Did the Church Replace Israel?

The church replace Israel is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity high on Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answered your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. You can call us right now with your question. Our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes or so, here's the number it's 833, the court, that's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question I want to our social media sites and you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to a voicemail from one of our listeners named Natalie Goldwater 5 yard we depend on God and God a book with no I do all the vandalism got depend on you the correct word.

But this plan for the gospel is who people, and you have a backup plan on Facebook.

People didn't agree with what I was saying all but know what your date. Thank you Scott yet not Natalie.

This homeless guy so mentally that's right that's right yeah sorry about that Scott. But interesting billboard.

I don't think I've I've seen that one around does God depend on us well know goddess depend on on anyone or anything. He has life in himself. It's the doctrine of what's sometimes called divine a Sadie EEE doesn't need anything God doesn't need air to breathe the has life in himself. He sees the self existent one the Lord God Almighty doesn't need anything but in his love, he chooses to use us and any creates out of the abundance of his love he could use angels if you wanted to, to proclaim the message of the gospel, but he doesn't. He includes you and me in this wonderful privilege of communicating the truth that the message of the gospel, and even when it comes to the advancement of that gospel. We are totally dependent upon the Lord, even though he he uses us. I think of what we read in acts chapter 16, where were hearing about the, the preaching of the gospel. Paul proclaiming the gospel and we read in verse 14 of act 61 who heard us was a woman named Lydia from the city of Thyatira seller of purple goods was a worshiper of God and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul in other words, it was the Lord himself who is working and was working through the preaching of the gospel.

Yes, he used Paul it was the spirit was God himself opening the heart. This is this is something that we see corroborated throughout the Scriptures earlier in the book of acts in acts chapter 13 verse 48 again when it comes to the preaching of the gospel we read when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed. Who did the appointing there. It was the Lord God himself and so and so we have to recognize one the sovereignty of God. The fact God doesn't need anyone, but God in his glorious wisdom chooses to use us and and were the ones who benefit from this knowledge is only God is is saying all boy if if only you know I just had something of God uses us and it's our great privilege to be used by the Lord in this capacity, as I would not say Scott that God depends on us in one of my concerns with that language. Is it puts an enormous burden on the evangelist as if it is if you know you if you don't do your work will then just get out God's sovereign will is not going to be accomplished. It's all on you know God is the one who's working in us both to will and to do for his good pleasure. He gets all the credit he gets all the glory and you and I are blessed with with with participating in this through the sovereign grace of God. The privilege of getting to serve him of getting to share the gospel but getting to preach the gospel for those who are pastors.

It's not that God needs us. It's that in his kindness he chooses to use us. God bless what you said you drill about it being a privilege to share the good news.

It's not something that we have to do or the God is expecting of us, but it's a wonderful privilege that we should take advantage of this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life, doctrine and theology. Maybe a question about what kind of church you should be attending. Or maybe how your Christian walk intersects with today's culture and what's happening in our world today. Here's the phone number to call for the next 20 minutes or so 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core looking forward to hearing from you today.

By the way we do receive a lot of questions about the end times her core Christianity and the book of Revelation in here at the core. We have a Bible study on that book yet many Christians wonder you know how am I to understand the last book of the Bible, the book of Revelation with all of its prophecies with all of the symbolism dragons. The lampstands all the how do I make sense of this. We want to help you make sense of the book of Revelation because it's meant to be a comfort for believers and so we created a 10 week Bible study through the book of Revelation that will really help you get a grasp on the last book of the Bible. It's yours for a gift of $20 or more and like I said this resources Bible study will really bless you as an individual or something you can go through with a group of friends would love to get that in your hands. You can call us for that, or you can go to our website and find it core, Christianity.com/Revelation again. Core, Christianity.com/Revelation, and as a rule, said it would be great for small group for Sunday school class. We actually have a discount available if you buy several of those. So give us a call and will put that in your hands. 833-843-2670 3833.

The core is the number of total voicemail we received one of our callers earlier this week and I so appreciate your programming your show and I would like to know what your thoughts are on the teaching of replacement theology and what the Bible says either for or against. And then what your answer would be, in contrast or and/or comparing what Ephesians chapters 1 through three, one, two and three says about replacement theology. Thank you so much for your program. I look forward to hearing your answer on their Todd, thank you for that question. Now were were getting into here that the identity of the people of God specifically were getting into eschatology the study of the last things and usually that phrase replacement theology is used to describe those who have a more covenantal framework reading of the Bible.

That is, those who view the Bible as this unified story of redemption rooted in God's promise in the various covenants that God made with his people, tracing that promise. Ultimately, the promise of redemption in in Jesus Christ and there are of course a number of ways in which Bible teachers and theologians have ever read the Scriptures interpreted the Scriptures. There is that that more covenantal framework which is the one that I am brace that I think is most faithful to the word of Scripture, there are others who have what sometimes referred to as a dispensational reading of the Bible and its typically those individuals who hold to what's known as dispensationalism who will say well reading the Bible. The other way that's replacement theology what they mean by that is this idea that the church Christians have replaced Israel so that God no longer has a purpose or plan for Israel as a nation now whether or not that's that's a true characterization of of those who hold the covenant theology. I am not sure that that's the case, my sense brother in reading text like Ephesians 1 through three and in Romans chapter 11 in the book of Hebrews. For example, is that Israel under the old covenant was a type if you will, of the church of the people of God. There's only one people of God throughout redemptive history. God doesn't have multiple peoples and multiple plans of salvation you reason to save the Israelites in the Old Testament. One way is in a safe Christians under the new covenant. Another way no no no no no there's one people of God and this is absolutely clear and those who believe in Jesus Christ would embrace the gospel are grafted into that one people of God.

We receive by faith. The promises of God that were made to the patriarch. This is why Paul in Galatians is that we are the children of Abraham. Places like Galatians chapter 3, or again this idea of being grafted into the people of God.

Paul in Romans chapter 11 or you brought up the book of Ephesians Ephesians chapter 2 beginning in verse 11. I think it states so clearly Todd.

Therefore, remember that it one time you Gentiles in the flesh that is non-Jews you weren't a part of Israel Gentiles in the flesh, called the un-circumcision by what is called the circumcision which is made in the flesh by hands. Remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world was at one time you were not a part of the people of God but now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ, he himself is our peace, who is made us both one and is broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace. That is the one people of God through faith in Jesus.

Christ is not. It's not that the church is replaced Israel in the sense that sometimes people will say it's that the Israel was always at a type of God's people that the new covenant people and it's through Jesus and faith in Jesus that we are a part of that group. It really is quite wonderful you think we are the children of Abraham by faith is his glorious promise that as Emily got his cast cast aside the Jews, in fact, Paul says no just just just the opposite in Romans 9 to 11. God is still drawing all people everywhere to himself including ethnic Israel through the promise of salvation in Jesus Christ.

The only way any of us, in your view can never have a saving relationship with God, but could be considered a part of the people of God is through Jesus Christ himself. I believe that with all my heart and I think that's what the Scriptures teach a man. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

We love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Or maybe you've got some doubts or some struggles about the Christian faith that you consider yourself to be an agnostic or atheist were welcome to take your call as well. You can call us right now for the next 15 minutes or so 833-843-2673 is the number 833 the core.

We also have a YouTube channel and you can go there if you like to submit a question right now. Let's go to Ed from Missouri Ed what is your question for pastor. Israel morning and thank you Bill about all glory are laws that God approved our present than anyone on the face of they'll remember verbatim what it was but it got implied that we don't have much more after that were is what Joanna spent with both the awareness of the truth, I got all places time the bank regardless of circumstance or consequences. Then I write and thank you so much for calling and asking that follow-up questions of the question that was asked is, does God depend on us as we depend on him and of course are talking about the Lord.

The sovereign Lord of the infinite God of all creation.

We would never want to say that he depends on us or needs us for anything that he's the one who gives to all life, breath and all things now my emphasis there was, was in stating just that, that God doesn't need us, but that he chooses to use us to accomplish is his purpose to accomplish his purposes including his is purpose to advance the gospel in the world you're totally right.

We are called as the people of God to be lights to be a witness of Paul says in Romans chapter 10, after talking about the gospel and the importance of the faith in Christ. He says in Romans 1014 how then will they call on him in whom they have not believed and how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard and how are they to hear without someone preaching and how are they to preach unless they are sent.

As it is written, how beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news in the words that it's imperative, it's necessary that people go out and preach the gospel. We are called each of us individually. As Christians, as the baptized, to bear witness to the truth to point people to Christ through our lives through the way that we live but also through sharing the message of the gospel.

I just don't want people to have this sense of it's all on me.

It's all on my shoulders if I don't do this out. I didn't share the gospel this instance it you know that you know it God's sovereign purposes are knocking to be a compass that kind of a thing know God works in and through us in and we are called absolutely to share the love of Christ and the message of salvation with the people around us. What we need to recognize that even as we do that we are dependent upon the Lord. He's not dependent upon us.

Thank you for calling again great clarification. Thank you for that.

Israel you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Here's a YouTube question that came in from one of our listeners. He says if God sent Jesus to die on the cross and Jesus is also God was the crucifixion the case of self murder or suicide. No self murder would be a sin. Of course, and Jesus never sinned, Jesus willingly offered himself in our place. It was the greatest act of love. It was the greatest act of sacrifice. Those who were guilty of sin were those who put him to death. Peter on the day of Pentecost when he's preaching says in acts chapter 2 verse 22 minute Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know this, Jesus delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. Here we have both human responsibility. You crucified him. You send this was what you did to the hands of lawless men and yet also somehow mysteriously God's sovereign purposes. This all happened according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, but in terms of the those Bureau primary cause if you will be the ones who were acting murdering Jesus and that was sinful human beings.

And somehow God was using that by his sovereign purposes to accomplish salvation for those who would trust in Christ. It's like what what what Joseph says to his brothers. At the end of Genesis what you meant for evil God purposed meant for good God can use. Even the sinful actions of of human beings, even our sinful actions to accomplish his purposes, and that's what he did there in in the crucifixion for our salvation. So this wasn't suicide or self murder.

This was Jesus offering himself up for our sins. I meant your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, a reminder we have a great Bible study on the book of Revelation available to you today. You can find out more about that by going to core Christianity.com/Revelation again. Core, Christianity.com/Revelation a great study for you individually or for your small group or your Sunday school class. Our phone lines are still open for the next five minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. We would love to hear from you. Here's the number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Biola from St. Louis, Missouri, Biola what your question for pastor. Israel I would like what anointing on your life.

Sharing using you don't help us with these questions I just like to ask about angels. I had a friend whose mom went home to glory and my heart goes out to my girlfriend and she said that mom's gone on to glory. And she's received their wings and of course I want to say anything, Dan. But would you explain that we are not looking to be like angels. There is even a song out that we often saying in is. I've got to wings to bail my face okay does explain it would not be like angel's, yes, thank you for that question and for your encouragement Millan and of course you know when people talk about death there so much confusion out there in the love the language of just passing on or he's gone to be in a better place or she's going to be in a in a better place and we just have these these platitudes.

Often times that that aren't rooted in what the Bible teaches, and nowhere in Scripture's the Bible say that when when someone dies when a believer dies at their given wings know we do know that when a believer dies their souls are made perfect in holiness, they immediately go into the presence of the Lord, where they worship him where there were there around his throne is the picture that's given to us in Hebrews chapter 12 and so for this friend I think you can provide the encouragement, the comfort that it you know what our loved ones in in Christ die that they are in the presence of the Lord with great joy minutes with the apostle Paul talks about in Philippians chapter 1 where he says, and I want to depart and be with Christ because that is far better than anything else at this world has to offer me says this and in Philippians chapter 1 verse 23 second Corinthians chapter 5 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and so Scripture everywhere teaches that when we die as Christians, our souls go to be with the Lord perfected in holiness, waiting for the final day, the day of resurrection where our bodies are raised up in glory that the resurrection of the debts of that's what we look forward to. As believers, angels, the author, the Hebrew says are ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation. That's Hebrews chapter 1 verse 14 and so we don't become angels when we die we do join the angels in heaven around the throne of God worshiping him and waiting for the last day. The final resurrection when were all together in the new heavens and the new earth glorified once and for all Biola. Thanks so much for your call. Thanks for being a regular listener to core Christianity. We really do appreciate you what were just about to the end of our program today. Our phone number if you got a question is 833-843-2673 can also leave a voicemail. There 24 hours a day, 833 the court let's go to Scott calling in from St. Louis, Missouri Scott what your question for Israel. Yes on the pill team and 16 all late to the end of the chapter, but on 15 especially 3115.

I'm sorry 3115 on eco-that in relation to Genesis lawn tractor will converse to. Is there any relationship there that thank you for your program Scott so Ezekiel 3115. Thus says the Lord God on the day the Cedar went down to Cheviot, I caused the morning I close the deep over it and restrained its rivers and many waters were stopped. I clothed Lebanon in gloom for it and all the trees of the field fainted because of it is that the text you're referring to is that talking about site. Oh yeah I don't know what I don't think that that text in particular means that there are a couple of passages that people will go to in the profits that they will say refer to the fall of Satan, the fall of the evil one. Places like the book of Isaiah, but I don't see a direct correlation to Genesis chapter 1 verse two.

Of course there and in Genesis chapter 1 getting into the, the creation Genesis chapter 1 verse two the earth was without form and void and darkness was over the face of the deep and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters there in Genesis chapter 1 verse two what's what's being emphasized is God's creative power, making all things from nothing creation ex knee hello. Is it sometimes referred to in the pictures is of the world being this uninhabitable wasteland if you will in God bringing light and glory in order in creation. Out of that, emphasizing his divine power and glory and sovereignty as the great King of all creation, so I appreciate that your you know wanting to create these or or see these textual relationships between those two passages I don't I don't know right off the bat that I see something therebetween. Ezekiel 3115 and and Genesis chapter 1 verse two though God bless you as you continue to read scriptures know it or we often talk about how in the Old Testament we find the types in the shadows that point us to Christ, and I'm wondering just in the remaining time that we have left. Can you explain what you mean by that appreciate you bringing this up Bill because we do tonight. I do frequently use that language of type and shadow specials were looking at the Old Testament.

What are those types and shadows so you think about those institutions that God created the tabernacle that the temple, the sacrificial system.

All of these pictures that you have of sacrifice of of the need for forgiveness for sins there there types shadows of the salvation that was coming in and through Jesus Christ, almost a foretaste of God revealed later. Thanks for listening to 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. 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