Are There Still Unfulfilled Promises for Ethnic Israel?

Other still unfulfilled biblical promises to Israel. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will 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 right now with your question.

Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question on one of our social media sites and of course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com on yesterday's program. We had a call from a woman named Mrs. Glover. She's an elderly shot in is unable to attend church and she called and talked about her loneliness and the fact that unfortunately no churches in her area were willing to send people over to read the Bible with her.

Pray with her and so Israel had a chance to to counsel her and offer her some some comfort and pray with her and let you know after the program yesterday we received a whole bunch of calls and emails from concerned listeners want to help out Mrs. Glover. Well, that's awesome. Let me just read a few of the comments here. Tom and Julie say they really moved by the phone call. They would love to call her and perhaps pray with her. Even do a maybe a Bible study over the phone we have, but Ed called and Linda Gloria says she does Bible studies via mail with various people and then Kimberly says I was hoping you could be instrumental in helping me reach out to Mrs. Glover. She says I heard her question. I have a mission. I feel to study with her.

I understand how she feels. I the thing going on in my church were once a month we carpool over to a shut-ins home and sings sing hymns outside on their lawn. Oh that's beautiful in the great I just, I mean it's it just shows you how when our listeners hear about a need they really jump to it. They really come to the forefront and I to I was just so touched by that. Yesterday, praise, guide, and we're so thankful for listeners and how they how they engage with the broadcast and even pray for each other and often tension will bring someone up for prayer and and I know that you will pray to. And so what what out beautiful thing. It is for us is the body of Christ to be able to come together and and in particular to come around someone who's going to great difficulty.

So do remember Miss Glover in your prayers and excited for another day of answering questions about the faith. Here's a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners, Israel.

This is from Karen regarding last holy. Well, as Mark Hollinger God and the cursing and finding out that there is view of irresistible grace and and the reason I'm asking is because I have an old contacted me and said that he had three months to live. He's had cancer in the last five years or so is a radical eight years, you was brought up in the church Anti-sleeveless trial. I just. The question is that I just wonder I want to have hope for him and continuing a dialogue with him. He knows the gospel, but that that verse about blasting the Holy Spirit. AP can explain that more will really appreciate thank you will, that the idea of the blessed me, the Holy Spirit comes from the Gospels and in particular interaction that Jesus had with the religious leaders. It's very important for us to understand the context there because a lot of Christians people who have faith in Jesus Christ actually are concerned that it one point or another in their lives that they blasting the Holy Spirit types of sin in this way again and again. Maybe God is done with me. Maybe have committed the unpardonable sin that kind of thing but but in the context there when Jesus is speaking to the religious leaders. They had just accused him of essentially casting out demons by the hand of Satan there there saying Jesus your your under the influence of the devil. Europe may be possessed by the devil and Jesus gives them a stern warning there because he gave the youth response that was illegal all manner of sin will be forgiven. People you know in this life.

All manner of blasphemy, but the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven because they said that he had an unclean spirit, and so might my take is that the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is the sort of continued rejection of the gospel. So much so that there is there such a disdain for the truth. The disdain for Jesus Christ that you and individuals even willing to say oh he's he's dumb that's evil.

Jesus is the devil it it's this kid confusion. This diabolical confusion about who Jesus is and so we don't know if an individual has has done that. I mean there are atheists who reject Jesus for years and years and years and then all of a sudden you have the lights come on and they realize what I've been doing and of the spirit of God works in their life, so I would say with your friend, it's not up to you to do so to conclude her to think this person is too far gone. I would say right now it sounds like you have an opportunity and in door of communication is been opened and so I would say I would say take that opportunity to share the love of Jesus with this friend. If he is an ardent atheist you know that that doesn't make a difference in your sharing the gospel with this individual because he needs hoping maybe as he gets closer to death he'll recognize that you know he he he doesn't have all the answers, and certainly when it comes to the issue of death. Christianity is the only religion that can give us a firm answer because we believe that Jesus Christ rose again from the dead, and we have great evidence to support that is the you know the eyewitness testimony of the disciples of the apostles you think about what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians 15. Now there was something else that you asked staring in your question that I just want to touch any civil who's more more powerful is it God or is it the individual does the individual have the power to just say no in and resist and and at the end of the day God is distance okay what what what whatever of the way it works I believe is the spirit of God is stronger than our broken wills and it's only by the spirit of God that anyone is able to see one that there are a sinner into that Jesus is the Savior of sinners and so I think Karen and in this time what you want to be doing is praying that the Lord would do that. Mighty work. What only he can do in opening the eyes of the blind and softening the hard heart of this friend of yours and you can pray with confidence that God is able to do that, that God is the only one who really can do that because we've seen that happen so many times in Scripture all give you just one example, when Stephen was being stoned in the book of acts, and he cries out to the Lord your father forgive them. They don't know what what they're doing essentially just echoing the words of Jesus when Jesus was on the cross. You know who was there helping those who were stoning Stephen it was Saul of Tarsus, a man who was hardhearted against the faith, an enemy of Christ and yet that same man is redeemed, saved, knocked off of his horse a little bit later in the book of acts, and Jesus appears to him and says why are you persecuting me Saul. Saul will that was an answer to Stephen's prayer. Stephen's praying for these for these enemies of the faith. These enemies of Jesus and God soften their hard hearts and Jesus answered that prayer and brought Saul of Tarsus into the kingdom. How by renewing his mind by opening his blind eyes and so God can do that and I would encourage you to pray for your friend and let's just take a moment brothers and sisters to pray for Karen to pray for her friend father for Karen. We ask that you would fill her with your spirit, and that you would give her wisdom in knowing exactly how to speak to this friend of hers give her the words to say, the Scriptures, Lord, even to to share with him about you, Lord Jesus, and what you've done to redeem sinners and to conquer death and for this individual.

Lord, this man, he's an atheist would you Jesus open his eyes, would you help them to see that you are the way the truth and the life you soften his heart heart would you grant him the gift of faith, would you bring him to yourself in in. This may be his. His final hour, if you will, of life. We pray also for your healing and your mercy to be poured out upon him in Jesus name, amen, amen. Thank you for that.

Israel and thanks for that great reminder about Steven and all of us. Paul Saul of Tarsus, who later became of course the apostle Paul so powerful.

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This is from Eddie calling regarding Romans chapter 911. I'm of millennial view of the serene characters. I'm wondering if there is a continuing definite plan for Israel so we can answer my question.

It really appreciated computers and paternity is a great job you have been a great blessing for me and my family and how much I had a thank you for that encouragement, brother.

Your question pertains to what we call eschatology the study. The last things in particular, what is God's plan for ethnic Israel, the nation of Israel. Jewish people and then there are, you know, differences of opinion on this. There are some people in the church who think will gather all sorts of promises is in a be a rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and animal sacrifices. Once again, and in the foot of picture. This kingdom rebuilt here on earth. It bit sort of actually looks a lot like what was taking place under the old covenant by night that's a miss understanding of the prophecies that you find in the Old Testament and the way in which we think of their fulfillment under the new covenant in the New Testament.

But does that mean that God doesn't have any plan for the future of ethnic Israel and again that you know there's been debate about this, my view is on the basis of Romans chapters 9 through 11 that God does have a future plan for ethnic Israel, but that that plan is not at all separate from their embracing Jesus Christ the promises of God are yes and amen in Jesus.

There is no one who is a child of the true and the living God, who is not up above a Christian who doesn't have faith in Christ.

We don't have a relationship to God's promises, apart from Christ and that's one of the things that the apostle Paul makes absolutely clear in Romans chapter 11 in chapter 9. He talked about how it seem like the word of God had had it failed because you had all these promises, the Messiah shows up. And yet he's rejected by so many of the. The Hebrew people an impossible boy did did God's promise fail and he says no not all Israel are those who are descended from his region brings out the sort of idea of the remnant and the fact that God's chosen were always a sort of remnant out of the hole and then he brings up the broader question later in chapter 11 of well does that mean that that basically God is done with all those who had rejected him.

He says in verse 11 of chapter 11 in the book of Romans.

So I asked did they stumble in order that they might fall by no means rather through their trespass. Salvation is come to the Gentiles so as to make Israel jealous. Now if their trespass means riches for the world and if their failure means riches for the Gentiles, how much more will their full inclusion mean is so right now weren't worrying that the time of the inclusion of the Gentiles. If you will write like a God is bringing in the nations but it does seem like here Paul is anticipating this full inclusion of Israel. Once again, that is their repentance and coming to faith and so a future promise of widescale revival if you will.

Among the Jewish people where they turn and embrace Jesus as the Messiah as the Savior of the world that so that that's that's my view.

And again I think it's important that this stress to specify that those promises all come in and through Jesus, and for each of us that's Dutch is the reality the promises of God means something for you, not because of you, in and of yourself because of the one to whom you are united by faith we are the children of Abraham by faith in Jesus Christ and as the children of Abraham, the promises of God belong to us and to our kids what what a wonderful thing that is to know and so definitely, the passenger going to want to sit down and meditate on his is that text right there in Romans chapter 11 I think Paul makes it clear there Eddie, thanks so much for your question. By the way, we have a wonderful resource that will help you dig into this whole view of the end times, some more deeply. It's called what are the main views of the end times you can find that our website core, Christianity.com/free downloads.

Just look for that one. What are the main views of the end times really helpful resource go back to the phone. Sue was on the line from Nashville, Tennessee Sue what your question for pastor a drill hi hi Sue about it, was raised in a household father is an art that can be genetic. From what I understand art can be a result of neglect or abuse in children and therapist will tell you that there is no cure for that. The Bible talked about narcissism and what is it what's in that for the South. How does the staff deal with that when the husband is not going directly to God or you know intervention and assistance with healing.

What did God say about the wife in that situation, the wife who endures all that goes along with narcissism which is verbal abuse and mental abuse addictions, attachment disorders and the list is endless what does God say about that in relationship to what white and doers will I just think obviously this is heartbreaking situation.

Sue and him we know what God intends for marriage, and in particular for the husband in this with the apostle Paul says in the book of Ephesians to model a love for his spouse that's that's after the love that Jesus has for his bride. And so that's you know not being selfish and self-seeking and self you know just just focus but but focused on the needs of the other and this is precisely what with the apostle Paul said it should be true of all of us as Christians in the book of Philippians in Philippians chapter 2, he says do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others, and again he routes that in the work of Jesus for us. So I think in terms of healing, it does have to be a work of the Holy Spirit, grounded in the gospel and a clear vision of who Jesus is and what Jesus has done for us, but you're right so often and especially for individuals who have narcissistic good disorders there.

There is it an unwillingness to even see that I think therapy and in counselors can be helpful. One resource Sue that I would point you to is a book that I read that I just thought was really helpful in terms of addressing narcissism.

It's written by Chuck to grow. It's called when narcissism comes to church. Healing your community from emotional and spiritual abuse.

I want to recommend you get a hold of that book again by Chuck to Grote and and I also want to rope you in here till because I know you. You've done a lot of research in this area in particular and what what would you add while I think what Sue said is true. Most therapist most research would show that narcissism is a deeply ingrained disorder that really begins in early childhood and it's very difficult to treat. It's very difficult to resolve. And so really what most therapy tends to focus on is those who are in relation ship with the narcissist and helping them to put up effective boundaries.

You know the Bible talks about let your yes be yes and your no be no end. In many cases it really requires setting firm boundaries with the narcissist.

This is acceptable.

This is not, and if this happens, this is going to be the consequence. So that's a lot easier to do if you have support. So I think what I would say to Sue, is if she's not in a church where she is getting support from others, or in a small group that's probably where God would want her most right now to find that sort of support in this relationship and and so a church is supportive but also in a church that has some awareness with regard to this issue right that in particular when you're thinking about a narcissistic disorder because I think that there does need to be accountability now Sue can I just follow up and asked does does the husband here profess faith in Jesus Christ not in a church, however, will search service and saying hello and out connectedness, superficial way because what what is what is well known, narcissistic or not is you know, people tend to look at their heavenly father the same way as their earthly father stuff you didn't have a good earthly father makes it really difficult to trust the heavenly father right yeah yeah Ms. etc. sounds like there's a lot of pain here. I know in in Chuck to Grote's book he talks about how a lot of this just some interesting ties between just shame also and narcissistic behavior, and in the sounds to me like there's there's a lot of deep work that this man needs to do my I never him him right. We believe in Jesus we believe in the power of the gospel as I always want to hold out hope. Therefore him and for further spouse but but I think it looks like that and it sounds like there needs to be some some acceptance of the fact that this is a real issue and that the husband would need to really I think create healthy patterns of saying how I'm in a well and work through this me that looks like therapy. Maybe that looks like church accountability, so on and so forth. Seeing where that the behavior is destructive and harmful and and true repentance and a and I think that's something for for the wife also to hold that the individual accountable in and so Sue may may God be with you and bless you appreciate this question again encourage you to get plugged into solid community where you can have some of that support that you need in and also check out that book that I mention one more time when narcissism comes to church by Chuck to grow, so thank you so much for your call will continue to be praying for you and that whole situation. This is core Christianity just to let you know were going to be recording a second program today so if you haven't had a chance to have your question answered.

You can call us for the next half hour or so and would love to take your call about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology. Here's the phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 Mason from Springfield, Missouri, Mason, what your question for Israel, guys, I am a big listener so I called in with a few other question. The question is there be a little bit longer but I'll try to make it brief so that my company that I work for for about a year and 1/2 two years now. By God's grace.

I'm a high performer. There and have some pole in and respect there. The company has been leaning toward liberal liberalism and there's this thing called resource group that they put together for what they call on unwrapped underrepresented employee group so we have one for the pride community. Our LGBT Q people.

They have one for women. They have one for people of color, one for veterans and one for people with disabilities so I have gone to bat for a Christian resource group because it's for employees who are underrepresented and I know that might sound silly, but it only sounds silly because we live in a culture that we live in on the Christian faith for bullying and persecution Mason thank you for for you question I hear what you're saying probably what we'll do is we'll pick this question up on tomorrow's episode when we open up and so maybe give us a call back will just go off stuff what you've already shared appreciate you being a listener and calling in and we look forward to answering this tomorrow at the start of the show. 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