Can God Be Referred to with She/Her Pronouns?

Should we use female pronouns when talking about God best is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity why this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life. We would love to hear from you.

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In today's culture, so feel free to give us a call right now. Today, peers on voicemail received from one of our listeners pulses were laws, nor no longer by the law. Does she mean manslaughter or the Scripture mean God's love as I know God and commandments God physically bowed with his hand up on the mountain with Moses Mosaic law and most ceremonial additions that man's law which will rebind it to God's law or man's law. Thanks. Okay. Thank you for that question and you're right. The Scriptures, in particular, Paul does talk about us being dead to the law and what he means by that is, were no longer under the law in the same way that that the people under the old covenant were as a sort of works, covenant keeping ourselves in a relationship with God through obedience to his commandments, that kind of thing Paul really unpacks this in Romans chapter 7 he says in verse four.

Likewise, my brothers, you also have died to the law through the body of Christ, so that you may belong to another. To him who has written to him has raised him from the dead, in order that we may bear fruit for God. For what we are living in the flesh are sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in our members to bear fruit to death, but now we are released from the law, having died to that which held us captive, so that we serve in the new way of the Spirit and not in the old way of the written code then goes on to say what then shall we say that the law is sin is you and I know what you think me telling you that your you're dead to the no longer under US album of the law must be a bad thing. It must've been wrong or send them Paul talks about this later in our elsewhere in the book of Galatians. You also see this in the book of Hebrews, in particular in Hebrews chapter 8. This is by no means yet. If it had been for the yet if they had not been for the lie would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, you shall not covet. And there he identifies what law he's talking about the quotes from the 10 commitments the commandment not to covet, and were no longer under that law. The Mosaic law is a works covenant eyes that the nation of Israel was now we've been set free. Now that doesn't mean that we set aside the law because the law is holy and good and actually he's in a go on to say in Romans chapter 8 by the spirit we fulfill the righteous requirements of the law, so it's not US a Christian in Christ are free from the law to go live in sin.

No demi-beginning of chapter 6 unites what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means how can we who have died to sin still live in it, but he sang look, you're not under the laws is a works covenant anymore, you're not bound to it. You been free do the work of Jesus Christ through his life, death and resurrection. The law can't condemn you anymore.

You're dead to it. So now live to God. Serve him obey him, and by the Spirit. Do what the law calls us to, which is to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. And of course we don't do that perfectly.

Nobody can. But the spirit is at work in us and all those who are regenerated born again to draw us near to the Lord in obedience to his lot not to be saved or justified. But, as those who have already been justified by the work of Christ to bless great explanation. Thank you so much for that intro. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and we want to say thank you to our inner core. That's a group of people who support this ministry on a regular basis, they may listen to this program for a while and they really believe in what we do, so much so that they're willing to make monthly commitment and would love to invite you to join the inner core and there are some special benefits that go along with it. Yes I I also want to say thank you for all those who are a part of our inner core. Would love to get into the word of God every single day answering questions live on the air. Digging into the Scriptures and if you been blessed by the work that we do what you partner with us. Would you help us to continue to get the word out so that others might be encouraged by the word of God as well. The inner core is a monthly donation of $25 or more and Abby just goes a long way for us and we appreciate your prayers, your encouragement, all of our inner core members get a number of resources throughout the year. The first and we send you this book by Dr. Michael Horton core Christianity find yourself in God story really just a wonderful introduction to the core doctrines of the Christian faith that many people just simply overlook and so one invite you partner with us friends join the inner core monthly donation of $25 or more and Billy can give them more information about that is what you do, just go to our website at core, Christianity.com/inner core.

Just one word. Core, Christianity.com/inner core will tell you all about it and some of the resources that you receive and would love to have you consider that this week let's go to an email we received by the way our email address. If you have a question his questions at core, Christianity.com and our phone number is 833 the core. If you want to call us 833-843-2673 Cassandra Rodin, and she says this should God be addressed with she and her pronouns to accommodate for God's feminine attributes the church I currently attend believes God is not solely patriarchal because of some verses in the Old Testament that described him as a mother hen.

This church goes out of its way not to say him his or her father when referring to God, it doesn't make sense to me because Jesus was fully God is a man and he also refers to God in heaven as father, I would greatly appreciate your input and your thoughts on this. Okay Cassandra thank you for that email me a not too long ago I was talking to someone that I know was a part of, more of a mainline Protestant denomination and they told me that they were sitting with a number of the clergy there and they were having a theological discussion what they're talking about is just this very question that you, having a bunch of clergy ministers in this denomination thing will will you know how do we talk about God is she here is why we should do and so on so forth and I would you say look at if you're in a church that is having those kinds of discussions you probably need to get out.

I think that there's there some significant issues here. First, what I'll say is this theologically speaking, that God is a spirit. God is spirit. Jesus said this very clearly in John chapter 4 when he was speaking to the woman at the well and so God as he is in himself.

We don't we don't speak of God is as man or woman that kind of thing man and women that were both made in the image of God. We read in Genesis chapter 1 and so we were talking about God as he is in himself and we don't impute that to him. God is a spirit in the second person of the holy Trinity, God the son assumed humanity and took flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary was born a man and came for us and for our salvation and throughout Scripture, God is referred to as he we have this language right which typically the language in the Bible about God what we say it's it's it's like an analogy, it's like baby talk for us.

We can't summarize who or what God is in his essence we just work were creatures were finite. God is infinite, so we have to be really careful, but we use the language that God has given to us because God is the one who gets to reveal himself to us. And you're right in one sense that you know it. In Scripture, there are feminine analogies that are used of the Lord there masculine analogies that are used of the Lord, but typically it in in Scripture and God is referred to as he father the son is, as I said assumed humanity for us for our salvation.

So I think we should use the language that the Bible uses and I'm really concerned when people start drifting away from that and oftentimes I think what it demonstrates is a low view of God's revelation how God has revealed himself to us and so we have to be really careful.

I think I did. We want to guard against one, you know, this idea that God is in his essence, male or female or something like that that would be wrong.

We don't speak in that way, but we also want to guard against not just rejecting how God is revealed himself and using using terminology that God has not given to us and so I think stick to what the Bible says and and you can't go wrong at you for that question.

Can God bless thanks for that. April some great counsel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear your question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Our phone lines will be open for another 15 minutes or so if you want to call us at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core Gualala who's calling in from Iowa what your question for Israel.

Thank you for taking my call so I don't generally mental illness, depression and anxiety and at an all-time high, to where it's impacting my ability to function in a little arts and very actually try going out today, I challenge myself to go to the library has like I had a severe panic attack at a point like that and great, but my friend and attempt to make me feel better on. He sent me an email stating that God doesn't give you more than you can handle.

He think God gives you what you can handle and not something that constantly hurt like forever, and I'm just wondering if there is any biblical truth that are like severely water down there young people trying to make you feel better.

Thanks. Any input you have a great and will help me think he got hit on Michelle you really help in my journey with getting closer to actually being on. Thank you for for calling us with that question for Simon to do is just pray for you in this battle with with depression and anxiety. Lord, lift my left to right now and God I ask for you to fill her with your Holy Spirit. I pray Lord for your comfort in her life. I pray for healing, Lord, that she would get the care and assistance that she needs Lord, and in dealing with what we know mental health issues or are so rampant and guide. Oftentimes, we don't know how to cope, how to deal. I pray that you would give her wisdom.

I pray that you would give her support through doctors to other Christians. The people who can encourage her. Thank you for her openness. Lord I just asked that he would be with her and continue to encourage her in her walk with you and her faith and in the knowledge of your son Jesus name we pray. Amen this statement that you bring up that Christians will often share it as a as a way of trying to comfort someone is going through something difficult in a God will never give you more than you can handle. You can you can do this is why God is allowed you to have.

He knew that you were strong enough.

It's a lie. It's not true. It's a misinterpretation of something that the apostle Paul says in second Corinthians were he told the Corinthians that God will never tempt you beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape, so that you can endure. It's not talking about just the difficulties we face in life it's it's specifically talking about those situations that that can lead to send just got to the pulses God is not God's not shoving you into that gives you the way of escape. He also tells the Corinthians that God does give people more that they can more than they can handle. Second Corinthians chapter 1, I just want you to listen to something that Paul said about his life. He says in verse eight, San Quentin chapter 1 verse eight is retake people who say God will never give you more than you can handle.

He says we do not want you to be unaware, brothers of the affliction we experience in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death, but that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead hear his words, there we were utterly burdened beyond our strength. That is to say God gave us this burden that was beyond what we could bear. We despaired even of life. Now why Paul says well and in this situation, he says to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. The gospel teaches this very same thing. We can't rely on ourselves, we can pull ourselves up by the by the bootstraps and and you know were fine. We can handle this. We can cope. No, we need grace we need mercy, we need the strong hand of God to reach down and lift us up because we can't do that on our own in our own strength were dead in trespasses and sin. And so you don't have to feel burdened thinking I should be able to handle this. The reality is when it comes to stuff like this, health issues, mental health issues were not strong in and of ourselves. You do need support you need the support of the local church.

You need the support of godly men and women around you are encouraging you in your walk with the Lord you need the support of just the common wisdom in the world, doctors, physicians who can help and give you encouragement and wisdom about how to address these particular issues, but I just want you not to be under that burden that false teaching that oh I should be able to handle this and may the Lord Jesus give you grace as you lean in on him and draw near to him and may he comfort you by his spirit and provide for all of your needs, sister, and Bill, I wanted I wanted to toss this to you as well because I know you have training in this area. Do you have any encouragement for our sister here.

Why love what you said and I think there a lot of people in the church to give these kind of easy platitudes when it comes to things like mental illness and the fact is we talk about this a lot that the fall has affected us in many ways and one of the ways the fall is impacted as it can in fact are our body, our biology are our brain chemistry and so to seek out medical treatment as you said, perhaps medication certainly cognitive behavioral therapy. All the research would show that when it comes to anxiety panic attacks can't be called behavioral therapy and medication are really about the best way to go. And God would not. There are some Christians will say will that shows no weakness or you don't trust God and I would disagree with that very strongly. You wouldn't tell a diabetic not to take insulin or a cancer patient. They shouldn't get there. There were medication for so II love what you said and I would encourage Lola to to definitely if you haven't already pursued those avenues to to do that so we also have a core guide. By the way, for any listeners that are struggling with depression. It's called nine things everyone needs to know about depression and you can find that on our website. It's core Christianity.com/free downloads just for nine things. Everyone needs to know about depression so while a thank you for your call and it will thank you for your your prayer for her to go back to the phones. Our phone number if you have a question for pastor a drill about the Bible or the Christian life 833.core that's 1-833-843-2673 Larry's on the line from Newcastle, Oklahoma.

Larry what your question for pastor. Israel answered.

Thank you for what you do question came up as to why do Christian denominations consider the washing of 30 something like observers to be remembered. The language that Jesus chooses. All all you doing it and some denominations do not even consider. Do you know throughout history waters may be happening to that.

Thank you for that question. I think it's the passage of Scripture that you referring to is in the gospel of John in John chapter 13 is you know getting into the upper room discourse of our Lord Jesus when he washed the feet of his disciples in verse 12 says when you wash their feet and put on his outer garments and resumed his place, he said to them, do you understand what I have done to you.

You call me teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am if, then, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example that you should also do just as I have done to you truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things. Blessed are you, if you do them.

Now there are some traditions it'll say what will we have actual foot washing serve many ceremonies in our church.

I don't think the Larry that specifically what Christ is getting at. He's he's giving them an example of service to each other and in in this context that the person who would wash your feet prior to a meal or when you're gathering together in a home that would've been the servant in the house. The person with the lowest position here you have the eternal son of God Jesus the King of heaven and earth, washing the feet of his disciples, taking the form of a servant we might say is the apostle Paul said in Philippians 2 and he says, as I have become your servant serving you to my death, giving you the forgiveness of sins. You ought to serve one another. So what does it look like to to wash the feet of the saints if you will looks like serving each other.

It looks like being servants.

It looks like not trying to be on top and Jesus talks about this throughout the Gospels what it what it truly means to be great in the kingdom of God.

It's assertive up upside down greatness. It's the greatest among you shall be the least, the servant is of that's the way in which we follow Jesus's command here, its exit, and in many respects is much more difficult than just mio sitting down for 10 minutes and washing somebody's feet. It's becoming a servant to others, especially to our brothers and sisters within the body of Christ for their good and for their edification.

So, Larry, God bless you and may God help us all to hear the words of our Lord Jesus.

There they Larry, thanks so much for being a regular listener to core Christianity and for digging into God's word. We appreciate you one of the ways that you can interact with us is by going to our YouTube channel.

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Here's a YouTube question that came in from one of her listeners and they say, what does the Bible say regarding a hardened heart and a saved person have a hardened heart. Yeah, thank you for that question. The first passage comes to mind is with the author. The Hebrew says in Hebrews chapter 3 as he is addressing a group of people who were drifting away from the gospel from the truth of salvation through the work of Jesus Christ alone and he warns them.

He says in verse 12 of chapter 3, Hebrews chapter 3 verse 12. Take care brothers, lest there be in any of you one evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.

But exhort one another every day as long as it is called today that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. We have come to share in Christ.

Indeed, if indeed we hold our original confidence firm to the end as it is said, today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, the hardening of of the heart here. It's we hear the truth of the word of God. God calls us to.

But instead of submitting to the voice of God speaking to us in Scripture by the power of the Holy Spirit.

We close our ears.

We harden our hearts and there are people who do this. I think that there even saved people born again people, who, for a season, and of the yield to sin.

They struggle they fall even into grievous sin that you know you the heart gets callous.

They don't feel conviction like they once did. I don't think that that that means that there no longer save it. Think of the Lord is good to continue to work in them, drawing them back to himself, causing them to persevere, but there are other people who hear the gospel over and over again, they they hear those calls to repentance and faith. I think this was the concern there in the book of Hebrews and continually serve like Pharaoh in in the book of Exodus they hear what God says, but they harden their hearts they say no I'm not going to listen.

I'm not going to submit to your rule into your rain God and that's a scary thing for for all of us at the scary thing, especially for those who are outside of Christ, a hearing the gospel and rejecting. It's a scary thing for us as believers, not getting hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. Turning away from the Lord. I'm grieving the Holy Spirit and again as I said I don't I don't think that means it that God abandons us or leaves us in that state.

I just think that that even for God's people. This is something we need to be be serious about you think of the many godly people throughout the pages of Scripture who fell into grievous sin.

People who had the spirit of God, and who knew better. I think of men like David and think of everybody essentially in in in the Scriptures that God used it. So this is a warning I would say for for us and in hearts are hardened.

You see this in Hebrews 3 through sin, its Senate that has a sort of hardening affect the here's the good news thing what the prophet Jeremiah said, I think it's in Jeremiah chapter 23 the word of God is able to break rock hard hearts and so we take our heart stony as it is it is you know struggling with Senate and we take it to the word of God and we say Lord molded shape it, use your word to soften my heart and to transform you and truly for everyone who is a Christian that has happened. God has given you. If you believe in Jesus Christ. Christ, a new heart, not a heart of stone, but a heart of flesh to sense the presence of the Lord to hear his voice speaking to you in Scripture to submit to his word, and so were called not to do just that.

To yield to the voice of the spirit speaking to us through the word of God not to harden our hearts not to continue down the pathway of sin, but to humble ourselves and to confess our sins, and so it's a reminder for all of us need anything could happen to the those gathered together in the book of Hebrews the church that was there, can affect anyone, we have to be on guard brothers and sisters continually going back to the word humbling ourselves and sing God in my life to transform you to change me to glorify you. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer.

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