How Do I Prove that the Resurrection is Different from a Fairytale?

How do I prove the resurrection is different from a fairytale such as one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi Abdul 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 right now 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 you can watch us right now on YouTube and send us a message through our YouTube channel and you can email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Joshua calling in from Nashville, Tennessee. Joshua what your question for pastor. Israel hello Michael, I really appreciate your show you originally want to ask why do we Christians hold onto the name of Easter where I think most people are realizing now that it had come from pagan origins and I will and actually take the question deeper into why don't most Christians celebrate the biblical holidays Christian for long time actually didn't know much about them until recently and just kind of feel like we've dismissed them irrelevant. Jewish holidays where where they say they are God's appointed times and they prophetically point to Jesus and he celebrated them himself filling.

I just feel like were missing a lot of really deep richness and elect not that we need that for salvation but yet if you like were were missing out and I felt like we had been led Marshall to learn the traditions of the world more so than the will of the Lord of God. They Joshua, thank you for the one the encouragement, and for that question.

Now, with regard to the word Easter. I think there is some debate out there about the that the actual origins. The etymology of that word and doesn't have pagan origins.

Is this paganism creeping into the church. The reality is historically having this is this is one of the earliest quote unquote holidays.

If you want to call it that, that Christians would celebrate the worshiping the Lord in and giving thanks praising him for his victory over death mean obviously that the first day of the week when Jesus rose again from the dead and Christians worshiping on that day. Every Sunday became a commemoration of the resurrection of Christ's victory over death, but early on in the history of the church. It seems like there was a specific day where they would they would spin a special way.

I remember that an end celebrate that, and so my concern is not so much that you know it's got these pagan origins and so we should avoid talking about the resurrection of Jesus, or whatever. It's that the way in which I think a lot of people celebrate Easter if you will. Today in in Christian circles, just like with with the eating of Christmas. For example, that has become very pagan were not focused on with the word of God teaches. It could be totally commercialized. You know I'd I remember is as a kid, not really understanding what we were doing on Easter and others.

There's Easter baskets and chocolate bunnies and eggs and what is going on quietly doing these things down and so a lot of people have distorted taking their eyes off of the that the focus of what the word of God teaches Christ victory over death and and it has become this sort of commercial enterprises. That's a problem and I'm with you on that and we need to we need to be cautious of that but with regard to to celebrating these things to the feast in the Bible. Well, one there is. I think one that we do celebrated in my church we celebrated weekly visits the Lord's supper, which is ultimately I think the fulfillment of so many things that we see in the Old Testament, but in particular the Passover meal Paul in first Corinthians chapter 5 verse seven says cleanse out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed.

Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven the leaven of malice and evil but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, and then you get to first Corinthians chapters 10 and 11 if going to talk about how to celebrate that festival.

The Lord's supper, but with regard to those those Old Testament celebrations holidays that we see in places like the book of Leviticus.

Remember what the apostle Paul said Joshua and Colossians chapter 2 verse 16.

Let no one pass judgment on you in questions of food or drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath. These are a shadow of the things to come with the substance belongs to Christ. This is why we don't celebrate those those festivals that were prescribed under the old covenant for the people of God is because they were types and shadows pointing forward to the reality of the substance who is Jesus Christ and we have the substance now through the preaching of the gospel in the sacraments of grace, baptism and the Lord's supper and so we don't go back to the old ceremonies and rituals of the Old Testament because what they pointed to ultimately we have as the body of Christ. And so we celebrate the feast quote" as Paul said in first Corinthians that the Passover lamb.

Jesus was sacrificed for us. We worship him and that's were called to do as as believers and so may God bless you as you do that and thank you for giving us a call and Joshua, thanks so much and thanks for being a listener to core Christianity. If you have a question for pastor a drill about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines are open right now will be taking calls for the next 15 minutes or so here is our phone number is 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core now Easter just a couple days away now and we have a really wonderful book that will help you as you celebrate Easter and factual help you all year round, and it's called captivated beholding the mystery of Jesus death and resurrection. We were just talking about rightly honoring the Lord as we think about his victory over death and we have this resource were offering a book captivated beholding the mystery of Jesus's death and resurrection by Beatty on yet. We lay out a wonderful resource that I think will encourage you in your walk with the Lord now and especially around this time of the year as many people are fixing their eyes once again on the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

We want to help you do that and so get a hold of this resource again. The book is called captivated and it's yours for donation of any amount over it.

Core, Christianity.com just a wonderful book and we would encourage you to check that out. Go to core Christianity.com/offers and look for the book captivated. Let's go to a voicemail from one of our callers. This came in from a listener named Cal. My question is regarding the apostles Creed statement regarding I believe in Jesus Christ. They see descended into hell.

That is my only question regarding that apostles. Great. Please answer thank you so much. I really do appreciate your teaching ministry.

Thank you six. Thank you so much sister, and then that's a question that we've been asked before on the broadcasters.

What it does not mean and any symptoms that language of descended into hell people. They will does that mean that after Jesus died he was suffering in hell further for our sins being tormented.

No, that's not with the with the creed meant there there there are some who have taken that to mean that that Christ on the cross, experienced hell, in the sense that he bore the judgment that was due to us for our sins. That's one way of looking at it and there were some during the time of the Reformation, who held that view. The other way of looking at this is that this is Christ proclaiming his victory over the grave. It's his vindication. It's his.

It's his victory lap, if you will around death and I like to I like to think of it that way.

And so what I want to clear up for you.

Just recognize it was not being said there is that Christ is suffering in Hades or in hell he bore the judgment that was due to us on the cross.

Then in and that was full and final and after he died on the cross for that period of of those three days right prior to the resurrection. I believe he was proclaiming his victory over the grave, and all creation. And so God bless you and thank you for that question.

Love that you're thinking about the creed so important for us.

I think as we talk about on encore Christianity the fundamentals of the faith info for those of you who are not familiar with the apostles Creed. Look it up and really just the core doctrine snare of the Christian faith that is so wonderful in all of us should know that and be able to explain your kids what the words of the apostles Creed are really saying so. Thanks for letting drill. This is core Christianity let's go to Kelly calling in from Bellevue, Illinois Kelly watcher question for Israel and hi Kelly reading in Ecclesiastes and in chapter 3 verse 11 says he is made everything beautiful in its time, he has put eternity into man's heart and I really like that phrase, and I wondered how you would explain that. How does that mean he has put eternity into man's heart thinking me really read the verse once more Kelly love to hear that you're studying Ecclesiastes.

He has made everything beautiful in its time also is put eternity into man's heart yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end there was a great theologian during the time of the Reformation who said that God is given to everyone this this sense of the divine. It was was called the census doing a Titus in Latin it was this idea that all of us. Deep down inside, have have a sense of God, look up at the stars in on it on a dark night on the starry night and you're just overwhelmed by the glory, the majesty of God's creation. Of course this is something that we read about in Psalm chapter 19, or in Romans chapter 1, the sense of God that we all have the sense of something far greater then us and I wonder if that's not one way of looking at this, that the eternity in our hearts the sense that we were created for something more just looked up Kelly quote from CS Lewis I love this quote it's from his his book mere Christianity which we get. We've actually offered on the broadcast before he says that in that book. Resetting that, but if I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, I find myself in this world that desires nothing this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation. He said, is that I was made for another world on the sort of longing that we all have that we all feel. I think that that could be what the author to Ecclesiastes is getting out there and in that's personally how how I take it the sort of drive it's in all of us and and frankly, this should be something that we capitalize on were having conversations with other people, especially those who don't know the Lord. I think we can we can we can bring this up in and talk about that deep sense of God that we have essence of longing that desire for meaning I that the decedent in each and every one of us and ultimately find the answers in in Christ and in the word and so that's how I take Ecclesiastes chapter 3 verse 11 Kelly glad you're digging in the Scriptures, God bless and are singing about O what a great time of year to be talking with our friends and relatives about eternity and the fact that there's more to this life than what we know see that the temporal existence from day to day and to talk about the hope of the resurrection, absolutely.

And by the way, let me just say this I shared this with my church early this week.

Eight Easter sicko wonderful opportunity. A time where you can invite people friends of yours who don't typically go to church to come and visit on a Sunday morning. I love you for a couple reasons one.

Hopefully your pastor is preaching on the resurrection so is getting straight to the gospel but to for whatever reason, you know, I think a lot of people are far more open to visiting coming to church on a on a Sunday or Easter Sunday. And so when take advantage of that opportunity and and maybe some of the people in your own life who who don't know the Lord who don't go to church and assured him an invitation and see what God might do through that. I saw some stat that sang the vast majority of people who receive personal invite to a Christmas or Easter service will actually go. So that's great. I'm so glad you encourage your listeners to do that. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez were still taking your calls if you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life, doctrine and theology Easter the true meaning of it. Feel free to give us a call. Here's number 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core let's go to voicemail that came in from one of her listeners earlier this week with John kids. I am wondering how do you help distinguish between the truth and reliability something like the resurrection with you know fairytales and all the other types of stories that we read to them and they reason they share throughout all life.

How can we help them distinguish between this true miraculous story, and other myths that they hear a thank you for that for that question. Super important severe writing about with with the five children that I have, so that this this idea of you know the reservation of Christ is a myth is just as this fairytale rallied to go to second Peter chapter 1 verse 16 for we did not follow Peterson cleverly devised myths when we made known to you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We were eyewitnesses of his Majesty as we solid the apostle said, with our own eyes for when he received honor and glory from God the father and the voice was born to him by the Majestic glory.

This is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased. We ourselves heard this very voice born from heaven.

We saw it and we heard it.

Peter says for we were with him on the holy mountain. And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns in the morning star rises in your hearts. We also have the word of God. He says on the prophetic testimony of the Scriptures we have that brothers and sisters as well and we have the testimony of the apostles. Those men who said we saw with our eyes, we heard it with our ears. We we handled it with our hands me that's what John says in first John the very beginning of first John and so I think I'd be treated as real history, and as we communicated with him about it with our children. We talk about it is real history.

We live our lives as though it were real because it is real. If we live like it's a fairytale if if we live like is a nice story that we can derive some nice morals from well guess what that that would that's what are our kids are going to believe a Ford before teaching them by our lives by our actions. It really is is a meaningless message to me that that's a huge issue. Paul says in verse 20.

In chapter 15. When he's talking about the resurrection of the dead. If, in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people. The most to be pitied. Even thought about that statement from the apostle Paul. There is look at it. If we only have hope in Christ for for this life that were presently living will then were pitiful were of all people. The most to be pitied. Why because they're living in such a way that that they they know that they have the hope of the resurrection of the dead and the life of the world to come. Everything in in in Paul's life and in the life of the believer at the should be geared towards this is the reality that we live with his in a fairytale. Christ has truly conquered death for his people. We have the hope of the gospel and that should shape the way that we live, we should be shaped by these truth brothers and sisters and and as as we as we are shaped by these truth, I think.

I think the people around the scene in particular the people that we live with our children and so what how do we communicate to them that it's that is not a fairytale. What we don't teach it as a fairytale we teach.

It is true. History is what God has done for us to deliver us from our sins, but we live our lives in a way that communicates that truth is well as you can say all this is this is true, this really happened, but if you live in such a way that it is totally contrary to the gospel of truth to the victory of Christ over death will then you're sending a mixed message and we don't want to do that is as Christians in his parents and so may God help us first to embrace the gospel for for everything that it is to rest in the forgiveness of sins to have the hope of the resurrection of the dead through what Jesus is done and to be shaped and formed by that truth by that great gospel announcement so that we live lives in honor of the Lord before others.

Thank you meant great counsel for moms and dads. Thank you for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, just a reminder we have that wonderful Easter book called captivated beholding the mystery of Jesus death and resurrection were offering that to you for a donation of any amount you can find out more about the book by going to core Christianity.com/offers go to Diane calling in from Rapid City, South Dakota Diane, welcome to the program. Diane hi Dan, are you there my call. I love you so you will 230 in the morning when I can't sleep so I very much say saying that we say we hope to put you to sleep.

Diane know I'm just joking that this will help me write goals citation. Thank you sister question what I crowns that we have when we get into heaven understand to some degree. I'm not really sure what they all are.

I believe that we get crowns for doing work here for the Lord and in the deep heaven handles crowns to him that correct what will thank you for that. That question so that the picture of laying our crowns at the feet of the Lord is something that we see in the book of Revelation. In Revelation chapter 4 verse 10 the 24 elders fall down before him who was seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever, and they cast their crowns before the throne and what they do.

They cast their crowns before the throne and they worship saying worthy are you are Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created of focus here on worshiping God as as creator and is the text continues in the book of Revelation Christ is to be worshiped as as Creator and Redeemer really beautiful picture of the worship it's taking place in heaven. But believers are said to receive crowns from the Lord rewards if you will talk about this earlier on on earlier in the week on the broadcasting up up up Paul in first Corinthians chapter 3 as a little bit of a discussion here, he talks about believers receiving a reward for for the things that they've done. Certainly when when the Scriptures talk about the final judgment. We were standing before God, each person receiving you know is due for what is done in the in the flesh in the body. You have the language of the believers receiving an imperishable crown in first Corinthians chapter 9 verse 25. A crown of righteousness. In second Timothy chapter 4 verse eight and a crown of life in James chapter 1 verse 12. Now what are those things that even the righteousness life imperishable crown it it is this picture that God is giving to the believer life write you these are gifts from God, right, first and foremost, righteousness, life, imperishable crown, which is to say that that this heavenly reward being in the presence of the Lord doesn't ever grow corrupt doesn't ever decay and so you have the picture of her work, but you have also, I think primarily sister the picture of this gift that God is giving to his people through his son Jesus.

When we come into the presence of of God. Everything that we have comes from the Lord and then the beautiful picture of worship and in Revelation chapter 4 is all of those gifts that God is first given to us. We laid his feet in an and in worship, saying worthy are you oh Lord our God, and so I think I think we know that the take away here is one just the generosity and goodness of God to shower his people with these gifted to recognizing this all comes from the Lord and goes back to him for his glory.

Thanks, her question great response. Thanks federal this is core Christianity and we do receive emails if you have a question for Israel.

You can email us anytime at Cora questions at core, Christianity.com that's questions at core, Christianity.com is one from Christie. She says, is there anything special we should be doing for holy week. I'm a fast on Good Friday. Is there anything else I can do to prepare for Easter yeah well I honestly me to say this, we should always prepare to approach the Lord in worship in a house, the word of God to be received by us, so that it so that it might have. It's it's working unless you know effective in salvation for us.

We should receive it with diligence with preparation with prayer. We should stored up in our hearts we should practice it with our lives to give thanks to God� This is just something that we should do once a year for the celebration of Easter something honestly every single Sunday when you go to church. Prepare your heart night hunting the other night before, pray, think about the passage that the pastor said to be preaching on and ask God to open your heart, your eyes go into it. You know with this with this preparation and diligent preparation.

I think I think you should do that all the time but I think Mina certainly this this Sunday as well and so may God bless you as this unit is note there's no prescribing. You need a fast and do this or that we offer our hearts to the Lord and worship with humility and faith and repentance to receive the gifts he gives to us. 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.

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