What Does It Mean to Abide in Christ?

What does it mean to abide in Christ. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will highlight Bill Mira Loma, Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answered your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. We can call us right now with your question. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 to get our voicemail. Feel free to record your questionnaire. You can also post your question on our Facebook, Instagram or twitter accounts and you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. Today here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Michelle really two new Christian baptized and ran reaching out to him and trying to talk to him about the world mission, piety, and he really get McGrath on hand that I am losing Bible study with my son and he invited person and really scary because they believe in God the father and got the matter.

Everything I would talk about Marie matter and talking to my.we don't celebrate Easter because not Christian so I'm just looking for some half-inch to any help is appreciated.

Thank you Michelle, I'm so sorry to hear about this situation. It's always heartbreaking to me when I see Christians people who have been baptized who believe in Jesus Christ being led astray by false religion bisects by Colts and the world mission society we use when you got a big long name like that as it is a religion that that's what you know that's the first red flag you know and I I've I've interacted with some people from this cult before actually where I met in Southern California for a while. They were pretty big on on college campuses and basically what they do and this is what all colts do is they take no passages of Scripture and they twist them. They twist the scriptures to their own destruction with her. With regard to this idea of God the mother and this is one of the things that they will oftentimes talk about the go to passages like Galatians chapter 4 and in Galatians chapter 4 Paul gives is this sort of allegory if you will get these two mountains is talking about Hagar is talking about Sarah. He says not Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia.

She corresponds to the present Jerusalem and she is in slavery with her children, but the Jerusalem above is free, and she is our mother, for it is written, rejoice (one who does not bear break forth and cry aloud, you who are not in labor for the children of the desolate one will be more than those of the one who has a husband, not just stopping right there. This is not saying that God is our mother that heavenly mother and the heavenly father. Here Paul is talking about the Jerusalem above the heavenly city, if you will, on the kingdom which God has built which we are a part of any uses the imagery here of of her being our mother did.

This is our motherland.

If you will. Our country was really basic stuff but again what what false teachers will do a cultural do still build take those basic things and they'll twist them. They'll read things into them. That's what we call ISA Jesus reading into the text.

Something that isn't there. And the interesting thing isn't the same book of the Bible, the book of Galatians is the one were also sternly warned at the very beginning and in chapter 1 verse six saying I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel. Not that there is another one. But there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

But even if we or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.

As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. That is, let him be eternally condemned. This is how serious it is when people take the truth of God and twist it and begin to compromise the gospel net precisely what this organization does. That's what others have done throughout the history of the church. That's why we need to be vigilant to know what the word of God teaches and so I would say Michelle you warn your son and say look this this sect, this cult it is that this new thing on the block right they they have no history.

Is this in a brand-new interpretation, a brand-new twisting of the Scriptures, and it's out of line with what the Bible actually teaches. What would Christ is revealed about his gospel about how we experience his grace and so I would say you know if if these friends are leading your sinister I would I would encourage them to one pick new friends, at least for the time being. If if this is a serious issue and to be rooted in a solid church where he's can hear the word of God faithfully taught in the Bible rightly handled in so that may the Lord be with you, Michelle, and bless you and and grant you wisdom and this time, no drill. You mentioned that this particular cult is active on some college campuses and I think it really behooves us as parents who have a say teenagers were heading off to college to make sure they are really well grounded may have a firm Christian worldview and apologetic and they they were able to defend their faith and also to search the Scriptures and not get led astray by one of these culture sex when they go off to college. Yeah, absolutely. I mean it. It starts now in the home right and in this is why it's important for us to be having these kinds of conversations about God's word sound doctrine in as you said you apologetics what is it mean to do nothing. I didn't know what we believe, but to be able to defendant because otherwise were sending our kids out into the world where there is every wind of doctrine, and they're not prepared to respond to the things that they hear on the basis of Scripture. And so we definitely want to encourage people to be doing that. The score Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We want to take a moment to say thank you to a special group of people who have committed to support this program. We call them our inner core and you are actually invited to join the inner core may actually have a very special event coming up for inner core members were to tell you about just a second after benefit from the answers we give on the show and we'd like to invite you to become a member of the inner core is an inner core member you'll receive a signed copy of the book core Christianity finding yourself in God's story by our founder Dr. Michael Horton exclusive updates and bonus content from the team and when you join the inner core in the month of March will send you an invitation to join us on a live virtual meeting with me.

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Let's go to a voicemail we received. This is a one from one of our listeners named Elias. My question is where Jesus says regarding biting and what I look like with regards to being in the Lord and yeah, great question that word abide is a word that we especially see in in John's writings in the gospel of John and elsewhere and I think that the key text to go to when were thinking about abiding in Christ is John chapter 15 Jesus said in John 15 verse one. I am the true vine, and my father is the vine dresser. Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit already were clean because of the word that I've spoken to you abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing now again this language of abiding is something that we see throughout John's Gospel back actually in John chapter 6 in verse 56. Listen to what Jesus said there. This is in the context of talking about his body is true food and true drink. He says whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me and I in him, and there in John six inserted parallel to believing in Christ, receiving him by faith is all about abiding coming. It looks like resting in receiving here specifically receiving the body and blood of Jesus Christ of picture if you will, of the gospel by faith. His redemptive work for us and were told in John 15 that there is this fruit that's created by abiding in Christ and the one who creates that fruit if you will, as Christ himself but his life flowing in and through you. The believer when you believe in Jesus Christ dear united to him by faith the Holy Spirit feels you're connected to Christ of the Spirit of Christ living in you. Paul said in Romans chapter in the spirit of Christ is at work in you to produce this fruit that that Jesus himself talked about their in John chapter 15 and part of this look like following the Lord, obeying his word. You see this again later in in John it looks like a life of prayer, prayer, fullness, Jesus talks about, you know, biting him in him and asking him Cimino, praying in verse seven. If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you by this my father is glorified, that you bear much fruit and so prove to be my disciples. And so I think of it as a went when we think about this idea of abiding in Christ, we focus on okay what do I need to do in order to abide in Christ.

But I think the emphasis even from Jesus himself is on this idea of receiving and resting in him.

What he said there in John chapter 6 if me know if you feeds on light on my flesh and drinks my blood that person abides in me, and so the question is are you in Christ are you resting in him and what he's done for you and as you do in the life of Christ is in you flowing through you. He begins organically. If you will, to produce that fruit in your life and and and you asked the question, will we know this prayer helped is reading the word of God helpful insofar as prayer is one of the ways we commune with Christ is you reading the word of God is one of the ways we experience the presence of Christ in our lives and we come to know him better. I would upset the answer is yes and so pursue the Lord through those things, and rest in him and what he's done for you. Great answer. Thanks for that Pedro.

This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. By the way, we have that core question called how do I live the Christian life if you like to check that out on our website go to core Christianity.com/free offers and again it's called, how do I live the Christian life will here's an email question that came in from one of our listeners named Dean. He says I have an apologetic question for you Shirley.

You've encountered folks who say that it's foolish to believe the Bible. One of the big arguments they make is that the Bible being thousands of years old, was written for people thousands of years ago and applying it to the 21st century is putting it out of context and some of it simply isn't relevant anymore. How would you respond to those people immediately and when I hear this question. Sometimes I wonder later. These people really read the Scriptures have they meditated, meditated upon them because the more I've studied the Bible, honestly with with humility right you are approaching the word of God. Your same Lord, give me understanding family with your Holy Spirit, the more study the Bible, the more I've been one just blown away by the majesty of the whole.

If you will.

The fact this it really testifies to the fact that it is inspired by God but but to just how practical it is, how it speaks to our deepest needs. If you're looking to the Scripture to help you figure how to fix your washer and dryer unit.

You know you can find that answer there, but if you're looking to the word of God for how to find peace in the midst of a world where there isn't a lot of peace while wouldn't that be relevant today right, I guess, isn't that what people are longing for. How about rest so many of us are are exhausted, tired, overworked, longing for resident outages mean a nap. I mean that deep soul rest in you think of what Scripture says what Jesus said come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in spirit and you will find rest for your souls to the word of God.

The Scriptures reveal to us an offer to us what we actually need more than anything else.

That deep rest that comes through Jesus Christ in the forgiveness of our sins and so that the issue is not that the Bible is irrelevant or not relevant maybe were just asking the wrong questions are looking for the Scriptures to the Scriptures for the for the wrong things we need to recognize that God is the one who sorta sets up that even the questions we should be asking terms. What does it mean to have a right relationship with God and and how can I trust God in the midst of the difficult things that are going on my life a little again the word of God speaks to that and not just the New Testament the entire Bible unit testifies to these realities.

I just finished preaching through the book of Genesis and it was amazing to me in the things we learn in Genesis that the stuff that we see there in terms of family conflict, family feud, reconciliation, forgiveness of these of the things that people in my church struggle with that I struggle with and yet there right there for us to see throughout the pages of Scripture and to see how God worked even in and through the circumstances, so I just don't buy it for one second. People say the Bible is irrelevant. I tell you I looked at it, but it's just been proved to be helpful. I disabled look, you didn't look close enough away to humble ourselves open up the Scriptures and and dig into them, recognizing that God speaks in and through them and I think as we do that we realize you got is a lot to say. The question is am I listening this is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. By the way, we have a YouTube channel and if you want you can check out our YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time. You can see a drill live in the studio and actually interact with him by sending him a question through the YouTube channel. Here's one from Michael watching on YouTube. He says I recently heard a pastor say you cannot please God, and less you are a Christian is God, not pleased by non-Christians who save others lives like non-Christian firefighters. What a great question Michael, first let me just say I do believe that God is pleased even when non-Christians do things that are good and right and a reflection if you will of of his lawn. The fact that the moral law is written on everybody's heart.

We all have this sense of God. If you will note more often than not, here's what we do is we turn away from that we suppress the truth of God in unrighteousness is what Paul says in in Romans chapter 1 the Psalms tell us there is none righteous, no not one. So when it comes to pleasing God for our salvation. That's where where we just we just can't in them the other. The Hebrew said in Hebrews chapter 11. I believe it verse six without faith it is impossible to please God, for he who comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. So if were talking about the doctrine of salvation and justification in approaching God rightly. We can't please God, in and of our selves through our own works. We need Jesus the mediator but but just generally speaking we think about God's good creation.

The fact that God made all things and sustains all things.

When he looked at the world that he makes of this is this is good. This is very good.

It was pleasing to the Lord and I think it so far as is humanity. Mankind still continues to be made in the image of God.

There is a degree of delight that the Lord has in his creation.

Now we sin against the Lord and grieve the Spirit of God, and God brings about judgment but but but that doesn't mean that there aren't still good things just by virtue of common grace and in the fact that were all made in the image of God, and things that I think are pleasing to the Lord and in a different sense. If you will, and so I now I want to be careful, we want to what we want to make sure that were not just painting with a broad brush if you will. Specifically, as I said we were thinking about the doctrine of salvation.

There's nothing that we can do in and of ourselves apart from the Lord. Apart from his spirit apart from Jesus that can please God and earn our way into his good graces but but we know also that God is good and that he created the world good and our sin through our sin. We fallen away, but God still delights in in the world that he created even as he calls that world to repentance and faith. Thanks for question your listing to core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Just a reminder would love to have you join our inner core, that group of people who support this broadcast on a regular basis and we also have an opportunity for you to get a copy of Dr. Michael Horton's book core Christianity excuse me, and that special zoo meeting coming up that we mentioned coming up in April so check it out@corechristianity.com/inner core was go to voicemail that came in from one of our listeners. This is from Mary Mike about church that has made the policy that a couple that is living together and not get married in the church unless they start living apart. My friend believes that Jesus would be welcoming and let people get married in the church. What do you think the practical pastoral question and I hesitate to answer, because you know what with these situations. Oftentimes you know there's a lot more to the story and I don't know the situation specifically if if I had to people in my church that were claimed to be Christian that were not married and they were cohabitating and engaging in fornication then noted that there is a serious issue here right there. There needs to be what one repentance and obedience to God's word obedience to God's law and in that we just hold them to that standard. On the basis of the fact that there claiming to be believers that their Christians, Paul in first Corinthians chapter 5 says you know what what what have we to do with judging outsiders, God judges outsiders, but we do as Christians it and then we must judge quote unquote our brothers and sisters in the church who have been baptized and are a you know members in the church and in claiming to follow Jesus better living in ways that are directly contrary to his word to his law. Another might be some pastor say well you don't repentance for them. Maybe do they just want to get married. So I'm just gonna marry them and it doesn't matter if they're living together, I probably would say no that there needs to be some repentance here. This issue needs to be addressed and ultimately that would be about wanting to help this couple these these two people presumably you know professing believers deal with with this issue with what seems like a some confusion around God his word and even even just relationships out.

I want the priority to be on Christ and what the Scripture teaches and and in that way entering into a healthy marriage, not just not just working to do what we want. We want the church to give us a stamp of approval too often.

Tragically, I think that I think that's the approach that people take is is a him and to live however I want and the church is there to just that sort of ferment me in my decisions even if those decisions are not in line with what the Bible teaches. Now that that may not be what's happening here. And like I said this was tough to answer these kinds of really sort of sticky pastoral questions and I'm not 100% sure and so I think that obviously that I would you know hope and pray that that the church that they are a part of is faithful wants to shepherd them pastor them well one step and highlight the seriousness of sin, but also encourage godly Christian marriage, and walk alongside of this couple.

If that's what they're wanting to pursue and I think a part of pursuing that would be first things first, let's let's repent of our fornication in cohabiting let's let's supper nuts. We shouldn't be living together and I went were not married and let's seek to approach this in a way that would be pleasing to the Lord and that would be a good witness to the people around us and so wasn't my thoughts on if you want to add anything before the program ends there. No, I think that's great advice. And you know people spend tens of thousands of dollars on a wedding and reception, but they won't spend six weeks on a premarital counseling so that's another thing. I will yeah that's really key in the church you once again brothers and sisters in it. We appreciate you listening to the program and we want to help you in all things honor the Lord and follow Jesus, sometimes not is not an easy thing to follow the Lord at all times. We want to follow him and honor him with all that we do things for list core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers and the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673.

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