Is There Hope For Those Who Die from a Drug Overdose?

Is there hope for those who died from a drug overdose such as one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel 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 with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites Facebook, Instagram or twitter and you can email us anytime with your question here is our email address its questions at core, Christianity.com. Today let's go to Tara calling in from Kansas City, Missouri dear what your question for Pastor Israel. Israel I would like to know what the Bible says regarding organ donation after we die or whether burial or cremation is preferred or acceptable.

Thank you for that question sister.

The Bible does not with regard to something like organ donation you like specific Bible verse about that and also with regard to whether or not cremation is acceptable in the way I typically approach this is is saying this is a matter of Christian liberty, freedom.

The Bible does have a high view of the body. You sometimes people Christians can can have the sort of spirit body dichotomy was all about the spiritual life Renick dying go to heaven and in our bodies, they don't really matter but but the Bible teaches that the body does matter that it's it's a part of who we are in the human person that one day God is gonna raise our bodies, but is not to raise our bodies on the basis of the fact that we were cremated or buried with a proper burial quote unquote the resurrection and the hope of the resurrection comes from our belief in Jesus Christ were united to him by the grace of the Holy Spirit. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is gonna raise up our bodies were to be working be raised, glorified, and so so the hope that we have. There is not based on how we were buried it. It's based on what we believe and who were trusting in now and and so so I think that with that knowledge. If an individual decides to be cremated after after they died to be buried. You know that both of those are are permissible or okay options for believers in Jesus Christ. And this is a matter of Christian liberty of Christian freedom and then with regard to organ donation. I also think that that's that's a personal choice. I think it's it's a a good thing a positive thing. A loving thing, perhaps even we could, we could say, you know, in terms of that, the need because there is such a need, then, and oftentimes you know donating organs can can lead to life for another person.

Which I think is is a good thing and so on that.

That's something to it to consider but but it's not again that there's one specific Bible verse and until you can do that, or you can't do that you have freedom is as you think about these things resting in your trust in Jesus Christ. Thank you for give us a call center. We also have a free core resource on this topic at the core question can a Christian be cremated and you can find that with some great information by going to core Christianity.com/free downloads. You can pick that up if you have a question about that or anyone you know always wondering about the cremation so make sure you take advantage of that.

This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. There is a special group of people we like to say thank you to today we call them our inner core. Yes, if you are a part of your core. Thank you very much for your support.

The inner core is a group that supports us with the monthly donation of $25 or more if you join your court.

We are happy to send you a copy of the book core Christianity, written by Prof. Michael Horton, Dr. Michael Horton were oftentimes talking about that that the core doctrines of the Christian faith on this broadcast one unite people around those doctrines. The gospel who God is who Jesus is what what what Christ has done for us and didn't we believe firmly that it's those doctrines that help us in our everyday Christian life in our walk with the Lord and and we need to be solid in those doctrines and so want to send you a copy of this book for joining the inner core and again thank you to all of our inner core supporters learn more about that by going to core Christianity.com/inner core and as a drill said will send you a copy of the book core Christianity by our founder Dr. Michael Horton. What a wonderful book that is for you or anyone you know who's maybe questioning what Christianity is really all about. So check it out.

Core, Christianity.com/inner core, we do receive voicemails here at core, Christianity and hers one that came in from one of our listeners named Robin church when my children being her life to Christ wrong and then my guy will know arrogance about the use of heroin.

I want to know what nation might battle to conquer and try to receive and live and we get yourself to Christ she wanted. My question thinking dear Robin, I'm so sorry to hear about your daughter again. Just that that tragedy that the battle with addiction and how serious that is, we are saved by faith in Jesus Christ and every every person who believes in Jesus was truly received Christ for for salvation continues to struggle with sin and some some I think and we we talked about this on the broadcast before with serious addiction. Does that struggle mean that they're not Christians know the Christian life is is a battle is a fight and and there are consequences to sin, but I don't believe that the Lord ever just abandons us in in that battle, if you will, or cuts us off. You know the unit with a situation like this. If your daughter believed in Christ. Even if she was in this battle. Jesus is the one who held her and who holds her still in an we have. You have the hope of the resurrection, the hope of eternal life, not just for yourself but for all those who are in Christ means is what Paul tells the Thessalonians. When when when a brother or sister in Christ, or a family member dies in the Lord. We have sorrow but not a sorrow that that that you know those who have no hope have because we do have hope through Jesus through his resurrection, not in our in our sinless obedience not in how victoriously we live the Christian life but in the Victor himself, Jesus Christ, who holds on to his people. Even while they limp along in the Christian life. And so while I cannot look into the heart of another person so you know I don't have. I don't have special insight to know who is saving who is, and I do know the promise of God's word and that's that.

All those who put their trust in Jesus Christ to call on the name of the Lord will be saved, and I think that includes even even those who battle with addiction and even even who who have tragic ends like like your daughter no sister that the love of Christ. The grace of Christ, the gospel of Christ is big enough for her if she believed in Jesus and so thank you Robin for calling us and may Lord be with you and comfort you and grant you his peace in his presence. Your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez if you would like to call us 24 hours a day. We have a voicemail system and you can leave your message.

Even if you don't listen to the live program. Some of the stations that were on air this show by tape delay. So later in the day, but feel free to call us anytime, 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Demetri in Springfield, Missouri Demetri what your question for Pastor Israel. My question is regarding you here this hundred and 83 and I I never thought about looking this up, but other than telling Moses this what one the Bible, everybody teaches that the Bible that Joel was the oldest verb birth giving the oldest, the oldest book in the Bible and where is that found in Scripture. I not try to stop you but I can't find that pastor Demetri thank you for your for your question yeah oftentimes and people talk about the book of Job is part of the wisdom literature. In the Old Testament, so this is one of the oldest books and we really don't know how old the book of Job is but but there are some things in in in the language of the book of Job, and in just the story that that seem to indicate that it's it is old. It's one of the older books of the Old Testament, and so but but there's not something in Scripture that that actually states that there's there's a mystery surrounding the book of Jude. We don't really know who the author was specifically the doesn't have. You know what that information as far as that's concerned.

We we rest in the fact that this is a book that was inspired by got I think of what Peter says in second Peter chapter 2. Knowing this first of all, verse 20, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone's own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit, and so God inspired his word, the Old Testament, the book of Job, by the grace of the Holy Spirit you know this was this was brought about. And then there's there's so much there. One thing I'll just I'll just say about the book of Job because there are a lot of people that are kind of confused about this book is Artie mentioned. It's a part of the wisdom literature. When you look at the wisdom literature you and you have me of the book of Job you have Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, you kinda have this tension within the wisdom literature that you see in the book of Job working on the book of Proverbs.

Oftentimes it's it's if you do this. This is going to happen.

This is a cause-and-effect relationship, you know. But then you you read books like the book of Ecclesiastes of the book of Job were Job is presented to us as a righteous man, yet these terrible things happen to him in in life. It just shows us that that wisdom is complex in the Bible then that and that life is complex, that we we we we look at situations, tragedies, even in our own lives or what you see in the book of Job and and we we require. We need the grace of God's spirit to grant us wisdom to understand and discern how to respond to each particular situation. Of course that's what Job's friends had difficulty with as they sought to minister to him and so yeah old old book of of the Bible, one that I think this is so good and and helpful for us to read into and to understand it with questions related to suffering and also just God's sovereignty and in God's providence in the life of his people and so Demetri God bless you keep on pursuing the Lord and growing in in the grace of Christ love to hear you calling 83 years old and studying the Scriptures. May the Lord be with you and bless you Demetri. Thanks so much for listening to your core. Christianity of Pastor Israel would love get your email questions as well. You can email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com.

We try to go through your emails each day.

We also receive voicemails and here's one from a listener named Brian what the kingdom of God is the largest largest Christ is all largest and all art is or is there more to it than that, about first his kingdom is right very much great question. A very practical question that comes in the context of the sermon on the Mount in Matthew chapter 6. Specifically, in expectation that Jesus gives with regard to anxiety.

He says in verse 20.

Folks want to read this passage friends in and just listen to the words of our Lord Jesus here because I think they're so important for for us today. Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing.

Look at the birds of the air, they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they in which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life. Why are you anxious about clothing. Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow, they neither toil nor spin. Yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you. Oh you of little faith.

Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, what shall we eat or what shall we drink, or what shall we wear for the Gentiles seek after these things in your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. Therefore, do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble and I think we can all say amen to that sufficient for the day is its own trouble but but I wanted to read the whole passage because it's it's that context in which you have this this statement were Jesus says seek first the kingdom of God.

And that's contrasted with what would seeking after the things of this world, if you will. You being anxious about what you're going aware what you're going to eat you know how big of a house you live in that that kind of the thing you look, don't. Don't let anxiety that cares of this world crowd out the pursuit of God, his kingdom, his righteousness, and so so I think seeing that contrast, there helps us to define what what it means.

What Jesus meant when he said to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness.

It looks like first and foremost not been consumed with anxiety about you know that the affairs of of our life and in terms of, you know, pursuing first and foremost the job in making a lot of money and and having earthly possessions us are good things, and God knows that we need things to the live event to survive and God will take care of you.

Jesus says, but here's what you need to focus on here's here's what you need to prioritize. It's your relationship with God.

It's his kingdom and his righteousness, his goodness, his gospel that has to be the focus. I think of the parable of the soils that Jesus gives in the Gospels, nor he talks about that the gospel that the seed of the word going out and being planted in various soils and there was that one soil. If you remember where where that the cares of this world the desires for riches that crowded out the seed of God's word so that it became unfruitful, and I think that's that's a problem that were sitting all around us. Today's people prioritizing that the city cares of this world, if you will, over their spiritual life over their relationship with God. And if you're doing that in in your life. I just want to say listen to the words of Jesus here. Seek first. My kingdom seek me first. Do you know Christ you have a relationship with him, does his righteousness belong to you by faith. That's the priority that we we all need to to to focus on knowing that God provides for the other things and that's precisely what Jesus says there in Matthew chapter 6 and so God bless you brothers you seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness are listed in your core.

Christianity is just a reminder that we would love to have you join our inner core that special group of people who believe so strongly in this program that they support us on a monthly basis. You can learn more about that by going to court, Christianity.com/inner core. Let's go to Stephanie who is calling in from Nebraska. Stephanie, what's your question for Pastor Israel, good afternoon to just wanting opinion. Our thoughts on the vaccine and our vaccine cyst on being the mark of the beast or the start of something that many, many people are concerned about Stephanie. Yours is not the first question we received here on on the broadcast about you know is the mark of the beast.

The Cove in 19 vaccine is is in all people accidentally taking the mark of the beast is well the answer to to that is is quite simple. The answer to that is no the.

The vaccine is not the mark of the beast.

Of course, that that comes from the book of Revelation chapter 13 teen and and their knee in that the mark of the beast is association with identification with the evil one with idolatry.

With this sinful system that rejects the gospel, it's embracing that it's being marked by that, if you will. In contrast, the people of God. God's elect are marked on therefore heads with his name. It's is quite interesting in chapter 14 of the book of Revelation. Verse one John says I looked, and behold on Mount Zion stood the Lamb and with him 144,000 who had his name and his father's name written on their foreheads. And so there's this there's this great contrast here.

You have those who are marked by the beast on their forehead and identifying with this apostate system with this false religion with this idolatry and sensuality and then you have those who are marked by the Lord who have his name on them who belong to Jesus Christ and so if if you're a Christian.

If you belong to Jesus you trust in him than I what I want to say to you Stephanie that that you've been marked by the name of Jesus baptized, presumably in the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit, having received by faith, the forgiveness of your sins been sealed with the Holy Spirit. You can't accidentally take the mark of the beast is not is not a Cove in 19 vaccine or some some other procedure like that know it's it's the rejection of the gospel. The embracing of this false system of worship described therein.

Revelation chapter 13 so if you're anxious about this for yourself because you've perhaps gotten the vaccine and in your just not sure. Now I just want to say you don't need to worry about that you can rest in the fact that you are marked by the by the Lord himself and that you belong to him through faith in Jesus Christ. S. MM. Stephanie, thanks for your call. Thanks for listening to core Christianity would receive emails here and if you have a question for Pastor Israel. Feel free to shoot us an email at questions@corechristianity.com there's one from Maryland. She says I have trouble talking to people of the world who act like they are completely oblivious to God's presence, or his real teachings.

How can I learn more about approaching them with the truth or what chapters can I study everyone has a sense of God. Theologians have talked about about this is the sense of God that everyone regardless of what they say experiences it's it's deep in our bones.

It's the feeling that you get when you look up at the stars at night and you're just overwhelmed with this with this reality of the fact that you're tiny that were this tiny speck in the universe.

Is there something far greater than us out there. It's what Paul talks about in Romans chapter 1.

It's what the psalmist talks about in Psalm 19. The this idea that the heavens declare the glory of God in the firmament shows his handiwork. Day unto day utters speech night to night reveals knowledge and in Romans chapter 1, Paul makes it absolutely clear that God's invisible attributes in all the way it is glory his power are clearly perceived in the things that have been created so that the thing is, people might tend like there oblivious, but deep down inside, we all have the sense of God. The issue is not that we put tend it's that we suppress the truth in unrighteousness is what Paul says in Romans chapter 1 by that we take this this or general knowledge. The sense of God that we have and we we suppress that week we turn away from it. We we instead of me to worshiping God the creator we choose to worship in the creation of the work of our own hands or or really for many people today just ourselves we we worship ourselves, our God is our belly. As Paul said of of some of the false teachers in Philippians chapter 3, and so so I think one that that's a starting point, you can say look, everyone has this general sense of God. We suppress that sense of God and so what we need.

We need the proclamation of the gospel and that's where I think you point people to God's special revelation what he has revealed in his word and his law in in in Scripture and the gospel and that and so that that's I think were the conversation always needs to go too often. I think we can get caught up talking about the peripheral things and never get to the gospel that that's not evangelism my call that pre-evangelism or something like that. But evangelism is the message of the gospel going out that the proclamation of the gospel sharing the gospel message that Jesus Christ, the son of God came to earth to live the perfect life that we could never live because we we break God's law every day and thought, word, and indeed and then in our place to suffer and die on a cross to bear the judgment. The curse that we deserve, so that we might have a vital relationship with God so that we might experience his presence and his blessing in our lives. That's what you want to talk about. And the reality is many people don't understand that they don't understand the gospel.

They think Christianity is just about you keeping rules and in doing you know certain things to to be more spiritual to be religious, and it's about what God has done. It's about the work of Jesus Christ for our salvation. So I would say focus on that in in your discussions get to the gospel and help people to see how it's good news not just for you but for them and for the whole world as well.

God bless. 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