Celebrating 1,000 s of Core Christianity!

What do our questions about God, the Bible in our faith.

Tell us about ourselves. 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. You can call us right now with your question.

At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also post your question. One of our social media sites and of course you can always email us at questions at core, Christianity.com will believe it or not.

Today marks are 1000th episode of core Christianity is a whole lot of programs during the last couple years that Gabriel has answered more than 4000 questions about the Bible and the Christian faith. And so it will only ask as we start off today as you think back over those 1000 shows what are some of the highlights for you. Well, I mean Bill, you know every every single day at such a blast to be able to do this I would say that needed to be highlights for me have been during the program getting getting calls and in really being able to minister. I think the people at various points we seen that but also getting feedback from our listeners to me. I got a letter not too long ago to the church right Pastor Becky from another minister in Alabama who was sharing with me that he was able to baptize a family that had been listening the core Christianity for a long time. It was just instrumental in them sort of moving in that direction and getting plugged into the church is really getting to see the work they were doing and then the whole team unit is a lot of hard work bear fruit, and it's only by the grace of the Holy Spirit that has been the greatest joy for me over the last few years and so real really thankful for that and I think for me, one of the things that is encourage me is how many times you have been able to reassure anxious Christians about their salvation and tell them that their faith is not based on feelings but on the finished work of Christ on the cross that is just been so cool.

Yeah, I mean that's that. Another class of cohead don't you go ahead I'm sorry. Yeah, now just to say that we want to help people be secure in the gospel, not not so much in ourselves. You and this is middle people are always looking inward and we hear from so many places you know well, that's where you have to focus know we have to focus on the truth of God's word and of the gospel and so it's a privilege to get to do that for people going as a pastor who is preaching to a congregation every Sunday and leading a congregation. I'm wondering what has surprised you or maybe concerned you about some of the questions that we receive what they tell you about the state of the church in our country. Maybe about the understanding of the average Christian in the pews yeah but what's really Jimmy bill you mentioned being able to give assurance to people were calling and struggling. I think one of the themes that we see a lot of times here on the broadcast is people really wrestling with the question, how can I know that I'm saved, how can have assurance I've seen a lot of confusion about God's law to which really should not be a surprise because from the very beginning when you look at the New Testament. He was questions about the law of God in the proper application of God's law to the life of the believer.

What role does the Law play in our salvation, if any, what does that look like, what's the what's the distinction between the law and the gospel is a week we've seen that we are still expecting this. But we we really seen this play out with a lot of the questions that come in just really wrestling through how to rightly understand God's word. In particular, God's law and so not really the key distinctions that we feel like were able to give that help people have have come in clutch insulted the distinction between the law and the gospel between justification and sanctification mean these are things that we like to talk about. And these are things that many people have questions about. Well, in honor of our 1000th episode we are having a drawing for some very special goodies. Today we are giving away three gift packages to three different winners who entered our contest online. Now these gift packages contain are three latest Bible studies on roof the parables and Philippians a brand-new coffee mug with the core Christianity logo on it. They look really cool a bag of San Diego's finest coffee to go with the mug and we got a pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones and I think what we'll do is we'll take a call right now and then in a few minutes will have our first winter so if you are one of those people that enter that contest online well stick with us because we may be announcing your name here in just a bit. First let's go to our phones and again our phone number is 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Don are a get on who's calling in from Kansas.

Don what your question for pastor atrial. You will be to bring out if you're not sure. Maybe you've answered this question before, not best. If your church has setting on some large sums of money.

Like several hundred thousand dollars and not doing anything with it.

Is it is okay to center on outreach rather than take it into the church were just paid out. Thank you for that question will course, the tide was was a part of the old covenant. Specifically, I think were called to give generously and, and unto the Lord with joy in the Lord loves a cheerful giver and we talk about what Paul says in second Corinthians chapter 8 specifically and in chapter 9 verse seven. Each one must give as he decided, as he is decided in his own heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. Sites will start their giving should be grounded in the gospel we give is a response to what God is done for us, responsive worship and thanksgiving for the work of the ministry and so your question specifically to how should a church be spending its money. And I think I think the way churches spend their money has to be great commission related and work with thinking about discipleship were thinking about the advancement of the gospel. I know some churches you know they're there saving money for buildings or for other things. Any planting a church that type of thing, but I think I think so long is that the mindset is how are we using the resources God has given to us to invest in God's kingdom and I think I think it's important for churches to think along those lines of, and certainly it just in terms of our our mission that Jesus is given to us, but that's where that's what requires wisdom and so I think in part with what churches can do that are sitting on money as is come together it's okay. How can we wisely wisely use these resources for the advancement of the gospel I that they didn't want to serve just say we gotta just give it all away. I was talking brother is a minister not too long ago where we're having actually a discussion about something very similar, and he said look, there's a lot of money that gets wasted by churches even even in terms of, you know, that they may see something that they think it's a legitimate mission opportunity.

They just dump a bunch of resources into it, but they didn't do their homework in terms of really thinking about you and is a viable thing is a something that we should invest in is it wise to invest in essence I think it's important for us in churches to think long and hard about how were using the resources that God is given to us for the advancement of his kingdom and so yes I would say definitely thinking about outreach is whether their local outreaches or foreign outreaches mean omissions for foreign missions, I think is very good things done so I got give your church wisdom if if you guys are in that position in an open up doors for you guys to be able to use those resources in a way that is pleasing to him. Don, thanks so much for your question. Thanks for listing the core Christianity as we mentioned all week we've been encouraging you to enter our contest online. We have three winners in honor of our 1000th episode today of a special prize pack and were going to pick a winner right now. This is for several good things. First of all, our three new Bible studies, which are just awesome.

We also have a core coffee mug.

This is our brand-new coffee mug with our logo on it which a drill is showing off right now on YouTube and some San Diego coffee plus how about this some special Bluetooth headphones so Israel wanted to reach into your basket there and pick out your very first winter yeah okay well let me dig in. We got this said nice big bag. We had quite a few people here are first winter is Eric Cleveland from Iowa Falls, Iowa.

Congratulations Aaron arrived very cool boy. Congratulations Eric and if you are you one of the people that enter the contest were to pick two more before the end of the show today so hang tight and we may be going to next week. Phone lines open when you get those sound effects are like the clapping you know when I'm done answering a question, or I don't know why we haven't incorporated that into really good theology. You make a when you when you have just one of these amazing theological responses like digging into the Old Testament in some obscure passage that you just blow us away. We should have the applause right there exactly will talk to producer about that. What will do that. Okay, let's go back to the phones Bryans on the will hide from St. Louis, Missouri Brian, what's your question for pastor atrial question people always wondered what paradise is and you probably heard about people who died and gone to heaven. What story here. Basically all I think we never mention see cheese and Lee's experience some plated like the Bible says we got to try this. God because it is the Bible so the devil can actually transform himself into an angel of light. So I'm asking what exactly well when we die as believers, we enter into the presence of the Lord. Second Corinthians chapter 5 Philippians chapter 1 makes is clear you see an example of how you a picture of heaven.

The worship taking place in heaven. Hebrews chapter 12 and then throughout the book of Revelation as well and so paradise is the place where God dwells to me when Jesus the thief on the cross today are to be with me in paradise. These you can be with me in the presence of God worshiping the Lord. And so, so that the first thing I would say and I think I think it's wise for us to be discerning, you're right there a lot of people out there who make no really big claims about what they've seen. You know those near-death experiences, but we have to sift everything through the word of God and determine whether or not it's it's true or not true. Now one thing I'll say with regard to this this specifically because there have been several books that have come our people say no. 20 minutes in heaven or are you note 15 minutes in hell that kind of a thing books where people claim that they've gone to these places and then came back to tell about it. Paul says in second is chapter 12 verse one. I must go on boasting, though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord.

I know a man in Christ who 14 years ago was caught up to the third heaven, whether in the body or out of the body. I don't know, God knows and I know that this man was caught up into paradise, whether in the body or out of the body.

I don't know, God knows any heard things that cannot be told which man may not utter on behalf of this man. I will boast but on my own behalf, I will not boast, except of my weaknesses yet. One example here were a guy says. Paul says I know a guy who somehow it was caught up into heaven if you will. I do know he was in the body or out of the body. Paul says maybe it was it was a vision.

But what he heard. He can't utter he's not going to share it with with you and so is it just seems strange to me that there are so many people who are saying up you know III died and went to heaven and let me just you know tell you all about it and they they write books to you know get get the word out about the boatswain that a mega boasting those visions and revelations actually hears him to boast in my weaknesses because in my weakness. Jesus Christ is made strong in and through me. His strength becomes my strength and so you don't like it we have that we have to really think about just these claims and says it does even make sense on the on the basis we have in Scripture and even what Paul says there and in second Corinthians chapter 12 and in my my sense is no, it doesn't make sense, so we want we want to focus on the teaching of God's word and and get our understanding of heaven in paradise from the Scriptures, not from people who are making these claims. Thanks for your question. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor atrial Sanchez if he just joined us this is our 1000th episode. If you can believe that Israel has answered like 4000 questions for the past couple of years, and in honor of our 1000th episode were having a drawing this week we've asked you to go to our website all week and sign up and were going to have another winner right now. This is for our three new Bible studies on Ruth parables and Philippians brand-new coffee mug with core Christianity logo on it. A bag of some really good coffee from San Diego and one pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones. Are you ready to draw the next winter, sir. Okay, I'm ready, Bill. Let's do it is the therapist that dug deep for this one here we have Nathan Baker from Mooresville, North Carolina, Baker congratulations enjoy your coffee and the headphones so right now I'm actually thinks I was in his town had been to Mooresville, North Carolina, and how is and how is it.

It's night a nice town beautiful town have some great churches there to so make and thanks for listening to core Christianity and congratulations.

Okay.

Our phone lines are still open for the next couple minutes.

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

Here's the number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to David in Albuquerque, New Mexico. David, what's your question for pastor atrial. You want the great accomplishment.

Thank you.

My question is in regard to allow the question away. You'll and Hades and the where the dead where prior to Christ coming to earth.

I read know a lot over the years on this even formed writing like Robert Morey wrote a book, good death, the afterlife or eat really goes into great detail about prior to Christ coming to earth.

There was the compartment divided between Sheol and Hades the righteous and the unrighteous that went there when when Christ came, he released that and took the heaven and later I started hearing from a lot of other pastors like you. John MacArthur said that he believes that the Old Testament saints. When they died they went directly to to heaven. They didn't go to this holding plate isn't wanting what your take on this year.

If you have any understanding on this that could shed some light on the thank you for that. That question David that it seems like there is some difference of opinion here among interpreters of the Bible and in scholars now.

I would say that the main thing is one understanding that the saints in the Old Testament were saved in the same way that we are. I think that that's key to that were not thinking of some sort of like purgatory type holding place, but that there is this this place of blessedness where the. The Old Testament believers win.

Ultimately, through Christ and looking forward to the promise of the gospel and so so I think I think those are the key things that it when people you know get nervous about. You know this, sort of like limbo sort of waiting in a holding tank before Jesus is that is that like is that you know the kind of purgatory.

I think I think we can reject that specifically. And then there are some passages right I mean I think of the parable of the rich man and Lazarus. You know that that's one text that people will go to an end and the idea is that this is one of the things Jesus did after his death in and prior to his resurrection from the dead is easy, just releasing the captives seems to be some indication of this in places like Ephesians chapter 4 have a strong and of a strong sort of needle one way or another on this. Personally, I think it is getting that the that the main things right which are Old Testament say saints were saved justified the same way that we are through Jesus Christ mean I think Paul makes it absolutely clear in Romans Romans chapter 4 specifically thinking about Abraham's justification to save the same way that that we are, and upon death they are in in a place of of blessedness if you will, in the presence of God and so all of that is through Jesus.

Of course, through his work even even though he had not come yet there anticipating and were anticipating the types and shadows of the old covenant that the grace that that was theirs. In Christ, and so I was a those of the main things in in this discussion and and that's sort of work where I would focus personally thank you for your question David, thanks so much and thanks for listening to core Christianity hard time for one more winter in our giveaway this is for our special 1000th episode of core Christianity Israel. Are you ready for our third and final winter.

Let's do it. Bill all right, all right, here we have Lou core from Mission Texas. Congratulations Lou. Let me tell Lou what is one occasion here earlier. First of all, we got three new Bible studies from core Christianity. You can find this by the way, by going to core Christianity.com/studies we got new ones on Ruth. The parables and Philippians were also to send him a brand-new coffee mug with core Christianity's logo on it. A bag of San Diego's finest coffee to go with the mug and one pair of Sony Bluetooth headphones so congratulations and congratulations to all of our listeners what we have a question from one of our listeners in Minnesota from Reed. He wants to know about Matthew 315 and why when people are baptized there not asked for an admission of sin will Matthew chapter 3 verse three it is the baptism of Jesus magic. Matthew chapter 3 verse 13 Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to the Jordan to John to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me. But Jesus answered him, let it be so.

Now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.

Then he consented and when Jesus was baptized immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him, and behold a voice from heaven said this is my beloved son, with whom I am well pleased to serve a unique situation. Here we were talking about the baptism of the eternal son of God Jesus and so with regard to your question, why, why don't they asked for an admission of of sin will hear specifically what were talking about the sinless one.

Jesus has no sense of the question is, and oftentimes the question we get related to the baptism of Jesus. Why was Jesus baptized life.

He was sinless right is isn't baptism about the washing away of our sins. And here he says it's to fulfill all righteousness. Jesus is walking in the footsteps if you will of of Israel through the wilderness.

The temptation in the wilderness. Use me that she's about to enter into, out of out of Egypt through the water into the temptation eat, he is essentially walking in the footsteps of Israel. But what what's distinct here is he's the true and perfect Israelite, the one who doesn't succumb to temptation in the wilderness, the one who you know delivers and perfectly keeps the law he delivers the law in Matthew chapter 5 and so you have this this really interesting connection between Jesus's life and ministry here in the early chapters of the gospel of Matthew and the experience of Israel in the Old Testament again got bring them out of Egypt, through the waters.

40 years of temptation and then giving them his law, and here you see that that same pattern except Jesus is the true and perfect Israelite who is baptized to fulfill all righteousness and ultimately this baptism is a a foreshadowing of what's going to happen to him on the cross. It's the picture of the judgment that he was going to receive in our place for our sins. And so that's that's the business that's why our Lord was baptized but there there's no reason for there to be any discussion about, you know that admission of sin. There are confession of sin and repentance because Jesus never sinned, he was sinless, and that's what makes him a perfect Savior. This is core Christianity. Congratulations again to our three winners for our special contest for 1000th episode of this program, Eric Cleveland, Nathan Baker and Lou core were sending you those wonderful gift packages and it will just any final thoughts as we wrap up our 1000th episode of core Christianity well Bill, it has been such a joy in my prayer is that the Lord continues to use this ministry in us and the team that I know works so hard to encourage people in their faith to help people really understand the core truths of the Christian faith. I to grow in the grace and the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

At the end of the day that's what it's all about. That's what we do what we do because we want to see Jesus glorified and we want to see people fall in love with him more and more and fall in love with his word, and so thank you to all of you who have supported us and listened to the last 1000 episodes. We pray 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