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June 3, 2022 6:30 am
Episode 981 | Adriel Sanchez and Bill Maier answer caller questions.
Questions in this Episode
1. In John 1, John said, “behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” I know election is true, but this seems to be describing the whole world, as in everyone in the world. What do you think?
2. How does God discipline us when we sin?
3. I am wrestling with the verse that says the Lord “hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” This seems to contradict free will. What do you think?
4. What does Revelation 12:13-17 mean?
5. Did David lose the Holy Spirit in Psalm 51? Can we lose the Holy Spirit?
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ResourcesCore Question – How Can Christianity Be True if God Allows Evil and Suffering?
What is that mean that God hardened Pharaoh's heart is just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity will hi and happy Friday by Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Thanks so much for joining us 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.
Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can always post your question on one of our social media sites you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com first step today.
Here's a voicemail from one of our listeners named Lisa all my life God so loved the world terribly. But have everlasting life and all my life. I wondered when Don said, behold the Lamb of God and of the world I know election is true.
I know the elect of God paid for their sin, but not the whole world for like I got about that police think that question yeah John 2129. John the Baptist, behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world are you also mentioned you John 316. All of the most well-known Bible verses for God so loved the world that he gave his only son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. Here's I think that the right way to talk about the death of Jesus Christ were talking about the eternal son of God. Assuming humanity, so that in that humanity might die for the sins of his people. The death of Jesus Christ is sufficient if you will, to atone for the sins of the entire world music were talking about. Again, the eternal son of God here, but it's only efficient efficacious for God's people in in we receive the benefits of what Christ is done through faith. And so I think this is what we see in John's Gospel, not just in the gospel here, but in his writings elsewhere. For example in the book of Revelation.
In Revelation chapter 5, when John has a vision of heaven and you know all the saints worshiping Jesus there in heaven. They are saying. Worthy are you, take the scroll and to open its seals.
This is Revelation chapter 5 verse nine for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation and you have made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth will what is the world there but it's it's people from every tribe and language and people and nation that is the work of Christ and the death of Christ is not just about Israel. And of course there were many many Jews during the time of Jesus that was the focus, but of course with the new covenant. This is this is being brought in doubt now you know the coastlands, the nations are being welcomed into the family of God through the work of Jesus Christ. And that's one of the things that John is highlighting throughout his gospel, and because of you know the that the sufficiency if you will of Jesus his atoning work were commanded to preach the gospel to everyone. Sometimes, you know, this is referred to as the promiscuous preaching of Augustine just just everywhere to everyone the free offer to the good of the gospel is a real offer to all creation were commanded to go and to preach the gospel and the basis for that is the atoning work of Jesus Christ.
And it's through that proclamation to that preaching that God is is by the grace of the Holy Spirit, drawing people to himself to salvation and to fate and so Lisa, thank you for that question and appreciate your your voicemail or listening to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.
We'd love to hear your questions about doctrine and theology, the Bible, your Christian life. Or maybe any doubt you have about the Christian faith. Here's the phone number it's 833, the court will be taking calls for the next 20 minutes or so. 1-833-843-2673 let's go to YouTube question. This came in from Chad.
Chad says how does God discipline us when we sin the excellent question, and of course we we read in the Proverbs are also in the in the book of Hebrews that God does discipline his people, and I think that the main thing I would want to say is usually when it talks about the discipline of the Lord.
It's always rooted in love and so when God disciplines us. It's as his children because he loves us those whom I love, God says, I rebuke and chasten will what what does this look like in in in our lives as Christians. Well I knew it in one sense this is a reminder that if you belong to Jesus and you are living in ways that are contrary to God's law and you know it you know God is not going to let you off the hook that there is there's discipline associated with that because he loves you and sometimes that discipline looks like sickness and me thinking of what the apostle Paul said in first Corinthians were his writing. The Corinthians because of the note, the number of issues of the church in Corinth was having an especially in the context of taking the Lord's supper, he says. For this reason because you're approaching the table sinfully without faith it is for this reason many of you are sick and weak and some have even died.
But if we judge ourselves, you would need to be judged by God. But when were judged in a world were were discipline because God doesn't want us to be condemned with the world and so sometimes it can be sickness. Sometimes it can be just just a certain natural consequences of our sinful behavior. Sometimes it's this quenching of the spirit, you know, Paul talks about unit in the book of Ephesians not quenching the Spirit so I think that there are seasons where you for continuing and in sinful patterns of behavior that the sense of God's presence. The joy ride the fruit of the spirit exists feels dried up and so that these are different ways I think of the Bible speaks of the Lord's discipline in our lives, but I think the main thing to remember Chad is that it's an act of God's love and isn't that a a wonderful thing that Jesus doesn't just save us and then and then leave us to do whatever we want to live. However, we want know he he is sanctifying us by the grace of his Holy Spirit and disciplining us when we turn away from his word. Why because he loves us and so God bless you great explanation of God's discipline. Thanks for that Israel. This is core Christianity, we have a new Bible study. We want to tell you about today. This is an excellent one.
It actually focuses on the parables of Jesus.
Yeah, I have a copyright here to 10 week Bible study.
It really is just a wonderful resource for you to go through on your own or maybe with a group of people sexy, written by a friend of mine is a Pastor Chuck Tedrick and I just my dear brother in the Lord. I know that he put a lot of work into this and that this is this is for the church to edify you to encourage you to build you up and so if you've ever had any questions about the parables of Jesus why Jesus taught in parables, and the significance of the parables I want to make sure that you get a hold of this resource you can you can get over it. Core, Christianity.com for a donation of $20 or more.
By the way, these are also available in bulk quantities be great to consider as you plan for maybe a fall Bible study, a small group of Sunday school class, especially for your leadership.
You might want to check this out again. You can find that@corechristianity.com/offers. Look for the parables of King Jesus, we do receive voicemails here at core Christianity. You can call us anytime 24 hours a day and leave your voicemail. Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. Feel free to call us over the weekend and we had a voicemail come in from one of our listeners named Danny the Lord hardened Pharaoh's heart.
I think the question let it out for a well and I really appreciate your sharing.
Thank you, thank you for that question.
Yeah, this is this is one where you live, you wonder what's going on here were three things by the book of Exodus beginning in chapter 4. That's this a first timer.
You have this this idea Pharaoh's heart being hardened and sexy what God tells Moses seen early on, the Pharisees is preparing for ministry. Verse 21 of Exodus chapter 4 the Lord said to Moses, when you go back to Egypt, see that you do before Pharaoh all the miracles that I have put in your power, but I will harden his heart so that he will not let the people go and then for the next 10 chapters. Essentially you have this sort of back and forth where it says it Pharaoh's heart was hardened, or that God hardened Pharaoh's heart and there's even a few occasions there were were were told that Pharaoh hardened his own heart. And so there seems to be this interplay. There in the text.
God hardening Pharaoh's heart being hardened Pharaoh hardening his own heart, but it seems to me just just going off of Exodus 4 through 14. It seems like God is the one who is taking initiative here and it's really important bristle. So we asked the question why would God do that.
Why would God hardened Pharaoh's heart, and I think there's a clue given to us in chapter 9 supportive right in the middle of everything in verse 16 where we read, but for this person. I prefer this purpose I have raised you up to show you my power so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth. In other words, Pharaoh is is being used by God as an instrument and through Pharaoh, and even through Pharaoh's rejection of the word of God. God is making his name known throughout the whole world for the good of the nations for that for the hope of the whole world than through Israel air at at that time.
And of course the best. I would say way to interpret the Scriptures, is to let the Scriptures interpret themselves and so do we have any indication anywhere else in the Bible that this is you know the right track that yes, God was hardening Pharaoh's heart but that it was for a purpose his own sovereign purpose. In effect we do that when we turn to the New Testament we go to the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 9. Specifically, the apostle Paul brings up these very passages.
In fact, Romans chapter 9 brings up Exodus chapter 9 verse 16 and speaking about God's sovereign choice God sovereign working in the world. He says Paul says in verse 14 of Romans chapter 9. What shall we say then is there injustice on God's part. He see the apostle Paul is anticipating what what working to think when one week when we hear about your God hardening Pharaoh's early quote well is that not just for God to do. Is that not fair. And so, yes, the question is there injustice on God's part and he says by no means for God says to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion so that it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God who has mercy and then he quotes the text that I was referring to an Exodus for the Scripture says to Pharaoh for this very purpose I have raised you up that I might show my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth. So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills that you will say to me then Paul says that he's anticipating the response that you might have. Why does God still find fault who can resist his will towards it will if that's the case you know will. How can God find fault with anybody who can resist the will of God and listen to how Paul responds here. Verse 20. Who are you old man to answer back to God will what is molded say to its molder, why have you made me like this as the Potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use. What if God desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction in order to make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy whom he has prepared before hand for glory.
Even us whom he is called, not from Jews only, but also from the Gentiles. In other words, God's purpose God's sovereign purpose is not God being cruel and it's certainly not God being unfair all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. What God is doing here is he's displaying his long-suffering his patients.
His grace is mercy so that you might call upon his name and receive that grace and mercy is that's that's I think we were getting out with Pharaoh there in in the exodus narrative and that's how Paul interprets it in Romans chapter 9. Thank you for your question. This core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez would love to hear from you.
If you have a question about the Bible or the Christian life. Or maybe some doubts about the faith we love to hear from you as well. Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Lori calling in from Newport, Arkansas Lori, what's your question for pastor. Israel Revelation 12 verses 13 to 217 is referring to Revelation chapter 12 units one of those chapters is a great text to preach around Christmas time I think. Actually the you know that the heading lease in my Bible ESP the woman in the Dragon. I think this is referring to.
Ultimately, the coming of Jesus Christ there, especially at the beginning of the passage.
The persecution that he experiences sort of war that's taking place as I want to just just give some of the context starting and that the beginning of chapter 12 and then will go to the verses you mentioned we written in chapter 12 verse one. A great sign appeared in heaven, a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of 12 stars and she was pregnant and was crying out in birth pains and the agony of giving birth and another sign appeared in heaven. Behold a great red dragon with seven heads and 10 horns, and on his head.
Seven diadem's his tail swept down 1/3 of the stars of heaven and cast them to the earth and the dragon stood before the woman who was about to give birth, so that when she bore her child, he might devour it.
The Dragon there is is the evil one. The woman some people have said with this is a reference to the Virgin Mary, or maybe even the people of God of the church.
The child is Christ, the Messiah, she gave birth to a male child, one who is to rule all the nations with a rod of iron, but her child was caught up to God is a picture of essentially written the redemptive work of Jesus is earth. Now hear Nina being caught up to God's ascension and caught up to God and his throne and the woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God in which she is to be nourished for 1260 days a lot. There will and you go down to verse 14 and we read, but the woman was given the two wings of the great eagle so that she might fly from the serpent into the wilderness to the place where she is to be nourished for a time, times and half a time. The serpent poured water like a river out of his mouth after the woman, to sweep her away with the flood, but the earth came to help to the help of the woman in your earth opened its mouth and swallowed the river that the dragon had poured from his mouth than the dragon became furious with the woman and went off to make war on the rest of her offspring. I think the rest of her often that we net us the children of the true and living God on those who keep the commandments of God and hold to the testimony of Jesus. I think this is referring to sister.
It is the persecution the church experiences here.
Again, I as I mentioned something to the woman as as the church, the people of the true and the living God, and the fact that the evil one is making war against the children of the true and the living God. And this, of course, we've experienced since the ascension of Christ, since he was caught up to heaven, you know he is raining right now in the midst of his enemies, but we the people of God experience tribulation.
As Jesus said in John chapter 16 in this world you will have tribulation, but take heart I have overcome the world.
And so that's a very brief summary of what's happening there in Revelation chapter 12, or that was a whirlwind tour church. Thank you for the drill proceeds on the review preach the Revelation before, so you're very familiar with that book. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez were to be recording a second program today after our live program and so if you'd like to ask a question to a drill you still have about 35 minutes or so you can call in and you can always email us as well and questions at core, Christianity.com won't let some mention one more time we have this great Bible study that were offering today. It's called the parables of King Jesus is our latest Bible study and you can get that by going to our website. Core, Christianity.com/offers.
Let's go Diana in Rapid City, South Dakota. Diane what your question for pastor. Israel, my question when an adulterous affair with the on and he killed are murdered had had the year. I am murdered Linda Holy Spirit Lee King David engaged he was he able to get that Holy Spirit and does happen to people and can we retrieve the Holy Spirit. Should that happen, and I love this question. You know I remember years ago asking the same or a similar question for me at the time it was the fear that me know what if what if you lose this. What if I lose the gift of the Holy Spirit and then what happens.
You know, you think of King David. You think also of Saul in the Old Testament is been these people who seem to had the powerful work of God's Spirit in their lives and then they sin in grievous ways meaningful for in the case of of Saul totally abandoning the faith.
If you will. I do believe I know that David's sin grieved the Holy Spirit in second Samuel chapter 11 in verse 27 we read and when the morning was over, David sent, and brought Bathsheba to his how she became his wife. Born the son, but the thing that David had done displeased the Lord. This is this is a serious sin in and the time of the ultimate in the David's sin actually warranted capital punishment, he receives grace from God. And I think one of the best text for us to go to and in thinking about this and thinking about his his relationship to the Holy Spirit to God's spirit in his life at that time is David's prayer of repentance Diane in Psalm 51 and this is this is the prayer that he offered up when Nathan, the prophet had gone to him and confronted him about his sin and one of the things that David says in that prayer in Psalm 51 verse eight he says let me hear joy and gladness.
Let the bones that you have broken.
Rejoice. We talked about the discipline of the Lord. Earlier on the broadcast that David is experiencing that that discipline. He has no joy. He has no gladness because of his sin to God. Your your your breaking my my bones. He says hide your face from my sins, and blot out my iniquities created me a clean heart of God, and renew a right spirit within me, cast me not away from your presence and take not your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of your salvation uphold me with a willing spirit is of you these print God, give me your Holy Spirit. Don't take your Holy Spirit away from me because of my sin.
Now we have to understand, Diane is that David lived at a different point in redemptive history than we do. David lived prior to Pentecost prior to the ceiling of the Holy Spirit, the baptism of the Holy Spirit at that time in redemptive history. The spirit of God would come upon people for four works. You know for further the fulfillment of their offices. David in particular, right in the office of the King. The spirit of God working in and through him to prophesy to do mighty things, but we have a a unique relationship to the Holy Spirit today as Christians in Christ under the new covenant that was different from what David had affected seem like he's praying for Ethan to create in me that clean heart that give me a new heart is the promise of the new covenant.
You know, give me the Holy Spirit. And so what I would say to Diane, is we has believers.
Paul says in first Corinthians 12. I believe it's verse 13 by one Spirit we have all been baptized into one body we were all made to drink of one Spirit. If you're Christian you have the Holy Spirit you been baptized in the spirit you been sealed with the Holy Spirit and yet you can still grieve the Holy Spirit by your sin and that doesn't mean that you you lose your quote unquote baptism of the Holy Spirit that that the spirit of God stops living inside of you as as a temple for the Holy Spirit, but it does mean that that week we quench the spirit we grieve the spirit we have a sense of that the absence if you will, of the spirit in our lives, not because God has abandoned us but because art are sin blinds us and hardens us so I don't think we go back and forth from you. Don't having the spirit to not having the spirit to having this, but deny having through we have the spirit as Christians we can be more or less filled with the spirit and you're commanded I'm commanded to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Paul said to the Ephesians not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled with the Holy Spirit speaking to each other, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. And so if you're concerned Diane that the Holy Spirit has abandoned you may be, I just would say, through Jesus Christ by faith in him you have been sealed with the spirit and now we are called as Christians to walk in the spirit to be filled with the spirit through the word of Christ through asking got God fill me with your spirit. Forgive my sins help me to walk in a manner that is pleasing to you. Full of love and grace. God bless. Thanks for listening to core Christianity request your copy of today's special offer. Visit us at core, Christianity.com and click on offers in the menu or call us at 1-833-843-2673. That's 833 when you contact us.
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