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May 3, 2022 6:30 am
Episode 958 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions.
Questions in this Episode
1. How do I become a better Christian? I have not always lived a straight and narrow Christian life. What do I do to forgive other people that judge me for who I am and how do I move forward in my life?
2. As Christians, should we no longer consider ourselves as “sinners”?
3. It seems like in genuine efforts to Biblically distinguish between the sexes, some churches subjugate women in ways that seems to quench their gifts, especially anywhere outside the home. I want to avoid falling into this situation. So, how can I distinguish between Christian men and communities that practice Biblical gender roles from those that more closely resemble male chauvinism?
4. How long did it take Noah to build the ark?
5. Would you be able to answer why so many preachers I listen to tell Christians to drop everything and follow the Lord with their money and time when they practically swim in wealth themselves? I’m struggling with this and hope you can help me.
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ResourcesCore Question – How Do I Live the Christian Life?
Why are there so many male chauvinists in biblical churches.
That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition 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.
You can give us a call with your question right now, here's her phone number. It's 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 a drill right now live in the studio on our YouTube channel and sent him a message that way course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today.
Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Claire from the Bay Area in California. Christians for a while but unfortunately I have not let state and Arab Christian life. I have admired different struggles and wondering is what do I do to become a better Christian how to write forgive people that judge me for who I am and how do I move forward in my life. Claire me the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you and grant you peace. A great sense of forgiveness and also the ability to forgive is as you have been forgiven. I want to read from the gospel's story that that I think is one of the beautiful most beautiful depictions of the love of Christ and in how Jesus engages with people even with people who have a sinful passage from the Gospel of Luke Luke chapter 7. Beginning in verse 36 and and and I think that this story speaks to your situation. Claire does one of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table, and behold, a woman of the city was a sinner when she learned that he was reclining at the table in the Pharisee's house brought an alabaster flask of appointment and standing behind him at his feet.
Weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wipe them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment.
Now, when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this he said to himself. If this man were a prophet he would have known who and what sort of woman. This is who is touching him for she is a sinner and Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you, and he answered said teacher a certain moneylender had two debtors one owed 500 and RI and the other 50. When they could not pay.
He canceled the debt of both now which of them will love him more.
Simon answered the one I suppose, for whom he canceled the larger debt and he said to him you have judged rightly, then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, do you see this woman, I entered your house and you gave me no water for my feet, but she is wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in. She is not ceased to kiss my feet.
You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore I tell you, her sins which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much but he who is forgiven little loves little Annie said to her, your sins are forgiven, then those who were at the table with them began to say among themselves who is this who even forgives sins and he said to the woman, your faith has saved you go in peace. Isn't that just such a beautiful picture of our Lord here receiving love from this woman and also extending his love to her for giving her and the reason she loves so much. Jesus said, is because she had forgiven much in other words, she didn't walk on the straight and narrow. She had a past difficulty seeing trauma. Who knows what were not told specifically but we know she had a pass and it was such that she was notorious as a sinner that the Pharisee says you know if Jesus really was a prophet he would've known who this woman is. He wouldn't let her touch his feet but Jesus does.
And for the first thing I want to say to sisters no matter what your past is when you go to Jesus.
He extends his grace is love, his forgiveness to you and that's why we love him we love him because he first loved us as sinners.
Now other people like this Pharisee may may judge you may think negatively of you that's their problem and they will have to answer to God for that. We are called as Christians to forgive even even when people have bad attitudes like that forgiving as we ourselves have been forgiven and so I would say received by faith, the grace, the mercy, the forgiveness of Jesus for you no matter what your what your past is you come to the Lord. Repenting, he forgives your sins. And as he's given you that forgiveness extend that forgiveness to the people around you.
Those who also need to be forgiven and may the love and light of Jesus shine through you. Claire bless you some great counsel. Thank you so much for that Israel. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Our phone lines will be open for the next 15 minutes or so you can give us a call at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Tim calling in from Lincoln Nebraska. Tim what your question for a drill euro day. Tim is in the Bible with all we say we have no swearing or calling God a liar and then in first John chapter 5 verse 18. It's we have no soon. Basically, if we know if we know God and even after Rick surprised Arnoldo would get angry or we have doubts reduced soon so I want to could explain job chapter 5 verse 18 that is there a contradiction there because the very beginning of first John, as you know, Tim, you know, Johnson's anyone says he is without sin. He's a liar LOL probably what John is getting at here is there were a group of people who had left the church. They were apostates stated abandon the fellowship, and so John is writing here in first John is addressing this this schism that is taken place, and probably among those people who had left there was this embracing of what you what we might call antinomianism, lawlessness, saying all you know that really sin is not that big of a deal. You know that you we don't need to worry about that. We've been forgiven is sort of just loose living. If you will, in terms of the Christian law that the the grace of God is a John is having to address this here in first isolate if anyone says that if it was as I'm I'm without said I'm sinless, or sin, isn't that big of a deal that person is a liar that they don't understand what the Bible teaches that understand the fact that they still we still as you know, Tim, we still sin every day and thought, word, and indeed is a how we make sense of what John says.
Later there in first John chapter 5 verse 18 recess. We know that everyone who has been born of God does not keep on sinning, but he was been born of God protects him and the evil one does not touch him. So look John here is not saying that as Christians as those who are born of God.
We are sin less. It's very clear that people born of God continue to submit we experience this each and every one of us in our own lives, but I think he's talking about a pattern of behavior here ultimately that leads to turning away from God and I think that's in part what he was speaking of a little bit earlier where he talks about the sin that leads into death, in verse 16 he says if anyone sees his brother committing a sin not leading to death, he shall ask in God will give him life to those who commit sins that do not lead to death right there even even seems to suggest again that brothers within the church will continue to struggle with sin. Any then he goes on to say there is a sin that leads to death. I do not say that one should pray for that all wrongdoing is sin, but there is sin that does not lead to death.
And so there's no contradiction. John even here in the immediate context of first John chapter 5 is is not saying that we are sinless as believers he's talking about a pattern of sinful behavior that the person who is born of God doesn't doesn't persist in this unbelieving apostasy, and in fact that's again confirmed in first John chapter 2, where he talks about the people that abandon the church be apostates and he says they went out from us first John chapter 2, verse 19, but they were not of us.
For if they had been of us, they would've continued with us and so there's your answer brother. Thank you for giving us a call to him a great reminder of how we need to understand the context of every your Bible verse that we read and certainly first and second. John has an important context. Thank you for clarifying that Israel really great stuff. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez and we have a very unique resource we want to offer you today this is something special that families will be interested in.
Yet we have a new offer that combines just a lot of different resources that we put together here at core Christianity focused on faith and family and some of the difficult questions that families wrestle through related to raising children related to marriage relationship sexuality.
Even these the kinds of questions that we get practical questions really really practical questions is letter. We created this new resource over core, Christianity.com faith and family. It's available over at our website for a gift of any amount answered this thing to be some of them audiophiles some articles that we put together just a number of resources that we think will encourage you and your family and so please get a hold of this resource again over core, Christianity.com for donation of any amount love to get this in your hands and again just a donation of any amount will get that to you. You can go to core Christianity.com/family to find it again.
Core, Christianity.com/family to receive emails here core Christianity hears our email address. If you have a question for Israel it's questions at core, Christianity.com and here's one from one of her listeners named Abigail. She says I'm a young single woman trying to live out God's design for women in an increasingly hostile culture. I desire to be married and to faithfully strive toward the calling of God for women in my future marriage and church community.
Some Christian men and Christian churches carefully honor the essential equality and yet functional differences between males and females in marriage, family and church but others perhaps in genuine efforts to biblically distinguish between the sexes, subjugate women in a way that seems to quench their gifts, especially anywhere outside the home. I want to avoid falling into the situation. So how can I distinguish between Christian men and communities that practice biblical gender roles from those that more closely resemble male chauvinism is a lot hair, Abigail, and may the Lord bless you and honestly I hope that you do get plugged into a church where you are valued where your gifts are valued and you're able to use those gifts for the good of the body of Christ. Me, I think it's helpful to distinguish between the servo offices we see in in the church I you think of the office of elder teacher in DK in need of those offices that week we see spelled out in various places in the New Testament at and that the-ite reality of the gifts that God gives to the members of the body of Christ you think of first Corinthians chapter 12 more speaking about spiritual gifts in the way God gifts men and women within the church of the Holy Spirit distributes to each one individually as he wills, and every single person every single member of the body of Christ in the church, man or woman plays an integral role for the health and life of the church. This is just so important. It's the blue point that Paul makes in first Corinthians 12.
He says that we have a tendency to focus on the gifts we think are the greater gifts you know maybe that the person it's up there in front of everyone, or what not. The bosses actually every single gift is a vitally important for the health of the body and so I think you want to be in a church where that's where that's clear where you're encouraged in the gifts that God gives you not just on a Sunday morning because I mean there's only so much space and room for things happening on setting what was in your entire life serving Jesus with the gifts that he has given to you. That should be something that the church values you should be valued by your local church. I think of the way Paul speaks throughout his epistles in Romans chapter 16. For example, verse 20 says I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a servant of the church at century a that you may welcome her in the Lord in a way worthy of the saints and help her in whatever she may need from you, for she is been a patron of many and of myself as well. Paul said things is great. Priscilla Priscilla and acquittal of my fellow workers in Christ Jesus who risked their necks for my life, to whom not only I give thanks but all the churches of the Gentiles. Give thanks as well.
Just think of how Paul Paul speaks your mean he's talking about the vital role that women are playing for life and health of the church. Phoebe here described as a servant of the church, a patron of the apostles themselves. Priscilla and and acquittal of co-workers in Christ Jesus throughout the book of Philippians that language is repeated over and over again where we are together as members of the body of Christ gospel laborers together laboring side-by-side for the faith of the gospel coworkers if you will.
In that sense now that doesn't mean is, as you note that there are no real distinctions differences in terms of of calling in and so forth between men and women in the life of the body but with regard to gifting's every single person's gift should be valued regardless of sex, and should be encouraged and it's only as that's happening that churches are are operating in a in a healthy manner and growing in a healthy manner, and so I would say to you in terms of distinguishing of the kind of church that you want to be and be in a church that talks like Paul talks about here or talks like Paul talks there and in Romans chapter 616. Or, in the book of Philippians as well where you're to be encouraged in your gifts and where you can be able to use those gifts for the good of the body. God bless this core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.
Our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology. The number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Brian in St. Louis, Missouri Brian what your question for Israel. A lot of people ordered goals instructed by God to build the ark ever seated bench where how long it took all his family to the ark.
Specifically, that the Lord should go without all, she would know that all that what is what trees would be placed at Fort I heard so much as 100 used ark is that anymore truthful. Hey Brian, thank you for that question. Yeah there there is maybe some indication in Genesis chapter 6 that it took around 100 and hundred years or hundred and 20 years and this is just depends on how you interpret verse three of Genesis chapter 6.
We know in first Peter chapter 3 verse 20 that speaks of those who formerly did not obey when God's patients waited in the days of Noah while the ark was being prepared. In other words, there was this period of mercy if you will, as God is calling people to repentance, while know what is building the Arkansas took some time not know is building the ark that the patience of God is being extended toward humanity toward the world. But then the judgment came that I was telling you about Genesis chapter 6 verse three it says there the Lord said, my spirit shall not abide in man forever, for he is flesh his days shall be 120 years now. There are two ways to take that one is this idea that God is shortening the lifespans of of human beings. There, that's one way to take it.
Another way is God's is basically giving mankind time to repent. This is part of that that that patients thing that Peter was talking about in first Peter chapter 3 verse 20. So when God says his days will be hundred and 20 years he think that's that's about the amount of time before the flood comes in. So I don't see any reason that it would be strange to think that it did take the you know Noah and his family quite a bit of time and obviously when you think about this massive vessel years and years and years maybe 100 years. Sure I night I don't know that that you know we need to figure out the exact amount of time that it that it took I think that the focus on what the Bible teaches. Here is just that there was a period of patients if you will, as as the judgment is being talked about is God's warning that this is going to happen through Noah. There's time for people to repent and turn to the Lord and here it was it was, you know, several decades before before the judgment actually came in so that's what's emphasize.
I think in the taxes the patience of God toward sinful humanity prior to the judgment of false. Thanks, her question, Brian. Brian, thanks for calling and for listening to core Christianity by the way, a reminder, we have this great faith and family collection available to you today which answer some of the best questions tough questions we received about marriage and parenting sexuality dating relationships answers to kids questions and we would love to hear from you if you are interested in that. Just go to core Christianity.com/family to get the faith and family collection. Let's go to Norman calling in from Topeka, Kansas, Mormon what your question for pastor. Israel, my question is how do I know when God opens doors outlined.
This pretension them from regular happening. So Norman, how can you know when God opens a door for you, as opposed to you and this is just sort of random circumstances. Great question.
You know, there's this wonderful little verse in first Corinthians chapter 16 verse nine where Paul said a wide door for effective work has been has been opened to me gospel work serving the Lord a wide door for effective work is been open to meet and there are many adversaries. Isn't that interesting that I think often times we think you know when when God opens a door it's just going to be smooth sailing, and that's how you know that God has opened the door, but that's not always the case. Is it them impulses look there's there's a wide door for effective ministry that's been open for me.
But guess what, there are a lot of challenges there are a lot of setbacks so I guess of the first thing that I would say to you is difficulty adversaries setbacks does not necessarily mean that God is not opening a door for you now.
If the door is a door that leads to sin if you will him if this is something that just contrary to God's law and what I mean by that is, sometimes people will pray about things that they know are not right knows that God would you please just let you know I know I know that this is the right thing. But please, you know make an exception for me and all of a sudden you but quote unquote door opens and they think God is giving me a special pass, know that also would be an example of God, not opening a door in a situation like that. I think we pray you pray and you ask God for guidance you pray for wisdom as you study the word of God. Norman is you is you dig into the Scriptures in your mind is shaped by the teachings of the Bible you're praying for the leading of the Holy Spirit that I think you have freedom to make decisions and you ask God to you know let's say you're thinking about where to go to school or what job to get you. We pray that God provides opportunity for effective worker for effective ministry and if he does then it just something right where you know you'll be able to to go through it you get the job or or you'll be able to go to the school or whatever it is, but even if there are challenges that doesn't mean that the Lord is not in it.
So I would say what what you need is wisdom.
You need your mind to be shaped by the teaching of the Bible you need the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and so you pray and ask God for for that guidance and then you just you know you leave it in in the hands of the Lord and providentially in a sometimes God will open a door so that you know the opportunity presents itself. Often times I found also Norman that God will use people in your life to encourage you godly that mentors and friends who can point you in the right direction, but those are all things that you want to sort a factor in and so I would just say what what you want to be careful with this is not pursuing anything that you know is contrary to the word of God but also not just thinking that well if there are challenges or setbacks. It must not be God opening the door because clearly first print this chapter 16 verse nine makes it clear that sometimes even when God opens up the door there are adversaries, and so God bless you Norman and thanks for your call score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez we have time for one quick email question before we go, this one from Keith, he says, would you be able to answer why so many preachers I listened to tell Christians to drop everything and follow the Lord with their money and time when they practically swim and wealth themselves.
I'm struggling with this and I hope you can help me.
I'm assuming you're talking about, you know some of the pastors or preachers of people see on television who are just, you know, imploring people to sew their seed to give to this ministry or that ministry and often times the make these promises you if you just do this if you give this amount of money you're going to have a spiritual breakthrough in an sans over the same pastors often times as you know, are the guys are flying around in their own private jets and just living in in luxury, which is over the top outrageous well how do we make sense of that ice.
I think we just call it what it is.
I mean this is an abuse of the position that they're in. And in the reality is, it disqualifies them from the ministry of me that's one of the things that pastors and ministers are called, but not to be as greedy for gain and so I think I think what you're saying is, the effects of sin you should avoid preachers who are like that, Douglas.
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