Will We See Jesus but Not the Father in Heaven?

We see Jesus but not the father in heaven. 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 and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you and our phone lines are open for the next 25 minutes or so, here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. You can post your question. One of our social media sites and watch a drill right now live in the studio on YouTube and message us that way.

Let's start off with one of our callers in Springfield Missouri.

Let's say hi to Jacqueline Jacqueline what your question for Pastor Israel about the law. I never mean you believe that on one died for all, but on the other hand, thank you for that question. The reality is we approach the Lord. Praise God that were not saved by our perfect understanding of how salvation works by Jesus Christ face is what saves us, but it's not that the strength of our faith or the perfection of our faith is the object of our faith is Jesus Christ. And so even if we were confused about certain things with regard to how salvation works so long to strike at the vitals of of the gospel will we can still be saved, even if even if were confused about certain things and it sounds like there's some confusion here. This idea of the unit of the need for for the purgation, the need for cleansing beyond what Christ is already done to make us fit to enter into the presence of the Lord is isn't something that I think that we find in Scripture.

Jesus himself said in John chapter 5 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. That is when we believe in Jesus Christ, we receive them by faith were already justified. We have presently in possession of eternal life, and we have that the hope also that were not can enter into judgment with. That means not that were were knocking to stand before God on the day of judgment, but that were not going to be condemned and this is why John can tell us in first John that we don't have to have fear in the day of judgment, because of the love of God. God's perfect love casts out all fear. And I find that for for people who are afraid thinking oh man, I just have so much more cleansing that needs to be done before I can really enter into God's presence. There is like that great fear of the fear of punishment and so for that person. I think it's it's having a right understanding of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. The grace of Christ, the forgiveness of Christ to make us fit to stand before God on the day of judgment in his presence. I think with the author.

The Hebrew said in Hebrews chapter 10 verse 14. Speaking of Christ's priestly working of his sacrifice for our sins, he wrote by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified now again specifically to your question.

Does your mom's belief in purgatory. This thinking that you know I still need to go through this cleansing before I could really enter into the presence of God. Does that mean that she she isn't saved.

I don't I don't think that I would say that I think I would just say that there is some confusion here and that you want to be able to communicate to her just how amazing the gospel is that Christ once for all sacrifice has perfected for all time those were being sanctified that we can stand in the presence of Almighty God, with confidence coming to his throne of grace, not on the basis of our perfection. It's not that we know we've really purge all the sins out of our lives and so were good know it's solely on the basis of the perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ and if if we have faith in Jesus. Your mom has faith in Jesus.

She has that righteousness. And so that's a great comfort Jacqueline thank you for your question. God bless great explanation. Thanks so much for that. A drill here listening to core Christianity and we would love to hear from you.

If you have a Bible about a question about the Bible or the Christian life.

Or maybe doctrine theology. Maybe you have some doubts about the Christian faith. We are open to any and all questions and our phone lines will be open for the next 20 minutes. Here's the phone number to call. It's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Brandon who is calling in from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada Brandon, what's your question for Pastor Israel. Michael until recently I was friends with somebody due to the prosperity gospel or work for.

I told him that he needs to repent of this false gospel that I share the gospel with him as well as some warning all teachers in Scripture a long story short, he ended our friendship because of my review and although I'm fairly educated in the area. I was really confident in my ability to have a conversation with him verbally so I initiated this conversation over text message which I don't think really helped the conversation so my question is how do I prepare myself to have the conversation face-to-face yeah yeah excellent question, and you I've been in similar situations where I've tried to talk to somebody over social media or something like that and it's so hard to communicate the way you want to communicate with you near your just behind a computer you're sending some via text or leaving a message on on Facebook. I understand that Dena sometimes this is the only way that you can go about it and and it's really convenient but is much as is possible, especially because it is as you noted this is this is a real serious error. This is a heresy in the church today. The prosperity gospel movement, and people who embrace this theology are our headed for destruction. Really, if you if the gospel quote unquote that you believe is the prosperity gospel, then you don't understand the true gospel of Christ and what it's about and so wanting to have these conversations, face-to-face, and to to plead with brothers and sisters with people who are confused people who are deceived I think is so important but we want to do it. As Peter said in first Peter chapter 3 verse 15 with gentleness and respect. And so II think in terms of preparing for these conversations and think. I think first and foremost prayer is key prayer.

Ultimately, that the Holy Spirit would work in an individual's heart, helping them to see the error of their way so that they might come to repentance and minutes with the disciples told Simon the sorcerer in the book of acts and ask chapter 8. Pray you need to pray that either the real reality is this is this is the work of the Holy Spirit. See pray for this person, but you also pray for yourself that as you're confronting false teaching. You can do so in a way that communicates the love that you have for this person. This isn't just about having a theological argument, or trying to win a debate it too often. I think today when we get into discussions when people are getting into discussions, whether it's about politics or theology or whatever it is it's almost somewhat like sport.

You know, we really want to just sort of you know be the other sideshow show them how wrong they are piano get get them embarrassed and what I know that you weren't doing that at all. But we have to we have to avoid that we really want to communicate in a way that exhibits the love of Christ for people and the seriousness of of bad theology. It I've been thinking recently Brandon about the prosperity gospel because I'm fine preaching through the book of Revelation and this week I'm actually gonna be preaching through Jesus's letter to the church in Smyrna and it just strikes me how even this little section of Scripture right here totally contradicts the idea of the profit prosperity gospel we read in Revelation chapter 2 verse eight to the angel of the church in Smyrna write the words of the first and the last two died and came to life. I know your tribulation and your poverty but you are rich and the slander of those who say that they are Jews and are not but are a synagogue of Satan. Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for 10 days you will have tribulation.

Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life so interesting about Jesus's letter to the church in Smyrna as he doesn't have anything bad to say about them. There one of two churches and in these these churches that Jesus addresses that only receive commendation. There's no rebuke there's no way you need to do this you need to repent. Know this was a faithful church and yet it was suffering.

It was experienced experiencing tribulation. It was experiencing poverty and yet Jesus is your rich is a prosperity gospel teaches that when we are faithful to God. A guy just wants to bless you. He wants you have health and wellness. If you don't have that. Maybe it's because you're not faithful, but that that's the exact opposite of what we see in Scripture and there specifically in Revelation chapter 2 verses a and following you can be faithful to Jesus and still suffer with sickness with disease with poverty and yet you can be spiritually rich through the gospel and that's we want to help people understand. May the Lord help you brother in your conversations with your with your friend. I hope that that the lines of communication can be opened again so that you guys can continue to have this very important discussion. God bless you. So important.

Thank you for that. Israel and Brenda, thanks for listing to core Christianity there in Edmonton. We really do appreciate you. By the way our phone lines are open. If you have a question for a drill about the Bible or the Christian life. Give us a call 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 course you can always email us your question at questions at core, Christianity.com. By the way, we have a great new free resource that we want to tell you about today at the downloadable resource called five themes to help you understand the Bible.

One of the things I've seen again and again. This is are getting questions here on core Christianity just my own ministry as a pastor is that people have a hard time understanding the big picture of the Bible how it all relates when you look at the Old Testament and the New Testament. The various themes in Scripture that we see woven through the entire book were woven through the entire Bible so important for us to see those things there and to understand where they point us ultimately to Jesus Christ and so this resource. Five themes to help you understand the Bible is going to dig into some of the most important things you see in Scripture like covenants, lawn gospel, the kingdom of God and so forth and so we hope you get a hold of this resource it will really bless you in your own study of the Scriptures and it'll it'll deepen your understanding of the word of God and again it's absolutely for you can find it by going to our website. Core, Christianity.com/offers.

Again, that's core Christianity.com/offers and look for five themes to help you understand the Bible.

This would be a great summer read for you and your family. Or maybe your small group from church.

This is core Christianity and would love to hear from you if you got a question about the Bible, the Christian life or theology, doctrine, how your Christian faith intersects with what's going on in today's culture.

Give us a call 833. The core that's 1-833-843-2673. By the way, you can also leave us a voicemail here 24 hours a day, and here's a voicemail from one of our callers named Lorna to handle when we see God our Jesus. Six.

Chapter 16 says he alone can never die like so brilliant that no human can approach new human eye, and ever see what Apple will fly wanted to know if he got a little bit. Dan will be able to see. Thank you for your answer.

Yeah. Excellent question. There's there's something that theologians have talked about that you see in Scripture because of the Bible does say very clearly that we are going to see God think about Jesus you know we give the Beatitudes.

Blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be sons of God Erica to be some people read the pure in heart, who Jesus says see God Paul in first Corinthians chapter 13 said now we see through a mirror dimly, but then that is when we were in heaven when the presence of the Lord. We will see face to face for my favorite verse to go to when thinking about this is in first John Allison what John said in first John chapter 3 verse two beloved, we are God's children now and what we will be has not yet appeared but we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is, and everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself, as he is pure. In other words, the people of God have this hope that one day we will see God. It's what theologians referred to as the beatific vision we will see. Have a vision of God, the holy Trinity in the presence of God in heaven now is that a contradiction from what Paul says in first Timothy chapter 6, verse 16.

The passage that you brought up. Speaking of God. It says will loan as a mortality who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. Well, when we see God in heaven. When we experience this beatific vision. The vision that brings happiness, joy, fullness is not it's not in the sense that were going to see God. You know, in his essence with our eyeballs. You know with our with our physical eyes. It's a spiritual experience through the grace of the Holy Spirit. It's only by the grace of the spirit that we are going to experience that vision that the Scripture speak about and so we will have an experience of the presence of God.

The vision of God, not not a physical vision, but but this spiritual experience. Dan and I think with regard to you know. Certainly, we believe that Jesus Christ has a body. Even now resurrected body.

The new creation were going to be with him were going to see him and experience him and worship him and so yes we we are going to work and have this vision of God. It's it's in one since a great mystery but it's ultimately the great hope that we have through the grace of God and through that vision work and experience everlasting joy and happiness. And so it's what we look forward to your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Melissa who's calling in from Kansas City, Kansas. Melissa what your question for a drill, wondering about church classically here or churches, not an operational that you would have a unique pastor along with I think it back there and then outboard trying what about when you have a church where there is me pastor that makes all the financial decisions, and what he says goes and is not board a Melissa. Well them and that sounds like it could be a recipe for disaster. The ultimately want to do is look to the Scriptures to determine how local churches should be governed and in the New Testament, the local churches were governed by a group of elders by a plurality of elders and these were men who help to oversee the spiritual matters in the church. The care of the church you had deacons also who were who were helping to distribute resources money to those who had needs and that was that the structure of the church. It wasn't that you just had one pastor all by himself who was in control of everything and answered me know if it held everything that we know with a tight fist know ordinarily what you're supposed to have is a group of called qualified men who are serving the church in this capacity and this is why Paul wrote to Titus, saying, this is why I left you in Crete this time. Chapter 1 verse five, so that you might put what remained into order, and appoint elders in every town as I directed you very clear right there and then he goes into that. The qualifications for these elders and one of the qualifications that you get in Titus and also in first Timothy three is that they cannot be a lover of money. In other words, this is not someone who is known for greediness, stinginess, love of money. Now there are instances were so you have a church planter goes and plants a church and and doesn't have time to raise up elders. Usually it's really helpful in those context to have kind of an outside elder board or group of people who are who are helping to give accountability so you know, in extraordinary circumstances you might have a situation where churches mean a lot of the work is being done by an individual missionary or church planter. But the way it's intended to be in Scripture and and what we should pursue is that plurality of governance within the local church so that you have accountability, oversight, and frankly just am just speaking now as a pastor myself, I lean on the elders of our church so much for a lot of what happens in the life of our church because one person can't do everything and shouldn't do everything.

Inevitably that's when things start to go south because you just don't have that the gifts you don't have the capacity you don't have the ability to be the loan elder in a church, especially if it's a larger church but also doing everything else as well and so we need each other. We have different gifts in the body and we should pursue that that structure or that model of church.

I think that we see in the New Testament, Melissa, God bless thank so much Melissa for listening to core Christianity, just a reminder we have that wonderful free resource available for you today. It's called five themes to help you understand the Bible. It's our Nucor guide. We have several great core guides available at our website. If you want to get this one just go to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers and look for that new one. Five themes to help you understand the Bible.

Let's go back to the phones Ron from Oklahoma City is on the line run what your question for pastor.

Israel, Ron, are you there alright I guess Ron hung up. Let's try going to Dennis in North Lake Illinois Dennis what your question for a drill like I am studying. I have been feeling well Abe, I have studied diligently for many years.

72 years old right now and I intend on going back as soon as this can aggravating condition leaves me, debilitate my thinking and my concentration and said in my ear constantly so you can figure out what talking about but question I have is about the verse you could tell me where it slouches my memory is fading lately and I used to know where it's filed. Of course it the first has something like, I'm not sure it's exactly what I'm saying but meditate on my word you talking about the church you know God people I meditate on my word day and night, that thou might not sin against me to know from saying every word perfectly. But if you could expound upon that and I can't explain your view of it and how it helps the Christians to follow less commandment, I sink what you're getting at is someone 19 verse 11 with the summonses I have stored up your word in my heart that I might not sin against you, especially Psalm 119 so many beautiful meditations on the law of God on the word of God and these repeated calls to meditate on the word to memorize Scripture to focus on God's law.

You see this also. If the very beginning of the book of Psalms. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers. But his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither in all that he does, he prospers the wicked are not so but are like chaff that the wind drives away.

If we want to be rooted in life.

If we want stability. If we want to not be blown around by all the. The winds of doctrine that are out there will here's here's what we need to do meditate on God's word meditate on trip and that's exactly what the psalmist is saying that you to be like a tree deeply rooted by streams of living water. Yeah, the winds are going to blow earthquakes are going to happen.

Trials are going to come but you are going to be around it in the law of the Lord, the wicked are not so there like you know dandelions if you will look. The wind starts to blow and they're going here there and everywhere because they're not rooted, they don't have any stability and so you see this over and over again in the Psalms and how do we go about doing this you memorizing the Scriptures and I think it's simple. I think it's it takes consistency. I think having their different ways we can approach the Bible than just reading Scripture every day having a steady diet of of reading the Bible is important. Maybe we're just going through books of the Bible you have a Bible reading plan, but then also stopping and say hey I'm a pick some passages to really meditate on to focus on to memorize so that I can repeat them to my supposed talking to someone the other day who's who shut and is not able to come to church and she told me you know I haven't really been able to to go to church. I haven't been able to even read the Bible because of my condition, but those passages that I've memorized have become treasures to me because I'm repeating that in my mind over and over again, and God is nourishing me through his word.

She said she struggling but you know what she's grounded in the law of the Lord experiencing God's grace and we ought we what we all want that for ourselves as well and so may the Lord help each of us and help you Dennis to meditate on the law of the Lord. 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.

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