Does Jesus, the Pastor, or the Congregation Lead the Church?

Who leads the church is a Jesus a pastor or the congregation 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. 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. Here's our phone number 8833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 you can always post your question on one of our social media sites you can email us anytime at this address questions at core, Christianity.com first up today let's go to MC who is calling in from Nashville Tennessee and see what your question for Israel in all my questions and you think you may say that the Bible and the Torah caressed documents. That's my first question in my question is about being the wife and I never heard that before cell I just curious you can help me. Thanks for your encouragement and glad you enjoyed the broadcast this objection that people make with regard to the Bible where they say oh you know well it was just corrupted over time you hear this from Muslims. You also hear this from Mormon sites I found in discussions with both Muslims and Mormons. You know you your you begin to appeal to Scripture and maybe you point out a passage that contradicts something in their theology, something they believe in the sort of default is not actually to engage with the text but to say well we know that the Bible was corrupted and in that case, I like to push back a little bit just say what will what you mean. It is one thing to just make a claim and say it was corrupted. But what can you back that claim been in. I find that a lot of people are just repeating something that they've been told but they don't have any understanding of textual criticism.

They don't have any understand of understanding of how we got our Bible and that the manuscript evidence in the Old Testament and the New Testament in the New Testament manuscripts just just thousands of other manuscripts that were working with in terms of thinking about the text of Scripture and so so II would buy would push back what would you say will will what do you mean what can you point to or how can you, how can you make that this is the claim that you're making. What can you support that claim.

And I think there's a lot of reason for us to believe that the Bible actually has not been corrupted and we look at the manuscript evidence there is. There's just so much going for us in terms of writing about too many to many times people think.

Here's how here's how the Bible was passed down to like the game telephone you know one person gave the message to another person then that person gave it to another person, then over time we lost the original message. We don't we don't know what the message was what you had in the first centuries. It is just thousands of copies that were being made of the text of the week and compare these things in order to come to the be original meanings is not. It is not. There is just this one line of transmission.

If you will. You have you have all of these different copies that were looking at in terms of getting you know a right understanding of what the text and I think we can be confident as Christians and in at the end of the day. We also can be confident because God is ultimately the one who is who is the source of screen just inspire it, but we believe that by the providence of God and in the work of the Holy Spirit is also preserved his word for us so that we can we can say with the apostle Paul in second Timothy chapter 3, all Scripture is God breathed. It's profitable for us is.

Here's what the apostle Paul says all Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work and so don't let people off the hook when they when you know they're confronted with that the text of Scripture and instead of dealing with the words of Jesus of the words of the apostles.

They just say oh that was corrupted just a claim that just an assertion you have to yet to be able to demonstrate what it is that your your claim and I don't think that they can in a way that that undermines the authority of Scripture and then with regard to that, the second question that you have about this. This character named Lilith amended this just some of those ideas that are that are out there and and have been out there sort of floating around with regard to the early chapters of Genesis. But there's no indication in the text of Scripture again that that that's the case at all that that Adam had another wife you know it.

At that point so so again this is people not looking at the text of Scripture and making assumptions about the text of Scripture and in in this case I think the community just will again want to just focus on on what the text says. And it certainly doesn't say anything about Lilith and so hey thanks again for for giving us a call and may the Lord bless you. I'm so glad that you pointed out that when someone makes a claim about Christianity being faults or the Bible been distorted.

It's really up to them to support that claim because that happens a lot with atheists and agnostics no cut corner you and you need to really stop and say what evidence do you have to support that are what makes you say that a lot of times we feel like were kinda backed into a corner, but they should be the ones that are forced to answer for that. That claim that they met correctly absolutely and and I think that's how you have been a good discussion and hopefully if if an individual is really open to learning and actually wants to grow in their understanding of what the Bible teaches. And then it can be fruitful. A lot of times people just throwing out things that they've heard you know from from some guy on YouTube or something like that are or may be a book that they read but but it hasn't been substantiated. They couldn't, they can exit defend what it is that they're claiming and so I would say don't let them do that hold them to what they're what they're claiming and then digging the description of what you find is actually know there's a lot of support for the authority of Scripture and for the fact that we can trust it could counsel the score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. Let's go to Dan calling in from Mississippi down what your question for atrial hey Dan, I can hear you. Okay I know in the Old Testament somewhere that God Jehovah is the fountain of living waters. I cannot remember the bursary more book but then Jesus talking to the woman at the well.

He said if you had known who I am now, Jehovah, I would have given you living water, so my question is God, the fountain of living water water motor that is it the information that you need to be saved or is this salvation, I love this question.

Dan is one my favorite chapters in the Bible John chapter 4 Jesus with the woman at the well and she says to her in verse 10 Jesus answered if you knew the gift of God and who it is that is saying to give me a drink, you would've asked him and he would've given you living water. What is that living water. You're right actually done in in the Old Testament God referred to himself as the fountain of living waters. The text you are thinking of is Jeremiah the prophet Jeremiah chapter 2 verse 13 for my people have committed two evils. They have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters and hued out cisterns from them for themselves, broken cisterns that can hold no water. In other words, you've abandoned me in your in your beginning to worship things that cannot satisfy you that cannot satisfy your spiritual thirst. I am the fountain of living water, so I think at one since we can say here that there's there's a claim to deity. Jesus is the one who gives the living waters. Now, what are those waters that you when we think about living water. Sometimes that that would be use that phrase could be used to mean running water you think of of a spring, and actually just in in a few verses in verse 14 that seems to be the case. Whoever drinks of the water that I will give him I'll never be thirsty again, but that water I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life. Some people point to in the book of Numbers. In chapter 19 verse 17 you had this ritual water that was used in in the worship of Israel. The other times I've heard commentators talk about in terms of this living water right this idea of a washing there in that time that the the bridal bath that a preparation for marriage.

I kinda like that actually see some of this in some the songs, but I kinda like that because you have at that the background here of John chapter 4 this this marriage imagery you have Jesus meeting the woman at the well and throughout the Scriptures, in particular in the Old Testament over and over again. You have the stories of the patriarchs meeting their rides at Wells and so this is a picture of in one since the bride of Christ. This this woman and Jesus is the one who washes he's the one who gives the living water.

Now when and where does Jesus give the living water. Super fascinating. I think you get to the end of John's Gospel and John record something about the crucifixion that isn't recorded in the synoptic Gospels.

In Matthew, Mark or Luke in John chapter 19 in verse 34 again speaking about the crucifixion we read one of the soldiers pierced Jesus's side with the spirit and at once there came out blood and water. Wow what what is the living water that Jesus gives its the blood and water that flows from his heart for the redemption of his people for the washing of his bride for the forgiveness of our sins and so that's what I think the living water is it's it's it's the river of life that flows from the heart of Christ for the redemption of his people thanks are called and got bless them. So glad you mentioned that John four is one of your favorite chapters.

What I love about that is after he shares with the woman at the well, you know, she runs off and tells the people of the village who formerly had ostracized her and about the I found the Messiah and the Bible says the people came streaming out of the village jelly him just so beautiful as it is. It is beautiful when you have the work of Jesus in her life and then just her desire to share about Christ and what you done. His compassion is love is forgiveness. There's a great example for all of us know for sure. This score Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez by the way, if your regular listener to this program and you believe in what we do during the core tenets of the Christian faith on a daily basis. We love to invite you to join what we call our inner core, yes brothers and sisters.

If you've been blessed by the work that we do is we open up the Scriptures every day answering the questions that you have about the Bible about the Christian faith about walking with the Lord you know and the comfort that we can receive from his word. If you been blessed you consider joining the inner core. It's a monthly donation of $25 or more. It's one of the ways you can partner with us to continue to get the word out and we believe you know that the work that were doing is his ministry. When we see it we get we get so much feedback from many of you and and so many others letters coming in of people whose lives are being changed truly do the word of God and the grace of the Spirit in in the privilege of God is given us to do this work and so were were asking you to partner with us again. $25 or more, joining the inner core and will send you a copy of the book by Dr. Michael Horton core Christianity to continue to encourage you in your walk with the Lord and build you up in the Scriptures, thank you for your support.

To learn more about joining the inner core that special group of people who are regular supporters by going to core Christianity.com/inner core again. Core, Christianity.com/inner core we'd encourage you to prayerfully consider doing that. Maybe this weekend we could definitely use more supporters that would just be a huge blessing to us. Let's go to an email question that came in Israel and by the way, you can always email us at this address. It's questions at core, Christianity.com questions at core, Christianity.com. This one comes from one of our listeners named Yolanda. She says my pastor is doing a study in the book of Thessalonians. He stated that the congregation runs the church is that right, I thought Christ ran the church in yeah I agree with you.

I think that your your your thinking correctly that Jesus is the one who runs the church. He is the head of the church, and what you see that in the book of Ephesians you see that in in first Corinthians that in Colossians chapter 1 verse 18. He is the head of the body, the church is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent the Pope in Rome is not the head of the church.

I know in my local church of the pastor of the church, but I am not the head of the church. Jesus Christ is the head of the church, the body, and he governs his church. He rules over his church through officers who are called and qualified and competent in the Scriptures.

This is why we have ordination, you know, Paul talks about the qualifications for elders in first Timothy three and in Titus chapter 1, and so Jesus is the head of the church. He rules his church governs his church from heaven with his word with his law through faithful pastors and teachers elders who are caring for the flock ministering to the flock. And Jesus from heaven is is administering you know his kingdom, his grace to it to us through the word through the ordinances of grace, baptism and the Lord's supper. Jesus is a king right now raining in the midst of his enemies and Paul talks about this in first Corinthians 15 so Jesus is ruling over his church and he uses people in in in the governance of that church.

That's what's so important for each of us wanted to be a part of local churches because Jesus is present by his word and spirit. He's the one who set this up assistant is him to talk to people and they say will of the tribunal. I like I like spirituality but religion you know organized church. Secondly, that was man's idea that was not God's idea know.

Actually, the church is God's idea of gathering together with believers under the ministry of the word with elders and deacons in need of these things we find in Scripture. This is all God's idea now of course no church this side of heaven is is perfect were all on the way, making you know making the journey toward the celestial city of God is at work in the midst of his church. Jesus is present with this church, I'm preaching right now to the book of Revelation were about to jump into the letters to the seven churches in Revelation chapters 2 and three and me on chapter 1 John has a vision of Jesus standing in the midst of seven golden lampstands, and at the end of Revelation 1 John is told that those lampstands are the seven churches there in Asia minor.

This picture of Jesus in the middle of the church working serving caring for the body. Jesus loves his church and he rules his church governs or is head of the church through his word. God bless you. Want to thank you for your question.

Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez. We do have a YouTube channel. By the way, and you can always send us a message through YouTube. Nicole sent this one and she says my daughter is in the hospital and many nonbelievers are saying they are praying for her. They mean well, but how should we take that yeah I mean take it is is a kind gesture of the obviously when when people say that there praying for you.

You want them to be praying to the Lord, to the true God of heaven and earth to hears his people through the mediation of his son Jesus Christ and so yeah I mean this is the thing right.

People say I am sending you my my my thoughts my prayers and maybe that the person who says that you know they they reject the Christian faith or they don't know the Lord, and you and I think I think you don't live that there is no reason to respond kind of in in in the harsh way and say you know your prayers don't matter that that kind of a thing. I think I think we can receive it with with gratitude and maybe use it as an opportunity to talk about the Lord.

In these situations, but but let me just say Nicole, I'm sorry to hear that your daughter is in the hospital and I want to invite all of the believers were listening to the broadcast. Right now, not knowing what her situation is. But I want us to pray for Nicole's daughter and so let's let's come to the father right now. Through Jesus Christ our great high priest, and pray for this for this girl who's in the hospital. Father, we lift Nicole and her daughter up to you right now.

And Lord, we don't know why she's in the hospital, Lord God, but we pray for your healing in her life. I pray that your presence would be with her there in that hospital the grace of the Holy Spirit that you would grant strength and restoration to her body and that even while she's there, Lord.

Her spirits would be uplifted that she would have a clear sense of your love God. So often we we can doubt your love, your presence in times of adversity and I pray that Nicole and her daughter would not doubt that at all.

In this time, but that they would experience your grace the comfort of the Holy Spirit and healing Lord God, so please be with our sisters and strengthen them and encourage them. We pray in Jesus name, amen.

MM your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

You can leave us a voicemail anytime effect if you want to call this so we can anytime.

Here's the phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673. There's a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners named David a little bit of time where Trinity fatherless on the Holy Spirit, all being worn together as well as the milestones. But Jesus was there before he was human kind of putting all that together you. Six. David think that question yet.

We believe in one God, one essence undivided father son and Holy Spirit. Three distinct persons why we believe this. We believe this because it is the teaching of holy Scripture, we see it in the Old Testament we see in the New Testament. Each of the divine persons referred to as God and yet not confused with each other. The father is not the same person as the sun, that the son is not the same person as the Holy Spirit. And, of course, again we see this in the Gospels we see it in in the Gospel of John.

For example, in John chapter 1 verse one where we read in the beginning was the word and the Word was with God and the word was God. He was in the beginning with God all things were made through him and without him was not anything made that was made. John there at the beginning of his gospel is echoing Genesis chapter 1 verse one we talk about. The initial creation the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. And John is saying it was right there unit through whom everything was made, it would return with the word and who is the word really tells us in verse 14 the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only son from the father full of grace and truth. One of the earliest heresies that was condemned by Christians universally was it was a heresy notice Arianism. There was a man named Darius who began teaching this idea that there was a time when the sun was not. That is, there was a time when Jesus did not exist area system will are two Jehovah's Witnesses today taught that Jesus was the first created being the first creature but that he was still a creature he was not in the category of creator God, that he was in the category of God's creation. And of course that was rejected because that's not at all what the Bible teaches.

The Bible teaches that the that the son of God, as it will is eternal.

The eternal word of the father Barron in the very beginning with the father and he's not a created being. Through him all things were created, apart from it.

Apart from him. John says John is emphatic there in chapter 1 of his gospel.

Apart from him was not anything made that was made and so you know that we sometimes talk about that the preexistence of Christ and these are passages or the preexistence of of the word. These are the passages that that we go to now that word when he assumed to Mandy and took flesh from the womb of the Virgin Mary came as are as our mediator in time to be the Christ to redeem us to to save us.

You have one divine person, the eternal son of God with two natures distinct without mixture separation confusion division they they there together inseparably so that you have God. The word was accomplishing redemption for us and it's it's really easy I think for us to think about all these things, you know, the deity of Christ, the incarnation of the word is a bar to splitting theological hairs are white of the church make such a big deal about this why did that the Christians condemn areas and so on and so forth.

But who Jesus is relates to our eternal salvation friends. There is no more important question that you can ask yourself, then who is Jesus and then the answer to that question that you give is so important.

Jesus is just a great teacher of a moral leader. Jesus is the eternal son of God died for our sins so that we might be saved. 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. As we explore the truth of God's word together