Is Christianity Just an Insurance Policy for the Afterlife?

Christianity dressed an insurance policy for the afterlife. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's edition of core Christianity will hi Abdul Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

This is the radio program where we answered your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Would love to hear from you and our phone lines are open right now.

Here's the phone number it's 833. The core will be taking calls for the next 25 minutes or so. So jump on the phone right now. 833-843-2673. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites course you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com burst up today let's go to Miguel in a lot the Kansas but you know what your question for Pastor Israel. Okay.

Why do all the preachers about the law law and they do not give the correct answer all they do not define which one is the law law lies at the preachers talk about the law of love, but don't define the law of love. I think that's is that your question we go back to my question okay well I can't speak for the for every preacher out there. I know sometimes you know we can throw things out as preachers, phrases or sayings or words and then do a poor job of defining what it is or talking to me that's one of the really important things for all of us think as Christians to to consider you no more having comp conversations with people about faith, about the Bible about God want to make sure that were helping people to understand what were talking about a lot of the concepts, terms that we we use may be foreign to people and so so thank you for this opportunity to be able to talk a little bit about this love were told by Jesus is what fulfills the law of God.

Love is the fulfillment of the love that Paul says the exact same thing in the book of Romans.

In Romans chapter 13 beginning in verse eight he says oh no one anything except to love each other for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law for the commandment you shall not commit adultery. You shall not murder, you shall not steal.

You shall not covet, and any other commandment are summed up in this word you shall love your neighbor as yourself.

By the way, that's a quotation from the book of Leviticus in Leviticus chapter 19 verse 18. So this is new.

This is something that God has said from from the very beginning and then Paul says in verse 10 there of Romans 13 love does no wrong to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law and some were talking about the law of God, what were all called to ultimately summarize by by love, by love for God and love for our neighbor loving our neighbor as we love ourselves. And so that's that's I think with the Scriptures is getting at. You also have Jesus's words to his disciples in the upper room discourse. In John chapter 13 verse 31. We had gone out. Jesus said now is the Son of Man glorified in God is glorified in him. If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once little children, yet a little while and I am with you. You will seek me and you will not you will seek me and just as I said to the Jew so and I also said you where I'm going, you cannot come a new commandment I give to you that you love one another, just as I have loved you, you also love one another to symptoms in people trying with love, got God built the love of God and the law of love. The point to Jesus words there in the upper room with his disciples and in John chapter 13 assault though the text that I would go to and ultimately I think what what this reveals to us is that the essence of of God's law is his love and and you know we have to define it bitterly speaking business. Only people in our culture today who want to redefine what love is, but were looking at what Scripture says. The Bible says very clearly when we love God we love each other's were called to contest the fulfillment of the law. Now of course we fall short of that and so we have grace and forgiveness. But those are the passages you're going want to look at Miguel. May the Lord bless you and thank you for your question by question. Thank you Miguel, quick follow-up for you Israel. My guess is you would say it's not the loving thing to do to ignore sin and ignore blatant sin in someone's life of their fellow believer. Yeah, I mean this is something that comes up on the broadcast of the time. Bill right if you see somebody who is doing up your brother or sister in Christ who's doing something or living in a way that is detrimental harmful to their their spiritual life within you. Have a loving thing to do is to is to come alongside of that individual and say no, brother, sister I here's what the word of God says and that's one of the ways we love each other mean this is again what love does he think of me to the the words of the author.

The Hebrews were God is speaking to as many as as I love I rebuke in and chastens a love doesn't just sort of sit you know me and on the sidelines when when it sees the beloved doing things acting in ways that are better detrimental and harmful note that steps in and says this is wrong. This is going to hurt you turn to the Lord. I meant the score Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. We would love to hear from you by the way, we have a YouTube channel and you can watch Israel live in the studio on YouTube every day at 11:30 AM Pacific time. Just translate that into whatever time zone you are in again 11:30 AM Pacific and you cannot message us through our YouTube channel as well. We have a brand-new free resource we want to tell you about today. This is really great because it will help you more clearly understand the themes in the Bible resources called five themes to help you understand the Bible and what were trying to do with this resources help you to trace some of the really important themes that we find in Scripture themes like covenants law and gospel of the kingdom of God than the things that appear over and over again.

Whether were in the Old Testament, or if the New Testament and that the better grasp you have on these themes that the deeper your understanding of the Scriptures are going to be.

And just in terms of rightly handling the word of God want to help you to do that and so get a hold of this resource again called five themes to help you understand the Bible and I you can access it over at our website. Core, Christianity.com. It is absolutely free. Would love to get this to you again go to court, Christianity.com/offers score, Christianity.com/offers look for five themes to help you understand the Bible.

What we do receive voicemails here at core Christianity and were always open to yours if you want to call us 24 hours a day and leave a message for us. We try to listen to your voicemails once a day.

And here's the number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. This voicemail came in last week although I was wondering why so many people only use Christianity as a means to an end to God like a kind of transactional relationship that heaven love the meaning of Christianity are among the yachts.

That's an absolute tragedy is this is this is not the meaning of Christianity the meaning of Christianity is not, you know, using God to get what we want out of life very much for the prosperity gospel theology right in God just what it exists to give me what I want what I like what I need and been for some people that's this idea of love.

Also, you know I pipe I accept God into my life so that way I can have some peace about when I die, but the reality is I don't have any real relationship with the Lord this side of heaven.

I don't care about is law. I don't care about following Jesus. I don't care about the church, the people of God is a win win. You know, individuals live in this way know this is not the meaning of Christianity and an to it's it's actually really dangerous idea.

I think many people are are deceived into thinking that they are Christians because maybe they said a prayer at some point in their life or their parents are Christians or something like that, but they've really never turn to the Lord and experienced his grace and receive the forgiveness of sins. What is what is the Christian faith about it's about knowing that God was revealed himself in creation and in his word as our Redeemer and having about a personal relationship with him through the gospel through the though the good news of what he's done for us in sending his son into the world so that we rebels enemies of God might have our sins forgiven and be welcomed into the family and as the welcome children of God were called to tell to love him to know it was just talking about that that the law of love.

You know, God calls us to, to grow together in the body of Christ, and so why is it that that you note that this this is so pervasive out there this this the option to use God in life for the fire insurance so that I can go to to heaven when I die, or mean at least comfort myself with with that idea. Houses were sinners is because we love ourselves more than we love God and we we want to use God to to to Geotech to comfort ourselves but wheat we don't want to turn to him and so you know we we want people to understand who God is.

Is is revealed himself to us in his word and to be drawn to him in love so that it is more than just you know a ticket to heaven when you die, it's not that it all. In fact, it's knowing the God who made you for his glory so that you might enjoy him and experience his presence and and that's we strive for the next one help you do as we open up the Scriptures together and so thank you for forgiven us a call.

Your listing to core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to Chase is calling in from Kansas trace what your question for atrial atrial.

I just want to know when a husband should consider divorcing his wife. I know Jesus gave one condition in the Bible and that condition has been fulfilled, and unwilling to forgive her and she is going to come back, but sometimes she shows very good progress in something she goes back to the little ways prayed about it and have a clear conscience. Either way and I'm scared to death just followed in either way so I just wanted some counsel. Thank you Chase. Thank you for giving us a call and the first thing I want to do is pray for your brother and invite those who are listening to also lift you up to the Lord in prayer.

Father we pray for Chase right now everything that he's gone through in his marriage to the difficulty of this decision that weighs on him, Lord, we thank you God for your grace. We thank you for the gospel. We thank you that you have forgiven our sins that with you. There is an ocean of of mercy.

Lord, and that you are able to bring healing Lord God by the grace of your Holy Spirit. I pray for Chase that you would guide him that you would give him wisdom.

Lord God and Lord that you would you would bring healing in the situation were not knowing you know which which way things are going to go but just knowing that you promised to never leave us or forsake us.

I pray that you would come for Chase with with your presence and Lord with wisdom as he thinks about these things be with him happy with his family.

Jesus name, Amen to Chase and it sounds to me like that. As you said, you know Jesus talks about grounds for divorce. The dissolving of a marriage covenant.

And yes, adultery, sexual immorality is is one of the grounds that Jesus gives in the Gospels.

Of course you know you an individual doesn't have to get a divorce. In a situation like that because we know that there is forgiveness and there is healing and so it sounds to me like there is a decision that needs to be made here and I think that this is a decision best made in in the context of you know, getting getting a lot of wisdom so I hope that you are in a church that that your family is surrounded by solid believers that can speak into your life into your marriage. Also, I think just just that I knew from the some great counselors and therapists who work with couples where there has been this kind of this kind of thing where there where there's been infidelity. I've seen I've seen marriages healed I've seen. I've seen situations where there has been no spousal in infidelity and it's gone on for a while and and there's repentance.

There is a willingness to walk in the light, and you know that that the couple is is wanting to continue to pursue the Lord and and stay together and sent and I think it can be a beautiful thing can be beautiful picture of the grace of God and the grace of God gives to us for each other, but it does require a lot of a lot of help. Really a lot a lot of support and a lot of wisdom is that's I'm saying I think that this is this is a huge decision that we will pray for you in and I just want to encourage you to get some of that outside care counsel as well. Now, you said that that your spouses is wanting to to continue to this day, and it'd be together. Chase is that accurate, and then some of the things that come out of her mouth and some of the things that she thinks about and they remind me of the old days when I was seeing those patterns begin before the incident. Yeah yeah and I mean that's part of the this. This is a part of the challenge here is there's been a big betrayal of trust so you begin to see things patterns that that sort of okay these are red flags reopening old wounds and that's where there there has to be. I think a lot of openness between the two of you, I think, certainly for her. Recognizing the consequences of sin and the way our sins, especially with with something like this wound that the people that we love. There needs to be a lot of sensitivity think repentance for her would would look like.

Also, being sensitive to the fact that like when when you see these things and and you have these concerns she needs to be caring and and loving and open and honest and transparent and that's where I think a good counselor who is working with the two of you can can come alongside and provide accountability.

Also, are you guys and in a church together in and has the church been involved in this. Yes, there's other the community of a church that were around. We have been separated throughout this incident. We have not been attending faithfully together okay brother, let me just encourage you for for the two of you. I mean if you're gonna if you're going to press forward rights is walking in repentance, it's you for giving from the grace that you have received in Jesus so continually clinging to the gospel and again this is this is something where you you know you're getting any wisdom because because like a setting of this is this is really the balls in your court. In terms of of the decision there's there's a freedom that you have here, but I think that forgiveness is a beautiful thing and and so long as there's repentance there can be genuine restoration of the relationship. Now, if there isn't repentance, then you can forgive her. Truly, as a Christian, but there can't be restoration or reconciliation until there's that that genuine repentance and willingness to walk in the light and work together and so may God be with you. May God bring healing, comfort and and people running and again just encourage you I think one of the next steps has to be getting plugged into the life of the church and and finding I trusted it godly counselors in the church as well. Who can speak into the situation out to be just be open talk about the difficulty it if you're able to if she's able to and say hey we need help. We need people around us were to walk with us in this because we want to pursue a godly marriage but we know that we can't do it alone and you're not alone. Chase Christ is with you and gives you his grace and mercy and may he continue to guide you in this situation. Thank you for for calling us and will keep you in our prayers brother. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life, or even how to live out your Christian walk in today's culture we be more than happy to hear from you. Here's our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 you can always leave us a voicemail as well. At that same number go to Steve and St. Louis Missouri.

Steve what your question for atrial are you my question is the Bible. There Rhonda definitely forgive us our pharmacy and in Scripture also say that there is also consequences through the whole thing. So my question is this consequences that we may have to pay, we have to pay them down here or I don't know what we didn't have.

And God say you know I have this this this business prepare for you, but because of this consequence that you have to make up for. I'm going to, give you a little less if that makes it so that's my question.

Yes I get that question Stephen is where some people get the idea of purgatory from his essay. Well we we still have some more consequences that need to be dealt with temporal punishments for our sins and so does get those get finished off, you know it. In this sort of limbo between between barrette now and in heaven but but I don't think that's biblical I don't I don't see Warren for that in Scripture. I think that the consequences we experience for our sins happen. Now the discipline that we experience minutes with the apostle Paul said in Galatians chapter 6 verse seven do not be deceived, God is not mocked, for whatever one sows that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.

Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap if we do not give up.

So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

What we what we what we so we will reap and we begin to reap some of those consequences even even now whether that's that's good things are bad things and so you know this is part of the reason why God disciplines us when we send the mention of you know what what the author the Hebrews said, quoting from the book of Proverbs with the Lord says as many as I love I rebuke and chasten. And sometimes that chastening looks like just a sort of spiritual drought in our lives. You know that the heaviness of God's hand upon us when we say in the sense of of conviction, a sense of having grieved the Holy Spirit, Paul, and in the book of first Corinthians talks about even sickness feelings of weakness being consequences of sending the discipline of God and so we do experience that I knew and sometimes diminishes.

It is the kind of the just sort of cause and effect you know if your sitting in a particular way. If you get drunk and then go behind the wheel and you crash the car, mean that that's that's you reaping that the consequences of of your behavior and so know what we experience these things now in our lives and and it's one of the things that calls for us to exercise wisdom in the decisions that we make in and in the things that we do and so may God be with you Steve, you're right, we are forgiven we praise God for that. We don't we don't get unforgiveness. Unlike the Lord casts us out, but we do experience the discipline of the Lord and the consequences for our sins here on earth this side of heaven.

And so may God give us wisdom as we as we seek to honor him and to live in a way that pleases him. Thanks Dave. We appreciate you being a regular listener to core Christianity by the way, if you have a question about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology. We are always open to that, and you can email us anytime at this email address its questions at core, Christianity.com and just a reminder we have this great free resource available to you today. It's called five themes to help you understand the Bible. This is one of our new court guides. We have several core guides which really will help you grow in your faith. You can find out more about that by going to core Christianity.com/offers and look for five themes to help you understand the Bible go to Kevin calling in from Kansas. Kevin what your question for pastor atrial goal is created everything in their their six-day and today, one day is about God's, trying to understand that a little. Okay so yeah me go to the early chapters of Genesis were talks about the creation of the world and everything in God created everything in six days the space of six days and then he rested on the seventh day, and then you look at other passages of Scripture like what Peter says in second Peter chapter 3 verse eight. Do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day so I sounds like your question is is well are those six days is each of those days. 1000 years.

Well no that's that's not the case and what Peter is saying they are in second Peter chapter 3 were suggesting but from what from from the perspective of God.

If you will. The Lord of heaven and earth he's outside of time.

He sees infinite, eternal, unchangeable, and so when we think about a day or time and in God's perception of it. If you will. God is outside of time for him a days as a thousand years and a thousand years is as one day.

If you woman that's that that's the point Peter is making in the context of the reason that he's making that point is because he's talking about people who are saying well. The Lord isn't really coming back.

It's been all all these years how many thousands of years has it been since Jesus said he was going to return. He still hasn't returned and then they begin to get slacken and live in ways that are not pleasing to the Lord dishonoring God mocking you know with with regard to the second coming of Christ and in Peter's point is to say, look, don't know know know know God is being patient toward you. You think it's been a long time before the Lord a thousand years, just like a blink of the eye United it's nothing for him. And so, so that's you know Peter's point there talking about God, the infinite Lord of heaven and earth and and his relationship to time.

If you will. I don't think it it would be right for us to read that into Genesis chapter 1 and say well each of those days the thousand years because of what Peter says there in second Peter chapter 3 verse eight. Oftentimes, you know, we get we get caught up in discussions about the age of the earth. And you know how long were those days there in Genesis chapter 1 bulimia state that the focus of Genesis Genesis chapters 1 and two is that God is the creator king that he made everything from nothing and that he doesn't need anything. And as the creator king.

He has made man out of bed, out of the abundance of his love to reflect him his goodness in them were so-called to do that to respond to reflect the goodness and love of the Lord and we can only do that.

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