If We Must Confess in Christ to Be Saved, Where Does That Leave the Mentally Disabled?

We must confess in Christ to be saved.

Where does that leave the mentally disabled veterans. One of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi there, and happy Friday Abdul 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. Our phone lines are open right now and will be taking calls for the next 25 minutes or so. So give us a call at 833 the core with your question. That's 1-833-843-2673 also post your question.

One of her social media sites and you can always email us your question at questions@corechristianity.com. Today here's a voicemail from one of our listeners. This is Kiana from Sacramento and I can get back in and I got dumped because I'm breathing that you should not have died naturally make it in your account immediately makes and confused. If God made everything need every living thing on clearly why would he allow people to see something that naturally, but not all of them equally in part or a little confused. I'm not looking good for me.

It would be much appreciated.

Thank you Katie thanks Kiana, you're absolutely right that the intent has always been just said that the entire world would turn to the Lord that they would be a part of the holy people in Deuteronomy right we we have the children of Israel getting ready to enter into the promised land and one of the things it's reiterated here in this book is God's law and in particular how they're going to need to live and relate to their neighbors there in the promised land in there all these laws that are given in particular, here and in chapter 14 as well. That helps to help to distinguish them as the holy covenant people and so you know even even the very next phrase there in what you quoted you know we read, for you are a people holy to the Lord your God in your to be distinct from the people of the land or not to have the same customs that they do not to worship me the same way that they do here to be distinct and, in part, you know some of that was they were called to be a light to obey the Lord there in the land so that the nations would would turn to the Lord. This is something that was was put out there you actually anticipated. Way back in the in the promises that were made to Abraham to be a blessing to all the nations of the world, but also you know throughout the prophets like the prophet Isaiah.

This was this what what was supposed to be the case now specifically here know why is it with that, but we read in verse 21 of Deuteronomy chapter 14 you shall not eat anything that has died naturally part of that was yeah I'm assuming just hygienic. You would want to consume an animal in been laying out in the sun. I think bacteria and all those things just it was just healthy right you did something that you would want to do but then as you may give it to the sojourner who is within your towns that he may eat it or you may sell it to a foreigner for your people holy to the Lord, you got no part of it with with that is back in chapter 12 one of the things that the children of Israel were prohibited from doing this. Eating the food with the blood.

Chapter 12 verse 23 of Deuteronomy only be sure that you do not need the blood for the blood is the life and you shall not eat the life with the flesh and this is again something distinct for the people of God. They were to drain the blood from the animal because the life was in the blood lot imagery there as well. So again, these are all ways in which the people were to be distinct there in the land with the intention of being a light of drawing the nations to God. Now course, we know that you know on the side of history that they didn't do that that oftentimes what ended up happening is they they embraced the pagan idolatry of their their neighbors and so it wasn't until Jesus, the true vine came as a light to the world that you have this sort of inclusion of the nations thing made a part of the covenant people of God, the holy people of God in the way that was always supposed to be.

And so, yes, that is, that is God's heart for the nations, and that was what Israel was supposed to be a light to the nations where they fell short, and that's what Jesus came to do perfectly in and has accomplished. Thank you for your question Kiana, thanks so much for listing to core Christianity. We really do appreciate you. Our phone number if you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theologies, you name it we would love to hear from you even if you have some doubts about the Christian faith were open to your questions as well.

Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to JB calling in from St. Louis, Missouri, JB, what's your question for pastor.

Israel so noted a few times there's been sort of a lot of difference of opinion among Christians about marriage something that I've noticed is that there seems to be pretty widespread agreement among Christians that divorce and remarriage are okay, but in Matthew 19 Jesus says that if you divorce for any reason. Reason other than adultery and then remarry, you are committing adultery. Paul in one Corinthians 7 might arguably give another exception about yourself not being a believer, but so I guess my question is what resulted in the agreement among Christians, the divorce and remarriage is okay notwithstanding Matthew 19 and I guess I'm thinking about a sort of a follow-up like what's up with treating Marine air heterosexual remarriage and same-sex marriage differently. JB, thank you so much for that thoughtful question and digging into a few passages. See Matthew 19 Jesus's teaching on on divorce and didn't really mean the one thing I can say is this is been a huge problem in the church right. I mean it's one thing for us as Christians to say hey the Bible is very clear about about what marriage is about the relationship between a man and a woman. But then if if we do all of those things and then we just have a certain low view of divorce. We don't treated as as ascending in certain context.

Remy obviously Jesus gave some provisions and will will talk about those you know there's the case of adultery there or abandonment in first Corinthians chapter 7 I believe.

But the fact of the matter is is that I think may be JB here. You're picking up on something here, an area where the church and Christians really need to think about. Hey, it is this something do we move all our talk of you know having a high view of marriage and protecting marriage. Are we really doing that with the way we treat the idea of divorce, and frankly I think that there probably many, many cases were were not, and where we need to repent now. I again I would I would see obviously Dana differences with you asking a what's the difference between the end of divorce or same-sex marriage. I do think that there are certainly drumming I would I would say it in in certain context. Divorce is permissible according to Jesus were in an individual is not bound to a person anymore. Maybe because they've been cheated on his mean they have to get a divorce but but Jesus says your your free in that in that case, whereas I would say II don't see that I don't see an exception like that for something like same-sex relationships and marriage and so there's a difference there, but I do want to be sensitive to the fact that I think you are touching on something and it's an area where we in the church really need to stop and say hey do we have is high view of marriage as we often boast and and we want to because we want to honor God. We don't want to be hypocrites on this on this issue and so does O say that some helpful resources out there specifically and in terms of thinking about divorce 11 small book that's that's going to be a little bit more technical as written a while back, but it's it's called divorce by John Murray it goes through basically the Old Testament passages that speak about divorce the New Testament passages 90 and get some case studies were thinking through this issue pastorally and again that's that's we want to want to be pastoral, but we ultimately want to be biblical as well and and we want to make sure that were were not minimizing once in particular. Maybe the sins that we tend to fall into more within the church while while pointing out the sins of others.

Appreciate your question JB God bless you. Thanks I drill some great counsel there on a very thorny issue. This is core Christianity with pastor Gabriel Sanchez. We are very excited about a brand-new Bible study that we'd like to offer you today yeah we been talking about the Bible study for a couple of days and I got it right here really just a wonderful 10 week Bible study called the parables of King Jesus ever gone to a study on the parables and a lot of people think that Jesus is speaking in parables to help people really understand the message of the kingdom to you noted to illustrate things a little bit better, but I think you'll be surprised to find out what Jesus is doing as he teaches and parables, not just teaching but actually accomplishing something ushering in his kingdom, then that's the emphasis of this 10 week study really really seeing what Jesus is accomplishing through these teachings on the parables and so if you want to understand how you fit in the God's kingdom and in who you are in God's story. There's no better place to start in the parables of King Jesus.

Go ahead and get a copy over core, Christianity.com for donation of $20 or more.

By the way, all of our studies are set up to work really well for personal use, but also in a group format and they're available in bulk quantities they be great to consider as you plan for your Sunday school class or your small group Bible study you can receive a copy of the parables Bible study is that as a rule set for donation of $20 or more@corechristianity.com/studies again. Core, Christianity.com/studies look at the great new study on the parables of King Jesus. Let's go to a voicemail we received from one of our callers earlier this week. This is from Deborah about three church on point jointly church will also take away our sorrow. So my question is it possible for some people in a perpetual state of grace their cells made perfect hi Deborah God bless you and God bless your son as well. I think just based on how you word the question is asked me what your you're coming from a Roman Catholic background. The way I would wear would speak about. This is one realizing that God in his grace can extend to us even even when there isn't a lot of cognitive development.

Bear right at I think of the passage I like to go to is in Luke Luke chapter 1 and it's when Mary visits Elizabeth and if you remember in verse 4041 it says when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the baby leaped in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit and she exclaimed with a loud cry. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb. But what was so interesting to me about that is here you have John the Baptist. I mean talk about not having a lot of cognitive development there. Me, he's in the womb. And yet, somehow, it seems, on the basis of holy Scripture that he was able to recognize the presence of the word Jesus there the grace of God.

Elizabeth is filled with the Holy Spirit is I just want to say to you that the Lord can and does work in our children are little children.

I think also in those who are developmentally disabled. Have you know those kinds of issues we we just know that that's not a barrier that keeps the grace of God from working in an individual's life and that Jesus welcomes the little children, those who are. We don't have those kinds of disabilities. I think even even later in Luke's gospel in Luke chapter 18 you have that scene where where people are bringing to Jesus, their children, their infants, even that's the word. The Greek word that Luke uses there verse 15 of Luke chapter 18 they were bringing even infants to Jesus that he might touch them.

And when the disciples thought they rebuke them. But Jesus called them to him, saying, let the children come to me and do not hinder them for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, he says, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it. And so it it's my belief you noted that these children that your son yes can and do experience the grace of God I want to encourage you and that encourage you to continue to go to church together to sing those him something sounds to me like you're already seen and have seen how the Lord has worked in in his life and God will continue to do that and so you pray and you you worship together and you know I think that that God extends his grace to to us in those situations, and so I appreciate your question Deborah for for just how thoughtful you were with them. Pray that the Lord blesses you and continues to bless your son as well.

God bless your listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Our phone lines are open. If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

We would love to hear from you. Here's the phone number is 833, the court will be taking calls for the next eight minutes or so. So now is your opportunity to jump on the phone 1-833-843-2673 let's go to DJ in St. Louis, Missouri DJ what's your question for pastor. Israel, question the Bible for all Christians, all man, all people will stand before God to be judge for the deeds done in this body. So my question is this it were going to stand before God to be Joe watch what exactly was the reason that were going to be judged.

If, for lack of a better term. We already arrived in the second part of their questionnaires when we stand before God to be jealous and would be banished away and sent to hail even after the judgment ceased, not DJ. If we are in Jesus Christ before in Christ. I don't believe that we will be banished away because were justified in Jesus. That means counted righteous in Christ, the righteousness of Jesus is given to his children so that we can stand before God confidently on the day of judgment, because of the great love that God has for us.

Now we are going to give an account still and I think that that's clear throughout the New Testament need you have this language, especially in the Pauline epistles organ working to give an account for the things that we've done now, I don't think that the result of that is going to be working to be banished or cursed, because we've already entered into life and in fact this is what Jesus himself said that the verse are going to want to look at is John the gospel of John in chapter 5.

This is Jesus speaking in the context of talking about his authority, the resurrection, and he says in verse 24 truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but is passed from death to life. Melt.

He does not come into judgment does not mean that were not going to. He's not going to stand before God on the day of judgment.

It means that he's not going to be condemned, which is precisely what you're asking.

Are Christians may begin to stand before God on the day of judgment and then and then be condemned. The other in Christ, he trusted in him.

Dad and I got a thing to say. We know you were good enough, no were not were not judged or saved, if you will, on the merit of our works is the merit of Jesus Christ and his goodness that's that's what gives us hope that's what gives us confidence and in fact John also says that you should have confidence on the day of judgment.

In first John chapter 4. Listen to what he said and I think this is so important because often we think about the judgment whether there is fear and trembling. We think about the lives that we've led the times we fail, the Lord, you know that the sin that we still struggle with. Even though we repent we turn to the Lord. John says in first John chapter 4 verse 17 by this is love perfected with us so that we may have confidence for the day of judgment, because as he is, so also are we in this world there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

We love because he first loved us.

Another without fear of punishment is is driven away by what by faith in the recognition of God's love for us in his son Jesus.

We love because he first loved us.

And so while we are going to stand before God on the day of judgment. We are going to give an account. We are not going to enter into judgment. That is, we are not going to be condemned and you and I do Christ and through the love of God can have confidence on the day of judgment may Lord help us by the grace of his spirit to have that sure confidence in Christ and to rejoice in it. Douglas well said thanks for that Israel. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez, a reminder we have a great new Bible study to offer you.

It's called the parables of King Jesus is available right now if you go to core Christianity.com/studies again. Core, Christianity.com/studies. To learn more about the wonderful new resource. The parables of King Jesus, we do receive emails here at core, Christianity, and here's a challenging one for you Israel.

This person says my husband has always worked away from home and I usually see him five days a month or so over a few years. This wore me down. I felt disconnected from him and I ended up cheating on him. I confess that to God, but never to him a few years later we separated in order to think about divorce because living two separate lives, never seeing each other is just too hard during this time I did sleep with another man. These instances have been wearing on me.

So I confess to God, but I don't tell my husband not because I'm afraid she'll get mad and leave me because were already probably going to get divorced but I fear breaking his heart. I think to myself if I stay with him and we agree on how to make this marriage work. I'll be committed and I won't cheat, so why bother to hurt him and break his heart. Is it okay if I confess only to God and never tell my husband or is that considered living in sin yeah will will.

There certainly is dishonesty there right in situations like this. I I always say, look, you need to speak with your husband, and I think that that is so important. I recognize that we know when we when we've sinned against God and against another person. There's there's a sense of all man this person is to be crushed by this this knowledge I don't I don't know what to what to do about it or how I can cope with that.

But the reality is that I think that you do need to be honest with your husband you need to bring this into the light, but you can't have a healthy relationship healthy marriage. The hope for a healthy marriage. If if you were keeping these kinds of secrets and and so I think that the right thing to do would be to confess to ask for forgiveness now again you make you make it sound like it you are already moving in the direction of of divorce, but II think that you should pray that the Lord would give you strength to be able to be honest, that you should confess this is as I give you, confess to God, but I think that you do need to speak to your husband about this in first John chapter 1 in verse five John says this is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you that God is light and in him is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus his son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Here's what I want to say to you, sister. The blood of Jesus Christ is sufficient for you, the grace of God is sufficient for you to cleanse all your sins.

When you when you confess.

But confession true confession. I think before the Lord involves realizing what we've done and and turning from it and saying no, this, this was wrong and I think in part, no fruit for you.

I think that would also involve speaking to your husband and it was so interesting here in this passage as it relates confession to the fellowship that we have with each other.

Even within the church, the forgiveness that God gives to us should give us renewed fellowship with with one another in the body of Christ, but certainly also in in our marriages and our families because we are a forgiving people and so so there's there's this relationship that there is that the sort of vertical relationship with with forgiveness. But then there's the horizontal. There's how it affects our relationships with each other and I think is you've confess the sin and in truly departed from incident.

I don't want anything to do with that. I never want to do that again God have mercy. I think I think a part of that is also saying to your husband. Look, I need to be honest with you I need God's forgiveness and not confess to God, but I need your forgiveness as well because I want to move forward in a way that's that's not in the darkness, not in the shadows, but in a way that's healthy and maybe maybe confessing means you're no longer going to want to be with me but that's that's a risk I think that you should you should take and it's respecting your husband also being honest with him and so I think you do that, sister, and appreciate you calling for leaving us that that question via email may Lord bless you and be with you and give you courage and grace as well. 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