone right now will take your questions for another 20 minutes or so, let's go to Paul in Bloomington, Indiana Paul, what's your question for pastor atrial after Israel just wanted day one program has really helped me a lot. My question is coming about different nominations and agreeing on faith. There are so many different nominations and even within those denomination people understand that currently no one agrees on every aspect of the faith.

Yet, through faith by grace in Christ.

We know that were saved. So how does having anxiety about if I'm really saying that I don't agree with certain pastor is certain.

You know Elder or something like that. In regards to every aspect of the teaching agree 100% a bomb and I can I can sympathize with you on them you say thank you for for your encouragement. I'm glad you've been blessed by the by the broadcast.

It's really our joy to be able to do this, but I I can sympathize with you and I understand that feeling of tension. You know you you you read God's word and then you're confronted by the fact that there are all sorts of different interpretations may be on a particular idea or or way of interviewing a passage of Scripture and because you know yourself, you know you know that you're not perfect you think okay how my going to get this right there.

They're just so many voices out there so many denominations as you said, and that can be can be overwhelming and it can lead to anxiety.

Let me tell you what, what is help me find peace. As I've thought about this question for myself and my own life and that really is some of the promises that you find in Scripture.

First and foremost, that it is the spirit of God, who illuminates the word of God to us and that and that there is this simplicity to the word of God so that it were talking about the fundamentals. The courtrooms of the gospel. There's clarity and that that clarity is ultimately given to us by the Holy Spirit, but it's something that even if a little child can grasp. Sometimes this is referred to as the perspicuity of Scripture.

This is one of the attributes of the Bible that the Bible is clear as it is. It speaks to us concerning those very important doctrines and I think about what Jesus said at the end of Matthew chapter 11, where he he's praying to the father and he says yeah I thank you father, Lord of heaven and earth that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children.

Yes father, for such was your gracious will. In other words, Paul is your reading the Bible the spirit of God is working through the word to give you understanding and and and to help you in this is precisely to one of the promises of of the new covenant that God was gonna fill his people with his spirit that he was going to teach them. God himself would be our teacher by the spirit John in first John chapter 2 verse 20 says you have been anointed by the holy one, and you all have knowledge.

I write you not because you do not know the truth but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth and so the, the hope, I think that we can have that you can have Brother visit as you study the Scriptures with a sincere heart and humility. It is the Spirit who is going to lead you and guide you and continue to sanctify even the misunderstandings that week that we sometimes do hold about God and about his word, and here's another thing that I think is been really really helpful and comforting for me to think about the disciples of Jesus themselves. Paul you know how often did they not fully understand Jesus's identity.

What he was doing in a particular situation, how they should respond right think of Peter. You know going toe to toe. When Jesus was being arrested with with the servant of the high priest is so often the disciples were knuckleheads they just didn't they didn't get it.

They misunderstood his teaching, and the fact the matter is we do to sometimes and yet how is Jesus towards his disciples.

He's patient he brings them along. He doesn't abandon them. He continues to teach them and he'll continue to do that with you and so I think as you read the Bible continue to have that attitude of humility in a say Lord I want understand. I want to learn. I want to be able to listen to opposing viewpoints is ultimately how I want to be Berea and get to the bottom of what does the Scripture actually teach, but rest in the fact that the spirit is going to guide you and be with you and use the word of God to continue to build you up and so God bless you brother really appreciate that question and hope you have a blessed day. Hey Paul, thank you so much for being one of our regular listeners. We really do appreciate having you as a regular a core constituent. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez. Let's go to a voicemail that we received from one of our listeners who has a question about denying ourselves the question that we should turn our will and our stock supply chain. She Lord bless you as well.

So thinking about Jesus's call to discipleship call to deny ourselves and in Luke chapter 9 I think that's what you're referring to chapter 9 beginning verse 23 and he said to all if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it for what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and loses or forfeits himself for whoever is ashamed of me and of my words of him will the Son of Man be ashamed when he comes in his glory and the glory of the father and of the holy angels. Jesus is saying, look for the Christian life looks like, and is characterized by this sort of self-denial walking with the Lord often looks like denying self. Let me say this is something that really goes against what we find in the light of our broader culture which really says just the opposite. Don't ever deny yourself you just follow your heart. Whatever you want that's that's the most important thing. And yet, Jesus says that his followers are characterized by something different. The apostle Paul.

He actually said in second Timothy chapter 3 verse two that one of the characteristics of the last days the end times would be that men and women were lovers of themselves, we turn ourselves into into idols into objects of worship and yet the Christian life following Jesus. I love that week me and we started off the broadcast today with Philippians chapter 2 it, it's a life of considering the needs of others is even more significant than than our own. Of laying down our lives in service to each other not so that we can be, you know, born again, no, because of how God has been gracious to us in his son because God sent his son to lay down his life, his life for us. This is great implication there near the apostle Paul in the book of Titus and in Titus chapter 2 I think he helps us to understand this that Titus chapter 2 beginning in verse 11, he says, for the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people and training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ is dirty and when we talk about denying ourselves these referring when Jesus talked about denying ourselves it yet because referring primarily what Paul is is calling here those worldly passions, renouncing ungodliness those ungodly desires that we often times have you to indulge not to be selfish those kinds of things that we set that aside so that we might love each other and serve one another. That's an easy thing at all you know, our temptation is, is to think about ourselves first and then maybe when we get around to do you know to consider others. We have to remember the words of our Lord Jesus. He says it is more blessed to give than to receive. In this sense you know that this idea of denying ourselves is were called to.

As Christians, laying aside our sins. Turning to the Lord embracing his grace in the call that he has upon our lives. It leads to blessedness it leads to true joy.

Now many people here are just so self-indulgent.

You know, but grasping for everything for themselves and get their miserable yet there are others who have ever I think understood what Jesus teaches and they can lay down their lives, they can serve the people around them and they're filled with with joy with satisfaction with hope and so the Christian life of the some of the Christian life is this is this denial of self. This is what it looks like brothers and sisters and we do it because we have a Savior who laid down his life for us. We do in response to his great love we do in response to the fact this is Paul said there that he trains us to renounce ungodliness bite by the grace through the grace that he's given to us. Thank you for that question. Thank you so much appreciate if this is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez here we are with summertime just around the corner and most kids are to be out of school for a few months and just in time for that.

We have a free resource specifically for families. Yeah, if you have got a hold of the resource yet 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer. I hope that you will get get a hold of it and that you'll use it to take advantage of this said, these are 10 verses each.

Each passage that was selected was was in both a lot of thought that went into these verses in terms of how can we help ground people in need of those core doctrines that we often times are talking about on this broadcast. What is it that people that are children in particular need to know about the faith and so that's why we created this resource want to give it to for free 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer just head over to core Christianity.com/offers to download that again. It's called 10 verses to memorize as a family this summer and as you read through these passages. Let us know how they're impacting your family. You can also call us for that particular resource or any one of our resources. Here's the number it's 833-843-2673. Again, that number is 833. The core let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners this week in Scripture often referred or not they called father God is there a reason why you really are God or what exactly to the Lord, even a significant that name is just God would tell John.but how come all great to great questions.

Does Paul ever say that Jesus is God explicitly and does the the title Lord indicate that Jesus is God, the first of the first and I would say actually, Paul does very explicitly say that Jesus is God in various places. I mean I just quoted from Titus chapter 2 verses 11 through 15 and I think there that's that's one place where you have a very clear statement that that that Paul makes indicating that Jesus is God.

Also in Romans chapter 9 verse five.

Listen with the apostle Paul said to them any speaking about the Israelites here belong the patriarchs, and from their race. According to the flesh is the Christ, who is God over all blessed forever. Amen. This of all you don't various places in his epistles does clearly call Jesus. God is what he believed. He believed in the deity of the Lord Jesus Christ, but also that word or that title.

Lord teaches us that Jesus is God. It is the Greek word Cody office and it oftentimes translates the V from Mina from the Hebrew Bible is used to translate that the divine name, so for example I think of a place like Romans chapter 10 will Paul again refers to Jesus as Lord but he's quoting from the Old Testament a passage with talking about Jehovah Jehovah God is a Romans chapter 10 beginning in verse nine, Paul said, because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and is justified with the mouth one confesses and is saved for the Scripture says, everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame. For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Now that's a quotation from Joel chapter 2 verse 32 and Joel 232 that you are the prophet Joel is receiving this this vision. This prophecy from the Lord and in the word Lord there is Jehovah.

It's the divine name. It's God is a here went when Paul refers to Jesus as Lord and calling on the name of the Lord is very explicitly identifying Jesus as God as as the King of the universe and so we can be confident that it wasn't just John, you know, the apostle John, who clearly taught that Jesus was God or that he was the Lord.

We see everywhere in the New Testament including with the apostle Paul and so appreciate your question that's that's all we have to understand that word. Lord, in particular as it's applied to our Savior. Jesus good the clarification on that. Thank you so much Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez. Here's the number to call if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life and by the way, we should mention some of the radio stations that air our program. Aaron on a delayed basis.

So if you want to call into the studio live with your question. You need to do it on a particular time during the day and that is at 11:30 AM Pacific, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that half-hour. That's when you can actually call in and talk to Indra live otherwise you can leave a voicemail for us 24 hours a day. Here's the number 833-843-2673. That's 833 the core all right. Let's go to slide in Edmond, Oklahoma slide what your question for pastor atrial hello to talk to you two gentlemen requesting that I brought up some Christian brothers and sisters and no one likes to talk about it so many millions of babies are being aborted and have been many children died before what we consider the age of accountability. What happened to these children and the rest of us who are here. We have to strive to enter through the small gate on the narrow road. What happened to the aborted babies and children yeah I you know coursework were speculating, and I'd be speculating a little bit here sly, but I do believe that those children who are aborted are dining sincerely think of other you know really tragic events of the miscarriage. I think that there with the Lord in the presence of the Lord, we know that there that their human lives. I think about what the psalmist said in Psalm 139 verse 13 for you formed my inward parts you needed me together in my mother's womb. I praise you for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful your works. My soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed substance in your book were written every one of them. The days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them. And so God is God is sovereign in his providence, really.

He knows all things.

Even there, as is David the psalmist is talking to you every single day that I have on this earth. You knew about it, God and so these these these tragedies. Abortion is a sin, such as a tragedy that they don't catch God by surprise. But we also believe that God is merciful and that is good in others that are not saved. Children babies aren't saved because their sinless, or that kind of thing were born in sin. Through Adam and yet our hope is not in theirs.

Their sinlessness because we all inherit sin from Adam. Our hope is in God's mercy and his grace, and so we know that God is good. We know that God is a just judge and I think that that's that's we fall back on brother that week we go to that.

We know that he is merciful and so I think we can be confident, my, my view is that those those children, those babies are in the presence of the Lord, thank you for your question. You know, one of the things we often talk about here on core Christianity is if you are a woman who has experienced abortion in your own life. There is forgiveness there is God's grace yes is a drill set. It's a sin, but it's something.

It's a sin that can be forgiven through a relationship with Jesus Christ, amen Bill, it's something we'd like you said, we always want to bring up and were talking about this question because we know how devastating it is that that there are me is more than one life that that is destroyed. In reality, but the hope is there is forgiveness as you said. And so we can go to the Lord losing a that's not the unpardonable sin we can go to the Lord with those things and receive his grace and his mercy, his love, his forgiveness and so that's the hope of the gospel. It's not that were sinless. It's that were sinners and yet Jesus was sinless. 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.

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