How Do I Know If I Treasure Christ If My Heart Is Cold?

I know if I'm treasuring Christ if my heart feels cold. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi 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. You can call us right now with your question. At 833. The core our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so again that's 833-843-2673. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts.

You can watch a drill right now live on our YouTube channel and send us a message that white course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today. Here's a question from Verna. She says I want to write a Scripture on my Christmas cards and Psalm 8510 ran through my head. What does it mean for mercy and peace to meet and righteousness and peace to kiss each other and I love the imagery there Verna beautiful and and actually I think a wonderful verse to put on a Christmas card. Of course are so many I love those verses that focus on the incarnation of Jesus as we meditate on on that.

In particular around Christmas time at this is a beautiful Psalm will begin in verse eight of Psalm chapter 85. Let me hear what God, the Lord will speak for he will speak peace to his people to his saints, but let them not turn back to Fawley.

Surely his salvation is near to those who fear him, that the glory that glory may dwell in our land, then verse 10 steadfast love and faithfulness meet righteousness and peace kiss each other.

This is talking about that the fruit of God's redemptive work and then I think we can definitely point directly to Jesus and in particular to his cross where steadfast love, that is God's covenant faithfulness to his people that that faithfulness that he has and righteousness come together. Peace. And those two things in the Scriptures, righteousness and peace are often coupled together because we can only have peace through righteousness through that goodness that God gives. Ultimately, none of us, in and of ourselves. Verna are righteous and so we depend upon the righteousness that God gives to us as a gift. And so what a beautiful thing to meditate upon this time of the year and every every time during the year. God bless your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez every year around this time we start getting calls about the Christmas holiday and some people say hey isn't really a pagan holiday. Should we not celebrated what we have a resource that actually answers that question. Yeah, it always shocks me Bill. When people say when we don't want to sell Obama just think about all the food in the Christmas cookies and the great Christmas movies and Christmas carols. Why would you just not want to rejoice. But anyways we have some some resource in particular for you if if this is something you wrestle with is called five reasons why Christmas isn't a pagan holiday, and it really gets to the heart of some of the questions of people at some of the objections that people raise regarding Christmas and we know that you'll find it to be an encouragement so you can get this resource. Five reasons why Christmas is in a pagan holiday over at core, Christianity.com is a free download and would encourage you to get that today.

Maybe you can have a discussion with someone who feels that Christmas is a pagan holiday because they've gotten that information. Here's what you do go to core Christianity.com/offers and look for five reasons.

Christmas isn't a pagan holiday.

You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources, 833-843-2673 let's go to a voicemail that we received earlier this week. This is from Michelle. I didn't hold dietary people that treasure in my more than anything out in the world and I was wondering how do you do that, they don't try. Jeter and I feel like my love for Hannah's code.

I was wondering how do you fix that Michelle anytime I hear about love for Jesus growing cold. I think about that expectation that Jesus gave to the church at Ephesus in the book of Revelation at the beginning of the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 2 Jesus here is speaking to these various churches and he's he's raising concerns with some of them some of the issues that these churches had, in particular the church of Ephesus. We read in Revelation chapter 2 verse one to the end of the church in Ephesus write the words of him who holds the seven stars in his right hand, who walks among the seven golden lampstands just by the way that the seven golden lamps as are those of that the seven churches. Jesus is saying I'm here I'm in your midst so you can gonna say in verse two.

I know your works, your toil and your patient endurance and how you cannot bear with those who are evil but have tested those who call themselves apostles and are not, and found them to be false. I know that you are enduring patiently and bearing up from my namesake, and you have not grown weary, but I have this against you, that you have abandoned the love you had at first and I listen to what Jesus says to do. Remember therefore from where you have fallen repent and do the works you did at first.

If not, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place unless you repent. Jesus says this this idea of our love growing cold and Jesus himself speaks about this. There was an entire church there. The church of Ephesus was wrestling with this in the context there in Revelation chapter 2 it seems like in particular what this church had lost with its evangelistic rigor. They were no longer sharing the gospel like they once had. Being a light for Jesus and that's why Jesus warns them by saying I'm to remove your lampstand if you don't return to me if you don't repent it and so one is I just bring this up because this is a serious problem that that people can have that Christians can have, and for a couple of things me think of Jesus is his remedy there.

Remember, remember me remember what I've done for you. Come back to me. Return to me.

I'm psychic that that's part of you think that's a solution that Jesus gives. But with the other thing I want to say just with special we think about treasuring Christ, and we look inside and can we realize God, I fall so short of loving you. That's each and every one of us.

We all struggle with this. None of us love God perfectly. Although we strive to love God and we strive to love our neighbor right but we don't love God perfectly.

So how can we grow in our love.

Forgot I think that what John said in first John we love because he first loved us so I wanted to say to you instead of focusing on your love and stating that the navelgazing and in looking within single I do.

I just know I don't treasure Christ as much as I should. None of us do a how you grow in treasuring Christ.

It's not by looking inside of you, and then being discouraged by how how short you fall of loving the Lord like you should.

It's by meditating on his love for you. It's by embracing the reality of what he's done. This is why over and over we go to church when you hear that gospel we need to be nourished by it to the means of grace. Things like the Lord's supper were fixing our eyes on his love for us and it's as we grow in our understanding of the love of God toward his people in the gospel place. It's there that love for God is kindled in us as I want to go back to that meditate upon that and if there are things that you're doing ways that your living that you feel like you're quenching your love for the Lord. Think of what what Jesus said again there Revelation chapter 2 will remember and repent and turn back to the Lord experience his grace, his mercy, his forgiveness and let him fill you with his love. God bless you sister and I may the Lord help all of us to treasure Christ as we should remember this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez. We love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life may be the question about doctrine or theology or maybe even how your Christian faith intersects with what's going on in today's culture.

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The core drill.

Here's an email question that came in from one of our listeners named James he says hi. Israel is oneness or moralism considered to be in error or heresy.

If it's heresy. Should we break fellowship with an individual that is unrepentant in regards to that view. Keeping in mind scriptures like second John verses 10 and 11.

Well, first let me just read second John 10 and 11. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive them into your house or give him any greeting for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works. There is this this distinction, the separation between the truth and falsehood between good doctrine and bad doctrine and John is here wanting to look we don't we don't give people who reject the gospel and teach contrary to any place or any platform now with regard to this question about Moto.

Listen, let me explain what that is good is someone who believes in oneness or emotionalism. Should we consider them as as Christians or should we break fellowship with them.

If you never heard that that word emotionalism were talking about a Trinitarian heresy. That is a way of understanding the Trinity that is incorrect and not in in line with the teaching of the Bible. The orthodox doctrine of the Trinity. That is the right doctrine of the Trinity teaches on the basis of Scripture that there is one God with three distinct persons.

The father the son and the Holy Spirit in those three persons are one God, the same and substance equal in power and glory. There is no distinction as as to the essence. If you willed the nature of the substance, but that these three persons are are distinct distinguished by their their personal properties. The father is unbegotten.

The son is eternally begotten, and the Holy Spirit proceeds from the father and the son from all eternity need that language and in particular in the gospel of John.

And so you have these three distinct persons but but moralism teaches that the three persons are really one person that the father the son and the Holy Spirit are just different modes of the one being revealing by himself, if you will, throughout redemptive history. So this is this is an error.

This rejects that I know that the clear teaching of the Bible. He orthodox doctrine of the Trinity, and I think it strikes at the very vitals of what we confess as Christians if we get this wrong. That is who God is what what some people refer to as theology proper. The doctrine of God, who he is, then we don't understand the truth that we can't be in the true take to get this wrong is is to to really undermine the faith in its entirety and so an individual who holds to Trinitarian heresy who rejects the doctrine of the trade. I would say no. We don't have fellowship with them within the church there not a part of the, the communion of the church if you will date they need to be brought to repentance, to a proper understanding of the faith, and this was a heresy that was around the earliest nighttime to the church in the third century and it was addressed by many of the early Christians in particular, the church fathers estate as they dealt with some of these questions, but it's it's also cropped up in recent days among particular Christian movements, so-called Christian movements that reject again the doctrine of the Trinity and teach something I like moralism.

And so, so, no we don't have fellowship with them. I think I think that that the way in which we interact with people who hold to these kinds of uses is we call them to repentance as we open up the Scriptures and we say here's what the Bible teaches. Here's what you need to believe because you're misrepresenting who God is and that is a terrifying thing thanks for that question. Tough one. And certainly there are heresies that are floating around like we often say there's nothing new under the sun. You know, people come up with a new doctrine or belief that really maybe was around since the first or second century and they push that in the in the local church and that's a big concern right absolutely. I mean, is why we it's good to know church history because of you said there's really nothing new under the sun. Satan's you know deception since he doesn't get a lot of tricks up his sleeve. He just wouldn't do the same ones over and over again, but if were not familiar with history and with the teaching of Scripture were liable to be deceived and so so important for us to know these things into respond according to the Bible you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Gilbert calling in from Topeka, Kansas, Gilbert, what's your question for Israel in the book of Deuteronomy. It talks about 2000 generations and then in Matthew chapter 1 verse 17 says a 14 generations and another 14 generations to David, and 14 generations to Babylon in 14 generations to Christ, so work 42 generations. My question is will we getting close to that thousand generations or will the generations continue into the millennium. Yeah it's it's good of you to bring up this question about the genealogy of Jesus. This is is you know we get closer to Christmas with think about the birth of the Lord. One thing that's helpful to know about the genealogies were talks about the generations.

If you will. You see this throughout the Bible.

In particular, the whole book of Genesis. For example, is broken up into these these series of genealogies if you will the generations of such and such and said something that we see throughout Scripture, and often times when you get these genealogies. These descriptions of generations what what was happening. There is your ear focusing on the Bible authors focusing on key players in the history of redemption is focusing on individuals that he wanted to highlight and in order to make a point. So oftentimes the genealogies in the Gospels are focusing on the fact that Jesus is is the king the rightful heir to the throne of David. That was something that was very important you think about the Davidic covenant in second Samuel chapter 7. This promise was given to the people of God and Jesus being the one who is the that the error to David's throne, so that's one of the things that's that's highlighted.

Another thing that's actually quite interesting to me what I think about the genealogy in the Gospel of Matthew in particular some of the some of the characters in the genealogy who often weren't viewed very highly of you have people in Jesus's genealogy were Gentiles. You had people who it had these sinful relationships. The sinful experiences you think of Matthew chapter 1 verse 17 all the generations from Abraham to David, were 14 generations from David to the Deford Deborah Tatian to Babylon 14 generations and from the depredation to the to Babylon to Christ 14 generations heating of David's relationship with Bathsheba Berenson. These are some of the things that are being highlighted.

There it sounds to me like my partier question is will having more generations or early I go until you know is is it a go all the way into into wind near the thousand generations. If you, I would say when you're thinking about that language in the Old Testament none said that you don't need to take that as God sort of prophesying that they're going to be thousand generations if you will until the end of the world. We know the time is and continue until the second coming of Jesus Christ and that he commands all people everywhere to repent. And the reason he hasn't come yet is because he is long-suffering towards us patient wanting all to come to repentance and to receive Jesus was born of the Virgin Mary for us and for our salvation, and so so yeah, I mean that that's I think how I would respond to your question and as you meditate on a Matthew one in the coming of Christ, especially around this time of the year around Christmas time.

May the Lord fill your heart with his love, and with his presence. God bless, I meant your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone lines are still open, were taking calls for the next 56 minutes on our live program and then were going to record a second show today, so if you are unable to call in this half-hour you can call in next half hour and let us know if you got a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology. So anytime in the next 40 minutes or so you can call us at 833-843-2673. That's 833.

The core would love to hear from you and no question is off limits right Israel, yeah, I'm no question that no question about theology but would like that don't asked me about you know cooking and how to fix a car that Connolly had again building a house. I don't know anything about those things got some spark plugs need to be installed.

If you'd like to help me out with that. okay, let's go to melissa's going up from st. louis, missouri melissa what your question for israel. i ran outside and recently she had married on the persuasive.

she's she turned into a list and begin married in a couple months and as i get closer to diana and amy posted to get to god and how do i continue the friendship check.

keep the friendship on the i'm still respect you know the religion that i had as well. melissa just a follow-up question in terms of her own life and ministry. someone who processed faith in christ, christianity, and then left it or she school where she had in terms of what she believes believing that by i don't know.

it's not as strong as i am walking with christ currently but she came from a family that i went to church to her background i believe is strong, but her walk as she got older, if not a strong okay well so a couple of thoughts here. one, i don't see any reason why you shouldn't stop being a good friend to this. this woman who sounds like you guys screw up together and you should continue to to be a good friend to tilt the lover to care for her to encourage her in in various ways and that doesn't mean that you have to stop believing in jesus or reject what the bible teaches about sexuality.

the bible is very clear that no gay and lesbian relationships are are sinful that something took to repent of, but that doesn't mean that you can have friends who don't believe like you do and so i think i'm in the text of scripture to go to hear his first print in chapter 5 where paul writing the corinthians that i i i wrote to you in a my my previous letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, not at all. meeting the sexually immoral of this world or the greedy and swindlers are idolaters since then you would need to go out of the world. but now i'm writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greeter is an idolater of policies is look.

if an individual says i am a christian i believe in god. i believe in jesus, i received christ for my salvation, but they live in this way want in that situation, you do make a judgment. you say your your living not in line with what you profess to believe and because your your soul is in danger. i'm not going to just pretend like everything's fine and let's go hang out and have dinner together and and just you know not address this issue.

this serious issue in your life is in that situation with with the brother with someone who confesses faith of their living in this way will then you pull back and you call them to to repent repentance to live in line with what they profess. if they're not a brother like you or a sister, will you continue to to to have that friendship with them. you can't pull yourself out of the world. why well so that you can shine the light of christ so that they might see who jesus is, that they like to hear the gospel through you and maybe that that's something that's you know right now they are difficult think of praying that the lord would give you opportunities melissa's you as you continue that friendship to share about who jesus is and what he's done in your life and ultimately what he's done to call all people to himself, regardless of of their their sin, but that they that they commit them just in the very next chapter in first corinthians chapter 6 is paul is writing to the corinthians. he says that you know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of god.

do not be deceived. neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor filers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of god and such were some of you all said in the current did you used to be this way used to be identified by these things, but not anymore. such were some of you but you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the lord jesus christ and by the spirit of our god melissa jesus loves you and he loves your friend and he calls all of us to faith and repentance and he may very well use you to be a light to be an example to be one who shares the gospel with your friend then an end and as always they continue to have that that relationship the gospel is for everyone. it's for homosexuals. it's for the sexually immoral, it's for the greedy and were all called to repentance. and so i would say based on the fact that she doesn't necessarily have a strong faith doesn't go to church isn't professing to be a christian be the christian influence in her life and love her, and as you do that hold fast to what the word of god teaches on these things.

you don't need to compromise what you believe you can hold fast to what what you believe what jesus teaches and draw near to him, even as you seek to love her and and to maintain that friendship and so god bless you and may the lord give you wisdom and may the lord just open open the heart of of your friend to david hear from the lord through through scripture. so thank you for giving us a call.

melissa, thanks so much for listening to core christianity. we appreciate having one is one of our regular listeners just a reminder that we are going to continue taking calls. if you have a question about the bible or the christian life, the theology or doctrine.

or maybe how your christian walk intersects with what's going on in our culture. would love to hear from you will be taking calls for the next 30 minutes or so and here's the phone number to call 833-843-2673 in april just want to remind our listeners about the great offer that we have the free offer of five reasons why christmas isn't a pagan holiday yeah get a hold of that resource. if you haven't yet, over core, christianity.com and once again thank you so much for listen to the broadcast. may the lord bless your day.

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