Why Are Both Jesus and Satan Referred to as the "Morning Star"?

In the Bible.

The phrase MorningStar is used to describe both Jesus and Satan. What does that mean that's is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition 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.

It's Friday and we would love to hear from you. You can call us in the next 25 minutes with your question. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media outlets, Facebook, Instagram, or twitter, you can watch us on YouTube either live or later on and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Joe in Knoxville, Tennessee Joe, welcome to the program? I'm doing a study on the Beatitudes and I'm using morning where I got down to number seven Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God. And in the country after Saul and David both chosen by God and salt is given a new heart and God's spirit and David already had a heart after God's own heart and he was also given God's spirit, but Saul disobeyed God's commands with an unlawful sacrifice, and despite it being a good and David disobeyed God's commands also goes a committed adultery in a number the Israelites, but Saul was removed. However, David was not remote and so I did not understand the difference in God giving the spirit and new heart to Saul and he did the same thing with David and I couldn't understand the difference in Joe, thank you for that question when you're reading to first and second Samuel, he's read about the story of Saul and it really is such a tragic story because Saul was, as you know, Israel's first king called to lead and shepherd of the people, and yet throughout his life he was repeated repeatedly disobedient. He turned away from the command of the Lord all the way to the end of his life really mean his his final act was essentially consulting a witch to try to get answers to me something that he knew was outlawed from that he himself. It outlawed and yet he he goes back on the word of the Lord, and there when he does that in first Samuel chapter 28 Samuel the prophet speaks to him and basically say the Lord has rejected you because of your continual disobedience.

So why did God reject Saul and not David will I think that the simple answer that we would have to give Joe is that Saul did not repent. He never turned to the Lord. He continued in this sort of trajectory of disobedience turning away from the word of the Lord, whereas David when confronted by the prophet Nathan. In particular, after he committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband. He he was convicted of a sanity turn from his sin, and that's outlined in Psalm chapter 51 what you have. David's prayer of reprint repentance. No, God uses people. He uses sinners because each and every one of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. And so David is in use because he's perfect or sinless.

Saul wasn't chosen because he was perfect or sinless, but the fact of the matter is his God calls us to follow him to obey him, and especially for the Kings in Israel. This was this was key. This was really important because they were examples for the rest of the people, and Saul continually put forward a horrible example just turning from the Lord and disobeying his commandments. Whereas David, you know, was a man after God's own heart, that with infinite contrasted with Saul in first and second Samuel, we know that he wasn't perfect and that he to send in grievous ways, but he repented and and right there.

I think Joe there's hope for each and every one of us because none of us are perfect, but there's a hope that when we turn to the Lord when we cry out to him and asked for forgiveness for our sins, he extends us his mercy and his grace.

And certainly he did that for King David and so that you continue studying the word of God him. I'm glad to hear your your digging into this Bible study and and enjoying it.

May the Lord bless you Joe thanks Joe, this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Susie calling in from Kansas City Kansas is a watcher question for Pastor Israel is that it night Pastor and I can't get an answer that I understand and I Christian and delicate on the cross, Jesus said, father forgive them. You know they got elected doing and that like when you got on the radio. You said God gave his son let it fit. I don't understand if that one entity, 398.

The father the son and Holy Ghost.

They can God talk about Jesus talks about his father and God's talking about it then. And then the Holy Ghost we had.

We make sense of this very important doctrine. Susie one time we were in the dinner table with my kids and and I in the middle of dinner, one of might my children said okay that how can God be one but you say he lives in my heart and in mom's heart and in my brother's heart you. How can God be what if he's in each of our hearts is and he divided that kind of a thing because we do confess that there is one God we believe in one God, were monotheists of the Hebrews Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse 4M and this was their Creed hero Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.

And so when we think about the doctrine of the Trinity were saying that God is one in particular one in essence and three distinct persons know this is really important because sometimes will equal this is sort of a contradiction one and three, but it really is a contradiction were nothing that God is one essence and three essences were saying God is one essence that is equal in power and in glory. And yet three distinct persons and so there's no there's no contradiction there, but it is a great mystery. This is how God has revealed himself to us in his word and that's what we embrace this crucial doctrine. The doctrine of the Trinity, God is one.

Deuteronomy chapter 6 verse four. But the Holy Spirit is very clearly referred to as God were told that our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit will who lives in the temple, God lives in the temple were told that Jesus himself is God the claim to be God.

Even in John chapter 8 verse 58 when the religious leaders were going back and forth with him that you know the asked this question would you make yourself out to be in. Jesus said to them, before Abraham was, I am he identified himself as God very beginning of John's Gospel you in the beginning was the word, speaking of Jesus, that the second person of the eternal Trinity in that he was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. And so were trying to do with this doctrine. Susie is is make sense of how God has revealed himself to us and so throughout the history of the church were Christians of said is God is one, but three distinct persons, father, son and Holy Spirit equal in power and glory, and all you know that the the objects of our of our worship. The one God, the holy Trinity and it is a mystery, and sometimes people try to say well the gate of the Trinity is like in a you know there's that there is that that the shell the egg white and the yoke that kind of thing thing is all of those analogies to sort of fall apart at the end of the day because were talking about the God who is incomprehensible.

He's totally transcendent. We can't wrap our minds around him. What we do is we receive what he said about himself. We embrace it and we don't speculate about the Trinity per se. We worship the holy Trinity as he's revealed himself to us in Scripture.

And so I think that's that's that the best approach and in terms of the language, one in essence three distinct but undivided persons.

Thank you Susie for that question you're listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We have people who join us from all over the world through our different media sources and actually someone streaming right now from India on our Facebook live and we want to say hi to you and thank you so much for joining us that's pretty exciting let's go to Austin calling in from Georgetown, Kentucky, Austin, what's your question for Pastor Israel. My question is I'm planning a vacation for my girlfriend and I know that was okay for us to share a hotel even if it's like a double better we should get separate rooms or how how should do that chaos and thank you for that for that question is very practical question question that involves I think I think his wisdom and I you have done a lot of premarital counseling for couples that are getting married that I have the privilege of marrying in situations like this, I would. I would encourage getting separate rooms just because there's the reality of temptation. You two people who are planning on getting married and want to be together in a work or physical creatures and so you know not setting yourself up or putting yourself in a position where you know it's gonna be be difficult to know were called to honor each other were called to respect and of the author Hebrews talks about this in the book of Hebrews chapter 13 to the marriage bed to keep it undefiled and so I would say you know just exercise wisdom here and don't put yourself in a in a position in a situation where you can open yourself up to temptation in particular and NII and I also think it's it's one of the ways that you know for your girlfriend or fianc� that you you respect her that you show her a III want to lead in this area and I wanted I want to honor you and ultimately more than anything I want to honor the Lord in the decisions that we make in and yet this might be a little bit more difficult it might cost a little bit more money but ultimately I think it's it's the best bet is also it's a wisdom thing brother but that's that's what I would say X for reaching out to that question. Good counsel Israel you're listening to Pastor Israel Sanchez on core Christianity and would love to hear from you.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Here's the phone number it's 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, you can also leave a voicemail at that number 24 hours a day and you can also record your question on our website@corechristianity.com just look for the microphone icon.

Click on that and you can leave your message leave your question from anywhere in the world. Let's go to David in Farmington, Connecticut, David, what's your question for Pastor Israel.

Oh I love your take on this question. I firmly believe in the inerrancy of the Bible and I've always been taught. I guess that with the proviso that the translation ties back to the original so the question really is how do we handle Scripture in the New Testament that is not in the original do we just skip over it. Examples would be like at the end of Mark a lot of verses are apparently not an original org or maybe the passage in John eight with the woman found in adultery.

And I've even heard sermons. Great shot so I love your take on yeah David, thank you for that question. Love that you have such a high view of Scripture it's something that we desperately need in the church today.

God speaks to us through his word. Of course Paul said in second Timothy chapter 3 verse 16 all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness at the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work and so we need to embrace what you just refer to the inerrancy of Scripture, the inspiration of holy Scripture.

But then what we do when we come across those passages in the Bible that according to textual critics and scholars know were probably not a part of the original and you mentioned to to write really the most popular ones that the longer ending of Mark's gospel then also that passage with the woman caught in adultery and in the Gospel of John, and I look there are differences of opinion on this. You know there's some people say yeah I teach on it because it really is no contradiction in those both of those passages don't contain anything that but call any doctrine into question or contradict something that Jesus it said elsewhere that we read elsewhere in places like the book of acts and thinking in particular of the end of Mark's gospel, but personally, my approach is not to teach on them not to preach on them as holy and inspired Scripture because it is as you say, they probably weren't a part of the original manuscripts that were handed down and so these are probably later additions.

Some people think that that the longer ending of Mark that that was.

In addition, just the sort of clean things up a little bit because it the original manuscript of ends abruptly and so I think we want to be sensitive to this because were getting into the realm of textual criticism and a lot of people have questions about you know will how do you how you deal with beef. These kinds of things I can just say look, these probably worn in the originals but the fact of the matter is they also don't contradict anything that is in the original or call any major doctrine into question so we can be really confident in the word of God as inspired for us today and we can we should be. And so, but it personally as a pastor. When I purchased passages I don't preach on them. So thanks David for that question. Your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez Easter coming up a little more than a week away, and to help you really get your mind and your spirit in the mood for Easter.

We have a wonderful devotional that we would love to send you an April can you tell us little bit about that.

Yeah I love this devotional because it's going to get you meditating on the words of our Lord Jesus is called the saints from the cross and it really that mutes to a week long devotional be great to start. Actually this upcoming Monday leading up to Easter and bite as we prepare to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus is this Easter it's it's wonderful to think about what Jesus said leading up to that great event. You know, things like father forgive them. They don't know what they're doing heard that a little bit earlier you know Jesus's grace, his mercy, we need to understand that and meditate upon it as we celebrate the Lord's resurrection, not just this this upcoming herb couple Sundays from now. Really every week as we as we rejoice that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead, and so get a hold of this resources and help you dig into the Scriptures. It's absolutely free with love to send it to you just go to core Christianity.com/Easter again. Core, Christianity.com/Easter will send that off to you. You can also call us at 833-843-2673 for help getting that offer or any one of our offers, let's go to a voicemail that we received your core Christianity yesterday.

This is all for mission in Kansas on a rural mail carrier and I listened to your show. While the I deliver the mail's truly a blessing. Thank you. You're my favorite show on radio. My question is in Revelation chapter 2 Jesus is talking about giving you the authority over the nations.

If you do his will to the end. But he goes on to say, I will give you the MorningStar. I know that Jesus was described as the MorningStar and Lucifer was also described as a MorningStar, but what does that mean for Jesus to give us a MorningStar IQ yeah well yet Lucifer in Isaiah chapter 14 verse 12 there it's referring to the the arrogant king of Babylon, and how you know she was the sort of the DayStar, the MorningStar, but he fell Isaiah chapter 14 verse 12 how you are fallen from heaven, oh DayStar, son of the dawn the edge of the DayStar was is that the brightest star that was shining through, heralding that the rising of the sun. This this star with preeminence if you will, in the night sky and once as I think that's what Jesus is getting at when it talks about giving us the MorningStar there in Revelation chapter 2. Speaking to the church.

The church of Thyatira. Remember the book of Revelation, Jesus is writing to persecuted believers. They're not in a position of prominence or power. They're not shining as it were, there being trampled on by by the nations by people there suffering intensely and so Jesus is bringing discomfort to the church he sing look the world may not put you in the position of prominence, but I am for my people and to you who overcome you see that word. Throughout these verses of Scripture in Revelation chapters 2 and three to you who overcome. I will give you the MorningStar that is I will give you the light as it were, place you in that position of prominence not because you're great or glorious but because I love you and you are my people the world may reject you but I do not reject you as it really is this wonderful comfort that is given to the church to the people of God, especially in the midst of their suffering asked that question your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Zach from Wichita, Kansas, Zach, what your question is actually there but your question brother. So, and why you catch me but wouldn't start but in light of a messianic duty as men and people coming from a Jewish lineage amendment believe the Messiah may come to that realization more.

My question is centered around like without having a contradicting answer like does the tour only for the Jews, and so they would stop to do it or are do we have a new covenant. Yeah, we definitely have a new covenant, and we think about the Torah, the Torah refers to the first five books of the Old Testament Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy, and that Forrester us as believers in the sense that it points us to Jesus Christ were not called to keep that the ceremonial law, rituals, or, or the the civil law that is described in those books of the Bible because those associated in particular with Israel under the old covenant as a political body at that time, but that doesn't mean that we reject the Torah we see it as ultimately fulfilled in Jesus.

This is precisely what Jesus himself said, Luke 24 verse 44 he said to them, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you that everything written about me in the law of Moses is the Torah and the prophets in the Psalms must be fulfilled is what Jesus told the religious leaders you know Moses wrote about me. John chapter 5 did you search the Scriptures try to get eternal life from them. The Scripture testified me. The Torah points us to Jesus with all of the ceremonies even you think of the sacrificial system. These laws these regulations, they point us to Jesus, the apostle Paul talked about this in Galatians chapter 3, and so Christ is the fulfillment of Torah and we are in Christ were no longer under the law is a sort of works based covenant.

Now were free, the participants in the new covenant through the shed blood of Jesus. And so we obey the law, not the ceremonial law you know that the sacrifices in the religious rituals, but ultimately you know that the law of liberty, to love God and love our neighbor. By the grace of the Holy Spirit, and so thank you so much for that question. Thanks, Zach. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Laura from Southern Springs, Arkansas. Laura what your question.

Thank you for taking my call. I let let me take you guys and I pray that God bless you richly, my question is, when Jesus was on the cross and was next to him.

He gave that the states and mentioned that he would be with him today in paradise. And I know that there's some relations that placed emphasis on that grammatically correct application of today and I also know that Scripture says that Jesus departed and so I'm wondering where to Jesus. Go get it actually got paradise. That day did join him that day or will that be raised and you are in the kitchen.

Yeah, great question and so practical and really not part of is what happens to us when when we die and Jesus made it clear right there when he spoke to the thief on the crossing today are to be with me in paradise. Night that the resurrection had not yet happened. So this is what we refer to as the intermediate state. What we say is that the souls of believers are at their debt immediately made perfect in holiness that is in one sense were perfected.

There's no more sin made perfect holiness. I get that from the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12, you know, the author, the Hebrews has this picture of heaven in the throne of God in heaven surrounding the throne of God and heaven are the souls of the righteous spirits of the righteous made perfect was there. They are worshiping the Lord in quote unquote paradise pulsating in second Corinthians chapter 5 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord talked about this in the book of Philippians in Philippians chapter 1, I believe it's verse 23. He talked about how he knew that when he died he was going to go and be in the presence of Jesus, which is far better than anything we could ever experience here on earth it's it's what we all have to look forward to Laura me to really is this this great hope. But there's more than that and you mentioned the resurrection. You know it when we die were immediately brought into the presence of the Lord were worshiping him were made perfect in holiness is just just absolute joy. We we don't know entirely what that's going to be like and we can even fully wrap our minds around. But that's what the Bible says, but were also looking forward to the resurrection of the body, for God loves all of us is Jesus didn't just come to save our spirits but not our bodies even our bodies are going to be redeemed.

Had we know will because Jesus himself rose from the dead.

He conquered the grave and in his resurrection, we have the hope of the resurrection as well and so I think we can we can take Jesus's words there at face value. They were in paradise in heaven another's. There's more that could be said about that but I think we just need we needed take that to say that's what happens to us when we die when we tie were in the presence of the Lord and what it would've great hope that is and that's why we compel people we encourage people we call people turn to Jesus know him, trust in him receive the forgiveness that he gives because in Christ there is forgiveness in the hope of eternal life and the hope of the resurrection of the dead.

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