How Do We Explain Death to Our Kids?

How can we explain death to our kids best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why 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. We pray you had a wonderful three day weekend you can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 we taking your calls for the next 25 minutes or so, so hop on the phone right now. 833, the court can also post your question on one of our social media sites and you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to voicemail. We received from Steve. The real question about the Bible. I was reading my Bible this morning and I'm wondering why different books aren't listed in alphabetical order makes it a little tougher to find when you have to use a table content but was in alphabetical order it be easy to find this. It's about that. Thank you Pastor hey Steve, thank you for that question. Yet, they would be easier to find wooden days… You know, in alphabetical order. The Old Testament in particular you have what sometimes referred to as the threefold division of the Old Testament.

Actually, I think this is something that Jesus himself speaks to in Luke chapter 24 you have the first five books of the Old Testament sometimes referred to as the law or the Torah, and then you have these writings the cat to theme, which you know that the stuff that follows that, then you have a bunch of prophetic literature they never even this threefold division of the Old Testament, and it testifies to God's redemptive acts in in history how God met with his people, and as I said, Jesus alludes to this in the gospel of Luke in Luke chapter 24 verse 44, speaking to a couple of his disciples after his resurrection and he said to them, these are my words that I spoke to while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses.

There's the first five books of the Old Testament and the Prophets and the Psalms.

Jesus is is pulling from each of the other two divisions of the Old Testament must be fulfilled. Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures and said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and so the ordering that we we have now. I think it dates back to prior to the time of Christ, probably when the Old Testament was translated into Greek, known as the Septuagint but but there again, yet you still had to sort of these these major divisions of three divisions of the Old Testament and so that's that's an our Bible is put together today that the main thing I think that the big takeaways that the entire document.

If you will. All of the Bible is Jesus is there. In Luke 24 testifies of him is pointing to him as that's the main thing that's we can't miss.

May the Lord bless you and thank you for that question. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open for your questions about the Bible or the Christian life. Nothing is off limits whatever you like. As Pastor Israel he's welcomed he's more than happy to dive into it. So here's the phone number again it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail received from Scott.

We received not too long ago yesterday that my mother-in-law is diagnosed with terminal cancer. As sad as it is for my wife and myself questions about my three-year-old son who enjoys a very special bond with with my mother-in-law and I play together, they laughed together they just have a very social connection.

I have no idea how to tell him where is going and that they will be able to play again dreading this moment and you can reply not on theological basis. Just if there's an answer there at all, or father is like this is life. Thank you very much for your time and being able to answer this question while Scott will I definitely want to take some time to pray for you and for your family after after I answer this question. The first thing I would want to say is now me this is this is really complex me you're going to have to you have to think through how to have this conversation in particular with your son a couple of things to keep in mind one.

Death is horrible week.

We don't want to minimize the fact that death really is this monster in Scripture that that's how it's portrayed by Jesus in throughout the Gospels and in particular to me eats very clear that he came to deal with the problem of data.

I think of John chapter 11 for example, where you have the death of Lazarus and of course Mary and Martha are are devastated.

Is there talking to Jesus and we get to see the heart of Jesus there as well, as he is.

He weeps with Mary and Martha really confronted by by the suffering the pain that we experience in this world and so recognizing, understanding just just that Paul in first Corinthians chapter 15 says death is the last enemy to be destroyed.

I think too often in our culture today Scott we we sort of try to to airbrushed – you know we we talk about people passing on in and sort of minimize I think that the strong language that the Bible uses we can talk about death as a horrible thing and we can we can talk about morning and sorrow. We don't have to pretend like like everything is fine because were Christians. Paul and in first Thessalonians chapter 4 talks about the fact that we do have sorrow because of death because of the death of loved ones, but we don't sorrow as those who don't have hope, and that's where I think it's really really important to to fix your eyes and your your son's eyes on Jesus and what he's done to conquer death for his people.

In fact, John and John chapter 5 Jesus says there in John chapter 5, but the one who believes in him does not die has entered into life already and the idea there and you see this especially when you look at John's writings is that for the believer death has been transformed. It say entering into life if you will, and so I think that's one way that you could talk about it. You can talk about grandma in Christ entering into life. Now there there sorrow there. There is sadness because of death because of the effects of sin and you can talk about that as well. But you can also talk about the comfort and you need to talk about the comfort that we have through the gospel and the hope of the resurrection of the dead and they know that the challenges articulating that to a three-year-old and so I want to pray for you that the Lord will give you wisdom and just that that the perfect opportunity to have this discussion in a way that is honest about what death is, but also holds fast to the hope that you can have through what Jesus has done father. I left Scott up to you and his wife, his mother-in-law, his son, I pray Lord one just for your hand of healing to be on his mother-in-law law Lord, would you be with her. Would you grant her your piece your presence, your healing hand in these days would you be with the whole family. Lord comforting them and giving them wisdom.

I give Scott especially wisdom as he is. He thinks about how to talk to his his little boy about this. Lord, would you be with that little boy, Lord, giving him even at at a very young age, a sense of your love for humanity and sending your son into the world to deal Lord God with our sin and to deal with death that in you. We have the hope of eternal life, and in in you, Lord God, we don't have to sorrow as those who have no hope. But we look to Jesus and what he's done and we have hope in him and so would you would you fill a Scott and his family with this hope in this very difficult time and all those who are suffering Lord in this way would you would you grant them that hope that you give us through your word. We pray in Jesus name, amen, amen Scott, thanks so much for your call will be continue to pray for you and the situation want to mention a wonderful Christian children's book that would be helpful to any parents who are going through a situation like this. It's called someone I love, died by Christine Tang, bald, and it really does provide. I think really hopeful and theologically accurate perspective that your parents when they're talking their kids can can actually discuss that again. It's called someone I love, died. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we want to say thank you to a very special group of people we call them our inner core. These are people who support this program on a monthly basis and make it possible to do what we do every day that we love answering your questions every day and if you're blessed by core Christianity. One of the ways you can help buses is by praying for us.

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You can call us about that particular offer. Any one of our offers at 833 the court go to Roy calling in from North Dakota.

Roy, what's your question for pastor.

Israel about forgiveness and dealing with this for several years but have been going through for quite a bit but how far are we willing to go and we forgive somebody willingly and and respect him through these whole times in these years, but the problem still remains in me. Well Roy, I mean the first passage of Scripture that comes to mind is the words of our Lord Jesus in Matthew chapter 18 gives a parable there. The parable of the unforgiving servant but but he begins in verse 21 Peter came up and said to him, Lord, how often will my brother sin against me and I forgive him as many as seven times and of course there Peter thinks he's being generous in all seven times.

Obviously Lord like can't be more than that right. And Jesus said to him I do not say to you seven times, but 77 times. Wow 77 times. That is to say, continue to forgive your brother if he keeps sinning against you. Now I know that that might come as a shock to you, and I think it's really important that we differentiate here between forgiveness, which were always called to extend really work were called as believers, to forgive those who sin against us and reconciliation if if somebody is sitting against to your call to forgive them but if there's good to be true reconciliation in the relationship they need to realize what they're doing.

They need to confess at and comment and there needs to be some reconciliation so you're always called to forgive and in your called were called to pursue reconciliation, especially within the body of Christ is much as were able, but that's not always possible. Now how can you forgive someone who keeps on sinning against you think that's the big question for many Christians you're not alone in this Roy for many, many Christians, this is a huge struggle. There was a study that dieting with the Barna group did not too long ago that found that many believers have someone in their life or they simply said I just can't forgive that person in your forgiveness that the that the heart of the gospel in the way in which we forgive those who sin against us is by focusing less on their say in their offense and more on how gracious God has been to us even though we sin against him every single day and thought, word, and indeed you have to be grounded. Roy in the gospel in the forgiveness that God has given you through his son Jesus Christ, and continues to give you every time you go to him and it's only is your your resting and receiving that great grace from God that you're able to extend forgiveness to people, even people who continually sin against you. And so my encouragement to you is is forgive that's Jesus's encouragement to you is what Jesus taught us to pray in the Lord's prayer earlier in the sermon on the Mount. You know, in the gospel of Matthew.

This is recorded is as everyday were to pray God forgive me my debts forgive me my trespasses, as I forgive my debtors as I forgive the people who have sinned against me. We constantly need to be forgiven and to extend forgiveness as well. And so Roy may the Lord give you grace to be able to do that and as I said, you can only do that we can only do that through the gospel and the grace that we have received so meditate on that. Meditate on God's great love for you and his forgiveness for you and let that be the fuel that that that you run on in terms of forgiving the people around you and may the Lord be with you brother. Great counsel.

Thanks for that and drilled your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder that some of the radio stations that air our program air the to later time in the day or even in the evening, but if you want to call in live to the studio and have your question answered by federal, here's the time to call at 11:30 AM Pacific, which translates into 1230 Mountain 130 Central or 230 Eastern time for that 30 minutes we take your calls and if you have to call outside of that time just call our voicemail leave us a voicemail. We try to get to all of our voicemails each day. And here's that number is 833. The core 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Carolyn from St. Louis, Missouri Carolyn what your question for pastor. Israel I can hear you Carolyn okay boys probably back in 2004 to bring me to write that way because I committed adultery area anything like that someone told him that do that because the Bible said that he did not wish to dwell on it for anyway to remarry for all these years thinking I can never ever Mary left, he passed away so I am trying to figure out that I want to get married right now I anything, but I didn't want to know where I really, he's still alive and I did not commit adultery. Carolyn boy I'm I'm so sorry about this situation and it sounds like it sounds like this is you know something that that that is really heavy on your heart as you think about your own life and and potentially the desire to be married a couple of things. One, usually when we get the questions related to marriage and in divorce on on the broadcast I always try to be really careful as a pastor. I'm not just to say well this is black-and-white and really easy, and here's a simple answer because I know that these things are so complex and it's so important for us to be in solid Christian communities where there are other people around us who know us who know our situation better. They can speak into it providing godly godly wisdom and counsel and I it sounds to me like is rescinded. This this individually remarry to was was the pastor and so that there is a whole other wrench in this, but I do hope that you've been able to get plugged into a solid Christian community. Since then, a couple of things. One, I think, according to the Scriptures.

There are two there are two grounds given for divorce that are that are permissible. One is the case of adultery or sexual immorality. Another would be abandonment if one spouse abandons the other with no intention to be to be with them and I think you get this from first Corinthians chapter 7. Both of these things are are very grievous that I don't know your situation again and so I what I want to be really careful it could be, though, that you were in a situation work were essentially your husband abandoned you and then and then got into this other marriage. If that's the case then I would I would say that it is permissible for you to be for you to be married for you to be remarried, that you're not bound to this individual anymore. It sounds like Keith he's left the marriage and now he's entered into another marriage and just based off of what you said, you know that that the reasons that he gave not wanting to dwell with you and when that's not a legitimate grounds for divorce in the Bible so I'm not sure where where that idea was coming from but just with the little bit of information that you have given me.

I would think that yes, it would be permissible for you to be remarried before the Lord so long as the person that you marry is in Christ, and of course that's another well word that the apostle Paul gives in first Corinthians chapter 7 flying free to be married to whoever you want the longest there in the Lord and so may God bless you and and give you wisdom as you think about these things. But again, make sure that you're getting the encouragement also from godly Christian community that's in your life and around you Becky for your your call Carolyn Carolyn, thanks so much for calling and for being a regular listener to core Christianity tough situation there. Israel let's go to of question we receive through our YouTube channel. We want to mention one of the ways that you can join our program. Every day is watch us live on YouTube see pastor Israel in the studio and you can message us through YouTube as well. Mike asked this question. He says people are leaving the church because it's so political right now, the pulpit is all about politics.

Is it okay to leave the church because being so hypocritical. Well, I mean if if you go to church where it's all about politics and not about Jesus, I would say yeah it's okay to leave that church for sure because at the end of the day your pastor, a minister of the gospel is not an ambassador for some political party here on earth, we are ambassadors for Jesus Christ and for his kingdom. It's what the apostle Paul says in second cringed in second Corinthians chapter 5 verse 20. Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God for our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

That's the message that that pastors need to be bringing Sunday by Sunday by Sunday. That's we need here. We need to hear about the forgiveness of our sins. Every single week. We need to have the word of God rightly explained expositors so that we might grow in our relationship to the Lord.

Mike and so I am very concerned with the this sort of politicization of everything and and in particular that creeping into the pulpits as well where you get the sense that that the main thing is no longer Christ in his kingdom, but the kingdoms of this world. That's not to say that we we don't speak the truth of God's word to the kingdoms of this world.

We don't have this this quote unquote prophetic voice as the church calling the nations to faith and repentance.

But we do that as ambassadors of Jesus Christ and so personally I would not attend a church. I couldn't go to a church work. That was the focus because it's just this is a huge, huge issue there and in a real misunderstanding of what our job is as as pastors and what the what the role of the churches in society.

If that becomes the focus and so yeah I and just to say one of the things we we frequent. We talk about on this broadcast is how you know what, what a true church is to begin with. Well it's where the word of God is being faithfully preached pot. The gospel is being proclaimed. Week in and week out where that the ordinances that Christ gave to the church are being administered rightly God is being worshiped in the right way and where there is godly discipline. The encouragement of the saints, where sin is taken seriously. That's what you want to look for in a good church and it seems to me that that church is it begin to sort of get into the politics too much for that becomes the focus will there starting to lose sight of that first mark of the church the right preaching of God's word because they're no longer preaching the Scriptures in Oaks positing the word of God but but the newspaper their own political opinions. And if that's the case will then I would say find a good church. Thanks for that. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

We have an email question from Tom and Tom says my wife has a hard time believing that the Bible is God's word. I've tried to tell her of the various stories of the Bible being backed up or proven by science. I'm always hearing that the Bible is the word of God she's right and that the Bible was written by man.

So how do I correlate those two points. Yeah, she is right that the Bible was written by man, but we believe that it was men who were inspired by the Holy Spirit that God was working in them to communicate his revelation and end that's that's the key there, and this is precisely what we hear from you in the Scriptures themselves.

What Peter talked about. I love the way he puts it us. Jesus the holy men were moved by the Holy Spirit the prophets of old and so so that's what we understand the unitive mind space is not that God was in a just of possessing these individuals is that God was using them even there their normal faculties but through them was was speaking to to us revealing his word and that there there are so many things that we could point to to to I think prove that the Bible is God's word.

If you will, we can point to the prophetic testimony we could point to just the majesty of the Scriptures how they may fit together so perfectly but at the end of the day. Here's here's what we need more than anything we need the spirit of God working in our hearts and so I would pray pray that the Lord opens her eyes to see that this is just the word of man is the very word of God that she would read the Scriptures and and recognize it as such.

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