Is Predestination a Core Doctrine?

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 predestination or core Christian doctrine best is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Thanks so much for joining us this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you, and you can call this right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts. You can watch a drill live in the studio right now on our YouTube channel and message in that way course you can always email us a question. Here's the email address its questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Dawn in Topeka Kansas done what your question for Pastor Israel right now going on reading the book of Matthew and Matthew 1022 I read that verse, wonder, am I saved. I am not have accepted Jesus to be our personal savior, but to someday die just about William I'm not saved I'm not sure why that feeling I Don, thank you for calling with that question. So let me read Matthew chapter 10 verse 22 Jesus said and you will be hated by all for my namesake but the one who endures to the end will be saved now this comes in the context of Jesus sending out his 12 apostles and giving them. Essentially this this warning saying you are going to experience persecution for your association with me and we know just based on history that these same apostles did indeed experience persecution, often from the hands of the Jews who rejected Christ, often from the government officials like the Roman government. All for preaching Jesus and so so this is something of you and one of the things that Paul says all those who desire to live a godly life in Jesus Christ are going to suffer persecution. Jesus is your calling them to endurance to perseverance. Now if you're struggling with this question. Am I really say because I don't know if I'm going to endure to the end. Or, I haven't really persevered in my faith.

You know, there are days where I feel like I'm doing really well and then there are other days or even seasons of my life.

I feel like I really struggle well brother that's that's the story of the Christian life. John says in first John chapter 5 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the son of God, that you might know that you have eternal life. That is, you can know right now done that you have eternal life. How can you know that well do you do trust in Jesus I trust doesn't just mean right.

I recognize that he existed.

II can affirm that he was at this historical figure, I'm thinking.

Can you trust in him. Recognizing that you're a sinner that you break God's law.

Can you say Jesus, you're my only hope. I trust in you. I trust in the work that you did to forgive my sins and that's that's the only hope that any of us have done so casting ourselves on Jesus and on his grace by faith, we can have confidence right now you can have confidence right now that you have eternal life, and I think beyond that. You also have the hope that you are sealed with the Holy Spirit. Paul talks about this in the book of Ephesians and that you will persevere in faith. If you belong to Jesus because God himself is going to keep you God himself is going to be there with you keeping you as his child. No one.

Jesus said can snatch my sheep out of the father's hand.

He says this in John John chapter 10 and so you have this this great hope in Christ, and so I would save if you're struggling you. You look in. You think I am not as faithful to God as I would as I would like to be in that that should be all of us because we realize we fall short of God's law will the answer that the solution is not continuing to look within its to look outside of yourself to the object of work of Jesus Christ and to cling to that. The author, the Hebrew says, and in Hebrews chapter 6.

Towards the end of the chapter you have that as an anchor for your soul. Jesus is the anchor for your soul, and so when you're struggling with those doubts lay hold of him cling to him and sink your teeth into his gospel promises. That's where we get comfort from Don and so may the Lord and encourage you with that and just a follow-up question for you Don. Are you a part of a local church where your hearing that the gospel preached, we can in week out fellowship of believers to have that in your life.

I go to a nondenominational church okay and the reason we gather qualitative and that's the reason why we gather so I think I'm I think, I'm think I'm long and okay church and I was no perfect work on the exam at a comet from the people going to church is not say and and out.

They were not Mina perfect hurts but a pastor gives a good message only encouraged statement by Longo braille by what I read, I'm a blind person. I got braille by what I read every day I'm in prayer every day in so I think I'm doing the right thing to someday have a feeling that I'm not phase her will know Donna, I appreciate the follow-up there. Let me just let me just add this other thing right that the question is not, do I feel that I'm saved because Derek there can be days when you wake up in the morning.

You don't feel the presence of God that is me that God is in there we can go to church and it can feel dry, but the word of God is being faithfully taught. Jesus promised to meet us there. Through these these object of gift that is given to us. The preaching of God's word so we have to go back to when we were wrestling with with our feelings and we take those things to the Lord right we go back to God's word. The question is not how do you feel the question is what has God said in his word and he says if you believe in. My son, if you believe in Jesus Christ.

If you lay hold of him by faith you can know that you have eternal life is that you're always get a feel like you have eternal life is as you can know it.

On the basis of my word, and so and so when were wrestling with those feelings. We got to go back to the Scriptures and dig into those scriptures and I'm grateful to hear that you're doing that done and may the Lord, by the grace of of the Holy Spirit just illuminate those scriptures for you to give you the comfort that you need in God's word and what I want to do right now is just as just pray for you on that the Lord would give you peace and would continue to guide you, brothers.

Let's pray for our brother Don gracious father, thank you for Don, thank you that he is in a church where he hears your word.

Thank you that he he he studies your word every day and that he wants to know you and that he wants to know Lord that he belongs to you. Father I pray by the grace of your Holy Spirit that you would fill Don more and more with the knowledge of your love for him with a firm understanding of the gospel of of the length that you went gracious father sending your son into the world to redeem sinners like like me like Don so that he might know God that he has eternal life by faith in the name of your son Jesus. Would you come for our brother, which you encourage him would you fill in with your Holy Spirit and every day as he studies your word. I pray that you illuminate that word for him more and more so that he might grow in it and a closer relationship with you, God. We pray in Jesus name, amen and amen and we want to know you are not alone we receive a lot of calls like that here at core Christianity. I mean I just about every week somebody calls and says I feel like maybe I'm not really a Christian. I feel like I'm not saved in his April pointed out is not how we feel at a given moment son or circumstances. If the objective truth of the gospel. We actually have a wonderful core question on that topic is called nine ways to know you are really a Christian and you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers look for nine ways to know that you are really a Christian and Don. We hope that will be helpful to you and any of our listeners is me who may be struggling with that particular question again made really the right is one of our most often asked questions your encores and that is it is embedded because people are concerned about their their souls. We want to we want to know that were right with God. He think of the price or for Martin Luther. How that question just plagued him and how can a man be right with God. How can I be justified in God's sight, and so you're not alone. If you struggle with those questions.

If you struggle with the feelings of assurance that something we wrestle with as Christians as genuine believers we have to go back to the word and rest in what God has said and what Jesus has done your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question about the Bible, the Christian faith doctrine theology how our faith intersects with our daily life.

In today's culture. Give us a call were open all questions 833.

The core that's 1-833-843-2673 here's a question from one of our listeners named Erin. My question is regarding a friend of mine in the last five years on archaeological position and you've been telling people that you believe in the electric that got her children.

People could be in his kingdom. Not only that, but the question I have it that he said that you do not believe that that you are believing a different gospel that you're not a Christian at all about wondering if you fail to address that. Thanks much they Erin, thank you for that for that question. Sounds like your friend is pretty pretty passionate about this scene is sometimes a week when we are growing in our understanding of a particular doctrine we can get really zealous. Sometimes little bit overzealous people refer to it as the cage stage where you know you're going around telling her with you don't think just like me, you're not a Christian and that's typically when when young young folks will get tattoos of their favorite theologian and that kind of a thing. The question here is one is election the doctrine of election of people disagree on that. Does that mean they're there knocking to go to heaven negatively. If we get our understanding of election wrong, are we not saved, might my simple answer is no. There are genuine Christians who disagree about the doctrine of election. There is there is debate about this, and there has been for 2000 years but that doesn't mean that it's not a significant doctrine, one that we should we should think about that we should study the Scriptures on I certainly have an opinion, is it something we see Aaron in the Scripture suite we gotta go to the text of Scripture Ephesians chapter 1 verse four even as he that is God chose us in him.

Jesus before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love verse five he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will that work shows it's the Greek word X Lego. It's where we get the word election from or elect in here Paul says it very clearly God shows us in him before the foundation of the world, that is before we did anything it wasn't on the basis of our righteous deeds are good works, and I did.

This is a really important point to make. In fact, it's a point that the apostle Paul makes when talking about the doctrine of election elsewhere and in the book of Romans chapter 9 is another text that you're gonna want to go to in your thinking about this doctrine. Romans chapter 9 verse 11, he says, though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad in order that God's purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls but was emphasizing that the sovereignty of God. His choice not on the basis of our righteous deeds, not because of good or bad that we didn't get that again even Ephesians 1 chose us before the foundation of the world. Is this a little bit later in Romans. In Romans chapter 11 verse five the apostle Paul speaking of a remnant among ethnic Israel, Jews were to be saved by grace is so to at the present time, there is a remnant shows in. There's that word elected again by grace so is not on the basis of of what we do with on the basis of God's grace. One other passage that I just want to go to because I think it's so beautiful, as is we think about this this doctrine. In particular, it's in first Peter chapter 1 verses one and to listen to this, it highlights that the fact that the holy Trinity, God the father, son and Holy Spirit is at work in this choice in this election.

Peter and apostle of Jesus Christ to those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia.

According to the foreknowledge of God the father in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood is that beautiful father son and Holy Spirit right there. So this is an important doctrine that we see all over the place in the Old Testament and in the New Testament that my view is that God chooses not to base of our works, but on the basis of his grace. It's the work of the holy Trinity, but does that mean the people who disagree with me that I would say that they're not Christians that are not saved know I wouldn't say that I would say that there will you're just embracing a different gospel, you know II think that it's an important doctrine and one that we really should know and study and be biblical about but but it's not that it is not the case that if someone doesn't understand it the same way that I do that I would say that they're not a believer. Now if somebody rejected the deity of Jesus Christ or the doctrine of the holy Trinity, or salvation by grace through faith alone in Jesus Christ. Will that we would have some problems that I would. I would wonder, will that do you begin your rejecting these cardinal core Christian doctrines, and so so we really have to differentiate here between those those core central doctrines, the ones by which were were saved and then these other really important doctors which mean a Christian might disagree on but but there nevertheless important I would say this is one of those doctrines, in particular Aaron, thanks for that question. I God bless you as you continue to study the word good! On the whole issue of election, which again would mention this is controversy owned different denominations different to the Christians believe different things about that. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez were just a couple of weeks away from Halloween and All Saints Day and it seems like this time of year. A lot of questions come up about things like demons and angels and spiritual warfare were actually offering a wonderful book is a fictional book, but it really dives into the spiritual warfare issue in a fascinating way. It's by noted Christian author CS Lewis. If you have not gotten this book yet.

I just really want to encourage you we been offering it for a few days. The Screwtape letters Pisces CS Lewis. It's a delightful book to read both because Luis is such an amazing writer, but also because it's really insightful in terms of the spiritual battle that were all in and brothers and sisters, we are in a battle. Make no mistake about it.

If you are a follower of Jesus. You are engaged in a spiritual battle there's a war taking place and we have to we have to be diligent. We have to be aware. We have to be watchful and I think this book will help you to do that and so get a hold of this resource over core, Christianity.com for donation of the amount the Screwtape letters, by CS Lewis. Just go to core Christianity.com/offers to find that again. Core, Christianity.com/offers a look for the Screwtape letters, by CS Lewis wears her phone number.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life are taking calls for another five minutes or so at 833 the core, you can call us and leave a voicemail thereto 24 hours a day, 833, the court would try to review our voicemails on a regular basis. Let's go to Josh in Nashville, Tennessee Josh what your question for pastor. Israel will about and talk about talking about like that one part and part of the back and then you have a goat and then the usual everything that Albom is a little in my research fallen Angel like that and I was wondering why God is directing his chosen people say Josh, thank you for that question really good question.

I love that you're asking about the book of Leviticus, a book that not a lot of Christians spend much time and I preached in Leviticus a couple years ago and it was a blast lease for me. I did help the Carnation to subtype and I love preaching through Leviticus and when you get to Leviticus 16. This is really the pinnacle of the book of Leviticus, by the way, I miss you because another that cool highlight Leviticus is the center of the Tory of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, there in the center Numbers, and Deuteronomy.

So this book of Leviticus is the sort of the, the, the, the core that the centerpiece of the first five books of the Old Testament, and it's all about how we have fellowship with the true and the living God. How were welcomed back into his house and at the center of the center of the Torah is Leviticus 16, the day of atonement. This this picture of a sacrifice and a scapegoat being sent out into the wilderness, which ultimately points us to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for us on the cross was this beautiful here at the very center of the Torah you have this picture of the redemptive work of Jesus Christ. But there is this great mystery here as well. Josh and in you touch on who is who is this as a cell that's referred to in Leviticus chapter 16 verse eight to start reading in verse six. Aaron shall offer the bull as a sin offering for himself and shall make atonement. Atonement for himself and for his house, then he shall take the two goats and set them before the Lord at the entrance of the tent of meeting and Aaron shall cast lots over the two goats. One lot for the Lord and the other lot for as a Zell and Aaron shall present the goat on which the lot fell for the Lord and use it as a sin offering, but the goat on which the lot fell for as a Zell shall be presented alive before the Lord to make atonement over it, that it may be sent away into the wilderness to Isa's LC up both the sin offering and the other goat is being offered to as a cell.

It's been cast out to Oz is a whatever that is. Now their speculation about what that is. It could be a some people think this this deep precipice.

Another which was just being sent to its death on the edge of a cliff, and I think that's what what as a Zell referred to others think it is this idea of being excommunicated, sent out cast out of the community because of sin. Still others think as a Zell is this this reference to this pagan deity. This false god. This demon really so that this goat is being sent into the wilderness into the darkness into the world of the demons and it's a sort of picture if you will, of excommunication, what sin leads to, and I think of what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 5 verse five, where he was talking about a person in the church who was continuing and unrepentant sin, unwilling to repent. Unwilling to turn from Indian River.

Paul said there and in verse 25. Five.

You are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord never was cast that person not excommunicate them leave them in into the hands of the evil one. Hopefully will realize how bad it is and turned back to the Lord. But is this picture of X communication. So I think what you have there.

Leviticus 16 is is a clear picture of what sin does that there needs to be a sin offering, but it also removes us from the presence of God.

If you were cast out of the community of this picture of being cast on is that precisely what happened to Jesus. He was cast out, excommunicated, if you will buy the false religious authorities crucified outside of of of the camp and so again it's this glorious picture of of the gospel and I think those are, you know, just some of the ways a people of understood as a Zell but but we shouldn't take this is as meaning that you know they were sacrificing to demons know it's his picture of the goat being sent out into the world of darkness into the world of evil into the wilderness if you will, of sin and being exiled from the community and so thanks for that question, Josh, God bless you, I thanks Josh and love the fact your diving into God's word on a regular basis.

This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Let's go to NS in Cherokee Ioannis what your question for Israel. Why love you guys. Thank you so much for your ministry. Hopefully someday you have in our program. Hey thanks yeah maybe that be fun. All my will have to donate more than I was talking to a friend will talk about Noah and the flood. There is no his family was saved, but everybody that was killed otherwise. There had to be people saved in the bright, great, great question, brother. You know it's something that we can speculate about that. There are certainly passages that make it seem like the world at that time, it completely turned its back on God certainly leading up to the flood story in the book of Genesis. Things were getting worse and worse and worse. So much so that you have that that strange scene right before that when you have the sons of God and the daughters of man coming together and just have this visceral ramp into sin, and the whole point there in Genesis that things were just me and the people of God after being kicked out of Eden. If you will were continuing this steady trajectory downward away from the true and the living God, and know he's this preacher of righteousness. So he's calling people to faith. He's calling people to repentance. But they're not turning and end so you get in places like second Peter chapter 2 that these descriptions of God's judgment that came upon the world, there verse five of second Peter chapter 2. If God did not spare the ancient world to preserve know what a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly, that in the context there. You know the Peter is is talking about the pow pow sure God's judgment is essentially that God is going to judge sin. And these are just examples of of that throughout the Bible. EP points to know on the judgment that came upon the world there, but it but it does seem there like that this was an extensive judgment on whether some people there in the world who maybe were still saved somehow by the grace of God I don't, we can speculate, but that's as much as the Bible says is one of you want to stop where where the Scripture stops. Thanks for your encouragement, brother, and may the Lord bless you. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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