What Is the Bible's View of Free Will?

What is the Bible's view of free will best 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. Here's our phone number it's 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 were open to questions about theology, doctrine, scriptural passages that might be confusing to you, or even if you have any doubts about the Christian faith.

Would love to hear from you as well. Again, 833 the court. You can also post your question on one of our social media sites are always welcome to email us at questions at core, Christianity.com. Now, in addition to hosting this program. A drill is also the pastor of a church in beautiful San Diego, California, and I understand you have something of a tradition at your church called the Psalm of the month yet. It's not that older tradition we just are doing a few months ago, but where were trying to pick different Psalm every month that we sing through every Sunday, which is been a lot of fun. It's kind of a good way to I think memorize Scripture to learn the music. I think that's that's key. And a lot of times, but Sony introduced new songs to the church if the tuning isn't familiar. You know it's it's hard for people to sing and so getting tilt to learn the music is been really neat and I just I just love it.

You know you have basically an entire hymnal in in our Bibles called the book of Psalms and and we oftentimes neglected and so any any chance we get to sing the Psalms together as a church uses is so wonderful.

And of course we never have to worry about the the lyrics because they are divinely inspired.

And so this is exactly the kind of thing we wanted and we want to sing together as the people of God is been it's been pretty neat. Let me ask you, just in general, when we look at worship music in the church.

Do you think we need to return to maybe focusing on some hymns and some Psalms that have really a rich theological tradition yeah well I'm I think I think it is important for us no matter what we do in church and especially during the worship service that were asking ourselves the question is, is what were doing in terms of the songs that were saying is this is right.

This is true. Is this in line with what God has revealed in his word, and so whether that's through hymns or more contemporary music and I got it. We just always wanted want to be sensitive to that. The reality of the fact of the way we worship God is really important. God cares about how he's worshiped. And so we want to worship him according to Scripture want to make sure that we sing to the Lord were glorifying him or honoring him and the focus is on the triune God and so II think you know whether whether church chooses to do that with some of the more traditional hymns which I left personally or they have more of a contemporary style of worship, so long as they were were were really focused on the truth of God's word. I think that's what's key you're listening to core Christianity and our phone lines are open.

If you have a question for a drill. Here's the number it's 833. The core 1-833-843-2673. You can also leave us a voicemail anytime 24 hours a day, and here's a voicemail from one of her listeners named Glenn and wondered about teaching in the Bible about love your enemy good to those that hate you, but others people and groups around that that hold that each a great high yield military duty officer teaching of Jesus cited love your neighbor as you say about that and that good teaching that she's not really about will now yeah I think that question. It definitely is for us today. Jesus said, you have heard that it was said, you shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. And this is something the apostles took in and ran with it.

I mean they were persecuted but they didn't return you know evil for evil.

Instead they loved their enemies and you see this throughout the book of acts. Specifically, but it's also in the in the epistles. I think about what the apostle Paul said in the book of Romans. In Romans chapter 12 really interesting. Verse 14 he says bless those who persecute you.

Bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty but associate with the lowly.

Never be wise in your own site. Love that never be wise in your own site repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord, and is again getting to the heart of Jesus is teaching Darren on the sermon on the mount. With regard to loving our enemies and it was just Paul that taught that Peter as well. In the book of first. In talking about persecution talking about that the suffering that we experience as the people of God. He says in first Peter chapter 3 verse eight finally, all of you have unity of mind sympathy brotherly love a tender heart and a humble mind do not repay evil for evil, or reviling for reviling but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called that you may obtain a blessing and so we see this teaching throughout the New Testament from the lips of our Lord Jesus, and then from from his disciples from his his apostles, and it is something that were called to God to love our enemies not to repay evil for evil reviling for reviling and so absolutely that you brought up the police force and military and some people have the question, what does it look like for them to love their enemies, and that we need understanding Jesus is giving us these commandments that the ethic of God's kingdom. But that doesn't that doesn't negate the fact that there are civil authorities that God has commissioned in the world if you will often get into that in Romans chapter 13 and that they bear the sword that they do sometimes have to execute judgment and that they do this as as God's servants and so it would be good be terrible for a judge.

For example, if if somebody was standing trial. They'd done some heinous act's dominant images give you grace and I know you're guilty and you view harm so many lies with them to let you go. That would not be right that would not be good. That would not be just and it would be right in accordance with God's word. So here specifically, this call to love our enemies as the people of God to pray for those who persecute us.

As this is the ethic of God's kingdom and it's something that were all bound to as the followers of Jesus Christ and so brothers and sisters may God help us in this right because we live in a day where where reviling for reviling is just all over the place and this is one of the ways we can stand out as the body of Christ. And so, God help us to stand out in that way some great counsel thinks that Israel this is core Christianity with pastor Adm. Sanchez want to tell you about a great new resource that we have available. This is something that parents or grandparents can use with their kids when they asked some of those tough questions about why bad things happen to themselves or people they know that once again the resource is called why does God let bad things happen. This is a question we know many people asking her to continue to ask it gets to the very heart of the problem of evil is a question we've we've addressed on the broadcast before, but we have this great little helpful resource short book by Chris morph you why does God let bad things happen and this is getting more for Mr. Young adults beat may be teenagers middle schoolers as you're working through these things together as a family wanting to equip your children and your grandchildren to answer the difficult questions that are asked to get a hold of this resource over core, Christianity.com for donation of any amount is really a great resource, especially again, if your children are asking some of those tough questions about why there are difficult things in this world. Here's the place to go. Core, Christianity.com/offers that's core Christianity.com/offers book for why does God let bad things happen. Let's go to a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners. This is from Tony well heart rail heart you already know how I lived that life after how you help her get will you think you and I hope that you can encourage your mom and grateful to hear that she believes in Jesus, but of course many of us and we can we can believe in Jesus but have those difficult questions. It really really bother us.

And so this question related to is is you said the idea of free will. But maybe even even more just to the heart of the question why why would God allow someone who he knows is going to hell to continue to live now and now with regard to our relationship to God. We know that we have responsibility before the Lord, that he calls all people everywhere to repent that he holds his hands out if you will with the free offer of the gospel and that were responsible for rejecting the gospel, and so it is that I think we have that we have to. We have this or to set the stage with that that the Lord is calling all people everywhere to repent that the free offer.

The gospel goes out but the people because of their own sinfulness because we we love ourselves and don't want the truth hate God, even at times it we we reject that and God. God allows us to him in his kindness and his mercy gives all sorts of other blessings general blessings that the life the breath that the food the air that we really all all of these things. And yet, if we reject the gospel we will suffer the consequences for that, and yet even through all of that God somehow, and in his sovereign purposes is still able to work even through those who have rejected and this is what we can do some of the mystery of God's sovereign workings in the world, but it's a big that Paul spoke about in places like Romans chapter 9. Here he uses the example of Pharaoh. He says in verse 19. You will say to me then why does God still find fault with people who can resist his will will snowball response to that question.

He he says who can resist his will owe man who were you to answer back to God will what is molded say to its molder, why have you made me like this is not the power of the Potter no right over the clay to make out of the same love one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use.

What if God desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction in order to make known the riches of his glory for the vessels of mercy, which is prepared beforehand for glory, even us, me is called, not from Jews only, but also from the Gentiles and upwards policy is highlighting the fact that even with somebody like Pharaoh hardened his heart repeatedly against the Lord rejected the truth of what you was an enemy of God's people attacking them, trying to put them to death and enslave them for so many years it even even somebody like that God is using him to make a point and and what is the point there, at least specifically, it's through God's long-suffering through his patience he is making known the riches of his mercy, the riches of his glory so that we don't understand all the sovereign purposes of God, but that doesn't mean the God doesn't have purposes for individuals, even those individuals who reject him are call is not to reject them to embrace the truth when we hear that the voice of the spirit speaking to us through Scripture convicting us of our sins not to harden our hearts and to turn away from the Lord. But to say Lord have mercy upon me, a sinner and we call upon him, he hears us and receives us and so may God bless you and your conversations with your mother and I think I think is emphasizing the fact that God is good he sovereign and he's good and he calls all people everywhere to repentance, but he also he also you know allows us to make decisions, and in his sovereignty immediately. It's it's it's his sovereign power that is permitted us to reject him or to rebel against him, and even that is again God's long-suffering towards humanity that continues to to war against him. And so we we cry out to him and and we embrace his mercy. We thought that we should do but many don't.

And so may God be with you and bless your conversations again with her mother. Your list in your core. Christianity let's go to Allison calling in from Fort Wayne, Indiana Allison what your question for pastor.

Israel and Carol had a question something that just happened this weekend for me to meet me and my husband. My question is, is God glorified in a situation where a child of God feels encouraged to give more at church and then that person that child that call and then out of nowhere, is a long awaited answer to prayer. And I know that God is good in math but I just trying to make sense of how he works. Eric Cody could.

He was a bear in that like my with my have been convicted to give more and then this answer per happen. How does that work will Allison is a pastor local church. I'm always in the say the goddess God is real, glorified, and people say they want to give more to the church. I'm all about and will let me just say sister the Lord loves a cheerful giver and that's precisely with the apostle Paul said in second Corinthians chapter 9.

The point is this, whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give is he is decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion literacies of somebody's twisting your arm to do this for God loves a cheerful giver, and God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times. You may abound in every good work. As it is written, he has distributed freely.

He is given to the poor. His righteousness endures forever. And then he goes on even more did to talk about this, but we we can't out give the Lord and and yeah but I think it where it will refrigerate their integrity is nine report pulses. Each one has asked to giver should give as he is decided in his own heart sounds to me like you know your your husband are you as a family felt like you know we can be more generous and think about how God has been good to us and we want to give more and there was this answer to prayer now blew the one thing I would say that we want to be cautious of you.

Sometimes you hear prosperity gospel preacher say things like of you just if you do so. This seed if you just give more to my ministry. Then God is in a bless you and your to be healed of your sickness or when know that that's not what it is at all, but the fact of the matter is I think there is a real blessing associated with generosity and God promises to provide for us to meet our needs that to increase. He says the harvest of our righteousness. Paul goes on to say in San Quentin. Nine verse 10 and so I would say that this is something that that glorifies the Lord that you guys can be encouraged in and and that's how giving should be. Again, it's not.

It's not reluctant man. I don't really want to do this or under compulsion.

Were you just feel guilty into giving it's out of this. This sense of Lord you have been so good to us. You have provided for all of our needs. Most importantly, provided for our greatest need the forgiveness of our sins and your son Jesus Christ, which want to give back to you in whatever way that we can. We know that this is one of the ways we can give, we can worship you through through our gifts through our offerings on someone we give with joy there is that that blessing I think associated with it and I'm glad to hear that the Lord is has blessed you guys and that you feel like the Lord is as opened up this door and may he continue to bless you in in generosity and in all things growing in sanctification and the fruit of the Holy Spirit.

Allison, thank you for your call Allison.

Thanks so much we appreciate you. This is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and we do receive emails here and also people: a. With her voicemails 24 hours a day.

Would love to hear one from you. There's an email from Derek and he says I'm praying to the only God in John 17 Jesus asked that we all be as one. As he and the father are one is one word for unity of will and purpose, or is it a word for equality and glory and power as it is a good question. When Jesus is I and the father one or that he wants us to be one as he is one with the father is he talking about unity of essence which we talked about in the in the context of the doctrine of the holy Trinity of one God when essence 111 power glory if you will. Three distinct persons and so specifically there in John 17. I think he's he's talking about maybe more of a unity of of purpose. If you will, especially because he talking about the unity that we also have with him and with the father and of course that would not be a unity of of essence. But our our our union together as the people of God, united together so that we might honor him to the world might know Jesus says that that he was sent by the father into the world.

By the way earlier in John chapter 13 verse 35. He says by this. All people will know that you are my disciples, by your love one for another, and so there's something about our love for each other and our unity in the body of Christ that is so key for a witness to the world, but it's also absolutely clear that Jesus is one in essence with the father one power one glory, unity of substance if you will. Earlier in John chapter 5 in verse 23 Jesus said that all should honor the son just as they honor the father mother is is in a lesser degree of worship or honor that is given to the sun and the eternal word of the father and in the father gets a greater degree of worship and maybe the spirit gets even even less. This is what some of the cold say today Jehovah's Witnesses on the sale. Jesus is divine, but he isn't equal with the father. Consubstantial of the same substance as the father and some of them might appeal to those texts in places like John 17 sales is that unity of essence. It's unity of purpose were were were one with the father.

Jesus is one with the father in the same sense that that were united with with the same will. If you will, but that's that's not what we read throughout the Scriptures, and in particular the gospel of John makes it clear that Jesus is of the same substance.

The word is of the same substance as the father together with the Holy Spirit as well and so appreciate your question, getting into John 17 and pray Lord blesses you.

This is core Christianity.

If you got a question for Israel about the Bible of the Christian life. We would love to hear from you were just a reminder were to be recording a second program today. So when our live show ends here in a few minutes you can continue to keep calling. In fact, you can call us for the next 35 bytes or so with your questions about the Bible, the Christian life doctrine theology, you name it. There's a question from John. He says I have two Christian friends.

Both are divorced. They believe they can't remarry because of what the Bible says what are your thoughts well so I mean that this is the question of divorce and remarriage mean there. There are some reasons that the Bible gives for I think a blood divorced that's that's that's the single legitimate coming of course all divorces, is heartbreaking on but there are provisions in the Scriptures mean in particular that is the case of adultery and so this the sort of breaking of the marriage covenant. In that case the innocent party I think is free to remarry and then even with the individual who committed the adultery. I think that there there needs to be repentance. Obviously confession the recognition of of what they've done and I don't know that that means it down the line that they would be incapable of being remarry to that person can really and truly repent this of this.

This is a complex is a complex thing I would want to know a little bit more John about the specific situation, but it's not the case that just because people are divorced that you know regardless of the circumstances that they can never be remarriage so we need a little bit more information here. I think to be able to provide a real clear and specific answer, but even even there. If you notice broadcasting of the very careful about you know addressing these kinds of questions because I know that in cases of of marriages in the question of divorce that there there's just always more to the story.

There are two parties. As I was encouraged to look at it if if you're looking for specific answer on this. You need to be in a good church. We are being cared for by the elders of the church. The pastor of the church.

There is speaking into your life. The life of your family and and giving you providing you with with wisdom and guidance from the Scriptures and they know you best and so you should be plugged into a church and getting the accounts and care of your local church as well. Your listener core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

Let's go to a voicemail from one of our listeners. This is from Charles true in light I noticed that Jesus said you always have the poor and needy among you, but what kind of Navy was he talking about physically needy spiritual lady financially needy and the socially needy.

A lot of times people do get tired of people always needing help, all the as a blind person. I've experience it, and even I get little tired of it when I see people constantly needing stuff who have less tonight and I don't have enough to fulfill their need to be interesting to say what you have to say about that.

Thank you very much God bless you brother yeah you know so so with regard to the question when Jesus talked with the Dean of the always having the need of the poor with you. He was talking there. I think those who had physical needs. The poor that the church historically has sought to care for and to look out for. But if of course there are different kinds of neediness, if you will, and we all we all can be needy and we can all all have people in our lives who are who are needy and so the question is will how do we proudly relay I read earlier from Romans chapter 12, where the apostle Paul said to associate with the lowly. And I think there's something really important for us it to recognize as Christians and were called to love each other and to serve each other doing of Jesus is his words in Luke 14. Specifically, when you throw a party or a feast on just don't just serve those who can give back to you serve those who are needy.

Those who have have nothing to contribute and I can invite you over to their place right there. They're not able to give anything to you to to raise your status in society then so so I think you know it it's easy for us that the temptation adjusted to reject or neglect those who are very needy, but I think that there's something Christian emphasis what what what Jesus calls us to in terms of serving those who are needy. Those who whether it's what it socially or physically or whatever it is to bear one another's burdens, and some I got help us to do that and ultimately were needy in Christ served. 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.

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