Do Angels Visit People Today?

The following is a prerecorded version of core Christianity will be back alive again on Monday and angels visit people today. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill 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. There's a number to call if you have a question it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you get our voicemail. You can leave a voicemail that number that you can call 24 hours a day. You can also post your question on our Facebook or Instagram or twitter accounts and you can email us your question at questions@corechristianity.com first update. Let's go to a voicemail we received from one of her listeners earlier this week I had a question about what I said or the sovereignty of God in salvation filled to the claim to be a Christian and when I read about the evidence of a person saved by grace. I feel like they never measure up.

How can a person cultivate faith in the work of Christ and trusting him alone and not look much to ourselves much in such an important question and I'm glad that you asked it because often times is that if you're thinking first. Going back to begin your question about God's sovereignty and doctrines like the doctrine of election. The doctors like the doctrine of predestination, where Paul talks about you know in Ephesians chapter 1 even as he chose us. Verse four in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before him in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace with which he has blessed us in the beloved as he get these doctors are just dumb. There are biblical and those words election predestined a loser Bible words and so we have to wrestle with them and my positions as it is your position as well. We get a lot of diversity of opinion with with the callers here, but my position as a God does choose people for salvation. Sovereignly I'm not on the basis of anything they've done that this election. This choice is unconditional but then the question becomes, well, well, how do I know if I'm elect because I look at my life and I still have ungodly desires. I still struggle with sin. II do things that I know I shouldn't do it times and I feel horrible about them and then and then I want will to God really choose me. Did he really choose me, man.

It's it's a real it's a real question. Now here's the thing we have to focus not so much on the idea of predestination by the trying to determine whether or not God from eternity past shows us unit peering into the secret counsels of God. If you will. We have to focus on what he's revealed. Really his promises, his covenants with his people. That's where we get assurance from and so we look away from ourselves and we look to God's objective word, his promise, and it's through that that we experience his grace and confirm if you will, the reality of our having been chosen by him. I think what the author the Hebrew said in Hebrews chapter 12 beginning in verse one therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God and earlier in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 16 of the author who the author to the Hebrews says the anchor of our soul is. He says it's Jesus who's ascended into heaven at the right hand of the father. Jesus is our hope, our focus, the anchor of our soul. We are only chosen in Christ, and so focus on Jesus when you're wrestling with this question. Did God choose me look to look to Jesus look to Christ and there what you see when you look to Christ is God's good will and favor toward you affect God sent his son into the world to die for sinners.

And that's real that's an object of promise that you're called to lay hold of. We really have to have to focus their and I think what we do when we start sinking our teeth more and more into the promises of God of of the gospel of his goodwill towards us and start looking away from ourselves and our and our struggles, several things happen. One, I think there is a comfort that we receive because we look to the cross we see God's love for sinners, so we look at ourselves and we see sin and we question, does God really love me has God chosen me, but we look to the cross is yes, God does love sinners and God sent his son into the world to bleed for them and this is good news for you and actually I think this is one of the reasons why Jesus gave us the ordinances like he did baptism and the Lord's supper. In particular, think about the Lord's supper. I try to encourage my people in the church with with this reality with discomfort. You hear the preaching of the word of God.

You hear the preaching of the gospel and I think it's easy for people in the pew. Is there hearing about God's grace and God's love to think yeah okay I believe that for some people. I'm sure that Jesus loves some other people here, you know, in this room, but when I look at myself. It's really hard for me to believe that that grace at that gospel is for me personally because I can see all of my sins, I know all of my struggles. In fact, I know that I don't even know all of them that that that I'm probably more sinful. Even then I could.

Then I can begin to imagine.

Because there are things that I do that I'm not even aware of. And so we feel way down is is this gospel is this grace really for me and that's one of the reasons why Jesus gave us the table we hear the preached word and then those promises of the gospel are sealed to us in a very personal way, this is my body given for you. This is my blood shed for you as surely as you receive this bread and this wine that's how real my grace is for you. Embrace it. Sink your teeth into my love into my grace and so I would say but that's another one of the ways that I think ordinarily God intends for you to be comforted by the reality of his love for you.

The fact that he's chosen.

It is called you into his kingdom, but look to Christ look away from yourself. Look to Christ and to his promises and rest on those promises. First and foremost, thank you for your call.

What a great picture you painted for us of God's grace and will thank you for that so much of just such a beautiful comfort to everyone of us. When we struggle with our sins and guilt over things were done in the past.

Know that God is completely forgiven us and cast our sins as far as the east is from the West.

That's beautiful and we all do bill that this brother you know is not alone. We all do. We all have those questions and that's why continually we need to be redirected and isn't it a beautiful thing to be able to say man when it when I look up to Jesus to the cross to what God has done for sinners. That's where my comfort is Jesus is the anchor of my so I'm not I'm not a very good anchor. I float around I I can drift. Christ is the one who anchors me and he's the one who anchors you payment your listing to core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez.

If you have a question for us about the Bible of the Christian life.

You can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day at this number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can always send us an email at questions at core, Christianity.com.

Let's go to Mark in malt and Alton Illinois Mark what your question for pastor.

Israel like it will auto electrical short, long serving on my short holy Realty Morgan Hill right though, so somebody will walk up all man adorable and I looked up from their delusional understanding of what I thought was a white dress.

I get up in front of the manager convert to get what was in her well I don't know is financial. Surely both Berkeley work area knowledge of the military.

I heard my name called my ear not my my ear itself so yelled Mark my own borders are very, very boorish Mark God the mind a little while drugs are tubercular.

Come back to work.

The amount not more than a month for low energy were known as the Holy Spirit basically live through my body of knowledge. My barking from my head.

My toes are so warm please describe below.

So are you are you just wondering Mark, what what what that was, or was that really and you is that you question. Well, I could be an angel or could be the Lord himself and you ascend so you are a believer your? Well, let me just say one the Bible the obvious.

He talks about angels, God created the angelic hosts and in the New Testament that there is the sort of mysterious messengers. Oftentimes, you know, bringing the word of the Lord to people working in ways overseeing things really working for the benefit of of the people of God actually in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 1. As the author of the Hebrews is making the point that Jesus is greater than the Angels of the supremacy of Christ over the angelic host he thought actually who created all of them the other.

The Hebrew says in Hebrews 114 are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation and then Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew in Matthew chapter 18 verse 10 seemed to suggest that they have the sort of function is as guardians and in some way again overseeing caring for people. I think each of us.

You know we get to heaven were stand before the Lord were to be able to to see how God used angels in our lives in in various ways. Now course were never called to to seek angels and in some movements you know I think alike that the New Age movement. In particular, I think there's this fascination unhealthy fascination with with angels. We know that there are also fallen Angels, evil spirits that sometimes disguise themselves as angels of light.

The author Paul writing to the to the Corinthians in second Corinthians said this, but just me like this is a personally experience that you've had and I can't tell you, you know whether or not it was it was a really I just don't know. I do know that angels do work and they work for the good of God's people and you know what again the author the Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 13 verse two says do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. And so angels are very much at work in the world today, but if this experience to cause you to grow in in your love for the Lord. In searching the Scriptures and getting plugged in with the people of God than I would say it sound like it was a good thing. Those are all things that Satan does not want us to have and so you know II. Thank you for for sharing that story and and of course you know we don't focus on experience, sometimes people have those kinds of experiences.

Sometimes they don't.

Our focus has to be the word and whatever those experience miraculous experiences that we have what they are always meant to do is lead us into a deeper knowledge of who God is. Through his word lead us ultimately closer to Jesus and so Mark if that's happened for you through this and I'm grateful and and you can be to Mark. Thanks so much for your call and for being a listener to core Christianity really do appreciate you. This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez. We have a group of people that we want to say thank you to today and maybe you'd like to join that group we call them our inner core, yes the inner core, but really a partnership with with you if you've been blessed by core Christianity. If you're encouraged by the broadcast that the Q&A that we have here every day and I really hope that you are would you consider joining us and becoming a part of the inner core. First, let me just say inner core members receive a number of exclusive things that are made.

We only get to the inner core. We do a monthly devotional that we send out for inner core members and a number of other things we send you a copy of of the book by Dr. Michael Horton core Christianity, which is a basically a summary of the core doctrines of the Christian faith that every Christian needs to know my time. I'm convinced that these are doctrines that you should be rooted in as a believer in Jesus Christ, the Trinity, the atonement, the doctrine of Scripture, the word of God. Christology the doctrine of Christ Milton covers a lot of that and so I inner core members get a copy of that book. And so, yeah, would you consider joining us partnering with us.

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Would you and join our team as a monthly donation of $25 or more really is is not that much but it goes a long way for us.

It helps us continue to do what we love to do, which is share the love of Jesus with people throughout the world and of your regular listener to this program and as Averill said you believe in what we do you think it has value and meaning and can reach people and help them learn more about God's word and his truth and maybe consider being becoming a member of the inner core. Here's how you do it you go to our website at core, Christianity.com/inner core. To learn more just core Christianity.com/inner core one word or you can call us for that particular offer and find out more about becoming a member of the inner core at 833 the core, you can always leave us a voicemail there as well with your question. 1-833-843-2673, got an email here… From one of our listeners named Jordan. He says in Matthew 1032 to 33 Jesus speaks of the importance of acknowledging him in front of others, but later Peter denied him three times in front of others, doesn't that mean that Peter would have been denied in front of the father by Jesus.

Know it doesn't have to mean that I'm really glad that it doesn't, you know it's oatmeal… Read what Jesus said there and in Matthew chapter 10 actually it in the context he's really comforting his disciple go back just a few verses beginning in verse 26.

Have no fear of them for nothing is covered that will not be revealed or hidden that will not be known.

What I tell you in the dark say in the light and what you hear whispered proclaimed on the house tops and do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell are not two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father.

But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore you are of more value than many sparrows. So everyone who acknowledges me before men, I also will acknowledge before my father who is in heaven. But whoever denies me before men, I also will deny before my father who is in heaven. And I don't think that Jesus is referring to a one time denial. Fact of the matter is brothers and sisters when we sin, isn't that a kind of denial of Jesus were choosing our way over him over the leading of the Holy Spirit. And that's precisely what Peter did when he denied the Lord and it was tragic. Of course, our Lord Jesus told him that he was going to do it and it was not justifiable.

I mean it was a grievous sin, a heinous sin. And yet, what did Jesus do after Peter denied him, he made him breakfast.

You know on the beach and that the end of John's Gospel, Jesus came to Peter and restored in many says Dimino Simon, son of Peter do you love me do you love me. Yes, that three times because Peter denied him three times and it is this is this this beautiful picture of the grace of Christ even towards those who fail to fall and that that was of course every one of the disciples every one of the apostles and its every one of us now. Can a person reject Christ and deny him and live their life like that and then expect to be you know brought before the father who is in heaven and acknowledged by Jesus. No, no, you will be that person will be cast out, but maybe it may be you as you listen right now you you've denied the Lord at one point or another. And like Peter, it breaks your heart and you think man is God just done with me because look at what it says in in Matthew chapter 10 and I denied him reason to deny me will know this in the same way that Jesus, the good Shepherd pursued Peter he pursues you.

Maybe even right now and and he calls you to turn to him. He restores you by grace by forgiving your sins.

And so yeah Peter denied the Lord but but the sort of bad didn't be no denying the Lord once, and repenting that that you're knocking to be condemned. Know God is gracious Christ is gracious and so so Peter didn't Peter didn't have to worry and we don't either. You know when we fully fail like that we can go to the Lord and confess our sins, and he forgives us and so that's a great comfort claimant you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez. We have received a lot of voicemails here. You can call us 24 hours a day leave your voicemail at 833. The core is one that came in from a listener named James like the same.

Some may void out. I might call God say goodbye really handle it.

Thank you. Oh, hey, thank you for that necklace EM in the Bible do seem to indicate Jesus seem to indicate in the Gospel of Matthew.

For example, examine a discussion with these religious leaders known as the Sadducees and he says in in heaven people aren't given in marriage, there is no marriage were like the angels if you will, and that in that regard, and that really troubles a lot of people they think will what it what is that mean I love my wife or I love my spouse right long for a spouse.

You tell me that not even heaven, and to find somebody well marriage you have to understand what it is.

It's a picture of the relationship the Christ has with the church of the ultimate bride and bridegroom. It's given to us in Scripture the end of the book of Revelation. You have the marriage supper of the Lamb. That's the marriage in heaven. That's the focus and the reality is our relationships in heaven are going to be perfect. I egg again. It's hard for us to conceive of this now when we think of how relationships are and how special marriage is and and that the special relationship that that one might have with with their spouse and wonder what second look like in heaven. I'm not entirely sure but I can say this with confidence. It's good to be even better than it is now all of our relationships are going to be because we can exist in perfect love it in the presence of the Lord and so that we don't have to feel like were going to be missing out or it's gonna be you know not so not so great sound like it's not can be that great of a place know it's in a be above and beyond anything you could ever ask or think or imagine it's good to be perfect love, peace, sinlessness, and ultimately being in the presence of the God who made us. That's what the psalmist Asaph could say in Psalm 73 whom have I in heaven, but you and on earth. There is none that I desire besides you it's it's not that he was saying like nobody really matters. I don't care about my neighbors that kind of a thing said he was saying God in your presence is fullness of joy. There's nothing better than knowing you then experience experiencing your grace. It causes everything else to pale in comparison. And yet working to have that and were going to have those perfect relationships that we long for here on earth but couldn't couldn't find our door experience because of sin, working to have those perfect relationships in the presence of the Lord in sinless eternity.

And so we have a lot to look forward to.

This is core Christianity with pastor Averill Sanchez will receive an email question about something in the Old Testament, this one comes in from one of our listeners and he or she says, what does the cursed water in numbers 523 to 28 mean is that something that we have to do today and that's a big one to tackle with less than a minute left, so maybe we can we can pick up on this another time as well, but it's it's associated with idolater with adultery. I'm not just here but even in the book of Exodus when when the children of Israel committed spiritual adultery. They had the destroy the idol and they they basically mixed up the, the, the pieces of the idol that the that the dust of the item they drank it was it was this sign of spiritual adultery and in backing numbers. It was a way of dealing with potential case of adultery for Israel at that time. It's not something that we do today and so no it's not something that we have to do today there is a meal that we participate in the does and can lead to death and Paul talks about that in the book of first Corinthians, it's the Lord's supper. That's the holy meal for the people of God day the body and blood of Jesus given for us and for our salvation. 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.

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