How Can I Keep the Great Commandment without Being Taken Advantage Of?

How can I keep the great commandment without being taken advantage of. That is one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi, I'm Bill Meyer along with pastor Adm. 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 always leave a voicemail there as well. You can post your question. One of our social media sites and you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com overstepped today. Let's go to Jay calling in from Fort Wayne, Indiana, J what your question for pastor. Israel about what little of people over will all know more. Only one J thank you for that question why you're asking, do we obey nine of the 10 Commandments and don't obey the Sabbath commandment lease. We certainly don't obey it like they did under the old covenant in the exact same way. Great question and happy to answer the first.

I think it's important to think about what the Sabbath is and was it.

It's a gift for humanity. Jesus says man was made for the Sabbath with the Sabbath was made for man to nourish us for rest you think about that that did the first Sabbath ever if you will. In Genesis chapter 2 beginning in verse was is thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them and on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done so God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it. God rested from all his work that he had done.

In all creation. Note one thing that's interesting about this Jake is on the previous six days of creation. You have the repetition of this phrase. It was evening and it was morning, the fifth day or the sixth day, but you don't have that that repetition there with the seven day was evening.

It was morning rabbis what they said. His unit is because the Sabbath here is a picture of the day without evening or morning picture of eternal rest if you will rest in God himself. And that's that's one of the things I think that we see highlighted throughout the pages of the Bible and certainly when we get to the New Testament, especially with Jesus our Lord, who identified himself as the one in whom the people of God have that Sabbath rest in the way we enter into that kind of Sabbath rest brother is through faith in Jesus Christ. The author, the Hebrew says in Hebrews chapter 4 verse three we who have believed enter that rest, as he is said as I swore in my wrath, they shall not enter my rest. Although his works were finished from the foundation of the world, for he has somewhere spoken of the seventh day. In this way and God rested on the seventh day from all his works and again in this passage, he said they shall not enter my rest.

Since therefore, it remains for some to enter it and those who formerly received good news failed to enter because of disobedience. Again, he appoints a certain day, saying today David.

Though David so long afterward, in the words already quoted today if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as this in verse eight of chapter 4 for if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken of another day. Later on, so then there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God. For whoever has entered God's rest is also rested from his works as God did from his. And so there's this this picture of the Sabbath as this entering into the rest of God that eternal rest that we comment that we come into through faith in Jesus Christ. And so when we apply that to us now under the new covenant immediately looks like something in worship. I think I would think of the Lord's day Sunday worship is this Christian Sabbath where we are called to rest in the Lord to do is set aside the things that were often consumed by, and together with the people of God and to worship him. This is what the earliest disciples of our Lord Jesus did gathering together on the first day of the week. You see this in places like acts chapter 20 in Romans there sees me in first Corinthians chapter 16 so you have this line would have Gavin get on the first of the week on Sunday to worship the Lord in commemoration of the fact that Jesus rose again from the dead so I don't think that we've set aside this command to obey the Sabbath to rest in God know if we can't set aside to God's law. We just understand it in light of what Christ has done. We enter into that rest, through Jesus, and along with the church from the very beginning we gather together to worship him to rest in him.

On the first day of the week.

On Sunday in in remembrance of the fact that he rose again from the dead, together with all the saints, and so God bless you. J thank you for for that question and appreciate your call. Great! The Sabbath thank you for that Israel.

This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Our phone number if you want to leave us a voicemail 24 hours a day is 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core we do our best to go through our voicemails each day and try to use many of them on the euros we can go back to the phones right now and talk to Doug in Tulsa, Oklahoma Doug, what's your question for pastor. Israel will bill you will appreciate your ministry in my life. I have a brother who is a homosexual, and he claims me a Christian, but I haven't seen you salvation so that's a whole another question altogether, but is greatly defeated about what God says in Scripture about the subject. I recently received a wedding invitation from them is getting married to a man I decided not to go and I just feel it cannot be support for simple union at the same time I'm concerned this is an undertaking as rejection from him and destroy any relationship that we have we have a good relationship. He knows I'm a Christian. He knows where I stand, you know, according to Scripture and in my beliefs, but I am just concerned that he is now this may be taken no bad in and we just won't have a relationship.

After this, I appreciate your counsel on this on this matter was thank you for forgiving us a call. Let me first just encourage you and in the decision thematically made the right decision is interesting you say that this brother and professes faith in Jesus Christ and I think that's that's significant. There seems to be as you've noted a a contradiction there right now. In some cases I believe in Jesus.

I am a Christian but they live in ways that are openly contrary to what Christ has called us to.

I think I think it's our job.

One of the things that we do as as Christians is to say no that that's inconsistent, you can't do that.

Paul talks about this in first Corinthians chapter 5. A passage that I'm guessing you're familiar with.

This is you've thought about this when he says in verse nine I wrote to my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people, not all meaning the sexually immoral of this world or the greedy and swindlers are idolaters since then you would need to go out of the world. But now I'm writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of a brother if he is guilty of sexual morality or greed or as an adult idolater reviling drunkard or swindler, not even to eat with such a one, what have I to do with judging outsiders is it not those inside the church who you are to judge and so you're making a judgment here and I think it's the right call, and it communicates something to your brother. Now you can take a couple different ways right. He can say you know you you cut me off and you know that I don't have anything to do with you. You don't love me. That kind of thing but I can tell even just by talking to that that's not the sentiment that you do love him that you want to have this this relationship is friendship. Still, you know the open lines of communication and he should pray that the Lord gives you that in and do whatever you you can do and I needed to communicate that that you still want all the things but that you simply cannot support him in this, especially as someone who professes faith in Jesus Christ and believe that the spirit of God is able to work in him to save him to redeem him to deliver him even even from this you think what what Paul says to the Corinthians in the very next chapter as his writing to them. So, do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God first Corinthians 6 verse nine do not be deceived. Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor greedy nor drunkards, nor of Eilers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God and such were some of you was there people in in the church there in Corinth, who had been practicing homosexuals and they experience the grace of the Lord Jesus, and they they turned from that. Now that doesn't mean that that they they didn't still struggle with sin, I'm sure, but they they have a new identity.

Now they were given this new identity through Christ. You've been sanctified, he says in verse 11. Such were some of you we were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the spirit of our God and so I think you pray that for your brother and you continue to pursue him in other ways, and to extend I would say you know charity but also I think being being very clear here about what it is that you believe in what he should be called to a someone who professes faith in Jesus Christ as well.

Now maybe he just says you know I don't believe in Jesus and any any decides that incision die I'm knocking to try to identify as a Christian I think you you you pursue women in that you say look I want you to know Jesus. What you know that I'm here for you. I don't want to I not try to shut down the doors of communication. But this is serious how we live is serious. What we profess is serious and so I can just pretend like everything is fine when I don't believe that it is according to what God's word has said and so does my God be with you and give you wisdom and I just want to say a quick prayer for your brother right now that the Lord would be at work in his life as well. Father, we come before you lift Douglas his brother up to you and I pray for him. Jesus, that same grace that many of those in in Corinth experienced Lord as they turn to you were drawn to you by by the Holy Spirit that Douglas, his brother would experience that grace that you use Douglas to be a witness, a light instrumental in that Lord God that you would give them wisdom as he speaks heart full of love, but also heart Lord that that doesn't want to compromise in your word and I know that he has that and I pray that you help them seek to be faithful to you to be gracious and God that you would give them wisdom and all of his interaction with his brother and that you would draw his brother to yourself and that you would work mightily in his life.

I pray in Jesus name, amen man, Douglas. We also have a wonderful core guide that will be a big help to you. It's called 10 things everyone needs to know about the Bible and homosexuality. You can find that at our website. Core, Christianity.com/free downloads.

Again, this would be for anyone who so dealing with this if issue or maybe try to talk to somebody even within the church who has a very different perspective on this 10 things everyone needs to know about the Bible and homosexuality your spree at our website under the free downloads like let's go to the voicemail we received from one of our callers. This is from Ben.

My question after a grill second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself and Paul Wright looking through that we should put the needs of others and of our own need. And I really try to do that but I have a Christian friend who criticized me because she says I let other people hate advantage of me. So where's the line when should I know look out my own interest. When should I look out for the interests of others.

Thank you and God bless you and God bless you Ben. As you seek to follow Jesus and to love as Jesus has called you to love and that does look like service, it does look like. Considering the needs of others, even as is greater than our own, is what the apostle Paul said, you reference Philippians chapter 2 and let me just say, I'm sure you've experienced this, there is suffering, there there is pain there.

I think of what CS Lewis said I just I just pulled this up right now is is let me know I was thinking about your question, he says to love at all is to be vulnerable love anything in your heart will be wrong and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give it to no one, not even an animal.

Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries. Avoid all entanglements locked up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket safe, dark, motionless airless, it will change. It will not be broken. It will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable, to love is to be vulnerable and that that that's that's that's what were called to is that kind of vulnerable love serving the people around us, caring for their needs and there is pain there and in the reality is, is there is many of us which one will void that we want to build walls. We want to think about ourselves first and foremost now. Are there instances and potentially where you know where were actually not doing the right thing because were were loving others so much that were not taking care of ourselves. Usually that's not that the ditch that we reckon brother usually it's the exact opposite.

Usually it's I'm just unwilling to lay down my life for the good of others. I'm I'm I'm so focused on myself and I think I think if you're striving to do that to love others the way Jesus calls you to the people be people who see that and think, oh boy you're you're doing too much. You know me know it'll be it's convicting. Often times when when we see other people seeking to follow Jesus the way we ought to, and were not doing that. It convicts us and we say take it easy.

You know, slow down.

That kind of a thing. Now there are ways I think, in which loving others quote unquote might actually not be what we think it is a they really imagine that the mama pastor right so let let's say if I loved the people in my church so much that I neglected my own family and I justified it by simple look at much I love the church and the people in there, but I'm not caring for my own children will that would be a huge issue right so that there is a way in which people can can really mess this up, but ordinarily speaking I think our problem is we don't want to follow Jesus's words, we don't want to heed what the apostle Paul said in Philippians chapter 2 loving like God calls you to love is not easy it's it's it's painful, but we love as those who have been loved so that that's the key.

The reason we can do this is not to earn God's love. It's not because you know were under the sort of legalism. It's because we have so experienced the mercy of God to us in Jesus Christ undeserved. We've been washed by Jesus you think of the disciples in the in the upper room and in John chapter 13 when Jesus washed their feet and he said no, you go and do likewise. It's having experience that as believers if if you've experienced the grace and the love of God for you and the gospel should turn you into someone who who looks outward in assessment, how can I love the people around me before sure that but I think I think we need to be encouraged in it and as were doing it there to be people who say okay yeah your ear. That's too much, but I would say brother go with your conscience, you know, listen to the word of God submit to it and continue to love people as you believe God has called you to. So long as it's not taking you away from from me know. Loving your family or that kind of thing. And as you do. It is an act of worship before the Lord. I think that's a wonderful thing.

I think that's a beautiful thing and so God bless. Thanks much for your call Ben and we appreciate you so much for being a regular core Christianity listener. By the way, if you're a regular listener to this program and you believe in what we do you find these programs helpful. We want to encourage you to join a very special group of people we call them our inner core. Yeah, we are so grateful to have partners with us in this work that were doing it all our our our desire is to help people grow in their relationship with their with the Lord in their love for the Lord in their love for others and were just answering Ben's question there. We want to do that by rerouting you in the teaching of the Bible. What the Scripture saying if you been encouraged in your walk with the Lord, would you consider partnering with us in becoming up, a member of the inner core is a monthly donation of $25 or more is not another ton of money but it really is it a blessing for us and encouragement for us and it's a way for you to be blessed as well as you partner with us in getting the word of the gospel out and as a thank you for signing up to be a part of the inner core will send you a copy of the book core Christianity, written by Prof. Dr. Michael Horton a wonderful book introducing you to the core doctrines of the Christian faith. All you have to do is go to our website at core, Christianity.com/inner core.

To learn more.

There's also some special resources that will be sending you throughout the year as an inner core member so check it out. Core, Christianity.com/inner core was go to an email we received a drill by the way, you can email us anytime with your question about the Bible Christian life doctrine theology. The email addresses questions at core, Christianity.com and this is a real practical question. This gentleman says I believe in tithing but my wife does not. I have to tied behind her back for fear of an argument which is happened in the past and cause big problems in our marriage, and trust issues financially. I show her Scriptures on this and I pray for her so she changes her ways, but nothing helps.

I don't like being disobedient to the Lord, but I know he wants to have peace in our marriage.

What should I do sounds like a discipleship thing here in terms of growing in our understanding of the grace of God to us and being free of you know the worldly concerns being being individuals who don't store up treasures just here on earth but store up treasure in heaven. And Jesus is where your treasure is, that's where your heart will be also. And so we invest in God's kingdom as those who want to align our hearts with with the purposes of God with the things that God is doing in the world today. Now, with regard to the ties under the nose.

It was really specifically a part of the old covenant and bring this this tax if you will, to the temple to support the priesthood there, but that doesn't mean that were were not called to give and to give generously under the new covenant. The apostle Paul says here there's not supposed to look think renting chapter 9 verse six. The point is this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he is decided in his heart.

He says to me like your wife has not decided in her heart yet that she wants to give.

And so, so how do we had a week address that we do that why I think it's seeing the goodness of God. The generosity of God the mercy of God to us. You can never have heard Pastor say this over and over. Get enough I found to be true in my own life, you can never out give the Lord God's grace God's goodness to us is always more than we could ever give back if you will, and so we ought to give out of a bad of a place of gratefulness out of a place of meal we've received from the Lord. And so we can give back with joy because we wanted want to serve him and we want to be a part of what he's doing in the world through missions and through the local church and all of those things and so I think it's having those caught conversations, not so much viewing it as as a line we have to do this. Otherwise, God is in a strike us down the focus on God's goodness to you brother into your family, you know, paint a picture for your wife, of God's goodness. God's mercy to her of of the significance and the importance of God's kingdom of the gospel advancing of other people experiencing the grace of the Lord, the forgiveness of sins. And as as that vision eclipses everything else that I think I think little by little, our our hearts are so often we begin to say Lord man. How can I how can I give back for all that you've done for me as a psalmist that you know what shall I render to the Lord for all of his benefits and his bounty to me I will lift up the cup of salvation, and call on the name of the Lord. And so I would say is you have conversations with your wife is you want to encourage her in this because there is a blessing associated with with giving you possible goes on to say in verse 10 there of second Corinthians 9 who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. You will be enriched in every way, to be generous in every way which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. We want that just such a is such a blessing associated with generosity and the joy of giving.

Jesus himself said it's better to give than to receive. In secret you're trying to paint that picture and have those kinds of conversations that you get to a place together as a couple where you can say How can we not know serve the Lord in this way, be an encouragement to the saints. In this way, and in have conversation.

Maybe you start with a smaller amount and then you can give that smaller amount generously and with joy. And over time as you see the Lord work in and through these things your ear, you're encouraged to give more and more innocent people so as to be 10% you don't, you don't have to stop at 10%, brothers and sisters, you can't. You can't out give the Lord and so may you be encouraged and may God bless you as you have conversations with with your wife about these things and make give you wisdom as you speak together and as you seek to serve him together.

Thank you for your question brother.

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