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July 22, 2021 6:30 am
Episode 755 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions.
Questions in this Episode
1. I have been doubting my salvation for years now and I want to know what’s keeping me from Christ. I am also bipolar, does that have anything to do with what I’m struggling with?
2. In John chapter 2, why does Jesus answer his mother Mary with a question, and why is this first miracle him turning water into wine? What does that mean?
3. I am in an abusive home and I am not sure if the Bible condones me leaving my husband. What should I do?
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ResourcesWhy did Jesus turned water into wine. 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 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 also post a question on one of our social media accounts. In fact, you can watch us live right now on YouTube and send us a message.
That way the course, you can always email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Michelle in Cincinnati, Ohio hi Michelle, what your question for Pastor Israel and 37 and 37 to 13 years old I been doubting my foundation and I wanted to know what's keeping me from Christ. There is no change in my life. I don't know if I'm on the last or the guy wants me or not.
I don't believe playing the church are doing good deeds save you and I just had bipolar I don't know if it's my illness keeping me from Christ I like I'll be okay for a couple days at him and then like I'm on the world for two or three months whatever I want and I'm just tired and I just maybe how I know I really want Christ. I don't want to be a hearer, and I don't want to hear him say he never knew me and I don't want to be religious either, so I was just helping out because people in my church kinda given up on me. If they believe the gospel, and I had in my head that I don't know how to find it in my heart I don't will Michelle, you're not the only one who feels this way and who has felt this way. I know many Christians genuine Christians who struggle with assurance, and of course you know having assurance of salvation is a really important thing is it's a good thing. But the fact that you don't have assurance doesn't necessarily mean that you aren't a Christian now there are people out there who have a false assurance, you know they think I said a prayer some day long ago and back is getting me to have a neck that kind of a thing but but you know so that we have to be careful with with that as well. But it's sounds to me like you are genuinely concerned about where you're going to spend eternity and whether or not you know Jesus and one thing you said it in and your question was you not. I don't know if God wants me if I'm one of the elect that kind of a thing, and I think we can we can go on and on. Sort of speculating and wonder you know what, what if what if not, I know that that kind of a thing, but with the quick question is do you believe in Jesus Christ and if you do believe in Jesus Christ.
It's it's solely because of the work of the Holy Spirit in your life.
Now if if you struggle with going back and forth.
You know, between a I feel like I'm walking with Jesus and doing well for a few days and then I go back to the world.
Well, yeah, that could that could really put a hamper on your challenge if you will, that sort of sense of assurance that we have because when were when were living in sin it it's not easy and I were called to have assurance in that particular situation and that's where I think sometimes people can have that the sort of false assurance that we were that we were talking about, but your assurance first and foremost, it can't be in a feeling and I think that's that's one of the problems and a lot of us have his were looking for this refueling of assurance. Instead of resting on the promise of God. There are days where you might wake up in the morning and feel saved and their other days we might wake up and and not feel saved, your confidence has to be in Jesus alone and what he's done. Not even your works.
Not in your obedience has to be 100% in what Jesus Christ is done in and when were resting in the promise of the gospel what he has done well from that place were able to begin to follow the Lord before always, if always questioning I'm I am I truly up a believer do I really belong to the Lord working have a really hard time so I think it sounds to me Michelle, like you, you have to really embrace what the New Testament says about the new identity that you have in Jesus Christ through faith. Paul talks about it in places like Romans, chapters 6 through eight. You are by faith in Jesus through baptism alive from the dead. Now that doesn't mean that you're knocking to still struggle with sin and doubts even but but that doesn't call into question your new identity through faith in Jesus Christ and you have to live in light of that new identity. Now one follow-up question that I have for you Michelle. Sounds like you are a part of the local church that they know they're nice like they kinda like on the black sheep of the church is my my bipolar and always asking if I'm a believer or not because I just seen a change in my life. I failed first John like loving people and I didn't loving the world and I seen no conqueror overspend and not fly like I was asking like how I know that I my heart really want Christ. I just I don't want to go to hell and faith is not enough yeah will let me just say something to eat and we come to the Lord in our repentance were always saying God even even even you going to Jesus and saying help me even to want you. I confess to you, Lord, that there are times even even right now may be where I don't know if I want you and I know that there are draws that I have, to the world but I don't want that. I think even that Michelle is something that you can bring to the Lord and and that's what repentance looks like and the fact that your you're doing that they are talking about. That is a sign of the grace of God in your life. Jesus does want you and Jesus does love you and he calls you to rest and what he's done for you and one of the chief tactics of the devil is to can convince us to try to convince us that were beyond repair that we just send too much that that Jesus could never want us but Jesus doesn't love you because you're perfect. Paul made it absolutely clear in Romans chapter 5 the God demonstrated his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us and so I would say you your very own associate taking that honesty to the Lord and even praying and if the prayer is God I don't know if I want you. I struggle to do desire you and you know what, you're not alone and that that that's all of us.
Nobody even in our repentance. None of us are perfect. That's why our confidence can't be and how much I want Jesus or I feel like I love Jesus or or or my obedience, my confidence, your confidence has to be solely in Christ work for you and God demonstrated his love for you by sending his son into the world.
That's an objective reality. The cross is the subjective reality that you are called to lay hold of an embrace for yourself and you can do that because it's not for you as a perfect person is a righteous person as someone who always wants God and to do the right thing. It's for you as a sinner. It's for me as a sinner and God calls you to lay hold of the NSU lay hold of it. That's where I think over time assurance begins to be built in confidence in the ability to say look, I'm no longer you know, under the law. I'm not but the old unregenerate Michelle, if you will. I'm I belong to Jesus and so I ought to live in light of that reality.
Walking by the spirit and again that's that's what Paul gets into in Romans six through eight, but not putting your confidence and how you feel or even how much you want God, but in what God has done for you in his son and recognizing knowing that that is for you that that gospel message is for you sister lay hold of it and then Michelle, I just want to pray for you right now. Father God, you know how how we can often struggle with with assurance with truly believing that you love us God. When we look inside.
Oftentimes we see sin it in, and Lord listens that other people don't see the things we struggle with the thoughts that we have the desires that we have Lord, that the fact that we know.
So often we don't love you, as we should. In Lord we bring all of that to you and we look to you is the God who is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and I pray for my sister Michelle Lord, that you would cause her to see your great love for her demonstrated in the sending of your son Jesus, not just for people who are out there in the world but for her so that she might experience your love know it's God, would you help her to know it when you would you help her to rest in the promise of the gospel that all those who lay hold of the righteous roads of Jesus Christ by faith are forgiven and that if she believes in Jesus. She is forgiven and she can rest in that and have assurance would you be with her and bless her in Jesus name, amen.
Michelle would like to recommend a resource to you that we know will be helpful is called nine ways to know you're really a Christian. You can find that on our website at core, Christianity.com/guides and would recommend that for anyone who may have doubts about their faith about their assurance of salvation again. It's called nine ways to know you're really a Christian. You can find that@corechristianity.com/guides Bill can I just follow up because I know that I know that Michelle's not alone. I know that there are people listening right now who you know they have the exact same question and there are there are people who for years and years and years struggle with the sense of assurance, and oftentimes I think what we do is we just look inward. We look to how were doing to that the fruit that were bearing well, of course, there is a sense in which you know we can see the work of God in our lives. Over a long period of time and and sometimes that might help us. That might give us some extra confidence or encouragement. If you will, but but it's also the reality that bearing fruit in, and growth in grace is this long process of of inner renewal and sometimes it very much feels like me a you know one step forward two steps backward into the live the Christian fight and and it sounds to me and it sounded to me like Michelle is is in the fight but but the Bible also gives us of the things that we can look to more stable things if you will, in order to be assured of our salvation that we are in Christ, Paul, for example, in Romans chapter 8 talks about the internal testimony of the Holy Spirit. The spirit of God bears witness with our spirit that we are God's children.
That's one thing but but the main thing is always the objective promise of the gospel, not how we feel, not how were doing, but what God has said in his word, because that does not change in first for you who are struggling with assurance, wondering am I saved fleet of the cross run to the cross. It's there, it's objective. The blood of Jesus is for you lay hold of it and know that you can as a sinner as someone who fails as someone who struggles when you go to God even saying, Lord, I don't know if I fire want you I struggle even to love you that he receives you and and that even that prayer of repentance is accepted by the Lord and we can rest and what Christ has done for us and so just have such a heart for those who are wrestling with this is as a pastor and I want to see people come into that confidence that they can have as Christians. Such a great reminder for all of us. Thank you for that Israel.
This is core Christianity with pastor Pedro Sanchez.
If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Please call us right now. We got another 15 minutes or so we can take your call. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, if you're a parent or a grandparent. We are really excited about a special offer that we have for our listeners today that will really come alongside your kids or your grandkids. Yes, it is a help resource over@corechristianity.com and as you said, Bill, especially for parents were listening five ways to help your kids keep the faith. It's free when you sign up for our weekly newsletter. We often hear from parents asking for advice on how to help their children grow in their Christian faith. This resource includes practical, down-to-earth ways to help your kids keep the faith this week. Don't miss this one. So head over to core Christianity.com/offers downloaded. You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources. Here's the phone number again it's 833 the core that's 833-843-2673 to a voicemail received from one of our callers named Christine like to ask a question about turn second chapter and there in the fourth number, why did Jesus answer his letter with the question and in a why does he make the line that whole 11 verse thing. Why is it fair. What does it mean to me everything you got on why he asked his mother. Question and then goes and makes the line doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I don't really understand.
Thank you very much, yeah, the first miracle Jesus does in John's Gospel on the third day, John chapter 2, there was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there, and Jesus also was invited the wedding with his disciples, and when the wind ran out. The mother of Jesus said to him, they have no wine.
And Jesus said to her woman. What does this have to do with me, my hour has not yet come in. His mother said to his servants do whatever he tells you. Now there were six stone water jars. Therefore, the Jewish rights of purification, each holding 20 or 30 gallons. And Jesus said to his servants fill the jars with wine and they fill them up to the brim and he said to them now draw some out and take it to the master of the feast, and they took it out when the master of the feast tasted the water now become wine didn't know where it came from. Though the servants who had drawn the water knew the master of the feast called the bridegroom and said to him, everyone serves the good wine first and then when people have drunk freely. Then they they serve the poor wine but you have kept the good wine until now.
It's a why why is this the first miracle in the gospel of John, well, a couple of things.
First, in verse four where Jesus talks about his hour was he referring to their he's referring to the hour of his crucifixion that the hour for which he came. This is for the theme and in the gospel of John, so she you know brings up this problem there. At this this wedding that you know she wants Jesus to intervene if you will. And Jesus is look my my my hour is not is not here right now he's he's looking forward to the cross already here at the very beginning of his miraculous ministry and so from from the get-go.
In John's Gospel are eyes are fixed on the redemptive work of Jesus Christ know why in the Bible is often a picture of joy and celebration. God's kingdom is a in that sense you know that this is sort of fitting that this is Jesus's first miracle. He's ushering in the kingdom, the joy, but it's also we know wine a picture of forgiveness you think of the meal that Jesus instituted prior to his crucifixion.
We called the Lord's supper, where he took a company said this cup, this cup of wine is the new covenant in my blood and it sort of interesting that were told that that the the water that you know Jesus used here is is there were six stone water jars there for the Jewish rights of purification.
Now here you go. We have this.
This focus on the cross. My hour.
Jesus says we have wine you know that the substance of purification. The blood of Jesus and these six stone water jars used for purification. One says were given of were given here. At the very beginning of that of the gospel of John is a sort of foreshadowing of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Of the one of the fact that he's the one who provides the joy if you will, of the kingdom, and also the forgiveness that we all need and how much does he provide it's it's quite amazing. You know there there were 20 or 30 gallons in each of these waterpark pots. Jesus makes you know hundreds of gallons of wine if you will more than they would've needed and I love that because it's his picture of his grace, his love, his forgiveness the blood of the new covenant we have more than we need. If you will and and he supplies it for us and so there's there's a lot going on there but but that's where I would point to in this miracle in particular, this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, if you'd like to email us a question.
Here is our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com you can also leave a voicemail 24 hours a day on her voicemail system would love to hear from you.
Call us at 833. The core got Catherine in Austin, Texas, Catherine, what your question for pastor. Israel will read about Jesus and that he did on the class how he suffered the righteousness that he did all these wonderful things for us and I keep wondering if I should stay in my abusive marriage because I read also that the woman leans she should remain unmarried and I don't know if I would want to do that.
I just just not really sure what to do because I don't. It's not good right yet I think about Jesus. I know that what he endured a lot of suffering as well. Catherine, if you're in a situation that isn't safe I would say to you need to get out of that situation and and I think that that's what Jesus would want you to do.
I don't know what kind of abuse your your speaking of, in particular, but I know that that no, the Lord does not want you to be in a marriage where you are being abused and so I think there needs to be some some separation there some distance.
If that is indeed happening and and if it's if it's physical abuse. You know I think getting the authorities of and involved is also very important.
Now let me ask you one follow-up question. Are you and your husband a part of a church. Catherine church so I just listened to radio sounds like you read the Bible and Isolated you.
You need a support system. You need people around you who are going to be able to walk with you in and through this and and even be I think a buffer of's support and protection.
Also, you know, and when we see these kinds of things happening in local churches.
I think it's really important for the church to rally around victims and and you need that kind of I think protection so with it. That's something that's really really important. You know sometimes people say well that the only grounds for divorce in the New Testament are adultery and and if that's not happening. Well, if you're being abuse that's that's totally just have to stay in if if you got out of that situation will then you couldn't remarry or bar that kind within you, Paul in first Corinthians chapter 7 he talks about basically divorce for for the reason of abandonment. If one spouse abandons the other is as if if that's happening you know you're you're still free to be you're still free to be married now, the, the, the challenge is, we know with abuse. You can have. I think a situation of abandonment, even when two people are in a home where where one spouse is up going even further if you will been abandoned or actually not just abandoning their abusing their spouse and so you need to get some extra help and support.
You certainly need to be in a church with other Christians where you can hear the gospel proclaimed and you can be encouraging people to walk with you and I would even encourage you to get some some professional support as well but but no III don't think that you are called to endure abuse and and again I don't I don't know what specific kind of abuse your your referring tonight. I want to be careful you.
Do you know we we try to become a special because we don't know the entire situation were talking about marriages and sought that's why mime stressing you need to get around other believers were going to be able to encouragement and look at the situation walk with you in this, but but Jesus does not call you to be in a relationship and marriage where you are being abused by your husband. That doesn't mean necessarily you have to get a divorce, but it does mean that there should be some separation you need get in a situation where where you're safe. Above all else. And so I think right now I just want to pray for you and and let's let's pray for Catherine father is a difficult situation. We know what your word says about marriage how marriage is supposed to be a reflection of the gospel of Jesus's love for his bride in God. We know that that sometimes abusers can even can even take advantage of the Scriptures are tried to twist the Scriptures in order to save you have to be with me because God says you have to and if you're not going to be with me will then your you're going against God. That kind of the thing. Father I pray that you would give Catherine wisdom I pray for your protection in her life. I pray for healing for her husband that he would see his sin and that he would repent if it father I pray that you would surround her with your people and I asked God that you would you would open the doors for her to be able to to get plugged into a good church where she can hear your word and where she can have a place of refuge.
Would you be with her Lord, would you guide her to protect her to give her wisdom in Jesus name, amen Catherine thank you for forgiving us a call. We will continue to pray for you and feel free to follow-up with us if you want me. May the Lord bless you and be with you sister.
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