How Does God Punish Those Who Add to His Word?

How does God punish those who add to his word. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will 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. Our phone lines are open. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Chris calling in from Lebanon, Tennessee.

Chris what your question for a drill will why they got approval. We were therapeutically in the book of Joshua, Samuel, murder Chris, thank you for that question yes I would have to distinguish between what is what is it mean the Decalogue of the 10 Commandments where we were commanded not to murder and then what's the difference between that and the holy wars. For example you find in places like the book of Joshua.

It's clear that God commanded his people not to murder. I would say but to execute judgment on on the Canaanites, on these nations. That's executive that was it was essentially this this exercise of judgment is in breaking of God's judgment after I'll have you know a long period of those places engaged in in sit in some some quite the mint is very heinous as many would sacrifice their own children, so the Israelites coming out of Egypt this this nomadic group of people there. There headed to the land of Canaan not is this great oppressor. Actually there there cleansing the land.

The land is this picture of the new creation if you will. There called to cast out the serpent cast out evil bring bring the judgment of God and and why is that while again it's because it's because of the wickedness of these nations that were there. In particular, this is something exit was hinted at way back in Genesis chapter 15. When Abraham receives this this vision from the Lord that you know he's he's given this picture of the fact that the people of God are going to be enslaved for a long period of time. But then God says I will bring judgment on the nation that they serve, and afterwards they shall come out with great possessions. That's that's a prophecy about the the Exodus and as for you shall go to your fathers in peace and you shall be buried in a good old age. God said to Abraham, and they shall come back here in the fourth generation that is the land of Canaan for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.

Now that little that little statement there in Genesis chapter 15 verse 16 is really important. The iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete its letting us know the Amorites, by the way that the pre-Israelite inhabitants of the land of Canaan is letting us know that that Joshua's conquest when he goes into the land of Canaan and the people of God are executing judgment or driving out these nations that are doing all of these these terrible things it it's happening on the tail end of a long period of their rebelling against God. In other words, the worst time for repent time for repentance time for mercy and yet they continued to turn away to commit idolatry to to do these terrible things are part of this is if the judgment that God is bringing in Chris. I want to give you does does an excellent resource that has an entire section on this very question is called the book. It's called the skeletons in God's closet written by Joshua Butler and he does a really good job in that book of talking about the significance of of the conquest really sort of unraveling some of the confusion around that you know God commanding his people to bring judgment there during that time. This is again a specific moment in redemptive history is not something that we repeat, or that Christians are called to do, but I would encourage you to get that book for further reading and just for a for a more thorough answer anchor for your question.

Thanks Chris appreciate you being a regular listener core Christianity by the way, we have a great new Bible study that we are offering today and it's perfect for starting off the new year as I bill if you started reading the Bible as a part of your New Year's resolutions this Bible study was made to enrich your understanding of the Scripture told how to read the Bible and it will help you understand the different genres of Scripture how they point to Jesus in one of the things that that many people struggle with as they are reading the Scriptures as the relationship between the old and the new Testaments how to read the Bible will put the pieces together for you. The 10 week study that can be used in devotions and personal devotion small group Bible studies or even a Sunday school class. So get your copy for donation of $20 or more over at core, Christianity.com truly is an excellent study. And if you find yourself getting discouraged when reading the Bible or getting stomped or frustrated by some of the more confusing parts. This Bible study is designed to help you with that again for donation of $20 more.

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19 us.

I just heard a program for our viewers about an revelation that anybody who adds or subtract from the Lord of God, and I don't know what kind of but how does that work for the Catholic Church and the Mormon church that have added things of the word of God, that a book of Mormon and then the Catholic Church has 45 books that are in the Bible is curious why they're still thriving for all these years I know we can answer for why Gothic guys going but I'm just curious of how you would explain that you think search for that question. It will first. You know that the the driving of a particular organization or church even is not evidence that what they're teaching is is true. There have been all sorts of movements over the last 2000 years that have thrived for a period of time.

Many EM even today. I think things like the prosperity gospel which seems to be growing. The theology of the property gospel seems to be growing like wildfire in various parts of the world Island. What does that mean that it's true that it it's has God's blessing know it just means that it's it's a deception that a lot of people are falling into and so that's the first thing that I would say no with regard to this idea of adding and taking away from the word of God. The passage of Scripture that it sounds like you're alluding to is the very end of the book of Revelation. Revelation chapter 22 verse 18 where we read. I warn everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book. If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. If anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life in the holy city, which are described in this book. Now, with regard to the Roman Catholic Church. The Roman Catholic Church includes in their canon of Scripture, a number of books which are sometimes referred to as do the work. Deuterocanonical or apocryphal books. Books were written around the time between the last book of the Old Testament and the New Testament during those those 400 silent years. What would we sometimes call him, is a lot of history there actually distinguish that from what we see the the Mormon church. 11 the Mormon church essentially said what we have another Revelation of Jesus Christ.

Another gospel altogether. It's a false gospel and so I would distinguish their little bit not saying that I agree with the inclusion of those those books. The Roman Catholic Church has decided I think that we want to differentiate there now. It is a various very serious thing to add or take away from God's word. I think one of the dangers. Maybe that week's week we experiences as we can. We can tell ourselves that I've never added a book to the Bible or words to the Bible of never cut pages out of my Bible. I must I must be okay. There is an issue here, but there are ways that we can add to Scripture and take away from Scripture.

Even that were not aware of Jesus has these really strong words for the religious leaders in his day. In Matthew chapter 15 what you listen to what took place as the Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said why do your disciples break the tradition of the elders, for they do not wash their hands when they eat. And Jesus answered them, why do you break the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition, for God commanded.

Honor your father and your mother, and whoever reviles father mother must surely die. But you say if anyone tells his father or mother what you would've gained from me is given to God, he need not honor his father or his mother for the sake of your tradition if you have made void the word of God, you hypocrites, well did Isaiah prophesy of you when he said this people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men and how interesting it here essential to have religious leaders doing is adding to the word of God. Their teaching as doctrine, man-made traditions, that's one way that people add to God's word today and they're also taking away from the word of God there invalidating or making avoid the true word of God on the basis of their tradition to something we have to watch out for you may not write in the margins of your Bible, you know, adding to the Scriptures or cut pages out of your Bible. As I said, but are we invalidating the word of God by our own sort of religious traditions that we invent are we neglecting portions of Scripture are we saying got them in a fall you here where your word says the spread of the coming to follow you there. I don't like that portion of the Bible. This is where we ourselves brothers and sisters have to be really careful because it is a serious thing you think about that judgment that's mentioned there at the end of the book of Revelation very, very serious thing, and God will bring judgment on those who add to or take away from his word.

Thanks for your question. Great explanation. Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez's just a reminder that our program is listener supported. If you believe in what we do here. We would always appreciate donation or gift because we don't receive money from a church or denomination or from a government we don't play commercials. We depend on our listeners. People just like you to make ongoing donations so could like to do that, you can go to our website. Core, Christianity.com and click on the how to donate button and learn more. We also that group of people we call our inner core, who are regular supporters and get some special benefits so you can check out that as well. Let's go back to the phones. Our phone number is 833 the core which is 1-833-843-2673 if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Brian's on the line from St. Louis, Missouri Brian, what's your question for pastor. Israel very… Chapter of Genesis.

The Bible talks about how there were giants in the land that they saw the women that were very beautiful lady basically made it with.

I've had people tell me that they were fallen Angels they were just men that were extremely big and tall like or Sampson and his brothers were descendents of the giants could that be.

How could you explain what that really what that really is trying to tell people you yet.

Hey Brian, I mean I appreciate you noting that this is not an easy passage that it's been interpreted a number of different ways you know throughout the history of the church. One interpretation that many people have have held is this idea that these are our angelic beings fallen Angels you read there in verse two the sons of God saw that the daughters of men were attractive and often times in the Old Testament sons of God is a reference to the angels or think of places like the book of Job, Job, chapter 1 verse six or chapter 2 verse one in the Psalms, as is well. Psalm 29 verse one, Psalm 89 verse seven and so sons of God, oftentimes, is a reference to angelic beings and so there it there is biblical support for this. I did not does raise all sorts of other questions I was out of work. You know that's one of the reasons why the people have have challenged that view in particular say I don't. I don't know if that's even possible.

Other others have decimal sons of God could could be a reference to divine rulers or kings, not divine in the sense that there gods but but these godlike rulers if you will, but there is some evidence in the ancient near East said that the kings and rulers were referred to with this kind of language and it's really what what's really being condemned here is just these rulers taking these women to themselves, sort of, you know, polygamy, if you will. And so that's one interpretation. Another interpretation is that what you have here is the godly line mixing with the ungodly line so that the seed the godly seed being corrupted. Whatever whatever that position one takes run and I think each of these positions has strengths and weaknesses that the positive thing what what I what I what I always go back to is the point of the passage is very clear and it's that whatever was happening there on earth. Things were getting pretty bad immorality seeing it. This is getting worse and worse. Is this is essentially the scene that you have leading up to Noah's flood. The judgment that God brings on the whole world.

And so the point of this text is looked following from the fall and the entrance of sin into the world.

Things were just getting worse and worse and worse and worse so that you get to the point where where God says look I need to bring judgment on the whole world inside. I think we can't miss that in our discussion Sabina, who are the sons of God, exactly, let's not miss that the that the point of the text which is primarily that mankind was running headlong into sin, and that the world had grown corrupt and that God was bringing judgment. That's what Moses is trying to communicate here in this passage very clearly and so we can fall back on that at the point of the text is very clear even though we may not know with 100% certainty who exactly are these sons of God and hopefully that helps is your thinking through this passage and is your is you getting the big picture of what's taking place there in Genesis, Douglas mankind, running headlong into sin, which is probably why my neighbors building an ark right now yeah yeah yeah just for him and all you have a big backyard. It's a big arc.

This is scored Christianity with pastor Israel said just by the way, you can watch a drill live on YouTube every day we have a YouTube channel and that's at 11:30 AM Pacific time. If you want to check that out. You can also send us a message through our YouTube channel and Eduardo did. He has this question for you. It really says does the curse in Genesis 3 mean that we lost the freedom that Adam had to choose God for salvation yeah yeah what what is it would look like for us now as believers you note in Adam work, not as believers but it is human beings born in Adam and the fact God calls all people everywhere to repentance.

It is sometimes a way in which people have have talked with Adam had the choice not to sin or to sin, but now in Adam we we are born dead in sin in in our trespasses that are our nature are being halved has been corrupted by sin of all makes it very clear in first print area in Romans chapter 5 verses 12 and following that when Adam sinned, we all sinned with him in him fell with him, and as a result of that we we've inherited this this original corruption and that original corruption is just as a part of a part of every every element of our our being.

If you will. We sometimes refer to this is total depravity that sin is affected every single part of us. To the extent that we can't save ourselves.

You can't pull yourself up by the bootstraps in order to receive God's mercy. It's only a work of the Holy Spirit. And so when we exercise faith when we choose God. It's only because the spirit of God is all ready working in us. We are word desperately in need of the work of the Holy Spirit. Another which week we can't save ourselves. We can't choose God. Apart from the work of God first and foremost in that sense I would say what we do have to distinguish between that the the experience of that in the state that Adam was in prior to the fall and our experience post fall in Adam Paul made it very clear in Ephesians chapter 2 verse one you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind that was that was us apart from Jesus.

That's where we went. We were we were dead in trespasses in an and in sins but God verse four, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved. And so it's all of grace brothers and sisters should call us, cause us to fall on our knees and say Lord if it wasn't for your grace, for your mercy. I was dead was dead in my trespasses and sins, and yet you worked in my heart to give me life so that I might know you and love you. We should be praising God for his his mercy toward us toward sinners in order. Thank you for watching us on YouTube and dad, God bless your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Sherry in Wichita Kansas sure what your question for Israel would like to know if a holistic church is legitimate church. If the apostolic church is a legitimate church architecture.

Can you tell me a little more about what is there is there a particular church because there are there are a number of different kinds of churches. It might be refer to themselves apostolic what what are you thinking of specifically all that about me. The church I went. I just want to consider like a legitimate church because they believe that you are not the lots you can speak into lying still agree with yeah I also do not agree with that and that would be the legitimate understanding of the Bible. Now of course you know Christians I wanted to say this one is one of the attributes of the true church of Jesus Christ is that it is apostolic and by that what we mean is that the teaching of the apostles is upheld in the church.

The holy gospel what the apostles taught in the New Testament is in that sense. True churches are apostolic but there are movements that refer to themselves as the apostolic church or at the apostolic denomination that that veer away from the teaching of the apostles and certainly this idea that if you don't speak in tongues. You're not saved would be a a departure from the teaching of the true apostles like the apostle Paul who made it very clear at the end of first Corinthians chapter 12 that not everyone speaks in tongues. Now I'm of the opinion that those gifts the sign gifts. Those miraculous gifts were especially for the church during this early period in its history as the gospel was being launched out into the world and that God doesn't ordinarily work in those ways anymore today, but even in the days of the apostles, the apostle Paul made it very clear that not everyone speaks in tongues in the body of Christ within the body of Christ, people are gifted in different ways. We don't all have the same gift. And that's true. The victims are different for somebody to say in less you speak in tongues are not saved, that their misunderstanding the teaching of the apostles and if they're missing to understand the teaching of the apostles on something that basic, I would say there's probably a lot of other issues as well Sherry that the marks of a true church is to want to look for are is this place, a place that faithfully preaches the gospel, the word of God on that setting my eyes on Jesus right it is his work for me, calling me to faith and repentance are the ordinances that Jesus gave to the church celebrated baptism and the Lord's supper is that done according to Christ's institution is there, fellowship, discipline, care for the body of Christ you want to find a church like that. It seems to me like like the church that you visited with your friend has some serious issues may be see if she'll visit a church with you that is faithful to the word of God bless thank Sherry appreciate that this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Jessica emailed us with this question a drill. She says I'd like to know what Jesus was trying to explain to the disciples in Mark chapter 8 verses 18 to 21. Thank you Mark chapter 8 verses 18 to 21.

Well, let me turn there right now having eyes having eyes, do not see you having your student do not hear, and do not remember Jesus says when I broke the five loaves and the for the 5000, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up they said to him, 12 in the seven for the 4000, how many baskets full of broken pieces did you take up and they said to him. Seven and he said to them, do you not yet understand to this coming on the heels of that, the two feedings that we see in Mark and Mark chapter 6 and here in Mark chapter 8 and Jesus had been talking to his disciples about the leaven of the Pharisees that is that that the teaching in the practice of the Pharisees, these warning them against me saying don't let that creep into your life is a warning against false teaching. In particular, been talking about on today's broadcast and so yes we have to watch out for. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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