If Jesus Overcame the World, Why is it Such a Mess?

The following is a prerecorded version of core Christianity. Jesus overcame the world why is it such a mess that is 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 answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day.

You can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you can post your question.

One of our social media accounts, Facebook, Instagram, or twitter, you can watch us on YouTube and you can email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Jerry in Fort Wayne, Indiana jury what your question for pastor Gabriel revelations 35. I will never blot his name out of the book of life, and I thought once or name was in the light book life would never be removed. Yeah Jerry, thanks for this question and this is a text does cause some concern for people visiting boy does God erase people's names from the book of life with his heavenly wideout you you read this. This tax on this read it in Revelation chapter 3 verse five the one who conquers will be clothed. Thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.

He was an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches and so this is, in the context of Jesus is is exhortations to the various churches there in Asia Minor in Revelation chapter 2 and three and up. My view is that know Jesus is not blotting names out of we have to understand, when we see this language of the book of life elsewhere in the book of Revelation. In particular, in Revelation chapter 13 verse eight, and also in Revelation chapter 17 verse eight it says that the people whose names are in the book of life are there from before the foundation of the world. Think about that first first second were talking about God, the sovereign omniscient king. It's it's not as if somebody comes to the Lord and then he says oh you know hey Archangel you know Gabriel I want you to write their name down in my book of life, and then they fall away and hate. Sorry Juergen have to erase that that kind of thing the sort of back and forth kind of thing. No there there from before the foundation of the world. God knows those who are his. And so I think that those whose names are in the book of life have absolute confidence can't have absolute confidence what what's being referred to here. I think in it. In this warning that Jesus gives is this promise that look those who overcome there's there's no chance of them being blotted out. Not that there was a chance of them being you know blotted out of they'd lose their salvation but that they can be fully confident that their names are there and that they're going to be with the Lord in heaven.

And again later in Revelation, it's clear that those names are there from before the foundation of the world. And so, so that I understand this this discussion related to the book of life and hope that clears it up for just this again resting in the fact that God knows those who are his. And that that book is is sealed. The people there in that book. They've been there from the very beginning even before that the creation of the world and so they're not being erased later on. Thanks Jerry for your question. Thank you Jerry we mentioned before, we have a brand-new Bible study on the book of Revelation. You can find that at our website. Core, Christianity.com is yours for a donation of $20 or any amount I should say we'd love to send you that because we get so many questions about the book of Revelation. Let's go to Eddie in Monterey Park, California Eddie, what is your question for pastor. Israel called on the basis regarding Holly D. URC and I believe we always put Jesus first brother like church that celebrating holidays and how this training with his girlfriend's alone is not Kim's own Scripture something to encourage and straighten out your farm and going the wrong yeah well II know that there are groups that do say look, no, no holidays, no birthdays, and not as many among. I think Christian circles so you can celebrate your birthday. I know that you and the Jehovah's Witnesses. For example, so you shouldn't celebrate your birthday.

Now my position. Eddie is man whenever there's an opportunity to celebrate something I want to take that opportunity. And so, whether that's my birthday or your birthday or my neighbors birthday like I think we should just throw party and praise the Lord for his goodness to us and I don't think the Bible speaks in particular to birthdays that you know I this is this is a matter of of freedom. There are some people that really enjoy celebrating on their birthday and getting together with friends and family and and their other people just think you have not, you know, just another day. That kind of thing. I guess that the one passage of Scripture that I think we couldn't we could go to is in the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 14 verse five. One person esteems one day is better than another, while another esteems all days alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind, the one who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord, the one who eats seats in honor of the Lord, since he gives thanks to the Lord while the one who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives thanks to the Lord for none of us lives to himself and none of us dies to himself.

For if we live, we live to the Lord and if we die, we die to the Lord.

So then, whether we live or whether we die we are the Lord's, for to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. And then Paul says this in verse 10 of chapter 14. Why do you pass judgment on your brother or you, why you despise your brother ceasing with there's there's some freedom here don't don't put your own personal rules on another brother or sister in Christ, that God hasn't clearly outlined in Scripture. God is insane. Scripture hate don't celebrate your birthday while you may not want to celebrate your birthday, but don't judge another believer for doing something like that.

Now, with regard to holidays and sometimes quoting religious holidays you know Christmas that kind of thing Easter there.

There is a little bit more controversy in under the new covenant we don't have holy days. We have the Lord's day were we gather together on Sunday for worship. But again, I personally my view is I don't have any problem with Christians celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and and worshiping him focusing on that in particular on once it actually weakening something we do. Eddie is a church and I think it's a great opportunity to invite friends and neighbors to come and hear the gospel when ordinarily they wouldn't darken the door of the church. Maybe they're willing to come on Easter. On Christmas we celebrate the incarnation of Jesus and so I think thereto. It's a it's a matter of personal liberty and wisdom and may God give you wisdom and encourage you brother as you share with this friend and in your church and hopefully you looking at that passage in Romans chapter 14 can be helpful in one of the things concerning a drill is when people get kind of caught up in. I guess the best word is majoring in the minors, things like celebrating holidays or whatnot we try here on this program to really come back to the core. The basics of the Christian faith. And you know there are some issues that you use this term are sort of openhanded that we can give each other grace and their other issues that are really core to Christian doctrine that we should not ever compromise on. Yeah, absolutely. I think it takes wisdom and the knowledge of the Scriptures are knowledge of the Scriptures to discern which are which I too often I think in the church you know will will divide and split over things like can we celebrate birthdays. I know that sounds crazy coming in in the ancient church.

There were there were divisions over whether or not the clergy should wear beards, have been that would've been a problem for me because I still bill can't grow good facial hair really is that people can pray for me about this is it makes me sad but historically Christians have divided over all sorts of things, and often times they weren't things that were central to the to the Christian faith, the resurrection of Jesus, the atoning work of Christ. Those kinds of things but sometimes things around the periphery where there's a little bit more freedom a lot more freedom and that's we want to be gracious with one another and allow each person as Paul said there in Romans 14 to stand before the Lord with with a clear conscience.

He stands before the Lord and is gonna worship the Lord while also celebrating their birthday hate nothing wrong with that each person should be convinced in their own mind. I meant this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez's we should mention that some of the radio stations that air our program actually on a delayed basis.

So if you want to call and talk to pastor a drill live.

Here is the time that you want to do it. 11:30 AM Pacific time, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that half-hour you can call right into her studio. Otherwise, you can always leave a voicemail message anytime day or night. Our voicemail is operating 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core and you can also leave your question record your question on our website at core, Christianity.com just click the little microphone icon and leave your question. That way let's go to Jesus in Kansas City, Missouri. Jesus, thanks much for holding on what your question for pastor a drill program on the questionnaire we all know that all knowledge and so I read my Bible for a while now. The one thing I cannot get on my mind and how it possible that God would create millions, perhaps billions of people. Ultimately, I will not end up in domination. Jesus, not a not a small question and the fact that matters is that it is a question that should should be wrestled with that we should wrestle with because we do confess as you said that God is all-knowing. You can read the Scriptures without coming to a different you can't read the sketches that coming to that conclusion that God knows all things.

It is all-powerful that he's in control he's sovereign he's this great king from the very beginning of the Bible and the book of Genesis to the very end in the book of Revelation we know that God is in control over the affairs of the world and and and so in one sense this is all very sobering because we also recognize that there are many you said millions, billions, even who reject the gospel who want nothing to do with God. And so the big question is God.

Why would you why would you make the world in this way, where there is so much loss where there are so many who turn away from you well versus what is were thinking about dinner the very beginning in Genesis, God gave Adam and Eve a choice free will to follow him or to disobey him in Adam all of us are born dead in sin we we inherit if you will, Adam's guilt and also the sin which he committed, but we go on on our own to sin against the Lord as well. These actual sins that that we do. Turning away from the Lord. Now, God commands all people everywhere to repent and turn to him. He gives the promise of the gospel to the whole world. Promiscuously, we might say, for God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son so that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. That message goes out to all people is a real offer for them so that they might be safe so that they might experience God's grace.

And yet many people basis reject that and want nothing to do with God and continue to suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness and they will be justly condemned. Now why did God allow the world to be this way. Look up the reality is is were not can I have. I think this side of eternity side of heaven. A real easy answer there, we can say God is sovereign and he's also good and we know that he's able to make all things work together for the good of those he called according to his purpose. Even evil things, even though the sinful acts of people somehow God is able to use all of it and receive glory.

So we know that, but we don't fully comprehend or understand everything behind you know why God has decreed certain things in it and it's not for us to know now. Maybe there will be a time where where the Lord shed sheds light on this for us, but I rest in the fact Jesus that God is good and that he is loving and that he's called the world to trust in Christ to follow him and that he calls us as individuals to do that that very thing to to love him to follow him and to share the message of salvation with the people around us we can speculate all day long about why God allowed things that he allowed we don't always have those answers but we do know what God is called us to. We do know God has clearly revealed in his word and that's that he sent his son into the world to redeem it so that we might have life, so I think that's where we need to focus when were struggling with these questions. We look to the cross. We look to the revelation of God's love for sinful humanity. As Jesus was hanging there on the cross and we say God I don't understand entirely why you allow certain things tragedies sins to take place in the world but I do know that you're able to conquer it all and that you have conquered the evil in the world through your son Jesus and some of my hoping you and help me to follow you, so that I might be a light in this world and someone who is an example of your love, your grace in leading others to know your mercy, Jesus. I think that's that's as far as we can go because God hasn't clearly given us all the answers pertaining to your question, but we can know that he's good and one day working to see much more clearly than we do now and may the Lord give you grace as we look forward to that day.

Really I was thinking about this is the very issue that the burdens so many missionaries and the reason so many people have gone into the mission field throughout the history of the church is because they want to spread the good news they want to point people to Jesus and go into those were more remote corners of the world where people have not heard his name and to preach his name and to bring people to repentance and salvation.

You know Bill, I'm glad you said that. And maybe that's that's the burden that Jesus feels and really it's the burden that we should all feel to see people come to know Jesus to experience his grace in their lives and work were confronted by the realities of sin by the destruction that we see in the world by the fact that there is a judgment that's coming.

You know, we ought to. As Christians take very seriously that the calling in Scripture to be a light in the world and we feel that burden when were struggling with those questions to take them to the Lord, you know, II love that the book of Psalms, because oftentimes the psalmist will go to the Lord with these very similar kinds of questions asking God the why question God, why do you allow me to suffer the way that you've allowed me to suffer wiser so much pain and destruction in the world around me and and oftentimes you know where the psalmist is directed is to continue to trust in the Lord and with the knowledge of the fact that God is King and that God is good and that's we cling to in those in those times of darkness, knowing that God is good and taking that burden that we feel for the licensing Lord. I turn this into opportunities to share your love with the people around me. You're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, we have a wonderful core question that really answers a lot of these issues it's called.

How can Christianity be true if God allows evil and you can find that@corechristianity.com/questions just look for that one. How can Christianity be true if God allows evil will also tell you about a wonderful booklet. This is something that Israel has written himself. That really points us to our Lord and Savior.

It's called seeing Jesus. Yes, this short four week hour for chapter devotional booklet really fixes our eyes on Jesus, who he is what he came to accomplish. I take now just for different accounts in the gospels and really dig deep into them because I think that they they help us to understand Christ and his ministry and what he was all about and so were there's a lot of confusion about Jesus today. I hope you get your hands on this resourcing just I want to share actually got a really encouraging message earlier today. Someone who got their hands on this resource on a read a snippet from it.

He says I got my free resource seeing Jesus in the mail last week. This morning I finished reading this, then bit booklet and I praise God for how he used it to illuminate his truth in my life. Thank you for writing it. I am at a loss for words to tell you how amazing the revelations of Jesus Christ my groom my king, my healer and Redeemer were profound.

Thank you thank you and so get your hands on this resource. We would love to send that to you. All you have to do is go to our website which is core Christianity.com/Jesus to find that particular resource again. Core, Christianity.com/Jesus or you can call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833 the court. You can also leave a voicemail at that number anytime 24 hours a day, there's a voicemail that we received yesterday so I'm going to John Gardner about which he could reach for. You have overcome the world. I keep thinking well what overcome the world.

When things keep going on the same I would appreciate your thoughts are insight.thank you. This is in the context of Jesus's upper room discourse. It's the series of teachings that Jesus gave to his disciples right before he departed earth he he's meeting with them his wash their feet in John chapter 13 and he's he's letting them know that he's leaving, he's going to leave and of course the disciples who've been walking with Jesus for some time now that they're terrified they know Jesus has enemies.

There are people that don't like Jesus.

What's gonna happen when Jesus leaves they want to go with them. They don't really understand where he's going. And yet, throughout this discourse, Jesus is comforting the disciples letting them know he's gonna send the Holy Spirit to them.

He's he's going to the cross and ultimately even a rise again from the dead and ascended into heaven, and yet he's gonna be with his disciples and he's with us today through the Holy Spirit in their John chapter 16.

He's very honest with the disciples.

He doesn't say your lives are to be really easy once I go.

He says in John 1633 I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace in the world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world's attention here is is look you in the world. Believers in the world today. You're going to experience tribulation, difficulty suffering, death, sickness, all of those things persecution but you can take heart, because I have overcome the world. Not in that you know the world is been conquered so that now you can have this great easy life. If you want to follow me. That kind of the thing know we know elsewhere in John.

John says that the whole world lies under the sway of the evil one under Satan. First John chapter 5 verse 19 that the world this world.

This system of unbelief rejection of the gospel the whole world is passing away. That's the world that I think John is referring to that Jesus is referring to what he says he's conquered it's it's that this present evil age that is passing away. First John chapter 2 verse 17 in this world we do experience suffering intense suffering but we are conquerors and more than conquerors through Jesus Christ.

Paul says this in Romans chapter 8 in verse 37. In particular, and it was interesting in that context.

Their sister is he talks about the things that believers are experiencing persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, death cases like nothing is gonna be able to separate you from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus. We are over commerce, and how do we overcome by faith. Jesus Christ overcame the world how where on the cross through his resurrection from the dead.

He conquered sin and Satan, and end the sinful system of the world ruled by Satan or the word world throughout the Bible. In particular, in the Gospel of John and John's writings. It has different meaning sometimes it's referring to just the world of unbelievers that God loves them and sent his son into the world to save John chapter 3's Bever. 16. Sometimes it's referring to this world system ruled by Satan. You see that in particular in places like first John, but here I think it's it's referring in. In John 1633 to that world system of unbelief of death of destruction. It's that world that Jesus has conquered by his blood, and in Christ. We conquered two by faith through the blood of Jesus to the testimony that we have. John says in the book of Revelation, and so we live in this tension right now in the world. We do have tribulation and friends may be your you're feeling that right now I don't know what it is that you're going to, maybe it's sickness maybe it's the loss of a loved one.

Maybe it's persecution for your faith in your thinking that I didn't expect this. I thought walking with Jesus, knowing God would make my life easier.

Actually, it seems really difficult right now and I'm struggling to know God, where are you will remember what Jesus said. He said in this world you will have tribulation ETP warned us about this. He he let us know this is what's coming.

Were going to experience trials, tribulation, sickness, suffering even as Christians. But Jesus has overcome the world by his death and resurrection, and we have the hope that in him we to you too friend are going to overcome by faith and so look to your Savior Jesus cling to him and know that one day he's gonna wipe away every tear and you'll be with him in the world to come. 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 bar 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