Does God Separate Himself from Us Every Time We Sin?

Does God separate himself from us every time we sin.

That is one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and we would love to hear from you.

Our phone lines will be open for the next 25 minutes or so you can call us with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. I can also post a question on one of her social media sites you can watch a drill live in the studio right now on YouTube and send us a message through our YouTube channel course you can always email us your questions. Here's the email address its questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Garrett who's calling in from Indiana Garrett what your question for Pastor Israel my call. My 20 question regarding the lower part of their account so the final custom that we should just bread and wine, or should we have a male here would be an art who can administer the actual Lord have to be a rabbi or ordained minister like the reason I'm not I'm bad at my house so and would it be okay for me administer the Lord in my house my family not will not be getting a letter. Thank you so much for this question.

I think when it comes to the Lord's supper and just Christian worship in general we want to follow the instructions that Jesus gave to us and so it's proper for the Lord's supper to be administered with bread and wine, and other which we don't get to make it up as we go. I can't use a Snickers bar and a glass of milk.

You know that kind of thing will the bread and wine are communicating something to us. These are signs that God has given that God is prescribed that signify the body and blood of Jesus to the gospel of his grace, and so I think it's important that we just stick with the Scriptures here. Now there are extraordinary circumstances do not. I've heard people asked what about an a in a place where there's no line that kind of the thing, but wine and this is one of the reasons why wine is used in in the New Testament Jesus instituted this meal. It isn't just chosen randomly. It's it's the drink of God's kingdom you think of Isaiah 25 where Isaiah the prophet has this picture of the kingdom of God being this amazing feast. You know it well aged wine with with me and of the bone in steak this this image of celebration. This image of joy. This image of God's kingdom. And that's why God God is what Jesus uses these elements in the institution of the Lord's supper and so again I think we want to stick with the Scriptures here in just generally speaking, with regard to worship the one that we want to stick with what the Scriptures teach now with regard to the question of who can administer the Lord's supper. I believe that it should only be someone who has been ordained, ordained as a minister of the gospel. Now I know that that that might come off is controversial, but let me let me explain myself here.

Specifically, the apostle Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 4 verse one that we are stewards of the mysteries of God, the Lord's supper and baptism are visible words that God gives to us the signs, the sacraments of his grace there closely related to the preaching of the word of God, and I don't think they just anybody should be a preacher. James chapter 3 verse one says let not many of us be teachers, brethren, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment. There are some people that are called specifically to this office of teaching of representing Christ through the ministry of the word and through the ministry of these ordinances and in the reason why this is. It is so important is because want to protect those things we want to like Paul tells Timothy to guard the good deposit of the fate that's been handed down so that we would just entrust anyone with with these with these mysteries are needs to be training there needs to be qualifications that the ones that Paul outlines in first Timothy three and Titus chapter 1, and so so it's something that happens Lord something for supper. Something happens according to the word of Christ in the context of the worshiping assembly and this is exactly what the apostle Paul says in first Corinthians chapter 11 where there's a rebuke there with how the Corinthians were taking the Lord separately for the coming together as the body, not as individuals on your own it all off off doing your own thing, but this is something that the body does together because, in part, what's what's being picture signified in the Lord separately unity that we have through the body of Jesus that the one loaf, the one bread that we break up pulses earlier and in first Corinthians, and so I believe it you know it. It should be administered by by a pastor by a minister of the gospel in the context of the gathered assembly and according to what Jesus has said now again I eat a lot and I know that Mina for many people, that they were not to the you know you need to see you anytime you want to take communion kinda off on your own.

You know you can do so at your own special time with Jesus. If you want to be in a bread line. You know you can use saltines and and a Diet Coke or whatever, but brothers and sisters we we need to take very seriously what Jesus says in his word with the apostles taught related to this related to this meal. In fact, you know, in first Corinthian's 11 Paul Paul says whoever therefore eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. Let a person examine himself then and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. I would say to you, Garrett.

As you lead your family assess the head of your house letting you teach the Scriptures you sing together you prayed together you take them to church good solid church with the word of God is faithfully taught and there you partake of the Lord's supper together under the ministry of the word, but I don't think that's something that we should do as as individual fathers and in our home. We do teach the word and encourage in that.

But but II think that the the Lord's supper is reserved for the worshiping assembly to be administered by a pastor and so thank you for the that two-part questions are for a little bit long there. But I really appreciate your question, breach of the fact that your wanting to lead your family in worship and in caring for them and for their spiritual well-being.

May the Lord bless you and that your thanks so much for your call.

Thanks for being a regular listener to core Christianity. We really do appreciate you. We have our phone lines open right now. If you have a question for Pastor Israel about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it we would love to hear from you. Here's our phone number 833, the court will be taking calls for the next 15 minutes or so.

1-833-843-2673 let's go to Sarah calling in from Nevada, Sarah, what your question for a drill regard 19 2011 daily what they believe are way very well have I could catch a medley of them.

They said they went that night I got would be getting back to Danny. I don't believe in general I think it would be to memorialize the bad that God will force me to say I'm sorry to hear about the death of your friend and so may God comfort you in in this time and I'm grateful that that this friend was was a believer that we have the hope of the resurrection of the dead and an eternal life through Jesus through what he's done and that you have that hope is well forward for this friend, but I know that this gotta be a really difficult time for you and so I got comfort you.

With regard to your question, I like the specificity here because we've re-receive this question before Sarah and it is a Bible just flat out condemned tattoos and I always say well know you numbingly obvious.

There are some things you shouldn't probably put on your body a minute could be you know dishonoring to the Lord, not in and of itself, but just generally speaking, no. But this is more specific because Leviticus 1928 says you shall not make any cuts on your body for the dead or tattoo yourselves. I am the Lord. Now would you getting this tattoo that your friend had be a sin in one since you know memorializing this person know I don't I don't think so. I think specifically what's happening in Leviticus chapter 19 in particular indignities calls to holiness that God is giving to his people to live in a way that's distinct from the pagan nations, and it seems that one of the things that was a part of the pagan worship that that that these people would do around Israel was tattooing was a sort of spiritual thing. Even a religious exercise, a pagan religious exercise and I don't think that's what you're talking about here.

And so my I don't believe that it would fall under the condemnation of God, or that it would be that it would be a a sin to get this tattoo and so that's that's my answer. I think I think you know when you look at the context of Leviticus chapter 19 and you you said that that command particular verse 20 in its context related to pagan worship in the pagan worship that was happening around the people of God, not wanting to imitate that.

I think that was forbidden, but I don't think that what you're talking about sister would be a sin per se, and so may the Lord be with you and comfort you and continually draw you nearer and nearer to him.

Sarah as you continue to grow in Christ. God bless. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez in a drill never told you are really like that tattoo of the Archangel Michael there on your bicep when you flex it really looks yeah that's right. When I'm like that just triples in size doesn't yet know know I'm is joking. I don't have an angel just texting on my body but I know there's an idea. I guess it is to check with your elders first yes this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We would love to hear from you. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Also, if you got any doubts about the fate maybe you consider yourself to be an agnostic or an atheist or even follow a different religion and you stumbled across this program in your thinking I'd don't believe in this Christianity stop a federal be happy to talk to you as well about the truth of the gospel. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

We also get a lot of questions here at core Christianity about heaven and answer those questions were offer you an excellent free resource today. It's called seven things you need to know about heaven and it is free.

One of the greatest topics a Christian can think about is our everlasting life with Christ. It's what helps us from striving after the things of this world, you know, we don't we don't need a hunger for material possessions for power for ease for comfort. Why, because Christ is secured for us and everlasting kingdom where we are co-heirs with him. But unfortunately, many people don't understand this and so we want to help you fix your eyes on heaven, in the hope that we have there and even beyond beyond having the promise of the resurrection of the body. The glorification of the whole world the cosmos. This is what God has promised to us in his son Jesus. And so we get all this resource. Again, it's over core, Christianity.com told seven things you need to know about heaven love to get that in your hands this week and again you can go to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers and look for seven things you need to know about heaven a free download for you to get voicemails here at core Christianity and if you got a question for us. You can filter.

Feel free to call us 24 hours a day and leave your voicemail. Here's one that came in earlier this week from one of our listeners named Brian and Christianity in general, but I know Curt is braiding out when a believer and/or that man standing right in God in prayer.

I don't always think about me were all the moment because of meeting being an organ we bought to be a very using way. Navigate experience in law and a lot of believer question is this language appropriate given what we know. The new covenant reality all government bank becoming really important question what happens when when we say not see an article over core Christian.com for things God does after we send something I think I think that's the title but but I just try to unpack what God is doing. Even when we sin now. Here's something you need understand one as a believer in Jesus Christ we trust in the Lord we receive the word of God were sealed with the Holy Spirit.

This is precisely with the apostle Paul said in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 13 in him you also, you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory.

In other words, God has given us this down payment.

The guarantee if you will that that that that the world to come. The new creation is ours. We have the spirit of the age to come. Living in us. We been sealed with the Holy Spirit when when you believed in the gospel and I think this is something that that we do so to get an lose and get in lose every time we sin, but our sin unit that there is an experience associated with sin that I think Paul is gonna talk about in just a few chapters in Ephesians chapter 4 of verse 29. This notice is talking about sitting here verse 29 let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the account at occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear and do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

Latency in your no longer sealed, as you were in chapter 1, when you send, but he does say when we sin as believers sealed by the Holy Spirit we grieve the Holy Spirit and there can be.

This sense of of spiritual drought greatly that we we've experienced this week we struggle with the sin that the feelings of maybe God being distant or no prayer not coming so easily or in lab and I know that I've grieve the Holy Spirit.

You know that that sense but that doesn't mean that God has abandoned us or left us I think it is just the consequences of sin.

But you don't you don't step in and out of know the ceiling of the Holy Spirit. If you will, but we can quench the spirit through through our actions through our sinful behavior, but the spirit is always there and in God is always there and calling us to repentance and disciplining us as his children even when we do sin, and so so the way I would answer question is by saying wow what we don't lose the Holy Spirit.

We can't, as those who have been sealed got got his is blessed is he saved us he justified us.

He sealed us with the Holy Spirit when we believed in the gospel. We can as believers grieve the Holy Spirit and that is something that we sense that we feel even but right God in his mercy. Ghetto calls us to himself. When we can we can repent.

We do repent were called to confess our sins as John tells us in first John chapters 1 and into bed to confess our sins, knowing that he forgives us and when we do we have that renewed sense of fellowship with God and also with his people and so maybe your you're in a time right now in your own life where you know you've been quenching the Holy Spirit can't believe in Jesus and embrace the gospel boy book, but I feel so distant from God, and I know that there are things that I'm doing that grieve the Holy Spirit will let me just say to your brother or your sister confess those things and repent of them in turn to the Lord and receive his grace and mercy at the mercy that he gives you when you confess your sins. And so there's that hope that we have. Thank you for your question. God bless.

I met some great words of reassurance from a drill. Thanks so much. This is core Christianity let's go to Jerry on the line from California jury what your question for pastor.

Israel, here's my question are told that it would be leaving and where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will later will.

"Everyone spoke up early for the rest of the Lord, why can't I fall you know and he sent his response.

Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust God and trust me there are many rooms in my father's house I will not tell you this were not true.

I am going there to prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may say that you may be where I am.

John 14 103 that is my question so everyone who has passed away including the disciples of everyone. Jesus now absent from the body present with the Lord. Or is it they are just sleeping. Yes, great question when the believer dies. Are they just unconscious. You know, sleeping, waiting for the resurrection, or are they in the presence of God. You could one passage in in San Quentin. Chapter 5 to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord and in I believe that the disciples and all those who have died in Christ are with God right now worshiping him around his throne.

In fact, in the book of Hebrews in Hebrews chapter 12 we have a picture of that that the spirits of the righteous made perfect there, around the throne of God worshiping God. You have the image of of the martyrs beneath the throne of God in the book of Revelation calling out to God for for justice. So it's not that it's not that the believer when when we die we disperse in her sleep that were not consciously like you're taking a a really long nap until the resurrection know we are worshiping the Lord together with all the church triumphant in in heaven waiting for the resurrection of the dead in the life of the world to come, but we are in the presence of the Lord immediately went when a believer dies their souls are immediately made perfect in holiness there really a wonderful thing in their bodies go down to the ground there still united to Christ and in a in a real sense of their waiting for our bodies are waiting for that that resurrection that the glorification that comes on the last day. But there's every indication, I think, in the New Testament that when we die we are in heaven, in the presence of the Lord worshiping him, together with all the saints. Thanks Greg response thanks that for that.

Jerry thanks bird bring a regular list of the core Christianity. We do appreciate you.

Let's go to Bonnie calling him from Kansas. Bonnie what your question late night girl start. I like church. I walked out and I doubt I will get back opening my heart and mind.

They all are not right that question you not the only one with with this with this question. I know how I know what spirituality or religion is right for me this works for me. I think we actually need it when you go back even further and ask many different question widget which is not know which one is right for me, but which one is just right. What is the truth and and ultimately right that that's we want to be aligned with. We want to be aligned with the truth and fundamentally speaking the truth I believe is something God reveals to us in his word and think that the something.

I think that many, many people would be willing to say.

I think that even you know he even broke out as we was God's word right, ultimately, is the truth and so the word of God rightly understood, rightly interpreted, rightly proclaimed, is where we want to be want to be somewhere where there's a faithful ministry where the Bible is being taught would being led into a deeper understanding of who Jesus is of what he's done for me and how he calls me to live in. So what what what I encourage people to do is it that made it that the primary question shouldn't be. Does this make me feel good is it is I feel like it's right for me. I think there's there's a piece there where we should connect and be able to connect the primary question is, is God speaking here through his word that the church is wherever the word of God is being faithfully taught and worship is being conducted according to what Jesus is said you know you have those ordinances that he gave to the church baptism and and the Lord's supper and and where the gospel is being is being clearly proclaimed it so I would say what what you want to strive for for yourself what would your family should long for us to be in a place where the word of God is taught faithfully and consistently word the Scriptures are opened and in their being preached.

That's the job of of a pastor.

Paul gives Timothy.

This solemn charge and in second Timothy chapter 4 preach the word is recalled to do that. That's what I'm called to do as a minister the gospel. Anybody who refers to themselves.

A pastor up at or about our priest Internet preaching the word. The word of God and not doing what they're supposed to be doing and so I would say for you sister go where the word of God is being faithfully taught with the Scriptures are being opened in your being led into a deeper understanding of who Jesus is and what he has done for you in your receiving the comfort of the gospel. That's what each of us needs in order to grow in our own and our own spiritual life in size want to say a quick prayer for you Bonnie. Father, I thank you for this for this caller. I thank you for her for her desire to know you and walk different would help her and her family to get plugged into a place Lord where your word is faithfully taught when they can grow back together in the knowledge of the truth. Would you be with her and bless her and that Jesus name, amen.

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