How Do I Know If I Am One of the “Elect”?

This new episode of core Christianity was prerecorded not only know if I'm one of the elect. That's just 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 a question on one of our social media sites you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to Frank calling in from San Diego, California Frank what your question for pastor. Israel, yeah. You might call all look on all my question for today is all sorts of formals with everything going on look over 19 and just feel so many people in the hospital, lady and people passing away. I'm really trying to be there for a lot of people right now praying with a lot of love on you know my father just recently is no recovery from calling them on your life you making a recovery. We also know people look past all healed their loved ones and a lot of us are believers and I'm trying to navigate Scripture kind of communicate God's grace and also China how I approach people may question things in life.

Maybe feel like a dispersant survival year and this person to both Christians and undersigned navigate through all that so I can continue to be empathetic towards people and comfort people and help people and play with them. You know, because I know for me it is way down to my heart with hearing the people passed in.

And yet, my father's recovery did not know at initial and really bad situation of people were passing away and I know this is part of life and everything God is sovereign and all that which you can help me articulate real go to the Scriptures. I want to be empathetic and help comfort others. During this whole process. Thank you. Really appreciate you and grateful to hear Frankie your father is is better, and thank you for forgiving us a call on this. This always is something that I think weighs heavily on a lot of people's hearts right now, especially as we think about death, life and death and God's providence and sovereignty and I I think the first thing that I would want to say is God cares immensely for his creation and for people. Jesus himself in Matthew chapter 10 said in verse 29 are not two sparrows sold for a penny, and not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your father. But even the hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore you are of more value than many sparrows talking about God's providence in the midst of life and death.

Note one dangers that doesn't mean that we don't have responsibility were not fatalistic about this. You know what were called to honor the Lord with our lives to tip seek to live healthy lives. They know lives that are honoring to God were taking care of ourselves but but at the same time we we have to realize that you know when when it's an individual's time if you will, that the Lord is in control and in another passage of Scripture that I think of is Psalm 139 a really I think comforting words from David. He said in verse 14. I praise you from fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth your eyes saw my unformed substance in your book were written every one of them. The days that were formed for me when is yet there was none of them really is wonderful to think about this, that the fact that God knows each and every one of our days they been numbered. He knows every single hair that is on our heads and so I think were wrestling with this question in particular and light, in light of death, we cast ourselves upon the mercy of God, and we say Lord you are caught by surprise by these circumstances, we believe that your good. We believe that you care for your creation. We may not understand why you know one individual goes and another individual doesn't. But we know Lord that you hold all things in your hands so we trust in you and we look to you. And when God you know raises up a loved one or or raises us up.

You know, through sickness week we give thanks to the Lord, we praise him. We thank God for his mercy and then we seek to help the people around us and to care for them and it sounds like that's exactly what you're doing Frank and in praying with others and for others in seeking to to minister to them and so may God continue to bless you as you do that maybe those are two passages of Scripture that you can walk people through Psalm 139 and Matthew chapter 10.

Bless appreciate Frank's heart so much.

You know the Bible talks about how were to bear one another's burdens, and that's exactly what he's doing in Manchester good man and thank you Frank for being a regular listener to core Christianity by the way, if you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

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The monthly donation of $25 or more, and diet really helps us to keep the lights on to continue to get the word out over over the airwaves and and it you know we want to bless our inner core members as well as we send you gifts throughout the year. The first thing you get is a copy of this book core Christianity that really walks through those fundamental doctrines that we believe every Christian should know deep down inside their heart and so I get a hold of core Christianity and would love to send it to you by joining the inner core is a way to do that. Just go to our website at core, Christianity.com/inner core that's core Christianity.com/intercourse. To learn more about being an inner core member and some of the wonderful benefits that go along with that will, as we mentioned, you can email us your question any time at questions at core, Christianity.com here's an email from Carolyn. She says I learned about the doctrines of grace. A couple of years ago and I've been struggling with great fear about not being one of God's elect is really made me scared and question that maybe I can't approach Christ even though I know he's the only one who can save us. Can Jesus reject someone coming to him for mercy. What should someone struggling with this. Do can Jesus reject someone coming to him for mercy, or better, perhaps, would Jesus do that if you come to Jesus looking for mercy.

Confessing your sins did Jesus ever say to you, yeah not interested or you send too much that that kind of the thing. The first thing is no when you come to Jesus confessing your sins.

He receives you and forgives you.

Jesus himself said the one who comes to me I will in no wise cast out.

This is John chapter 6. In other words, if you come to me. I'm not going to turn my back on you. I'm not gonna say yet not interested. That kind of a thing. When we come in faith, confessing our sins.

He forgives us and cleanses us of all unrighteousness. That's a promise that you have in the word of God. Carolyn and thought I think if the cling to that promise. And that's just the thing when were thinking about you know the doctrine of election. God's choice, contemplating that I think it's really easy to to mess this up where we were sort of speculating about you know well get. Did God in eternity past, choose me elect me.

That kind of thing.

How can I know for sure that it's almost as if we want to climb up into heaven, and then sort of look into God's mind and and and see what he's thinking and what he's decreed, but the fact of the matter is we can't do that but here's what we do have an here's what you do have is God's. Sure promise and ultimately that sure promise is in Jesus Christ and so when we think about these doctrines like the doctrine of election. The doctrine of salvation even you need to go straight to the cross straight to Jesus himself, and even the apostle Paul when he talked about the doctrine of election or predestination in places like Ephesians chapter 1 he rooted the entire thing in Jesus Christ, so that we should he would be thinking about these things, apart from Jesus and his work.

Ephesians chapter 1 verse three Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. Even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world. There's that word elected chose us in him before the foundation of the world. We should be holy and blameless before him in love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace and so what you need to do what we all need to do as we think about these doctrines is weighty doctrines, the doctrine of election is fleet of the cross, flee to the gospel. It's there that you have the promise of God's sure love for sinners. And that's how we approach the Lord in faith, recognizing that were sinners but clinging to his mercy in Jesus and if you do that if you believe in Jesus then you can have great confidence great confidence sister you belong to him and not just that but you chose him but that he chose you. As Paul says even there from before the foundation of the world you know that because you cling to Jesus and look to him and so continue to look to him interest in him, less some great words of assurance. Thank you so much for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go back to the phones Jonathan's on the line from Nashville, Tennessee. Jonathan what your question for for atrial L1 question about the Scriptures that shed them. The first shall be last in the last shall be first if he could and lightly on that a little bit and that my second question is, is a high see a change gone in the church through the church. I'm an evangelist and Gratian just about every denomination.

There is Methodist Nazarene Pentecostal charismatic and initiate kind of a change happening in the church with them money money kind, the kind seems to be the top topic and a lot of these preachers are. They get 20, $30 million from preaching.

I just wonder where do you draw the line and the is best on my question I wanted to hear what your input was on six yeah okay so a couple of things there. What does Jesus mean when he said many who are first will be last and the last first is something you see in the Gospels that that quotation came from the gospel of Matthew. Matthew chapter 19 verse 38 in the context of Jesus's discussion with the rich young ruler. You remember the rich young ruler came to him, saying, teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life. Then Jesus pointed them to the law and the ritual process.

Today I obey the law. Ever since I was I was a young man that can with his other eye was a kid I've been obeying your your word. But Jesus helps them to realize that he actually hasn't been obeying the law as well as he thought he he had been and he says he could go sell everything you have given to the poor and then come, follow me and the rich young ruler.

I turned away was devastated because he had a lot of possessions, money to get into the second part of your career question if you will and and they basically had it. Those possessions basically had a grip on his heart grip that kept him from wanting, at least in that moment to follow Jesus and so Jesus begins to to speak to his disciples after that encounter, he says, look, truly I say to you, this is Matthew 19 verse 23, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.

And when the disciples heard this, they were astonished, greatly astonished, saying, will, who then can be saved.

Jesus looked at them and said with man.

It is impossible with God all things are possible. And Peter responded and said look we we have left everything and followed you.

What will we have in Jesus said that truly I say to you in the new world when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you have followed me will also sit on 12 thrones judging the 12 tribes of Israel, and everyone was left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my namesake will receive a hundredfold and inherit eternal life.

But there's your verse. Many who are first will be last in the last first. In other words, this can be some surprises there in the kingdom of God. Many who we thought were the first maybe you know John than some of those preachers you're talking about right, who have this big name for preaching and they're raking in you said 20, $30 million a year preaching the gospel to little boy that person is just so blessed.

Seems like they must, you know really have the that the telephone line to God, how can they be so blessed that kind of thing will Jesus is looking at all on the day of judgment in the kingdom of God. There are going to be some surprises me. Jesus said, you know that you have people coming from from North, South, East and West sitting down with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God with the sons of the kingdom. The people that you expected to be there. There is, I think referring to that, the scribes and the Pharisees, the religious leaders. The people that made all men and women looked and said put it out there to be the first in Jesus is there to be cast out if they rejected the gospel. Are you think about Jesus's words in Matthew chapter 7.

Not everyone who says to me Lord Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my father who is in heaven. Many organization me on on that date didn't we cast out demons in your name and do all these wonders in your name Jesus says, to save them, depart from me.

I never knew you, you who practice lawlessness as I think all of that is served getting at what Jesus is. Is meaning here when he says that many who are first will be last and the last first it in just a couple of chapters there in the gospel of Matthew in Matthew chapter 21 Jesus says you know is actually really interesting statement in verse 30 when in verse 31.

He speaks truly I say to you, tax collectors and prostitutes go into the kingdom of God before you again. Here Jesus is referring to the religious leaders is rebuking them anything what the last that that the people you never would've expected that the tax collectors and prostitutes there entering the kingdom of God before you why because they realize their need for God's grace and so again from the gimme some surprises on on the day of judgment. Now, with regard to the second partier question of going on now but with with regard to the second part of your question is change where you have pastors who are focusing on you said money is one of the qualifications of an elder that they can't be greedy you first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1. So where do we draw the line. What we do we draw the line certainly agree that's a disqualification for anyone who's in ministry and I you know you see some of these prosperity preachers. These televangelists and it's very clear that actually they're not helping lead people to Jesus there bring reproach upon the church and shame upon the church through these scandals that agreed it was one of the characteristics of the false teachers that they would be characterized by greed. Peter tells us in second Peter chapter 2, and so someone who is a preacher, a minister of the gospel that they can't be captive to money if you will, that can't rule them control them. If it does there disqualified and so that's what we draw the line.

Thanks Jonathan for your questions. Some tough words but so true right out of a God's holy word.

So thank you for that federal this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, we do receive emails here are email addresses questions at core, Christianity.com if you got a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology is one from Matt a drill.

He says I'm having a hard time understanding the idea of regeneration before faith combined with Jesus call for us to believe written throughout the Bible, could you please help me understand those concepts a little better yeah yeah will there. There's an argument right or debate. The people have a theological debate. The people have is what came first the chicken or the egg kind of debate what comes first, faith or regeneration regeneration is this idea being made alive male, born again and said we believe and then as a result of our believing were regenerated or is faith born out of our regeneration. If you will, and my position is, is that that regeneration comes before prior to faith and and flows from it. If you will think about what the apostle Paul said in Ephesians chapter 2. 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 of 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 of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind, but God, 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. That's regeneration right there. God made us. We, who were dead in sin alive together with Christ by grace you have been saved.

Paul says, and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not of your own doing, it is the gift of God. Now how does this relate to us as like this is this is also when you know part of your question.

How does relate to the preaching of the word of God.

If Jesus calls all people everywhere to repent, to believe about regeneration comes before faith will how does this work will will hear. Here's how it works. God uses his word, by the power of the Holy Spirit to create life in our hearts. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.

Paul says in Romans chapter 10 you think about that prophecy in the book of Ezekiel, the prophecy of the dry bones. God saying to the prophet Ezekiel, can these bones live this this or just a barren wasteland of bones and as God begins to speak on this valley of dry bones as the prophet begins to prophesy.

They they become animated and and they come to life. It's the word of God. God uses his word to create life in our dead hearts.

It's through the word, that regeneration comes in.

And faith is then created and so that's how weak we understand it.

God calls all people everywhere to repent and he uses his word, the preaching of the gospel, by the power of the Holy Spirit as the as the means the mechanism if you will to bring us to new life is of the wonderful thing about this is that should give us a great confidence in the word of God. Ever I am. This is just something that you see throughout the Scriptures, and in James's writings and Peter's writings and you been born again, not of a seed that is perishable, but imperishable the living and abiding word of God born again regenerated through what do the word's is absolutely clear in Scripture that this is how it works and this should cause us to praise the Lord to worship him and to humble ourselves. Recognizing that I couldn't save myself. I was dead in trespasses and sins. I couldn't pull myself up by the bootstraps. It was you it was your grace was your word was your spirit giving me new life and this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our listeners.

This one is from Annie and I have one Holy Spirit. How come we don't agree. I will appreciate it. Thank you and I have asked myself the same question really is sad right anything about the divisions and divisions in the church that the schisms even heresy that's gone out of them.

People gone so far. You know how to balance that we would even consider them Christians anymore. They just it, it's that we see this since the very beginning to this is just something that's that's new that happened in the last hundred years or even 500 years. There were divisions in in the churches of the apostles you think about the, the, the letter to the Corinthians, impulsiveness of yours and I will Paul. Some people think I am of Apollo's other people that you know I'm just of Christ.

Second, and that there were divisions even there in the churches that the apostles planted and so this is a reality and and the reason it's a reality today is my answer is because of sin.

God's word is clear we say it's it's it has perspicuity.

That's one of the attributes of Scripture that is clarity, especially when it comes to the gospel. But even though God's word is clear our minds and our hearts are clouded by sin. That's what we need the help of the Holy Spirit, the grace of the Holy Spirit humility to humble ourselves as as we search the Scriptures as we study them to be led by the Lord deeper and deeper into the truth in the fact of the matter is is is people are are oftentimes rebelling against that you know they're there. Not understanding the Bible according to its context are not being led by the spirit by their own desires by their own passions, twisting the Scriptures. Peter said that's what people were doing with Paul's writings.

Even in his day and so that's why we continue to have divisions today. Sadly, the good news is through Christ all those who believe in Jesus by faith who have received him there's there's only one church, one true church consists of all those who believe in Jesus and call upon his name.

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