What Does it Mean that Jesus is Continually Interceding For Us in Heaven?

What is it mean that Jesus is continually interceding for us in heaven. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity high on Bill Meyer along with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and we are looking forward to hearing from you. You can call us right now. Our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so and here's the number to call it 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 can also post your question on one of our social media sites you can send us a message through our YouTube channel. You can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com and April 1 up today.

Here's an email from one of our listeners named Taylor.

Taylor says why do you think it's helpful to share your personal belief on eschatology. Some theology is unwavering in its truth.

I understand that but I'm not sure why it's helpful for you to share that you prefer the millennial view when there are other interpretations as well.

Hey Taylor, thanks for reaching out some guessing relisting the broadcast a few days, he got a member what it was specifically where were to be asked me about what my views were with regard to the at the last days the end times. What are things that we oftentimes will try to emphasize on this broadcast is that needle were talking about the last days the end times. There are number of different positions that let you find throughout church history that a number of positions that people who believe in the Bible and in cling to the authority of Scripture can come to different conclusions also want to make sure to to reiterate that that this isn't something that we need to divide overview others is not a part of the body of Christ because of it, but ultimately everything in Scripture is important and and there is 1 Right Way to understand Scripture and said they want to strive to open up the text to understand passages in their context and then to derive you know that that the benefit what will God would have for us as we rightly under to understand the text of Scripture.

Whether were talking about the church. Whether were talking about the doctrine of salvation. Whether were talking about that though the end times, and especially where where you know we live in a day where a lot of people are concerned are afraid are wondering about you know what what's coming. What's next what's what's around the corner. I think it's important for us to go to the Scriptures and and that to to draw out the comfort that God has for us there in his word in places like the book of Revelation and so that's why I you, not all all share. Might my views while also recognizing that there are faithful Christians who differ with me on on some things here and so I think were interested to continue digging the Scriptures, but to be charitable as as we do so and appreciate you sending that email and asking that question and pray that the Lord blesses you.

Hey Taylor, thank you so much for being a regular listener to core Christianity great question and thanks Israel for explaining that this is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. We have a great Bible study on the book of Revelation and would like to encourage you to get that for personal study or maybe for a small group or a Sunday school class.

You can find that by going to core Christianity.com/Revelation again.

Core, Christianity.com/Revelation gets into some of these different views of the end times that that Israel mentioned a moment ago while we do have something else would like to tell you about in with Easter coming up just man, but less than two weeks away is a wonderful Easter devotional and it's absolutely free and it's called meeting the risen Christ yet get a hold of this resource as as Easter approaches and were thinking about the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, you know that it's easy for us to think about this time of the year and you know just about getting together with family or maybe go to church, whereas we ordinarily don't put heat on Easter Sunday. I'm going to go to church when you don't understand the significance.

The importance of the fact that Jesus Christ is risen from the dead. This resources can help you. Do we what we want you to understand this vital core Christian doctrine and so we created this resource to help you in that and it's over core, Christianity.com. Yours for free again.

It's called meeting the risen Christ. Now this resource really gets at the heart of why we do what we do here at core Christianity would love to offer you that for free.

Just go to core Christianity.com/Easter again.

Core, Christianity.com/Easter and look for meeting the risen Christ. Let's go to Maxine who's calling in from Mississippi with a question maxing. What's your question for pastor Gabriel and mentor say no and enraptured in bed and cry show transparency and would meet him and Abedin never think about what happened to the law. So what if you know when when Christ returns right there you're referring to. First Thessalonians chapter forward with a context is the day of the Lord, and there are some people who will take this as as meaning of the cortical rapture. This this unit of believers being caught up in the air to be with the Lord but but different from, distinct from the day look at the context here really is the day of the Lord, that the second coming, the final judgment and the apostle Paul in first Thessalonians chapter forces we want to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep. Those who have died that you may not grieve as others who have no hope for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord that we were alive and who are left until the coming of the Lord is.

This is the second coming. Were talking about will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel of the. The sound of the trumpet of God and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and so we will always be with the Lord.

Therefore encourage one another with these words.

He's talking about that the salvation for those who are in Christ. Both those are in the tombs were to be raised the dead in Christ will be raised first and then also those who are alive and remain on earth you know during that the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but your question specifically is what about everybody else what can happen to them right here in the immediate context of first Thessalonians 4, Paul doesn't tell us, but if you go to second Thessalonians chapter 1, I think he gives us a very clear picture maxing of what's gonna happen there in verse five.

He's talking about the judgment that is coming on the unbelieving word and he said unbelieving world and he says this is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering since indeed God considers it, just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels their youth again referring to was talking about in first Thessalonians for the revelation of Jesus from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might. When he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and so you have two things that are happening there mixing you have the rescue and vindication of God's people got suffering people on earth, but you also have judgment on on those who do not obey the gospel. Those who reject the truth of the gospel to the coming of the Lord is good to be salvation vindication rescue for God's children and it's good to be judgment and vengeance for those who reject the truth.

There's your answer Bless you sister. I don't want to be one of those for sure. Not a pretty picture element will look at in this is why it ain't no Peter in second Peter in chapter 3 where he talks about the coming of the Lord, you know, and in some people say why hasn't he come yet.

Peter says God is patient toward you, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth that all should reach repentance. And so God is right now you know calling all people everywhere through the gospel to himself and and so we do the same.

We say look, believe on Christ meant your listing to core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. Our phone lines are open.

If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Maybe a question about doctrine or theology, something that may be confused as you are concerned you have or maybe something going on in your personal Christian walk and you're wondering, how does it intersect with what's happening in our culture right now. Would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. Our phone lines will be open for the next 15 minutes or so, so feel free to give us a call. Let's go to the listener voicemail from one of our listeners that came in earlier this week for that Jesus raised our rates are at that Lord Jesus. So I just want some extra nation on that Jesus. I love this question. And what a wee one amazing thing for us to just consider for a moment.

Then Jesus, the eternal son of God is praying for his people in heaven at the right hand of the father that he is making intercession. The passage that you refer to in the book of Hebrews chapter 4 is talking about Christ's priestly ministry.

The fact that he is able to sympathize with us that he was without sin tempted and always like us but without sin.

And because he's are our high priest Ophelia the author.

The Hebrew says we can draw near with confidence to the throne of grace because we have Jesus as our mediator now. Specifically, the author, the Hebrew says that Jesus is praying for us in chapter 7 and chapter 7 it says in verse 25. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. That is, those who draw near to God the father to his throne of grace, through Jesus Christ, is making intercession. He is praying for us and in the context there. It seems like one of that one of the things that Jesus is praying for is our sanctification is for our salvation are our growth in grace approaching God the father. It's our redemption and that's really what with the author. The Hebrew says he's able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God what what an encouragement that is for each of us. By the way that we see this in other places of the New Testament as as well. This is true that Christ is praying for us in the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 8 verse 34. Listen what the apostle Paul said there Romans chapter 8 verse 34 who is to condemn Christ Jesus is the one who died and more than that, who was raised who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us, but will have MEI I just I just love this immediate that I don't know about you but I've had people in my life. You know godly people that I look look up to them when they say eight I'm I'm praying for you. It means so much to me that I mean it just like wow to know I have. You know this this wonderful saintly woman or barman, you know, bringing my name before the Lord, you know it in their prayer because I did. I just think praise God I'm so grateful for that will do you know Christian Jesus the holy, righteous son of God praise for you for your sanctification for your growth in grace. For your protection from the evil when you think about that.

The conversation that Jesus had with Peter in Luke chapter 22 verse 32 where he says is Satan's desire to us to sift you Satan one step to take you out Peter but I have prayed for you and and that's what Jesus is doing right now for his people for you Ophelia if you if you believe in him and so we give thanks to God for that.

That we have Jesus, this wonderful, amazing, high priest, through whom we have access to God's throne of grace in this promise that he's praying for us right now even even today, and so given thanks for that, while some great words of comfort. Thank you for that Israel.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder you can leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day. We try to check her voicemails each day and the number to call is 1-833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to John calling in from Topeka, Kansas. John what your question for Israel. All I'm wondering what good to bad about that, again, not communion every Sunday as opposed to once a month. I like this question had the Alamo. Thank you for that. The good the bad and the ugly will look at. I am of the opinion that taking the Lord's supper weekly with the body of Christ is is good and important. I believe it's and sometimes maybe you've heard me use this this phrase before on the broadcast I believe it's a means of grace that is to say, it's one of the ways that God communicates his grace, his goodwill to his people to us through this sign that Jesus himself instituted for our spiritual nourishment and any continued growth and of course in the Gospels. It's very clear that Jesus instituted this this meal.

The apostle Paul. Also in first Corinthians has an extended discussion on the Lord's supper in first Corinthians chapters 10 and 11 in chapter 11 verse 26 Paul said, for as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. Now I know John that one of the concerns that people have with frequent communing with with taking the Lord's supper communion every week is a distinct because it can get ritualistic is is are we just gonna go through the motions that that that that point can be made about just to note any of it. We could set up the preaching of the word about prayer about singing songs so I understand that that objection and I also think that it's something we need to be on guard for you know we don't want to just go through the motions of worship and in fact God in the Old Testament places like the book of Isaiah rebuked his people. For that, and so the fact of the matter is we need to come before the Lord in worship and in particular it in the Lord's supper, examining ourselves as Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 11, but at the same time we need to recognize that this is a gift for us as the people of God. Too often we think about the Lord's supper is something that were were doing primarily in is my opportunity Inc. really hard about the fact that Jesus died, it would turn it into this this sort of somber work. Think about it like this. It's God communicating his goodwill, his grace, his gospel to you so that when you're struggling and wondering man is is the good news for me as a sinner. Yeah, I've heard it preached by I hear about the forgiveness of sins and pretty sure that God does forgive some people out there, but Boyd pastor doesn't know my sins my struggles can I be forgiven. Does Jesus invite me to the table and then we gather around and take the Lord's supper is surely sweet. We take that bread and and that wine by faith. It's as if Jesus himself is speaking to you saying this is my body given for you, take, receive, eat, experience, my grace, my forgiveness, my love, my goodwill toward you and so II think knowing that right. You mean again, but we can just go through the motions and and that's on us that the problem is not worship or the Lord supper. The problem is I think are our hearts, which can oftentimes be cold to the things of the Lord.

And so we get the check ourselves when we come to worship in one week.

When we take the Lord's supper, we need to receive it for what it is, which is communion with the very body and blood of Jesus Christ affect me give you one more versus what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians chapter 10 the cup of blessing that we bless her 16 is not a participation in the blood of Christ, the bread that we break not a participation in the body of Christ does more than just a mere remembrance this is communion with the very body and blood of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit, and through faith as I would say men. We should want that and and it's about is a wonderful thing to get that in a weekend and week out, and that's my my view, should they. John, thanks so much for your call. Thanks for listing the core Christianity by the way we're gonna record a second program today after our life program goes off the errors that will be taking calls for another 40 minutes or so. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Feel free to give us a call for the next 40 minutes. Here's the phone number you might want to jot this down for future reference. It's 833-843-2673 you can spell it on your phone. That's 833 the core and one more reminder we have that free Easter devotional available to you. It's called meeting the risen Christ by Pastor Jonathan Landry Cruz. What a great devotional for Easter. You can find that by going to our website today@corechristianity.com/Easter again. Core, Christianity.com/Easter let's go to Jackie calling in from St. Louis, Missouri Jackie what your question for pastor. Israel is waging and went to jail preached to be cold where they yeah dear you're you're bringing up of the passage in first Peter chapter 3, beginning in verse 18 and let me just read it for Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison because they formerly did not obey when God's patients waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared now though the spirits in prison. There, you know that that there they there in verse 20 is referring back to them in and it ties together with what was happening in the days of Noah.

Some people have taken this to mean that the Christ preached through Noah and he go back to chapter 1 in verse 11 of first Peter and talks about the spirit of Christ being in the profits as are some of the history of the church.

St. Augustine was one of those who who took that view others will say is you at this is preaching that took place after Jesus's death in in the spirit in which he is going and giving people a sort of a second chance of salvation and in delivering the Old Testament saints now that that that is not my view.

I think there are other reasons to reject that view. We take the whole of the New Testament together. 1/3 way that I think this can be taken. I think this is the way that I understand it, is that really what's happening here that the preaching is not offering these spirits in prison another chance of salvation what it is is Christ proclaiming his victory on this is the vindication of the Lord who had just been been crucified, broke, proclaiming his victory over the imprisoned spirits. Then again you see more about this in Jude 6 and there specifically it's it's talking about these these evil and angelic beings if you will that were rebellious. In the days of Noah and see you have Christ proclaiming his victory over the grave and over the powers of hell that's that's what's happening, you know that after Jesus dies it.

It's it's him proclaiming his victory and then rising again from the dead, and so that's that's my view, those of the other views that are out there on first Peter three and trusted house help for you.

God bless your listener core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. You can always email us your questions. Here's our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com there's an email from Carl and he says regarding a believers sanctification.

How will our spiritual growth and maturity. Now impact our experience in eternity.

Will there be a difference for those who diligently apply God's means of grace compared to those who do not.

This is a great question.

I mean sometimes, the way this is asses with regard to rewards in heaven yet are some Christians can have a better experience in heaven than others because of how faithful they were here on earth, and of course you in the New Testament of the language of of crowns and and and commendation and you see this in the parable, says as well. What exactly that. That's going to look like friend.

We don't have a lot of clarity. We do know I'm the one thing that I will. I always want to say is in the presence of the Lord nobody said to be bummed out. It's not can be like a man about in the bleachers because I was a pretty you know, miserable, Christian, and you know the real faithful people to get the front row seats. You know that that the heavenly feast that kind of and I think that it working at working to live together in perfect love and joy and were to be commended by the Lord were told and that let language of well done good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your master. There is and be a commendation how that's going to affect our our eternal state. If you will of it that if that means you know that will that the, the, the level of blessing that we experience in that this that's a great mystery. II think, and so you know when the New Testament talks about being in the presence of the Lord, the eat we have some some pictures and of the in the imagery of feasting the imagery of joy and the wedding supper eye has not seen ear has not heard of the things that the Lord has prepared for those who love him anything to be above and beyond anything we could even imagine. And so II think that's what that's were left with it something that we look forward to that. We anticipate but it's it's hard to say.

This is exactly what it's going to be like, and so I want to speculate too much. I just think it's something that one week. We all want to look forward to into we should be encouraged in light of the goodness of the Lord, not just in in in what were looking forward to, but in what he's already done in justifying us and and washing away of our sins. We should be encouraged to pursue him with all of her might to draw near to him and that that's the sometimes it's how we talk about signification justification is that the once for all definitive act of God whereby work counted righteous solely because of what Jesus has done.

Sanctification is this the work of God's spirit in our lives. Over time, making us more and more into the image of Christ. And so praise God for that.

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 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