Is the Belief in Human Evolution a Heresy?

Is it heretical to believe in human evolution.

That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We pray that you have a wonderful weekend. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and we would love to hear from you.

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We know that when we pray and say what we say. Paul, thank you for the question. So we have to understand that Satan is not infinite that he doesn't have omniscience is a finite being is a created being. I don't see anything in Scripture that would indicate that he hears every prayer that's that's Paredes. These limited in his abilities.

We are encouraged eating in light of the spiritual war that worked in because there is a very real spiritual war that's taking place right now. We are encouraged to pray and when were encouraged to pray.

There is no indication there. I'm thinking of in Ephesians chapter 6 that Satan hears our prayers. I think God is working in and through them to bind Satan and to advance his kingdom further and further. One thing that that Jesus accomplished in his earthly ministry is the binding of the evil one. He shared this parable if you will, or this story about plundering the strong man's house and the strongman in the context there is the evil one is Satan. Will Jesus by his life and ministry and in particular by his death on the cross and resurrection from the dead as triumphed over the evil one, and in the armies of darkness. Satan is limited, he's bound he doesn't have the that the power the ability to cure all prayers and it seems to me like that's something that's that's fairly clear from Scripture and so if you're concerned that you know when you braille know is is the devil getting the inside scoop that kind of thing. I don't think that you have to be concerned about that. Know what you need to be encouraged to pray in light of the spiritual battle. As I said that the text I was thinking of is Ephesians chapter 6 verse 18 where Paul talks about putting on the armor of God, he says in verse 18 praying at all times in the spirit with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and so may God bless you to continue to pray and thank you for giving us call hey Paul, thanks so much for being a regular listener to core Christianity.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Give us a call right now. The numbers 833-843-2673.

That's 833. The core know there's a lot of uncertainty in our world today.

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Look for the book all that's good. You can also call us for that author or any one of our offers, let's go to a voicemail that came in earlier this week. This is from one of our listeners named Dave. My question is, is the belief that human evolution occurred a heresy.

Thanks. Hey Dave, thank you for that question is belief in human evolution, a heresy, I think it's important first to understand what heresy is sometimes wheat we throw that word around. I think a little bit too loosely in the church is accusing people of being heretics.

The word heresy comes from a Greek word in the New Testament exits use and in the Bible, and it's usually used in the context of divisions that were taking place are sects that were breaking off from the church from an Orthodox understanding of the truth, we might say what the apostle Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 11 verse 18 he says, for in the first place is right to the Corinthians. When you come together as a church. I hear that there are divisions among you, and I believe it in part four. There must be factions among you, in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognize now that were faction there.

It comes from the Greek word heresy is a sort of parallel with this idea of divisions. People being schismatic, breaking off from that which was received from the truth that was received in Galatians chapter 5 heresy is is talked about as a work of the flesh of fruit of the flesh. If you will and in second Peter chapter 2 verse one rights associated with false teaching with false and destructive teaching that is the kind of teaching that will lead an individual to hell as of the question is, it is the belief in human evolution.

A heresy will over time and in the history of the church there is that that what that word heresy really got came to have a sort of a technical meaning of this idea of breaking off from that which was established truth from Orthodox Christianity. So, rejection of things like the deity of Jesus Christ. The doctrine of the holy Trinity and Orthodox understanding a right understanding of the doctrine of salvation right if if we if we if we don't have those things. Well, we've veered into heresy were no longer a part of the body of Christ and if we don't repent. If we don't get those things right. Well, then we are in serious spiritual trouble, but there are number of things that don't necessarily constitute heresy which are still, I think not true. Biblically speaking, that is things that people can believe that art biblically accurate, but it doesn't mean that they're not going to be in heaven because they've embraced that view.

And so, in the technical sense. I don't think that I would say that.the belief in human evolution is a heresy that is if if a Christian believes in human evolution that there there no longer a Christian that they're not going to heaven even though I disagree with that understanding. When you look at the book of Genesis in Genesis chapter 2 in verse seven. Very clearly we read the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life and man became a living creature to Adam's is a historical person. This is something we see throughout the Bible Jesus made it clear in in Matthew chapter 19, where he gave his teaching on on divorce. God made them male and female any set up by the apostle Paul and in Romans chapter 5 verses 12 and following as the that the head of the human race that the representative of all humanity, through whom Satan entered the world. If Adam was was was real regular.

This is where we get our doctrine of original sin from our understanding of of the fallen. Our current status as human beings that's contrasted and in Romans chapter 5 with Christ.

The second Adam comes through whom we have grace and the forgiveness of sins. I think it's really important that we affirm a historical Adam that we recognize that God made all things from nothing and including here that you know that the whole world everything that was made in so so you know what that's what we have to affirm on the basis of Scripture and in my view, is not that you know we have the sort of animal ancestry that we evolved into what we are.

There are some people, one of you sits out there on which again I think is not not necessarily I wouldn't say constitute heresy, but it's it's it's it's true.

I think it's may be heterodox, but not is not as far as to say that it's heresy is this idea that God just would've infused his his spirit he created the soul of man in in this evolving creature this this this this person who was evolving over a longer time than God just sort of created the soul of the spirit in the that's one interpretation that people make to try to kinda fit evolution, together with Genesis chapter 2, but I don't I don't take that view and so that that's that's I think the best way to go but it wouldn't call it a heresy, but also wouldn't say that it's it's the proper view that it's faithful to Scripture.

Thanks greater good explanation. Thank you so much for the editor appreciate that this is core Christianity and let's go to Tom who is calling in from Missouri. Tom, what's your question for a drill.

I love your going to show by the way this really cool to have this on the radio. My question for you is I have a friend who is really struggling with the story of Jacob and Esau, and specifically what really piecing it says that it seems a little far-fetched that Esau would lose his birthright.

He, wants to know what the significance is bomb the giving up of his birthright for a bowl of stew ma'am how Isaac can be mentioned as a faithful father in Hebrews 11 sins.

Even though Isaac was deceived, he did wind up blessing Jacob and kind of put the family under in the turmoil.

Six on the CME so I am right now.

Will some. Thank you for your encouragement, love being on on the air and glad that you've been blessed by the broadcast I in the middle of just the sort of Jacob story as I'm preaching to the book of Genesis right now at my church and in you read you know that this story these accounts in the chapters you know 25 and following of the book of Genesis in your you're just sort of like struck by the fact that these people were sinners and that God is using these people who are imperfect and who frankly I'm using is think about this story there is deception there is lying on thinking in particular of win win. Isaac blesses Jacob through Jacob's deception Jacob in that story he takes God's name in vain. He lies, he steals him.

He's breaking like half of the 10 Commandments just there and and Isaac that he is deceived and and blesses and passes the blessing on to him and this was something that was prophesied earlier essentially went when they were told about having these these children that they were to have these children on this was a part of what was anticipated that the that that the promise was can it be carried through, not Esau, but through Jacob.

Now let me just say this it sent maybe if if your friend is having an issue and how can. How can this be how can this guy Jacob who is such a deceiver. Be blessed. One thing it's kind of interesting. I just preaching on this yesterday in Genesis chapter 29 where Jacob marries Leah and Rachel it it's it's fascinating because they're in Genesis chapter 29 you have the sort of great reversal where Jacob, the deceiver is deceived by his bite hit his relative Laban and in reading their right. He's given Leah in marriage even though he had been working for Rachel and he says why then have you deceived me the same were that she was earlier to describe his deception of his own father and Laban said it is not so done in our country to give the younger before the first poor lot of irony there.

And in those two verses of Genesis chapter 29 but but the idea here is, you reap what you sew me here you have this deceiver Jacob who usurped you took away the blessing from his older brother, the firstborn, and now here he is just a little bit later being deceived himself and be reminded of the fact that the firstborn should have the priority with regard to Leah and Rachel so it is a even though God has called them is used him. He still responsible and there are still consequences for his behavior.

He's this deceiver who is now reaping what he's sown and so that what what the story show us is that God uses sinners, but that there are consequences for our sin in it and really our hope is ultimately not in in how good these these guys are whether or not they deserve these blessings in these promises that God made to them. It's in the fact that God is faithful to his covenant and that he uses people like Jacob like me like you to bear his promise and to carry his promise through and so, I just want to want to follow up. It was that your friends primary concern, or if something different. Well, I think in general I think he's looking for things to to nitpick and I think it's it's the hell find anything that he can to delay the decision but she just said that the whole story seemed a little far-fetched to him that Esau would would give up. You know his birthright to Jacob for you know some soup so that's kinda how we put it to me. Yeah well here's here's what I would say you think about what Tom think about this is maybe a good way to go to Jesus and to the gospel. Jesus said, what does it profit a man if he gains the whole world and yet forfeits his soul. And yet there are many people all around us today who are chasing after the world if you will, who choose that as opposed to Christ and his gospel. See, it's not very far-fetched at all to me Esau. All right, one of the skylight officiant in the book of Hebrews when it's talking about this execution given for us not to be like Esau, who despised his birthright, who sold it. The idea here is we have something so precious put before us and yet we choose a bowl of stew if you will and you know what I mean it. It's such a I think a appurtenant picture of what we see all around us today of the promise of the gospel, the hope of eternal life. God saying follow me have communion with me. Here is my son embrace this and yet we choose everything else. A bowl of porridge if you will. We don't want to follow the Lord and effigies is getting in with what you want it profit you can gain everything you have everything and yet you forfeit your soul that's that's essentially what what Esau was doing. That's what a lot of people around us are doing as well. It's not far-fetched at all.

We have this this beautiful thing before us and yet we turn away from it.

That's what Esau did and that's were called not to do and so may the Lord opened your friends, heart, and I give you wisdom is is you is you speak with him and it's really easy to get bogged out if we just wants to argue in sort of veto peripheral issues. If you will go to the gospel go to who God is what he's accomplished for us in his son Jesus and why we desperately need the grace of God in our lives and so may the Lord be with you Thomas.

You have those conversations done. Thanks so much for your call and thanks for your concern for your friend, your willingness to share with them and try to answer these these difficult questions from God's word. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. There is a lot of pain and conflict and uncertainty in our headlines today and we have a wonderful book that really addresses a lot of that it helps us to find a more hopeful view is called all that's good. Recovering the lost art of discernment written by author Hannah Anderson were making that book available to our listeners and you can find out more about it by going to core Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers look the book all that's good. Let's go back to the phones.

Danny is on the line from Morton, Illinois Danny, what's your question for Pastor Israel question well before you guys but I know there's no scripture on it.

But since were you in heaven. Will there be restrooms no scripture on the golden toilets you haven't read that verse and it's not just you that thank you for that question.

There are no you not. I love getting these visit is interesting. Think about some of these things so debited to be more precise when we die in the Lord, our souls are immediately in God's presence are made perfect in holiness. Our bodies go down into the ground waiting for the resurrection and at the resurrection. The new creation that the consummation of redemption. If you will, new heavens and new earth were going to be glorified on a glorified earth organ at work in a fellowship organ to eat. I think good food. I think of that passage in Isaiah chapter 25 about God's kingdom. Isaiah 25 verse six on this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples, a feast of rich food, a feast of well aged wine of rich food, full of marrow of aged wine well refined. This is the bone in steak. You know the best bottle of wine if you will you think of Jesus and in John to Cana of Galilee. It's gonna be a feast. That's what that's what the new creation is is pictured as this great celebration this great feast with the people of God and with the Lord himself. Are we going to need to use the bathroom afterwards. I don't know there's no Bible verse that speaks to that maybe Mrs. could be perfect so maybe this will be any waste. The food is going to go straight to nourishing and and strengthening us and will still have that perfect figure. I'm not.

I'm not sure that the Bible doesn't speak to that.

We know that we will be eating maybe and so that's the test again to get at any thank you for giving us a call and may the Lord bless you and thanks daddy. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Marcy and Illinois Marcy what your question for Israel. I yeah I'm here Marcy anyway. I am wanting your cake are your thoughts on right now and 2020. There have been like kind and cons of profit people saying that their profit, they are unlikely to I mean all over right and I understand that we have been a Christian, a long, long time and I understand that were supposed to test the spirit and all of that to me is like getting out of hand and I'm like freaking out thinking who Michael is, because some of them are no saying all this catastrophe to happen which now we know there are going to be contact and kind but I don't know.

I guess I just want to hear what what you take out is not and are you aware of all the things that are being set out there that people are actually listening to every day. I mean, it is really hard to not be afraid, Marcy, thank you for that question. Generally speaking, I would say you know somebody who's who's putting themselves out there as a sort of end times profit and saying you know thus saith the Lord. These things are going to happen. And in this way and creating fear and concern in and and whatnot. I know you two profits I would say steer clear of them. You brought up that verse in first John chapter 4 were we are. You are encouraged to test the spirits beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world by this you know the Spirit of God. Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard was coming and now is in the world already. I think one of the things that John is getting at here is prophets so-called prophets that take our eyes off of Christ, who he is and what he's done. We should avoid them. The prophets in the Old Testament with their job and they were there were a part of the theocracy in Israel and they were pointing out God's judgment, but they were also pointing forward to the coming of the Messiah of the Christ Jesus has come, and now anyone who is a preacher of the word of God. We have to focus on that reality that Christ has come that God has spoken definitively in his son Jesus. And that's that's actually what the author to the Hebrews says Marcy and in Hebrews chapter 1, I think a wonderful verse for you to just meditate on it is as you feel just weighed down by the things that your hearing on on the Internet or on YouTube or what not listen with the author.

The Hebrews said in verse one of Hebrews 1 long ago many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature. He upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but he is spoken. Finally, definitively, now in his son Jesus.

We are called to hear Jesus and where do we hear Jesus's voice in the Scriptures, searching the Scriptures Jesus make this absolutely clear in John chapter 5 so so here's what I would say to sister but it don't pay attention to, or listen to these you know self and self proclaimed prophets they call themselves. They they they say they get a vision from the Lord. I don't think so, but there were false prophets and in the days of the apostles and in in the days of Israel where called your called to fix our eyes on Jesus, and if they're not doing that for you then avoid them and fix your eyes on Christ in the Scriptures, through faithful Bible teachers. God bless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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