Is There Historical Proof That Christ Was Really Born?

This new episode of core Christianity was pre-record is there historical proof that Christ was really born.

This is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi and Merry Christmas to you and your family hi Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is a radio program where we answered your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673, as always, you can post a question on ourselves. One of our social media sites and you can always email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Terry in Wichita, Kansas Terry what your question for Pastor Israel had a question that your have an invitation to go to.

I should call it a celebration or a wedding for someone that has a different viewpoint about marriage so that would mean homosexuality or lesbianism and you don't share that belief. How would you tend to direct someone to make a decision or to write may be the Carterville, or a letter stating how you feel, what would you do yeah Terry having a complex question because I was the oftentimes families involved in or people you grew up with people who are your closest to, which is why you're even being invited to the wedding in the first place. And so you're wrestling with them into things are wrestling with one how do I love this person.

This family member and express my love to them while also not compromising what I believe. According to Scripture related to the Bible sexual ethic related to what the Bible says about marriage and so it's it's it's it's difficult thing in that regard.

Now, in terms of attending the wedding. There is a sort of sense in which I think you go to wedding and in your witness and your celebrating and so does that does that get perceived as an affirmation of what's taking place you saying yes, I too am celebrating this marriage that maybe I don't even agree with that all may Betty would think it's it's a real marriage and that at least not according to what the Scripture teaches it.

With regard to marriage, but being between a man and a woman is out so that's that.

Some of the complexity up. I think there is a sense in which we are we are going as witnesses and so I think we have to be real careful. I would not just you know if I if I got invited. I would not just just go and pretend like I agreed with everything. Everything was fine. This is just so good.

I think if if I wind what I would want to do is I would want to communicate have some sort of communication with that the family member.

The friend that invited me and expressed hate this is where I am on on this and while I love you and want to want to support you and in your life. I don't necessarily support this decision. In particular, and that's where it gets really hard at that point they might disable. We don't want you to be a part of this at all. Then if you can't support me in this decision, then I don't want you there. Or maybe they say look I I know that your Christian I know that you believe differently than me and that you don't agree, but I would still want you to be there just because I love you and I want you to to go in maybe and in that situation I could get conceive of no being able to go. It's it's clear kind of where you are but you also you know want to to love this. This individual I've mentioned before on the broadcasting over for us as believers in verse 20.

In chapter 5, Paul makes it very clear were not obligated to cut ourselves off and cut off all the relationships with with non-Christians who practice sexual immorality or who live in ways that we don't agree with it on the on the contrary, we can't do that we live in the world we live in the world that were not of the world. And so we have relationships with people, friendships with people who think differently than we do have a different sexual ethic than we do and were called to shine the light of Christ through the gospel through the good deeds through the charitable deeds that we do with the hope that they would come to see the glorious light of the gospel of Christ that they would turn from whatever sin it is that they're engaged in and entrenched in and so I think that this is a wisdom thing Terry generally speaking, I would say we don't just go as witnesses, and celebrate, but I but I think that there is you know the potential for you.

You have a conversation you have these relationships already.

These friendships already. They know where you are on this issue. They know that while you may not agree with what they're doing.

You love them and want to be there for them and want to be a part of their life and want to continue to be a Christian influence as I think I think you really have to exercise wisdom. You pray you, you do what is right. According to Scripture and in line with your own conscience and and you have to determine whether or not going would be a compromise or whether you could do it with a clear conscience, knowing that years you're still holding fast to what you believe, according to the Scriptures and the people there know that as well. God bless Terry Terry, thanks so much for your call.

Tough question. We appreciate so much you are calling core Christianity to grapple with that particular issue.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and every day.

On this program we receive calls from people who are wrestling with tough issues like that one.

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Thank you for the way in which you've prayed for this ministry and even contributed your financial gifts. I want to continue to produce helpful content that can encourage you in your walk with the Lord content like that the Philippians Bible study that we just finished up a walk-through the book of Philippians. Great for individuals if you want to study the book of Philippians on your own, or even for a group Bible study getting together with other people in your church to go through this book. Would love to get this resource in your hands are brand-new Philippians Bible studies yours for a gift of $20 or more is a great study and would love to make available to you could use a first small group or in your church as well for your gift of $20 will send you that Philippians Bible study to find out more, just go to core Christianity.com/new study that's core Christianity.com/new study. You can also call us for that resource or any one of our resources at 833-843-2673 Federalist go to an email question. This came in from Emilia she says hi. I want to know if there's any other historical evidence that Christ was really born other than the Bible. I've heard some atheists claim that he might have been in Terrell entirely a myth. Emilia, thank you for that question. You know that's not a very popular view even among atheists.

This idea that Jesus didn't really existed. The whole thing was just a myth, and the reason it's not a popular view among atheists or agnostics or people who reject Christianity altogether is because of the.

The weight of the historical evidence. The Gospels themselves are historical documents that we can say what we would want to accept the Gospels because their bias. That kind of thing. But the reality is we have so many New Testament manuscripts of these writings. The Gospels we see in the New Testament epistles and that carries weight and we don't only have that the testimony of the apostles, the writers of of the Gospels.

You do have extra biblical sources, non-Christian sources that talk about the existence of Jesus.

Sources like the Jewish historian Josephus and others as the Roman historian Tacitus and so so I think that we have plenty of reason to believe with confidence that Jesus really existed, and so much so in fact that that it's not really something that's that's debated even even some of the harshest critics of the Christian faith would not go as far as to say that Jesus was just a myth, or that he didn't really exist.

Bart, Herman, for example.he's a New Testament scholar. He's he's known for being pretty pretty critical of Christianity. I disagree with them on so many things but he's written about this and he suggested look at that. The idea that Jesus didn't really exist, that it was just a myth being made up of that that this is not supported by the data by the evidence we have not only these historical documents, but you also think of of the testimony of the early church and the early Christians who claim to see Jesus in fact eyewitnesses to his resurrection read about this and in first Corinthians chapter 15 and so many of them were willing to go to the grave for this message.

For this claim.

In other words, if they were just making it up at 815 of this whole thing was just a myth. You know, we didn't really see Jesus rise from the dead, would they really we can use that can imagine what they really been willing to lose everything friends, family, money, homes, their own lives. So many in the early church were were persecuted were killed even for this profession of faith for claiming that Jesus Christ was alive that he rose from the dead and that there's salvation in no one else except him. When they really have have have gone through all the trouble if it was just a hoax. If they were just making it up to get power. You never have heard this before this objection to Christianity you know that this was the advent the invention of a group of people who wanted control who wanted power who wanted to make money and you think of those televangelists you see on TV these days. You know, just sort of peddling religion in order to make money and to take advantage of people. That's what this was in the first century, but the reality is there's there's the truth that historical reality was the early followers of Jesus, those who proclaimed the gospel of Christ really didn't gain much at all.

In fact they lost so much for that claim. This is why Jesus said if anyone would follow me. Let them take up his cross and come after me, let him deny himself, and that's what happened.

That's what that sourcing that we continue to see today and so there was all this this evidences of this historical evidence and also just that the fruit of what took place after everything there.

Christ death and resurrection, and so we have a lot of reason for confidence Emilia and hopefully that that bolsters your faith as you continue to go to Jesus in prayer who is alive right now interceding for his people, lest what a great great way to wrap it up but it also key, especially this this time of year we are focusing on the incarnation and all that that means this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we do receive voicemails here. In fact, if you call us to leave a voicemail at 833-843-2670 3833. The core we try to review those voicemails once a day and there's one that came in from Annette Y9 years old.

Old and no longer go to church. My mind bombard. All I with the thing done wrong way back in my and I know I would say I have no doubt about how do I stop it. Thank you sister I can sell that you are plagued by these thoughts are no fits regret or just conviction about things in your past you did that you wish you would have done differently then I think we all struggle with that to a certain extent, we look back on our lives and we say Lord why why was it like that. Why did I do that I wish I would've done things differently than how do you how do you cope with that. How do you how do you deal with that one passage of Scripture as is were talking of it in my mind goes to is in Philippians chapter 3.

The apostle Paul said, beginning in verse 12 he says not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect. Not perfect yet not in the presence of the Lord yet restored fully yet, but he says I press on to make it my own.

What you're pressing on towards right now as you continue to seek the Lord, I press on to make my and my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own brothers, I do not consider that I've made it my own.

But one thing I do is were called to one thing I do, forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus and let those who are mature think this way and if anything you think otherwise, God will rule reveal that to you. Also I think also what the author of Hebrews said, you know, we lay aside every weight, and the sin that so easily ensnares us and we look to Jesus, we wait we will run with endurance the race set before us, looking to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Yes, we look back on our underpass. At times, sister, and we think Akash I'm so sorry Lord I'm so sorry.

I wish I wish things would've been different. But here's what God doesn't want God doesn't want you to wallow in the past. He doesn't want you to to beat yourself up. You know this or self-condemnation.

This cycle of of despair because of what could have been, but was not no that the Lord knew everything he knew everything that was can happen. He knows you and your his you belong to him you believe in Jesus. So what you do you press on you. Look forward forgetting what what was behind laying aside every weight in the sin that so easily ensnares and set your eyes on Jesus. So every time you begin to despair because of what was, I want you to to to look up to look to Christ. The author and finisher of your faith. The one is can it be with you all the way back to the very end when you cross that finish line sister. He's there for you now and he'll be with you then you look to him and you cling to him and you receive the grace and the forgiveness that he's already given to you and those those things in the past are covered.

He's forgiven you if you if you've confessed whatever it is you believe the repenting turn to him and that's been blotted out. There's there's no more reason for you to wallow in it to despair.

You look to him, you rest in him that bless you great counsel. Thanks for that.

Israel you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Merry Christmas to you and your family. We pray that this weekend is a wonderful holiday for you. We do receive emails here at the core and I got one from Carolyn.

I want to share with you Israel.

She says I have many friends in the charismatic church who delight in giving me books about the prayer of faith for healing and everything else in life. They talk about things like glory now in heaven on earth. I see so many verses taken out of context. My question is do I attempt correcting my friends or just say thank you.

Pray for them and move on.

A bigger question, it seems that God is not worried about the charismatic church with all of its errors because it continues to flourish all over the world.

Why is that you think that he would correct everyone okay such as are two questions there right it seems like you know and of course with some who would say is enough. A movement is flourishing, it's because they have the blessing of God. But that's not entirely true. In fact, there have been all sorts of false doctrines and teachings and movements throughout the history of the of the world that have flourished that have gotten a lot of attention a lot of followers I think for example of the prosperity gospel movement so contrary to everything that we see in the Scriptures that the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

This sort of minimizing of sin. This exaltation of the self, of pleasure.

Now hear this side of heaven being rich and wealthy and healthy. Oftentimes very much associated with some charismatic movements as well. And yet it's grown it's it's just taken off like wildfire in various parts of the world and even in the United States and you think will. How can that be doesn't God care is in God concerning I'm going to say yes. The answer is God does care and God will not be mocked. God is going to judge all the false teachers we may not see that judgment right now but all of these people are are going to be held accountable by the Lord.

This is why James said in James chapter 3 let not many of you become teachers brothers knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment.

James three verse one. It's a sobering thing to teach the word of God. It's a sobering thing to be to be a pastor to be a guy on the radio who is answering questions about the Bible, pray for me because it really is you need think about it. Were talking about the matters of utmost importance in in.

We never want to miss represent the Lord, because God is zealous for his name for his glory and and there is a severe judgment for those who misrepresent the Lord God does care and God will judge now with regard to your friends who are bringing you these books and their wanting to have discussions with you or or are talk to you about the prayer of faith in heaven invading earth, and so on so forth.

I think if there's an open door to reason together according to the Scriptures. I would say I would say go for it humbly and graciously raise some of the concerns that you have, that's what I would do some just come to me and that there were saying hey I want you to read this book about heaven invading earth and in how you know everyone should be healed and if you just have enough faith will be less a look that's baloney what the Bible teaches that would say like that, that's what I be thinking my mind but that's not what the Bible teaches and what concerns me about that really concerns me about that is it puts a burden on people who are suffering you think of the individual who hasn't been healed of cancer or whatever it is and they're just being told L you just need more faith. You just need to pray a little bit harder. God would heal if you just believed more of that's abominable that that's a theology that really needs to be taken out to the trash because what does that do that just continues to crush people who are all ready suffering.

God can and does miraculously heal, but were not in control of that in and we also know that God can use suffering and does you suffering in the life of the believer so that if God should choose not to heal. We can blame that on the individual and say oh that's you just don't have enough faith. You have a problem. Must be some hidden sin in your life and often times that you see in some of these movements that that kind of the thing, which in the end I think is abusive to the church into the sheep and and leaves people burnt out, exhausted, not comforted by the gospel, but feeling like they just can't do enough and they need to do more when they're already crushed by illness and so I would say look raise some of those concerns and go to Scripture. Open up the Scriptures let let's reason together because ultimately want to get this right, we don't want to misrepresent God. Your some passages of Scripture that you can look at that very clearly indicate right that not everybody who prays to be healed is going to be healed. Think of. Even Paul's discussion with Timothy.

Timothy had these frequent stomach ailments and Paul didn't tell Timothy. Timothy just to pray harder, believe more and told him to do to take a little bit of wine that to help settle your stomach because I know you have these these terrible stomach aches he gives in the sort of just common wisdom advice like think well you should go see the doctor that kind of a thing and so looked up the Bible is really clear about this, and there are so many people that are just really crushed by bad theology. Bad doctrine. It's important for us as we as Christians know the truth and into be able to address the error that's out there and so may God give you wisdom as you have conversations with your friends that bring you books maybe do a book exchange maybe maybe get some some other books that they can they they can look into better to be more solid, more biblical and that that will help the discussion get going. Hopefully, I think bringing people out of view theology that is really destructive because God cares about and he is concerned, so God bless you and I thank you for the question. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to a voicemail received from Juan Carlos all role California on your blog. Your observation of messianic law. Believer, you will observe very described a Juan Carlos thank you for giving me a call and I got five friends who've gotten into the messianic Jewish thing.

They're not even Jewish, but the go to you know the the synagogue the quote unquote Christian synagogue in the worship on Saturday. I mean it's it's essentially in terms of the theology as far as I can tell a lot of this is evangelical theology with some of these sort of Hebrew traditions sprinkled in like celebrating the Passover or referring to the apostles and the disciples by their Hebrew name. Secondly that's very much the Jewish roots if you will, of the faith. Now III believe that these people are Christians that they believe in Jesus the Messiah, but I I am concerned about the. The overemphasis if you will, on the sort of well maybe just those Hebrew things. One thing about the new covenant that that we know and believe is that the the church is not defined by its sort of cultural background. If you will.

This is part of the issue in the early church with with the Galatians in Ephesus as well. You had these Jews were now welcoming Gentiles non-Jews into the church and you had a sort of cultural clash and so much about that, the culture, if you will, the Jewish culture. Paul for examples is that's not central to the gospel.

These people, for example, don't need to go and get circumcise and observe these different festivals and food laws so on and so forth.

In order to be a part of the church that that that's that stuff is fading away.

It's it's the focus on the gospel and the reality of what Christ is done and that's what we need to focus on brothers and sisters when you focus on the gospel.

Paul said, let no one pass judgment on you in question of food and drink are with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come, but the substance belongs to Christ. Colossians chapter 2 verses 16 and 17.

The substance friends is Jesus and that's where our focus needs to be. 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