When We Die Are Our Relatives Waiting For Us in Heaven?

When we die our relatives waiting for us in heaven. That's just 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 this right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. Our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes or so, so hop on the phone right now. You can also pass a poster question on her Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts.

You can watch us right now on YouTube and message us that way course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Billy in Memphis, Tennessee Billy what your question for Pastor Israel all you want one to the disciples on the third day of June going into Jerusalem across why did you get that donkey and it's cold didn't need a cold hold on one the only thing I can think of is maybe prove a point about the importance of sending out too much to I don't know the answer on this, but my mom and well I just wondered why I got the donkey and is called Billy thank you for that question.

So you're referring to What Took Pl. in Matthew chapter 21. The triumphal entry is the beginning of that scene when they drew near to Jerusalem and came to Bethphage to the Mount of olives than Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, go into the village in front of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied in a colt with her and tie them and bring them to me.

If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, the Lord needs them. He will send them at once. This took place to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet, and then this is a quotation from the book of Zechariah.

Zechariah was one of the minor prophet Zechariah chapter 9 verse nine say to the daughter of Zion, behold, your King is coming to you humble, and mounted on a donkey and a colt the full of a beast of burden and so this is really an fulfillment of of that prophecy. That's precisely what Matthew says and the focus here me. Why is Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. Well, I think, what were giving up a picture of.

Here is the fact that Jesus is the Prince of peace. He's not writing in on a warhorse he's coming on this humble animal if you will then end of this just fit with the life and ministry of Jesus, born in a manger riding into Jerusalem as King, not on a great you know mighty warhorses. People were prone to do in those days, but on a donkey and so going back to that text and in Zechariah that's been quoted in Matthew 21 again.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem.

Behold, your King is coming to righteous and having salvation is he humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt the full of a donkey and this is this I will cut off the chariot from Ephraim and the warhorse from Jerusalem and the battle bow shall be cut off, and he shall speak peace to the nations. Again, the focus here on Christ being the one who brings us peace, he will speak peace to the nations. His rule shall be from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth.

As for you, also because of the blood of my covenant with you. I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit now. What an amazing prophecy. This is here in the book of Zechariah, Christ is pictured riding into Jerusalem, not on a warhorse, but on a humble donkey bringing peace and what kind of peace does Jesus bring to his people.

He sets them free from the waterless pit. That's a very interesting phrase there throughout the Old Testament the pit that the grave Cheviot.

It's this picture of death all over the place, especially in the book of Psalms essentially wore being told is this Prince of peace is coming to deliver us from death and, of course, that's precisely what Jesus did by dying and rising again from the dead, and so that's that's what what what is being prophesied there in Zechariah chapter 9 verse nine was being fulfilled in Matthew chapter 21 is as the disciples went out to bring these animals for Jesus to ride in on two in Jerusalem, and so thank you for your question and dad. God bless you Billy, this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines are open right now so if you call us in the next 20 minutes or so you can get right through to Pastor Israel.

Here's the number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

There's a voicemail we received earlier this week. Thank you for being there for me and my wife died on July 4 share. Now what her Lord in heaven. Told me… Not going to her larder should be with the rest of her family that has went before her.

Thank you for your rancher, dear brother. My condolences to you. I'm so sorry to hear about the death of your life.

May the Lord grant you his peace and comfort, not one answer question that I want us to pray for you the answer to your question is yes she she is through faith in Jesus Christ with him now.

Paul said in San Quentin's five to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord so your wife is with Jesus in his presence, but I do believe that were also with all those who have gone before us are our family members. Those departed in Christ who who died before us and so I think that that is something that Scripture teaches various places in the Bible I think of Jesus.

At one point in Matthew chapter 8 verse 11 he's talking about the kingdom of God nieces. Many are to come from you know from all over the world and sit with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God reclining there and in the picture is that if you were gathering together with our spiritual family. Abraham Wright were the children of Abraham by faith. And so I think it's safe to say for foregoing to be with them then then yes, certainly all our family members in Christ were to be with them as well. David King David. If you remember back in second Samuel, when his son died member that the son that he had with Bathsheba and he was praying that the child got very sick praying fasting that the child would recover. The child did not recover in and when the child died. I don't know if you recall, but David King David he said look I I he's not going to come to me, but I will go to him suggesting that that yes it one point, you know, he's a thing I know I'm gonna dynamic time to go to my son wherever he is, and so near their various passages of Scripture, we can point to one other one I would I would say brother is the book of Hebrews chapter 12 it paints a picture for us of that the saints in heaven. Those who have died in Christ or in the presence of the Lord around his throne worshiping him.

That's where your wife is now in Christ around the throne of God worshiping him with unspeakable joy and and with all those who have had faith in Christ as well and let me pray for you brother gracious God in heaven. Would you comfort our brother now as he mourns the death of his wife.

The recent death of his wife. Lord, we know that your Scripture says that we do have sorrow in times like this, but that we do not have to sorrows those who have no hope we have a great hope in your son Jesus and in the resurrection of the dead, and I pray that that reality would just fill my brother's heart and that he would rejoice in that truth even asked as he mourns Lord, the hope that you give us through your son Jesus in whose name we pray. Amen, amen. You're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and by the way, we have a brand-new free resource to offer you today and it's actually one that focuses on one of the most beautiful attributes of God. Yes, this new resource helps us to answer the question what is the most fundamental thing that we need to know about God and is it that he's omnipotent, omniscient or something like that, you know, not quite, is that he is our heavenly father. And that's what we made this free resource for you. 10 ways to know God reveals himself as our father is a resource that traces this important concept. Starting in Genesis all the way to the book of Revelation how it fits in the story of redemption. You think about how Jesus sums up the gospel when he says I am the way the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me. Such an important thing for us to grasp brothers and sisters and so I hope that you will get a hold of this resource. Again, it's called 10 ways God reveals himself as our father. It's a free download and you can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers interest look for 10 ways God reveals himself as our father by the way, you can also call us for that offer or any one of our offers. Here's the number it's 833. The core that's a 33 843-2673 go to Ashley calling in from Tulsa, Oklahoma. Ashley what your question for Pastor Israel doing well.

Thanks for giving us a call brother what you what your question, comprehend or understand is I want to talk about you know we talk about the God of our son got notes for being one, but in the Bible talks about when Jesus Christ and the father.

Jesus is at the right hand of the father.

You know that's like second person and sorry I just you know God sent his son to die for things like that.

Like second person so I understand the Trinity, but I also was there one and why does he speak in second person like that struggle to understand their well you're not alone. This is the great mystery of the Christian faith, and many many faithful people have struggled to understand this and in the early church. Any think of the and of the revelation that was given by God to his people, in particular in the New Testament, and as they're coming to grips with these statements, you know, given to us. Places like John chapter 1 verse one. Speaking of Jesus in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. A very clear statement of the deity of Jesus Christ and yet you you have that distinction.

There he was with God, that is with God the father and he was God and so you know Christians for four years were wrestling with how to weep that we best articulate this and that.

That's where we get the doctrine of the Trinity at its from the clear teaching of Scripture trying to communicate what God has revealed to us now. You're right, God is one. Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four. This is the sort of heartbeat of Hebrew piety hero, Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And yet this one God exists eternally in three persons reveals himself in these three persons, father, son and Holy Spirit and these three persons are distinct from from each other from one another, and so the way in which we sometimes talk about this Ashley's would we say God is one in essence, in substance, in terms of, you know, the Godhead, the nature of deity if you will. There is one God, but there are three distinct persons in the Godhead. And that's just what what Scripture reveals to us and actually the apostle Paul in first Corinthians chapter 8 he references that that passage, I I mentioned earlier in Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one, and he says this first printing chapter 8 verse 54. Although there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth, as indeed there are many quote gods in many quote lords yet for us there is one God the father from who are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. What's fascinating about this is Paul takes Deuteronomy 6 for essentially and he inserts Jesus into it.

Jesus, the eternal word of the father is the one God, a part of the one God, if you will, the Godhead and so again the doctrine of the Trinity is we believe in one God, one in essence three distinct persons in this is just how Scripture, God reveals himself to us in Scripture. And it is great mystery, but it's not a contradiction because were not saying that God is one person and three persons were saying God is one in essence and three distinct persons of nursing God was one person three persons that would be a contradiction know God is one in essence, but but the one God reveals himself as the three persons of the holy Trinity is so II sympathize with you brother. Because this is a mystery. This is something that a bit more to be adored than speculated about witches were just receiving how God has revealed himself to us in Scripture and were saying. Amen and were worshiping father son and Holy Spirit because that's what what the Bible says to do and that's what the ancient church did. As well, so we've received that we've inherited that and we submit to.

It is God's revelation. Even though we might struggle to comprehend it. Let me just say this and you know any God that we could perfectly comprehend or wrap our minds around probably would not be worth worshiping and would probably be an invention of our minds, and in fact that's what you see all around us today. But that's not the God of Scripture, the God of Scripture reveals himself to us as one God in three distinct persons, father, son and Holy Spirit thanks Ashley for your question right! And as you said, Israel that's one of the most mysterious things about God's nature is trying to figure out the Trinity and some of the examples that were often given, fall short. Note that they do and frankly were talking about the uncreated God. And so when we try to create food if you know human examples are illustrations. A lot of times a severe into false teaching related to who God is.

Because because I can write the illustrations they just they just fall short of grasping the glory of this doctrine and that's why it's best to stick with the language of Scripture. The language of the historical creeds and confessions of the Christian church as men and women wrestle through these things and understanding the Bible and then articulated very clearly.

I think what we do see in the Scriptures which is that doctrine of the Trinity. Remember when I was on As a kid. They try to describe the Trinity as an Apple, you have the skin and you have the flesh, and you have the core and by that confused me more than stay away from those illustrations. I'd say to this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Scotty calling in from North Carolina study what your question for a real a Scotty there are yeah I can hear you now.

Thank you for giving us a call. Horrible older, I am of the mayhem to children just started out 11th St. and I very difficult struggle to my entire life and feelings of homosexuality and I very conflicted in my spirit, my mind and I tried to what the Bible says about mile now "limited your family and even my pastor, he believes there will be plenty of homosexuals, and homosexuals model. I don't really know what that means. I know it would mean my family came out by early embraced what I feel. I don't know what to do in order to determine I'm terrified for my future will Scotty thank you for giving us a call we we will pray for you the gospel is big enough to deal with whatever are our struggles are whatever our disordered desires are, and everyone has disordered desires and I would say homosexuality those feelings is what those are disordered desires that it sounds to me like you really wrestle with.

Let me just say the grace of Christ is sufficient for you and and for the forgiveness that that you need that we all need and so I would say that the first thing that we do is we confess those things to the Lord and know that when we confess those things to the Lord know that when you confess this to the Lord this this these feelings that you have this. The struggle you experience that God is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love that we go to him. I mean I think of Paul in Romans chapter 7 we go to him, broken, weighed down by the flesh. The struggles we experience and we think men who will deliver me from this body of death and you think of what the apostle Paul said there and in Romans chapter 7. Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ and so I want you to know that it's not hopeless it's not hopeless for you that there is grace for you and I think even just being able to talk about these kinds of things and be honest transparent is is really really important and you can be transparent because Christ does not cast us out when we confess our sins, we confess those those deep feelings that we might feel experience things that we know what I don't understand why why this is happening why I feel this way.

I know that this is the right thing to feel that is it is not an order desire in line with God's word and yet I go to God broken as I am, and I receive his grace and mercy and you can receive that and and I pray that that you do that that is a comfort to you to know that that is the grace of Christ for you and then I think it's really important that you do have a community around you where you can be honest about about the feelings that you haven't and you're gonna be met with the truth of the gospel is that's that's key. To me it sounds like you spoke a little bit with your own pastor and and maybe others, but I just one asked is this something that you that you've been able to to speak with people about openly even in your own family will know I don't know how to approach her with a group very fundamental course is will Rogers believed God, I don't know how to place my family adult part. I don't know what to do well you write, you know, confession is is a big part in and this is a very complex issue and so the night sometimes unhelpful to say, you know, sometimes the way in which I think churches can approach this can be really really unhelpful, but you know what the Scripture teaches Scotty Paul in first Corinthians chapter 6 does talk about Leno practicing homosexuality so so that there's a different string confessing it and talking to your family, or even your your pastor and saying hey, this is a real struggle but I need encouragement. Brotherly love the people of God around me to help me in and to encourage me to be faithful to the Lord and and ultimately more than anything.

What we need is the grace of the Holy Spirit. Paul says it's by the spirit that we put to death the sinful deeds of the body.

Those those disordered desires that that we experience and Nina sometimes which I don't know where that's coming from.

It's only through the grace of the Holy Spirit that we that we grown so that's what I want to pray for you resources. A friend of ours, you know, Sam, Albert, he's written a number of things on this topic, you might consider checking out some of his books. He has a book called is God anti-gay, that's a really helpful little book.

It's a short read, but I would. I would recommend you check that book out.

Scotty, let me just let me pray for you right now. Father, thank you for Scotty. Thank you that he gave us a call and Lord I pray that the the burden that he feels right now. That is, he confesses to you, Lord God, his struggle as he says, can't be merciful to me, extend your grace to me that he would experience Lord Jesus, that grace, that love that mercy that you have for him, the lifting of the burden that you would surround him with a community of faith that can encourage him and walk with him that isn't going to push him away or ostracize them because of the struggle. Lord Jesus, you are big enough you are gracious you are good you are merciful you welcome us when we come to know matter what it is that were loaded down by no matter what it is that were struggling with what you you welcome us when we turn to you and so as Scotty turns to you every day, even Lord would he experience that grace and mercy and I pray that you would give him wisdom, wisdom, and in talking to his family, wisdom, and talking to others and God that by the grace of your Holy Spirit, what we know on our own wheat we can't do it. We don't have the strength we don't have the power by the grace of the Holy Spirit that you would work in him, sanctifying him, drawing him closer and closer to you and filling him Lord with your love and with a sense of peace. Even we asked these things gracious God in Jesus name, amen and amen Scotty, thank you so much for your call for your your honesty, your bravery and calling and we will continue to pray for you and when you chirp contact information will even send you some resources that may be helpful in a row. I'm so glad you talked about the difference between sexual attraction and acting on that a big difference to understand yeah and we can bring anything to the Lord. Confess to him and know that his grace is big enough to forgive us. Thanks for listening to core Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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