Can We Become Physically Ill by Taking Communion Improperly?

Physical ailments the result of taking communion improperly. That's just 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 a radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day as our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave us a voicemail that number anytime or email us at questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to Brian calling in from St. Louis, Missouri Brian, what's your question for pastor atrial reading lately very similar things that kind of parallel people.

I really truly believe are happy in America today. I think that when Rachel Jesus prayer and Bible schools that the school just started going down the hill because they started teaching teaching young children and I really think that if America doesn't quite realize what happened to the chief is happening to America now America is in big trouble.

Hey Brian, thanks for that. That question so a couple of things one just just in terms of thinking about Israel under the old covenant in covenant relationship with God as as this political body basically.

This this theocracy on earth, for God is ruling over them.

There, in a distinct situation in the history of of redemption that that isn't the same is as worrying right now and specifically want to be careful and were when were drawing the sort of one-to-one correlations between the covenant people of God in the Old Testament Israel and any particular nation of this world including the United States of America really Israel under the old covenant was a type of the church today that the church of Jesus Christ is the holy nation on earth today. The embassy of heaven if you will, and local churches are kingdom outposts embassies of heaven spread out throughout the whole world not just United States but but every single country of the world and were called to be salt and light where God has a step to proclaim the gospel in these these nations that were were in that were a part of their called also. Do I think reflect that which is good and just on the basis of God's word what he's revealed in his law and when we don't do that when they don't do that they suffer the consequences indeed is so when you see injustices growing in bloodshed and violence that bloodstains the ground if you will, and it does call for judgment. It calls for justice and so I think that there is a serious warning that people need to heed today calls to repentance. I'm right there with you, and I think we should be calling people our neighbors to repentance, to cling to the gospel to the hope that we have and to flee for refuge in in Christ and in his kingdom.

And as God's kingdom people we should be seeking to do good to the people around us and and to benefit every nation where the Lord has us whatever nation it might be here in the United States for us, in no particular praying for our leaders, seeking that which is good and just, you know the good of our neighbors.

So I think I think it so far as you belong. For that you want to see that happen. You're on the right track.

I would just I would just caution against you, that one-to-one correlation between Israel as the covenant people of God in the Old Testament and the United States of America today that that's not correlation that we want to make our that we can make biblically speaking, because the church of Jesus Christ is the holy nation of God's people spread out throughout the whole world not defined by 1 Particular Pl., and wherever we are in no calling upon the name of the Lord in seeking to do good to the people around us.

So God bless you and and yes may the Lord bring times of healing and times of repentance for us. God bless this core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Nancy calling in from Iowa, Nancy, what your question for atrial taking my call.

Thank you for your covenant perspective to my question is resolved around that last verses of chapter 7 of Romans.

When I was young, I took comfort from these sources just the idea that the great apostle Paul even battled the flesh nature because I really feel that battle so strongly within myself have been a believer as long as I can remember, but it's it's a rough life sometimes.

I heard some Bible teachers say that what Paul is describing in these verses is his life before his conversion, and teachers say that he's describing ongoing struggle with in the Christian life and just wondering if you give me a perspective on those verses is always your biblical reason for the table. Thanks for your encouragement Nancy and and you're right there is a debate among you know Bible scholars and and people are looking at Romans chapter 7 is this Paul describing his pre-conversion experience or is he talking about the struggle that we experience as Christians that that battle, you know, I want to do the things that are right but but I still struggle with with the flesh, and I think all of us met myself included, you know we want to say I'd I feel that, let me just it just seems like this rings true. As I read this because I think I can say alongside of the apostle Paul. I do not understand my own actions. He says in verse 15. I do not I do not do what I want but I do the very thing I hate, and I think that that because you said you know there's there's a real battle that we experience as Christians in it. It's the fight against sin. But if Paul is describing his pre-conversion experience will then can we really take comfort from those verses that I and you've heard me talk about this. I'm sure on the broadcast before Mike, my view is that Paul is talking about his his life as a believer and I think one. One thing that confirms this. If you look at what what I would say is sort of parallel text.

Again, the writings of the apostle Paul in the book of Galatians in Galatians chapter 5 verse 16. Paul said, I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh towards the desires of the flesh are still to be there for you as a believer for the desires of the flesh which he's assuming you know the Galatians still have the desires of the flesh are against the spirit and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh.

These are opposed to one another to each other to keep you from doing the things you want to do this sort of a similarity in language there.

II don't do the things I I want to do. There's this battle between the flesh and the spring think like Paul is bringing this up Nancy to the Galatians as well. As a real experience that they're having and so I think this this confirms at least in my mind and is one of the techs I go to say no.

Seems it seems to back the idea will what Paul is talking about in Romans chapter 7 isn't isn't something that's foreign to the life of the believer, but something that we do experience as believers in the Christian life.

Otherwise, why would he be saying these things to the Galatians to a group of professing believers many any continues there in in Galatians chapter 5 verse 18 but if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

And it goes on to describe the works of of the flesh and in the works of the spirit any conclusion. Verse 25 if we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit.

Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another. And so I think are things internally in Romans chapter 7 that many people will point to insight. Note seems like Paul is talking about his his own life as a believer but then I think there are other passages that corroborate that and support the fact that know you. He's talking about the experience we have as Christians.

In that text in Galatians chapter 5 is one of them and I find that to be convincing Nancy, I hope you did too.

God bless, I find it convincing because I deal with it every day and so will fix interference from Romans seven is like that. Okay I got me yeah I want to meet the Christian uses. Oh no, I don't have any battle with the flesh is like.

Let me talk to that guy because I like to write, but we read Romans seven we just think you have boy who will deliver me from from this you know body of death. Thank you Jesus, you're my only hope and and that's the reality is, is this real battle, flesh spirit and were called to to yield to the spirit and to pursue the Lord, we know it. There's a there's a struggle involved there, and so we take comfort.

I think from the words of Paul in Romans seven and a course the hope we have them in Romans 81 right. There's no condemnation for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.

What a blessing absolutely, this is core Christianity with Pastor atrial Sanchez.

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You can leave sure voicemail anytime 24 hours a day at this number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. We also want to mention that we have a special group of people that support this ministry on a regular basis. We call them our inner core. Yeah shout out to all of our inner core members. Thank you for your support. It's a monthly donation of $25 or more and is part way you can partner with us if you benefit benefited from the broadcast from core Christianity. Would you link arms with us as we continue to try to get try to get the word out and encourage you with Bible teaching with sound Bible teaching digging into the Scriptures, and in answering your questions about the faith are our inner core is is a group that supports us and that way we also want to encourage you, and continued it to support you in your walk with the Lord. If you join inner core will send you a copy of the book written by Dr. Michael Horton, Dr. Michael Horton core Christianity, which is an excellent book introducing the core doctrines of the Christian faith.

And so thank you again for your support and if you're interested in joining that the inner core bill let you know what you need to do, just go to our website. Core, Christianity.com/inner core. We have all the details there again core Christianity/inner core. We would really appreciate it if you would prayerfully consider supporting this ministry on a regular basis. Let's go to Rodney calling in from Fort Madison, Iowa Rodney, what's your question for atrial today. Thanks, Ron but what about the lady that called him a couple weeks ago. Baptism were rebaptized. Only question is it seems to be one of those things of been carried over from the limited bracelet that he was after the cross, Jesus.

It is true that John did baptize with water, I baptize with the Holy Spirit and then later on Paul's and Paul did baptize to help hold me pacifically says that later on the back.

He says after that.

I know no other member. I wasn't baptized I was sent to preach the gospel and so it seems to me like there's this confusion about baptism and wondered what you thought about that group is probably makes the statement, you know, minimizing baptism, using baptism is not that big of a deal. I was sent to to preach. Now there he's speaking the Corinthians, and he's he's really highlighting divisions at the Corinthians were having some of them were saying.

I am of Paul visiting him of Apollo's and then they were sort of boasting and you know this guy baptize me or this other person baptize me in. And Paul is trying to to to to combat a dozen. We doesn't want them to act in this divisive way and so this is that's part of the reasoning behind his statements. Of course, Paul does talk about baptism in in the Scriptures. I think you were just talking about Romans chapter 7 earlier. Think of Romans chapter 6 that the chapter right before where he says, what shall we say then are we to continue in sin that grace may abound by no means how can we who died to sin still live in it. Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the father, we too might walk in newness of life. The Lord Paul is not minimizing baptism is that she thinks it's super important. You say, look, you are the baptized you through baptism and fate of a new identity in Jesus Christ now are called to live as those who are alive from the dead no longer. You know, characterized by or defined by what we were apart from Christ and outside of Christ, we we've died and been brought back to life again through Jesus Christ and in holy baptism we by faith. And so, so I think it's really important that we realize there's there's no confusion there. Paul the apostle's they don't minimize baptism of the computer also preaching on the day of Pentecost in any of preaches the gospel. The gospel penetrates the hearts of his listeners. They say what what we need to do, what shall we do, and Peter responds in acts chapter 2, verse 38 repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit for the promise is for you and for your children and all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself and as a result you had this massive baptism that took place there on the day of Pentecost.

One of the things that I'm concerned with. And I see this in the church today is that I feel like the very ordinances the sacraments that Jesus left for the church.

We oftentimes treat as as empty symbols. Baptism is not that big of a deal. The Lord's supper. Leo, I don't know I'm in the D's of the very gifts that Jesus gives to the church to communicate his grace to us by faith did to show his goodwill, his love, the reality of the gospel for the people of God is. Just think about you know of someone giving you a gift you would never want to, you would never want to minimize that gift, you would never minute, especially if it if it's a gift like baptism or or the Lord's supper yet. I think oftentimes in churches today. We do we serve sales in the ritual, baptism, or the Lord supper. That's not really that important. More you distort your personal feelings and relationship with Jesus friends Christ himself gave us these holy ordinances and he intends to communicate his grace, his word to the church through them and so we should receive them with faith with joy with the reverence and with all and and I think that's precisely how how the apostles received them and talked about them.

They never minimized them there minimize baptism.

On the contrary, again Paul in Romans six.

Thanks. Remember, your baptisms remember who you are, that God is washed you by faith that you belong to him live in light of that, and we need to be reminded of those things every single day brothers and sisters because it's so easy for us to forget the gospel the goodness of God for us week we have to have these pictures that Jesus gives to us and and we and we should rejoice in them as well. And so thank you for for your question, Rodney appreciated and thanks for being a listener to core Christianity you're listening to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question for us about the Bible or the Christian life. You can always email us. Here's our email addresses questions at core, Christianity.com it will. Here's an email from one of our listeners named Doug he says in first Corinthians 11, Paul warned us not to take communion in an unworthy manner. I was a seeker for a long time before I was a believer when communion came around. I always felt uncomfortable taking it, but between my church friends encouraging me to partake in my own confusion I would usually do it today. I have severe mental illness and severe diabetes and I struggle with knowing where I stand with God. I'm afraid God was angry with me and that he caused me to get sick. I never wanted to mock the Lord. But as a seeker. I partook communion before I understood that he loved me. My question is does God do this to people, or do you think my sickness is not related to this.

Okay Doug, what I would say to you is being on the basis of first Corinthians 11. It does say that there is a judgment for those who take communion unworthily and in first Corinthians 11.

Specifically, from the Corinthians were doing all sorts of things we just read the first Corinthians were there other all sorts of issues at the church at Corinth has in there there almost boasting in their sin. At points in prescriptions 11. The focus is again on the divisions that they had within the church and not caring for the poor members of the church, sort of neglecting them and and so Paul says you guys are coming together, not for benefit, but for judgment because of how you're treating the holy gifts that the Lord has given to you and it wasn't so much a matter of their ignorance. In other just seekers and of these are people who are within the church who had the teaching of the apostle Paul himself and yet are living in these these sinful ways and are not dealing with judging the sin in their community and pain as a result, Paul says look you're going to be judged by God because you're not dealing with these issues as I say all that but but I don't think that it's right or good for you to conclude that because of your experience in you. At that time is a seeker not really understanding everything you took communion, but now God is is cursed you with diabetes or it, or any other sickness, know, and I think we come before God.

Obviously, all of us right with who you know, seeking to understand to grow to to learn to know more.

And the Lord is patient with us. Just think of the disciples of Jesus and how often is he teaching them and yet they still don't get it there so I unable to grasp at times, unable to understand Jesus rebukes them, but he doesn't he doesn't curse them. He doesn't abandon them. He continues to minister to them and to teach them and I think Doug that's what Jesus does with each one of us. We don't fully understand, especially early on were seeking were trying to understand and in the Lord is gracious to us. He's he's patient with us.

He brings us along. And the Lord's supper is for sinners, for people who know they need the grace of God.

Sounds like that's that's you Doug what you realize now more than you did before. Even the love of God for you.

The fact that Christ paid for the sins of all those who would believe in you. Trust in Jesus, presuming you. You've been baptized. Tina you received the sign and seal of baptism, you should as a part of the church and is as someone who needs.

Again, these these gifts that God gives to us the Lord supper.

You should come and receive by faith. The Lord supper snuffer for perfect people. It's for people who struggle and are fighting against sin and repenting every single day even and they know they need the grace of God, who is the Lord supper not for was not for those who don't believe in. And it's not for those who merely think of again of love.

The Corinthians here who are clinging to their sin stubbornly and with with hard hearts, not willing to depart from in their coming arrogantly to the Lord's table in this sort of sacrilegious way.

Assuming that everything's fine and good when in reality there there not clinging to Jesus they're clinging to their sin and that's what Paul is talking about their and to and from in first Corinthians 11. A single judge yourselves deal with these issues. Confess your sins to God and then come and receive his grace at the table but that's not what you're doing, you're holding onto your sins and your continuing to to be divisive into it to harm the people in the church at and you're coming to the table in arrogance and pride. And if you do that God will discipline you as his ass. His children because he loves you and that's exactly what what he goes on to say that that if we judged ourselves.

Verse 31 truly would not be judged. But when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned along with the world and so God's discipline is not is not so much of a curse in this is so important for us to understand God when God disciplines us as his children. It's not to drive us away.

It's to bring us in its to help us to see how much we need him how how futile and in dark it is.

Apart from him and were clinging to our sins. It's an act of God's love is many as I love God says, I rebuke and chasten us so even that you know I want you to realize that when when when we do experience the discipline of the Lord. It's a sign of of God's love. I don't think that you should conclude that because of your experiences a seeker before you understood the love of God, you need to the Lord supper that that the result of that is God cursing you with diabetes know God is gracious and merciful and patient with us and we go to him. You know, confess even our ignorance and we all have had, especially early on God's mercy when he welcomes you and Doug and Ann may experience his grace in your life. Thanks for giving us an email. God bless one more email before we go Israel. This one's for Michael. He says how should I respond to a Christian who believes that rate key Eastern medicine has to do with one's energy and can be used with the Holy Spirit in our healing. Okay well I have to confess that I haven't done a lot of research on reiki specifically but but generally speaking, when people try to weave together sort of Eastern mysticism together with the teachings of the Bible and Christianity. I have red flags go up and so I would what I would want to know what specifically is is is this individual trying to say are trying to suggest. So often you know it with with a lot of these even with some of the Eastern medicine stuff, you know that there's a there's a highly religious element to it and and that's what we have to be discerning. I think about we know what the apostle Paul said, what fellowship has light with darkness. You know there's there's a real danger of what's called syncretism that's weaving together the truth the teachings of the Bible with other religions that contradict so often the teaching of Scripture and so is a lot I would be very cautious here and would give a warning frankly and say no.

We need to be discerning and wise we think about the teachings of the Bible and other things as well. 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. 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