If God’s Covenants Are Everlasting, Why Isn’t Circumcision Still Required?

If God's covenants are everlasting then why isn't circumcision still required. That 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. We pray you had a wonderful weekend. 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. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter account.

You can watch a drill right now live in the studio on YouTube and send us a message through our YouTube channel course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here's a question from one of our listeners named Maggie Bible is that when you die your body is buried and your soul is sleeping and come back later. Those who are living in Christ will come up again to be rated when Jesus arrived to get by. I'd like to know what your opinion about what your outlook on think you thank you for that question. Were talking here about the intermediate state, what happens to an individual once they die and what I would say that the soul of a believer when they die is immediately made perfect holiness that there in the presence of the Lord with joy with worship and there are several passages of Scripture in particular in the New Testament that I would point to that I think indicate this very clearly.

For example, with the apostle Paul said in the book of second Corinthians chapter 5 verse eight we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. That is when I'm doing when I'm no longer here.

That is when I've died to be at home with the Lord away from my body for a period of time until the resurrection of the dead on the last day.

This is also something that the apostle Paul indicates in the book of Philippians in Philippians chapter 1 he's writing to the Philippians talking about his his death which he feels is right around the corner of any stock that he want. I want to continue to lift it to encourage the churches in particular to be able to encourage the Philippians he says in verse 21 of Philippians chapter 1 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me yet which I shall choose I cannot tell I'm hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, which he says, for that is far better now right there.

Again he makes it very clear when I die I'm can it depart and be with Christ enough to be better than anything I've experienced here on this earth. And so those are just two passages of Scripture that I think make it absolutely clear that for the believer. During that intermediate state when we when we die here on earth were in the presence of the Lord, which is far better. As Paul says, than anything we we've ever experienced here on earth.

Now that is not our final destination. As Christians too often you hear Christians talk about you know accept Jesus into your heart so that you can go to heaven when you die in that's viewed is that you know the ultimate destination. The final resting place. If you will, are our bodies are in the grave and were just in in heaven floating around with the Lord as these disembodied spirits well know Jesus rose again from the dead, bodily to give us the hope that we too will one day rise again in him, and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

And so that's what we refer to this is the intermediate state it is not our final destination were in heaven and in the spirit with the Lord that were waiting for the resurrection of the dead and and the finality of the new creation and so thank you for that question. Hope those passages of Scripture encourage you in and help you in your understanding of this. You're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life would love to hear from you.

Here's our phone number it's 833. The core let's go to Joseph in elk Grove, California Joseph what your question for a drill the other day I had another direction, but I don't see that taught anywhere in the Bible is by overlooking something or… Dr. yeah I do know that I would. I would say that that's a false doctrine.

We know that God created all things and that he is not confined to anything to space or time.

Now the God who is not confined to anything confined himself, if you will, that the second person of the holy Trinity entered into humanity. I have assumed humanity for us and for our salvation, that the God who cannot be boxed in.

If you will boxed himself in in in human flesh about what your question reminds me of is a passage in the book of Isaiah were God's is speaking and he says, thus says the one who is high and lifted up, this is Isaiah 57 verse 15 who inhabits eternity, whose name is holy God is the one who is high and lifted up his ways are not our ways.

He is holy, that is, he separate, distinct from us from sinners it in his own category if you will, and he inhabits eternity that is to say he's not confined to time in the same way that we are mean Peter talks about this in second Peter what he's talking about the coming of the Lord in chapter 3 says you know you got it that day is like a thousand years and a thousand years like a day as our relationship to space and time is very different than the relationship of of the Lord's because he's God, and he created all things. One of the big problems that we see today in the world and even in many Christian churches. As we have too much of it of a human understanding of God.

If you will, that is what we confined them in the ways that were confined as well. We limit him when he's infinite, eternal, unchangeable, as this is the good God that we worship and so I don't know that I would. I would say that what you heard was was incorrect. On the contrary, God's is the one who created all things. Who isn't limited by time or space who inhabits eternity as the prophet Isaiah said, I bless you your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez taken a look at the calendar. It's 1 November. That means Thanksgiving is just around the corner and we have a special resource just in time for that holiday is right as the holiday season begins to ramp up. We have a brand-new free resource that our listeners can download over it. Core, Christianity.com called five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving is really poor because we often see posts on social media. Or, you know this calligraphy wall arts in in our homes or in our friends houses that instruct us to be grateful and to give thanks, how do we do that how do we really give thanks to the Lord as the Bible calls us to that this resources can help you with idle show you how to route your thankfulness in the soil of God's word and his good character. What he's done for us as a get hold this free resource over it.

Core, Christianity.com here's how you find it, go to core Christianity.com/offers at its core, Christianity.com/offers look for five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving or you can call us for that offer anyone ever offers at 833-843-2673 not one of the ways that you can submit a question to us is through our email we got this email from Angie she says what is the Abraham it covenant mentioned in Genesis 17 and what aspects of the Abraham it covenant or are everlasting.

Why don't Christians practice circumcision if the Abraham a covenant is everlasting.

Is it because the Hebrew word for everlasting can mean long time brother them forever or is there another reason a lot of talk of of the Abraham it covenant throughout the Bible. Here in Genesis obvious in Genesis 17, but also in places like the book of Galatians in the New Testament.

Please read some of Genesis 17. The beginning of Genesis 17th when Abram was 99 years old, the Lord appeared to Abram and said to him I am God Almighty walk before me and be blameless that I may make my covenant between me and you and may multiply you greatly. And Abram fought fell on his face, and God said to him, behold, my covenant is with you, and you shall be a father of a multitude of nations. This is getting us to that the answer of your question, what is the Abraham it covenant this promise that were hearing here it's reiterated actually throughout the book of Genesis we hear about it earlier in Genesis 12 in Genesis 15 and then here again in Genesis 17.

No longer shall your name be called Abram. The Lord says but your name shall be Abraham. For I have made you the father of a multitude of nations. I will make you exceedingly fruitful, and I will make you into nations and kings shall come from you and I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you and I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojourning's all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession and I will be their God, and it's here in this context of the Lord gives him the covenant of circumcision if you will. This command to circumcise his his infant children else interesting is circumcision was something that was practiced in the ancient near East. I think bite by basically everyone except for the Philistines. Then it was a sort of social symbol entering into manhood.

What's unique about what's taking place here in Genesis 17 is God is commanding Abraham to circumcise his infant children even though the little babies right on the eighth day, so that's that's something that's unique about it here now why this sign in particular well in one sense I think it has to do with that. The setting apart the sanctification if you will of the male organ you think about the promise. It's given here that the promise of offspring of nations coming forth from you this this is it okay that would would sort of make sense why the sign is about complied circumcision up that is applied to this part of the body. It's also a picture of death cutting earlier in Genesis chapter 15 there was this cutting ceremony.

This covenant that God entered into with Abraham.

He put Abraham to sleep there with these animals that were cut in half and and God passed through the corpses of these dead animals. It was this picture of death, and in here to circumcision services. This picture of death of what takes place when we break God's covenant were cut off from the people of God. That's one of the things that Genesis 17 makes absolutely clear, but it's also a picture of new life that is regeneration. It's interesting that it was instituted for the eighth day in and ate often in the Bible is this picture of new creation.

You think of Sabbath being the seventh day, the eighth day the first day of the week.

Jesus rising again on the first day of the week new creations. You have a lot of stuff going on here with this covenant of circumcision.

Now it's clear from the New Testament that it's not a religious ordinance for the people of God today under the new covenant. And that's because all the things that it pointed forward to were ultimately fulfilled in Jesus Christ.

He was the one that was cut off. If you will, from the people of God for our sins that the prophet Daniel speaks about this in Daniel chapter 9 and so you have the fulfillment of of many of the things you see here and actually in one sense baptism is that the replacement for circumcision is this new and greater sign of entrance into the family of God of the covenant community of God's people, and so while were not practicing circumcision is this religious ordinance today in the church of Jesus Christ.

One thing that is clear is that everything that it pointed to is been fulfilled and that promise that God is in a big God did to his people and to their children still stands today and in that sense, it is an everlasting promise, and it's one that we receive entering through my faith in Jesus Christ.

That's why the apostle Paul says in the book of Galatians in places like Galatians, chapters 3 and four that all of us by faith are the true children of Abraham and so these promises really are are are are for us to meditate upon and understand and they bless us in our walk with the Lord as well. So thank you for that question.

Explanation, thanks for that. I drew this is core Christianity and would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. You can call us right now at 833. The core let's go to John in San Pablo, California. John what your question for Israel is. I'm sorry about continuing breaking it commandment and honoring my mother. I recently am at been asked to move back home to about three years ago and pretty much left but let me not wait here, but raised by family. She's been very good to me. Up until then, I have four siblings that claimed about this behavior and now I'm witnessing just very meaningful behavior. I am therapy about it and it basically say my mother's me and I don't understand it that I've actually I my siblings say that hater or not, say so now saying that not regularly but have also pushed sure I go to get reconciliation and then I take it back and it just very difficult. Just a couple follow-up questions for you John. So if I am understanding your currently.

Are you caring for your mother. You hurt her caregiver and then the second question that I would have is she a believer to she professed faith in Jesus Christ will know I'm not her caregiver out fast move here having major surgery. She's 86, but since I was moved here. I had her see she's been through. Like five doctors and they all say that she's actually very sharp and know what diagnosis she had hypertension which I was under the house alone.

She acts like sometimes even act like a child speaks like a child. As far as her face. We've been very close.

Most my life and we faithful Catholic practicing Catholics. I don't know leaving my brother so my siblings we don't all talk because she's triangulated conversations.

Even my grandma. Both sisters, you know, we say we want our mom back. Well John, I, II want to pray for you and me. One of the reasons I asked if she was a believer, but I think part of in a loving one another, even family members when were going through something difficult like this is is just being honest and so when somebody's actions are hurting us when they're being cruel or mean we we respectfully and in this situation.

I think the way that you honor your mother is, you know, not by not by being harsh or disrespectful, but respectfully as as her son bringing some of these things up and talking about the pain that it's caused you, but also talking about. In light of the gospel and if we belong to Jesus Christ if we believe in him our identity through baptism and faith has been changed and were called to live in light of that reality. Whether were eight years old or 87 years old and so when were not. We encourage each other to to say, look, we want to honor the Lord in our relationships and and so having those conversations I think is potentially a way to to get the get the ball moving in the right direction and I don't know if you've been able to have those kinds of conversations and bring the Lord into the discussion and in just talking about your guises relationship and really her relationship with God in this time as well and so I think for your part, you know, it sounds like your question is II don't want to break God's law, I don't want to disobey his commandments.

In particular, the fifth commandment, but I'm having a really hard time because of the way that my mother treats me.

I would say being honest with her about the pain that her words because you and also continuing to pursue her with love with the truth of God's word and sometimes that looks like challenging the kind of behavior that is harmful, but not responding to her in kind not being disrespectful or acting in an ungodly manner towards her. I think that's that's key and that's that's were tempted to do when someone when someone hurts us when their words hurt us when their actions hurt us. We want to hurt them back. We want to be rude. We want to be demeaning.

We want to be disrespectful or we just want to cut them out of our lives and there are instances I think where you have very abusive relationships where you know maybe we we've brought the situation up. We try to have conversations but an individual continues acting a certain way and there's just no hope of reconciliation where we do have to.

I think just for our own health and sanity take a step back, and I don't know if it's gotten there yet with with you and your relationship with her, but I would I would just pray that the Lord would soften her heart and that you guys would be able to to talk about this in a way that's honoring to God and ultimately leads her closer to the Lord in her relationship with God as as you bring the truth of Christ to bear in this Olympic let me pray for you because I imagine this is just I know this very difficult situation. Father pray for John and his relationship with his mother his siblings, Lord God, I ask that you would fill him with your Holy Spirit that you would give him wisdom God that in the same way God when we believe in you. You forgive our sins through your son Jesus that you would give them a heart full of forgiveness for others, including his his mother when when she says things that are hurtful, but I pray that you would also give him wisdom about broaching that subject and having a conversation with her about these things.

Ultimately, Lord, that is gracious and leads her to see maybe where where she has sinned so that she might draw near to you in faith and in repentance. Would you be with John, would you grant him wisdom and would you bring peace in this family relationship. We ask in Jesus name on tough situation. Thanks for that response. A girl this is core Christianity and let's go to a question that came in from Tom in Missouri. He says can you expound on the differences between the body, soul and spirit. Hey, thank you for that question yeah will were talking about the that consists did you developments of of man if you will. What makes up the that the human person and their sub he will say, will we have three parts to us, body, soul and spirit. That would be known as the trichotomous view and then there are others, and this is my view is they really know what were body and soul or body and spirit that soul and spirit are our basically interchangeable that would be the dichotomous view and the reason that I take that view is because there are places throughout the Scriptures where soul and spirit are used interchangeably.

Often times in the New Testament the whole person is referred to as body and soul. I think Jesus speaks in this way, or body and spirit. Paul speaks in this way in first Corinthians chapter 7 and then also you know when when where you have these images if you will, the book of Revelation of of believers in heaven now in the intermediate state which I defined earlier on Don. Today's broadcast others there referred to as spirits. Often times, or in other places. This soul so I don't I don't see up the big distinction between soul and spirit, if you will, but it worked were as is person's body and soul that that's what makes us up. There's more to us than than meets the eye. If you will either a lot of people today who deny the reality of the soldiers think they were were were just a body but we are made in the image of God were were worthy of dignity of respect we we care for ourselves and and for the creation around us.

In particular other people because were made in the image of God. It's a part of how God calls us to live and so according to the Bible were more than just bodies.

You know bag of flesh, if you will. We also have this.

This spiritual element, the spiritual component and God through the gospel has redeemed the whole person. Both body and soul. That's another thing that's really important. We sometimes like what Jesus you are saving our spirits in the body's not that big of a deal is not that important to sort of wasting away, but know the body is is an integral part of who we are and God came to redeem our bodies as well bodies the world that God made us a good thing.

We really need to recover that in in the church today and so the that the soul is the immaterial part of of our our being of our person if you will. And that's the best way to describe it. Thanks for that.

That question Tom you're listening to core Christianity, just a reminder we have this great free resource just in time for Thanksgiving. It really will give you a biblical understanding of how to be thankful and why we should be thankful.

It's called five biblical reminders for Thanksgiving and you can find it by going to core Christianity.com/offers one of the ways you can submit a question is through our YouTube channel Allen ask. This is the Lord's supper simply a remembrance of what Christ has accomplished or if it is efficacious in some way, in that it aids in our sanctification that thanks for this question. As we come to the end of the broadcast is such an important question and I wish I had more time to tackle but I was a bit it's more than just a mere remembrance and and you know sometimes it was so that's what it's all about. It's about remembering what Jesus is done for you but but no Scripture makes it clear that there is there's more than just our set of cognitive remembering what Jesus is done there something object of this take place is God extending his gifts to his people through these signs that he instituted Jesus instituted these signs and seals of the gospel of his work for his people, and through them. When we receive them by faith, we have a very special communion with Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 10 verse 16. The cup of blessing that we bless is it not a participation in the blood of Christ, the bread that we break, is it not a participation in the body of Christ, that is, we have this special participation. It's the Greek word coined Anita out with the body and blood of Jesus Christ in and through the bread and the wino how the great mystery, but it's by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is he uniting us to Jesus Christ was in heaven, so that through these be signs and seals. We might have a special communion with him really is so beautiful how God promises promises of me things.

Thanks for listening to core Christianity 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. 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