Is America Under God’s Covenant Curse?

A pastor a drill here and we want to hear from our podcast audience specifically, it was a call at 1130 Pacific time 833-843-2673.

That's 833 the court with your question about the Christian faith is the United States under God's covenant curse mesh is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why this is no Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day we get some interesting one says will discover, you can call us right now with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media accounts you can watch a drill live right now in the studio on YouTube and messages that way and of course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to Dan in Wichita, Kansas, then what your question for pastor. A drill will all 12 one were all living so my holy, holy thanks to that question.

Well, we certainly are holy. Before the true and living God for United to Jesus Christ, the church is holy. That's one of the attributes of the church is holy, not because she's perfect. Not because she is without sin, but because she's united to the holy one, Jesus was the head of the church and so insofar as you are as I am as we are united to Jesus Christ by faith we are in him. What were called holy ones Saints you see with language throughout the New Testament when Paul writes to the Corinthian's and he refers to them as saints. If that word holy ones, so there is a sense in which positionally before God we are as Christians. Holy now were holy and yet were still sinful. We still struggle every day to honor the Lord to obey God's law. That's just the reality that Martin Luther the way he talked about if it were at the same time, just, and sinful were justified by faith in Jesus Christ. And yet we know that we stop his battle with the flesh.

Paul talks about in Romans seven in Galatians chapter 5, but you can refer to yourself as holy as one who belongs to the Lord and so I think that's part of what the apostle Paul is getting out there in Romans chapter 12, Heath singled on the on the basis of what I've already said the earlier chapters of the book of Romans were more he talked about this free justification we have in Jesus Christ is on the basis of all that, by the mercies of God by what God is done. His mercy to you present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God how we acceptable to go to get it's not anything in us inherent in us. It's through Jesus Christ and what he has done the holy one who is cleansed us and washed us with his blood.

That's why we can come before God confident because of our great high priest, Jesus Christ, and so Paul there in Romans chapter 12 is drawing on the sacrificial language of the Old Testament, but it's been transformed in Christ Jesus is the ultimate sacrifice for sins. Now we present ourselves as these living sacrifices of thanksgiving to God. We don't make atonement for sin. We don't make sacrifices like they did under the old covenant, but we offer our lives to the Lord in light of what God has done for us in light of the mercies of God, as Paul says they are and it's interesting because this language of sacrifice and what it means for us to offer sacrifices to the Lord now under the new covenant is something we see other places. Well, not just there in Romans chapter 12, but also in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 13 really interesting what the author to the Hebrews says there through him that is through Jesus. Hebrews 1315, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. That is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God and so dad it's really beautiful how this language is being pulled from the Old Testament and it's through him, by the mercies of God that we offer ourselves to the Lord and to one another and that is a an act of worship for the Lord before the Lord and so I thank you for that question and may God bless you. Thanks them for calling us your core Christianity and for digging into God's word. We always admire that among our listeners. When people are really dedicated to learning more about the Scriptures.

Let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners saw in Illinois this week. Michael your program. My question is, in light of the can also be called governance nowadays. My good.

Someone said there was an Old Testament curse or the Lord said as a result of the children's children's over rebellion, he would give them leaders were as children wondered what where about what is and what references were because I think were living it. Thank you and blessings back. I think that question.

So, in particular the passage of Scripture that you referring to is found in the prophet Isaiah. In Isaiah chapter 3 verse four God speaking to his people earlier and I said and he called his people. His covenant people. Sodom and Gomorrah.

He was saying what you guys have gone so far worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. So he's talking about this judgment now on Judah and Jerusalem, and part of that judgment was these leaders verse four of Isaiah chapter 3, I will make boys their princes and infants shall rule over them and the people will oppress one another.

Everyone his fellow and everyone his neighbor. The youth will be insolent to the elder and the despised to the Hon. and so this was a part of God's curse.

Yes, on his covenant people on Judah and Jerusalem because of their unfaithfulness to his covenant that the spiritual adultery if you will, idolatry, chasing after other gods embracing the ways of the nations.

God is bringing this curse and those curses were outlined in the Old Testament, in particular in the book in the book of Deuteronomy in Deuteronomy chapter 28 you have this language of blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience. But here's what you need to understand and this is why the context of Scripture is so important where we are in redemptive history in the story of God. Those covenant curses related to the nation of Israel at the end I had to do with the old covenant, Israel was under the old covenant and she had an obligation, a job to do in terms of being faithful to� If you're not faithful you're going to be cursed and then again you can read those covenant curses in Deuteronomy 28 verses 15 and following that's a part of what the prophet Isaiah is talking about. In Isaiah chapter 3. Now let me make something absolutely plain to America is not God's covenant people on the earth today. We are not the holy nation of God on earth today Israel in the Old Testament was a type of the church today.

The holy people, the holy priesthood, a holy nation.

If you want point to one, it's the church of Jesus Christ that is scattered abroad throughout the world in every nation and churches, local churches are these embassies if you will, of the kingdom of God. And so, so we have to be careful that we don't we don't say will America is under God's covenant curse of Deuteronomy 28 because America is not in covenant with God in that sense. In another sense we could say that all the nations of the world are in covenant with God through the no way it covenant your member that covenant it's described in Genesis. In Genesis chapter 9 I believe where God is talking about this just sort of common covenant for all that the nations of the world whereby there called to exercise justice to do good to build societies well. In that sense we could say America is called to those things and accountable.

Just like every other nation of the world before the true and the living God were accountable to God for for how our gardener governors are accountable for how they govern and so on and so forth. But we are not, as a nation in covenant with God, as Israel was God's covenant people. That new covenant people are the church and those who have been united to Jesus by faith and so really important that we make that that distinction and I think when we do helps us to put things in perspective. Prescient that question and may the Lord bless you great explanation. Thank you for that Andrew. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

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They are beautiful there for ever call our logo on this black on the outside, red on the inside, just like our Bible study books. It's really is beautiful and would love to send you one of those you can find out more by going to core Christianity.com/offers and then look for the core Christianity coffee mug. What here's our phone number if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life will be taking calls for another 10 minutes or so. So jump on your phone right now. 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Christine in Camdenton, Missouri Christine what your question for Israel. I thank you for taking my call. God bless you guys my question.

I go up to a person and I and I say to them, do you believe that Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grace and they say back to me. Yes, now is is that if there morning in a Christine think that question will that is central to the gospel. Belief in the bodily resurrection of Jesus Christ. You see this all over the place. In fact John in first John chapter 4 says that one of the one of the strategies of the Antichrist is to confuse people about the identity of Christ and the work of Christ. What that what the antichrist, the spirit of the antichrist was doing in the apostle John's day is is telling people convincing people through false teachers that Jesus did not really come in the flesh so somebody says I believe that Jesus truly came in the flesh, and that he rose again from the dead right and that's that's that's true yeah and that that that that belief is central to the gospel that you think of what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 15 if if Christ is not risen from the dead were were doomed were still in our sins we are in trouble now of course right there.

There are some people who who will say those things of the fat. I believe that yet.

I believe that but they really don't understand what that means or the implications of Christ's work, his life, his death his resurrection. Sometimes people will talk about this is a kind of historical faith that is is that they're willing to give you know the sort of mental assent to that the historical Jesus. Yeah, I think he really existed and ensure he was the supernatural being, if you will. Okay, I guess I could but I could say that he rose again from the dead. There was actually famously this guy. He was a Jewish man who affirmed the resurrection of the dead to his name was was Pincus Lippi has his whole book on the resurrection of the dead why he why he embraced it, but he was he was a Jew remained Jewish.

He didn't believe in, in the Christian faith be disabled there so much evidence for the resurrection we think about historical accounts and if so, he said, I think that this actually happened, but he didn't confess Jesus as Christ is revealed in Scripture. So I think that there can still even be confusion there Christine. It's not enough to just say yeah I affirm the sort of historical realities that that's that doesn't exhaust what faith is. Faith is also this is a part of what faith is trusting in Jesus Christ personally does, yes, I believe he lived. I believe he died for my sins. I believe he rose again from the grave for my salvation for my justification paucity was risen for our justification.

So that's what people need. It is not just it to be able to compare it, you know that the truth that we find in the Bible to repeat them what to say. Yeah, I think that that's plausible that kind of a thing know we need to trust in Christ personally for ourselves, because we recognize that were sinners that were hopeless apart from him and so just because someone said that really I don't think we could, we could say well okay you're you're good, you're in the clear.

I think I think that that is true that central up a person right who doesn't believe in the resurrection of the dead right if that's if that's the case will then I don't think that they can be saved if they reject that central tenet of the gospel. That's the essence of core Christianity, but I think we should encourage people to go to go deeper to recognize that these truth that the truth of who Jesus is and what he did are very personal for each and every one of us and that we need to embrace them as such. Christ resurrection is just as this thing out there in history it relates to you specifically if Jesus rose from the dead. There's no more important message in the universe, and you can have hope in the face of death because of what Christ is accomplished. So really important and a Christine, thanks for your question. I love how you continually come back to the whole aspect of trusting in Christ trusting in Christ for your salvation and course repentance is is key there turning from your sin and trusting that. But God through his son paid the penalty for yourself and that can, you know, make way for relationship with God and so important, and I'm so glad you mentioned that this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Gaylene in Topeka Kansas scaling what your question for pastor. Israel and Jay Leno, are you there hey was one at all right what Yama led him to church but anyway I have a basic question to years now and I'm in lacking color landing, and all these old days, each data stuff not made by but I did hospital for being in the heart heart be mad because it is going on in my life. After that it will be close to law every game and I know he's kind of audition for me. I believe he sin is only one guidance onto the call. I believe that in my heart with a shadow of doubt. I believe that he died and so I have struggled with suicidal and other people you know I'm Shannon are praying for people ill and people give willingly believe what I was wonder why people won't get another chance to live to keep me reading buyback law would give a chance to be close back relationship Gaylene thank you for that question. First, I want to do just listening to some of the struggles you've had as I want to pray for you right now.

I'm grateful to hear the just got out of the hospital so may the Lord continue to raise you up.

Father, we lift up Gaylene T. We pray that you would pour out your spirit. Lord, that you would bring healing that Lord you would bring comfort, a sense of your presence, a sense of your love and father that you would just be at work in this situation, and we ask these things in Jesus name a man so the passage of Scripture that comes to my success to me like you had a lot of medical issues that you feel like you're keeping you from being able to serve the Lord like you want to serve the Lord. Let me say something brothers and sisters God can work and does work so often into our weaknesses.

We think that if Matt if I was just so strong and if I could speak better and if I could just had more energy then I would really be effectively used for Jesus but often times it's in and through our struggles that the Lord shines through an end.

The person who made this aptly clears the apostle Paul when he said in second previous chapter 12 verse seven to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given to me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me to keep me from becoming conceited.

Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me but the Lord said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me the sake of Christ that I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities that I am weak for when I am weak, then I am strong. Gaylene Christ is present with you.

You know that you've been forgiven you feel weak but know this in our weaknesses. Christ is made strong in the Lord can use you still even in these situations, and through these situations and so may God. May God strengthen you and sometimes him strengthening us and in the circumstances.

Looks like the presence of Christ holding us up even one when were struggling with sickness and other other things so may the Lord be with you and may the Lord bless you and may the Lord continue to use you as I'm sure that he does. Even in light of the current circumstances. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder that we have a podcast you can listen to us on the podcast Alpine.

If you like this program. Make sure to give it five stars what that will do is let a lot of other people know about the podcast and they can tune in and will be growing spiritually as well. So check that out on the podcast Look for core Christianity let's go to Dale in Lincoln Nebraska. Dale what your question for pastor. Israel, yeah, I bet it is not good for man to be alone.

What what you tell the single brothers or desiring a mate. Yeah, Genesis chapter 2 verse 18 the Lord said is not good that man should be alone I will make him a helper fit for him it to me this is a part of right the creation of man Adam and Eve there in the garden called to serve the Lord together in in carrying out his will in in the world, we know that this is this is a wonderful thing. This is a beautiful thing.

We know that there are many people who are single right now and so a couple of things.

One, I think if if you're single and you desire to be married on. That's a good thing of any possible sitting in first printing chapter 7 it's better to marry than to burn with passion you. Some people are.

You have the gift of singleness, we might say that and then they feel like this is how the Lord is what you him that's also a good thing. Again, Paul talks about in first printing.

Seven but if that's not you.

If you feel like I don't think I'm I'm called the singleness will then then you pray and you seek the face of the Lord and bosses were free to be married so long as we we marry someone who is in the Lord and so I think praying and you know putting yourself out there to get to meet people who love and know Jesus is a good a good first step. I think that in of the church is that the you know the best place to probably meet someone and so that's is Mike my personal opinion, but I think you you have to also cultivate the grace of contentment and so waiting upon the Lord, not trying to take things into your own hands per se and and maybe settling. I think I see a lot of Christians do that. Dale is they they want to be with someone and they find someone that's interested in them.

It doesn't really matter that they know aren't that spiritual or don't really have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Don't go to church with the just I want to be with someone in Simon to just settle for this person know we need to be patient. We to cultivate that grace of contentment in our lives. We look to the Lord and say, God, you, you provided for Adam there in the garden and if this is your will.

I trust that you will also provide for me and your timing to help me in the meantime to trust in you to continue to walk with you and be faithful and to honor you and so that's that's what I would say Dale and me. The Lord bless you. Thanks for calling Dale. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Robert in Stroud, Oklahoma. Robert what your question for a drill I I and and I went back out without recently I dedicated my life to God again and I got lot that spiritual connection. I don't like doing something wrong or not doing something.

Robert welcome back right, the parable of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 we have this disguised blessed by by his father immensely. And then he wanders off and he goes to the party scene and he lives apart from God for some time until he realizes he comes to his senses. He realizes what am I doing here and he goes back to his father's house way down with a sense of shame with the sense of guilt with a sense of I don't deserve this. I may not even be accepted. Yet he works of this plan is minds and go to his father's house and say, just let me be like when your servants and boy member that story. Luke 15 the father right. He runs to his son and he wraps his arms around him and he throws a party for him and he close them and in the finest close and he put some nice jewelry on him and he says this is my son. He was dead but now he's alive. That's God's heart for us and it was God's heart for you when you came back.

Don't worry about the feelings too often what were looking for a feeling that's not the main thing you know, faith is not the same as a feeling. Sometimes our faith in our relationship with Lord there. There are feelings associated with it.

What you need to focus on right now. Robert is on the word God has said in his word and he says when we come to him when we confess our sins, we believe in Jesus Christ we are forgiven and and now I think growing in your understanding of the Scriptures reading the Bible every day, praying, becoming a part of a local church, a community of believers. II hope that that something that you're in right now and if you're not in the local church right now. Good Bible teaching church that you're gonna prioritize that because we need that kind of community a place were to continue to learn and grow in the Scriptures, and so know you're not. You're not doing anything wrong if if you're fixing your eyes on Jesus. If you're saying God I I realize that I was in a bad place. Now I come back to you. The Lord welcomes you and I got continue to bless you as you seek to grow in the grace and the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. 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 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. Thanks for listening to today's episode of court drill and I love our podcast audience and would love to take your questions, give us a call Monday through Friday at 11:30 AM Pacific time at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core