If God Forgives Me, Must I Right My Wrongs?

If we trusted in Christ do we ever have to pay for our sins. Best is 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. You can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question.

A lot of our social media sites course you can always email us your question here is our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today. Here's the question we received from one of our listeners in St. Louis named Mary and I like the lining conclusively, 23, line. I we create ourselves personally that I usually directed the nation of his think can be applied personally back. Be sure that I interpreting it clearly. Thank you. Such a important question because there's a lot of confusion about properly interpreting the Old Testament and where we fit in as believers in Jesus Christ is this is this for me is this for us will remember with the apostle Paul said to the Galatians he said that by faith in Jesus Christ. We are the children of Abraham. We have been grafted in, if you will to Israel. Now Israel in the Old Testament is a political body was was the sort of type of the church under the new covenant. And now those promises that we find in the Old Testament were made to the patriarchs to the people of God were not strangers and foreigners to those promises as those are for us. So the apostle Paul makes very clear Mary in the book of Ephesians.

I encourage you to sit down one afternoon, just open up the book of Ephesians read through it and see how how how you have this beautiful vision of of the Gentiles, that the people of God now being brought in. If you will being recipients of the promises of God, and in it I was looking at Isaiah 43 just now. One thing that struck me look at that that the first verse. But now, thus says the Lord. He who created you owe Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel, fear not for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you when you walk through fire you shall not be burned in the flame shall not consume. This is God pledging himself to his people to sue promise of restoration here of salvation even of the forgiveness of sins down in verse 25 I I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake and I will not remember your sins.

These are promises that I did we do and must appropriate to ourselves but then going back to the very beginning of the chapter Mary were God's as I call you by name sort of reminds me of what Jesus said in John chapter 10 verse one truly, truly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold but by the door will bite, but climbs in by another way that man is a thief and a robber, but he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep to him. The gatekeeper opens the sheep hear his voice and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. Yes in Jesus does call us by name as the good Shepherd as the defender of the sheep as the one who forgives our sins and so I think we do. Read these passages in light of the fact that were united to Jesus by faith that we are the children of Abraham that the promises of God in Jesus Christ are yes and amen for us, and so may God bless you as you read the Old Testament with those eyes. Understanding where you fit into this this great story of redemption from Genesis to Revelation. Thanks, Mary know how Mary's question reminds me a drill. We do get a lot of calls from people who want to take specific Old Testament promises that were made to Israel and then apply them directly to us in our present day what you're just basic advice for that. Yeah it and again this is where I think there a lot of mistakes can be made because one people can say what week we should just apply them as is.

So you think of the promises for Israel under the old covenant that if they were faithful God was in the bless them with wealth and land and so on and so forth. It will say will see if you're faithful to God and he's just to give you all these things and will that that would be a misunderstanding raptors were not under the old covenant, the Mosaic covenant that's very clear from places like the book of Galatians and yet we do have this relationship to the Old Testament as Christians in Christ.

So I mentioned that text in Galatians chapter 3 repulses that we are the children of Abraham. I'm preaching right now through the book of Genesis that were going through that sort of patriarchal history, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and I like to remind our church. This is our family history. This is our family tree. Abraham was justified by faith just like we are justified by faith. Paul says in Romans chapter 4, and so we really have to be careful that is were reading the Old Testament reading it is as something just out there. Not really relevant to us. Know this is our history and God is speaking to us through it.

We just have to be careful how we navigate. You know the way in which were were applying these promises that we see in the Old Testament to ourselves today. There's a right way to do it. And there's a wrong way to doing so, we need to be discerning great advice.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our goal on this program is to answer the tough questions that people have about the Bible and the Christian life. We actually have a brand-new free resource that answers many of these tough questions in a very helpful booklet every day here at core Christianity.

We seek to answer tough questions about the Bible in the Christian faith because we want you to feel confident and comforted by your faith. Join me this new booklet tough questions answered. This booklet is only about 50 pages long, but it really helps to answer some of those some of those questions that people are asking helping you defend your faith answers questions like doesn't science make religion unnecessary. Why is Christianity so exclusive.

What about other religions like Buddhism and Islam is the Bible just a bunch of myth isn't the Bible view of sexuality and gender overly restrictive in these are the kinds of questions we answer in this booklet and there are many more as well so that if you have those questions.

If you know someone who has those questions in there. There are many who do get a hold of this resourcing is a free booklet over at core, Christianity.com. This is such a fantastic resource that you could give to someone who has doubts or questions, or you could actually discuss maybe with a friend or relative who is an agnostic or an atheist and poses some of these are difficult questions I get. It's called tough questions answered and you can get it for free by going to core Christianity.com/offers. You can also call us for that offer or any one of our offers at 833, the court well let's go to a voicemail we received earlier this week.

This is from a caller named Catherine about you have that you stole some candy when you're a kid to abortion to people and bells of net money for this as an adult friend sent you took some money that you're not supposed to and you have an opportunity to give it back lock in Maryland met it or is it just the same. Can we just at at forgiveness about Barry very bad thing.

I am I not to share fees against Austin. I hope you know what I'm okay great thank you thank you for that question. Jesus made it absolutely clear in the Gospels that all manner of sin and blasphemy would be forgiven men, except for one sin he called that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit and he talked about it in the context of the religious leaders who were accusing Jesus of being demon possessed.

They were saying that the works that he did. He did by the power of Satan to bless me the Holy Spirit is this persistent rejection of the gospel. This hostility towards Christ and his word so that our hearts get harder and harder and harder and we are faithless in it. If you die in that state. There is no forgiveness you're lost forever, but all sin is forgiven in you think about the kinds of sins that we've seen forgiven in the Bible, murder, sexual sin and adultery know that those kinds of things that we click the things that we think of as the quote unquote big sins.

God was merciful to sinners who have sinned in those ways that's never an excuse for sin.

It doesn't mean that those sins are okay. It just magnifies the grace of God in and the amount of his mercy towards people who sin. Now your you're onto something because not all sin is is the same, and not all sins are equally innocent as you say all sin is is equal in it doesn't matter whether you commit adultery or look at someone lustfully that kind of thing. It is well it is true that all sin deserves God's wrath and curse, but some sins in of themselves and and because they're repeated by people over and over again are more heinous in the sight of God than others mean that this is the reality you think about how God hold certain people more accountable teachers of the work. For example, James chapter 3 verses one and follies of the good and receive a stricter judgment like as they should know better. So when they do things contrary to the word of God when they sin, but that there is this added judgment. Condemnation. If you will.

All sin can be forgiven and we are able to. I think we should make amends.

So so you know we do something wrong we steal some candy if his you said well if that candy still your pocket. You should take it back to the store that kind of a thing or or make restitution in some way you see this in the gospel of Luke in Luke chapter 19 with the story of Jesus and Zacchaeus, Jesus, you know, extends his grace and his mercy to this Zacchaeus, he says, come down, stay at your house today and so Zacchaeus hurried and came down and received him joyfully and when they sought they all grumbled he has gone to be a guest of a man who was a center of another is is a pretty bad guy.

He's one of those great sinners that you're referring to, and Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord.

Behold, the Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor and if I have defrauded anyone of anything. I restore it fourfold. And Jesus said to him today salvation has come to this house. Since he also is a son of Abraham.

For the Son of Man came to seek and save the lost in that beautiful maybe today you feel lost you feel like you've done some terrible things you're not sure if God could forgive you if there is grace enough for you will.

Jesus came to seek and save people just like you and his blood is sufficient to blot out all your sins.

Only belief lay hold of hit lay hold of him and receive his grace. It's good news. Thanks for that question. That is great news. Thank you for that federal man – so wonderful to hear you say that an Zacchaeus is a great example. I think for all of us, especially those of us that may feel like, can God really forgive me for what I've done in the past. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and let's go to Lucy calling in from Nashville, Tennessee Lucy what your question for Israel, my question is about what Peter meant when he refers to women being the weaker vessel.

Yeah, I've just opened up to the text in first Peter chapter 3 verse seven. Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. You know, God has has made us male and female in unique ways and I think one thing that you know concerns people about this Texas does this mean that women are weaker in the sense of their cognitive abilities or their their ability to discern so on. So for now, I don't think that that's the case, I think you're specifically he's talking about the vulnerability that women experienced in that society, especially on but also you just think about that world. The world of the apostles be out life expects our member having a professor in seminary. He would talk about this or sissy. Think about the average life expectancy of women in the way that they were treated, and in that day, especially me, makes perfect sense why the apostle Paul would refer her to me. The apostle Peter would refer to them here as as the weaker vessel in in in need of protection and care and that's precisely what Peter is is saying to do here it is even easier going as far saying look at. If you don't do this it will hinder your prayers.

That's a part of the verse that we don't often think about their heirs with you your your spouse, heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered. In other words, this is this is something that would be detrimental to your own relationship with the Lord as as the husband in terms of how you care for and love your spouse as I think in particular he's talking about physical ability and strength, not cognitive ability, not the ability to discern or to reason number or those kinds of things and I think that that's that's the best way to understand this text in first Peter chapter 3 of her seven thanks thanks Lucy for your question. Thanks for being a regular listener to core Christianity will. Here's an email question we received federal this is from one of our listers and Mazza is it worth praying for someone who is almost like Satan. For example, is it God's will to pray for a figure like Adolf Hitler or Kim Joan Yoon for their salvation. There are always people out there who commit horrible sins, they are almost as wicked as Satan. I'm wondering if that makes sense or if it's even God's will to pray for their salvation. Yeah okay this is a good question. There are a couple of things that we want to keep in mind.

First, we are commanded to pray for all people." Paul told Timothy you know first for kings and all who are in authority and in that day they weren't very great kings and people in authority. The church experienced severe persecution. At times, and yet the that the Christians are still encourage exhorted to pray for rulers that they especially might come to faith that the spirit of God work in their lives and that they would repent of their sins and follow Jesus love Jesus and so we do have these calls throughout the New Testament to pray even for our enemies. For those who persecute us. For those who spitefully uses Jesus in the sermon on the mountain so I would say we ought to be encouraged to pray at all times for all people, even for those who are very weak and we don't know how the Lord will use our prayers you think of someone like Saul of Tarsus was there when Stephen is being martyred in the book of acts, and as he's being martyred. Stephen is crying out for mercy for those who are persecuting him for those who are killing him will you know the Lord heard Stephen's prayer in one of the guys there. Saul of Tarsus became the great apostle Paul who wrote so much of the New Testament who was you so mightily by the Lord, even though at one point he was a great enemy of the church persecuting her dragging members of the body of Christ to prison and so for the Lord really can and does work at the same time we know that that God does bring severe judgment against those who are evil. Those who are wicked. Those who are especially trampling upon the vulnerable and upon his vulnerable sheep. I think of what Peter said in second Peter chapter 2 related in particular to the false prophets. He says in verse nine, the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment, and especially those who indulge in the lust of defiling passion and despise authority. In other words, are that there are some people who got Mrs. look your your reserved for that judgment and the things you don't know who that is. So hear your you're called to pray for all people, even those who are persecuting you those who are sinning against you, and that's what Jesus himself did and that's why that's what the apostles did the apostle Paul.

That's why that Stephen did in the book of acts we see the fruit of that in the world today as people come to Christ believing in him through the testimony of those Christians who have suffered your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have this free resource available to you today. It's a fantastic little booklet called tough questions answered and it includes a lot of the questions that it really answers here on a regular basis and questions that might be asked. Maybe by an atheist or agnostic somebody you know in your life who is really nice. You know, struck her stuck with the whole concept of of Christianity and you want to be able to respond to them in intelligent, thoughtful way. It's called tough questions answered. It's available for free at our website. Just go to core Christianity.com/offers and look for that. Let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners. This is Mike Revelation 5, six, Revelation 3 PM and Revelation 777 spirits of God on the Lamb that is inflamed which we know was Jesus can explain that's pleasing who and what are 24 elders that's always confused me because it always sounds to me like the Greek mythology… But all of that around the circle looking down judgment people on earth. I know that's not what it is. So could you please explain it to me good for him to show God bless Joel's ministries and I bless family happy new year to Mike, happy new year. Thank you for your encouragement you so what couple things we have to understand that the book of Revelation is visionary prophecy that so much of the book is meant to be interpreted in light of that reality you have these symbolic visions we have to be careful that we allow the book of Revelation to be what it is apocalyptic literature.

These symbolic visionary prophecies that were given to John by Jesus Christ for the church.

The church, it was suffering. And so that's I think he in terms of just having a proper interpretive framework because if we don't will say, oh gosh mean if you just try to take everything literally. You're going to twist the book in a way and and read it in a way that wasn't intended to be to be read and so you think about the 24 elders. For example, I think that there symbolic of if you will the people of God standing triumphantly in heaven, making judgment, God's, God's people. In particular, I love the vision earlier in in Revelation chapter 5 where John sees Jesus and he is this vision of the Lord, and this is what he sees relationship are five or six between the throne and the four living creatures, and among the elders. I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain while with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. A couple of things are. We know that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world John chapter 1 verse 29 okay, John sees this Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.

What what is that about was about resurrection from the dead. It had been slain, but it is standing victorious. The Lamb has risen from the dead. If you will.

This is part of understanding the sort of symbolic nature of this vision and this Lamb has seven horns and seven eyes seven in the Bible is the number of completion. The number of perfection. The Sabbath number right of the day on which God rested and so you seven is this this picture of fullness or perfection. Horns in the ancient near East were were were a symbol of power and strength in your you're in the middle of the desert and you see this great majestic animal with these big powerful horns right you did think twice before crossing its path.

Because of that that horn you don't want to get stuck with that thing of the horn was a symbol of strength of power of authority will John sees this Lamb with seven horns, that is Jesus, the Lamb of God who is risen from the dead heart has all power, all authority, all strength. The seven eyes so you think of Omniscience knowing all things, seeing all things in the whole world. This is really highlighting the omnipotence and omniscience of the Lamb of God, Jesus, his deity, even that he is God. And so when we understand some of the background there that the background symbolism of the horn eyes that it was a little bit more surface unit. We understand that it really helps to give us this picture of the Lamb, the mighty one Jesus and his power today over the whole world and especially over his church and that would've been so comforting for the initial recipients of this book.

The book of Revelation, because as I said earlier in the broadcast and the church was being persecuted, they were asked they were suffering for the name of Christ following Jesus and yet they're given a vision of his power, and the fact that he is victorious over even death. The Lamb standing, as though it had been slain.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, we have a free core guide on the book of Revelation, which answers a lot of the questions that people have it's called five things you should know about the Bible's final book in Israel. We do get a lot of calls lately, especially about the end times and the rapture.

Don't wait yeah we do have just earlier today Michael was reading the Olivet discourse to my children doing some devotions with them and and my wife asked me what you think about all the people that it made a point of these passages of Scripture and saying it's here. You know, this is the the end of times. Work where there week we are getting a lot of those questions because of the things we see happening around us.

The call for us as believers is to be vigilant to be awake to be watchful because the Lord could come back at any time and and it's our job to be ready.

Trusting in him clinging to the truth of the gospel in loving one another in the church. 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