What Does the Gospel Say to Those Who’ve Had an Abortion?

What does the gospel say to those who had an abortion 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. This is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day. Here's our phone number will be taken calls for the next 25 minutes at 833 the court that they 33.core or 1-833-843-2673 that you can also post your question on one of our social media sites and fact. You can watch a drill right now on our YouTube channel and you can send him a question for you to can also email us anytime at questions at core, Christianity.com and a drill a first today. Here's one of our YouTube listeners or viewers I should say in the names Leticia.

She says this is Isaiah 53 five. Referring only to spiritual healing or does it include physical healing as well. Why I think the biblical answer is that it also includes physical healing. The reason I say that is because if you look at a passage that quotes this text in the Gospels and the Gospel of Matthew in Matthew chapter 8 verse 17. It's very clear that there it's talking about physical healing, beginning in verse 14, when Jesus entered Peter's house. He saw that his mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she rose and began to serve him.

That evening they brought to him.

Many who were oppressed by demons and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah.

He took our illnesses and bore our diseases, so there is an element here of physical healing that that's being spoken of.

Now let me just read. I want most pitiful prophecies in all the Bible Isaiah chapter 53. Speaking of the suffering servant, the sufferings of our Lord Jesus as he went to the cross bearing the weight of of our sin. Verse one who has believed what he has heard from us and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed, for he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no form or majesty that we should look at him and no beauty that we should desire him.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace and with his wounds we are healed now.

Physical healing is important brothers and sisters but but I think that the most important kind of healing that we could experience is the healing of our broken and sinful hearts and so I would say that that's central here in Isaiah chapter 53 infected. Think about that scene in Mark chapter 2 were Jesus heals the paralytic and the paralytic is let down through the roof and Jesus first says to him, your sins are forgiven. Now that's the great miracle and the religious leaders begin to discuss often to say who does this guy think he is that he can forgive sins and in Jesus response to them by saying which is easier to say to this man, your sins are forgiven, or to say rise, take up your bed and walk, but so that you might know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins I said you rise, take up your bed and walk and healed, that man physically, but the physical healing was there to confirm the fact that Jesus has the authority, the power to forgive our sins to heal our souls if you will, and I think that's what's what's central there in Isaiah 53 so that while you know that there is this hope that we have, especially at the resurrection of the dead that our our bodies are going to be fully restored here specifically work with thinking about the forgiveness of sins that we have the atoning work of Jesus Christ. Thank you for that question. Thanks much for that. I drew this is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez. If you have a question regarding the Bible, the Christian life doctrine or theology may be some doubt. You have about the Christian faith.

We are open to your questions right now at 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 let's go to Rhonda who is calling in from Nebraska. Rhonda, what's your question for Pastor Israel, there is a is off the charts. I have tried any treatment. I tried a new treatment). For hours on end. It's not a quick shot.

Your body is completely in future – they talk about this association.

You can actually feel your stall is trapped in your body after it opened at a can of worms. I am a born-again Christian I talk to Jesus Christ, to spiritual warfare with unbelievable think I get something wrong will will Rhonda. We experience in and as the children of God can experience immense suffering in this life doesn't always necessarily that we've done something wrong. You remember what Jesus said to his disciples in John chapter 16 in this world you will have tribulation. We do experience sickness, pain, persecution, impulses, and in Romans chapter 8 that through all these things were more than conquerors.

It's not that we we as the children of God aren't going to necessarily experience those things.

It's that that even through them were not separated from the love of God and so the first thing I want to say to you is that the suffering that you experience this chronic pain that you have. Cannot separate you from the love of God that is exhibited so clearly in Jesus's suffering for your sake. Now my heart breaks for you and so what I want to do right now and I want to invite all of our listeners as well is is just pray for you and asked that the Lord would grant you relief and strength and faith and a sense of his great love for you, even in the midst of this trial and so let's pray father be with our sister Rhonda who is experiencing this great pain would you grant her Lord relief in her body by the grace of your Holy Spirit. We pray for healing, Lord, we pray that you would give wisdom to the doctors and those who are caring for her and Lord that if there is a treatment plan that would be better for her, Lord, that you would give her wisdom and just lead her and the doctors to that that treatment plan Lord that would grant her relief.

But we look to you as the God who is able to heal and end the one who comforts us Lord in the midst of our affliction. Would you comfort our sister would you fill her with your Holy Spirit and would you give her a sense, Lord God of your love for her. Even in the midst of this great trial that she faces Lord satirize on Jesus your son by faith and strength in her faith. I pray in Jesus name, amen. It's so important brothers and sisters that we don't assume that our circumstances even the great suffering that we experience in this life mean that God is stopped loving us. John says in first John, that God's love is exhibited in the fact that he sent his son into the world for our sins it we have to be careful that we don't get the sense of uncle God loves me based on how I'm doing today or my feelings or even the you know that the perfection of my obedience because were not perfectly obedient. We fall short of that, we look to the cross when work when were question were struggling with this question of you know it did have I done something wrong. Does God not love me anymore. We look to the cross where his word is I do love you. I forgive all your sins and you have in me. Jesus says the hope of the resurrection of the body and the life of the world to come in so here with the apostle Paul says also in second Corinthians chapter 4 verse 16 we do not lose heart. And Rhonda I don't want you to lose heart.

We do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away our inner self is being renewed day by day.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison. As we look not to the things that are seen to the things that are unseen but the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. We do experience suffering and affliction in this life sister but compared to the glory that God has prepared for those who love him. Those who trust him impulses this light and momentary. God has prepared something for you and so III pray that you would continue to cling to him and trust in him and find in Christ and in the gospel. The very clear word of his love for you. God bless you some great words of comfort. Thanks for that Benadryl really applies to anyone who is going through extreme physical suffering right now so thanks for those those good words. This is core Christianity with Pastor Israel Sanchez.

We want to tell you about a great book we have available this week and it's by one of our favorite authors, Dr. Tim Keller that we've been offering this book this week and I think it you know it's so important that we understand assertive right theology of work.

So many people go to their job every day. Frustrated, not feeling fulfilled wondering you know what is it that God has called me to his work. Just the sort of necessary evil. Well, it isn't a necessary evil in and work is been a part of the lives of God's people, since even before the fall and and we want to help you understand this and Tim Keller helps you understand this in his book every good endeavor and so again were offering at this week for donation of any amount you can get a hold of it over it. Core, Christianity.com, you will really enjoy this book you'll enjoy Dr. Tim Keller's writing style and the way he applies Scripture and theology to our daily lives.

You can check it out by going to core Christianity.com/offers again core Christianity.com/offers will be to receive voicemails here at the core.

You can call us 24 hours a day with your voicemail at 833 the core. Here's a voicemail that came in from one of our listeners named Bill. Wondering, rudely, one might find in the Bible does greater suffering from past abortions. What kind of relief does Scripture give an individual who is suffering over having had an abortion and I'm I'm assuming that you and this is something that they've they've confessed to the Lord. They repented of it but they're deeply grieved by what they've done well. The hope minute. I was just I was talking to Rhonda about this in the midst of physical suffering, the hope that we have when were suffering that sense of shame and guilt of our sins and the hope is still the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The fact that the blood of Jesus is sufficient to cleanse each and every one of our sins, even those sins which which we look at we say when this is horrible. How could I have done this and you see this in Scripture over and over again to me this is the story that's told throughout the Bible.

I think of David. For example, after he had committed that that heinous sin murdering Uriah the Hittite, having taken your eyes wife and and and taking advantage of her. You know, having having the sexual relationship. He's sending this grievous waiting and he's blind to his sin. He doesn't even really realize the gravity of what he's done until he's confronted by Nathan the prophet and Nathan the prophet confronts him at first. David doesn't doesn't realize that Nathan is is talking about him, and finally he does and he says okay, I've sinned and what does Nathan say to him. He says the Lord has removed is taken away your sin. In other words, David God forgives you and that's that's what we all need to hear. That's what we all need to know we need to hear God through the gospel, speaking to us saying I forgive you and we need to rest in that word now even when we hear that, and frankly we need to hear it. Week in and week out. We can still struggle with the sense of guilt and I think actually David did in fact when you look at the Psalm that he wrote in Psalm 51 which by the way, this is just an excellent Psalm to pray every day when you wake up in the morning or before you go to bed at night read, pray Psalm 51 what is David say that the song begins to the choirmaster Psalm of David.

When Nathan the prophet, went to him after he had gone into Bathsheba's is after Nathan confronts him and and tells him is that you know God has taken away your sin, and yet we still read David saying in verse 14 deliver me from blood guilt Enus oh God, oh God of my salvation and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness. If you're struggling with a sense of guilt. A sense of shame over sins that you've done in the past, you need to fix your eyes upon Christ and his redemptive work for you and and proud. I would say pray pray with David here in Psalm 51 and saying, Lord, deliver me, cleanse me right what what does he say purge me with his up and I will be clean wash me and I will be whiter than snow. Let me hear joy and gladness.

Let the bones that you have broken. Rejoice hide your face from my sins blotted out my iniquities and brothers and sisters when we pray that prayer by faith. When we confess our sins, we know that God is faithful and just to cleanse us to forgive us of all unrighteousness. And so we have the promise of his holy word in a minute. Continue to hammer away at that on this broadcast because there's no greater news and the fact that your sins can be forgiven. My abortion my you note the infidelity in the past. It is stealing you go down the list.

The answer is the blood of Jesus is sufficient for you receive it by faith and rest in God's love for sinners. As you turn to him and receive that sure word that he gives you some great words there and continue to hammer that message. If for week.

We love the idea. Do I mean yeah I know we we we all need to hear it I think is one of the resort so important for injuries in churches as well. You know the message of the cross is central i.e. I heard a pastor Lutheran friend of mine say guy not too long ago you note, you should be hearing in your worship service, you're forgiven at least three times throughout the surges is of the should be hearing over and over and over again because that's the good news of the gospel in Christ and that's we receive when we gather together for worship and that's that's the reminder that we all need. We need to live in light of the great redemptive work of Jesus Christ for us. This is core Christianity with pastor drill Sanchez. Just a note were to be recording a second episode of core Christianity after the slide one finishes up here in a couple minutes. So if you are unable to get through on the phone, you can still call us.

In fact, you can call us for the next 35 minutes or so at this number 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673.

Our phone lines will be open until about 230 central time so feel free to give us a call. Let's go to a YouTube question. We do have a YouTube channel and you can check out atrial live in the studio every day on YouTube and here's one from Alexander. He says I'm an ethnic Jew but believe and Yeshua does this make me a messianic Jew, can I still honor customs like wearing talent or observing pure him as it is a great question. Well, why not just say how awesome is it that you are are you know it did Jewish person who is come to faith in Jesus the Messiah that Paul talks about this in Romans chapter 9.

His passion, his desire to see his kinsman is brothers and sisters according to the flesh, the Jews come to faith in Jesus Christ, and of course in the first century there were many who did.

And there were many who rejected Christ.

But you have this promise that the gospel is going to continue to advance and that God is welcoming people from every tribe and tongue and nation into his family and and in your part of that you are part of that through Christ and so I praise God for that. Now the question of you know what what ceremonies to observe and whether or not you should still or could still keep some of those traditions is a really good question and it's one of the questions that was central in some of the discussions of the early church had books like the book of Galatians books like the book of Ephesians which customs do we still keep coming under the old covenant in the Old Testament that you know you you had to be circumcised. You had to keep these you know certain rituals food laws.

These these kinds of things. What do you still need to do that in order to be a faithful part of the people of God and the answer that's given in the New Testament over and over again in places like Ephesians in Galatians or acts chapter 15 that the Jerusalem Council is no you don't have to do those things. I'm to be a part of God's people. Where were the people of God by faith in Jesus Christ, and through holy baptism.

So that's what we observed were were were marked by that by the reality of faith in Christ and into having received the gospel. Paul says in Colossians chapter 2 verse 16. Let no one pass judgment on you and questions of food and drink, or with regard to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath.

These are a shadow of the things to come with the substance belongs to Christ. That's that's it right there.

The substance is Christ, and so these these rituals that we had in the time of the Old Testament whether it was that the sacrificial system in the temple or the feast that were observed throughout the year by the Israelites were some of the limited. These rituals are pointing forward to were pointing forward to Jesus the substance and so we have that now that that that's what we have today in the new covenant so I would say focusing on that embracing that and plugging into a solid church where where that's the focus and appreciate your your question again just praising the Lord that you are in Christ and that the Lord has done a work in your life. This is core Christianity with pastor drill Sanchez a reminder we have this great book available for you today. It's all about the Bible's view of work by Dr. Tim Keller and you can find that by going to core Christianity.com/offers. The book is called every good endeavor connecting your work to God's work, so check that out if you would we do get emails here at the core and here's one that came in from one of our listeners.

This is from Jeannie.

She says I believe been a believer my whole life.

But recently I've had serious reasons to doubt I lost the love of my life a few years ago. He drank himself to death. I don't understand any of it anymore.

I just find it hard to believe there's a God and that he cares about me or my children at all. Then I listen to a podcast the other day and it talked about how the Catholic Church is the one who decided what books were going to be in the Bible and that it's all about control and what they want to be in the Bible. So how my supposed to believe the Bible is real and from God. It really shook me to my core. I'm faithless and so very lost. Please help me Jeannie. Well let me let me pray for you. I'm just again it's it's heartbreaking that you experienced this loss and so in the midst of of the suffering you're going through them when I want to pray for your father, as Jeannie has reached out to us here, via email, Lord, and expressed that the difficulty that she's going to through right now. I pray that you would meet her where she's at, that you would by the grace of your Holy Spirit, comfort her, and minister to our sister Lord, who is morning, the, the loss of her loved one, and who is wrestling with questions of faith were Jesus I pray that you would be with her comforting her and opening her eyes to the truth of your word Lord God in Jesus name, amen Jeannie, you need the stability of God's word right now and the promise that God gives to you in his word of his grace of his forgiveness of the hope that we have in Jesus Christ, that life is not meaningless that even the suffering that we experience is not meaningless somehow God is able to, and does work in and through it but it sounds like you're questioning that right now because somebody said well the Catholic Church is put together.

The Bible will that's not true that's not true at all. The word of God is self authenticating. It's God's speech to us.

It wasn't that some people got together and just decide here's peers were to have in the Bible. It was at the church received the holy speech of God because she recognized these are God's words, is there there was this universal reception.

This this apostolic affirmation.

These these books special wording about the books of the New Testament were written by the apostles or someone closely associated with the apostles and you have the prophetic testimony given to us in script is what Peter says in second Peter and so you can be confident that the Bible is God's word and that what he says is true and you receive that as as a comfort. I want to receive that as a comfort for you in the midst of this trial. God bless you. 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