Must I Abandon Earthly Possessions to Truly Follow Christ?

Jesus told the rich young ruler that he must abandon his earthly possessions in order to follow him. How does that command apply to Christians today.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

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First up today let's go to Brian calling all the way from the United Kingdom, Brian. Welcome to the program like? Your ministry. I have a sister-in-law and her husband and her two kids go to a seeker sensitive church that pretty much just cringes a sophomore live so there's there's no gospel conversation with them in the past about this and she now sees that it's an error, and that she missing out of the essentials of church, but her husband's fully committed is quite loyal to what they're doing there spot now. She's not sure what to do in terms of coming under the spiritual headship of her family or deciding that she needs to get her in her youngest son out of the church oldest son now comes the church with me but just trying to figure out or ask a question of what might be the wise direction for her to take going forward. Brian sounds really difficult situation.

We want to pray for your sister-in-law, and especially CPC seeks to love and honor husband. But above all else to lead, lead and be leave the family, being a place with the gospel is being preached.

First and foremost is nothing more important than that churches can have as you know, you know that the title church. There are churches on on all sorts of street corners. It actually don't really deserve even to be called churches because the gospel is not preached their the marks of the true church are the faithful preaching of the gospel. The right administration of the ordinances of the sacraments that Jesus gave to the church and discipline. You know that the church govern the way in which Jesus commanded the church to be governing if churches don't have that chiefly the preaching of the gospel will then I would say yeah that they're not churches that anyone should attend.

We should be in the church they might make people feel good.

It might be a great show. It might be an entertaining message but if the gospel is not being preached. Then we really you know I ought not to go there and in this situation.

It sounds like the tough thing is you know her husband wants to stick around their I wonder if even just, you know, saying hey can we begin to check out other churches visit other churches where the gospel is being preached because this is so important.

I just think about what Paul says in Romans chapter 1 verse 16 where he said I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also for the Greek. In other words, it's only in places where the gospel is being faithfully preached that we are going to experience the power of God at work in our lives today. It's through the gospel that we experience the presence of God's spirit and the growth in grace that each of us needs and so I wonder Brian if if her husband would be open to visiting other churches.

As you know you he said he likes his church do think that he be open to checking out other churches, potentially, it's really he started positionally. He will say that he doesn't like theology doesn't want to discuss the Bible think that everyone can have their own interpretations of difficult trying to kind of explain reasons why, but he doesn't just automatically shut down preference yeah yeah really, really tough situation because if you I said you know this is is you know if you're going to church with the gospel is preached in the power of God is not to be at work there and yet you know and in a situation like is what you need to just tell the wife to to leave and go to a different church. Apart from her husband. I would save me a week. We need to pray for wisdom for your sister-in-law. I do think you know work were called to submit. Wives are called to submit to their husbands insofar as were not being called to sin, and in this situation it's it's really difficult because here you know it.

It sounds to me like he's wanting to stick around at this church. That's maybe spiritually dead, you know that there's not a faithful ministry there. The gospel is not being faithfully preached and so praying for him that his heart would be softened. Maybe that he would be willing to visit other churches and experienced the power of the gospel as its preached in an realizable and I've been missing this there's there's something distinct here that that I have an experienced and praying also for your sister-in-law that the Lord would give her grace patient's wisdom that there may come a point where she just says look I need to go somewhere else because the word of God is not being preached to.

This is in the church and God calls me to be in a true church and if if the gospel is not being preached. It's not a church so good come to the point where where she feels like I I do for the sake of my own soul and my family to be in a church that actually is a church but that require a lot of wisdom and prayer, and I don't want to just not wanting to give an answer from Mike from my vantage point here, not knowing the entire situation but let me just pray for your sister-in-law right now and also for her husband, gracious father, you know all things, you know, this situation God and we know that apart from sound theology apart from truly growing in your word God that really churches don't don't provide us with anything Lord for churches not preaching the gospel faithfully. If it's not digging into the Scriptures lordly could be a social club could be all sorts of things.

But it's not what what you call it, to be a father. Pray for this couple in particular that you would get them plugged into a church where your word is faithfully taught. Your spirit is at work. Would you work in.

In this husband, Lord, giving him a sense of longing would not for argumentation, not for debate about theology just for the meat of your gospel Lord there. There is nothing sweeter than that and would you give him a sense of longing for that and an openness Lord to listen to to his voice to his boat, the wife of his voice as she she raises some of these concerns Lord that he would listen to her and that he would be with her giving her patience and wisdom as well. In this situation that you administered to her in a Special Way, Lord God nourishing her by your grace by your word and I just being with her and with the entire family. We ask in Jesus name, amen and amen and Brian if you go to our website@corechristianity.com. We actually have a great core question which might be helpful for this couple is called how do I choose a church. Maybe as she goes through that material with her husband. Perhaps he will see that the church is going to does not really measure up. As far as some biblical standards go so it's called how do I choose a church you can find that our website core, Christianity.com/questions.

Let's go to Terry in Fenton, Missouri Terry, what's your question for Pastor Israel after. I really enjoy your shall my grandson and I have a question we just had to put down our family cat.

She was just about 17, and we just wanted to know if there is somewhere in the Bible that says that we will being Reagan I I can military. Thank you so much for your call and I'm sorry to hear about the loss of your family pay.

I know that that can be just real real sad really devastating even when we give thanks to God for the goodness of his creation for pets that we can that we can have and enjoy and and so in a two-year question that there is in a specific verse in the Bible that says you know that our our pets are going to be with us in heaven. We do know that the whole creation groans for the revealing of the sons of God that God is going to redeem if you will, in one sense the entire world that's been corrupted by sin and that that that redemption comes through the work of Jesus Christ but but you know that the created world is in the object of redemption. The exact same way that we are in our sins are forgiven, we have access to the new creation to heaven through the blood of Jesus Christ.

But it's also through his work that that the whole world is going to be renewed and in when you go to the end of the Bible you have this picture of the new heavens and a new earth and new creation and I do believe that they're going to be animals and and pets. Even perhaps there in the new creation that will my you know particular dog be with me there in the new creation. I'm not sure the Bible the Bible doesn't say, but I do think that we can take comfort in the fact that we know that God is good that God gives us good gifts. His creation calls us to care for them. I would say you know giving thanks to the Lord for this pet that you had, and for the time that you guys had together and then just looking to the Lord, saying, Lord, I know you're good. I'm not sure you know what what the future holds but we do know that in the new creation.

It's going to be glorious.

It's gonna be wonderful and there's got to be perfect peace were not can it were knocking to feel as though were missing anything there because were going to be in the presence of the Lord himself and so I want to be careful not to speculate about about something the Bible doesn't say specifically, an oath might specific that going to be there in heaven, but I do believe that the new creation is can have animals so so maybe you I'm not.

I'm not sure I think that's that's all that we can say and may the Lord give comfort to you and to your grandson in this time.

Thank you again for giving us a call. Appreciate your support.

Know Israel, I took my dog to a harvest Crusade and he made a commitment so I'm pretty sure he's can be with me.

Did he say the prayer bill did he say the trust enters you where that's right. I bet that I was were certain were reprobate so definitely been a dog for bitter cats that would scratch I think so. I know about those. But maybe your bill you can have some some of this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life for pets you can call is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 go to a voicemail received from one of our callers bellowed I will be how today's it caught me and obey the book of Luke chapter 19 verses 18 to 22 everything in the give the money to the poor. In today's economy or was it just for the rich young ruler.

We also have to do that so yeah, thank you for this question.

I love this story with with the rich young ruler that approaches Jesus and of course a number of occasions in the Gospels. When Jesus talks about following him. He indicates that to follow him. Looks like not just yeah yeah you nominate add a little bit of religion to my life for you know I go to church occasionally that kind of thing which is I think a lot of people think about Christianity to start something I add to my life, my already busy life when I have time for God or for Jesus and yet you said that you that's not what it looks like to follow me to follow me the outlets up to follow me. Looks like everything else in your life. Every other relationship even being eclipsed by your commitment to me and I think that's one of the things that Jesus is highlighting here in Luke's gospel with the rich young ruler beginning in verse 18 is as a ruler asked him good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life in Jesus said to him, why do you call me good, no one is good except God alone. You know the commandments, do not commit adultery, do not murder. Do not steal, do not bear false witness. Honor your father and mother, and he said Ms. all the rich young ruler responded to Jesus all these I have kept from my youth. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, one thing you still lack sell all that you have and distribute to the poor you will have treasure in heaven and come, follow me. When he heard these things, the ruler became very sad, for he was extremely rich in Jesus saying that he had become sad, said how difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God, for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God and those who heard it said, then who can be saved.

But Jesus said, what is impossible with man is possible with God that I think the rich young ruler totally didn't understand the depth of his own city.

Nice. What I need to do to enter into heaven. Jesus points into the law whether the 10 commitments. Okay, you know, don't murder. Don't steal. Don't commit adultery. And this rich young ruler says I've done all that from my youth. I've kept the law now course you know in in the sermon on the mount. When Jesus talks about obedience to the license if you even look at a person with lustful intent. You've already committed adultery in your heart. In other words you he takes the law on any shows this is not just about our extra elections, but even about what's going on in our hearts, the rich young ruler understood that he thinks that he's been pretty good that he's done enough that he as you know essentially A lot to the point of being able to inherit eternal life. What what what else do I gotta do Jesus I got done it all and Jesus helps to expose the fact that he hasn't. It seems to me like Jesus focusing in on something that he knows that it is is getting at the rich young ruler's attention is okay, but there's still something you're missing. Sell everything you have and distributed to the poor, and you have treasure in heaven.

Come and follow me.

It sounds to me like this rich young ruler was still clinging to money to riches and you know what Jesus said in the sermon on that he sees is actually that's that's the same thing as idolatry. You can't serve God and money. And this rich young ruler here is forced to make a decision. Who am I going to serve my riches or Jesus to he really hadn't kept the law and the fact of the matter is no one, not one of us by virtue of our keeping the law will ever inherit eternal life because the fact of the matter is, none of us all of us have sinned and fallen short of God's glory.

We've all broken God's law.

We've all we've all broken the commandments of God and that's why were hopeless apart from God is that what Jesus seems to indicate here. You know who can be saved. Then the disciple Satan. Jesus is with man. It is impossible with God all things are possible with the rich young ruler needed was a little bit of humility, he needed to realize that he was a sinner and when we recognize that that were sinners and we come to God broken realizing that we failed to keep the law and were able to receive his grace and then as recipients of his grace, we turn and we follow him, we commit ourselves to him in a way that we recognize that there is no other relationship there's no other thing that's more important in life than Jesus. If you follow Jesus friends is not is not in the sort of light decision. You know something I buy might choose to do when the time comes when I feel like I've got to do my own thing for long enough, and then all sort of become religious or add a little bit of religion.

No, Jesus is Lord, and he demands our allegiance he demands your allegiance and he kissed you his grace he gives you his very own body and blood, the forgiveness of sins, so that in him you might be renewed and so that you might follow him and that's with the rich young ruler needed. He just didn't know he needed grace, yet he thought he had kept the law perfectly and that's that was the problem with him and Frankie. There are many people today who have that problem still who think that there there they measure up when in reality they don't. And so Jesus brings a lot to us. He reveals to us, our need of his grace and of his gospel. Thanks, Michael. It all starts with repentance and humility, or this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez some great questions today and we want to let you know if you're a parent or a grandparent. We have a new free resource that would like to make available to you today. Yet alive for children and I am frequently you know surprised by that. The things of the Lord teaches me and my wife to our children. It really is wonderful to see in this is that you something you see throughout the Gospels as well. Jesus uses children as an example of faith decision to become like little children, we create this core guide is called seven things children teach us want you to get a hold of this this research resource. We are called as parents to raise our children in the fear of the Lord, but the Lord tells us to look at them in order to learn more about himself as well. So get this free resource seven things children teach us. We can head over to core Christianity.com/offers to download that seven things children to just you can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833. The core let's go to Kenny calling in from Memphis, Tennessee Kenny, what's your question for Pastor Israel all show.

My question what Romans chapter 131 about does not address my God. Not only do it though. It will work. So my question into the Christian group were to a political party or a politician we know of promote ideal forms that contradict or ask yes is this is a sticky question to me. Obviously, we shouldn't give our approval to our you know the sort of thumbs up to anything that is contrary to God's word in here. In particular, as Paul is talking Romans chapter 1 he's highlighting that the universal sinfulness of mankind. The fact that all of us have sinned, and that, apart from the grace of God were completely lost in here.

In particular, he's referring to the Gentiles and out the fact that God is given them over to dishonorable passions back in verse 26 and begins to delist a number of of the things that they were doing their women exchanged natural relations for those for those that are contrary to nature. Men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error that they didn't want to acknowledge God.

Paul says, and so God gave them over to a debased mind to do what they should not do and and then he says you know he goes on to talk about those who give hearty approval back in verse 32, that though they knew God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them. And so there there's a very serious warning here about how we also talk about these kinds of things and whether or not were were sort of just turning a blind eye or giving a stamp but of approval, but it is a complex situation were thinking about you know, civil rulers, government rulers, because effective matters. Every single politician is going to probably align himself with something that's going to be outside of God's word and you know we don't have like a Christian president per se or party if you will.

If this is a huge issue and and that's why requires wisdom to to approach this and what were trying to apply biblical wisdom, and to when were engaging in the sort of broader civil society. You know bring about things or pursue things that are going to be for the good of our neighbors insert certainly things like sexual immorality is not for the good of our neighbors leads to descriptor destruction and corruption and so we have to we have to keep that in mind as we think about the decisions that we make when it comes to engaging in politics and that kind of a thing and so it's it's it's it's a question of wisdom though and in terms of, you know, supporting one particular candidate or another and appreciate your question and I hope the Lord blesses today your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez, one of the ways you can ask a question is by emailing us here is the email address its questions at core, Christianity.com Christie wrote to us, and she says I have a mental block when it comes to prayer I blank.

I can't think of much to say how can I strengthen my prayer life. It's hard when I don't feel any sort of spiritual connection. Yeah Christie. I can relate, and I think probably everyone listening right now can relate to you as well. What you do when you sit down and you you try to pray, but you just don't have the words well one. Jesus gives us the words destiny in Matthew chapter 6 where he taught his disciples how to pray the ask him. You know in Luke's account. You know, teach us how to pray in Jesus responds with the Lord's prayer our father in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors. And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil for thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen. The one thing that can be helpful is even just taking that prayer Christie and focusing on each petition. There may be going through it slowly and meditating on the words that the Lord Jesus gave to us in praying as Jesus taught us to pray we we really have all sorts of prayers in Scripture that we can use when we feel like we don't have the prayer ourselves and the fact of the matter is, is there a lot of times we feel like this. Maybe it's it's about her depression may be at sickness. Maybe it's just sort of that spiritual drought that we can feel from time to time and you know we sit down to pray and nothing comes to mind will take advantage of of the prayers that are given to us in holy Scripture. The entire book of Psalms is a book of prayers and there are no Psalms that were written. I think when the psalmist was going through something very similar ways going through a very dry season so I would say take advantage of that. Go to the Psalms and pray those prayers, but nothing that that I found helpful is a prayer journal maybe sitting down and writing down your prayers helps you stay focused and to think through what it is you're saying. And may the Lord bless you as you seek to draw near to him in prayer because it really is such a blessing to pray.

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